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THE  STUDENT'S  CHAUCER 


SKEAT 


*i 


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THE    STUDENT'S 

BEING 

^    CompMc   (Bbition   of  ?i6   Worfte 

EDITED 

F/?OM  NUMEROUS  MANUSCRIPTS 

BY  THE 

REV.    WALTER    W.    SKEAT 

LITT.D.,  LL.D.,  PH.D.,  M.A. 

ELRINGTON    AND   BOSWORTH   PROFESSOR  OF  ANGLO-SAXON   IN  THE 

UNIVERSITY   OF  CAMBRIDGE 

MACMILLAN    AND    CO. 

AND     LONDON 
1895 

A  a  rights  reserved 


Copyright,  1894, 
By  MACMILLAN  AND  CO. 


Notfaooli  ^rtga: 

J.  S.  Gushing  &  Co.  —  Berwick  &  Smith. 

Boston,  Mass.,  U.S.A. 


AMPLISSIMO  PHILOSOPHORVM 

ACADEMIAE  FRIDERICIANAE   HALENSIS 

CVM  VITEBERGENSI   CONSOCIATAE  ORDINI 

CVIVS   EX  DECRETO 

DIE  III.   M.   AVGVSTI   A.  MDCCCXCIV 

QVO   DIE  SACRA   BISAECVLARIA  VNIVERSITATIS 

SOLEMNITER    PERAGEBANTVR 

AD  GRADVM  DOCTORIS  HONORIS  CAVSA 

PROVECTVS   SVM 

HVNC   LIBRVM   GRATO  ANIMO 

D.  D. 


v3 


■J  j      *      ^Ut.*^j> 


CONTENTS 


Introduction  :  —  page 

Life  of  Chaucer vii 

Writings  of  Chaucer  and  Early  Editions xii 

Brief  Account  of  thf.  Grammar,  Metre,  Versification,  and  Pro- 
nunciation        =^'v 

Romaunt  OF  THE  ROSE:   Fragment  A i 

Fragment  B i8 

Fragment  C 59 

The  Minor  Poems:  — 

I.     An  A.  B.  C 79 

II.     The  Compleynte  unto  Pite 8l 

III.  The  Book  ofthe  Duchesse 83 

IV.  The  Compleynt  of  Mars 97 

V.     The  Parlement  of  Foules 10 1 

VI.     A  Compleint  to  his  Lady m 

VII.     Anelida  and  Arcite 113 

VIII.     Chancers  Wordes  unto  Adam 118 

IX.    The  Former  Age 118 

X.     Fortune 119 

XI.     Merciles  Beaute 121 

XII.     To  Rosemounde :  A  Balade 121 

XIII.  Truth 122 

XIV.  Gentilesse 122 

XV.     Lak  of  Stedfastnesse 123 

XVI.     Lenvoy  de  Chaucer  a  Scogan 123 

XVII.     Lenvoy  de  Chaucer  a  Bukton 124 

XVIII.     The  Compleynt  of  Venus 125 

XIX.     The  Compleint  of  Chaucer  to  his  Empty  Purse         .         .         .         .126 

XX.     Proverbs 126 

XXI.     Against  Women  Unconstant 127 

XXII.     An  Amorous  Compleint  (Compleint  Damours)        .         .        .         .127 

XXIII.  A  Balade  of  Compleynt 129 

XXIV.  Womanly  Noblesse 129 


Contents. 


PAGE 

BOETHIUS   DE  CONSOLATIONE   PHILOSOPHL'E I30 

Troilus  and  Criseyde 206 

The  Hous  of  Fame 326 

The  Legend  of  Good  \Vomen 349 

A  Treatise  on  the  Astrolabe 396 

The  Canterbury  Tales:  — 

Group  A.    The  Prologue 419 

The  Knightes  Tale 430 

The  Miller's  Prologue 457 

The  Milleres  Tale 459 

The  Reeve's  Prologue 467 

The  Reves  Tale 468 

The  Cook's  Prologue 474 

The  Cokes  Tale 474 

Group  B.   Introduction  to  the  Man  of  Law's  Prologue      .       .  475 

The  Prologue  of  the  Mannes  Tale  of  Lawe 476 

The  Tale  of  the  Man  of  Lawe 477 

The  Shipman's  Prologue 492 

The  Shipmannes  Tale 492 

The  Prioress's  Prologue 498 

The  Prioresses  Tale 498 

Prologue  to  Sir  Thopas 502 

Sir  Thopas 502 

Prologue  to  Melibeus 505 

The  Tale  of  Melibeus 505 

The  Monk's  Prologue 530 

The  Monkes  Tale: — Lucifer.  Adam.  Sampson.  Hercules. 
Nabugodonosor.  Balthasar.  Cenobia.  De  Petro  rege 
Ispannie.  De  Petro  Rege  de  Cipro.  De  Barnabo  de  Lum- 
bardia.      De   Hugelino.      Nero.      De  Oloferno.      De   Rege 

Anthiocho.     De  Alexandre.     De  lulio  Cesare.     Cresus          .  531 

The  Prologue  of  the  Nonne  Prestes  Tale 542 

The  Nonne  Preestes  Tale 543 

Epilogue  to  the  Nonne  Preestes  Tale 551 

Group  C.   The  Phisiciens  Tale 551 

The  Prologue  of  the  Pardoneres  Tale 556 

The  Pardoneres  Tale 5S8 


Contents,  vii 

PACK 

Group  D.    The  Wife  of  Bath's  Prologue         .,.,...  565 

The  Tale  of  the  Wyf  of  Bathe 576 

The  Friar's  Prologue 581 

The  Freres  Tale 582 

The  Somnour's  Prologue 587 

The  Soiiinours  Tale 588 

Group  E.   The  Clerk's  Prologue 596 

The  Clerkes  Tale 597 

The  Merchant's  Prologue 612 

The  Marchantes  Tale 613 

Epilogue  to  the  Marchantes  Tale 627 

GROUP  F.    The  Squieres  Tale 628 

The  Wordes  of  the  Franklin 636 

The  Franklin's  Prologue 637 

The  Frankeleyns  Tale 637 

Group  G.   The  Seconde  Nonnes  Tale .  649 

The  Canon's  Yeoman's  Prologue 657 

The  Chanouns  Yemannes  Tale 659 

Group  H.    The  Manciple's  Prologue 669 

The  Maunciples  Tale 670 

Group  I.     Fhe  Parson's  Prologue 674 

The  Persones  Tale 675 

Appendix:  Variations  and  Emendations 719 


Glossary  to  Chaucer's  Works i 

Glossary  to  Fragmeints  B  and  C  of  the  Romaunt  of  the  Rose        .    133 


INTRODUCTION. 


LIFE    OF    CHAUCER. 

Geoffrey  Chaucer  was  born  in  London,  about  1340  (not  1328,  as  was  formerly 
said).  His  father  was  John  Chaucer,  citizen  and  vintner  of  London,  and  his  mother's 
name  was  Agnes.  His  grandfather  was  Robert  Chaucer,  of  Ipswich  and  London,  who 
married  a  widow  named  Maria  Heyroun,  with  a  son  Thomas  Heyroun.  John 
Chaucer's  house  stood  in  Upper  Thames  Street,  beside  Walbrook,  just  where  that 
street  is  now  crossed  by  the  South-Eastern  Railway  from  Cannon-street  Station.  Here 
it  was  that  the  poet  spent  his  earliest  days,  and  in  an  interesting  passage  in  his  Par- 
doneres  Tale  (lines  549-572),  he  incidentally  displays  his  knowledge  of  various  wines 
and  the  ways  of  mixing  them  together. 

John  Chaucer,  the  poet's  father,  was  in  attendance  on  Edward  III.  in  1338,  and  this 
connexion  with  the  court  led  to  his  son's  employment  there,  some  years  afterwards,  as 
a  page  in  the  household  of  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Lionel,  duke  of  Clarence,  the  third  son  of 
Edward  III.  In  the  household  accounts  of  this  princess,  mention  is  made  of  various 
articles  of  clothing  and  other  necessaries  purchased  for'  Geoffrey  Chaucer'  in  April, 
May,  and  December,  1357,  when  he  was  about  seventeen  years  old.  In  1359  he  joined 
the  army  of  Edward  III.  when  that  king  invaded  France,  and  was  there  taken  pris- 
oner. In  May,  1360,  the  peace  of  Bretigny  (near  Chartres)  was  concluded  between  the 
French  and  English  kings.  Chaucer  had  been  set  at  liberty  in  March,  when  Edward 
paid  16/.  towards  his  ransom. 

1367.  We  can  only  conjecture  the  manner  in  which  he  spent  his  life  from  hints 
given  us  in  his  own  works,  and  from  various  notices  of  him  in  official  records.  To 
consider  the  latter  first,  we  find,  from  the  Issue  Rolls  of  the  Exchequer,  that  a  life-pen- 
sion of  20  marks  was  granted  by  the  king  to  Chaucer  in  1367,  in  consideration  of  his 
services,  as  being  one  of  the  valets  of  the  king's  household.  During  1368  and  part  of 
1369  he  was  in  London,  and  received  his  pension  in  person.  In  October,  1368,  his 
patron.  Prince  Lionel,  died,  and  it  appears  that  Chaucer's  services  were  consequently 
transferred  to  the  next  brother,  John  of  Gaunt,  duke  of  Lancaster. 

1369.  In  the  autumn  of  1369,  the  year  of  the  third  great  pestilence  of  Edward's 
reign,  Blanche,  the  first  wife  of  John  of  Gaunt,  died  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-nine. 
Chaucer  did  honour  to  her  memory  in  one  of  his  earliest  poems,  entitled  '  The  Deth  of 
Blaunche  the  Duchesse.' 

1370-1373.  From  1370  to  1386,  Chaucer  was  attached  to  the  court,  and  employed 
in  frequent  diplomatic  services. 

In  December,  1372,  being  employed  in  the  king's  service,  he  left  England  for  Genoa, 
Pisa,  and  Florence,  and  remained  in  Italy  for  nearly  eleven  months,  but  we  again  find 


X  Introliuction. 

him  in  London  on  November  22, 1373.  This  visit  of  his  to  Italy  is  of  great  importance, 
as  it  exercised  a  marked  influence  on  his  writings,  and  enables  us  to  understand  the 
development  of  his  genius. 

1374.  His  conduct  during  this  mission  to  Italy  met  with  the  full  approval  of  the 
king,  who,  on  the  celebration  of  the  great  festival  at  Windsor  on  St.  George's  day 
(April  23)  in  1374,  granted  our  poet  a  pitcher  of  wine  daily,  to  be  received  from  the 
king's  butler.  On  May  10  of  the  same  year,  Chaucer  took  a  lease  of  a  house  in  Aid- 
gate,  for  the  term  of  his  life,  from  the  Corporation  of  London ;  but  he  afterwards  gave 
it  up  to  a  friend  in  October,  1386 ;  and  it  is  probable  that  he  had  ceased  to  reside  in  it 
for  a  year  or  more  previously.  On  June  8,  1374,  he  was  appointed  to  the  important 
office  of  Comptroller  of  the  Customs  and  Subsidy  of  Wools,  Skins,  and  Leather,  for 
the  port  of  London ;  and  a  few  days  later  (June  13)  received  a  life-pension  of  10/. 
from  the  duke  of  Lancaster  for  the  good  service  rendered  by  him  and  his  wife  Philippa 
to  the  said  Duke,  to  his  consort,  and  to  his  mother  the  Queen.  This  is  the  first 
mention  of  Philippa  Chaucer  as  Geoffrey's  wife,  though  a  Philippa  Chaucer  is  men- 
tioned as  one  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Chamber  to  Queen  Philippa,  on  September  12, 
1366,  and  subsequently.  It  has  been  conjectured  that  Chaucer  was  not  married 
till  1374,  and  that  he  married  a  relative,  or  at  least  some  one  bearing  the  same  name 
as  himself;  but  this  supposition  is  needless  and  improbable ;  there  is  no  reason  why 
the  Philippa  Chaucer  mentioned  in  1366  may  not  have  been  already  married  to  the 
poet,  who  was  then  at  least  26  years  of  age. 

1375.  In  1375  his  income  was  increased  by  receiving  from  the  Crown  (Novem- 
ber 8)  the  custody  of  the  lands  and  person  of  one  Edmond  Staplegate,  of  Kent.  This 
he  retained  for  three  years,  during  which  he  received  104/. ;  together  with  some  smaller 
sums  from  another  source. 

1376.  On  July  12,  1376,  the  king  granted  Chaucer  the  sum  of  71/.  4^.  6rf.,  being  the 
value  of  a  fine  paid  by  one  John  Kent  for  shipping  wool  without  paying  the  duty 
thereon.  Towards  the  end  of  this  year.  Sir  John  Burley  and  Geoffrey  Chaucer  were 
employed  upon  some  secret  service,  for  which  the  latter  received  6/.  131.  41^. 

1377.  In  February,  1377,  Chaucer  was  employed  on  a  secret  mission  to  Flanders, 
and  received  for  it,  in  all,  the  sum  of  30/.  In  April  he  was  sent  to  France,  to  treat 
for  peace  with  king  Charles  V.;  for  this  service  he  received,  in  all,  the  sum  of 
48/.  ly.  4d.  On  June  21,  king  Edward  III.  died,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson, 
Richard  II. 

1378.  In  January,  Chaucer  seems  to  have  been  employed  in  France.  Soon  after- 
wards, he  was  again  sent  to  Italy,  from  May  28  to  September  19,  being  employed  on 
a  mission  to  Lombardy,  to  treat  with  Bernabo  Visconti,  duke  of  Milan ;  to  ivhose 
death  (in  1385)  the  poet  alludes  in  his  Monkes  Tale  (11.  3589-3596) ,  where  he  describes 
him  as  — 

'  Of  Melan  grete  Barnabo  Viscounte, 
God  of  delyt,  and  scourge  of  Lumbardye.' 

Before  leaving  England  on  this  business,  Chaucer  appointed  his  friend  John  Gower, 
the  poet,  as  one  of  his  agents  to  represent  him  in  his  absence. 

1380.  By  deed  of  May  i,  1380,  one  Cecilia  Chaumpayne  released  Chaucer  from  a 
charge  which  she  had  brought  against  him,  '  de  raptu  meo.'  We  have  no  means  of 
ascertaining  either  the  nature  of  the  charge,  or  the  circumstances  of  the  case. 

1382.  We  have  seen  that  Chaucer  had  been  appointed  Comptroller  of  the  Wool 


ILife  of  Ctaucer.  xi 

Customs  in  1374.     Whilst  still  retaining  this  office,  he  was  now  also  appointed  Comp- 
troller of  the  Petty  Customs  (May  8,  1382). 

1385.  In  February,  1385,  he  was  allowed  the  great  privilege  of  nominating  a  per- 
manent deputy  to  perform  his  duties  as  Comptroller.  It  is  highly  probable  that  he 
owed  this  favour  to  '  the  good  queen  Anne,"  first  wife  of  king  Richard  II. ;  for,  in  the 
Prologue  to  the  Legend  of  Good  Women,  probably  written  during  this  period  of  his 
newly-acquired  freedom  from  irksome  duties,  he  expresses  himself  most  gratefully 
towards  her. 

If  we  may  trust  the  description  of  his  house  and  garden  in  the  Prologue  to  the 
Legend  of  Good  Women,  probably  composed  in  the  spring  of  1385,  it  would  appear 
that  he  was  then  living  in  the  country,  and  had  already  given  up  his  house  over  the 
city  gate  at  Aldgate  to  Richard  Forster,  who  obtained  a  formal  lease  of  it  from  the  Cor- 
poration of  London  in  October,  1386.  We  learn  incidentally,  from  a  note  to  the 
Envoy  to  Scogan,  1.  45,  that  he  was  living  at  Greenwich  at  the  time  when  he  wrote  that 
poem  (probably  in  1393).  And  it  is  highly  probable  that  Chaucer's  residence  at  Green- 
wich extended  from  1385  to  the  end  of  1399,  when  he  took  a  new  house  at  Westminster. 
This  supposition  agrees  well  with  various  hints  that  we  obtain  from  other  notices. 
Thus,  in  1390,  he  was  appointed  (with  five  others)  to  superintend  the  repairing  of  the 
banks  of  the  Thames  between  Woolwich  and  Greenwich.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
robbed  at  Hatcham  (as  we  shall  see  below),  which  is  near  Deptford  and  Greenwich. 
And  we  find  the  singular  reference  in  the  Canterbury  Tales  (A  3907),  where  the  Host 
suddenly  exclaims  —  'Lo!  Grenewich,  ther  many  a  shrewe  is  inne  ' ;  which  looks  like 
a  sly  insinuation,  on  the  Host's  part,  that  Greenwich  at  that  time  contained  many 
'  shrews  '  or  rascals.  Few  places  would  serve  better  than  Greenwich  for  frequent  obser- 
vation of  Canterbury  pilgrims. 

1386.  In  this  year  Chaucer  was  elected  a  knight  of  the  shire  for  Kent,  in  the 
Parliament  held  at  Westminster.  In  August,  his  patron  John  of  Gaunt  went  to  Spain ; 
and  during  his  absence,  his  brother  Thomas,  duke  of  Gloucester,  contrived  to  deprive 
the  king  of  all  power,  by  appointing  a  regency  of  eleven  persons,  himself  being  at 
the  head  of  them.  As  the  duke  of  Gloucester  was  ill  disposed  towards  his  brother 
John,  it  is  probable  that  we  can  thus  account  for  the  fact  that,  in  December  of 
this  year,  Chaucer  was  dismissed  from  both  his  offices,  of  Comptroller  of  Wool  and 
Comptroller  of  Petty  Customs,  others  being  appointed  in  his  place.  This  sudden 
and  great  loss  reduced  the  poet  from  comparative  wealth  to  poverty;  he  was 
compelled  to  raise  money  upon  his  pensions,  which  were  assigned  to  John  Scalby  on 
May  I,  1388. 

In  October  of  this  year  (1386),  there  was  a  famous  trial  between  Richard  Lord 
Scrope  and  Sir  Thomas  Grosvenor,  during  which  Chaucer  deposed  that  he  was  '  forty 
years  of  age  and  upwards,  and  had  borne  arms  for  twenty-seven  years."  He  was,  in 
fact,  about  forty-six  years  old,  having  been  born,  as  said  above,  about  1340.  More- 
over, it  is  probable  that  he  first  bore  arms  in  1359,  when  he  went  with  the  invading 
army  to  France.    This  exactly  tallies  with  his  own  statement. 

1387.  In  this  year  died  Chaucer's  wife,  Philippa ;  to  this  loss  he  alludes  in  his 
Envoy  to  Bukton.  It  must  have  been  about  this  time  that  he  was  composing  portions 
of  his  greatest  poem,  the  Canterbury  Tales. 

1389.  On  May  3,  Richard  II.  suddenly  took  the  government  into  his  own  hands. 
John  of  Gaunt  returned  to  England  soon  afterwards,  and  effected  an  outward  recon- 
ciliation between  the  king  and  the  duke  of  Gloucester.     The  Lancastrian  party  was 


xii  Etttroliuction. 

now  once  more  in  power,  and  Chaucer  was  appointed  Clerk  of  the  King's  Works  at 
Westminster  on  July  12,  at  a  salary  of  2S.  a  day  (more  than  i/.  of  our  present  money, 
at  the  least). 

1390.  In  this  year,  Chaucer  was  also  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Works  at  St. 
George's  Chapel  at  Windsor,  and  was  put  on  a  Commission  to  repair  the  banks 
of  the  Thames  between  Woolwich  and  Greenwich.  In  a  writ,  dated  July  1  in  this 
year,  he  was  allowed  the  costs  of  putting  up  Scaffolds  in  Smithfield  for  the  King 
and  Queen  to  view  the  tournament  which  had  taken  place  there  in  May.  This 
helps  to  explain  the  minute  account  of  the  method  of  conducting  a  tournament 
which  we  meet  with  in  the  Knight's  Tale.  In  the  preceding  month  he  had  been 
appointed,  by  the  Earl  of  March,  joint  Forester  (with  Richard  Brittle)  of  North 
Petherton  Park  in  Somerset.  In  September,  he  was  twice  robbed  of  some  of  the 
king's  money ;  once,  at  Westminster,  of  10/. ;  and  again,  near  the  '  foule  ok '  (foul 
oak)  at  Hatcham,  Surrey,  of  9/.  y.  8d. ;  but  the  repayment  of  these  sums  was  forgiven 
him. 

1391,  This  is  the  date  given  by  Chaucer  to  his  prose  Treatise  on  the  Astrolabe, 
which  he  compiled  for  the  use  of  his  '  little  son '  Lewis,  of  whom  nothing  more  is 
known ;  and  it  is  supposed  that  he  died  at  an  early  age.  At  this  time,  for  some 
unknown  reason,  the  poet  unfortunately  lost  his  appointment  as  Clerk  of  the  Works. 

1394.  In  February  of  this  year,  Chaucer  received  a  grant  from  the  king  of  20/. 
a  year  for  life ;  nevertheless,  he  seems  to  have  been  in  want  of  money,  as  we  find  him 
making  applications  for  the  advancement  of  money  from  his  pension. 

1398.  In  this  year  or  the  preceding,  Chaucer  was  made  sole  Forester  of  North 
Petherton  Park,  instead  of  joint  Forester,  as  in  1390.  In  the  Easter  Term,  he  was  sued 
for  a  debt  of  14/.  is.  lid.  In  October,  the  king  granted  him  a  tun  of  wine  yearly,  for 
his  life-time. 

1399.  On  September  30,  Henry  IV.  became  king  of  England,  and  Chaucer  ad- 
dressed to  him  a  complaint  regarding  his  poverty,  called  a  '  Compleynt  to  his  Purs,' 
in  response  to  which,  only  four  days  afterwards,  Henry  granted  that  the  poet's  pension 
of  twenty  marks  (13/.  6s.  id.)  should  be  doubled,  in  addition  to  the  20/.  a  year  which 
had  been  granted  to  him  in  1394. 

On  Christmas  eve  of  this  year,  Chaucer  took  a  long  lease  of  a  house  in  the  garden 
of  the  Chapel  of  St.  Mary,  Westminster ;  this  house  stood  near  the  spot  now  occupied 
by  King  Henry  the  Seventh's  Chapel.  The  lease  is  in  the  Muniment  Room  of  West- 
minster Abbey  (Historical  MSS.  Commission,  i.  95). 

1400.  The  traditional  date  of  Chaucer's  death  is  October  25,  1400 ;  in  the  second 
year  of  Henry  IV.  His  death  doubtless  took  place  in  his  newly-acquired  house  at 
Westminster  ;  and  he  attained  to  the  age  of  about  sixty  years.  Of  his  family, 
nothing  is  known.  His  '  little  son  '  Lewis  probably  died  young ;  and  there  is  no  evi- 
dence earlier  than  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.  that  the  Thomas  Chaucer  whose  great- 
grandson,  John  de  la  Pole,  Earl  of  Lincoln,  was  declared  heir  to  the  throne  by  his 
uncle,  Richard  III.,  in  1484,  was  Chaucer's  son.  As  Thomas  Chaucer  was  a  man  of 
great  wealth,  and  of  some  mark,  we  should  have  expected  to  find  early  and  undoubted 
evidence  as  to  his  parentage.  We  find,  however,  that  Thomas  Gascoigne,  who  wrote 
a  Theological  Dictionary,  and  died  in  1458,  refers  to  the  poet  in  these  words:  —  '  Fuit 
idem  Chawserus  pater  Thomae  Chawserus,  armigeri,  qui  Thomas  sepelitur  in  Nuhelm 
iuxta  Oxoniam.'  Gascoigne  was  in  a  position  to  know  the  truth,  since  he  was  Chan- 
cellor of  Oxford,   and   Thomas   Chaucer  had   held  the   manor  of  Ewelme,  at  no 


Cfjaracter  of  Cfjauccr.  xiii 

great  distance,  till  his  death  in  1434.  If  this  information  be  correct,  it  then 
becomes  highly  probable  that  Chaucer's  wife  Philippa  was  Philippa  Roet,  sister 
of  the  Katharine  de  Roet  of  Hainault,  who  married  Sir  John  Swynford,  and  after- 
wards became  the  mistress,  and  in  1396  the  third  wife  of  John  of  Gaunt.  This 
has  been  inferred  from  the  fact  that  Thomas  Chaucer's  arms  contain  three  wheels, 
supposed  to  represent  the  name  of  Roet ;  since  the  Old  French  roet  means  '  a  little 
wheel.'  Those  who  accept  this  inference  see  good  reasons  for  explaining  the 
favours  extended  to  Chaucer  both  by  John  of  Gaunt  himself  and  his  son  King 
Henry  IV. 

CHARACTER  OF  CHAUCER. 

There  is  no  space  here  for  exhibiting  fully  the  revelation  of  Chaucer's  character 
as  expressed  by  numerous  passages  in  his  works.  We  easily  recognise  in  them 
a  man  of  cheerful  and  genial  nature,  with  great  powers  of  originality,  full  of 
freshness  and  humour,  a  keen  observer  of  men,  and  at  the  same  time  an  en- 
thusiastic and  untiring  student  of  books.  He  tells  a  story  excellently  and  sets  his 
characters  before  us  with  dramatic  clearness ;  and  he  has  also  an  exquisite  ear  for 
music  and  pays  great  attention  to  the  melodious  flow  of  his  verse.  Except  in  his 
prose  tales,  he  frequently  affects,  in  his  Canterbury  Tales,  an  air  of  simplicity 
which  sits  upon  him  gracefully  enough.  In  his  Prologue  to  Sir  Jhopas,  he  describes 
himself  as  a  'large,'  i.e.  a  somewhat  corpulent  man,  and  no  'poppet'  to  embrace, 
that  is,  not  slender  in  the  waist ;  as  having  an  '  elvish '  or  abstracted  look,  often 
staring  on  the  ground  '  as  if  he  would  find  a  hare,'  and  '  doing  no  dalliance '  to  any 
man,  i.  e.  not  entering  briskly  into  casual  conversation.  His  numerous  references 
and  quotations  show  that  he  was  deeply  read  in  all  medieval  learning,  and  well 
acquainted  with  Latin,  French  (both  of  England  and  of  the  continent),  and  Italian, 
besides  being  a  master  of  the  East-midland  dialect  of  English.  A  passage  in  the 
Reves  Tale  imitates  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  Northumbrian  dialect  with 
much  fidelity.  On  the  other  hand,  he  occasionally  introduces  forms  into  his  poems 
that  are  peculiarly  Kentish;  owing,  as  I  am  inclined  to  suggest,  to  his  residence 
for  some  years  at  Greenwich.  In  his  Hous  of  Fame,  he  tells  us  how  he  had  'set  his 
wit  to  make  books,  songs,  and  ditties  in  rime,'  and  often  '  made  his  head  ache  at 
night  with  writing  in  his  study.'  For,  when  he  had  done  his  official  work  for  the 
day,  and  '  made  his  reckonings,"  he  used  to  go  home  and  become  wholly  absorbed 
in  his  books,  '  hearing  neither  this  nor  that ' ;  and,  '  in  stead  of  rest  and  new 
things'  (recreation),  he  used  'to  sit  at  a  book,  as  dumb  as  a  stone,  till  his  look  was 
dased ' ;  and  thus  did  he  '  live  as  a  hermit,  though  (unlike  a  hermit)  his  abstinence 
was  but  little."  So  great  (as  he  tells  us  in  the  Prologue  to  The  Legend  of  Good 
Women)  was  his  love  of  nature,  that,  '  when  the  month  of  May  is  come,  and  I  hear 
the  birds  sing,  and  see  the  flowers  springing  up,  farewell  then  to  my  book  and 
to  my  devotion'  to  reading.  In  many  passages  he  insists  on  the  value  of  the 
purity  of  womanhood  and  the  nobility  of  manhood,  faking  the  latter  to  be  de- 
pendent upon  good  feeling  and  courtesy.  As  he  says  in  The  Wife  of  Bath's  Tale, 
'  the  man  who  is  always  the  most  virtuous,  and  most  endeavours  to  be  constant  in  the 
performance  of  gentle  deeds,  is  to  be  taken  to  be  the  greatest  gentleman.  Christ 
desires  that  we  should  derive  our  gentleness  from  Him,  and  not  from  our  ancestors, 
however  rich.' 


Kntrotiucttan. 


WRITINGS   OF  CHAUCER. 

Other  notices  of  Chaucer  must  be  gathered  from  his  writings  and  from  what  we 
know  about  them.  It  is  advisable  to  date  his  various  works,  where  possible,  as  well  as 
we  can,  and  to  consider  the  result. 

Chaucer's  works  fall  (as  shewn  by  Ten  Brink)  into  three  periods.  During  the 
first  of  these,  he  imitated  French  models,  particularly  the  famous  and  very  long  poem 
entitled  Le  Roman  de  la  Rose,  of  which,  as  he  himself  tells  us,  he  made  a  translation. 
It  so  happens  that  there  exist  what  are  apparently  two,  but  are  really  three  frag- 
ments of  translations  of  two  different  parts  of  this  poem;  they  are  found  in  a 
MS.  at  Glasgow,  written  out  about  a.d.  1430-40,  and  in  the  early  printed  editions. 
These  three  fragments,  marked  A,  B,  C  in  tlie  present  volume,  appear  to  be  by 
different  hands ;  and  only  the  first  of  them  can  be  reconciled  with  Chaucer's  usual 
diction  and  grammar.  We  must  regretfully  infer  that  the  major  part  of  Chaucer's 
own  translation  is  irrecoverably  lost.  The  poems  of  this  First  Period  were  written 
before  he  set  out  on  his  Italian  travels  in  1372,  and  there  is  no  trace  in  them  of  any 
Italian  influence. 

The  poems  of  the  Second  Period  (1373-1384)  clearly  shew  the  influence  of  Italian 
literature,  especially  of  Dante's  Divina  Commedia,  and  of  Boccaccio's  poems  entitled 
U  Teseide  and  II  Filostrato.  Curiously  enough,  there  is  nothing  to  shew  that 
Chancer  was  acquainted,  at  first-hand,  with  Boccaccio's  Decamerone. 

The  poems  of  the  Third  Period  are  chiefly  remarkable  for  a  larger  share  of  origi- 
nality, and  are  considered  as  beginning  with  the  Legend  of  Good  Women,  the  first 
poem  in  which  the  poet  employed  what  is  now  known  as  the  'heroic'  couplet, which 
he  adapted  from  Guillaume  de  Machault. 

The  following  list  is  arranged,  conjecturally,  in  chronological  order. 

Origenes  upon  the  Maudeleyne  (lost). 

Book  of  the  Leoun  {lost). 

Ceys  and  Alcioun ;  afterwards  (probably)  partly  preserved  in  the  Book  of  the 
Duchesse. 

The  Romaunt  of  the  Rose.  (Fragment  A  (11.  1-1705)  is  all  that  can  fairly  be 
claimed  as  Chaucer's  work.  Fragment  B  is  written  in  a  dialect  approximating  to  that 
of  Lincolnshire.    The  author  of  Fragment  C,  hke  that  of  B,  remains  unknown.) 

A.  B.  C.  —  Minor  Poems,  I. 

1369.  Book  of  the  Duchesse. —M.  P.  III. 

Lyf  of  St.  Cccyle  (after\vards  adapted  to  become  the  Second  Nonnes  Tale). 

Monkes  Tale  (parts  of) ;  lines  3365-3652  clearly  belong  to  a  later  period. 

About  1372-3.    Clerkes  Tale  ;  except  E  995-1008,  and  the  Envoy. 

Palamonand  Arcite  ;  of  which  some  scraps  are  preserved  in  other  poems.  It  was 
also  used  as  the  basis  of  the  Knightes  Tale. 

Compleint  to  his  Lady.  — M.  P.  VI. 

An  Amorous  Compleint,  made  at  Windsor. —  M.  P.  XXII. 

Womanly  Noblesse.—  M.  P.  XXIV. 

Compleint  unto  Pit6.  —  M.  P.  II. 

Anelida  and  Arcite  (containing  ten  stanzas  from  Palamon).  —  M.  P.  VII. 

The  Tale  of  Melibeus  (in  its  original  form) ;  partly  translated  from  Albertano  of 
Brescia. 

The  Persones  Tale  (in  its  original  form) ;  partly  translated  from  Fr6re  Lorens. 


ISliitians  of  Ctaucer.  xv 

Of  the  Wretched  Engendring  of  Mankind  ;  mentioned  in  the  Legend,  Text  A, 
1.  414;  and  partly  preserved  in  scraps  occurring  in  the  Man  of  Lawes  Tale,  B  99-121, 
421-7.  771-7,  925-931,  1135-41- 

Man  of  Lawes  Tale  (in  its  original  form)  ;  partly  translated  from  Nicholas  Trivet. 

1377-81.  Translation  of  Boethius. 

1379?  Complaint  of  Mars. — ^  M.  P.  I\'. 

1379-83.  Troilus  and  Criseyde;  (partly  from  Boccaccio's  II  Filostrato  and  Guido 
delle  Colonne's  Historia  Troiae ;   containing  three  stanzas  from  Palamon). 

Wordes  to  Adam  (concerning  Boethius  and  Troilus).  —  M.  P.  VOL 

The  Former  Age;  chiefly  from  Boethius,  Book  IL  met.  V.  —  M.  P.  IX. 

Fortune;  containing  hints  from  Boethius.  —  M.  P.  X. 

1382.  Parlement  of  Foules  (containing  si.x  stanzas  from  Palamon).  —  M.  P.  V. 

1383-4.  House  of  Fame ;   containing  hints  from  Dante ;   unfinished. 

1385-6.  Legend  of  Good  Women;  unfinished. 

1386.  Canterbury  Tales  begun. 

1387-8.  Central  period  of  the  Canterbury  Tales. 

1389,  &c.    The  Tales  continued. 

1391.  Treatise  on  the  Astrolabe  ;  chiefly  from  Messahala  ;  unfinished. 

1393?  Compleint  of  Venus.  — M.  P.  XVIII. 

1393.  Lenvoy  to  Scogan.  —  M.  P.  XVI. 

1396.  Lenvoy  to  Bukton.  —  M.  P.  XVII. 

1399.  Envoy  to  Compleint  to  his  Purse.  —  M.  P.  XIX. 

The  following  occasional  triple  roundel  and  balades  may  have  been  composed 
between  1380  and  1396  :  — Merciless  Beauty.— M.  P.  XI.  Balade  to  Rosemounde.— 
M.  P.  XIL  Against  Women  Unconstaunt.  —  M.  P.  XXL  Compleint  to  his  Purse 
(except  the  Envoy).  —  M.  P.  XIX.  Lak  of  Stedfastnesse.  —  M.  P.  XV.  Gentilesse.  — 
M.  P.  XIV.     Truth.  — M.  P.  XIII.     Proverbes  of  Chaucer.  — M.  P.  XX. 

EDITIONS   OF   CHAUCER. 

Several  of  Chaucer's  Poems  were  printed  at  various  times  by  Caxton  and  others, 
but  the  first  collected  edition  of  his  works  was  that  edited  by  W.  Thynne  in  1532. 
This  was  reprinted,  with  the  addition  of  the  spurious  Plowman's  Tale,  in  1542 ;  and 
again,  about  1550.  Later  editions  appeared  in  1561  (with  large  additions  by  John 
Stowe) ;  in  1598  (re-edited  by  Thomas  Speght),  second  edition,  1602,  and  reprinted  in 
1687.  Still  later  editions  were  the  very  bad  one  by  Urry,  in  1721,  and  the  excellent  one 
by  Tyrwhitt,  of  the  Canterbury  Tales  only,  in  1775-8.  These  editions,  excepting 
Tyrwhitt's,  have  done  much  to  confuse  the  public  as  to  the  genuine  works  of  Chaucer, 
because  in  them  a  large  number  of  poems,  some  known  (even  by  the  editors)  to  be  by 
Lydgate,  Gower,  Hoccleve,  and  Scogan,  together  with  others  obviously  spurious,  were 
carelessly  added  to  works  by  Chaucer  himself  ;  and  many  erroneous  notions  have 
been  deduced  from  the  study  of  this  incongruous  mixture. 

It  must  suffice  to  say  here  that  most  of  the  later  editions,  since  the  publication  of 
Tyrwhitt's  remarks  on  the  subject,  reject  many  of  these  additional  pieces,  but  still 
unadvisedly  admit  the  poems  entitled  The  Court  of  Love,  The  Complaint  of  the  Black 
Knight.  Chaucer's  Dream,  The  Flower  and  the  Leaf,  and  The  Cuckoo  and  the  Nightin- 
gale. Of  these,  The  Complaint  of  the  Black  Knight  is  now  known  to  be  bv  Lydgate  ; 
The  Ftoiver  and  the  Leaf  cannot  be  earlier  than   1450,  and  was  probably  w'ritten,  as  it 


xvi  ]:ntrotnirtion. 

purports  to  be,  by  a  lady;  whilst  The  Court  of  Love  can  liardly  be  earlier  tlian  1500, 
and  Chaucer's  Dream  (so  called)  is  of  still  later  date.  Noihing  but  a  complete  igno- 
rance of  the  history  of  the  English  language  can  connect  these  fifteenth-century  and 
sixteenth-century  poems  with  Chaucer.  The  only  poem,  in  the  above  set,  which  can 
possibly  be  as  old  as  the  fourteenth  century,  is  The  Cuckoo  and  the  Nightingale.  There 
is  no  evidence  of  any  kind  to  connect  it  with  Chaucer;  and  Professor  Lounsbury 
decisively  rejects  it,  on  the  internal  evidence.  It  admits  a  few  rimes  (see  p.  xxii)  such 
as  Chaucer  nowhere  employs. 


GR.AMM.-\TIC.\L   Hl.NTS. 

The  following  brief  hints  contain  but  a  minimum  of  information,  and  include 
nothing  that  should  not  be  extremely  familiar  to  the  student. 

Observe  that,  in  Chaucer's  English,  the  final  syllables  -<•,  -ed,  -en,  -es,  almost  always 
form  a  distinct  and  separate  syllable,  so  that  a  large  number  of  words  had  then  a 
syllable  more  than  they  have  now.  Unless  this  rule  be  observed,  no  progress  in  the 
study  is  possible.  In  particular,  a/it'oyx  sound  this  final  -e  (like  the  a  in  China)  at  the 
end  of  a  line. 

Final  -e  is  elided,  or  slurred  over,  when  the  next  word  begins  with  a  vowel,  oris  one 
of  certain  words  beginning  with  //,  viz.  (i)  a  pronoun,  as  he ;  (2)  part  of  the  verb 
have ;  (3)  the  adverbs  heer,  how  ;  (4)  mute  //  in  honour,  houre.  In  a  similar  position, 
final  -er,  -en,  -el,  -y  are  slurred  over  likewise;  thus^^/-^«  is  K&Wy get' n  in  1.  291I. 

Final  -e  is  sometimes  dropped  in  a  few  common  words,  such  as  were,  were,  hadde, 
had,  wolde,  would. 

Middle  -e-  is  also  sometimes  dropped,  as  in  havenes,  pronounced  (haavnez),  I.  407. 
But  trew-e-ly  (481)  is  trisyllabic. 

The  reasons  for  sounding  the  final  -e,  -en,  -es,  as  distinct  syllables,  are  grammatical. 
These  endings  represent  older  inflexions,  mostly  Anglo-Saxon ;  and  were  once,  in 
fact,  essential.  But,  in  Chaucer's  time,  they  were  beginning  to  disappear,  and  many 
are  now  lost  altogether. 

Final  -e.  The  various  sources  of  the  M.E.  (i.  e.  Middle-English)  final  -e  are, 
chiefly,  these  following. 

1.  The  A.S.  (Anglo-Saxon)  sb.  ended  in  a  vowel.  Thus  A.S.  har-a,  a  hare,  became 
M.E.  har-e  (191). 

2.  The  A.F.  (Anglo-French)  sb.  ended  in  a  vowel  which  was  formerly  sounded. 
Thus  A.F.  melodi-e  (four  syllables)  is  M.E.  melody-e  (four  syllables,  9). 

3.  The  dative  case  often  ends  in  -e,  especially  after  the  prepositions  at,  by,  for,  in,  of, 
on,  to.  Thus  rot-e  (2)  is  the  dative  case  of  root,  a  root.  We  even  find  the  form  of  an 
oblique  case  used  as  a  nom.  case,  owing  to  confusion.  Thus  A.S.  hwelp,  a  whelp, 
makes  the  dat.  hwelp-e ;  Chaucer  has  whelp-e  as  a  nominative  (257). 

4.  The  forms /i<r//-^  (so  in  .\.'?>.),sonn-e  {A.S.  sunn-an)  are  genitives ;  see  Book  Duch. 
171 ;  A  105 1.    Similarly  -y  represents  a  genitive  suffix  in  lad-y,  88,  695. 

5.  The  definite  form  of  the  adjective  (i.  e.  the  form  used  when  the  def.  art.  the  or  a 
possessive  or  demonstrative  pronoun  precedes  it)  ends  in  -e.     Ex. :  the  yong-e,  7. 

6.  The  adj.  pi.  ends  in  -e  ;  as  smal-e,  9. 

>  The  numbers  refer  to  the  lines  of  The  Prologue  to  the  Canterbury  Tales;  see  p.  419. 


Grammatical  faints.  xvii 

7.  Even  the  adj.  sing,  may  end  in  -e ;  as  stug/-e  (5) ,  from  A.S.  sweU,  sweet,  in  which 
the  final  -e  is  essential.     So  also  trewe,  from  A.S.  ireowe  ;  531. 

8.  Verbs :  the  infinitive  and  gerund  (with  to)  end  in  -en  or  -e ;  as  biginn-e,  42 ;  for 
to  ry'S-e,  33. 

9.  Strong  verbs:  the  pp.  (past  participle)  ends  m  -en  or  -e ;  Asy-ronn-e,  8. 

10.  Weak  verbs  :  the  pt.  t.  (past  tense)  ends  in  -ede,  -de,  -te,-e  ;  as  say-de,  70.  Some- 
times in  -ed.  nsprov-ed,  547.    Observe  lakk-e-de,  756;  lovde,  97;  wet-te,  129;  ivent-e,  78. 

11.  Verbs:  various  other  inflexions  '\n -en  or -e.  Thus  slep-en,  3  p.  pr.  pi,  10; 
-iver-en,  I  p.  pt.  pi.,  29;  gess-e,  I  p.  pr.  s..  82;  smert-e,  3  p.  pr.  s.  subj.,  230,  &c. 

12.  Adverbs  and  prepositions  may  end  in  -en  ox  -e ;  as  abov-en,  53;  about-e,  prep. 
158,  adv.  488. 

Final  -en.  The  suffix  -en  usually  denotes  either  (i)  the  pi.  sb.,  as  hos-en,  ^<^b\ 
(2)  the  infin.  or  gerundial  infin.  of  a  verb,  as  to  7vend-en,  21;  (3)  the  pp.  of  a  strong 
verb,  as  holp-en,  18;  (4)  the  pt.  of  any  tense  of  a  verb,  as  w'er-en,  i  p.  pt.  pi.,  29;  (5) 
a  prep,  or  adverb,  as  abov-en,  53. 

Final  -es.  The  final  -es  denotes  either  (i)  the  gen.  sing.,  as  lord-es,  47;  (2)  the 
pi.  sb.,  as  shour-es,  1 ;  or  {3)  an  adverb,  as  tkry-es,  562.  But  the  gen.  of  lady  is  lady: 
and  oi  fader  \s  fader.     And  the  plural  may  end  in  -s,  as  m  palmers,  13. 

The  student  should  endeavour  to  make  out,  in  every  case,  the  reason  for  the  use  of 
final  -e,  -en,  or  -es.  He  will  thus  acquire  the  grammar.  The  above  hints  explain  most 
cases  that  can  arise. 

Further  notes.  Some  neuter  sbs.  do  not  change  in  the  plural,  as  hors  pi. 
hors,    74.     So  also  neet,  sheep,  swyn,  yeer. 

Comparatives  end  in  -er,  as  grett-er,  adj.,  197;  or  -re,  as  fer-re,  adv.,  48.  Super- 
latives, in  -est,  occasional  def.  form  -est-e,  as  best-e,  252.  Pronouns :  tho,  those ;  this, 
pi.  thise,  these;  thilke,  that;  tike,  same.  .-Xtte,  for  at  the.  Ye,  nom. ;  yow,  dat.  and 
ace,  you.  ///>,  their  (also  her) ;  hem,  them.  Nis,  his,  its.  IVhuhe,  what  sort  of,  40; 
7vhat,  i.  e.  'why,'  184;  That  .  .  .  he,  who,  44,  45;  who  so,  whoever,  741.  Afen,  one, 
with  a  sing,  verb,  as  men  smoot,  one  smote,  149. 

Verbs.  Verbs  are  distinguished  as  being  weak  or  strong.  In  the  former,  the  pp. 
ends  in  -ed,  -d,  or  -//  in  the  latter,  in  -en,  or  -e. 

A  simple  rule  is  this.  In  weak  verbs,  the  pt.  t.  ends  in  -ede  (rarely  -ed),  -de,  -te,  -e, 
so  that  the  final  -e  is  here  extremely  common,  but  it  does  not  appear  in  the  pp. ; 
conversely,  in  strong  verbs,  it  is  the  pp.  that  ends  in  -en  or  -e,  which  never  appears  in 
the  first  or  third  person  singular  of  the  past  tense.  Ex.  went-e,  3  p.  pt.  s.,  78,  is 
a  weak  past  tense ;  cla-d,  103,  is  a  weak  pp.  Conversely,  y-ronn-e,  8,  is  a  strong  pp. ; 
sleep,  98,  is  a  strong  pt.  t.  The  prefix  y-  (A.S.  ge-)  can  be  prefixed  to  any  pp.,  and 
makes  no  diflference. 

Strong  verbs  usually  shew  vowel-change;  thus  bigan  (44)  is  the  pt.  t.  of  biginnen. 
But  note  that  this  is  not  a  sure  guide;  for  raiigh-te  (136)  is  the  pt.  t.  of  rech-en,  to 
reach,  and  is  weak.     Slep-en,  to  sleep,  pt.  t.  sleep,  is  strong. 

In  strong  verbs,  the  vowel  of  the  past  tense  is  changed,  sometimes,  in  the  plural. 
Thus  the  pt.  t.  sing,  of  ryd-en,  to  ride,  is  rood,  169 ;  but  the  pi.  is  rid-en,  825.  The  pp. 
is  also  rid-en,  48. 

The  usual  formulae  for  the  conjugation  of  verbs  areas  follows. 

Present  tense.     Sing.  -e.  -est,  -eth  {-th)  ;  pi.  -en  or  -e. 

Past  tense  ;  weak  verbs.  Sing,  -ede  {-de  or  -ed) ,  -de,  -te,  -e  (in  persons  i  and  3); 
-edest,  -dest,  -test,  -est  (2  person) .  Plural,  -eden,  -ede,  -de,  -den,  -ten,  -te,  -e  (all  persons). 
b 


xviii  Introtiuction. 

Past  tense  ;  strong  verbs.  Sing,  indie  no  suffix  (in  persons  i  and  3) ;  -e,  occa- 
sionally (2  person).    Sing.  subj.  -e  (all  persons).     Plural  of  both  moods:  -en,  -e. 

Imperative.  Sing.  2  person:  no  suffix  (usually);  -e  (in  some  weak  verbs). 
Plural,  2  person:  -eth,-ih;  (sometimes -f). 

Infinitive :  -en,  -c  The  gerundial  infinitive  has  /o  or  /or  to  prefixed,  and  often 
denotes  purpose. 

Participles.  Present :  -ing,  often  -inge  at  the  end  of  a  line.  Pp.  of  weak  verbs : 
-ed,  -d,  -t.     Pp.  of  strong  verbs  :  -en,  -e. 

N.B.   We  find  the  contracted  form  bit,  for  biddeth,  in  the  3  p.  pr.  s.  indicative,  187. 

Similar  contractions  are  common  ;  hence  ////  means  '  hideth  ' ;  rit  means  '  rideth  ' ; 
sit, '  sitteth  ' ;  ic-t, '  leadeth,'  B  1496  ;  &c. 

Formation  of  Past  Tenses.  The  form  of  the  pt.  t.  of  a  weak  verb  depends  on 
the  form  of  its  stem.    There  are  three  classes  of  such  verbs. 

1.  Infin.  -ien;  pt.  -ede  {-de),  or  -ed.  llius  lov-ien,  to  love  ;  pt.  t.  lov-ede  {pronounced 
luvda),  or  lov-ed  (luved).     Compare  lakk-e-de,  756;  though  the  infin.  is  lakk-en. 

2.  Infin.  -en;  pt.  t.  -de,  -te,  or  sometimes  (after  d  or  /)  -e ;  without  vowel-change, 
except  such  as  is  due  to  contraction.  Ex.  hir-en,  to  hear,  pt.  t.  her-de ;  kep-en,  to 
keep,  pt.  t.  kep-te  ;  lid-en,  to  lead,  pt.  t.  lad-de  (short  for  Ifed-de).    Cf.  went-e,  went. 

3.  Infin.  -en,  with  a  modified  vowel  in  the  infinitive,  the  root-vowel  appearing  in 
the  pt.  t.  and  pp.  Thus  the  root  SOK  (cf.  Gothic  sokjan,  to  seek)  appears  in  the 
A.S.  pt.  t.  soh-te,  pp.  soh-t,  M.E.  soght-e,  sogh-t ;  but  the  o  becomes  e  (as  in  A.S./2>/, 
foot,  pi. /tf/,  feet)  in  the  infin.  sec-an,  M.E.  sek-en,  E.  seek.  Cf.  tell-en,  pt.  t.  tol-de  ; 
tech-en,  pt.  t.  taugh-ie. 

N.B.  The  pp.  of  a  weak  verb  results  from  the  pt.  t.  by  dropping  -e  (unless  it  has 
been  dropped  already) ;  thus  pt.  t.  tol-de  gives  pp.  tol-d. 

Strong  verbs.  The  seven  conjugations  of  strong  verbs  are  given  in  my  Princi- 
ples of  Etymology.  I  take  as  representative  verbs  the  following :  fall,  shake,  bear,  give, 
drink,  drive,  choose.  A  more  usual  order  (though  it  makes  no  real  diflfercnce)  is 
1.  drive,  2.  choose,  3.  drink,  4.  bear,  5.  .f /V?,  6.  shake,  7.  fall. 

The  '  principal  parts '  are:  (a)  the  infinitive;  (b)  the  past  tense,  singular ;  (c)  the 
pt.  t.  pi. ;   (d)  the  pp. 

1.  'Drive.'  Here  Chaucer  has:  (a)  ryd-en,  to  ride;  (b)  rood;  (c)  rid-en ;  (d) 
r'td-en.  So  also  byt-en,  bite,  rys-en,  rise,  shyn-en,  shine,  shryv-en,  shrive,  smyt-en,  smite, 
wryt-en,  write  1.     I  here  write  >-  to  denote  long  /. 

2.  'Choose.'     As:   (a)  seth-en,  to  seethe;   (b)  seeth ;  (c,  d)  sod-en. 

3.  'Drink.'  As:  (a)  biginn-en ;  (b)  bigan ;  (c)  bigonnen  ;  (d)  bigonncn.  So  also 
rinnken,  ginnen,  rinnen,  to  run,  singen,  springen,  swinken,  to  toil,  winnen,  delven, 
fighten  (pt.  t.  ■>.  faught),  helpen,  kerven,  thresshen. 

4.  '  Bear.'  As:  (a)  ber-en  ;  (b)  bar;  (c)  ber-en ;  (d)  bor-en.  So  aho  breken,  sheren, 
stelen.     Comen  has  :   (b)  com  ;  (c)   com-en  ;  (d)  cSm-en. 

5.  'Give.'  As:  (a)  yev-en,yiv-en  :  {h)ya/;  {c)  yev-en  ;  {d)  yiv-en.  So  also  geien 
{pp.gffen);  speken  {pp.  spoken). 

6.  'Shake.'  As:  (a)  bak-en;  (b)  book;  (c)  bok-en ;  (d)  bak-en.  So  2\%o  drawen, 
shaken,  shaven,  stonden  (pt.  t.  stood),  taken,  sweren  (pp.  swor-e). 

7.  'Fall.'     As:  {a) /all-en,-  {h)  fil ;  {c)  fill-en  ;  {A)  fall-en.     So  holden,pX.  \.  held  ; 

'  Chaucer's  Prologue  does  not  contain  specimens  of  all  the  parts  of  the  verbs  mentioned. 
Thus  sethen  only  occurs  in  the  infinitive  (383) :  however,  the  pi.  t.  seeth  occurs  elsewhere,  viz.  in 
the  Clerkes  Tale,  E  227. 


iaaetre.  xix 

lit-en  pt  t  led  ■  slip-en,  pt.  t.  sleep:  blowen, growen,  inow-en,  pt.  t.  I>le7v,  &c.;  7vep-e», 
pt.  t.  weep;  goon.  pp.  y-goon,  y-go,  286.  Compare  the  complete  list  of  strong  M.E. 
verbs  in  Specimens  of  English,  ed.  Morris  and  Skeat,  pt.  i. 

Anomalous  Verbs.  Among  these  note  the  following.  Been,  ben,  &re.  Imper. 
pi.  beetk,  beth,  be  ye.     Pp.  been,  ben,  been. 

Can  I  know;  pi.  connen ;  pt.  t.  coiide,  knew,  could:  pp.  couth,  known.  Dar, 
I  dare;'pt.  t.  dorste.  May,  I  may;  pi.  mowen ;  subjunctive,  mowe,  pi.  mowen.  Moot, 
I  must'  I  may,  he  must,  he  may;  pi.  mbten,  mote;  pt.  t.  moste.  Oghte,  ought.  Shal, 
pi.  shillen,  shut;  pt.  t.  sholde.  Witen,  to  know;  woot.  wot,  I  know,  he  knows  ;  pi. 
wl/en  (correctly :  but  Chaucer  also  has  ye  woot);  pt.  t.  wiste,  knew;  pp.  wut.  Uil, 
wol,  wole,  will ;'  pi.  wolen,  wilen ;  pt.  t.  wolde.      Thar,  needs  ;  pt.  t.  thurte. 

Negatives.  Nan,  for  ne  am,  am  not;  nis.  for  7ie  is,  is  not;  ;/<«,  was  not;  nere, 
were  not  •  nadde  had  not ;  nil,  will  not ;  w^j/i/^,  would  not ;  noot,  I  know  not,  he 
knows  not;  niste,  knew  not;  ne  .  .  .  ne,  neither  .  .  .  nor,  603.  Double  negatives, 
70,  71,  &c. 

Adverbs.  End  in  -e,  as  dcp-e,  deeply ;  or  -ly,  as  .f//*^//-/)' ;  or  -e-ly.  as  trew-e-ly, 
truly;  or -.v/, -^,  as  ^//)r-^«,  *//<'/--<?,•  or  in -«,  as  thry-es,  thrice.  Z,4fr,  where,  547; 
M<fraJ.  where  that,  34. 

Prepositions.  End  in  -^//,  -e,  -es ;  &c.  7"//.  for  to,  before  a  vowel.  With  adjoms 
its  verb;  791. 

METRE. 

Chaucer  was  our  first  great  metrist,  and  enriched  our  literature  with  several 
forms  of  metre  which  had  not  been  previously  employed  in  English.  These  he 
borrowed  chiefly  from  Guillaume  de  Machault,  who  made  use  of  stanzas  of  seven, 
eight,  and  nine  lines,  and  even  wrote  at  least  one  Compleint  in  the  'heroic' 
couplet. 

The  metre  of  four  accents,  in  rimed  couplets,  had  been  in  use  in  English  long 
before  Chaucer's  time ;  and  he  adopted  it  in  translating  Le  Roman  de  la  Rose  (the 
original  being  in  the  same  metre),  in  the  Book  of  the  Duchesse,  and  in  the  House  of 
Fame. 

The  ballad-metre,  as  employed  in  the  Tale  of  Sir  Thopas,  is  also  older  than  his 
time.     In  fact,  this  Tale  is  a  burlesque  imitation  of  some  of  the  old  Romances. 

The  four-line  stanza,  in  the  Proverbes,  was  likewise  nothing  new. 

But  he  employed  the  following  metres,  in  English,  for  the  first  time. 

1.  The  8-Iine  stanza,  with  the  rimes  arranged  in  the  order  ababbcbc ;  i.  e.  with  the 
first  line  {a)  riming  with  the  third  {a),  and  so  on.  Exx.  A.B.C. ;  The  Monkes  Tale ; 
The  Former  Age ;  Lenvoy  to  Bukton. 

xb.  The  same,  thrice  repeated,  with  a  refrain.  Ex.  (part  of)  Fortune;  Compleint 
to  Venus ;  Balade  to  Rosemounde. 

2.  The  7-line  stanza,  with  the  rimes  ababbcc ;  a  favourite  metre.  Exx.  Lyf  of 
Seint  Cecyle ;  Clerkes  Tale ;  Palamon  and  Arcite ;  (part  of)  Compleint  to  his  Lady ; 
An  Amorous  Compleint;  Compleint  to  Pitfe ;  (part  of)  Anelida;  The  Wretched 
Engendring  of  Mankind  ;  The  Man  of  LawesTale  ;  (part  oO  The  Compleint  of  Mars  ; 
Troilus  and  Criseyde  ;  VVordes  to  Adam  ;  (part  of)  The  Parlement  of  Foules  ;  (parts 
of)  The  Canterbury  Tales ;  Lenvoy  to  Scogan. 

2  b.  The  same  7-line  stanza,  thrice  repeated,  with  a  refrain.     Exx.  .-Xgainst  Women 
b  2 


XX  Untrotiuctton. 

Unconstaunt;  Compleint  to  his  Purse;  Lak  of  Stedfastnesse ;  Gentilesse ;  Truth.  Also 
in  the  Legend  of  Good  Women,  249-269. 

2  c.  The  7-line  stanza,  with  the  rimes  ababbab.     Ex.  (part  of)  Fortune. 

3.  Terza  Rima.     Only  a  few  lines  ;   in  the  Compleint  to  his  Lady. 

4.  The  lo-line  stanza,  aabaabcddc.     In  the  Compleint  to  his  Lady. 

5.  The  9-line  stanza,  aabaabbab.     Only  in  Anelida, 

5  b.  The  same,  with  internal  rimes.     Only  in  Anelida. 

5  c.  The  same  as  5,  but  thrice  repeated.     Only  in  Womanly  Noblesse. 

6.  Two  stanzas  of  16  lines  each;  with  the  rimes  aaabaaab  ■  bbbabbba.  Only  in 
Anelida. 

7.  The  9-line  stanza,  aabaabbcc.     Only  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Compleint  of  Mars. 
S.  The  roundel.     In  the  Parlement  of  Foules  ;  and  Merciless  Beauts. 

9.  The  heroic  couplet.  In  the  Legend  of  Good  Women  and  parts  of  the  Canter- 
bury Tales. 

10.  .A.  6-line  stanza,  repeated  six  times ;  with  the  rimes  ababcb.  Only  in  the  Envoy 
to  the  Clerkes  Tale. 

11.  A  lo-line  stanza,  aabaabbaab.    Only  in  the  Envoy  to  the  Compleint  of  Venus. 

12.  A  6-line  stanza,  ababaa.    Only  in  the  Envoy  to  Womanly  Noblesse. 

13.  A  5-line  stanza,  aabba.     Only  in  the  Envoy  to  Compleint  to  his  Purse. 

The  following  pieces  are  in  prose.  The  Tale  of  Melibeus.  The  Persones  Tale. 
The  translation  of  Boethius,  De  Consolatione  Philosophiae.  The  Treatise  on  the 
Astrolabe. 

VERSIFICATION. 

Some  lines  drop  the  first  syllable,  and  the  first  foot  contains  one  syllable  only; 
as :  Ging  |  len  in,  &c.  170. 

Many  rimes  are  double,  as  cloistte,  oistre,  181 ;  Rom-e,  td  me,  drjx  ;  non-es,  noon  is,  523. 
Always  sound  final  -e  at  the  end  of  a  line.  Rimes  may  be  treble,  as  apothec-dr-i-es, 
letu-dr-i-es,  425;  so  at  11.  207,  513,  709.     Compare  the  Grammatical  Hints. 

Caesura.  The  caesura,  or  middle  pause,  allows  extra  syllables  to  be  preserved. 
Tims,  at  1.  293,  we  have  :  — 

For  him  was  16ver  —  hav'  4t  his  b6ddes  h6ed. 
The  pause  gives  time  for  the  -er,  of  lev-er.     Similarly,  we  may  preserve  the  -er  of 
deliv-er,  84;  -e  in  mor-e,  98;  -e  in  curteisy-e,  132;  -ie  (  =  >')  in  car-ie,  130. 
Compare  also :  — 

With-6ut-e  bak-e  met-e  —  was  nev'r  his  hous  ;     343. 
Thit  I  no  dr6p-e  —  ne  fill'  upon  hir  brest ;    131. 

The  syllables  -er,  -en,  -el,  -ed,  before  a  vowel,  or  h  (in  he,  &c.),  are  light,  and  do  not 
always  count  in  scansion ;  see  11.  84,  291,  296,  334,  &c.  Cf.  ma  |  ny  a  breem  \  ;  350. 
Read  the  lines  deliberately,  and  remember  the  old  pronunciation. 

Accent.  Variable,  in  some  words ;  cf.  miller,  545,  with  the  archaic  trisyllabic 
mil-ler-e,  541.  Also,  in  French  words,  we  have  honour,  582 ;  but  the  archaic  honour, 
46.     Cf.  licour,  3  ;  vertti,  4. 

PRONUNCIATION. 

The  M.E.  pronunciation  was  widely  different  from  the  present,  especially  in  the 
vowel-sounds.    The  sounds  of  the   vowels  were   nearly  as  in   French   and   Italian. 


pronunciation.  xxi 

They  can  be  denoted  by  phonetic  mvanabU  symbols,  enclosed  within  marks  of 
parenthesis.     Convenient  phonetic  symbols  are  these  following. 

Vowels,  (aa),  as  a  in  father;  (a)  short,  as  a  in  aha!  (ae),  open  long  e,  as  a  in 
Mary;  (e),  open  short  e,  as  e  in  b^d ;  (ee),  close  long  e,  as  e  in  vHl ;  (i)  short,  as  F.  i 
in  f:ni  or  (nearly)  as  E.  i  in  ;n ;  (ii) ,  as  ee  in  d^^p ;  (ao),  open  long  c,  as  aiv  in  sai*.  ,• 
(o)  open  short  o,  as  o  in  r^oV,  (oo),  close  long  o,  as  o  in  note,  or  o  in  German  '  so  ' ; 
(u).  as  u  in  f^U  ;  (uu).  as  oo  in  ioo\ ;  (u) ,  as  F.  u  in  F.  '  6c«  ' ;  (u-),  as  long  G.  u  m  G. 
'grwn.'     Also  (a),  as  final  a  in  China. 

Diphtliongs.     (ai),as;'in  fli;';   (au) .  as  ow  in  noiv ;  (ei),  as  ^/ in  v<r/l ;   (oi),aso;m 

bc/1. 

Consonants  (special),  (k),  as  ^  in  cat;  (s),as  c  in  city;  (ch),  as  in  c/mu/i ; 
(tch)  as  in  catck;  (th) ,  as  M  in  Min ;  (dh),  as  M  in  Men.  Also  (h),  when  »of  inituil, 
to  denote  a  guttural  sound,  like  G.  ch  in  NacAt,  Lie/it,  but  weaker,  and  varying  with 
the  preceding  vowel. 

An  accent  is  denoted  by  (■),  as  in  M.E.  name  (naa-ms). 

By  help  of  these  symbols,  it  is  possible  to  explain  the  meaning  of  the  M.E.  symbols 
employed  by  the  scribes  in  Chaucer's  Tales.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  sounds 
they  denote.  The  letters  in  thick  type  are  the  letters  actually  employed;  the  letters 
within  parenthesis  denote  the  sounds,  as  above. 

Observe  that  long  '  p,'  also  written  '  6,"  means  the  same  as  (ao)  ;  and  long  ' ;?,'  also 
written  '  6,"  means  the  same  as  (ae). 

a  short,  (a).  Ex.  al  (al)  ;  as  (az).  N.B.  The  modern  a  in  cat  (kcet)  is  denoted  by 
(te) ,  and  does  not  occur  in  Chaucer. 

a  long.  (aa).  (i)  at  the  end  of  a  syllable;  as  age  (aa-ja)  ;  (2)  before  J  or  ce ;  as 
cas  (kaas),/a<:<'  (faa-sa). 

ai.  ay  (ei).  originally  perhaps  (ai)  ;  but  ai  and  ei,  both  being  pronounced  as  (ei), 
had  already  been  confused,  and  invariably  rime  togetlier  in  Chaucer.  Cf.  E.  gay, 
prey. 

au,  aw  (au).     Ex.  avaunt  (avau-nt) ;  awe  (au'a). 

c.  as  (k),  except  before  e  and  /;  as  (s),  before  e  and  i. 

ch  (ch)  ;  CCh  (tch). 

e  short,  (e).     "^x.  fetheres  (fedh-rez) ;   middle  e  dropped. 

e  final,  (3)  ;  and  often  dropped  or  elided  or  very  lightly  touched. 

e  long' and  open,  (ae).    Sometimes  denoted  by  '|;'  or  '  ep.'     Ex.  dene  (klaena). 

e  long  and  close,  (ee).     Ex.  sivete  (swee-ta)  ;  weep  (weep). 

ei,  ey  (ei).     Ex.  streit  (streit)  ;  tvey  (wei). 

g  hard,  i.e.  (g),  except  before^  audi/  (j),  before  f  and  i.   Ex.,fo  (gao)  ;  a^'*  (aa -ja) . 

gh  (h),G.  ch.  Ex.  light  (liiht).  The  vowel  was  at  first  short,  then  half-long  (as 
probably  in  Chaucer),  then  wholly  long,  when  the  (h)  dropped  out.  Later,  (ii)  became 
(ei)  and  is  now  (ai). 

gn  (n),  with  long  preceding  vowel;  as  digne  (dii'na). 

i  short,  (i).  As  F.  i  in  fzn/ ;  but  often  as  E.  i  in  in  ;  the  latter  is  near  enough.  So 
also  y.  when  short,  as  in  many  (man'i). 

i,  y  long,  (ii).     Ex.  /  (ii)  ;  melodye  (m61-odii-3). 

ie  (ee) ,  the  same  as  ee.     Ex.  mischief  (mischeef). 

I  consonantal,  (j).  Ex.  lay  (jei)  ;  luge  (jii-ja).  So  in  the  MSS.;  but  here  printed 
'j,'  as  \njay  (jei). 

le,  often  vocalic  (1),  as  in  E.  temple  (tenip-1).     But  note  stables  (staa-blez). 


xxii  Introtjuction. 

ng  (ngg);  always  as  in  E.  linger.     K\.  thing  (thingg). 

O  short,  (o),  as  in  of  (ov).  But  as  (pu)  heioxegk.  And  note  particularly,  that  it  is 
always  (u),  i.e.  as  u  in  f«ll,  wherever  it  has  a  sound  like  u  in  mod.  E.,  as  in  company, 
son,  monk,  cousin,  &c.     Ex.  sonne  (sun-ng),  monk  (mungk),  moche  (mucha). 

o  long  and  open,  (ao).  Sometimes  denoted  by  'p'  or  'gp.'  Ex.  go  (gao) ;  stoon 
(sfaon). 

O  long  and  close,  (oo).     Ex.  sote  (soo'ta)  ;  hood  (hood). 

oi,  oy  (oi). 

ou,  OW  (uu)  ;  as  mjlour  (fluur)  ;  now  (nuu).     Rarely  (pu),  as  in  soule  (spula). 

Ogh  (puh),  with  open  o,  as  in  E.  not,  followed  by  short  (u). 

ough  (uuh)  ;  with  uu  as  in  Y../00I  (fuul);  or  as  Ogh. 

r  is  always  strongly  trilled,    ssh  (shsh) ,  as  m  fresshe  (fresh'sha) . 

u  short,  (ii)  ;  French;  as  in  Just  (jiist).     Rarely  (u),  as  in  cut  (kut)  ;  English. 

u  long,  (ii'),  as  in  nature  (natii'ra)  ;  French. 

we  final,  (wa),  but  often  merely  (u).  Ex.  arwes  (arwez)  ;  bo%ve  (baou's,  bpu's) ; 
morwe  (nioru)  ;  so  blew  (blee'u). 

N.B.  Open  long  e  (ae)  often  arises  from  A.S.  «,  ea,  or  lengthening  of  e.  Ex.  w^re 
(waerD),A.S.  7D^/-f///  fek  (aek),  A.?>.eac  ;  speken  (spaekon),  A.S.  sprecan.  Open  longo 
(ao)  often  arises  from  A.S.  a,  or  lengthening  of  0.  Ex./o  (fao),  A.S.  /a;  open,  A.S. 
open.  Chaucer  refrains  from  riming  open  long  e  (ae),  when  arising  from  A.S.  ea,  or 
lengthening  of  e,  with  the  close  e  arising  from  A.S.  e  or  eo.  But  there  is  some  uncer- 
tainty about  the  quality  of  the  e  arising  from  A.S.  a,  or  from  mutation. 

The  occurrence  of  rimes  such  as  Ciiaucer  nez'er  employs  furnishes  an  easy  test  for 
poems  which  have  been  supposed  to  be  his  on  insufficient  grounds.  Thus,  in  The 
Cuckoo  and  tlie  Nightingale,  stanza  13,  green  umes  wiih  been ;  whereas  the  form  green 
never  occurs  in  Chaucer,  who  always  employs  gren-e  (gree-na)  as  a  dissyllable,  in 
accordance  with  its  etymology  from  h.'&.grene.  In  the  same  poem,  upon  rimes  with 
mon,  a  man  (stanza  17)  ;  but  Ciiaucer  knows  nothing  of  such  a  form  as  mon. 

Non-Chaucerian  rmics  occur  in  large  numbers  in  Fragment  B  of  the  Romaunt  of 
the  Rose. 


ERRATA. 


V.  135.  col.  2.  1.  206;  for  coniuracion  read  conjuracion. 
P.  215. 1.  684.     Delete  the  comma  at  the  end  of  the  line. 
P.  216.  1.  766.     Alter  the  note  of  interrogation  to  a  comma. 
P.  226.  1.  358.     Delete  the  comma  at  the  end  of  the  line. 
P.  290. 1.  1171 ;  for  wrong,  and  seyde  r^arf  wronge,  and  seyd. 
P.  592.  1.  2076 ;  for  But  if  read  But-if. 


THE    ROMAUNT   OF   THE    ROSE. 


Words  and  syllables  enclosed  \%'ithin  square  brackets  are  supplied  by  the  Editor. 

Readings  marked  with  an  obelus  (+)  are  doubtful,  and  are  accounted  for  in  the 

ApijendLx. 
[Only  three  Fragments  of  this  translation  have  come  doivn  to  vs.     Of  these,  Fragment  A 

is  6;/ Chaucer;  Fragment  B  is  by  a  Northerner, and  has  many  corrupt  readings;  whilst 

Fragment  C  is  of  doubtful  origin,  and  I  do  not  feel  sure  that  it  is  Chaucer's.] 


PEAGMENT  A, 


Many  men  seyn  that  in  sweveninges 
Ther  nis  but  fables  and  lesinges  ; 
But  men  may  somme  fswevenes  seen, 
Which  hardely  f  ne  false  been, 
But  afterward  ben  apparaunte. 
This  may  I  drawe  to  waraunte 
An  authour,  tliat  hight  Maerobes, 
That  halt  not  dremes  false  ne  lees. 
But  undoth  lis  the  avisioun 
That  whylom  mette  king  Cipioun. 

And  who-so  sayth,  or  weneth  it  be 
A  jape,  or  elles  [a]  nycetee 
To  wene  that  dremes  after  falle. 
Let  who-so  liste  a  fool  me  calle. 
For  this  trowe  I,  and  say  for  nie. 
That  dremes  signifiaunce  be 
Of  good  and  harme  to  many  wightes. 
That  dremen  in  her  slepe  a-nightes 
Ful  many  thinges  covertly. 
That  fallen  after  al  openl3'. 
The  Dream. 

Within  my  twenty  yere  of  age, 
Whan  that  Love  taketh  his  corage 
Of  yonge  folk,  I  wente  sone 
To  bedde,  as  I  was  wont  to  done, 
And  fast  I  fsleep  ;  and  in  sleping, 
Me  mette  swiche  a  swevening, 


That  lykede  me  wonders  wel ; 

But  in  that  sweven  is  never  a  del 

That  it  nis  afterward  befalle, 

Right  as  this  dreem  wol  telle  us  alle.     3< 

Now  this  dreem  wol  I  rjine  aright. 

To  make  your  hertes  gaye  and  light  ; 

For  Love  it  prayeth,  and  also 

Commaundeth  me  that  it  be  so. 

And  if  ther  any  aske  me,  .^j 

Whether  that  it  be  he  or  she, 

How  [that]  this  book  [the]  which  is  here 

Shall  +  hote,  that  I  rede  you  here  ; 

It  is  the  Romance  of  the  Rose, 

In  which  al  the  art  of  love  I  close.  41 

The  mater  fair  is  of  to  make  ; 
God  graunte  in  gree  that  she  it  take 
For  whom  that  it  begonnen  is  ! 
And  that  is  she  that  hath,  y-wis, 
So  mochel  prys  ;  and  ther-to  she  4; 

So  worthy  is  biloved  be. 
That  she  wel  oughte,  of  prys  and  right. 
Be  cleped  Rose  of  every  wight. 

That  it  was  May  me  thoughte  tho. 
It  is  fyv-e  yere  or  more  ago  ;  5c 

That  it  was  May,  thus  dremed  me, 
In  tyme  of  love  and  jolitee. 
That  al  thing  ginneth  waxen  gay, 


ZU  (Komaun^  of  tU  (Jloee. 


[Fkaomkxt  a 


For  ther  is  neither  busk  nor  hay 

lu  May,  that  it  nil  shrouded  been,  55 

And  it  with  newe  leves  wreen. 

These  wodes  eek  reoovereu  grene, 

That  drye  in  winter  been  to  sene  ; 

And  th'  erthe  wexeth  proud  withalle. 

For  swote  dewes  that  on  it  falle,  60 

And  [al]  the  pore  estat  forget 

In  which  that  winter  hadde  it  set : 

And  tlian  bioonieth  the  groxmd  so  proud 

That  it  wol  have  a  newe  sliroud, 

And  maketh  so  queynt  his  robe  and  fayr  65 

That  it  -f-hath  hewes  an  hundred  payr 

Of  g:ras  and  floures,  inde  and  pers, 

And  many  hewes  ful  dyvers  : 

That  is  tlie  robe  I  mene,  y-wis, 

Through  which  the  ground  topreisenis.7<) 

The  briddes,  that  lian  left  hir  song, 
Whyl  they  han  suffred  cold  so  strong 
In  wedres  grille,  and  derk  to  sightc, 
Ben  in  May,  for  the  sonne  brightc. 
So  glade,  that  they  shewe  hi  singing,     75 
That  in  hir  herte  is  swich  lyking. 
That  they  mote  singen  and  bo  light. 
Than  doth  the  nightingale  hir  might 
To  make  noyse,  and  singen  blythe. 
Than  is  blisful,  many  a  sythe,  80 

The  chelaundre  and  the  papingay. 
Than  yonge  folk  entenden  ay 
For  to  ben  gay  and  amorous. 
The  tyme  is  than  so  savorous. 
Hard  is  his  herte  that  loveth  nought     85 
In  May,  whan  al  this  mirth  is  wrought  ; 
Whan  he  may  on  these  braunches  here 
The  smale  briddes  singen  clere 
Hir  blisful  swete  song  pitous  ; 
And  in  this  sesoun  delitous,  <,o 

Whan  love  aflfrayeth  alle  thing. 
Me  thoughte  a-night,  in  my  sloping, 
Eight  in  my  bed,  ful  redily, 
That  it  was  by  the  morowe  erly, 
And  up  I  roos,  and  gan  me  clothe ;         05 
Anoon  I  ^vissh  mjTi  hondes  bothe ; 
A  sylvre  nedle  forth  I  drogh 
Out  of  an  aguiler  queynt  y-nogh, 
And  gan  this  nedle  threde  anon  ; 
For  out  of  toun  me  list  to  gon  100 

The  sowne  of  briddes  for  to  here. 
That  on  thise  fbusshes  singen  clere. 
And  in  the  swete  sesoun  that  leef  is, 
With  a  threde  basting  my  slevis, 


Aloon  I  wente  in  my  playing,  105 

The  smale  foules  song  harkning  ; 

That  peyned  hem  ful  many  a  payi'O 

To  singe  on  bovves  blosnied  fayre. 

Jolif  and  gay,  ful  of  gladnesso. 

Toward  a  river  fl  gan  mo  dresso,  1 10 

That  I  herde  renne  fasto  by  ; 

For  fairer  playing  non  saugh  I 

Than  i)layen  me  by  that  riveer. 

For  from  an  hille  that  stood  ther  near 

Cam  doun  the  streem  ful  stif  and  bold.   1 15 

Cleer  was  the  water,  and  as  cold 

As  any  wello  is,  sooth  to  seyne  ; 

And  somdcl  lasse  it  was  than  Seine, 

But  it  was  straighter  wel  away.    ' 

And  never  saugh  I,  er  that  day,  uo 

The  water  that  so  wel  lyked  me ; 

And  wonder  glad  was  I  to  see 

That  lusty  place,  and  that  riveer ; 

And  with  that  water  that  ran  so  cleer 

My  face  I  wissh.     Tho  saugh  I  wel        1 25 

The  botme  paved  everydel 

With  gravel,  ful  of  stones  shene. 

The  medewo  softc,  swote,  and  grene. 

Beet  right  on  tho  water-syde. 

Ful'oleer  was  than  the  morow-tyde,      i.^o 

And  ful  attempre,  out  of  drede. 

Tlio  gan  I  walko  through  the  mede, 

Dounward  ay  in  my  ploying. 

The  river-syde  costeying. 

The  Garden. 

And  whan  I  had  a  whyle  goon,  155 

I  saugh  a  Gakdin  right  anoon, 
Ful  long  and  brood,  and  everydel 
i  Enclos  it  was,  and  walled  wel. 
With  hye  walles  embatailled. 
Portrayed  witliout,  and  wel  entailled  140 
With  many  riche  portraitures  ; 
And  bothe  images  and  peyntures 
Gan  I  biholde  bisily. 
And  I  wol  telle  you,  redily. 
Of  thilke  images  the  semblaunce,  145 

As  fer  as  I  have  remembrauncc. 
Hate. 

A-midde  saugh  I  Hate  stonde. 
That  for  hir  wratho,  ire,  and  ondc, 
Semed  to  been  a  -f-moveresse. 
An  angry  wight,  a  chideresse  ;  150 

And  ful  of  gyle,  and  fel  corage. 
By  semblaunt  was  that  ilke  image. 
And  she  was  no-thing  wel  arrayed, 


Fragmekt  a.] 


Z^t  (Hotnaunf  of  tU  (Hoee. 


But  lyk  a  wood  woniman  afrayed ; 
Y-lrownced  foule  was  liir  visage,  155 

And  grenning  for  dispitous  rage  ; 
Hir  nose  snorted  iip  for  tene. 
Ful  hidous  was  she  for  to  sene, 
Ful  foul  and  rusty  was  she,  this. 
Hir  heed  y-writhen  was,  y-wis,  160 

Ful  grimly  with  a  greet  towayle. 
Felonye. 

An  image  of  another  entayle, 
A  1  ift  half,  was  hir  fasto  by  : 
Hii-  name  above  hir  heed  saugh  I, 
And  she  was  called  Felonye.  165 

Vilanye. 

Another  image,  that  Vilanye 
Y-cleped  was,  saugh  I  and  fond 
Upon  the  walle  on  hir  right  hond. 
Vilanye  was  lyk  somdel 
That  other  image  ;  and,  trusteth  wel,  170 
She  semed  a  wikked  creature. 
By  countenaunce,  in  portrayture, 
She  semed  bo  ful  despitous. 
And  eek  ful  proud  and  outrageous. 
Wel  coude  ho  peynte,  I  undertake,        175 
That  swiche  image  coude  make. 
Ful  foul  and  cherlish  semed  she, 
And  eek  vilaynous  for  to  be. 
And  litel  coude  of  norture. 
To  worshipe  any  creature.  :So 

Coveityse. 

And  next  was  peynted  Coveityse, 
That  eggeth  folk,  in  many  gyse. 
To  take  and  yeve  right  nought  ageyn. 
And  grete  tresours  up  to  lejai. 
And  that  is  she  that  for  usure  185 

Leneth  to  many  a  creature 
Tlie  lasse  for  the  more  winning. 
So  coveitous  is  her  brenning. 
And  that  is  she,  for  penyes  fele. 
That  techeth  for  to  robbe  and  stele       190 
These  theves,  and  these  smale  harlotes  ;• 
And  that  is  routhe,  for  by  hir  throtes 
Ful  many  oon  hangeth  at  the  laste. 
She  maketh  folk  compasse  and  caste 
To  taken  other  folkes  thing,  195 

Through  robberie,  or  ^miscounting. 
And  that  is  she  that  maketh  trechoures  ; 
And  she  [that]  malieth  false  pledoures. 
That  with  hir  termes  and  hir  domes 
Doon  maydens,  children,  and  eek  gromes 
Hir  heritage  to  forgo.  201 


Ful  croked  were  hir  hondes  two  ; 
For  Coveityse  is  ever  wood 
To  grypen  other  folkes  good. 
Coveityse,  for  hir  winning,  205 

Ful  leef  hath  other  mennes  thing. 
Avarice. 

Another  image  set  saugh  I 
Next  Coveityse  faste  by. 
And  she  was  cleped  Avarice. 
Ful  foul  in  peynting  was  that  vice;      210 
Ful  sad  and  caytif  was  she  eek. 
And  al-so  grene  as  any  leek. 
So  yvel  hewed  was  hir  colour, 
Hir  semed  have  lived  in  langour. 
She  was  lyk  thing  for  hungre  deed,      215 
That  ladde  hir  lyf  only  by  breed 
Kneden  with  eisel  strong  and  egre  ; 
And  tlierto  she  was  lene  and  megre. 
And  she  was  clad  ful  povTely, 
Al  in  an  old  torn  fcoirrtepy,  220 

As  she  were  al  with  dogges  torn  ; 
And  bothe  bihinde  and  eek  biforn 
Clouted  was  she  beggarly. 
A  mantel  heng  hir  faste  by. 
Upon  a  perche,  weyke  and  smalle  ;        225 
A  burnet  cote  heng  therwithalle, 
Fun-ed  with  no  menivero. 
But  with  a  furre  rough  -of  here, 
Of  lambe-skinnes  hevy  and  blake  ; 
It  was  ful  old,  I  undertake.  230 

For  Avarice  to  clothe  hir  wel 
Ne  hastetli  hir,  never  a  del ; 
For  certeynly  it  were  hir  loth 
To  weren  ofte  that  ilke  cloth  ; 
And  if  it  were  forwered,  she  235 

Wolde  have  ful  greet  necessitee 
Of  clothing,  er  she  boughte  hir  newe, 
Al  were  it  bad  of  woUe  and  hewe. 
This  Avarice  held  in  hir  liande 
A  purs,  that  heng  [doun]  by  a  bande  ;    240 
And  that  she  hidde  and  bond  so  stronge, 
Men  must  abyde  wonder  longe 
Out  of  that  purs  er  ther  come  ought. 
For  that  ne  cometh  not  in  hir  thought ; 
It  was  not,  certein,  hir  entente  245 

That  fro  that  purs  a  peny  wente. 
Envye. 

And  by  that  image,  nygh  y-uough. 
Was  fpeynt  Envye,  that  ne%'er  lough, 
Kor  never  wel  in  herte  ferde 
But-if  she  outher  saugh  or  herde  250 


ZU  (^omaunf  of  tU  (Foe«. 


[Fkagment  a. 


Soni  greet  mischaunce,  or  greet  disese. 
No-thing  may  so  moch  hir  plese 
As  mischef  and  niisa venture  ; 
Or  whau  she  seeth  discomfiture 
■)-0n  any  worthy  man  [to]  falle,  255 

Than  lyketh  hir  [ful]  wel  withalle. 
She  is  ful  glad  in  hir  corage, 
If  she  see  any  greet  linage 
Be  brought  to  nought  in  shamful  ^vyse. 
And  if  a  man  in  honour  rj-se,  260 

Or  by  his  witte,  or  by  prowesse, 
Of  that  hath  she  gret  hevinesse  ; 
For,  trusteth  wel,  she  goth  nigh  wood 
AVhen  any  chaunce  happeth  good. 
Envye  is  of  swich  crueltee,  265 

That  feith  ne  trouthe  holdeth  she 
To  freend  ne  felawe,  bad  or  good. 
Ne  she  hath  kin  noon  of  hir  blood, 
That  she  nis  ful  hir  enemy  ; 
She  nolde,  I  dar  seyn  hardely,  270 

Hir  owne  fader  ferde  wel. 
And  sore  abyeth  she  everydel 
Hir  malice,  and  hir  nialtalent : 
For  she  is  in  so  greet  turment 
And  hath   such    [wo],   whan    folk   doth 
good,  275 

That  nigh  she  melteth  for  pure  wood ; 
Hir  herto  kei-veth  and  +to-breketh 
That  god  the  pexile  wel  awreketh. 
Envj'e,  y-wis,  shal  never  lette 
Som  blame  upon  the  folk  to  sette.         280 
I  trowc  that  if  En-vye,  y-wis, 
Knewe  the  beste  man  that  is 
On  this  syde  or  biyond  the  see, 
Yit  somwhat  lakken  him  wolde  she. 
And  if  he  were  so  hende  and  ^vys,  285 

That  she  ne  mighte  al  abate  his  prys, 
Yit  wolde  she  blame  his  worthLnesse, 
Or  by  hir  wordes  make  it  lesse. 
I  saugh  En\-j-e,  in  that  peynting, 
Hadde  a  wonderful  loking  ;  290 

For  she  no  loked  but  awry, 
Or  overthwart,  ai  baggingly. 
And  she  hadde  [eek]  a  fovil  usage  ; 
She  mighte  loke  in  no  \-isage 
Of  man  or  womman  forth-right  pleyn,  295 
But  shette  oon  ye  for  disdeyn  ; 
So  for  en^-ye  brenned  she 
Whan  she  mighte  any  man  [y]-see. 
That  fair,  or  worthy  were,  or  wj'S, 
Or  elles  stood  in  folkes  prys.  300 


Sorowe. 

SoRowE  was  peynted  next  Envye 
Upon  that  walle  of  masonrye. 
But  wel  was  seen  in  hir  colour 
That  she  hadde  lived  in  langour ; 
Hir  semed  havij  the  Jaunyce.  305 

Nought  half  so  pale  was  Avaryce, 
Nor  no-thing  lyk,  [as]  of  lenesse  ; 
For  sorowe,  thought,  and  greet  distresse, 
That  she  hadde  suffred  day  and  night 
Made  hir  ful  yelwe,  and  no-thing  bright, 
Ful  fade,  pale,  and  megro  also.  311 

Was  never  wight  yit  half  so  wo 
As  that  hir  semed  for  to  be, 
Nor  so  fulfilled  of  ire  as  she. 
I  trowe  that  no  wight  mighte  hir  plese, 315 
Nor  do  that  thing  that  mighte  hir  ese  ; 
Nor  she  no  wolde  hir  sorowe  slake, 
Nor  comfort  noon  unto  hir  take  ; 
So  depe  was  hir  wo  bigonnen. 
And  eek  hir  herte  in  angre  ronnen,      320 
A  sorowful  thing  wel  semed  she. 
Nor  she  hadde  no-thing  slowo  be 
For  to  forcracchen  al  hir  face. 
And  for  to  f  rende  in  many  place 
Hir  clothes,  and  for  to  tere  hir  swire,   325 
As  she  that  was  fulfilled  of  ire  ; 
And  al  to-torn  lay  eek  hir  here 
Aboute  hir  shuldres,  here  and  there. 
As  she  tliat  hadde  it  al  to-ront 
For  angre  and  for  maltalent.  330 

And  eek  I  telle  you  certeynly 
How  that  she  weep  ful  tenderly. 
In  world  nis  wight  so  hard  of  herte 
That  hadde  seen  hir  sorowes  sniorto, 
Tliat  nolde  have  had  of  hir  pitee,  335 

So  wo-bigoon  a  thing  was  she. 
She  al  to-dasshte  hir-self  for  wo. 
And  smoot  togider  hir  handes  two. 
To  sorwe  was  she  ful  ententj-f. 
That  woful  recchelees  caityf ;  340 

Hir  roughte  litel  of  pleying, 
Or  of  clipping  or  [of]  kissing  ; 
For  who-so  sorweful  is  in  herto 
Him  liste  not  to  pleyc  ne  sterte. 
Nor  for  to  daunsen,  ne  to  singe,  345 

Ne  may  his  hei-te  in  temper  bringe 
To  make  joye  on  even  or  morowe  ; 
For  joye  is  contraire  unto  sorowe. 
Elde. 

Elde  was  peynted  after  this. 


Fragmext  a.] 


ZU  (S^ovxamt  of  iU  (Koee. 


Tliat  shorter  was  a  foot,  y-wis,  350 

Than  she  was  wont  in  her  yonghede. 
Unnethe  hir-self  she  mighte  fade  ; 
So  feble  and  eek  so  old  was  she 
Tliat  faded  was  al  hir  heantee. 
Fnl  salowe  was  waxen  hir  colour,  355 

Hir  heed  for-hoor  was,  whyt  as  flour. 
Y-wis,  gret  qualm  ne  were  it  noon, 
Ne  sinne,  although  hir  lyf  were  gon. 
Al  woxen  was  hir  body  unwelde. 
And  drye,  and  dwyned  al  for  elde.        360 
A  foul  forwelked  thing  was  she 
That  whylom  round  and  softe  had  be. 
Hir  eres  shoken  fast  withalle, 
As  from  her  heed  they  wolde  falle. 
Hir  face  frounced  and  forpyned,  365 

And  bothe  hir  hondes  lorn,  fordwyned. 
So  old  she  was  that  she  ne  wente 
A  foot,  but  it  were  by  potente. 
Time. 
The  TvME,  that  passeth  night  and  day. 
And  restelees  travayleth  ay,  370 

And  steleth  from  us  so  prively, 
That  to  \is  semeth  sikerly 
That  it  in  oon  point  dwelleth  ever, 
And  certes,  it  ne  resteth  never, 
But  goth  so  faste,  and  passeth  ay,  375 

That  ther  nis  man  that  thinke  may 
"\Miat  tyme  that  now  present  is  : 
Asketh  at  these  clerkes  this  ; 
For  [er]  men  thinke  it  redily, 
Tliree  tymes  been  y-passed  by.  3S0 

The  tyme,  that  may  not  sojourne. 
But  goth,  and  f  never  may  retourne, 
As  water  that  doim  renneth  ay, 
But  never  drope  retoiirne  may  ; 
Ther  may  no-thing  as  tj'me  endure,      3S5 
Metal,  nor  erthely  creature  ; 
For  alle  thing  it  fret,  and  shal  : 
The  tjTne  eek,  that  chaungeth  al. 
And  al  doth  waxe  and  fostred  be. 
And  alle  thing  distroyeth  he  :  390 

The  tyme,  that  eldeth  our  auncessours 
And  eldeth  kinges  and  emperours. 
And  that  us  alle  shal  overcomen 
Er  that  deeth  us  shal  have  nomen  : 
The  tyme,  that  hath  al  in  welde  395 

To  elden  folk,  had  maad  hir  elde 
So  inly,  that,  to  my  witing. 
She  mighte  helpe  hir-self  no-thing. 
But  t\\rned  ageyn  unto  childhede  ; 


She  had  no-thing  hir-self  to  lede,  400 

Ke  wit  ne  pith  in[with]  hir  holde 
More  than  a  child  of  two  yeer  olde. 
But  natheles,  I  trowe  that  she 
Was  fair  sumtyme,  and  fresh  to  see, 
Wlian  she  was  in  hir  rightful  age  :       405 
But  she  was  past  al  that  passage 
And  was  a  doted  thing  bicomen. 
A  furred  cope  on  had  she  nomen  ; 
Wei  had  she  clad  hir-self  and  warm. 
For  cold  mighte  elles  doon  hir  harm.  410 
These  olde  folk  have  alwey  colde, 
Hir    kind    is    swiche,   whan    they    ben 
olde. 

Pope-holy. 
Another  thing  was  doon  ther  write. 
That  semede  lyk  an  ipocrite. 
And  it  was  cleped  Pope-holy.  415 

That  ilke  is  she  that  prively 
Ne  spareth  never  a  wikked  dede, 
^^^lan  men  of  hir  taken  non  hede  ; 
And  maketh  hir  outward  precioiis, 
With  pale  visage  and  pitous,  420 

And  semeth  a,  simple  creature  ; 
But  ther  nis  no  misaventure 
That  she  ne  thenketh  in  hir  corage. 
Ful  lyk  to  hir  was  that  image. 
That  maked  was  lyk  hir  semblaunoe.    425 
She  was  ful  simple  of  countenance. 
And  she  was  clothed  and  eek  shod, 
As  she  were,  for  the  love  of  god, 
Yolden  to  religioun, 

Swich  semed  hir  devocioun.  430 

A  sauter  held  she  faste  in  honde, 
And  bisily  she  gan  to  fondo 
To  make  many  a  feynt  prayere 
To  god,  and  to  his  seyntes  dero. 
Ne  she  was  gay,  fresh,  ne  jolyf,  435 

But  semed  be  ful  ententyf 
To  gode  werkes,  and  to  faire. 
And  therto  she  had  on  an  haire. 
Ne  certes,  she  was  fat  no-thing. 
But  semed  wery  for  fasting  ;  440 

Of  colour  pale  and  deed  was  she. 
From  hir  the  gate  -fshal  wemed  be 
Of  paradys,  that  blisful  place  ; 
For  swich  folk  maketh  lene  hir  "fface. 
As  Crist  seith  in  his  evangjde,  445 

To  gete  hem  prys  in  toun  a  whyle  ; 
And  for  a  litel  glorio  veine 
They  lesen  god  and  eek  his  reine. 


ZU  (Romaunf  of  tU  (Bo6«. 


[Fkagment  a. 


Povert. 

And  alderlast  of  everichoon, 
Was  peynted  Povekt  al  aloon,  450 

That  not  a  peny  liadde  in  wolde, 
Al-though  [that]  she  hir  clothes  solde, 
And  though  she  shulde  anhonged  be; 
For  naked  as  a  worm  was  she. 
And  if  the  wedor  stormy  were,  455 

For  colde  she  shiilde  liave  deyed  there 
She  nadde  on  but  a  streit  old  sak, 
And  many  a  eloiit  on  it  ther  stak  ; 
This  was  hir  cote  and  hir  mantel, 
No  more  was  there,  never  a  del,  460 

To  clothe  her  with  ;  I  undertake, 
Gret  lej'ser  hadde  she  to  quake. 
And  she  was  put,  that  I  of  talke, 
Fer  fro  these  other,  up  in  an  halke  ; 
There  lurked  and  there  eoured  she  ;     465 
For  povre  thing,  wher-so  it  be, 
Is  shamfast,  and  despysed  ay. 
Acursed  may  wel  be  that  day, 
That  povre  man  concey\-ed  is  ; 
For  god  wot,  al  to  selde,  y-'^vis,  470 

Is  any  povre  man  wel  fed, 
Or  wel  arayed  or  y-cled. 
Or  wel  biloved,  in  swich  wyse 
In  honour  tliat  he  may  arj-se. 

AUe  these  thingcs,  wel  avysed,  475 

As  I  have  you  cr  this  dc^•ysed, 
With  gold  and  asure  over  alle 
Depeynted  were  upon  the  walle. 
Squar  was  tlie  wal,  and  high  somdel  ; 
Enclosed,  and  y-barred  wel,  480 

In  stede  of  hegge,  was  that  gardin  ; 
Com  never  shepherde  therin. 
Into  that  gardyn,  wel  [y-]^^TOught, 
"\\nio-so  that  me  coude  have  brought. 
By  fladdre,  or  elles  by  degree,  485 

It  wolde  wel  have  lyked  me. 
For  swich  solace,  swich  joye,  and  play, 
I  trowe  that  never  man  ne  say, 
As  in  that  place  delitous. 
The  gardin  was  not  daungerous  490 

To  herberwe  briddes  many  oon. 
So  riche  a  +yerd  was  never  noon 
Of  briddes  songe,  and  braunches  grene. 
Therin  were  briddes  mo,  I  wene. 
Than  been  in  alle  the  rewme  of  Fraunce. 
Ful  blisful  was  the  accordaunce  496 

Of  swete  and  pitous  songe  they  made. 
For  al  this  world  it  ouglite  glade. 


And  I  my-self  so  mery  ferde, 
Wlian  I  liir  blisful  songes  herdo,  500 

That  for  an  hundred  pound  fnolde  I, — 
If  that  the  iiassage  openly 
Hadde  been  unto  me  free — 
That  I  nolde  entren  for  to  see 
Thassemblee,  god  fit  kepe  and  were !     505 
Of  briddes,  whiche  therinne  were. 
That  songen,  through  hir  mery  throtes, 
Daunces  of  love,  and  merj-  notes. 

A^lian  I  thus  herde  foules  singe, 
I  fel  faste  in  a  weymentinge,  510 

By  which  art,  or  by  what  engjoi 
I  mighte  come  in  that  gardyn  ; 
But  way  I  couthe  finde  noon 
Into  that  gardin  for  to  goon. 
Ne  nought  wiste  I  if  that  ther  were     515 
Eyther  hole  or  place  [o]-where. 
By  which  I  mighte  have  entree  ; 
Ne  ther  was  noon  to  teclie  me  ; 
For  I  was  al  aloon,  y-wis, 
tFul  wo  and  anguissous  of  this.  520 

Til  attc  last  bitlioughto  I  me, 
Tliat  by  no  weyo  ne  mighte  it  bo  ; 
That  tlier  nas  laddre  or  wey  to  passe, 
Or  hole,  into  so  fair  a  place. 

Tho  gan  I  go  a  ful  gret  pas  5^5 

En^■>•^oning  even  in  compas 
Tlie  closing  of  the  square  wal. 
Til  that  I  fond  a  wiket  smal 
So  shet,  that  I  ne  mighte  in  goon. 
And  other  entree  was  ther  noon.  551) 

The  Door. 

Upon  this  dore  I  gan  to  smyto. 
That  was  [so]  fetys  and  so  lyte  ; 
For  other  wey  cotidc  I  not  seke. 
Ful  long  I  shoof,  and  knokked  eke. 
And  stood  ful  long  and  of[t]  herkning  535 
If  tliat  I  iierde  +a  wight  coming  ; 
Til  that  the  dore  of  tliilke  entree 
A  mayden  cnrteys  opened  me. 

Ydelnesse. 
Hir  heer  was  as  yelowe  of  hewe 
As  any  basin  scoured  newe.  540 

Hir  flesh  [as]  tcndre  as  is  a  chike. 
With  bente  browes,  smothe  and  slike; 
And  by  mesure  large  were 
The  opening  of  hir  yen  clere. 
Hir  nose  of  good  proporcioun,  545 

Hir  yen  greye  as  a  faucoun, 
^^'ith  swete  breeth  and  wel  savoured. 


Fragment  A.] 


ZU  (^otnaunf  of  t^  (Roee. 


Hir  face  whyt  and  wel  coloured, 
With  litel  mouth,  and  round  to  see  ; 
A  clove  chin  eek  hadde  she.  55" 

Hir  nekke  was  of  good  fasoun 
In  lengthe  and  gretnesse,  by  resoun, 
Withoute  bleyne,  scabbe,  or  royne. 
Fro  Jerusalem  unto  Burgoyne 
Ther  nis  a  fairer  nekke,  y-wis,  555 

To  fele  how  smothe  and  softe  it  is 
Hir  throte,  al-so  whyt  of  hewe 
As  snow  on  braunche  snowed  newe. 
Of  body  ful  wel  wrought  was  she  ; 
Men  neded  not,  in  no  cuntree,  560 

A  fairer  body  for  to  seke. 
And  of  fjTi  orfrays  had  she  eke 
A  chapelet  :  so  semly  oon 
Ne  wered  never  mayde  upon  ;  .  .  .  . 
And  faire  above  that  chapelet  565 

A  rose  garland  had  she  set. 
She  hadde  [in  honde]  a  gay  mirour, 
And  with  a  riche  gold  tressour 
Hir  heed  was  tressed  queyntel}' ; 
Hir  sieves  sewed  fetisly.  570 

And  for  to  kepe  hir  hondes  faire 
Of  gloves  whj'te  she  hadde  a  paire. 
And  she  hadde  on  a  cote  of  grene 
Of  cloth  of  Gaunt ;  withouten  wene, 
Wel  semed  by  hir  apparayle  575 

Slie  was  not  wont  to  greet  travayle. 
F.  >r  whan  she  kempt  was  fetisly, 
And  wel  arayed  and  richely, 
Thanne  had  she  doon  al  hir  joumee  ; 
For  mery  and  wel  bigoon  was  she.         580 
.She  ladde  a  lusty  lyf  in  May, 
Slie  hadde  no  tliought,  by  night  ne  day. 
Of  no-thing,  but  it  were  oonly 
To  graythe  hir  wel  and  uncoiithly. 
Whan  that  this  dore  hadde  opened  me 


This  f  mayden,  semely  for  to  see, 
I  thanked  liir  as  I  best  mighte. 
And  axede  hir  how  that  she  highte, 
And  what  she  was,  I  axede  eke. 
And  she  to  me  was  nought  unmeke, 
Ne  of  hir  answer  daungerous. 
But  faire  answerde,  and  seide  thus  :- 
'  Lo,  sir,  my  name  is  Ydelnesse  ; 
So  clepe  men  me,  more  and  lesse. 
Ful  mighty  and  ful  riche  am  I, 
And  that  of  oon  thing,  namely  ; 
For  I  entende  to  no-thing 
Bv.t  to  my  joye,  and  my  pleying, 


586 


And  for  to  kembe  and  tresse  me. 

Aqiieynted  am  I,  and  privee  6(x> 

With  Mirthe,  lord  of  this  gardyn, 

That  fro  the  lande  fAlexandryn 

Made  the  trees  fbe  liider  fet. 

That  in  this  gardin  been  y-set.  604 

And  when  the  trees  were  woxen  on  highte, 

This  wal,  that  stant  here  in  thy  sighte, 

Dide  Mirthe  enolosen  al  aboute  ; 

And  these  images,  al  withovite. 

He  dide  hem  bothe  entaile  and  peynte, 

That  neither  ben  jolyf  ne  queynte,        610 

But  they  ben  ful  ofsorowe  and  wo, 

As  tho\i  hast  seen  a  whyle  ago. 

'  And  ofte  tyme,  him  to  solace, 
Sir  Mirthe  cometh  into  this  place. 
And  eek  with  him  cometh  his  meynee, 
That  liven  in  lust  and  jolitee.  f>i6 

And  now  is  Mirthe  therin,  to  here 
The  briddes,  how  they  singen  clere, 
The  mavis  and  the  nightingale, 
And  other  joly  briddes  smale.  ^J<> 

And  thus  he  walketh  to  solace 
Him  and  his  folk  ;  for  swetter  place 
To  pleyen  in  he  may  not  iinde. 
Although  he  sough te  oon  in-til  Inde. 
The  alther-fairest  folk  to  see  625 

Tliat  in  this  world  may  founde  be 
Hath  Mirthe  with  him  in  his  route, 
Tliat  folowen  him  alwayes  aboute.' 

When  Ydelnesse  had  told  al  this. 
And  I  hadde  lierkned  wel,  y-wis,  6,^0 

Than  seide  I  to  dame  Ydelnesse, 
'  Now  al-so  wisly  god  me  blesse, 
Sitli  Mirthe,  that  is  so  fair  and  free. 
Is  in  this  yerde  with  his  mejoiee, 
Fro  thilke  assemblee,  if  I  may,  <\^S 

Shal  no  man  wernc  me  to-day. 
That  I  this  night  ne  mote  it  see. 
For,  wel  wene  I,  ther  with  him  be 
A  fair  and  jcdy  companje 
Fulfilled  of  alle  cujtesye.'  1^40 

And  forth,  without  wordes  mo, 
In  at  the  wiket  wente  I  tho. 
That  Ydelnesse  hadde  opened  me, 
Into  that  gardin  fair  to  see. 
The  Garden. 

And  whan  I  was  [ther]in,  y-wis,          645 
Myn  herte  was  ful  glad  of  this. 
For  wel  wende  I  ful  sikerly 
Have  been  in  paradys  erth[e]ly  ; 


tU  (JPiomawxt  of  tU  (Jloee. 


[Fragment  A. 


So  fair  it  was,  that,  trusteth  wel. 

It  semed  a  place  espirituel.  650 

For  certes,  as  at  my  devys, 

Ther  is  no  place  in  paradys 

So  good  in  for  to  dwelle  or  be 

As  in  that  Gardis,  thoughte  me  ; 

For  there  was  many  a  brid  singing,      655 

Tliroughout  the  yerde  al  thringing. 

In  many  places  were  nightingales, 

Alpes,  finches,  and  wodewales, 

That  in  her  swete  song  delyten 

In  thilke  i-placo  as  they  hab.^-ten.  660 

Ther  mighte  men  see  many  flokkes 

Of  turtles  and  [of]  laverokkes. 

Chalaundres  fele  saw  I  there. 

That  wery,  nigh  forsongen  were. 

And  thrnstles,  terins,  and  ma\ys,         665 

That  songen  for  to  winne  hem  prys, 

And  eek  to  sormounte  in  hir  song 

fThese  other  briddes  hem  among. 

By  note  made  fair  senyse 

These  briddes,  that  I  you  de\yse  ;          670 

They  songe  hir  song  as  faire  and  wel 

As  angels  doon  espirituel. 

And,  trnsteth  wel,  whan  T  hem  herde. 

Full  lustily  and  wel  I  ferde  ; 

For  never  yit  swich  melodyo  675 

Was  herd  of  man  that  mighte  dye. 

Swich  swete  song  was  hem  among, 

That  me  thoughte  it  no  briddes  song, 

But  it  was  wonder  lyk  to  be 

Song  of  mermaydens  of  the  see  ;  680 

Tliat,  for  her  singing  is  so  clere, 

Though  we  mermaydens  clepe  hem  here 

In  English,  as  in  our  usaunce. 

Men  clepe[n]  hem  serejTis  in  Fraunce. 
Ententifweren  for  to  singe  685 

These  briddes  that  nought  unkunninge 

AVere  of  hir  craft,  and  apprentys. 

But  of  [hir]  song  sotyl  and  -wys. 

And  certes,  whan  I  herde  hir  song. 

And  saw  the  grene  place  among,  690 

In  herte  I  wex  so  wonder  gay. 

That  I  was  never  erst,  er  that  day, 

So  jolyf,  nor  so  wel  bigo, 

Ne  mery  in  herte,  as  I  was  tho. 

And  than  wiste  I,  and  saw  ful  wel,       695 

That  Ydelnesse  me  serv-ed  wel, 

That  me  pntte  in  swich  jolitee. 

Hir  freend  wel  oughte  I  for  to  be, 

Sith  she  the  dore  of  that  gardyn 


Hadde  opened,  and  me  leten  in.  700 

From  hennesforth  how  that  I  wroughte, 

I  shal  you  teUen,  as  me  thoughte. 

First,  whereof  Mirthe  ser^'ed  there. 

And  eek  what  folk  ther  with  him  were, 

Without[e]  fable  I  wol  descryve.  705 

And  of  that  gardin  eek  as  bl,y\-e 

I  wol  you  tellen  after  this. 

The  faire  fasoun  al,  y-wis. 

That  wel  [j'-]wrought  was  for  the  nones, 

I  may  not  telle  you  al  at  ones  :  710 

Biit  as  I  may  and  can,  I  shal 

By  ordre  tellen  you  it  al. 

Ful  fair  servyse  and  eek  ful  swete 

These  briddes  maden  as  they  sete. 

Layes  of  love,  ful  wel  sowning  715 

They  songen  in  hir  jargoning  ; 

Summo  highe  and  summe  eek  lowe  songe 

Upon  the  braunches  grene  y-spronge. 

The  sweetnesse  of  hir  melodye 

Made  al  myn  herte  in  -f-reverdye.  720 

And  whan  that  I  hadde  herd,  I  trowe, 
Tliese  briddes  singing  on  a  rowe, 
Than  mighte  I  not  withliolde  me 
That  I  ne  wente  in  for  to  see 
Sir  Mirthe  ;  for  my  desiring  725 

Was  him  to  seen,  over  alle  thing. 
His  countenaunce  and  his  manere  : 
That  sighte  was  to  me  ful  dere. 
Sir  Mirthe. 
Tlio  wente  I  forth  on  my  right  hond 
Doun  by  a  litel  path  I  fond  730 

Of  mentes  ful,  and  fenel  grene  ; 
And  faste  by,  withouto  wene. 
Sir  Mirthe  I  fond  ;  and  right  anoon 
Unto  sir  Mirthe  gan  I  goon, 
Ther-as  he  was,  him  to  solace.  735 

And  with  him,  in  that  lusty  place, 
So  fair  folk  and  so  fresh  hadde  he, 
That  whan  I  saw,  I  wondred  me 
Fro  whennes  swich  folk  mighte  come. 
So  faire  they  weren,  alle  and  some  ;     740 
For  they  were  lyk,  as  to  my  sighte, 
To  angels,  that  ben  fethered  brighte. 
Gladnesse. 
This  folk,  of  which  I  telle  you  so. 
Upon  a  Carole  wenten  tho. 
A  lady  caroled  hem,  that  highte  745 

Gladnesse,  [the]  blisful,  the  lighte  ; 
Wel  coude  she  singe  and  lustily, 
Non  half  so  wel  and  semely. 


FUAOMEXT  A.] 


ZH  (Romaunt  of  tH  (Koee. 


And  make  in  song  swioli  refreininge, 

It  sat  hir  wonder  wel  to  singe.  750 

Hir  vois  ful  cleer  was  and  ful  swete. 

She  was  nought  rnde  ne  unmete, 

But  couthe  y-now  of  swich  doing 

As  longeth  unto  caroling  : 

For  she  was  wont  in  eveiT  place  755 

To  singen  first,  folk  to  solace  ; 

For  singing  most  she  gaf  hir  to  ; 

No  craft  had  she  so  leef  to  do. 

Tlio  mightest  thou  caroles  seen, 
And  folk  [ther]  daunce  and  merj'  been,  760 
And  fmake  many  a  fair  tourning 
Upon  the  grene  gras  springing. 
Ther  mightest  thou  see  these  floutours, 
Minstrales,  and  eek  jogelours. 
That  wel  to  singe  dide  hir  peyne.  765 

Somme  songe  songes  of  Loreyne  ; 
For  in  Loreyne  hir  notes  be 
Ful  swetter  than  in  this  contree. 
Ther  was  many  a  timbestere. 

And  saylours,  that  I  dar  wel  swere        770 

Couthe  hir  craft  ful  parfitly. 

The  timbres  up  ful  sotilly 

They  caste,  and  hente[n  hem]  ful  ofte 

Upon  a  finger  fiiire  and  softe. 

That  they  [ne]  tayled  never-mo.  775 

Ful  fetis  damiselles  two, 

Eight  yonge,  and  fuUe  of  semlihede. 

In  kirtles,  and  non  other  wede. 

And  faire  tressed  every  tresse. 

Had  Mirthe  doon,  for  his  noblesse,        7S0 

Amidde  the  carole  for  to  daunce  ; 

But  her-of  Ij-th  no  remembraunce. 

How  that  they  daunced  queyntely. 

That  oon  wolde  come  al  prively 

Agayn  that  other  :  and  whan  they  were 

Togidre  almost,  they  threwe  y-fere       7S6 

Hir  mouthes  so,  that  through  hir  play 

It  semed  as  they  kiste  alway  ; 

To  dauncen  wel  coude  they  the  gyse  ; 

^Vliat  shulde  I  more  to  you  devyse  ?      790 

Ke  fbede  I  never  thennes  go, 

Whyles  that  I  saw  hem  daunce  so. 
Curtesye. 
Upon  the  carole  wonder  faste 

I  gan  biholde  ;  til  atte  laste 

A  lady  gan  me  for  to  espye,  795 

And  she  was  cleped  Curtesye, 

The  worshipful,  the  debonaire  ; 

I  pray  god  ever  falle  hir  faire  ! 


Ful  curteisly  she  called  me, 
'  What   do   ye  there,    beau    sire  ? '    quod 
she,  800 

'  Come  [neer],  and  if  it  lyke  yow 
To  dauncen,  daunceth  with  i\s  now.' 
And  I,  withotite  tarying, 
Wente  into  the  caroling. 
I  was  abasshed  never  a  del,  S05 

But  it  me  lykede  right  wel 
That  Curtesye  me  cleped  so, 
And  bad  me  on  the  daunce  go. 
For  if  I  hadde  durst,  certeyn 
I  wolde  have  caroled  right  fayn,  Sio 

As  man  that  was  to  daunce  blythe. 
Than  gan  I  loken  ofte  sythe 
The  shap,  the  bodies,  and  the  cheres. 
The  countenaunce  and  the  maneres 
Of  alle  the  folk  that  daunced  there,      815 
And  I  shal  telle  what  they  were. 
Mirthe. 
Ful  fair  was  Mirthe,  ful   ong  and  high  ; 
A  fairer  man  I  never  sigh. 
As  round  as  appel  was  his  face, 
Ful  rody  and  whyt  in  every  place.         820 
Fetys  he  was  and  wel  beseye. 

With  metely  mouth  and  yen  greye  ; 

His  nose  by  mesui-e  wrought  fvxl  right ; 

Crisp  was  his  heer,  and  eek  ful  bright. 

His  shuldres  of  a  large  brede,  825 

And  smalish  in  the  girdilstede. 

He  semed  lyk  a  portreittire. 

So  noble  he  was  of  his  stature, 

So  fair,  so  joly,  and  so  fetys, 

With  limes  wrought  at  poynt  devys,    830 

Deliver,  smert,  and  of  gret  might ; 

Ne  sawe  thou  never  man  so  light. 

Of  berde  unnethe  hadde  he  no-thing. 

For  it  was  in  the  firste  spring. 

Fill  yong  he  was,  and  mery  of  thought. 

And  in  samyt,  with  briddes  wrough-"    8.^6 

And  with  gold  beten  fetisly, 

His  body  was  clad  ful  richely. 

Wrought  was  his  robe  in  straunge  gyse. 

And  al  to-slitered  for  qucyntyse  840 

In  many  a  place,  lowe  and  bye. 

And  shod  he  was  with  greet  maistrye, 

With  shoon  decoped,  and  with  laas. 

By  druerye,  and  by  solas, 

His  leef  a  rosen  ehapelet  845 

Had  maad,  and  on  his  heed  it  set. 
And  wite  ye  who  was  his  leef? 


B3 


^$e  (Homaunt  of  t^e  (UO0C. 


[FUAOMEST  A. 


Gladnesse. 
Dame  Gladxes  ther  was  him  so  leof, 
That  singeth  so  wel  with  glail  corage, 
That  from  she  was  twelve  yeer  of  age,  850 
She  of  hir  love  graunt  him  made. 
Sir  Mirthe  hir  by  the  finger  hadde 
[In]  daunsing,  and  she  him  also ; 
Gret  love  was  atwixe  hem  two. 
Bothe  were  they  faire  and  brighte  of  hewe; 
Slie  semede  lyk  a  rose  newe  856 

Of  colour,  and  hir  flesh  so  tendre, 
That  with  a  brere  smale  and  slendre 
Men  mighto  it  dcve,  1  dar  wel  fsayn. 
Hir  forhued,  frouueeles  al  fplayn.        860 
Bento  were  hir  browes  two, 
Hir  yen  greye,  and  gladde  also, 
That  laughede  ay  in  hir  semblannt. 
First  or  tlie  mouth,  by  covenaunt. 
I  +noot  what  of  hir  nose  descry%-e  ;       865 
So  fair  hath  no  womman  alj-ve  .... 
Hir  heer  was  yelowe,  and  cleer  shyning, 
I  wot  no  lady  so  lyking. 
Of  orfrays  fresh  was  hir  gerland  ; 
I,  whiche  seen  have  a  thousand,  870 

Saugh  never,  j'-wis,  no  gerlond  j-it, 
So  wel  [y]-wrought  of  silk  as  it. 
And  in  an  over-gilt  saniyt 
Clad  she  was,  by  gret  delj-t. 
Of  which  hir  leef  a  robe  werde,  875 

Tlie  mj-rier  she  in  herte  ferde. 
Cupide. 

And  next  hir  wente,  on  hir  other  syde, 
The  g^d  of  Love,  that  can  de%-3'de 
Love,  i  as  him  lyketh  it  [to]  be. 
But  he  can  cherles  daunten,  he,  880 

And  makcn  folkes  pryde  fallen. 
And  he  can  wel  these  lordes  thrallen, 
And  ladies  putte  at  lowe  degree, 
Whan  he  may  hem  to  proude  see. 

This  God  .  .f  Love  of  his  fasoun  885 

AVas  lyk  no  knave,  ne  quistroun  ; 
His  Ijeautee  gretly  was  to  pryse. 
But  of  his  robe  to  de\-yse 
I  drede  encombred  for  to  be. 
For  nought  y-clad  in  silk  was  he,  890 

But  al  in  floiircs  and  flourettes, 
Y-painted  al  with  amorettes  ; 
And  with  losenges  and  scochouns, 
AVith  briddos,  libardes,  and  lyouns. 
And  other  Iiecstes  wrought  fnl  weL       895 
His  garnement  was  everydel 


Y-portreyd  and  y-wrought  with  floures, 
By  d.\-\-ers  medling  of  coloures. 
Flouros  ther  were  of  many  gj-se 
Y-set  by  compas  in  assyse  ;  900 

Ther  lakked  no  flour,  to  my  dome, 
Ne  nought  so  muclie  as  flour  of  brome, 
Xe  violete^  no  eek  pervenke, 
Ne  flour  non,  that  man  can  on  thenke  ; 
And  many  a  rose-leof  ful  long  905 

Was  entermedled  ther-among  : 
And  also  on  his  heed  was  set 
Of  roses  rede  a  chapclet. 
But  nightingales,  a  ful  gret  route. 
That  flyen  over  his  heed  aboute,  910 

Tlie  leves  feldeu  as  they  flyen  ; 
And  lie  was  al  with  briddes  wryen, 
With  popinjay,  with  nightingsvle, 
With  chalaundre,  and  with  wodowale, 
With  finch, with  lark,andwith  archaungel. 
He  semede  as  he  were  an  aungel  916 

That  doun  were  comen  fro  hevene  clere. 
Swete-Loking. 
Love  hadde  with  him  a  liachelere, 
That  he  made  alwpyes  with  him  be  ; 
SwETE-LoKiKO  cleped  was  he.  920 

This  iMichelere  st<x)d  biholding 
The  daunce,  and  in  his  hondo  holding 
i  Turke  bowes  two  hadde  he. 
That  oon  of  hem  was  of  a  tree 
That  Ix^reth  a  fniyt  of  sivour  wikke  ;  925 
Ful  croked  was  that  foule  stikke. 
And  knotty  here  and  there  also, 
And  blak  as  bery,  or  any  slo. 
That  other  bowe  was  of  a  plante 
Without  wem,  I  dar  warante,  930 

Ful  even,  and  by  proporcioun 
Tretys  and  long,  of  gf)od  fasoun. 
And  it  was  peynted  wel  and  thwiten, 
And  over-al  diapred  and  writen 
With  ladies  and  with  bacheleres,  935 

Ful  lightsom  and  [ful]  glad  of  cheres. 
These  bowes  two  held  Swete-Loking, 
That  semed  lyk  no  gadeling. 
And  ten  brode  arowes  held  he  there. 
Of  which  five  in  his  right  hond  were.  940 
But  they  were  shaven  wel  and  dight, 
Nokked  and  fethered  a-right  ; 
And  al  they  were  with  gold  bigoon, 
And  stronge  poj-nted  everichoon, 
And  sharpe  for  to  ker\-en  weeL  945 

But  iren  was  ther  noon  ne  steel : 


Fragmext  a.] 


Z^  (Kontaunf  of  tU  (B«6^- 


For  al  WHS  gold,  men  mighte  it  see, 
Out-take  the  fetheres  and  the  tree. 
Beautee. 

The  swiftest  of  these  arowes  tyve 
Owt  of  a  bovve  for  to  dry\-e,  950 

And  best  [y]-fethered  for  to  flee, 
And  fairest  eek,  was  cleped  Beautee, 

Simplesse. 
Tliat  other  arowe,  that  hurteth  lesse, 
Was  cleped,  as  I  trowe,  Simplesse, 

Fraunchyse. 
The  thridde  cleped  was  FRAnKCHYSE,     955 
That  fethered  was,  in  noble  'wyse, 
With  valour  and  with  cnrtesye. 

Companye. 
Tlio  fourthe  was  cleped  Companye, 
Tliat  he^•y  for  to  fsheten  is  ; 
But  who-so  sheteth  right,  y-wis,  960 

May  therwith  doon  gret  harm  and  wo. 

Fair-Semblannt. 
The  fifte  of  these,  and  laste  also, 
Faiu-Semulaunt  men  that  arowe  calle. 
The  leeste  grevons  of  hem  alle  ; 
Yit  can  it  make  a  fnl  gret  wounde,       965 
But  he  ma  J'  hope  his  sores  sounde, 
That  hurt  is  with  that  arowe,  y-wis  ; 
His  wo  the  bet  bistowed  is. 
For  he  may  soner  have  gladnesse, 
His  langour  oixghte  be  the  lesse.  970 

Fyve  arowes  were  of  other  gj'se, 
That  been  ful  foulo  to  de\'yse  ; 
For  shaft  and  ende,  sooth  to  telle, 
Were  al-so  blak  as  feend  in  lielle. 
Pryde. 

The  first  of  hem  is  called  Pkyde  ;       975 
Vilanye. 
That  other  arowe  next  him  bisyde, 
It  was  [y]-cleped  Vilasye  ; 
That  arowe  was  as  with  felonye 
Envenimed,  and  with  spitous  blame. 

Shame. 
The  thridde  of  hem  was  cleped  Shame.  980 

Wanhope. 
The  fourthe,  Wanhope  doped  is, 

Newe-Thought. 
The  fifte,  the  Nf.wr-Tiiouc.iit,  y-wis. 

These  arowes  that  I  speke  of  here, 
Were  alle  I'j'^'e  •f-f>f  oon  manero. 
And  alle  were  they  resemblablo.  985 

To  hem  was  wol  sitting  and  able 
The  foulo  croked  bowe  hidous, 


That  knotty  was,  and  al  roj-nous. 

That  bowe  semode  wel  to  shete 

These  arowes  fyve,  that  been  unmete,  990 

Contrarie  to  that  other  fyve. 

But  though  I  telle  not  as  blyve 

Of  hir  power,  ne  of  hir  might, 

Her-after  shal  I  tellen  right 

The  sothe,  and  eek  signifiaunce,  995 

As  fer  as  I  have  remembraunce  : 

Al  shal  be  seid,  I  undertake, 

Er  of  this  boke  an  ende  I  make. 

Now  come  I  to  my  tale  ageyn. 
But  alderfirst,  I  wol  you  seyn  1000 

The  fasoun  and  the  counteuaunces 
Of  al  the  folk  that  on  the  daunce  is. 
The  God  of  Love,  jolj-f  and  light, 
Ladde  on  his  honde  a  lady  bright. 
Of  high  piys,  and  of  greet  degree.       1005 

Beautee. 
This  lady  called  was  Beautee, 
t  As  was  an  arowe,  of  which  I  toldo. 
Ful  wel  [y]-thcwcd  was  she  holde  ; 
Ne  she  was  derk  ne  broun,  but  bright. 
And  deer  as  [is]  the  mone-light,  loio 

Ageyn  whom  alio  the  sterres  semen 
But  smale  candols,  as  we  demon. 
Hir  flesh  was  tendro  as  dewo  of  flour, 
Hir  chore  was  simiile  as  bjTde  in  hour ; 
As  whyt  as  lilio  or  rose  in  rys  1015 

Hir  face,  gentil  and  tretys. 
Fetys  she  was,  and  smal  to  see  ; 
No  "twindrod  browes  hadde  she, 
Ne  popped  hir,  for  it  ncded  nought 
To  windro  hir,  or  to  poynte  hir  ought.  1020 
Hir  tresses  j'elowe  and  longc  straughten. 
Unto  hir  holes  doun  they  raughten  : 
Hir  nose,  hir  mouth,  and  eye  and  choke 
Wel  wrought,  and  al  the  remenaunt  eke. 
A  fitl  gret  savour  and  a  swote  1025 

Me  f  thinketh  in  myn  herto  rote. 
As  heljie  me  god,  whan  I  remembre 
Of  the  fasoun  of  every  mombre  ! 
In  world  is  noon  so  fair  a  wight  ; 
For  yong  she  was,  and  hewed  Ijright,   1030 
fWys,  plesaunt,  and  fetys  withalle, 
Gento,  and  in  hir  niiddel  smalle. 
Richesse. 

Bisyde  Beaute  yede  Richesse, 
f  An  high  lady  of  greet  noblesse. 
And  greet  of  prys  in  every'  place.  1035 

But  who-so  durste  to  hir  trespace, 


ZH  (Rotnaunf  of  tU  (^oee. 


[Fragment  A. 


Or  til  liir  folk,  in  f  worde  or  dede, 

He  were  fill  hardy,  out  of  drede  ; 

For  bothe  she  helpe  and  hindre  may  : 

And  that  is  nought  of  yisterday  1040 

That  riche  folk  have  ful  gret  might 

To  helpe,  and  eek  to  greve  a  wight. 

The  beste  and  grettest  of  valonr 

Diden  Eichesse  ful  gret  honour, 

And  besy  weren  hir  to  serve  ;  1045 

For  that  they  wolde  hir  love  deserve. 

They  cleped  hir  '  Lady,'  grete  and  smalle  ; 

This  wyde  world  hir  dredeth  alle  ; 

This  world  is  al  in  hir  daungere. 

Hir  court  hath  many  a  losengere,        1050 

And  many  a  traytour  envious, 

That  been  ful  besy  and  curious 

For  to  dispreisen,  and  to  blame 

That  best  deserven  love  and  name. 

Bifore  the  folk,  hem  to  bigj-len,  1055 

These  losengeres  hem  pre.yse,  and  smylen. 

And  thus  the  world  with  word  anoynten  ; 

But  afterward  they  f  prikke  and  poynten 

The  folk  right  to  the  bare  boon, 

Bihinde  her  bak  whan  they  ben  goon. 

And  foulo  abate  the  folkes  prys.  iixii 

Ful  many  a  worthy  man  and  wys, 

An  hundred,  have  [they]  don  to  dye, 

These  losengeres,  through  flateryc  ; 

And  maketh  folk  ful  straunge  be,        1065 

Tlier-as  hem  oughte  be  prive. 

Wei  .yvel  mote  they  thryve  and  thee. 

And  j"\-el  aryved  mote  they  be. 

These  losengeres,  ful  of  en\ni-e  ! 

No  good  man  loveth  hir  companye.     1070 

Eichesse  a  robe  of  purpre  on  hadde, 
Ne  trowe  not  that  I  lye  or  madde  ; 
For  in  this  world  is  noon  it  liche, 
Ne  by  a  thousand  deel  so  riche, 
Ne  noon  so  fair  ;  for  it  ful  wel  1075 

With  orfrays  leyd  was  everydcl. 
And  portrayed  in  the  ribaninges 
Of  dukes  stories,  and  of  kinges. 
And  with  a  bend  of  gold  tasseled. 
And  knoppes  fyne  of  gold  fameled. 
Al)oute  hir  nekke  of  gentil  entaile 
Was  shet  the  riche  chevesaile, 
In  which  ther  was  ful  gret  plentee 
Of  stones  clere  and  bright  to  see. 

Eychesse  a  girdel  hadde  upon. 
The  bokel  of  it  was  of  a  stoon 
Of  vertu  greet,  and  mochel  of  might 


1080 


loSs 


For  who-so  bar  the  stoon  so  bright, 
Of  venim  "t-thurte  him  no-thing  doute, 
AVhile  he  the  stoon  hadde  him  aboute. 
That  stoon  was  greetly  for  to  love,      1091 
And  til  a  riche  mannes  bihove 
Worth  al  the  gold  in  Rome  and  Fryse. 
The  mourdaunt,  wought  in  noble  wyse, 
Was  of  a  stoon  ful  precious,  1095 

That  was  so  fjTi  and  vertuons, 
That  hool  a  man  it  coude  make 
Of  palasye,  and  of  tooth-ake. 
And  yit  the  stoon  hadde  suche  a  grace. 
That  he  was  siker  in  every  place,         i  i(X> 
Al  tliilke  day,  not  blind  to  been, 
Tliat  fasting  mighte  that  stoon  seen. 
The  barres  were  of  gold  ful  fyne, 
Upon  a  tissu  of  satyne, 
Ful  he%'y,  greet,  and  no-thing  light,    111)5 
In  everich  was  a  besaunt-wight. 

Upon  the  tresses  of  Eichesse 
Was  set  a  cercle,  for  noblesse. 
Of  brend  gold,  that  ful  lighte  shoon  ; 
So  fair,  trowe  I,  was  never  noon.         mo 
But  he  were  cunning,  for  the  nones, 
That  coude  devysen  alle  the  stones 
That  in  that  cercle  shewen  clere ; 
It  is  a  wonder  thing  to  here. 
For  no  man  coude  preyse  or  gcsse        1115 
Of  hem  the  valewe  or  richesse. 
Rubyes  there  were,  saphyres,  f  jagounces. 
And  emeraudes,  more  than  two  ounces. 
But  al  bifore,  ful  sotilly, 
A  fyn  carboucle  set  saugh  I.  1120 

The  stoon  so  cleer  was  and  so  bright, 
That,  al-so  sone  as  it  was  night, 
Men  mighte  seen  to  go,  for  nede, 
A  myle  or  two,  in  lengthe  and  brede. 
Swich  light  [tho]  sprang  out  of  the  stoon. 
That  Eichesse  wonder  brighte  shoon,  1126 
Bothe  hir  heed,  and  al  hir  i'ace. 
And  eke  aboute  hir  al  the  place. 

Dame  Eichesse  on  hir  bond  gan  lede 
A  yong  man  ful  of  semelihede,  1130 

That  she  best  loved  of  any  thing  ; 
His  lust  was  muche  in  housholding. 
In  clothing  was  he  ful  fetys. 
And  lovede  wel  have  hors  of  prys. 
He  wende  to  have  reproved  be  1135 

Of  thefte  or  mordre,  if  that  he 
Hadde  in  his  stable  an  hakeney. 
And  therfore  he  desyred  ay 


Fragment  A.] 


ZU  (Howaunf  cf  tU  (S^oec. 


13 


To  been  aqueynted  with  Eichesse  ; 
For  al  his  purpos,  as  I  gesse,  1140 

Was  for  to  make  greet  dispense, 
Withoute  werning  or  defence. 
And  Eichesse  might  it  wel  sustene, 
And  hir  dispenses  wel  maynteue, 
And  him  alwey  swich  plentee  sende    1145 
Of  gokl  and  silver  for  to  spende 
Withoute  lakking  or  daungere, 
As  it  were  poured  in  a  garnere. 
Largesse. 

And  after  on  the  daunee  wente 
Lakgesse,  that  setto  al  hir  entente      1150 
For  to  be  honourable  and  free  ; 
Of  Alexandres  kin  was  she  ; 
Hir  moste  joye  was,  y-wis. 
Whan  that  she  yaf,  and  seide  '  have  this.' 
Kot  Avarice,  the  foiUe  captyf,  1 155 

Was  half  to  grype  so  ententj-f, 
As  Largesse  is  to  yeve  and  spende. 
And  god  y-nough  alwey  hir  sende. 
So  that  the  more  she  yaf  awey. 
The  more,  y-wis,  she  hadde  alwey.       u6o 
Gret  loos  hath  Largesse,  and  gret  prj's  ; 
For  bothe  wys  folk  and  unwys 
Were  hoolly  to  hir  baundon  brought. 
So  wel  with  yiftes  hath  she  wrought. 
And  if  she  hadde  an  enemy,  11 65 

I  trowe,  that  she  coude  craftily 
Make  him  ful  sone  hir  freend  to  be. 
So  large  of  yift  and  free  was  she  ;' 
Tlierfore  she  stood  in  love  and  grace 
Of  riche  and  povre  in  every  place.       1170 
A  ful  gret  tool  is  he,  y-wis. 
That  bothe  riche  and  nigard  is. 
A  lord  may  have  no  maner  vice 
That  greveth  more  than  avarice. 
For  nigard  never  with  strongthe  of  hond 
May  winne  him  greet  lordship  or  lond. 
For  freendes  al  to  fewe  hath  he  11 77 

To  doon  his  wil  perfourmed  be. 
And  who-so  wol  have  freendes  here. 
He  may  not  holde  his  tresour  dere.     1180 
For  by  ensample  I  telle  this, 
Eight  as  an  adamaunt,  y-wis. 
Can  drawen  to  him  sotilly 
The  yren,  that  is  leyd  thereby, 
So  draweth  folkes  hertes,  y-wis,  1185 

Silver  and  gold  that  yeven  is. 

Largesse  hadde  on  a  robe  : 
Of  riche  purpur  j  Sarsinesshe. 


Wel  fourmed  was  hir  face  and  clere. 
And  opened  had  she  hir  colere  ;  11 90 

For  she  right  there  hadde  in  present 
Unto  a  lady  maad  present 
Of  a  gold  broche,  ful  wel  wrought. 
And  certes,  it  missat  hir  nought ; 
For  throiigh  hir  smokke,  ^vT0ught  with 
silk,  1 195 

The  flesh  was  seen,  as  whyt  as  milk. 
Largesse,  that  worthy  was  and  wys. 
Held  by  the  honde  a  knight  of  prys. 
Was  sib  to  Arthour  of  Bretaigne. 
And  that  was  he  that  bar  the  enseigne 
Of  worship,  and  the  f  gonfanoun.  1201 

And  yit  he  is  of  swich  renoun, 
That  men  of  him  seye  faire  thinges 
Bifore  barouns,  erles,  and  kinges. 
This  knight  was  comen  al  newely        1205 
Fro  tourneyinge  fivste  by  ; 
Ther  hadde  he  doon  gret  chivalrye 
Through  his  vertu  and  his  maistrye  ; 
And  for  the  love  of  his  lemmau 
fHad  cast  doun  many  a  donghtyman.  1210 
Fraunchyse. 
And  next  him  daunced  dame  Fraun- 
chyse, 
Arrayed  in  ful  noble  gyse. 
She  was  not  broun  ne  dun  of  hewe, 
But  whyt  as  snowe  y-fallen  newe. 
Hir  nose  was  wrought  at  poynt  devys,i2i5 
For  it  was  gentil  and  tretys  ; 
With  eyen  gladde,  and  browes  bente  ; 
Hir  heer  doun  to  hir  heles  wente. 
And  she  was  simple  as  dowve  on  tree, 
Ful  debonaire  of  herte  was  she.  1220 

She  durste  never  seyn  ne  do 
But  that  [thing]  that  hir  longed  to. 
And  if  a  man  were  in  distresso. 
And  for  hir  love  in  hevinesse, 
Hir  herte  wolde  have  ful  greet  pitee,  1225 
She  was  so  amiable  and  free. 
For  were  a  man  for  hir  bistad. 
She  wolde  ben  right  sore  adrad 
That  she  dide  over  greet  outrage. 
But  she  him  holpe  his  harm  to  aswage ; 
Hir  thoughte  it  elles  a  vilanye.  .231 

And  she  hadde  on  a  sukkenye. 
That  not  of  f  hempen  herdes  was  ; 
So  fair  was  noon  in  alle  Arras. 
Lord,  it  was  rideled  fetysly  !  1235 

Ther  nas  nat  foo  poynt,  trewely, 


14 


Z^t  (Uomaunf  of  tU  (KO0C. 


[Fkagmest  a. 


1J40 


ij6o 


That  it  nas  in  li  is  right  assyse. 

Fill  wel  y-clothed  was  Fraunchyse ; 

For  ther  is  no  cloth  sitteth  bet 

On.  damiselle,  than  doth  roket. 

A  woniman  wel  more  fetys  is 

In  roket  than  in  cote,  y-wis. 

The  whyto  roket,  rideled  faire, 

+Bitokened,  that  fill  debonaire 

And  swete  was  she  that  it  here.  1245 

By  hir  daunced  a  bachelere  ; 
I  can  not  telle  you  what  he  highte, 
But  fair  he  was,  and  of  good  highte, 
Al  hadde  he  be,  I  sey  no  more. 
The  lordes  sone  of  Windesore.  1250 

Curtesye. 

And  next  that  daunced  Curtesye, 
That  preised  was  of  lowe  and  hye, 
For  neither  proud  ne  fool  was  she. 
She  for  to  daunoe  called  me, 
(I  praygod  yeve  hir  right  good  grace  !)  1255 
Whan  I  com  first  into  the  place. 
She  was  not  nyce,  ne  outrageous, 
But  wys  and  war,  and  vertuous, 
Of  faire  speche,  and  faire  answere 
Was  never  wight  misseid  of  here  ; 
She  bar  no  rancour  to  no  wight. 
Cleer  broun  she  was,  and  therto  bright 
Of  face,  of  body  avenaunt  ; 
I  wot  no  lad}'  so  plesaunt. 
She  were  worthy  for  to  bene  1265 

An  emperesse  or  crouned  quene. 

And  by  hir  wentc  a  knight  dauncing 
That  worthy  was  and  wel  speking. 
And  ful  wel  coude  he  doon  honour. 
The  knight  was  fair  and  stif  in  stour. 
And  in  armure  a  semely  man, 
And  wel  biloved  of  his  lemman. 
Ydelnesse. 

Fair  Ydelsesse  than  saugh  I, 
That  alwey  was  me  faste  by. 
Of  hir  have  I,  withouten  fayle. 
Told  yow  the  shajj  and  aparayle  ; 
For  (as  I  seide)  lo,  that  was  she 
That  dide  me  so  great  bountee, 
That  she  the  gate  of  the  gardin 
Undide,  and  leet  me  passen  in. 
Youthe. 

And  after  daunced,  as  I  gesse, 
+Y0CTHE,  fulfild  of  lustinesse. 
That  nas  not  yit  twelve  yeer  of  age. 
With  herte  wilde,  and  thought  volage ; 


1270 


"275 


12S0 


Nyce  she  was,  biit  she  ne  mente  1285 

Noon  harm  ne  slight  in  hir  entente. 

But  only  lust  and  jolitee. 

For  yonge  folk,  wel  witen  ye. 

Have  litel  thought  but  on  hir  play. 

Hir  lemman  was  bisyde  alway,  1290 

In  swich  a  gyse,  that  he  hir  kiste 

At  alle  tymes  that  liim  liste, 

That  al  the  daunce  niighte  it  see  ; 

They  make  no  force  of  privetee  ; 

For  who  spak  of  hem  yvel  or  wel,         1295 

They  were  ashamed  never-a-del. 

But  men  mighte  seen  hem  kisse  there, 

As  it  two  yonge  douves  were. 

For  yong  was  thilke  bachelere. 

Of  boaute  wot  I  noon  his  pere  ;  1300 

And  he  was  right  of  swich  an  age 

As  Youthe  his  leef,  and  swich  corage. 

The  lusty  folk  fthus  daunced  there, 
And  also  other  that  with  hem  were. 
That  weren  alle  of  hir  mcynee  ;  1305 

Ful  hende  folk,  and  wys,  and  free. 
And  folk  of  fair  port,  trewely, 
Ther  weren  alle  comunly. 

AVhan  I  hadde  seen  the  countenaiinces 
Of  hem  that  ladden  thus  these  daunces. 
Than  hadde  I  wil  to  goon  and  see         1311 
The  gardin  that  so  lyked  me. 
And  loken  on  these  faire  f  loreres, 
'On  pyn-trees,  cedres,  and  oliveres. 
The  daunces  than  fy-ended  were  ;        1315 
For  many  of  hem  that  daunced  there 
Were  with  hir  loves  went  awey 
Under  the  trees  to  have  hir  i)ley. 

A,  lord  !  they  lived  lustily  ! 
A  gret  fool  were  he,  sikerly,  1320 

That  nolde,  his  thankes,  swich  lyf  lede  ! 
For  this  dar  I  seyn,  out  of  drede. 
That  who-so  mighte  so  wel  fare, 
For  better  lyf  fthurte  him  not  care  ; 
For  ther  nis  so  good  paradys  1325 

As  have  a  love  at  his  de^'ys. 

Out  of  that  place  wente  I  tho. 
And  in  that  gardin  gan  I  go, 
Pleying  along  ful  merily. 
The  God  of  Love  ful  hastely  1330 

Unto  him  Swete-Loking  clepte. 
No  lenger  wolde  he  that  f  he  kepte 
His  bowo  of  golde,  that  shoon  so  bright. 
He  tbad  him  bende  it  anon-right  ; 
And  he  ful  sone  [it]  sette  f  on  ende,     1335 


Fragment  A.l 


ZU  (Botttdunt  of  iU  (Hoe^. 


And  at  a  braid  he  gan  it  bende, 

And  took  him  of  his  arowes  fj^'e, 

Ful  sharpe  and  redy  for  to  dry\'e. 

Now  god  thaj;  sit  in  magestee 

Fro  deedly  woundes  kepe  me,  134° 

If  so  be  that  he  fwol  me  shete  ; 

For  if  I  with  liis  arowe  mete, 

It  f  wol  me  greven  sore,  y-wis ! 

But  I,  that  no-tliing  wiste  of  this, 
VVente  up  and  doiin  fvd  many  a  wey,   1345 

And  he  me  folwed  faste  alwey ; 

But  no-wher  wolde  I  reste  me, 

Til  I  hadde  al  the  fyerde  in  be. 
The  gardin  was,  by  mesiiring, 
Right  even  and  squar  in  compassing ;  1350 
It  was  as  long  as  it  was  large. 

The  Trees. 
Of  f  ruyt  hadde  every  tree  his  charge, 
But  it  were  any  hidoiis  tree 
Of  which  tlier  were  two  or  three. 
Ther  were,  and  that  wot  I  ful  wel,       i355 
Of  pomgarnettes  a  ful  gret  del ; 
That  is  a  fruyt  ful  wel  to  lyke. 
Namely  to  folk  whan  they  ben  syke. 
And  trees  ther  were,  greet  foisouu, 
That  baren  notes  in  hir  sesoun,  1360 

Such  as  men  notemigges  calle. 
That  swote  of  savour  been  withalle. 
And  alemandres  greet  plentee, 
Figes,  and  many  a  date-tree 
Ther  weren,  if  men  hadde  nede,  1365 

Through  the  fyerd  in  length  and  brede. 
Ther  was  eek  wexing  many  a  spyce. 
As  clow-gelofre,  and  licoryce, 
Gingere,  and  greyn  de,  f  paradys, 
Canelle,  and  setewale  of  prys,  1370 

And  many  a  spyce  delitable, 
To  eten  whan  men  ryse  fro  table. 
And  many  hoomly  trees  ther  were. 
That  peches,  coynes,  and  apples  here, 
Medlers,  ploumes,  peres,  chesteynes,    1375 
Cheryse,  of  whiche  many  on  fayn  is. 
Notes,  aleys,  and  bolas. 
That  for  to  seen  it  was  solas  ; 
With  many  high  lorer  and  pyn 
Was  renged  clene  al  that  gardyn  ;       1380 
With  cipres,  and  with  oliveres. 
Of  which  that  nigh  no  plente  here  is. 
Ther  were  elmes  grete  and  stronge. 
Maples,  asshe,  ook,  ash,  planes  longe, 
Fyn  ew,  popler,  and  lindes  faire,  1385 


And  othere  trees  ful  many  a  payre. 

What  sholde  I  telle  you  more  of  it  ? 
Ther  were  so  many  trees  yit, 
That  I  sholde  al  encombred  be 
Er  I  had  rekened  every  tree.  139" 

These  trees  were  set,  that  I  devyse, 
Oon  from  another,  in  assysc. 
Five  fadome  or  sixe,  I  trowe  so. 
But  they  were  hye  and  grete  also  : 
And  for  to  kepe  out  wel  the  sonne,      iy)S 
The  croppes  were  so  thikke  y-ronne. 
And  everj'  braunch  in  other  fknet, 
And  ful  of  grene  leves  fset. 
That  Sonne  mighte  noon  descende. 
Lest  [it]  the  tendre  grasses  shende.      14"*' 
Ther  mighte  men  does  and  roes  y-see, 
And  of  squirels  ful  greet  plentee, 
From  bough  to  bough  alwey  leping. 
Conies  ther  were  also  playing, 
That  comen  out  of  hir  claperes  1405 

Of  sondry  colours  and  maneres, 
And  maden  many  a  turneying 
Upon  the  fresshe  gi-as  springing. 
The  Welles. 
In  places  saw  I  welles  there. 
In  whiche  ther  no  frogges  were,  141" 

And  fair  in  shadwe  was  every  welle  ; 
But  I  ne  can  the  nombre  telle 
Of  stremes  smale,  that  by  devys 
Mirthe  had  don  come  through  condys. 
Of  which  the  water,  in  renniug,  1415 

Gan  make  a  noyse  fal  lyking. 

Aboiit  the  brinkes  of  thise  welles, 
And  by  the  stremes  over-al  elles 
Sprang  up  the  gras,  as  thiklie  y-set 
And  softe  as  any  veluet,  i4.!o 

On  which  men  mighte  his  lemman  leye, 
As  on  a  fetherbed,  to  pleye, 
For  th'erthe  was  ful  softe  and  swete. 
Through  moisture  of  the  welle  wete 
Sprang  up  the  sote  grene  gras,  1425 

As  fair,  as  thikke,  as  mister  was. 
But  muche  amended  it  the  place. 
That  th'erthe  was  of  swich  a  grace 
That  it  of  floures  had  plente, 
That  both  in  somer  and  winter  be.       1430 

Ther  sprang  the  violete  al  newe, 
And  fresshe  pervinke,  riche  of  hewe, 
And  floures  yelowe,  whyte,  and  rede  ; 
Swich  plentee  grew  ther  never  in  mede. 
Ful  gay  was  al  the  ground,  and  queynt, 


ZU  (Kowauni  of  tU  (S^oet. 


[Fragment  A. 


And  poudred,  as  men  liad  it  peynt,     1436 
With  many  a  fresh  and  sondry  flour, 
That  casten  up  ful  good  savour. 

I  wol  not  longe  holde  you  in  fable 
Of  al  this  gardin  f  delitable.  144" 

I  moot  my  tonge  stinten  nede, 
For  I  ne  may,  -withouten  di-cde. 
Naught  tellen  you  tlie  beautee  al, 
Ne  half  the  bountee  therewithal. 

I  wente  on  right  honde  and  on  left  1445 
Aboute  the  place  ;  it  was  not  left, 
Til  I  hadde  al  the  fyerdo  in  been. 
In  the  festres  that  men  mighte  seen. 
And  thus  whyle  I  wente  in  my  plej", 
The  God  of  Love  me  folowed  ay,  1450 

Right  as  an  hunter  can  abyde 
The  beste,  til  he  seeth  his  tyde 
To  f  shete,  at  good  mos,  to  the  dere, 
Whan  that  him  nedeth  go  no  nere. 

And  so  befil,  I  rested  me  1455 

Besyde  a  welle,  under  a  tree, 
Which  tree  in  Fraunce  men  call  a  pyn. 
But,  sith  the  tyme  of  king  Pep.vTi, 
Ne  gre'w  ther  tree  in  mannes  sighte 
So  fair,  ne  so  wel  woxe  in  highte  ;       i46i> 
In  al  that  yerde  so  high  was  noon. 
And  springing  in  a  marble-stoon 
Had  nature  sot,  the  sothe  to  telle, 
Under  that  pyn-tree  a  welle. 
And  on  the  border,  al  withoute,  1465 

Was  writen,  in  the  stone  aboute, 
Lettres  smale,  that  seyden  thus, 
'  Here  starf  the  faire  Narcisus.' 
Narcisus. 

Narcisus  was  a  bachelere. 
That  Love  had  caught  in  his  daungere, 
And  in  his  net  gan  him  so  strejTie,      1471 
And  dide  him  so  to  wepe  and  ple.vne. 
That  nede  him  musto  his  lyf  forgo. 
For  a  fair  lady,  hight  Echo, 
Him  loved  over  any  creature,  1475 

And  gan  for  him  swich  peyne  endure. 
That  on  a  tyme  she  him  tolde, 
That,  if  he  hir  loven  nolde. 
That  hir  behoved  nedes  dye, 
Ther  lay  non  other  remedj'e.  1480 

But  natheles,  for  his  beautee, 
So  fiers  and  daungerous  was  he. 
That  he  nolde  graunton  hir  asking. 
For  weijing,  ne  for  fair  praying. 
And  whan  she  herde  him  werne  hir  so, 


She  hadde  in  herte  so  gret  wo,  1486 

And  took  it  in  so  gret  dispyt. 
That  she,  withoute  more  respji:. 
Was  deed  anoon.     But,  er  she  deyde, 
Fvil  pitously  to  god  she  preyde,  1490 

That  jiroude-herted  Narcisus, 
That  was  in  love  so  daungeroiis, 
Mighte  on  a  day  ben  hampred  so 
For  love,  and  been  so  hoot  for  wo. 
That  never  he  mighte  joye  atteyne  ;   1495 
Tlian  shulde  he  fele  in  every  veyne 
What  sorowe  trewe  lovers  maken. 
That  been  so  fvilaynsly  forsaken. 

This  prayer  was  but  rasonable, 
Therfor  god  held  it  fermc  and  stable :  1500 
For  Narcisus,  shortly  to  telle, 
By  aventure  com  to  that  welle 
To  reste  him  in  that  shadowing 
A  day,  whan  ho  com  fro  hunting. 
This  Narcisus  had  sufFrcd  pajTies        1505 
For  renning  alday  in  the  playnes, 
And  was  for  thurst  in  greet  distresse 
Of  hete,  and  of  his  werinesso 
That  hadde  his  breeth  almost  binomen. 
Whan  he  was  to  that  welle  y-comen,  1510 
That  shadwed  was  with  braunchcs  grenr, 
Ho  thoughte  of  thilko  water  shene 
To  drinko  and  fresshe  him  wel  withalle  ; 
And  doun  on  knees  he  gan  to  falle. 
And    forth    his    heed    and    nekke    out- 
straughte  15  is 

To  drinken  of  that  welle  a  draughte. 
And  in  the  water  anoon  was  seno 
His  nose,  his  mouth,  his  yOn  shene, 
And  ho  ther-of  was  al  abasshed  ; 
His  owne  shadowe  had  him  bitrasshed. 
For  wel  wende  he  the  forme  see  15J1 

Of  a  child  of  g^eet  beautee. 
Wel  couthe  Love  him  wreke  tho 
Of  daunger  and  of  pryde  also 
That  Narcisus  somtyme  him  here.        15J5 
He  quitte  him  wel  his  guerdon  there  ; 
For  he  fso  musede  in  the  welle. 
That,  shortly  al  the  sothe  to  telle. 
He  lovede  his  owno  shadowe  so. 
That  atte  laste  he  starf  for  wo.  1530 

For  whan  he  saugh  that  he  his  wille 
Mighte  in  no  manor  wey  fulfille. 
And  that  he  was  so  faste  caught 
That  he  him  couthe  comfort  naught, 
He  loste  his  wit  right  in  that  place,    1535 


ZH  (Kontaunf  of  t^  (Jloee. 


17 


And  deyde  within  a  litel  space. 
And  thus  his  warisovm  he  took 
For  the  lady  that  he  forsook. 

Ladyes,  I  preye  ensample  taketh, 
Ye  that  ayeins  your  love  mistaketh  :  1540 
For  if  hir  deeth  be  yow  to  wyte, 
God  can  ful  wel  your  whyle  quyte. 

Whan  that  this  lettre,  of  whiche  I  telle, 
Had  taught  me  that  it  was  the  welle 
Of  Narcisus  in  his  beautee,  1545 

I  gan  auoon  withdrawe  me, 
Whan  it  fel  in  my  remembraunce. 
That  him  bitidde  swich  mischaunce. 

The  Welle. 
But  at  the  laste  than  thoughte  I, 
That  scatheles,  ful  sikerly,  1550 

I  mighte  unto  The  Welle  go. 
Wherof  shulde  I  abasshen  so  ? 
Unto  the  welle  than  wente  I  me, 
And  doun  I  louted  for  to  see 
The  clere  water  in  the  stoon,  1555 

And  eek  the  gravel,  which  that  shoon 
Down  in  the  botme,  as  silver  fyn  ; 
For  of  the  weUe,  this  is  the  fyn. 
In  world  is  noon  so  cleer  of  hewe. 
The  water  is  ever  fresh  and  newe         1560 
That  welmeth  xip  in  wawes  bright  e 
The  mountance  of  two  iinger  highte. 
Abouten  it  is  gras  springing, 
For  moiste  so  thikke  and  wel  lyking, 
That  it  ne  may  in  winter  dye,  1565 

No  more  than  may  the  see  be  drye. 

Down  at  the  botme  set  saw  I 
Two  cristal  stones  craftely 
In  thilke  fresshe  and  faire  welle. 
But  o  thing  soothly  dar  I  telle,  1570 

That  ye  wol  holde  a  greet  mervayle 
Whan  it  is  told,  withouten  fayle. 
For  whan  the  sonne,  cleer  in  sighte, 
Cast  in  that  welle  his  hemes  brighte. 
And  that  the  heet  descended  is,  1575 

Than  taketh  the  cristal  stoon,  y-wis, 
Agayn  the  sonne  an  hundred  hewes, 
Blewe,  yelowe,  and  rede,  that  fresh  and 

newe  is. 
Yit  hath  the  merveilous  cristal  1579 

Swich  strengthe,  that  the  place  overal, 
Bothe  fowl  and  tree,  and  leves  grene, 
And  al  the  yerd  in  it  is  sene. 
And  for  to  doon  you  understonde, 
To  make  ensample  wol  I  fonde  ; 


Eight  as  a  mirour  openly  1585 

Sheweth  al  thing  that  stant  therby. 
As  wel  the  colour  as  the  figure, 
Withouten  any  coverture  ; 
Eight  so  the  cristal  stoon,  shyning, 
Withouten  any  disceyving,  '59" 

The  f  estres  of  the  yerde  acciiseth 
To  him  that  in  the  water  museth  ; 
For  ever,  in  which  half  that  fhe  be, 
f  He  may  wel  half  the  gardin  see  ; 
And  if  he  turne,  he  may  right  wel       1595 
Seen  the  remenaunt  everydel. 
For  ther  is  noon  so  litel  thing 
So  hid,  ne  closed  with  shitting, 
That  it  ne  is  sene,  as  though  it  were 
Peynted  in  the  cristal  there.  1600 

This  is  the  mirour  perilous. 
In  which  the  proude  Narcisus 
Saw  al  his  face  fair  and  bright, 
That  made  him  sith  to  lye  ui^right. 
For  who-so  loke  in  that  mirour,  i6i.)5 

Ther  may  no-thing  ben  his  socour 
That  he  ne  shal  ther  seen  som  thing 
That  shal  him  lede  into  f  loving. 
Fill  many  a  worthy  man  hath  it 
Y-blent ;  for  folk  of  grettest  wit  1610 

Ben  sone  caught  here  and  awayted  ; 
Withoiiten  respyt  been  they  bayted. 
Heer  comth  to  folk  of-newe  rage, 
Heer  chaungeth  many  wight  corage  ; 
Heer  lyth  no  reed  ne  wit  therto  ;  1615 

For  Venus  sone,  daun  Cnpido, 
Hath  so  wen  there  of  love  the  seed, 
That  help  ne  lyth  ther  noon,  no  reed, 
So  cercleth  it  the  welle  aboute. 
His  giunes  hath  he  set  withouto  1620 

Eight  for  to  cacche  in  his  panteres 
These  damoysels  and  bacheleres. 
Love  will  noon  other  bridde  cacche. 
Though  he  sette  either  net  or  lacche.  1624 
And  for  the  seed  that  heer  was  soweu, 
This  welle  is  cleped,  as  wel  is  knowen. 
The  Welle  of  Love,  of  verray  right, 
Of  which  ther  hath  ful  many  a  wight 
Spoke  in  bokes  dyversely. 
But  they  shulle  never  so  verily  1630 

Descripcioun  of  the  welle  here, 
No  eek  the  sothe  of  this  matere, 
As  ye  shulle,  whan  I  have  undo 
The  craft  that  hir  bilongeth  to. 

Alway  me  lyked  for  to  dwelle,  1635 


tU  (Homauttf  of  tU  (Hoee. 


[Fragment  A. 


To  seen  the  cristal  in  tlie  welle, 
That  shewed  me  ful openly 
A  thousand  thinges  faste  by. 
But  I  may  saye,  in  sory  houre 
Stood  I  to  loken  or  to  poure  ;  i 

For  sithen  [have]  I  sore  fsyked, 
That  mirour  hath  me  now  entryked. 
But  hadde  I  first  knowen  in  my  wit 
The  vertue  and  [the]  tstrengthe  of  it, 


•645 


1650 


I  nolde  not  have  mused  there 
Me  liadde  bet  ben  elles-where  ; 
For  in  the  snare  I  fel  anoon, 
That  hath  -f  bitraisshed  many  con. 
The  Roser. 
In  thilke  mirour  saw  I  tho, 
Among  a  thousand  thinges  mo, 
A  liosEu  charged  ful  of  roses, 
That  with  an  hegge  aboute  enclos  is. 
Tho  had  I  swich  lust  and  en%'3e. 
That,  for  Parys  ne  for  Pa\'ye, 
Nolde  I  have  left  to  goon  and  see         1655 
Ther  grettest  hepe  of  roses  be. 
Whan  I  was  with  this  rage  hent, 
Tliat  caught  hath  many  a  man  and  shent. 
Toward  the  roser  gan  I  go. 
And  whan  I  was  not  fer  therfro,  i66« 

The  savour  of  the  roses  swote 
Me  smo(5t  right  to  the  herte  rote, 
As  I  hadde  al  embawmed  fbe. 
And  if  I  ne  hadde  endouted  me 
To  have  ben  hated 

My  thankes,  +wolde  I  not  have  failed 
To  pulle  a  rose  of  al  that  route 
To  bere[n]  in  myn  honde  aboute. 
And  smellen  to  it  wher  I  wente  ; 
But  ever  I  dredde  me  to  repente,         1670 


1665 


And  lest  it  greved  or  for-thoughte 
Tlie  lord  that  thilke  gardyn  WTOUghte. 
Of  roses  were  ther  gret  woon. 
So  faire  f  wexe  never  in  roon. 
Ofknoppes  clos,  some  saw  I  there,       1675 
And  some  wel  beter  woxen  were  ; 
And  some  ther  been  of  other  moysoiin, 
That  drowe  nigh  to  hir  sesoun, 
And  spedde  hem  faste  for  to  sprede  ; 
I  love  wel  swiche  roses  rede  ;  i68i> 

For  brode  roses,  and  open  also, 
Ben  passed  in  a  day  or  two  ; 
But  knoppes  wilen  fresshe  be 
Two  dayes  atte  leest,  or  three. 
The  knoppes  gretly  lyked  me,  16S5 

For  fairer  may  ther  no  man  see. 
Wlio-so  mighte  have[n]  oon  of  alle, 
It  oughte  him  been  ful  leef  withalle. 
Mighte  I  [a]  gerlond  of  hem  geten, 
For  no  richesse  I  wolde  it  leten.  1690 

The  Knoppe. 
Among  THE  KNOPPES  I  chees  oon 
So  fair,  that  of  tho  remenaunt  noon 
Ng  preyse  I  half  so  wel  as  it, 
Whan  I  avyse  it  in  my  wit. 
For  it  so  wel  was  enlumyned  1695 

With  colwir  reed,  as  wel  [y]-fvned 
As  nature  couthe  it  make  I'aire, 
And  it  +had  leves  wel  foure  paire, 
That  Kinde  had  set  through  his  knowing 
About  the  rede  frose  springing.  lyixt 

The  stalke  was  as  risshe  right. 
And  theron  stood  the  knoppe  iii^right, 
Tliat  it  ne  bowed  upon  no  sydo. 
The  swote  smelle  sprong  so  wjde 
That  it  dide  al  the  place  aboute —       1705 


FRAGMENT    B. 


)5  is  incomplete,  as  the  sentence  has  no  verb.     Here  the  genuine  jMrtion  end.i. 
Line  1706  gives  a  false  rime,  and  is  by  another  hand.] 


".'.Tian  I  had  smelled  th3  savour  swote, 

Ho  wille  hadde  I  fro  thens  yit  go, 

But  somdel  neer  it  wente  I  tho 

To  take  it ;  but  myn  hond,  for  drede, 

Ne  dorste  I  to  the  rose  bede,  1710 

For  thistels  sharpe,  of  many  maneres, 

Netles,  thornes,  and  hoked  breres  ; 


•j-Ful  muche  they  distourbled  me. 
For  sore  I  dradde  to  harmed  be. 

The  God  of  Love,  with  bowe  bent, 
That  al  day  set  hadde  his  talent 
To  pursvien  and  to  spyen  me. 
Was  stonding  by  a  fige-tree. 
And  whan  he  sawe  how  that  I 


ZH  (Homaunf  of  t^t  (^00^. 


19 


1725 


Had  cliosen  so  ententifly 

The  f  botovin,  more  unto  my  pay 

Than  any  other  that  I  say, 

He  took  an  arowe  fol  sharply  whet, 

And  in  his  bowe  whan  it  was  set, 

He  straight  up  to  his  ere  drough 

The  stronge  bowe,  that  was  so  tough. 

And  shet  at  me  so  wonder  smerte, 

That  through  myn  eye  vmto  myn  herte 

The  takel  smoot,  and  depe  it  wente. 

And  ther-with-al  such  cold  me  heute, 

That,  under  clothes  warme  and  softe,  1731 

■fSith  that  day  I  have  chevered  ofte. 

Whan  I  was  hurt  thus  in  [that]  stounde, 
I  fel  doun  plat  unto  the  grounde. 
Myn  herte  failed  and  feynted  ay,         1735 
And  long  tynie  [ther]  a-swone  I  lay. 
But  whan  I  com  out  of  swoning. 
And  hadde  wit,  and  my  feling, 
I  was  al  maat,  and  wende  ful  wel 
Of  blood  have  loren  a  ful  gret  del.        1740 
But  certes,  the  arowe  that  in  me  stood 
Of  me  ne  drew  no  drope  of  blood, 
Tor-why  I  fovind  my  wounde  al  dreye. 
Than  took  I  with  myn  hondis  tweye 
The  arowe,  and  ful  fast  out  it  plight,  1745 
And  in  the  pulling  sore  I  sight. 
So  at  the  last  the  shaft  of  tree 
I  drough  out,  with  the  fethers  three. 
But  yet  the  hoked  heed,  y-wis, 
The  whiche  Beauteo  callid  is, 
Gan  so  depe  in  myn  herte  passe, 
That  I  it  mighte  nought  arace  ; 
But  in  myn  herte  stille  it  stood, 
Al  bledde  I  not  a  dropo  of  blood. 
I  was  bothe  angnissous  and  trouble 
For  the  peril  that  I  saw  double  ; 
I  niste  what  to  seye  or  do, 
Ne  gete  a  leche  my  woundis  fto  ; 
Por  neithir  thurgh  gras  ne  rote, 
Ne  hadde  I  help  of  hojie  ne  bote. 
But  to  the  botoun  ever-mo 
Myn  herte  drew  ;  for  al  my  wo. 
My  thought  was  in  non  other  thing. 
For  hadde  it  been  in  my  keping, 
It  wolde  have  brought  my  lyf  agayn.  1765 
For  fcerteinly,  I  dar  wel  seyn, 
The  sight  only,  and  the  savour, 
Alegged  muche  of  my  langour. 
Than  gan  I  for  to  drawe  me 
Toward  the  botoun  fair  to  see  ;  1770 


175" 


1755 


1760 


And  Love  hadde  gete  him,  in  fa  throwe, 

Another  arowe  into  his  bowe. 

And  for  to  shete  gan  him  dresse  ; 

The  arowis  name  was  Simplesse. 

And  whan  that  Love  gan  nyghe  me  nere, 

He  drow  it  up,  withouten  were,  1776 

And  shet  at  me  with  al  his  might. 

So  that  this  arowe  anon-right 

Thourghout  [myn]  eigh,  as  it  was  founde, 

Into  myn  herte  hath  maad  a  wounde. 

Thanne  I  anoon  dide  al  my  crafte       1781 

For  to  drawen  ovit  the  shafte. 

And  ther-with-al  I  sighed  eft. 

But  in  myn  herte  the  heed  was  left. 

Which  ay  encresid  my  desyre,  1 785 

L^nto  the  botoun  drawe  nere  ; 

And  ever,  mo  that  me  was  wo. 

The  more  desyr  hadde  I  to  go 

Unto  the  roser,  where  that  grew 

The  fresshe  botoun  so  bright  of  hewe.  1790 

Betir  me  were  have  leten  be  ; 

But  it  bihoved  nedes  me 

To  don  right  as  myn  herte  bad. 

For  ever  the  body  miTst  be  lad 

Aftir  the  herte  ;  in  wele  and  wo,  1 795 

Of  force  togidre  they  must  go. 

But  never  this  archer  wolde  fyne 

To  shete  at  me  with  all  his  pyne. 

And  for  to  make  me  to  him  mete. 

The  thridde  arowe  he  gan  to  shete  iSix) 
Whan  best  his  tyme  he  mighte  espye, 
The  which  was  named  Curtesye  ; 
Inte  myn  herte  it  dide  avale. 
A-swone  I  fel,  bothe  deed  and  pale  ; 
Long  tyme  I  lay,  and  stired  nought,  1805 
Til  I  abraid  out  of  nay  thought. 
And  faste  than  I  avysed  me 
To  drawe[n]  oiit  the  shafte  of  tree  ; 
But  ever  the  heed  was  left  bihinde 
For  ought  I  couthe  pulle  or  winde,     1810 
So  sore  it  stikid  whan  I  was  hit, 
That  by  no  craft  I  might  it  flit  ; 
But  anguissous  and  ful  of  thought, 
I  f  felte  such  wo,  my  wounde  ay  wrought, 
That  somoned  me  alway  to  go  1815 

Toward  the  rose,  that  pleased  me  so  ; 
But  I  ne  durste  in  no  manere, 
Bicause  the  archer  was  so  nere. 
For  evermore  gladly,  as  I  rede, 
Brent  child  of  tj-r  hath  muche  drede.  1820 
And,  certis  yit,  for  al  my  peyne. 


ZH  (Komaunf  of  tU  (Koec. 


[Fragment  B. 


Though  that  I  sigh  yit  arwis  reyne, 

And  grounde  quarels  sharpe  of  stele, 

Ne  for  no  payno  that  I  might  fele, 

Yit  might  I  not  my-silf  with-holde      1825 

The  faire  roser  to  hiholde  ; 

For  Love  me  yaf  sich  hardement 

For  to  fiilfille  his  commaundement. 

Upon  my  feet  I  roos  njj  than 

Feble,  as  a  forwoundid  man  ;  1830 

And  forth  to  gim  [my]  might  I  sette, 

And  for  the  archer  noklo  I  lette. 

Toward  the  roser  fast  I  drow  ; 

But  thornes  sharpe  mo  than  y-now 

Ther  were,  and  also  thistels  thikke,     1835 

And  breres,  brimmo  for  to  prikke, 

That  I  ne  mighte  gete  grace 

The  rowe  thornes  for  to  passe. 

To  sene  the  roses  fresshe  of  hewe, 

I  must  abide,  though  it  me  rewe,         1S40 

The  hegge  ahoute  so  thikke  was, 

That  closid  the  roses  in  compas. 

But  o  thing  lyked  me  right  wele  ; 
I  was  so  nygh,  I  mighte  felo 
Of  the  botoun  the  swote  odour,  1845 

And  also  see  the  fresshe  colour  ; 
And  that  right  gretly  lyked  me,  • 
That  I  so  neer  fit  mighte  see. 
Sich  joyo  anoon  therof  hadde  I, 
That  I  forgat  my  malady.  1850 

To  seno  fit  hadde  I  sich  delyt. 
Of  sorwe  and  angre  I  was  al  (juit, 
And  of  my  wovmdes  that  I  had  +thar ; 
For  no-thing  lyken  me  might  f  mar 
Than  dwellen  by  the  roser  ay,  1855 

And  thennes  never  to  passe  away. 

But  whan  a  whyle  I  had  be  thar. 
The  Goil  of  Love,  which  al  to-shar 
Myn  herte  with  his  arNvis  kene, 
f  Caste  him  to  yeve  me  woundis  grene. 
He  shet  at  mo  ful  hastUy  1861 

An  arwe  named  Company, 
The  whiche  takel  is  ful  able 
To  make  these  ladies  merciable. 
Than  I  anoon  gan  chaiingen  hewe      1865 
For  grevavince  of  my  wounde  newe. 
That  I  agayn  fel  in  swoning. 
And  sighed  sore  in  compleyning. 
Sore  I  compleyned  that  my  sore 
On  me  gan  greven  more  and  more.      1870 
I  had  non  hope  of  allegea\ince  ; 
So  nigh  I  drow  to  desperaunce, 


I  rought  of  dethe  ne  of  Ij'f, 

Whither  that  love  wolde  me  dryf. 

If  me  a  martir  wolde  he  make,  1875 

I  might  his  power  nought  forsake. 

And  whyl  for  anger  thus  I  wook. 

The  God  of  Love  an  arowe  took  ; 

Ful  sharp  it  was  and  [ful]  pugnaunt, 

And  it  was  callid  Fair-Semblaunt,       1880 

The  which  in  no  wys  wol  coiasente, 

That  any  lover  him  repento 

To  serve  his  love  with  herte  and  alle, 

For  any  peril  that  may  bifallo. 

But  though  this  arwe  was  kene  grounde 

As  any  rasour  that  is  foundo,  j8S6 

To  cutte  and  kerve,  at  the  poynt. 

The  God  of  Love  it  hadde  anoynt 

With  a  precious  oynemcnt, 

Somdel  to  yeve  aleggoment  1890 

Upon  the  woundes  that  he  had 

Through  the  body  in  my  hgrte  maad, 

To  helpe  hir  sores,  and  to  cure. 

And  that  they  may  the  bet  endure. 

But  yit  this  arwe,  withoute  more,        1895 

Made  in  myn  herte  a  large  sore. 

That  in  ful  gret  peyne  I  abood. 

But  ay  the  oj-nement  wente  al)rood  ; 

Throughout  my  woundes  large  and  wyde 

It  spredde  aboute  in  every  syde  ;  191)0 

Through  whos  vertu  and  whos  might 

Mj-n  herte  joyful  was  and  light. 

I  had  been  deed  and  al  to-shent 

But  for  the  precious  oynement. 

The  shaft  I  drow  out  of  the  arwe,        1905 

Eoking  for  wo  right  wondir  narwe  ; 

But  the  heed  which  made  me  smerte, 

Lefte  bihinde  in  myn  herte 

With  other  foure,  I  dar  well  say, 

That  never  wol  be  take  away ;  1910 

But  the  oynement  halp  me  wele. 

And  yit  sich  sorwe  dido  I  felo 

f  Of  my  woundes  fresshe  and  newe. 

That  al-day  I  chaunged  hewe, 

As  men  might  see  in  my  visage.  1915 

The  arwis  were  so  fulle  of  rage, 

So  variaunt  of  diversitee. 

That  men  in  everich  mighte  see 

Both  gret  anoy  and  eek  swetnesse. 

And  joye  meynt  with  bittirnesse,        19J0 

Now  were  they  esy,  now  where  they  wood. 

In  hem  I  felte  both  harm  and  good  ; 

Now  sore  without  aleggement, 


Fragment  B.] 


ZU  (Romaunf  of  tU  (S^oei. 


Now  -f-softening  -with  oynement  ; 

It  softned  here,  and  -f-prikked  there,   1925 

Tims  ese  and  anger  togider  were. 

The  God  of  Love  deliverly 
Com  lepand  to  me  hastily, 
And  seide  to  me,  in  gret  rape, 
'  Yeld  thee,  for  thow  may  not  escape  !  1930 
May  no  defence  availe  thee  here  ; 
Therfore  I  rede  mak  no  daungere. 
If  thou  wolt  yelde  thee  hastily. 
Thou  shalt  [the]  rather  have  mercy. 
He  is  a  fool  in  sikernesse,  1935 

That  with  daunger  or  stoiitnesse 
Eebellith  ther  that  he  shulde  plese  ; 
In  such  folye  is  lit  el  ese. 
Be  meek,  whor  thou  must  nedis  bowe  ; 
To  stryve  age.^m  is  nought  thy  prowe. 
Come  at  ones,  and  have  y-do,  1941 

For  I  wol  that  it  be  so. 
Than  yeld  thee  here  debonairly.' 
And  I  answerid  ful  humbly, 
'  Gladly,  sir  ;    at  your  bidding,  1945 

I  wol  me  yelde  in  alle  thing. 
To  your  servj'se  I  wol  me  take  ; 
For  god  defende  that  I  shulde  make 
Ageyn  your  bidding  resistence  ; 
I  wol  not  doon  so  gret  offence  ;  1950 

For  if  I  dide,  it  were  no  skile. 
Ye  may  do  with  me  what  ye  wile, 
Save  or  spille,  and  also  sloo  ; 
Fro  you  in  no  wyse  may  I  go. 
My  lyf,  my  deth,  is  in  your  honde,       1955 
I  may  not  lasto  out  of  your  bonde. 
Pleyn  at  your  list  I  yelde  me. 
Hoping  in  herte,  that  sumtyme  ye 
Comfort  and  ese  shuJle  me  sende  ; 
Or  ellis  shortly,  this  is  the  ende,         i960 
Withouten  helthe  I  moot  ay  dure, 
But-if  ye  take  me  to  your  cure. 
Comfort  or  helthe  how  shuld  I  have. 
Sith  ye  me  hurte,  but  ye  me  save  ? 
Tlie  helthe  of  flovers  moot  be  founde 
Wher-as  they  token  fixste  hir  wounde. 
And  if  ye  list  of  me  to  make  1967 

Your  prisoner,  I  wol  it  take 
Of  herte  and  wil,  fully  at  gree. 
Hoolly  and  pleyn  I  yelde  me,  1970 

Withoute  feyning  or  feyntyse. 
To  be  governed  by  your  empryse. 
Of  you  I  here  so  much  prys, 
I  wol  ben  hool  at  your  devys 


For  to  fullille  your  lyking  1975 

And  repente  for  no-thing. 

Hoping  to  have  yit  in  som  tyde 

Mercy,  of  that  [that]  I  abyde.' 

And  with  that  covenaunt  yeld  I  me, 

Anoon  doun  kneling  upon  my  knee,  1980 

Profering  for  to  kisse  his  feet ; 

But  for  no-thing  he  wolde  me  lete. 

And  seide,  '  I  love  thee  bothe  and  preyse, 

Sen  that  thyn  answer  doth  me  ese, 

For  thou  answerid  so  curteisly.  1985 

For  now  I  wot  wel  uttirly, 

That  thou  art  gentil,  by  thy  speche. 

For  though  a  man  fer  wolde  seche, 

He  shulde  not  linden,  in  certeyn, 

No  sich  answer  of  no  vileyn  ;  1990 

For  sich  a  word  ne  mighte  nought 

Isse  oiit  of  a  vilayns  thought. 

Thou  shalt  not  lesen  of  thj-  speche, 

For  [to]  thy  helping  wol  I  eche. 

And  eek  encresen  that  I  may.  1995 

But  first  I  wol  that  thou  obay 

Fully,  for  thyn  avauntage, 

Anon  to  do  me  here  honiage. 

And  sithe[n]  kisse  thou  shalt  my  mouth, 

Which  to  no  vilayn  was  never  couth  2000 

For  to  aproche  it,  ne  for  to  touche  ; 

For  sauf  f  to  cherlis  I  ne  vouche 

That  they  shuUe  never  neigh  it  nere. 

For  curteys,  and  of  fair  manere, 

Wel  taught,  and  ful  of  gentilnesse      2005 

He  muste  ben,  that  shal  me  kisse. 

And  also  of  ful  high  fraunchyse, 

That  shal  attejme  to  that  empryse. 

'  And  first  of  o  thing  warne  I  thee. 
That  peyne  and  gret  adversitee  2010 

He  mot  endure,  and  eek  travaile. 
That  shal  me  serve,  withoute  faile. 
But  ther-ageyns,  thee  to  comforte. 
And  with  thy  servise  to  desporte. 
Thou  mayst  ful  glad  and  joyful  be      2015 
So  good  a  maister  to  have  as  me. 
And  lord  of  so  high  renoun. 
I  here  of  Love  the  gonfanoun. 
Of  Curtesye  the  banere  ; 
For  I  am  of  the  silf  manere,  2020 

Gentil,  curteys,  meek  and  free  ; 
That  who  [so]  ever  ententif  be 
Me  to  honoure,  doute,  and  serve. 
And  also  that  he  him  observe 
Fro  trespas  and  fro  vilanye,  2025 


ZU  (Homauttf  of  tU  (^oee. 


[Fragment  B. 


And  liim  govcrne  in  cnrtesye 

With  wil  and  witli  entenciotin  , 

For  whan  he  first  in  my  prisoun 

Is  caught,  than  muste  he  iittirly, 

Fro  thennes-forth  fnl  bisily,  2030 

Caste  him  gentil  for  to  be, 

If  he  desyre  helpe  of  me.' 

Anoon  withonten  more  delay, 
W'ithouten  dannger  or  affray, 
I  bicom  his  man  anoon,  2035 

And  gave  him  thankes  many  a  con, 
And  kneled  doun  with  hondis  joynt, 
And  made  it  in  my  port  ful  f  qnoynt  ; 
The  joj-e  wente  to  myn  herte  rote. 
Whan  I  had  kissed  his  mouth  so  swote, 
I  had  sich  mirthe  and  sich  lyking,     2041 
It  cured  me  of  languisshing. 
He  askid  of  me  than  hostages  : — 
'  I  have,'  he  seide,  '  -j-tan  fele  homages 
Of  oon  and  other,  where  I  have  been  2045 
fDisceyved  ofte,  withouten  wene. 
These  felouns,  fulle  of  falsitee. 
Have  many  sythes  bigj-led  me, 
And  through  falshede  hir  lust  acheved, 
Wlierof  I  repente  and  am  agreved.      2050 
And  I  hem  gete  in  my  daungere, 
Hir  falshed  shuUe  they  bye  ful  dere. 
But  for  I  love  thee,  I  seye  thee  plejTi, 
I  wol  of  thee  be  more  certej'n  ; 
For  thee  so  sore  I  wol  now  binde,        2055 
That  thou  away  ne  shalt  not  winde 
For  to  denycn  the  covenaunt, 
Or  doon  that  is  not  avenaunt. 
That  thou  were  fals  it  were  g^eet  reuthe, 
Sith  thou  semest  so  ful  of  treuthe.'     2060 

'  Sire,  if  thee  list  to  vindirstande, 
I  merveile  thee  asking  this  demande. 
For-why  or  wherfore  shulde  ye 
Ostages  or  borwis  aske  of  me. 
Or  any  other  sikirnesse,  2065 

Sith  ye  wote,  in  sothfastnesse. 
That  ye  have  me  fsurjirysed  so, 
-Ajid  hool  myn  herte  ftan  me  fro. 
That  it  wol  do  for  me  no-thing 
But-if  it  be  at  your  bidding  ?  2070 

Mj-n  herte  is  yours,  and  myn  right  nought, 
As  it  bihoveth,  in  dede  and  thought, 
Redy  in  alle  to  worche  your  wille, 
Whether  so  [it]  tume  to  good  or  ille. 
So  sore  it  lustith  you  to  plese,  2075 

No  man  therof  may  you  fdisseise. 


Yo  have  theron  set  sich  justise. 

That  it  is  werreyd  in  many  wise. 

And  if  ye  doute  it  nolde  obeye. 

Ye  may  therof  do  make  a  keye,  2080 

And  holde  it  with  yoii  for  ostage.' 

'  Now  certis,  this  is  noon  outrage,' 

Quoth  Love,  '  and  fully  I  accord  ; 

For  of  the  body  he  is  ful  lord 

That  hath  the  herte  in  his  tresor  ;       2085 

Outrage  it  were  to  asken  more.' 

Than  of  his  aumener  he  drough 
A  litel  keye,  fetys  y-nough, 
Wliich  was  of  gold  polisshed  clero. 
And  seide  to  me,  '  With  this  keye  here 
ThjTi  herte  to  me  now  wol  I  shette  ;  2091 
For  al  my  jowellis  loke  and  knette 
I  binde  under  this  litel  keye, 
Tliat  no  wight  may  carye  aweye  ; 
This  keye  is  ful  of  gret  poeste.'  2095 

With  which  anoon  he  touchid  mo 
Undir  the  syde  ful  softely. 
That  lie  myn  herte  sode.\aily 
Without  [al]  anoy  had  spered. 
That  yit  right  nought  it  hath  me  dered. 
^Mian  he  had  doon  his  wil  al-out,       2101 
And  I  had  piit  him  out  of  dout, 
'  Sire,'  I  seide,  '  I  have  right  gret  wille 
Your  lust  and  plesaunce  to  fulfille. 
Loke  ye  my  servise  take  at  gree,  2105 

By  thilke  feith  ye  owe  to  me. 
I  seye  nought  for  reoreaundyse, 
For  I  nought  doute  of  your  servyse. 
But  the  servaunt  traveileth  in  vayne, 
That  for  to  ser\'en  doth  his  payne        21 10 
Unto  that  lord,  which  in  no  wj'se 
Can  him  no  thank  for  his  servj'se.' 

Love  seide,  '  Dismaye  thee  nought, 
Sin  thou  for  sucour  hast  me  sought, 
In  thank  thy  servise  wol  I  take,  21 15 

And  high  of  -|  gree  I  wol  thee  make, 
If  wikkidnesse  ne  hindre  thee  ; 
But,  as  I  hope,  it  shal  nought  be. 
To  worship  no  wight  by  aventure 
May  come,  but-if  he  peyne  endure.      2120 
Abyde  and  suffre  thy  distresse  ; 
That  hurtith  now,  it  shal  be  lesse  ; 
I  wot  my-silf  what  may  thee  save. 
What  medicyne  thou  woldist  have. 
And  if  thy  trouthe  to  me  thou  kepe,   2125 
I  shal  unto  thyn  helping  eke. 
To  cure  thy  woundes  and  make  hem  clene, 


Fkagmknt  B,] 


^0e  (Jlemaunf  of  t^t  (^oee. 


23 


Wlier-so  tliej'  be  olde  or  grene  ; 

Thou  shalt  be  holpen,  at  wordis  fewe. 

For  certeynly  thoii  shalt  wel  shewe     2130 

"\\nier  that  thou  servest  with  good  wille, 

For  to  complisshen  and  fulfllle 

My  comamidementis,  day  and  night, 

Wliiche  I  to  lovers  yeve  of  right.' 

'  Ah,  sire,  for  goddis  love,'  said  I,     2135 
'  Er  ye  passe  hens,  ententifly 
Your  comaundementis  to  me  ye  say, 
And  I  shal  kepe  hem,  if  I  may  ; 
For  hem  to  kepen  is  al  my  thought. 
And  if  so  be  I  wot  them  nought,         2140 
Than  may  I  [sinne]  unwitingly. 
Wherfore  I  pray  you  enterely. 
With  al  myn  herte,  me  to  lere, 
That  I  trespasse  in  no  mimere.' 

The  god  of  love  than  chargid  me      2145 
Anoon,  as  ye  shal  here  and  see. 
Word  by  word,  by  right  empryse. 
So  as  the  Romance  shal  devyse. 

The  maister  lesith  his  tyme  to  lere. 
Whan  the  disciple  wol  not  here.  2150 

It  is  but  veyn  on  him  to  swinke. 
That  on  his  lerning  wol  not  thinke. 
\Mio-so  lust  love,  let  him  entende. 
For  now  the  Romance  fginneth  amende. 
Now  is  good  to  here,  in  fay,  2155 

If  any  be  that  can  it  say. 
And  poynte  it  as  the  resoun  is 
Set ;  for  other-gate,  y-wis. 
It  shal  nought  wel  in  alle  thing 
Be  brought  to  good  undirstonding  ;    2160 
For  a  reder  that  poyntith  ille 
A  good  sentence  may  ofte  spille. 
The  book  is  good  at  the  ending, 
Maad  of  newe  and  lusty  thing  ; 
For  who-so  wol  the  ending  here,  2165 

The  crafte  of  love  he  shal  now  lere, 
If  that  he  wol  so  long  abyde. 
Til  I  this  Romance  may  unhyde. 
And  undo  the  signiiiaunce 
Of  this  dreme  into  Romaunce.  2i;o 

The  sothfastnesse,  that  now  is  hid. 
Without  coverture  shal  be  kid, 
^^^lan  I  undon  have  this  dreming, 
Wlierin  no  word  is  of  lesing. 

'  Vilany,  at  the  biginning,  2 1 75 

I  wol,'  i  sayd  Love,  '  over  alle  thing, 
Tliou  leve,  if  thou  wolt  [not]  be 
Fals,  and  trespasse  ageynes  me. 


I  curse  and  blame  generally 

Alle  hem  that  loven  vilany  ;  21  So 

For  vilany  makith  vilayn. 

And  by  his  dedis  a  cherle  is  seyn. 

Thise  vilayns  arn  withoiit  pitee, 

Frendshipe,  love,  and  al  bounte. 

I  nil  receyve  f  to  my  servyse  21 85 

Hem  that  ben  vilayns  of  empryse. 

'  Biit  undirstonde  in  thj-n  entent, 
That  this  is  not  myn  entendement. 
To  clepe  no  wight  in  no  ages 
Only  gentil  for  his  linages.  2190 

But  who-so  [that]  is  vertuous. 
And  in  his  port  nought  oiitrageous. 
Whan  sich  oon  thou  seest  thee  biforn. 
Though  lie  be  not  gentil  born. 
Thou  mayst  wel  seyn,  this  is  ia  soth,  2195 
That  he  is  gentil,  bicause  he  doth 
As  longeth  to  a  gentilman  ; 
Of  hem  non  other  deme  I  can. 
For  certeynly,  withouten  drede, 
A  cherle  is  demed  by  his  dede,  2200 

Of  hye  or  lowe,  as  ye  may  see, 
Or  of  what  kinrede  that  he  be. 
Ne  say  nought,  for  noon  5'\-el  wille. 
Thing  that  is  to  holden  stille  ; 
It  is  no  worship  to  misseye.  2205 

Thou  mayst  ensample  take  of  Keye, 
That  was  somtyme,  for  misseying, 
Hated  bothe  of  olde  and  ying  ; 
As  fer  as  Gaweyn,  the  worthy. 
Was  preysed  for  his  curtesy,  2210 

Keye  was  hated,  for  he  was  fel, 
Of  word  dispitous  and  cruel. 
Wherfore  be  wyse  and  aqueyntable, 
Goodly  of  word,  and  resonable 
Bothe  to  lesse  and  eek  to  mar.  2215 

And  whan  thou  coniest  ther  men  ar, 
Loke  that  thou  have  in  custom  ay 
First  to  salue  hem,  if  thoi\  may  : 
And  if  it  falle,  that  of  hem  som 
Salue  thee  first,  be  not  dom,  2220 

But  quyte  him  curteisly  anoon 
Without  abiding,  er  they  goon. 

'  For  no-thing  eek  thy  tu^nge  applye 
To  speke  wordis  of  ribaudye. 
To  vilayn  speche  in  no  degree  2225 

Lat  never  thy  lippe  vmbounden  be. 
For  I  nought  holde  him,  in  good  leith, 
Curteys,  that  foiile  wordis  seith. 
And  alle  wimmen  serve  and  preyse, 


24 


Zh  (Komaunf  of  t^  (Roee. 


[FitAGMEKT  B. 


And  to  thy  power  hir  honour  reyse.    223,0 
And  if  that  any  missayerc 
Dispyse  wimmen,  that  thou  mayst  here, 
Blame  him,  and  bidde  him  holds  him  stille. 
And  set  thy  might  and  al  thy  wille 
Wimmen  and  ladies  for  to  plese,  2235 

And  to  do  thing  that  may  hem  ese, 
That  they  ever  speke  good  of  thee, 
For  so  thou  mayst  best  preysed  he. 

'  Loke  fro  pryde  thou  kepe  thee  welo  ; 
Tor  thou  mayst  bothe  percej'\'c  and  fole. 
That  pryde  is  bothe  foly  and  sinne  ;    2241 
And  he  that  pryde  hath,  him  withinne. 
No  may  his  herte,  in  no  \\'yse, 
Meken  ne  souplen  to  ser^-ysc. 
For  pryde  is  founde,  in  every  part, 
Contrarie  unto  Loves  art. 
And  he  that  loveth  trowely 
Shulde  him  contene  jolily, 
Withouten  pryde  in  sondry  wyso, 
And  him  disgysen  in  queyntysc. 
For  quoynt  array,  withouten  drede. 
Is  no-thing  proud,  who  takith  licdo 
For  fresh  array,  as  men  maj-  see, 
Withouten  prj-de  may  ofte  bo. 

'  Maynteno  thy-silf  aftir  th.y  rent, 
Of  robe  and  eek  of  garnement ; 
For  many  sythe  fair  clothing 
A  man  amendith  in  mich  thing. 
And  loke  alwey  that  they  be  shape, 
Wliat  garnement  that  thou  shalt  make. 
Of  him  that  can  [hem]  l)este  do,  2261 

With  al  that  perteyneth  therto. 
PojTitis  and  sieves  be  wel  sittand. 
Right  and  streight  fupon  the  hand. 
Of  shoon  and  botes,  newe  and  faire,    2265 
Loke  at  the  loest  thou  liave  a  paire  ; 
And  that  they  sitte  so  fetisly. 
That  these  rude  may  uttirly 
Mei-^-oyle,  sith  that  they  sitte  so  pleyn. 
How  they  come  on  or  of  agej-n.  2270 

Were  streite  gloves,  -with  -t-aumenere 
Of  silk  ;  and  alwey  with  good  chere 
Thou  yeve,  if  thou  have  richesse  ; 
And  if  thou  have  nought,  spend  the  lesse. 
Alwey  be  mei-ry,  if  thou  may,  22,-5 

But  waste  not  thy  good  alway. 
Have  hat  of  floures  fresh  as  May, 
Chapelet  of  roses  of  Wliitsonday  ; 
For  sich  array  ne  fcost  but  lyte. 
Thyn  hondis  wash,  thy  teeth  makewhyte, 


2245 


2250 


2K=iS 


And  let  no  filthe  upon  thcc  be.  2281 

Thy  naiies  blak  if  thou  mayst  see, 

Voide  it  awey  deliverly. 

And  kembe  thjTi  heed  right  jolily. 

f  Fard  not  thy  visage  in  no  wj-se,         22S5 

For  that  of  love  is  not  th'emiirj'so  ; 

For  love  doth  haten,  as  I  finde, 

A  boaute  that  cometh  not  of  kindc. 

Alwey  in  herte  I  rede  thee 

Glad  and  mery  for  to  be,  2290 

And  be  as  joj^ul  as  thou  can  ; 

Love  hatli  no  joye  of  sorowful  man. 

That  yvel  is  ful  of  curtesye 

That  flauhwith  in  his  maladye  ; 

For  over  of  love  the  siknesse  2295 

Is  meynd  with  swete  and  bitternosse. 

The  sore  of  love  is  merveilous  ; 

For  now  the  lover  [is]  joyous. 

Now  can  he  plej-ne,  now  can  he  grono, 

Now  can  he  singon,  now  maken  mono. 

To-day  ho  plej-neth  for  hevinesse,        2301 

To-morowe  ho  f  pleyeth  for  joljTiesse. 

The  lyf  of  love  is  ful  contrarie. 

Which  stoundcmclo  can  ofte  varie. 

But  if  thou  canst  [som]  mirthis  make,  2305 

That  men  in  gree  wolo  gladly  take, 

Do  it  goodly,  I  comaundo  thee  ; 

For  men  sholde,  whor-so-cver  they  be. 

Do  thing  that  hem  [best]  sitting  is. 

For  therof  cometh  good  loos  and  pris.  2310 

■\Vlier-of  that  thou  be  vertuous, 

Ne  be  not  straunge  no  daungerous. 

For  if  that  thou  good  rider  be, 

Prike  gladly,  that  men  may  se. 

In  armes  also  if  thou  conne,  2315 

Pursue,  til  thou  a  name  hast  wonne. 

And  if  thy  voice  be  fair  and  clere. 

Thou  shalt  maken  no  gret  daungere 

Wlian  to  singe  they  goodly  preye  ; 

It  is  thy  worship  for  to  obeye.  2320 

Also  to  you  it  longith  ay 

To  harpe  and  giterne,  daunce  and  play  ; 

For  if  he  can  wel  foote  and  daunco, 

It  may  him  greetly  do  avaunce. 

Among  eok,  for  thy  lady  sake,  2325 

Songos  and  complayntes  that  thou  make  ; 

For  that  wol  f  move  [hem]  in  hir  herte, 

Wlian  they  reden  of  thy  snierte. 

Loke  that  no  man  for  scarce  thee  holde. 

For  that  may  grove  thee  many-folde.  2330 

Resoun  wol  that  a  lover  be 


ZU  (Kowaunt  of  tU  (Bo^^- 


25 


In  his  yiftes  more  large  and  free 

Than  cherles  that  been  not  of  loving, 

For  -who  ther-of  can  any  thing, 

He  shal  be  leef  ay  for  to  yeve,  2335 

In  f  Loves  lore  who  so  wolde  leve ; 

For  he  that,  through  a  sodeyn  sight, 

Or  for  a  kissing,  anon-right 

Yaf  hool  his  herte  in  wille  and  thought. 

And  to  him-silf  kepith  right  nought,  2340 

Aftir  -f-swich  yift,  is  good  resoun, 

He  yeve  his  good  in  abandoun. 

'  Now  wol  I  shortly  here  reherce, 
Of  that  [that]  I  have  seid  in  verse, 
Al  the  sentence  by  and  by,  2345 

In  wordis  fewe  compendioiasly. 
That  thou  the  bet  mayst  on  hem  thinke, 
"Whether-so  it  be  thou  wake  or  winke  ; 
For  [that]  the  wordis  litel  greve 
A  man  to  kepe,  whanne  it  is  breve.     2350 

'  MTio-so  with  Love  wol  goon  or  ryde 
He  mot  be  curteys,  and  void  of  pryde, 
Mery  and  fulle  of  jolite, 
And  of  largesse  alosed  be. 

'  First  I  joyne  thee,  here  in  penaiince, 
That  ever,  withoute  repentaunce,        2356 
Thou  set  thy  thought  in  thy  loving. 
To  laste  withoute  repenting  ; 
And  thenke  upon  thy  mirthis  swete, 
That  shal  folowe  aftir  whan  ye  mete .  2360 

'  And  for  thou  trewe  to  love  shalt  be, 
I  wol,  and  [eek]  comaunde  thee. 
That  in  00  place  thou  sette,  al  hool, 
Thyn  herte,  withouten  halfen  dool, 
For  trecherie,  fin  sikernesse  ;  2365 

For  I  lovede  never  doublenesse. 
To  many  his  herte  that  wol  depart, 
Everiche  shal  have  biit  litel  part. 
But  of  him  drede  I  me  right  nought. 
That  in  00  place  settith  his  thought.  2370 
Therfore  in  00  place  it  sette, 
And  let  it  never  thennes  flette. 
For  if  thou  yevest  it  in  lening, 
I  holde  it  but  a  wrecchid  thing  : 
Therfore  yeve  it  hool  and  quyte,  2375 

And  thou  shalt  have  the  more  merite. 
If  it  be  lent,  than  aftir  soon. 
The  bountee  and  the  thank  is  doon  ; 
But,  in  love,  free  yeven  thing 
Eequyrith  a  gret  guerdoning.  2380 

Yeve  it  in  yift  al  quit  fully. 
And  make  thy  yift  debonairly  ; 


For  men  that  yift  [wol]  holde  more  dere 

That  yeven  is  with  gladsome  chere. 

That  yift  nought  to  preisen  is  2385 

That  man  yeveth,  maugre  his. 

Whan  thou  hast  yeven  thyn  herte,  as  I 

Have  seid  thee  here  [al]  openly, 

Than  aventures  shulle  thee  fallo, 

Which  harde  and  hevy  been  withalle.  2390 

For  ofte  whan  thou  bithenkist  thee 

Of  thy  loving,  wher-so  thou  be. 

Fro  folk  thou  must  depart  in  hy, 

That  noon  perceyve  thy  malady, 

But  hyde  thjTi  harm  thou  must  alone, 2395 

And  go  forth  sole,  and  make  thy  mone. 

Thou  shalt  no  whyl  be  in  00  stat. 

But  whylom  cold  and  whylom  hat ; 

Now  reed  as  rose,  now  yelowe  and  fade. 

Such  sorowe,  I  trowe,  thou  never  hade  ; 

Cotidien,  ne  [yit]  quarteyne,  2401 

It  is  nat  so  ful  of  peyne. 

For  ofte  tymes  it  shal  fallo 

In  love,  among  thy  pej-nes  alle. 

That  thou  thy-self,  al  hoolly,  2405 

Foryeten  shalt  so  titterly. 

That  many  tymes  thou  shalt  be 

Stille  as  an  image  of  tree, 

Dom  as  a  stoon,  without  stering 

Of  foot  or  hond,  withoiit  sjieking  ;       2410 

Than,  sono  after  al  thy  peyne. 

To  memorie  shalt  thou  come  ageyn, 

A[s]  man  abasshed  wondre  sore. 

And  after  sighen  more  and  more. 

For  wit  thou  wel,  withouten  weno,      2415 

In  swioh  astat  ful  oft  have  been 

That  have  the  yvel  of  love  assayd, 

Wher-through  thou  art  so  dismayd. 

'  After,  a  thought  shal  take  thee  so, 
That  thy  love  is  to  fer  thee  fro  :  2420 

Thou  shalt  say,  "  God,  what  may  this  be, 
That  I  ne  may  my  lady  see  ? 
Myne  herte  aloon  is  to  her  go, 
And  I  abyde  al  sole  in  wo. 
Departed  fro  myn  owne  thought,         2425 
And  with  mjTie  eyen  see  right  nought. 
Alas,  myn  eyen  fsende  I  ne  may. 
My  careful  herte  to  convay  ! 
Myn  hertes  gyde  but  they  be, 
I  praise  no-thing  what  ever  they  see.  2430 
Shul they  abyde  thanne  ?  nay  ; 
But  goon  f  visyte  without  delay 
That  myn  herte  desj-reth  so. 


26 


^6e  (Komaunf  of  tU  (^oet. 


[Fkagmest  B. 


For  certeynly,  but-if  they  go, 

A  fool  my-self  I  may  wcl  liokle,  24,vs 

Whan  I  ne  see  what  niyn  herte  wolde. 

Wherfore  I  wol  gon  her  to  seen, 

Or  esed  shal  I  never  been. 

But  I  have  som  tokening." 

Then  gost  thou  forth  without  dwelling  ; 

But  ofte  thou  faylest  of  thy  desyre,     2441 

Er  thou  mayst  come  hir  any  nere. 

And  wastest  in  vayn  thy  passage. 

Than  fallest  thou  in  a  newe  rage  ; 

For  wante  of  siglit  thou  ginnest  mome, 

And  homward  pensif  dost  retorne.      2446 

In  greet  mischeof  than  shalt  thoii  be. 

For  than  agayn  shal  come  to  thee 

Sighes  and  jileyntes,  with  newe  wo. 

That  no  icching  prikketh  so.  2450 

Who  wot  it  nought,  he  may  go  lere 

Of  hem  that  byen  love  so  dere. 

'  No-thing  thjTi  herte  appesen  may. 
That  oft  thou  wolt  goon  and  assaj'. 
If  thou  mayst  seen,  by  aventure,  2455 

Tliy  lyves  joy,  thyn  hertis  cure  ; 
So  that,  by  grace  if  thou  might 
Atteyne  of  hir  to  have  a  sight, 
Than  shalt  thou  d<x)n  non  other  dode 
Cut  with  that  sight  thyn  eyen  fede.  2460 
That  faire  fresh  whan  thou  maj'st  see, 
Thyn  herte  shal  so  ravisshed  be. 
That  never  thou  woldest,  thy  thankis,  Icte, 
Ne  remove,  for  to  see  that  swete. 
The  more  thou  seest  in  sothfastnesse,  2465 
The  more  thou  -f-coveytest  of  that  swet- 

nesse  ; 
The  more  thyn  herte  brenneth  in  fyr, 
The  more  thyn  herte  is  in  desyr. 
For  who  considreth  every  del, 
It  may  be  lykned  wondir  wel,  247c 

The  peyne  of  love,  unto  a  fere  ; 
For  ever  [the]  more  thou  neighest  nere 
fThought,  or  who-so  that  it  be. 
For  verray  sothe  I  telle  it  thee, 
The  hatter  ever  shal  thou  brenne,       247: 
As  experience  shal  thee  kenne. 
Wher-so  [thou]  comest  in  any  cost. 
Who  is  next  fyr,  he  brenneth  most. 
-\jid  yit  forsothe,  for  al  thyn  hete, 
Though  thou  for  love  swelte  and  swete, 
Ne  for  no-thing  thou  felen  may,  2481 

Thou  shalt  not  willen  to  passe  away. 
And  though  thou  go,  yet  must  thee  nede 


Theuke  al-day  on  hir  fairhede, 

Whom  thou  bihelde  with  so  good  wille  ; 

And  holde  thyself  bigyled  ille,  2486 

That  tliou  ne  haddest  non  hardement 

To  shewe  hir  ought  of  thyn  entent. 

Thyn  herte  ful  sore  thou  wolt  dispyse. 

And  eek  repreve  of  cowardyse,  2490 

That  thou,  so  dulle  in  every  thing. 

Were  dom  for  drede,  without  speking. 

Thou  shalt  eek  thenke  ihou  didest  foly, 

That  thou  wert  hir  so  faste  by, 

And  durst  not  auntre  thee  to  say        2495 

Som-thing,  er  thoii  cam  away  ; 

For  thou  haddist  no  more  wonne. 

To  speke  of  hir  whan  thou  bigonne  : 

But  fyif  she  wolde,  for  thy  sake, 

In  armes  goodly  thee  have  take,  2500 

It  shulde  have  be  more  worth  to  thee 

Than  of  tresour  greet  plentee. 

'  Thus  shalt  thou  mome  and  eek  com- 
pleyn, 
And  gete  enchesoun  to  goon  ageyn 
Unto  thy  walk,  or  to  thy  place,  2505 

Wliere  thou  biheld  hir  fleshly  face. 
And  never,  for  fals  suspeccioun. 
Thou  woldest  finde  occasioun 
For  to  gon  unto  hir  hous. 
So  art  thou  thanne  desirous  2510 

A  sight  of  hir  for  to  have. 
If  thou  thine  honour  mightest  save, 
Or  any  erand  mightist  make 
Thider,  for  thy  loves  sake  ; 
Ful  fa.vTi  thou  woldist,  but  for  drede  2515 
Thou  gost  not,  lest  that  men  take  hede. 
Wherfore  I  rede,  in  thy  going, 
And  also  in  thyn  ageyn-coming. 
Thou  be  wel  war  that  men  ne  wit ; 
Feyne  thee  other  cause  than  it  2520 

To  go  that  weye,  or  faste  by  ; 
To  hele  wel  is  no  folye. 
And  if  so  be  it  happe  thee 
That  thou  thy  love  ther  mayst  see, 
In  siker  wyse  thou  hir  salcwe,  25.-5 

Wlierwith  thy  colour  wol  transmewe. 
And  eke  thy  blood  shal  al  to-quake. 
Thy  liewe  eek  chaungen  for  hir  sake. 
But  word  and  wit,  with  chere  ful  pale, 
Shul  wante  for  to  telle  thy  tale.  2530 

And  if  thou  mayst  so  fer-forth  winne, 
That  thou  [thy]  resoun  durst  biginne. 
And  woldist  seyn  three  thingis  or  mo, 


Fragment  B. 


tU  (^omcmnt  of  tU  (Ro0C. 


27 


Thou  slialt  ful  scarsly  seyn  the  two. 
Though  thou  bithenke  thee  never  so  wel, 
Tliou  shalt  foryete  yit  somdel,  2536 

But-if  thou  dele  with  trecherye. 
For  fals  lovers  mowe  al  folye 
Seyn,  what  hem  lust,  withouten  drede, 
They  be  so  double  in  hir  falshede  ;      2540 
For  they  in  herte  cunne  thenke  a  thing 
And  seyn  another,  in  hir  speking. 
And  whan  thy  speche  is  endid  al. 
Right  thus  to  tliee  it  slial  bifal ; 
If  any  word  than  come  to  minde,         2545 
Tliat  thou  to  seye  hast  left  bihinde. 
Than  thou  shalt  brenne  in  greet  martyr  ; 
For  thou  shalt  brenne  as  any  fyr. 
This  is  the  stryf  and  eke  the  affray, 
And  the  batail  that  lastith  ay.  2550 

This  bargeyn  ende  inay  never  take, 
But-if  that  she  thy  pees  wil  make. 

'  And  whan  the  night  is  comen,  anon 
A  tliousand  angres  shal  come  iipon. 
To  bedde  as  fast  thou  wolt  thee  dight,  2555 
Where  thou  shalt  have  but  smal  delyt ; 
For  whan  thou  wenest  for  to  slepe, 
So  ful  of  peyne  shalt  thou  crepe, 
Sterte  in  thy  bedde  aboute  ful  wyde, 
And  turne  ful  ofte  on  every  syde  ;       2560 
Now  downward  groffe,  and  now  upright, 
And  walowe  in  wo  the  longe  night ; 
Thyne  armis  shalt  thou  sprede  abrede, 
As  man  in  werro  were  fforwerreyd. 
Than  shal  thee  come  a  remembraunce 
Of  hir  shape  and  hir  semblavince         2566 
Wlierto  non  other  may  be  pere. 
And  wite  thou  w^el,  witlioute  were, 
Tliat  thee  shal  f  seme,  somtyme  that  night, 
Tliat  thou  hast  hir,  that  is  so  bright,  2570 
Naked  bitwene  thyn  amies  there, 
Al  sothfastnesse  as  though  it  were. 
Thou  shalt  make  castels  than  in  Spayne, 
And  dreme  of  joye,  al  but  in  vayne, 
And  thee  delyten  of  right  nought,        2575 
Whyl  thou  so  slomrest  in  that  thought, 
Tliat  is  so  swete  and  delitable, 
The  which,  in  soth,  nis  but  a  fable. 
For  it  ne  shal  no  whyle  laste. 
Than  shalt  thou  siglie  and  wepe  faste,  2580 
And  say,  "  Dere  god,  what  thing  is  this  ? 
My  dreme  is  turned  al  amis, 
"Which  was  ful  swete  and  apparent. 
But  now  I  wake,  it  is  al  shent 


Now  yede  this  merj'  thought  away  I     25S5 

Twenty  tymes  upon  a  day 

I  wolde  this  thought  wolde  come  ageyn, 

For  it  alleggith  wel  my  peyn. 

It  makith  me  ful  of  joyful  thought. 

It  sleeth  me,  that  it  lastith  noght.       2590 

A,  lord  !  why  nil  ye  me  socoure. 

The  joye,  I  trowe,  that  I  langoure  ? 

The  deth  I  wolde  me  shulde  slo 

Whyl  I  lye  in  hir  amies  two. 

Myn  harm  is  hard,  withouten  wene,  2595 

My  greet  unese  ful  ofte  I  niene. 

But  wolde  Love  do  so  I  might 

Have  fully  joye  of  hir  so  bright, 

My  peyne  were  quit  me  riclielj'. 

Alias,  to  greet  a  thing  aske  I  !  26(X) 

It  is  but  foly,  and  wrong  weiiing. 

To  aske  so  outrageous  a  thing. 

And  who-so  askith  folilj-. 

He  moot  be  warned  hastily  ; 

And  I  ne  wot  what  I  may  say,  2605 

I  am  so  fer  out  of  the  way  ; 

For  I  wolde  have  ful  gret  lyking 

And  ful  gret  joye  of  lasse  thing. 

For  wolde  she,  of  hir  gentilnesse, 

Withouten  more,  me  onis  kesse,  2610 

It  were  to  me  a  greet  guerdoim, 

Kelees  of  al  my  passioun. 

But  it  is  hard  to  come  therto  ; 

Al  is  but  foly  that  I  do, 

So  high  I  have  myn  herte  set,  2615 

Where  I  may  no  comfort  get. 

f  I  iioot  wher  I  sey  wel  or  nought  ; 

But  this  I  wot  wel  in  my  thought. 

That  it  were  fbet  of  hir  aloon. 

For  to  stinte  my  wo  and  moon,  2620 

A  loke  on  fme  y-cast  goodly, 

f  Than  for  to  have,  al  utterly. 

Of  another  al  liool  the  pley. 

A  !  lord  !  wher  I  shal  byde  the  day 

That  ever  she  shal  my  lady  be  ?  2625 

He  is  ful  cured  that  may  hir  see. 

A  !  god  !  whan  shal  the  dawning  spring  ? 

To  fly  thus  is  an  angry  thing  ; 

I  have  no  joye  thus  here  to  ly 

Wlian  that  my  love  is  not  me  by,        2631) 

A  man  to  lyen  hath  gret  disese, 

Wliicli  may  not  slepe  ne  reste  in  ese. 

I  wolde  it  dawed,  and  were  now  day. 

And  that  the  night  were  went  away  ; 

For  were  it  day,  I  wolde  upryse  2635 


28 


ZU  (]^<>mciunt  of  t$t  (Hoee. 


[Fragment  B. 


A  !  slowe  Sonne,  shew  thyn  enpryse  ! 
Speed  thee  to  sprede  thy  bemis  bright, 
And  chace  the  derknesse  of  the  night. 
To  pntte  away  the  stoundes  stronge. 
Which  in  me  lasten  al  to  longe."        2640 

'  The  night  shalt  thou  contene  so, 
Withoute  rest,  in  peyne  and  wo  ; 
If  ever  thou  knewe  of  love  distresse. 
Thou  shalt  mowe  lerno  in  that  siknesse. 
And  thus  enduring  shalt  thou  ly,        2645 
And  ryse  on  morwe  up  erly 
Out  of  thy  bedde,  and  barneys  thee 
Er  ever  dawning  thou  mayst  see. 
Al  privilj'  than  shalt  thou  goon, 

■  'Wliat  fweder  it  be,  thy-silf  aloon,       2650 
For  re,\-n,  or  hayl,  for  snow,  for  slete, 
Thider  she  dwellith  that  is  so  swete. 
The  which  may  falle  aslepe  be, 
And  theakith  but  litel  upon  thee. 
Than  shalt  thou  goon,  ful  foule  aferd ;  2655 
Loke  if  the  gate  be  unsperd. 
And  waite  without  in  wo  and  peyn, 
Ful  yvel  a-colde  in  winde  and  reyn. 
Than  shal  thou  go  the  dore  bifore, 
If  thou  maist  fynde  any  score,  2660 

Or  hole,  or  reft,  what  ever  it  were  ; 
Than  shalt  thou  stoupe,  and  lay  to  ere. 
If  they  within  a-slepe  be  ; 
I  mene,  alle  save  thy  lady  free. 
"Whom  waking  if  thou  mayst  aspye,    2665 
Go  put  thy-silf  in  jupartye. 
To  aske  grace,  and  thee  bimene. 
That  she  may  wite,  ■w'ithouten  weno, 
Tliat  thou  [a]night  no  rest  hast  had. 
So  sore  for  hir  thou  were  bistad.  2670 

Wommen  wel  ought  pite  to  take 
Of  hem  that  sorwen  f<ir  hir  sake. 
And  loke,  for  love  of  that  relykc. 
That  thou  thenke  non  other  lyke. 
For  f  whom  thou  hast  so  greet  annoy,  2675 
-fShal  kisse  thee  er  thou  go  away. 
And  hold  that  in  ful  gret  deyntee. 
And,  for  that  no  man  shal  thee  see 
Bifore  the  hous,  ne  in  the  way, 
Loke  thou  be  goon  ageyn  er  day.         2680 
Suche  coming,  and  such  going. 
Such  hevinesse,  and  such  walking, 
Makith  lovers,  withouten  wene. 
Under  hir  clothes  pale  and  lene. 

For  Love  leveth  colour  ne  cleernesse  ;  2685 
Who  loveth  trewe  hath  no  fatnesse. 


Thou  shalt  wel  by  thy-selfe  see 
That  thou  must  ncdis  assayed  be. 
For  men  that  shape  hem  other  wey 
Falslj-  her  ladies  to  bitray,  2691) 

It  is  no  wonder  though  they  be  fat ; 
With  false  othes  hir  loves  they  gat ; 
For  oft  I  see  suche  losengeours 
Fatter  than  abbatis  or  priours. 

'  Yet  with  o  thing  I  thee  charge,      2695 
That  is  to  seye,  that  thou  be  large 
Unto  the  mayd  that  hir  doth  serve, 
So  best  hir  thank  thou  shalt  deserve. 
Yeve  hir  yiftes,  and  get  hir  grace. 
For  so  thou  may  [hir]  thank  purchace,  270x5 
That  she  thee  worthy  holde  and  free. 
Thy  lady,  and  alle  that  may  thee  see. 
Also  hir  servauntes  worshipe  ay. 
And  plese  as  niuche  as  thou  may  ; 
Gret  good  through  hem  may  come  to  thee, 
Bicause  with  hir  they  been  prive.         2706 
They  shal  hir  telle  how  they  thee  fand 
Curteis  and  wys,  and  wel  doand, 
And  she  shal  preyse  [thee]  wel  the  f  mare. 
Loke  out  of  londo  thou  be  not  ffare  ;  2710 
And  if  such  cause  thou  have,  that  thee 
Bihoveth  fgon  oiit  of  contree, 
Leve  hool  thyn  herte  in  hostage. 
Til  thou  agejTi  make  thy  passage. 
Thenk  long  to  see  the  swete  thing       2715 
That  hath  thyn  herte  in  hir  keping. 

'  Now  have  I  told  thee,  in  what  wyse 
A  lover  shal  do  mo  sen^yse. 
Do  it  than,  if  thou  wolt  have 
The  mede  that  thou  aftir  crave.'  2720 

Whan  Love  al  this  had  boden  me, 
I  seide  him  : — '  Sire,  how  may  it  be 
That  lovers  may  in  such  manere 
Endure  the  peyne  ye  have  seid  here  ? 
I  mer\-eyle  me  wonder  faste,  2725 

How  any  man  may  live  or  lasto 
In  such  pejTie,  and  such  brenning. 
In  sorwe  and  thoiight,  and  such  sighing. 
Ay  unrelesed  wo  to  make. 
Whether  so  it  be  they  slepe  or  wake.  2730 
In  stich  annoy  continuely. 
As  helpe  me  god,  this  mert'eile  I, 
How  man,  but  he  were  maad  of  stele, 
Might  live  a  month,  such  peynes  to  fele.' 
The  God  of  Love  than  seide  me,        2735 
'  Freend,  by  the  feith  I  owe  to  thee. 
May  no  man  have  good,  but  he  it  by. 


Fragmekt  B.] 


^6e  (Romauttf  of  t^i.  (Hoee. 


29 


A  man  loveth  more  tendirly 

The  thing  that  he  hath  bought  most  dere. 

For  wite  thou  wel,  withouten  were,     2740 

In  thank  that  thing  is  taken  more, 

For  which  a  man  hath  suffred  sore. 

Certis,  no  wo  ne  may  atteyne 

Unto  the  sore  of  loves  peyne. 

Non  yvel  therto  ne  may  amou.nte,        2745 

No  more  than  a  man  [may]  counte 

The  dropes  that  of  the  water  be. 

For  drye  as  wel  the  grete  see 

Thou  mightist,  as  the  harmes  telle 

Of  hem  that  with  Love  dwelle  2750 

In  servyse  ;  for  peyne  hem  sleeth, 

And  that  ech  man  wolde  flee  the  deeth, 

And  trowe  they  shulde  never  escape, 

Nere  that  hope  couthe  hem  make 

Glad  as  man  in  prisoun  set,  2755 

And  may  not  geten  for  to  et 

But  barly-breed,  and  watir  pure, 

And  lyeth  in  vermin  and  in  ordure  ; 

With  alle  this,  yit  can  he  live. 

Good  hope  such  comfort  hath  him  yive. 

Which  maketh  wene  that  he  shal  be  2761 

Delivered  and  come  to  liberte  ; 

In  fortune  is  [his]  fulle  trust. 

Though  he  lye  in  strawe  or  dust. 

In  hope  is  al  his  susteyning.  2765 

And  so  for  lovers,  in  hir  wening, 

Whiche  Love  hath  shit  in  his  prisoun  ; 

Good-Hope  is  hir  salvacioun. 

Good-Hope,  how  sore  that  they  smerte, 

Yeveth  hem  bothe  wille  and  herte       2770 

To  profre  hir  body  to  martyre  ; 

For  Hope  so  sore  doth  hem  desyre 

To  suflfre  ech  harm  that  men  devyse. 

For  joye  that  faftir  shal  aryse. 

'  Hope,  in  desire  [to]  cacche  victorie  ; 
In  Hope,  of  love  is  al  the  glorie,  2776 

For  Hope  is  al  that  love  may  yive  ; 
Nere  Hope,  ther  shulde  no  lover  live. 
Blessid  be  Hope,  which  with  desyre 
Avaunoeth  lovers  in  such  manere.       2780 
Good-Hope  is  curteis  for  to  jilese. 
To  kepe  lovers  from  al  disese. 
Hope  kepitli  his  lond,  and  wol  abyde. 
For  any  peril  that  may  betyde  ; 
For  Hope  to  lovers,  as  most  cheef,        27S5 
Doth  hem  endure[n]  al  mischeef ; 
Hope  is  her  help,  whan  mister  is. 
And  I  shal  yeve  thee  eek,  y-wis. 


Three  other  thingis,  that  greet  solas 
Doth  to  hem  that  be  in  my  las.  2790 

'  The  first[e]  good  that  may  be  founde. 
To  hem  that  in  my  lace  be  bounde. 
Is  Swete-Thought,  for  to  recorde 
Thing  wherwith  thoii  canst  accorde 
Best  in  thyn  herte,  wher  she  be  ;  2795 

+ Thought  in  absence  is  good  to  thee. 
Whan  any  lover  doth  compleyne. 
And  liveth  in  distresse  and  jiejme. 
Than  Swete-Thought  shal  come,  as  blyve, 
Awey  his  angre  for  to  dryve.  2S00 

It  maki^  lovers  have  remembraunce 
Of  comfort,  and  of  high  plesauuce. 
That  Hope  hath  hight  him  for  to  winne 
For  Thought  anoon  than  shal  biginne, 
As  fer,  god  wot,  as  he  can  finde,  2805 

To  make  a  mirrovir  of  his  minde  ; 
For  to  biholde  he  wol  not  lette. 
Hir  person  he  shal  afore  him  sette, 
Hir  laughing  eyen,  persaunt  and  clere, 
Hir  shaije,  hir  fourme,  hir  goodly  chere, 
Hir  mouth  that  is  so  gracious,  281 1 

So  swete,  and  eek  so  saverous  ; 
Of  alle  hir  fetures  he  shal  take  hede. 
His  eyen  with  alle  hir  limes  fede. 

'  Thus  Swete-Thenking  shal  aswage  2815 
The  peyne  of  lovers,  and  hir  rage. 
Thy  joye  shal  double,  withoute  gesse, 
Whan  thou  thenkist  on  hir  semlinesse, 
Or  of  hir  laughing,  or  of  hir  chere, 
That  to  thee  made  thy  lady  dere.         2S20 
This  comfort  wol  I  that  thou  take  ; 
And  if  the  next  thou  wolt  forsake 
Which  is  not  lesse  saverous, 
Thou  shuldist  fbeen  to  daungerous. 

'  The  seoounde  shal  be  Swete-Speche, 
Tliat  hath  to  many  oon  be  leche,         2826 
To  bringe  hem  out  of  wo  and  were, 
And  helpe  many  a  bachilere  ; 
And  many  a  lady  sent  socoure. 
That  have  loved  par-amour,  2830 

Through   speking,    whan   they    mighten 

here 
Of  hir  lovers,  to  hem  so  dere. 
To  -f-hem  it  voidith  al  hir  smerto. 
The  which  is  closed  in  hir  herte. 
In  herte  it  makith  heni  glad  and  light, 
Speche,  whan  they  mowe  have  sight.  2S36 
And  therfore  now  it  coraeth  to  minde 
In  olde  dawes,  as  I  finde, 


3° 


ZU  (Homaunf  of  tU  (Hoee. 


[Fkagment  B. 


That  clerkis  writen  that  hir  knewe, 

Ther  was  a  lady  fresh  of  hewe,  2840 

Which  of  hir  love  made  a  song, 

Oil  him  for  to  remembre  among', 

In  which  she  seide,  "  Whan  that  I  here 

Speken  of  hini  that  is  so  dere. 

To  me  it  voidith  al  [my]  smerte,  2845 

Y-wis,  he  sit  so  nere  myn  herte. 

To  speke  of  him,  at  eve  or  morwe, 

It  cureth  me  of  al  my  sorwe. 

To  me  is  noon  so  high  plesaunce 

As  of  his  persone  daliaunce."  2850 

She  wist  fill  wel  that  Swete-Speking 

Comfortith  in  fill  muche  thing. 

Hir  love  she  had  ful  wel  assayed, 

Of  him  she  was  ful  wel  apaj'ed  ; 

To  sjieke  of  him  hir  joye  was  set.          2855 

Therfore  I  rede  thee  that  thou  get 

A  felowe  that  can  wel  concele 

And  kepe  thy  counsel,  and  wel  hele. 

To  whom  go  shews  hooUy  thjm  herto, 

Bothe  wele  and  wo,  joye  and  smerte  :  2860 

To  gete  comfort  to  him  thou  go, 

And  privily,  between  yow  two. 

Ye  shal  speke  of  that  goodly  thing, 

That  hath  thyn  herte  in  hir  keping  ; 

Of  hir  bcaute  and  hir  semblaunce,       2865 

And  of  hir  goodly  countenaiince. 

Of  al  thy  state  thou  shalt  him  sey. 

And  aske  him  counseil  how  thou  may 

Do  any  thing  that  may  hir  plese  ; 

For  it  to  thee  shal  do  gret  ese,  2870 

That  he  may  wite  thou  trust  him  so, 

Bothe  of  thy  wele  and  of  thy  wo. 

And  if  his  herte  to  love  be  set. 

His  companye  is  rauche  the  bet, 

For  resoun  wol,  he  shewe  to  thee         2875 

Al  uttirly  his  privite  ; 

And  what  she  is  he  loveth  so, 

To  thee  pleynly  he  shal  undo, 

Withoute  drede  of  any  shame, 

Bothe  telle  hir  renoun  and  hir  name.  28S0 

Than  shal  he  forther,  ferre  and  nere, 

And  namely  to  thy  lady  dere. 

In  siker  wyse  ;  ye,  every  other 

Shal  helpen  as  his  owne  brother, 

In  trouthe  withoute  doublenesse,         2885 

And  kepen  cloos  in  sikernesse. 

For  it  is  noble  thing,  in  fay. 

To  have  a  man  thou  darst  say 

Thy  prive  counsel  every  del ; 


For  that  wol  comfort  thee  right  wel,  28yi» 
And  thou  shalt  holde  thee  wel  apayed. 
Whan  such  a  freend  thou  hast  assayed. 

'  The  thridde  good  of  greet  comfort 
That  yeveth  to  lovers  most  disport, 
Comith  of  sight  and  biholding. 
That  clepid  is  Swete-Loking, 
The  whiche  may  noon  ese  do, 
"Wlian  thou  art  fer  thy  lady  fro  ; 
Wherfore  thou  prese  alwey  to  be 
In  place,  where  thou  mayst  hir  se. 
For  it  is  thing  most  amerous, 
Most  delitable  and  saverous. 
For  to  aswage  a  mannos  sorowe, 
To  sene  his  lady  by  the  morowe. 
For  it  is  a  ful  noble  thinge 
Whan  thyn  eyen  have  meting 
With  that  relyke  precious, 
WHierof  they  be  so  desirous. 
But  al  day  after,  soth  it  is. 
They  have  no  drede  to  faren  amis, 
They  dreden  neither  wind  ne  reyn, 
Ne  [yit]  non  other  maner  peyn. 
For  whan  thyn  eyen  were  thus  in  blis, 
Yit  of  hir  curtesye,  y-wis, 
Aloon  they  can  not  have  hir  joye. 
But  to  the  herte  they  [it]  convoye  ; 
Part  of  hir  blis  to  him  -fthey  sende. 
Of  al  this  harm  to  make  an  ende. 
The  eye  is  a  good  messangere, 
Wliicli  can  to  the  herte  in  such  manere 
Tidyngis  sende,  that  [he]  hath  seen,    2921 
To  voide  him  of  his  peynes  cleen. 
Wlierof  the  herte  reioyseth  so 
That  a  gret  party  of  his  wo 
Is  voided,  and  put  awey  to  flight.        2925 
Right  as  the  derknesse  of  the  night 
Is  chased  with  clerenesse  of  the  mone. 
Eight  so  is  al  his  wo  ful  sone 
Devoided  clene,  whan  that  the  sight 
Biholden  may  that  fresshe  wight         2931  > 
That  the  herte  desyreth  so. 
That  al  his  derknesse  is  ago  ; 
For  than  the  herte  is  al  at  ese. 
Whan  they  seen  that  [that]  may  hem  pleso. 

'  Now  have  I  fthee  declared  al-out,  2935 
Of  that  thou  wei-e  in  drede  and  dout ; 
For  I  have  told  thee  feithfully 
What  thee  may  curen  utterlj^, 
And  alio  lovers  that  wole  be 
Feithful,  and  ful  of  stabilite.  2940 


-^895 


2900 


2905 


291a 


2y'j 


Fraomkn-t  B.] 


ZU  (Komauni  of  t^t  (Roee. 


Good-Hope  alwey  kepe  by  thy  syde, 
And  Swete-Thought  make  eek  abyde, 
Swete-Loking  and  Swete-Speche  ; 
Of  alle  thyn  harmes  they  shal  be  leche. 
Of  every  thou  shalt  have  greet  plesaunce  ; 
If  thou  canst  byde  in  sufferaunce,       2946 
And  serve  wel  without  feyntyse, 
Thou  shalt  be  quit  of  thyn  empryse, 
With  more  g^erdoiin,  if  that  thou  live  ; 
But  al  this  tyme  this  I  thee  yive.'        2950 

The  God  of  Love  whan  al  the  day 
Had  taught  me,  as  ye  have  herd  say, 
And  enfourmed  compendiously. 
He  vanished  awey  al  sodeynly, 
And  I  alone  lefte,  al  sole,  2955 

So  ful  of  compleynt  and  of  dole. 
For  I  saw  no  other  man  ther  me  by. 
My  woundes  me  greved  wondirly  ; 
Me  for  to  curen  no-thing  I  knew. 
Save  the  botoun  bright  of  hew,  2960 

Wheron  was  set  hoolly  my  thought ; 
Of  other  comfort  knew  I  nought, 
But  it  were  through  the  God  of  Love  ; 
I  knew  nat  elles  to  my  bihove 
That  might  me  ese  or  comfort  gate, 
But-if  he  wolde  him  entcrmete. 

The  roser  was,  withoute  doute. 
Closed  with  an  hegge  withoute. 
As  ye  to-forn  have  herd  me  seyn  ; 
And  fast  I  bisied,  and  wolde  fayn 
Have  passed  the  haye,  if  I  might 
Have  geten  in  by  any  slight 
Unto  the  botoun  so  fair  to  see. 
But  ever  I  draddo  blamed  to  be, 
If  men  wolde  have  suspeccioun 
That  I  wolde  of  entencioun 
Have  stole  the  roses  that  ther  were 
Therfore  to  entre  I  was  in  fere. 
But  at  the  last,  as  I  bithought 
Whether  I  sholde  passe  or  nought, 
I  saw  com  with  a  gladde  chere 
To  me,  a  lusty  bachelere, 
Ot  good  stature,  and  of  good  hight. 
And  Bialacoil  forsothe  he  hight. 
Sone  he  was  to  Curtesy, 
And  he  me  graunted  ful  gladly 
The  passage  of  the  outer  hay. 
And  seide  : — '  Sir,  how  that  ye  may 
Passe,  if  [it]  your  wille  be. 
The  fresshe  roser  for  to  see, 
And  ye  the  swete  savour  fele. 


2965 


2970 


2975 


29S0 


2985 


2990 


Your  f  warrant  may  [I  be]  right  wele  ; 

So  thou  thee  kepe  fro  folye, 

Shal  no  man  do  thee  vilanye. 

If  I  may  helpe  you  in  ought,  2995 

I  shal  not  feyne,  dredeth  nought ; 

For  I  am  bounde  to  your  servyse, 

Fully  devoide  of  feyntyse.' 

Than  iinto  Bialacoil  saide  I, 

'  I  thank  yoVt,  sir,  ful  hertely,  3001) 

And  yoiir  biheest  [I]  take  at  gree, 

That  ye  so  goodly  profer  me  ; 

To  you  it  Cometh  of  greet  fraunchyse. 

That  ye  me  profer  your  servj'se.' 

Than  aftir,  ful  deliverly,  3005 

Through  the  breres  anoon  wente  I, 

Wlierof  encombred  was  the  hay. 

I  was  wel  plesed,  the  soth  to  saj-, 

To  see  the  botoun  fair  and  swote, 

So  fresshe  spronge  out  of  the  rote.       3010 

And  Bialacoil  me  served  wel, 
Whan  I  so  nygh  me  mighte  felo 
Of  the  botoiin  the  swete  odour, 
And  so  lusty  hewed  of  colour. 
Bu.t  than  a  cherl  (foule  him  bityde  !)  3015 
Bisyde  the  roses  gan  him  byde, 
To  kepe  the  roses  of  that  roser, 
Of  whom  the  name  was  Daunger. 
This  cherl  was  hid  there  in  the  greves. 
Covered  with  grasse  and  with  leves,    3020 
To  spye  and  take  whom  that  he  fond 
Unto  that  roser  putte  an  bond. 
He  was  not  sole,  for  ther  was  mo  ; 
For  with  him  were  other  two 
Of  wikked  maners,  and  y^'el  fame.       3025 
That  oon  was  clepid,  by  his  name, 
Wikked-Tonge,  god  yeve  him  sorwe  ! 
For  neither  at  eve,  ne  at  morwe, 
He  can  of  no  man  [no]  good  sjieke  , 
On  many  a  just  man  doth  he  wreke.  3030 
Ther  was  a  womman  eek,  that  hight 
Shame,  that,  who  can  reken  right, 
Trespas  was  hir  fadir  name, 
Hir  moder  Eesoun  ;  and  thus  was  Shame 
[On  lyve]  brought  of  these  ilk  two.       3035 
And  yet  had  Trespas  never  ado 
With  Resoun,  ne  never  ley  hix  by, 
He  was  so  hidous  and  ugly, 
I  mene,  this  that  Trespas  hight  ; 
But  Eesoun  conceyveth,  of  a  sight,     3040 
Shame,  of  that  I  spak  aforn. 
And  whan  that  Shame  was  thus  born, 


32 


ZU  (Komaunf  of  t^i.  (^oee. 


[Fragmeni 


It  was  ordeyned,  that  Chastitee 

Sliulde  of  the  roser  lady  he, 

"Wliich,  of  the  botouns  more  and  las,  3045 

With  sondry  folk  assailed  was, 

That  she  ne  wiste  what  to  do. 

For  Venus  hir  assailith  so, 

Tliat  night  and  day  from  hir  she  stal 

Botouns  and  roses  over-al.  3050 

To  Resoun  than  prayeth  Chastitee, 

Wliom  Venus  f  flemed  over  the  see, 

That  she  hir  doughter  wolde  hir  lene. 

To  kepe  the  roser  fresh  and  grene. 

Anoon  Resoun  to  Chastitee  3055 

Is  fully  assented  that  it  be, 

,\jid  grauntid  hir,  at  hir  request, 

That  Shame,  bicause  she  is  honest, 

Shal  keper  of  the  roser  be. 

And  thus  to  kepe  it  ther  were  three,  3060 

That  noon  shulde  hardy  be  ne  bold 

(Were  he  yong,  or  were  he  old) 

Ageyn  hir  wille  awe.y  to  here 

Botouns  ne  roses,  that  ther  were. 

I  had  wel  sped,  had  I  not  been  3065 

Awayted  with  those  three,  and  seen. 

For  Bialacoil,  that  was  so  fair. 

So  gracious  and  debonair, 

Quitte  him  to  me  ful  curteislj', 

And,  me  to  plese,  bad  that  I  3070 

Shuld  drawe  me  to  the  botoun  nere  ; 

Prese  in,  to  touehe  the  rosero 

Which  bar  tlie  roses,  he  yaf  me  leve  ; 

This  graunt  ne  might  but  litel  greve. 

And  for  he  saw  it  lyked  me,  3075 

Right  nygh  the  botoun  pullede  he 

A  leef  al  grene,  and  .vaf  mo  that. 

The  which  ful  nygh  the  botoun  sat ; 

I  made  [mo]  of  that  leef  ful  queynt. 

And  whan  I  felte  I  was  aqueynt  3080 

With  Bialacoil,  and  so  prive, 

I  wende  al  at  my  wille  had  be. 

Then  wex  I  hardy  for  to  tel 

To  #ialacoil  how  me  bifel 

Of  Love,  that  took  and  wounded  me,  3085 

.^d  seide  :  '  Sir,  so  mote  I  thee, 

I  may  no  joye  have  in  no  wyse, 

Upon  no  syde,  but  it  ryse  ; 

For  sithe  (if  I  shal  not  feyne) 

In  herte  I  have  had  so  gret  peyne,      3090 

So  gret  annoy,  and  such  affray. 

That  I  ne  wot  what  I  shal  say  ; 

I  drede  youx  wrath  to  disserve. 


Lever  me  were,  that  knj-\^es  kerve 

My  body  shulde  in  pecis  smalle,  31)95 

Tlian  in  any  wyse  it  shulde  falle 

That  ye  wratthed  shulde  been  with  me.' 

'  Sey  boldely  thy  wille,'  quod  he, 

'  I  nil  be  wroth,  if  that  I  may,  3099 

For  nought  that  thou  shalt  to  me  say.' 

Thanne  seide  I,  '  Sir,  not  j'ou  displese 
To  knowen  of  my  greet  unese, 
In  which  only  love  hath  me  brought ; 
For  peynes  greet,  disese  and  thought, 
Fro  day  to  day  he  doth  me  drj-e  ;         3105 
Supposeth  not,  sir,  that  I  lye. 
In  me  fj-ve  woundes  dide  he  make. 
The  sore  of  whiche  shal  never  slake 
But  ye  the  botoun  graunte  me. 
Which  is  most  passaunt  of  beautee,    3  no 
My  lyf,  my  deth,  and  my  martjTe, 
And  tresour  that  I  most  desyre.' 

Than  Bialacoil,  affrayed  all, 
Seyde,  '  Sir,  it  may  not  fall ; 
That  ye  desire,  it  may  not  fryse.  31 15 

What  ?  wolde  ye  shende  me  in  this  wyse  ? 
A  mochel  foole  than  I  were. 
If  I  suffrid  .you  awey  to  here 
The  fresh  botoun,  so  fair  of  sight. 
For  it  were  neither  skile  ne  right        3120 
Of  the  roser  ye  broke  the  rind. 
Or  take  the  rose  aforn  his  kind  ; 
Ye  ar  not  courte.ys  to  aske  it. 
Lat  it  stil  on  the  roser  sit. 
And  f  growe  til  it  amended  be,  3125 

And  parfitly  come  to  beaute. 
I  nolde  not  that  it  pulled  wer 
Fro  the  roser  that  it  ber. 
To  mo  it  is  so  leef  and  dere.' 

With  that  sterte  out  anoon  Daungere, 
Out  of  the  place  where  he  was  hid.      3131 
His  malice  in  his  chere  was  kid  ; 
Ful  greet  he  was,  and  blak  of  hewe. 
Sturdy  and  hidous,  who-so  him  knewe  ; 
Like  sharp  urchouns  his  here  was  growe, 
His  eyes  frede  as  the  fire-glow  ;  3136 

His  nose  frounced  ful  kirked  stood. 
He  com  criand  as  he  were  wood. 
And  seide,  '  Bialacoil,  tel  me  why 
Thou  bringest  hider  so  boldly  3140 

Him  that  so  nygh  [is]  the  roser  ? 
Thou  worchist  in  a  wrong  manor ; 
He  thenkith  to  dishonour  thee. 
Thou  art  wel  worthy  to  have  maugree 


Fragment  B.l 


Z^i  (Kotnaunf  cf  tU  (J^oe^. 


33 


To  late  him  of  the  roser  wit  ;  3145 

Wlio  serveth  a  feloun  is  yvel  quit. 

Thoii  woldist  have  doon  greet  bountee, 

And  he  with  shame  wolde  qiiyte  thee. 

Flee  hennes,  felowe  !   I  rede  thee  go  ! 

It  wanteth  litel  f  I  wol  thee  slo  ;  3150 

For  Bialacoil  ne  knew  thee  nought, 

Whan  thee  to  serve  he  sette  his  thought  ; 

For  thou  wolt  shame  him,  if  thou  might, 

Bothe  ageyn  resoun  and  right. 

I  wol  no  more  in  thee  affye,  3155 

That  comest  so  slyghly  for  tespye  ; 

For  it  preveth  wonder  wel. 

Thy  slight  and  tresoun  every  del.' 

I  durst  no  more  ther  make  abode, 
For  the  cherl,  he  was  so  wode ;  3160 

So  gan  he  threten  and  manace. 
And  thurgh  the  haye  he  did  me  chace. 
For  feer  of  him  I  tremblid  and  quook. 
So  cherlishly  his  heed  he  shook  ; 
And  seide,  if  eft  he  might  me  take,     3165 
I  shulde  not  from  his  hondis  scape. 

Than  Bialacoil  is  fled  and  laate. 
And  I  al  sole,  disconsolate. 
Was  left  aloon  in  pesrae  and  thought  ; 
For  shame,  to  deth  I  was  nygh  brought. 
Than  thought  I  on  myn  high  foly,       3171 
How  that  my  body,  utterly, 
Was  yeve  to  peyne  and  to  martyre  ; 
And  therto  hadde  I  so  gret  yre. 
That  I  ne  diirst  the  hayes  passe  ;  3175 

There  was  non  hope,  there  was  no  grace. 
I  trowe  never  man  wiste  of  peyne. 
But  he  were  laced  in  Loves  cheyne  ; 
Ne  no  man  [wot],  and  sooth  it  is, 
But-if  he  love,  what  anger  is.  31S0 

Love  holdith  his  heest  to  me  right  wele. 
Whan  peyne  he  seide  I  shulde  fele. 
Non  herte  may  thenke,  ne  tunge  seyne, 
A  quarter  of  my  wo  and  peyne. 
I  might  not  with  the  anger  laste  ;        3185 
Myn  herte  in  poynt  was  for  to  braste, 
Whan  I  thought  on  the  rose,  that  so 
Was  through  Daunger  cast  me  fro. 

A  long  whyl  stood  I  in  that  state. 
Til  that  me  saugh  so  mad  and  mate    3190 
The  lady  of  the  highe  ward. 
Which  from  hir  tour  lokid  thiderward. 
Eesoiiu  men  clepe  that  lady, 
Wliich  from  hir  tour  deliverly 
Come  doun  to  me  withouten  more.       3195 


But  she  was  neither  yong,  ne  hore, 

Ne  high  ne  low,  ne  fat  ne  leno, 

But  best,  as  it  were  in  a  mene. 

Hir  eyen  two  were  cleer  and  light 

As  any  candel  that  brenneth  bright  ;  3200 

And  on  hir  heed  she  hadde  a  crown. 

Hir  senaede  wel  an  high  persoun  ; 

For  rounde  enviroun,  hir  crownet 

Was  ful  of  riche  stonis  fret. 

Hir  goodly  semblaunt,  by  devys,  3205 

I  trowe  were  maad  in  paradys  ; 

f  Nature  had  never  such  a  grace, 

To  forge  a  werk  of  such  compace. 

For  certeyn,  fbut  the  letter  lye, 

God  him-silf,  that  is  so  high,  3210 

Made  hir  aftir  his  image. 

And  yaf  hir  sith  sich  avauntage, 

That  she  hath  might  and  seignorye 

To  kepe  men  from  al  folye  ; 

Who-so  wole  trowe  hir  lore,  3215 

Ne  may  oifenden  nevermore. 

And  whyl  I  stood  thus  derk  and  pale, 
Eesoun  bigan  to  me  hir  tale  ; 
She  seide  :  '  Al  hayl,  my  swete  frend  ! 
Foly  and  childhood  wol  thee  shend,    3220 
Wliich  thee  have  put  in  greet  affray  ; 
Thou  hast  bought  dere  the  tyme  of  May, 
That  made  thyn  herte  naery  to  be. 
In  yvel  tyme  thou  wentist  to  see 
The  gardin,  wherof  Ydilnesse  3225 

Bar  the  keye,  and  was  maistresse 
Whan  thou  yedest  in  the  daunce 
With  hir,  and  hadde[st]  aqueyntaunce  : 
Hir  aqueyntaunce  is  perilous. 
First  softe,  and  aftir[ward]  noyoiis  ;     3230 
She  hath  [thee]  trasshed,  withoute  ween  ; 
The  G-od  of  Love  had  thee  not  seen, 
Ne  hadde  Ydilnesse  thee  conveyed 
In  the  verger  where  Mirthe  him  pleyed. 
If  Foly  have  supprised  thee,  3235 

Do  so  that  it  recovered  be  ; 
And  be  wel  war  to  take  no  more 
Counsel,  that  greveth  aftir  sore  ; 
He  is  wys  that  wol  himsilf  chastyse. 
And  thoiigh  a  young  man  in  any  wyse 
Trespace  among,  and  do  foly,  3241 

Lat  him  not  tarye,  but  hastily 
Lat  him  amende  what  so  be  mis. 
And  eek  I  counseile  thee,  y-wis, 
The  God  of  Love  hoolly  foryet,  3245 

That  hath  thee  in  sich  peyne  set, 


34 


ZH  (Rotnaunf  of  tU  (Hoee. 


[Fragment  ! 


And  thee  in  herte  tormented  so. 

I  can  nat  seen  how  thou  mayst  go 

Other  weyes  to  garisown  ; 

For  Danngcr,  that  is  so  foloun,  3250 

Felly  pui-posith  thee  to  werrey, 

AVhich  is  fid  cruel,  the  soth  to  sey. 

'  And  yit  of  Daungor  eomoth  no  blame, 
In  reward  of  my  doughtor  Shame, 
Which  hath  the  roses  in  hir  warde,     3255 
As  she  that  may  be  no  musarde. 
And  "Wikked-Tunge  is  with  these  two. 
That  suftrith  no  man  thider  go  ; 
For  er  a  thing  be  do,  he  shal. 
Where  that  he  cometh,  over-al,  3260 

In  fourty  places,  if  it  be  sought, 
Seye    thing    that    never    was    doon    ne 

■BTOught ; 
So  moche  tresoun  is  in  his  male, 
Of  falsnesse  for  to  f  feyne  a  tale. 
Tliou  delest  with  angry  folk,  y-wis  ;    3265 
Wherfor  to  thee  [it]  bettir  is 
From  these  folk  awey  to  fare, 
For  they  wol  make  thee  live  in  care. 
This  is  the  yvel  that  Love  they  calle, 
Wherin  ther  is  but  foly  alle,  3270 

For  love  is  foly  everydel  ; 
Who  lovcth,  in  no  -n^-se  may  do  wel, 
Ne  setto  his  thought  on  no  good  werk. 
His  scolc  he  lesith,  if  he  fbe  clerk  ; 
Of  other  craft  eck  if  he  be,  3275 

He  shal  not  thrj-ve  thorin  ;  for  he 
In  love  shal  have  more  i>assioun 
Than  monke,  hermytc,  or  chanoun. 
The  peyne  is  hard,  out  of  mesure, 
The  joye  may  eek  no  whyl  endure  ;     32S0 
And  in  the  possessioun 
Is  muche  tribulacioun  ; 
The  joye  it  is  so  short-lasting. 
And  but  in  happe  is  the  geting  ; 
For  I  see  ther  many  in  travaUle,  3285 

That  atto  laste  foule  fayle. 
I  was  no-thing  thy  counselor, 
Whan  thou  were  maad  the  homager 
Of  God  of  Love  to  hastily  ; 
Ther  was  no  wisdom,  but  foly.  3290 

Thyn  herte  was  joly,  but  not  sage, 
Whan  thou  were  brought  in  sich  a  rage, 
To  yelde  thee  so  redily. 
And  to  Love,  of  his  gret  maistry. 

'  I  rede  thee  Love  awey  to  drys'e,      3295 
That  makith  thee  recche  not  of  thy  lyve. 


The  foly  more  fro  day  to  day 

Shal  growe,  btit  thou  it  piitte  away. 

Take  with  thy  teeth  the  hridel  faste. 

To  daunte  thyn  herte  ;  and  eek  thee  caste. 

If  that  thou  mayst,  to  geto  -[defence  3301 

For  to  redresse  thy  first  oflence. 

"\Mio-so  his  herte  alwey  wol  leve, 

Shal  findo  among  that  shal  him  greve.' 

Whan  I  hir  herd  thus  me  chastyse,  3305 
I  answerd  in  ful  angry  -wyse. 
I  prayed  hir  cessen  of  hir  spoche. 
Outlier  to  chastyse  me  or  teche. 
To  bidde  me  my  thought  refreyne, 
Wliich    Love    hath    caught    in    his   de- 
meyne  : —  3310 

'  AVliat  ?  wenc  ye  Love  wol  consent. 
That  me  assailith  with  bowe  bent, 
To  draw  myn  herte  out  of  his  hondc. 
Which  is  so  quikly  in  his  bonde  ? 
Tliat  ye  counsayle,  may  never  be  ;        3315 
For  whan  he  first  arested  me. 
He  took  myn  herte  so  hool  him  til, 
That  it  is  no-thing  at  my  wil ; 
He  f  taughte  it  so  him  for  to  obey. 
That  he  it  sparred  with  a  key.  3320 

I  pray  yow  lat  me  be  al  stille. 
For  ye  may  wel,  if  that  ye  wille. 
Your  wordis  waste  in  idilnesse  ; 
For  utterly,  withouten  gesse, 
Al  that  ye  seyn  is  but  in  veyne.  3325 

Me  were  lover  dye  in  the  peyne, 
Tlian  Love  to  me-wivrd  shulde  arette 
Falshcod,  or  tresoun  on  me  sette. 
I  wol  me  gete  prys  or  blame, 
And  love  trewe,  to  Save  my  name  ;      3330 
•f-Wlio  me  chastysith,  I  him  hate.' 

With  that  word  Kesoun  weute  hir  gate, 
AVhan  she  saugh  for  no  sermoning 
She  might  me  fro  my  foly  bring. 
Than  dismayed,  I  lefte  al  sool,  3335 

Forwery,  foi-\vandred  as  a  fool. 
For  I  ne  knew  no  -t-chevisaunco. 
Than  fel  into  my  remembraunce, 
How  Love  bade  me  to  piirveye 
A  felowe,  to  whom  I  mighte  seye         3340 
My  counsel  and  my  privete. 
For  that  shulde  muche  availe  me. 
With  that  bithought  I  me,  that  I 
Hadde  a  felowe  faste  by, 
Trewe  and  siker,  curteys,  and  hend,    3345 
And  he  was  called  by  name  a  Freend  ; 


Frao.mext  B.] 


Zh  (Homaunf  of  tU  (B^et. 


35 


A  trewer  felowe  was  no-wher  noon. 

In  haste  to  Iihn  I  wente  anoon, 

And  to  liim  al  my  wo  I  tolde, 

Fro  liim  right  nought  I  wold  withholde. 

I  tokle  him  al  withoute  were,  3351 

And  made  my  complcjTit  on  Daungere, 

How  for  to  see  he  was  hidons, 

And  to-me-ward  contrarious  ; 

The  whiche  through  his  cmelte  3355 

AVas  in  poynt  to  have  moygned  me  ; 

With  Bialacoil  whan  he  me  sey 

Within  the  gardyii  walke  and  pley, 

Fro  me  he  made  him  for  to  go, 

And  I  bilefte  aloon  in  wo  ;  3360 

I  durst  no  lenger  with  him  speke, 

For  Daungcr  seide  he  wolde  be  wreke, 

"Wlian  that  he  sawe  how  I  wente 

The  fresshe  botoun  for  to  hente, 

If  I  were  hardy  to  come  neer  3365 

Bitwene  the  hay  and  the  roser. 

This   Frecnd,    whan    ho   wiste   of    my 
thought, 
He  discomforted  me  right  nonght, 
But  seide,  '  Folowe,  be  not  so  mad, 
Jv'e  so  abaysshed  nor  bistad.  3370 

My-silf  I  knowe  ful  wel  Daungere, 
And  how  he  is  feers  of  his  chere. 
At  prime  temps,  Love  to  manace  ; 
Ful  ofte  I  have  ben  in  his  caas. 
A  feloun  first  though  that  ho  be,  3375 

Attir  thou  shalt  him  souple  see. 
Of  long  passed  I  knew  him  wcle  ; 
Ungoodly  first  though  men  him  fele. 
He  wol  meek  aftir,  in  his  bering. 
Been,  for  service  and  obf  ysshing.        3380 
I  shal  thee  telle  what  thou  shalt  do  : — - 
Mekely  I  rede  thou  go  him  to, 
Of  horte  pray  him  spocialy 
Of  thy  trespace  to  have  mercy. 
And  bote  him  wel,[him]  here  to  plose,  3385 
That  thou  shalt  nevermore  him  displeso. 
Wlio  can  best  serve  of  flatery, 
Shal  plese  Daunger  most  uttirly.' 

My  Freend  hath  seid  to  me  so  wel, 
That  he  me  esid  hath  somdel,  3390 

And  eek  allegged  of  my  torment  ; 
For  through  him  had  I  hardement 
Agayn  to  Daunger  for  to  go, 
To  preve  if  I  might  meke  him  so. 

To  Daunger  cam  I,  al  ashamed,        3395 
The  which  aforn  me  hadde  blamed, 


Desyring  for  to  pese  my  wo  ; 

But  over  hegge  durst  I  not  go, 

For  he  f  forbad  me  the  passage. 

I  fond  him  cruel  in  his  rage,  341x1 

And  in  his  hond  a  gret  burdoun. 

To  him  I  knelid  lowe  adoun, 

Ful  meke  of  port,  and  simple  of  chere, 

And  seide,  '  Sir,  I  am  comen  here 

Only  to  aske  of  you  mercy.  34(  15 

That  gi-eveth  me,  [sir],  ful  gretly 

That  ever  my  lyf  I  wratthed  you, 

Biit  for  to  amende  I  am  come  now. 

With  al  my  might,  bothe  loude  and  stillo. 

To  doou  right  at  your  owno  wille  ;      3410 

For  Love  made  me  for  to  do 

That  I  have  trespassed  hidirto  ; 

Fro   whom   I   ne   may   withdrawe    myn 

herte  ; 
Yit  shal  I  never,  for  joy  no  smerte. 
What  so  bifalle,  good  or  ille,  3415 

Offende  more  ageyn  your  wille. 
Lever  I  have  endure  discse 
Than  do  that  shulde  j'ou  displese. 

'  I  you  require  and  pray,  that  ye 
Of  me  have  mercy  and  pitee,  34->o 

To  stinte  your  yre  that  greveth  so, 
That  I  wol  swere  for  evermo 
To  be  redressid  at  your  lyking, 
If  I  trespasse  in  any  thing  ; 
Save  that  I  pray  thee  graunte  me        3425 
A  thing  that  may  nat  warned  be. 
That  I  may  love,  al  only  ; 
Non  other  thing  of  you  aske  I. 
I  shal  doon  elles  wel,  j--wis. 
If  of  your  grace  ye  graunte  me  this.   3430 
And  ye  [ne]  may  not  lettcn  me. 
For  wel  wot  ye  that  love  is  free. 
And  I  shal  loven,  fsith  that  I  wil, 
Wlio-ever  lyke  it  wel  or  il ; 
And  yit  ne  wold  I,  for  al  Fraunce,      3435 
Do  thing  to  do  yovi  displesaunce.' 

Than  Daunger  fil  in  his  entent 
For  to  foryeve  his  maltalent ; 
But  al  his  wi-atthe  yit  at  laste 
He  hath  relesed,  I  preyde  so  faste  :     3440 
Shortly  he  seide,  '  Thy  request 
Is  not  to  mochel  dishonest ; 
Ne  I  wol  not  werne  it  thee. 
For  yit  no-thing  engreveth  me. 
For  thoiigh  thou  love  thus  evermore,  3445 
To  me  is  neither  softe  ne  sore. 


36 


Z^t  (Roitti»unf  of  t^t:  (Jloee. 


[Fii 


!.MKXT  B. 


Love  f  wher  thee  list ;  what  recchith  me, 

So  [thoiT]  fer  fro  my  roses  be  ? 

Trust  not  on  me,  for  noon  assay. 

In  any  tyme  to  passe  the  hay.'  3450 

Thus  hath  he  graunted  my  prayere. 

Than  wente  I  forth,  withonten  were, 
Unto  my  Freend,  and  tolde  him  al, 
T^Tiich  was  right  joyful  of  my  tale. 
He  seide,  '  Now  goth  wel  thyn  affaire,    3455 
He  shal  to  thee  be  dobonaire. 
Though  he  aforn  was  dispitous. 
He  shal  heeraftir  be  gracious. 
If  he  were  touchid  on  som  good  veyne. 
He  shuld  yit  rewen  on  thy  peyne.       3460 
Suffre,  I  rede,  and  no  boost  make. 
Til  thou  at  good  mes  mayst  him  take. 
By  sufFraunce,  and  [by]  wordis  softe, 
A  man  may  overcome[n]  ofte 
Him  that  aforn  he  hadde  in  drede,     3465 
In  bookis  sothly  as  I  rede.' 

Thus  hath  xny  Freend  with  gret  com- 
fort 
Avaunced  me  with  high  disport, 
Wliich  wolde  me  good  as  mich  as  I. 
And  thanne  anoon  ful  sodeynly  3470 

I  took  my  leve,  and  streight  I  went 
Unto  the  hay ;  for  giet  talent 
I  had  to  seen  the  fresh  botoun, 
Wherin  lay  my  salvacioun  ; 
And  Daungor  took  kepe,  if  that  I         3475 
Kepe  him  covenaunt  trewly. 
So  sore  I  dradde  his  manasing, 
I  durst  not  breke[n]  his  bidding  ; 
For,  lest  that  I  were  of  him  shent, 
I  brak  not  his  comaundement,  3480 

For  to  purchase  his  good  wil. 
It  was  [hard]  for  to  come  ther-til, 
His  mercy  was  to  fer  bihinde  ; 
I  wepte,  for  I  ne  might  it  finde. 
I  complej-ned  and  sighed  sore,  3485 

And  languisshod  evermore. 
For  I  durst  not  over  go 
Unto  the  rose  I  loved  so. 
Thurghout  my  deming  outerly, 
fThan  had  he  knowlege  certeinly,      3490 
+That  Love  me  ladde  in  sich  a  wyse. 
That  in  me  ther  was  no  feyntyse, 
Falsheed,  ne  no  trecherye. 
And  yit  he,  ful  of  vilanye. 
Of  disdeyne,  and  cruelte,  3495 

On  me  ne  wolde  have  pite, 


3500 


3505 


His  cruel  wil  for  to  refreyne, 

Though  I  wepe  alwey,  and  fcompleyne. 

And  while  I  was  in  this  torment. 
Were  come  of  grace,  by  god  sent, 
Fraiinchyse,  and  with  hir  Pite 
Fiilfild  the  botoiin  of  bountee 
They  go  to  Daunger  anon-right 
To  forther  me  with  al  hir  might. 
And  helpe  in  worde  and  in  dede. 
For  wel  they  savigh  that  it  was  nede. 
First,  of  hir  grace,  dame  Fraunchyse 
Hath  taken  [word]  of  this  empryse  : 
She  seide,  '  Daimger,  gret  wi-ong  ye  do 
To  worche  this  man  so  muche  wo,       3510 
Or  pynen  him  so  angerly ; 
It  is  to  j'ou  gret  vilany. 
I  can  not  see  why,  ne  how. 
That  he  hath  trespassed  ageyn  you. 
Save  that  he  loveth  ;  wherfore  ye  shulde 
The  more  in  cherete  of  him  holde.       3516 
The  force  of  love  makith  him  do  this  ; 
Wlio  wolde  him  blame  he  dide  amis  ? 
He  leseth  more  than  ye  may  do  ; 
His  peyne  is  hard,  ye  may  see,  lo  !       3520 
And  Love  in  no  wyse  wolde  consente 
That  f  he  have  power  to  repente  ; 
For  though  that  qtiik  ye  wolde  him  sloo, 
Fro  Love  his  herte  may  not  go. 
Now,  swete  sir,  fis  it  your  ese  3525 

Him  for  to  angre  or  disese  ? 
Alias,  what  may  it  you  avaunce 
To  doon  to  him  so  greet  grevaunce  ? 
What  worship  is  it  agayii  him  take. 
Or  on  your  man  a  werre  make, 
Sith  he  so  lowly  every  wyse 
Is  redy,  as  ye  lust  de^-yse  ? 
If  Love  hath  caught  him  in  his  lace. 
You  for  t'obeye  in  every  caas. 
And  been  your  suget  at  your  willo, 
Shulde  ye  therfore  willen  him  illc? 
Ye  shulde  him  spare  more,  al-out. 
Than  him  that  is  bothe  jiroud  and  stout. 
Curtesye  wol  that  ye  socovu- 
Hem  that  ben  meke  undir  your  ctire.  3540 
His  herte  is  hard,  that  wole  not  meke. 
Whan  men  of  mekenesse  him  biseke.' 

'  That  is  certeyn,'  seide  Pite ; 
'  We  see  ofte  that  htimilitee 
Bothe  ire,  and  also  felonye  3545 

Venqixissheth,  and  also  melancolye  ; 
To  stonde  forth  in  such  duresse, 


3530 


3535 


tH  (Fowaunf  of  tU  (^o^^- 


37 


This  crueltee  and  wikkednesse. 

Wlierfore  I  pray  you,  sir  Daungere, 

For  to  mayntene  no  lenger  here  3550 

Such  cruel  werre  agayn  your  man, 

As  hooUy  youres  as  ever  he  can  ; 

Nor  that  ye  worchen  no  more  wo 

fOn  this  caytif  that  languisshith  so, 

Which  wol  no  more  to  you  trespasse,  3555 

But  put  him  hoolly  in  your  grace. 

His  offense  ne  was  but  lyte  ; 

The  God  of  Love  it  was  to  wj'te, 

That  he  your  thral  so  gretly  is. 

And  if  ye  harm  him,  ye  doon  amis  ;   3560 

For  he  hath  had  ful  hard  penaunce, 

Sith  that  ye  refte  him  thaqueyntaunce 

Of  Bialacoil,  his  moste  joye. 

Which  alle  his  peynes  might  acoye. 

He  was  biforn  anoyed  sore,  3565 

But  than  ye  doubled  him  wel  more  ; 

For  he  of  blis  hath  ben  ful  bare, 

Sith  Bialacoil  was  fro  him  fare. 

Love  hath  to  him  do  greet  distresse. 

He  hath  no  nede  of  more  duresse,        3570 

Voideth  from  him  your  ire,  I  rede  ; 

Ye  may  not  winnen  in  this  dede. 

Maketh  Bialacoil  repeire  ageyn, 

And  haveth  pite  upon  his  peyn  ; 

For  Fraunchise  wol,  and  I,  Pite,  3575 

That  merciful  to  him  ye  be  ; 

And  sith  that  she  and  I  accorde, 

Have  iipon  him  misericorde  ; 

For  I  you  pray,  and  eek  moneste, 

Nought  to  refusen  our  requeste  ;  3580 

For  he  is  hard  and  fel  of  thought. 

That  for  us  two  wol  do  right  nought.' 

Daunger  ne  might  no  more  endure, 
He  meked  him  unto  mesure. 

'  I  wol  in  no  wyse,'  seith  Daungere,  3585 
'  Deuye  that  ye  have  asked  here  ; 
It  were  to  greet  uncurtesye. 
I  wol  ye  have  the  companye 
Of  Bialacoil,  as  ye  devyse  ; 
I  wol  him  lette[n]  in  no  wyse.'  3590 

To  Bialacoil  than  wente  in  hy 
Fraunchyse,  and  seide  ful  curteisly  : — 
'  Ye  have  to  longe  be  deignous 
LTnto  this  lover,  and  daungerous. 
Fro  him  to  withdrawe  your  presence,  3595 
Which  hath  do  to  him  grete  offence, 
That  ye  not  wolde  upon  him  see  ; 
Wherfore  a  sorowful  man  is  he. 


Shape  ye  to  paye  him,  and  to  plese. 
Of  my  love  if  ye  wol  have  esc.  3600 

Fiilfil  his  wil,  sith  that  ye  knowe 
Daunger  is  daunted  and  brought  lowe 
Thurgh  help  of  me  and  of  Pite  ; 
You  fthar  no  more  afered  be.' 

'  I  shal  do  right  as  ye  wil,'  3605 

Saith  Bialacoil,  '  for  it  is  skil, 
Sith  Daunger  wol  that  it  so  be.' 
Than  Fraunchise  hath  him  sent  to  me. 

Bialacoil  at  the  biginning 
Salued  me  in  his  coming.  3610 

No  straungenes  was  in  him  seen. 
No  more  than  he  ne  had  wrathed  been. 
As  faire  semblaimt  than  shewed  he  me, 
And  goodly,  as  aforn  did  he  ; 
And  by  the  honde,  withouten  doute,  3615 
Within  the  haye,  right  al  aboute 
He  ladde  me,  with  right  good  chere, 
Al  environ  the  vergere. 
That  Daimger  had  me  chased  fro. 
Now  have  I  leve  over-al  to  go  ;  3().!o 

Now  am  I  raised,  at  my  de\'ys, 
Fro  helle  unto  paradys. 
Thus  Bialacoil,  of  gentilnesse, 
With  alle  his  peyne  and  besinesse, 
Hath  shewed  me,  only  of  grace, 
The  estres  of  the  swote  place, 

I  saw  the  rose,  whan  I  was  nigh. 
Was  gretter  woxen,  and  more  high, 
Fresh,  rody,  and  fair  of  hewe. 
Of  colour  ever  yliche  newe. 
And  whan  I  had  it  longe  seen, 
I  saugh  that  through  the  leves  grene 
The  rose  spredde  to  spanishing  ; 
To  sene  it  was  a  goodly  thing. 
Biit  it  ne  was  so  spred  on  bredc,  3635 

That  men  withm  might  knowe  the  sede  ; 
For  it  covert  was  and  [enjclose 
Bothe  with  the  leves  and  with  the  rose. 
The  stalk  was  even  and  grene  upright, 
It  was  theron  a  goodly  sight  ;  3640 

And  wel  the  better,  withouten  wene, 
For  the  seed  was  not  [y]-sene. 
Ful  faire  it  spradde,  fgod  it  blesse  ! 
For  suche  another,  as  I  gesse, 
Aforn  ne  was,  ne  more  vermayle.         3645 
I  was  abawed  for  merveyle. 
For  ever,  the  fairer  that  it  was. 
The  more  I  am  bounden  in  Loves  laas. 

Longe  I  abood  there,  soth  to  saye, 


3<3^5 


.<>3<' 


38 


ZU  (^omaunf  of  tH  (Foe^- 


[FUAOMENT  B. 


Til  Bialaeoil  I  gan  to  prayo,  3650 

Wlian  that  I  saw  liim  in  no  wyse 

To  me  warnen  his  serv;^^se, 

That  he  me  woUle  graiinte  a  thing, 

Wliieh  to  remembre  is  wcl  sitting  ; 

This  is  to  sajTie,  that  of  his  grace        3655 

He  wolde  me  yeve  leyser  and  space 

To  me  that  was  so  desirous 

To  have  a  kissing  precious 

Of  the  goodly  fresho  rose, 

That  f  swetely  smoUeth  in  my  nose  ;  3660 

'  For  if  it  you  displesed  nought, 

I  wolde  gladly,  as  I  have  sought. 

Have  a  cos  therof  freely 

Ofyourj-eft;  for  certainly 

I  wol  non  have  but  by  your  leve,          3665 

So  loth  me  were  you  for  to  greve.' 

Ho  sayde,  '  Frond,  so  god  mc  spodo. 
Of  Chastito  I  have  suche  drede. 
Thou  shuldest  not  warned  be  for  nic, 
But  I  dar  not,  for  Chastite.  3670 

Agajii  hir  dar  I  not  misdo. 
For  alwey  biddeth  she  mc  so 
To  yeve  no  lover  lev©  to  kisse  ; 
For  who  therto  may  winnen,  y-wis, 
He  of  the  surplus  of  the  pray  3675 

May  live  in  hope  to  get  soni  day. 
For  who  so  kissing  may  attaync. 
Of  loves  pejaio  hath,  soth  to  sayne. 
The  beste  and  most  avenaunt. 
And  ernest  of  the  remenaunt.'  3680 

Of  his  answero  I  syghed  sore  ; 
I  durst  assaye  him  tho  no  more, 
I  had  such  drede  to  grevo  him  ay. 
A  man  shulde  not  to  muche  assaye 
To  chafe  his  frond  out  of  niesure,        3685 
Nor  imt  his  lyf  in  aventui-e  ; 
For  no  man  at  the  firste  stroke 
No  may  nat  felle  doun  an  oko  ; 
Nor  of  the  reisins  have  the  wync, 
Til  grapes  fry^io  and  wel  afyne  3690 

Be  sore  empressid,  I  you  ensure, 
And  drawen  out  of  the  pressure. 
But  I,  fori)ej-ned  wonder  strongo, 
i'Thought  that  I  abood  right  longe 
Aftir  the  kis,  in  peyne  and  wo,  3695 

Sitli  I  to  kis  desyred  so  : 
Til  that,  frewing  on  my  distresse, 
Ther  i  to  me  Venus  the  goddesse, 
■V^^lich  ay  werreyeth  Chastite, 
Came  of  hir  grace,  to  socoua-e  me,       37ix) 


Whos  might  is  knowe  fer  and  wydo, 

For  she  is  modir  of  Cupyde, 

Tho  God  of  Love,  blinde  as  stoon, 

That  helpith  lovers  many  oon. 

This  lady  brought  in  hir  right  bond  3705 

Of  brenning  fyr  a  biasing  brond  ; 

Wherof  the  flavrane  and  bote  fs'r 

Hath  many  a  lady  in  dosyr 

Of  love  brought,  and  sore  bet. 

And  in  hir  servise  hir  fhertes  set.       3710 

This  lady  was  of  good  entayle. 

Eight  wondirful  of  apparayle  ; 

By  hir  atj're  so  bright  and  shone. 

Men  might  perceyve  wel,  and  seen. 

She  was  not  of  religioun.  3715 

Nor  I  nil  make  menciouu 

Nor  of  [hir]  robe,  nor  of  tresour, 

Of  broche,  fnor  of  hir  riche  attour  ; 

No  of  hir  girdil  aboute  hir  syde. 

For  that  I  nil  not  long  abj-do.  37^0 

But  knowith  wel,  that  certeynly 

She  was  arayed  richoly. 

Dovoyd  of  pryde  certeyn  she  was  ; 

To  Bialaeoil  she  wente  a  pas. 

And  to  him  shortly,  in  a  clause,  3725 

She  seide  :  '  Sir,  what  is  the  cause 

Ye  been  of  port  so  daungerovis 

Unto  this  lover,  and  doynous. 

To  graunte  him  no-thing  but  a  kis  ? 

To  werne  it  him  ye  doon  amis  ;  3731) 

Sith  wel  ye  wote,  how  that  he 

Is  Loves  servaunt,  as  ye  may  see. 

And  hath  beaute,  wher-through  [he]  is 

Worthy  of  love  to  have  the  blis. 

How  he  is  semely,  biholde  and  see,      3735 

How  he  is  fair,  how  he  is  free. 

How  he  is  swote  and  debonair. 

Of  age  yong,  lusty,  and  fair. 

Ther  is  no  lady  so  hauteyne, 

Duchesse,  countesse,  ne  chasteleyne,  3740 

That  I  nolde  holde  hir  ungoodly 

For  to  refuse  him  outerly. 

His  breeth  is  also  good  and  swete. 

And  eke  his  lippis  rody,  and  mete 

Only  to  fpleyen,  and  to  kisso.  3745 

Gravinte  him  a  kis,  of  gentilnesse  ! 

His  teeth  am  also  whyte  and  clone  ; 

Me  thinkith  wrong,  withouten  wene, 

If  ye  now  werne  him,  trustitli  me, 

To  graunte  that  a  kis  have  ho  ;  3750 

The  lasse  f  to  helpe  him  that  ye  haste. 


Fkagmest  B. 


€U  (Komaunf  of  tU  (B^^e. 


39 


The  more  tyme  sliul  ye  waste.' 

Wlian  the  flawme  of  the  verry  brond, 
That  Venus  broiight  in  hir  right  hond, 
Had  Bialacoil  with  hete  smote,  3755 

Anoon  he  -j-bad,  withouten  lette, 
Graunte  to  me  the  rose  kisse. 
Than  of  ray  peyne  I  gan  to  lisse, 
And  to  the  rose  anoon  wente  I, 
And  kissid  it  ful  feithfully.  3760 

Thar  no  man  aske  if  I  was  blythe, 
"Wlian  the  savour  soft  and  lythe 
Strook  to  myn  herte  withotite  more, 
And  me  alegged  of  my  sore. 
So  was  I  ful  of  joye  and  blisse.  3765 

It  is  fair  sich  a  flour  to  kisse, 
It  was  so  swote  and  saverous. 
I  naight  not  be  so  anguisshous. 
That  I  mote  glad  and  joly  be, 
^^^lan  that  I  remembre  me.  3770 

Yit  ever  araong,  sothly  to  seyn, 
I  suffre  noye  and  moche  peyn. 

The  see  may  never  be  so  stil, 
That  with  a  lit  el  winde  it  -j-nil 
Overwhelme  and  turne  also,  3775 

As  it  were  wood,  in  wawis  go. 
Altir  the  calm  the  trouble  sono 
Mot  folowe,  and  chaunge  as  the  mone. 
Right  so  fareth  Love,  that  selde  in  oon 
Holdith  his  anker  ;  for  right  anoon    37S0 
Wlian  they  in  ese  wene  best  to  live, 
They  been  with  tempest  al  fordrive. 
Who  serveth  Love,  can  telle  of  wo  ; 
The  stoundemele  joye  mot  overgo. 
Now  he  hurteth,  and  now  ho  cureth,  3785 
For  selde  in  00  poynt  Love  endureth. 

Now  is  it  right  me  to  procede. 
How  Shame  gan  medle  and  take  hede, 
Thurgh  whom  felle  angres  I  have  had  ; 
And  how  the  stronge  wal  was  maad,    3790 
And  the  castell  of  bredo  and  lengthe. 
That  God  of  Love  wan  with  his  strengtho. 
Al  this  in  romance  wil  I  sette. 
And  for  no-thing  ne  wil  I  lette. 
So  that  it  lyking  to  hir  be,  3795 

That  is  the  Hour  of  beauto  ; 
For  she  may  best  my  labour  quyte. 
That  I  for  hir  love  shal  endyte. 

Wikkid-Tunge,  that  the  covyne 
Of  every  lover  can  devyne  3800 

Worst,  and  addith  more  somdel, 
(For  Wikkid-Tunge  seith  never  wel). 


To  me-ward  bar  he  right  gret  hate. 
Espying  me  erly  and  late. 
Til  he  hath  seen  the  gret[e]  chere        3S05 
Of  Bialacoil  and  me  y-fere. 
He  niighte  not  his  tunge  withstonde 
Worse  to  reporte  than  he  fondo. 
He  was  so  ful  of  cursed  rage  ; 
It  sat  him  wel  of  his  linage,  3810 

For  him  an  Irish  womman  bar. 
His  tunge  was  fyled  sharp,  and  squar, 
Poignaunt  and  right  kcrving. 
And  wonder  bitter  in  speking. 
For  whan  that  he  me  gan  espye,  3815 

He  swoor,  afferming  sikirly, 
Bitwene  Bialacoil  and  me 
Was  y\'el  aquayntaunce  and  privee. 
He  spak  therof  so  folily. 
That  he  awakid  Jelousy  ;  382" 

Wliich,  al  afrayed  in  his  rysing. 
Whan  that  he  herde  [him]  jangling. 
He  ran  anoon,  as  he  were  wood. 
To  Bialacoil  ther  that  he  stood  ; 
Which  hadde  lever  in  this  caas  3825 

Have  been  at  Keynes  or  Amyas  ; 
For  foot-hoot,  in  his  felonyo 
To  him  thus  seide  Jelousye  :^ 
'  Why  hast  thoii  been  so  necligent, 
To  kepen,  whan  I  was  absent,  3830 

This  verger  here  lelt  in  thy  ward  ? 
To  me  thou  liaddist  no  reward, 
To  truste  (to  thy  confusioiru) 
Him  thus,  to  whom  suspeccioun 
I  have  right  greet,  for  it  is  nede  ;        3835 
It  is  wel  shewed  by  the  dede. 
Greet  faute  in  thee  now  have  I  foimde  ; 
By  god,  anoon  thou  shalt  be  boundc. 
And  faste  loken  in  a  tour, 
Withoute  refuyt  or  socour.  3840 

For  Shame  to  long  hath  be  thee  fro  ; 
Over  sone  she  was  ago. 
Wlian  thoii  hast  lost  bothedrede  and  fere, 
It  semed  wel  she  was  not  here. 
She  was  [not]  bisy,  in  no  wyse,  3845 

To  kepe  thee  and  [to]  chastyse. 
And  for  to  helpon  Chastitee 
To  kepe  the  roser,  as  thinkith  me. 
For  than  this  boy-knave  so  boldely 
Ne  sholde  not  have  be  hardy,  3850 

[Ne]  in  this  f  verger  had  such  game. 
Which  now  me  turneth  to  gret  shame.' 
Bialacoil  nist  what  to  sey  ; 


4° 


^^e  (Jlowaunf  of  tU  (Roee. 


[Fragment  '. 


Ful  fayn  he  wolde  have  fled  awey, 

For  fere  han  hid,  nere  than  he  3855 

Al  sodeynly  took  him  with  me. 

And  whan  I  saugh  he  hadde  so, 

This  Jelonsye,  take  ns  two, 

I  was  astonod,  and  knew  no  rede. 

But  fledde  awey  for  verrej'  drede.        3860 

Than  Shame  cam  forth  ful  simply ; 
She  wende  have  trespaced  ful  gretly  ; 
Humble  of  hir  port,  and  made  it  simple, 
Wering  a  vayle  in  stede  of  wimple, 
As  nonnis  doon  in  hir  abbey.  3865 

Bicause  hir  herte  was  in  affray. 
She  gan  to  speke,  within  a  throwe, 
To  Jelousye,  right  wonder  lowe. 
First  of  his  grace  she  bisought. 
And  seide  : — -^  Sire,  ne  leveth  nought  3870 
Wikkid-Tunge,  that  fals  espye, 
AVhich  is  so  glad  to  feyne  and  lye. 
He  hath  yoii  maad,  thurgh  flatering. 
On  Bialac-oil  a  this  lesing. 
His  fal.-^ni'ssc  is  not  now  anew,  3875 

It  is  to  l"ng  that  he  him  knew. 
This  is  not  the  firste  day  ; 
For  Wikkid-Tunge  hath  custom  ay 
Yong6  folkis  to  bewreye. 
And  false  lesinges  on  hem  fleye.         38S0 

'  Yit  nevertheles  I  see  among. 
That  the  loigne  it  is  so  longe 
Of  Bialacoil,  hertis  to  lure. 
In  Loves  servise  for  to  endure, 
Drawing  suche  folk  him  to,  3885 

That  he  had  no-thing  -Nvith  to  do  ; 
But  in  sothnesse  I  trowe  nought. 
That  Bialacoil  hadde  ever  in  thought 
To  do  trespace  or  vilanye  ; 
But,  for  his  modir  Curtesye  3S90 

Hath  taught  him  ever  [for]  to  be 
Good  of  aquejTitaunce  and  privee  ; 
For  he  loveth  non  hevinesse. 
But  mirthe  and  pley,  and  al  gladnesse  ; 
He  hateth  alle  f  trecherous,  3895 

Soleyn  folk  and  envious  ; 
For  [wel]  ye  witen  how  that  he 
Wol  ever  glad  and  joyful  be 
Honestly  with  folk  to  pley. 
I  have  be  negligent,  in  good  fey,  39c» 

To  chastise  him  ;  therfore  now  I 
Of  herte  fcrye  j'ou  here  mercy. 
That  I  have  been  so  recheles 
To  tamen  him,  withouten  lees. 


Of  my  foly  I  me  repent  e  ;  3905 

Now  wol  I  hool  sette  myn  entente 
To  kepe,  bothe  floude  and  stille, 
Bialacoil  to  do  your  wille.' 

'  Shame,  Shame,'  seyde  Jelousy, 
'  To  be  bitrasshed  gret  drede  have  I.  3910 
Lecherye  hath  clombe  so  hye. 
That  almost  blered  is  myn  ye  ; 
No  wonder  is,  if  that  drede  have  I. 
Over-al  regnith  Lechery, 
Whos  might  [yit]  growith  night  and  day. 
Bothe  in  cloistre  and  in  abbey  3916 

Chastite  is  werreyed  over-al. 
Therfore  I  wol  with  siker  wal 
Close  bothe  roses  and  roser. 
I  have  to  longe  in  this  maner  3920 

Left  hem  unclosid  wUfully  ; 
AVherfore  I  am  right  inwardly 
Sorowful  and  repente  me. 
But  now  they  shal  no  lenger  be 
Unclosid  ;  and  yit  I  drede  sore,  3925 

I  shal  repente  ferthermore. 
For  the  game  goth  al  amis. 
Counsel  I  f  mot  [take]  newe,  y-wis. 
I  have  to  longe  tristed  thee. 
But  now  it  shal  no  lenger  be  ;  3930 

For  he  may  best,  in  every  cost, 
Discey^'e,  that  men  tristen  most. 
I  see  wel  that  I  am  nygh  shent, 
But-if  I  sette  my  ful  entent 
Remedye  to  purveye.  3935 

Therfore  close  I  shal  the  weye 
Fro  hem  that  wol  the  rose  espye, 
And  come  to  wayte  me  vilanye. 
For,  in  good  feith  and  in  trouthe, 
I  wol  not  lette,  for  no  slouthe,  3940 

To  live  the  more  in  sikirnesse, 
fTo  make  anoon  a  forteresse, 
fTo  enclose  the  roses  of  good  savour. 
In  middis  shal  I  make  a  tour 
To  putte  Bialacoil  in  prisoun,  3945 

For  ever  I  drede  me  of  tresoun. 
I  trowe  I  shal  him  kepe  so, 
That  he  shal  have  no  might  to  go 
Aboute  to  make  companye 
To  hem  that  thenke  of  vilanye  ;  3950 

Ne  to  no  such  as  hath  ben  here 
Aforn,  and  foiinde  in  him  good  chere. 
Which  han  assailed  him  to  shende, 
And  with  hir  trowandyse  to  blende. 
A  fool  is  eyth  [for]  to  bigyle  ;  3955 


FUAGMF.NT  B.] 


t:6e  (Rontaunf  of  tU  (Foe^- 


41 


But  may  I  lyve  a  litel  while, 

He  shal  forthenke  his  fair  semblaunt.' 

And  with  that  word  cam  Dredo  avaunt, 
Which  was  abasshed,  and  in  gret  fere, 
^Vhan  he  wiste  Jelousye  was  there.    3960 
lie  was  for  drede  in  such  aifray, 
Tliat  not  a  word  durste  lie  say, 
But  quaking  stood  ful  stille  aloon, 
Til  Jelousye  his  wey  was  goon, 
Save  Shame,  that  him  not  forsook  ;    3965 
Botlie  Drede  and  she  ful  sore  qnook  ; 
[Til]  that  at  laste  Drede  abreyde. 
And  to  his  cosin  Shame  seydo  : 
'  Shame,'  he  seide,  '  in  sothfastnesse, 
To  me  it  is  gret  hevinesse,  3970 

That  the  noyse  so  fer  is  go. 
And  the  sclaiuidre  of  ns  two. 
But  sith  that  it  is  [so]  bifalle, 
We  may  it  not  ageyn  [do]  calle, 
Whan  onis  sprongen  is  a  fame.  3975 

For  many  a  yeer  withouten  blame 
We  han  been,  and  many  a  day  ; 
For  many  an  April  and  many  a  May 
We  hau  [y]-passed,  not  [a]shamed. 
Til  Jelousye  hath  us  blamed  3980 

Of  mistrust  and  suspecioun 
Canseles,  withouten  enchesoiin. 
Go  we  to  Daunger  hastily. 
And  late  ns  shewe  him  openly, 
That  he  hath  not  aright  [y]-wrought,  3985 
Whan  that  he  sette  nought  his  thought 
To  kepe  better  the  purpryse  ; 
In  his  doing  he  is  not  wyse. 
He  hath  to  ns  [y]-do  gi-et  wrong, 
Tliat  hath  suifred  now  so  long  399'> 

Bialacoil  to  have  his  wiUe, 
Alle  his  lustes  to  fulfiUo. 
He  must  amende  it  utterly, 
Or  ellis  shal  he  "I  vilajTisly 
E.xyled  be  out  of  this  londe  ;  3995 

For  he  the  werre  may  not  withstonde 
Of  Jelousye,  nor  the  greef, 
Sith  Bialacoil  is  at  mischeef ' 

To  Daunger,  Shame  and  Drede  anoon 
Tlie  righte  wey  ben  [bothe  a]-goon.    4000 
The  cherl  they  founden  hem  aforn" 
Digging  iindir  an  hawethorn. 
Undir  his  heed  no  pilowe  was. 
But  in  the  stede  a  trusse  of  gras. 
He  slombred,  and  a  nappe  he  took,     4cx)5 
Til  Shame  pitously  him  shook. 


And  greet  manace  on  him  gan  make. 
'Whyslepist  thou  whan  thou  shuld  wake?' 
Quod  Shame  ;  '  thoii  dost  us  vilanye  ! 
Who  tristith  thee,  he  doth  folye,         4010 
To  kepe  roses  or  botouns, 
Whan  they  ben  faire  in  hir  sesouns. 
Thou  art  woxe  to  faniiliere 
Where  thou  shulde  be  straunge  of  chere, 
Stout  of  thy  port,  redy  to  greve,  4015 

Thou  dost  gret  foly  for  to  leve 
Bialacoil  here-in,  to  calle 
The  yonder  raan  to  shenden  us  alle. 
Though  that  thow  slepe,  we  may  here 
Of  Jelousie  gret  noyse  here.  4'.  20 

Art  thou  now  late  ?  ryse  up  fin  by, 
And  stoppe  sone  and  deliverly 
Alle  the  gappis  of  the  hay  ; 
Do  no  favour,  I  thee  pray. 
It  fallith  no-thing  to  thy  name  4025 

f  Make  fair  semblaunt,  where  thoii  maist 
blame. 

'  If  Bialacoil  be  swete  and  free. 
Dogged  and  fel  thou  shuldist  be  ; 
Froward  and  outrageous,  y-wis  ; 
A  cherl  channgeth  that  curteis  is.      4030 
This  have  I  herd  ofte  in  seying, 
Tliat  man  [ne]  may,  for  no  daunting. 
Make  a  sperhauko  of  a  bosarde. 
Alle  men  wole  holde  thee  for  musardo, 
That  debonair  have  fouiideu  thee  ;      4035 
It  sit  thee  nought  curteis  to  be  ; 
To  do  men  plesaunce  or  sei-vyse. 
In  thee  it  is  recreaundyse. 
Let  thy  werkis,  fer  and  nere. 
Be  lyke  thy  name,  which  is  Daungere.' 

Than,  al  abawid  in  shewing,  4041 

Anoon  spak  Dreed,  right  thus  seying, 
Aiid  seide,  '  Daunger,  I  drede  me 
That  thou  ne  wolt  [not]  bisy  be 
To  kepe  that  thou  hast  to  kepe  ;  4"45 

Wliaii  tliou  shuldist  wake,tliou  art  asleijo. 
Thou  shalt  be  greved  certeynly, 
If  thee  aspye  Jelousy, 
Or  if  he  flnde  thee  in  blame. 
He  hath  to-day  assailed  Shame,  4050 

And  chased  awey,  with  gret  manace, 
Bialacoil  out  of  this  place. 
And  swereth  shortly  that  he  shal 
Enclose  him  in  a  sturdy  wal  ; 
And  al  is  for  thy  wikkednesse,  4055 

For  that  thee  faileth  straungenesse. 


C3 


42 


ZU  (Howaunf  of  tU  (Boe^- 


[Fragment  B. 


Thj-n  herte,  I  trowe,  be  failed  al ; 

Thou  shalt  repente  in  special, 

If  Jelousye  the  sothe  knewe  ; 

Thou  shalt  forthenke,  and  sore  rewe.'4o6o 

With  that  the  oherl  his  clubbe  gan  shake, 
Frouning  his  eyen  gan  to  make. 
And  hidous  chere  ;  as  man  in  rage, 
For  ire  he  brente  in  his  visage. 
Whan  that  he  herde  him  blamed  so,  4065 
He  seide,  '  Out  of  my  wit  I  go  ; 
To  be  discomfit  I  have  gret  wrong. 
Cert  is,  I  have  now  lived  to  long, 
Sith  I  may  not  this  closer  kepe  ; 
Al  quik  I  wolde  be  dolven  depe,  4070 

If  any  man  shal  more  repeire 
Into  this  garden,  for  foule  or  faire. 
Myn  herte  for  ire  goth  a-fere, 
That  I  lete  any  entre  here. 
I  have  do  foly,  now  I  see,  4075 

But  now  it  shal  amended  be. 
WTio  settith  foot  here  any  more, 
Truly,  he  shal  repente  it  sore  ; 
For  no  man  mo  into  this  i)lace 
Of  me  to  entre  shal  have  grace.  4080 

Lever  I  hadde,  %vith  swerdis  twejTie, 
Thurgh-out  mj'n  herte,  in  every  veyne 
Perced  to  be,  with  many  a  wounde, 
Than  slouthe  shulde  in  me  be  founde. 
From  hennesforth,  by  night  or  day,   4085 
I  shal  defende  it,  if  I  maj-, 
Withouten  any  excepciouu 
Of  ech  maner  condicioun  ; 
And  if  I  fany  man  it  graunte, 
Holdeth  me  for  recreaunte.'  4090 

Than  Daunger  on  his  feet  gan  stonde. 
And  hente  a  burdoun  in  his  houde. 
Wroth  in  his  ire,  ne  lefte  he  nought. 
But  thurgli  the  verger  he  hath  sought. 
If  he  might  finde  hole  or  trace,  4095 

A\Tier-thuTgh  that  me[n]  mot  forthby  pace. 
Or  any  gappe,  he  dide  it  close. 
That  no  man  mighte  touehe  a  rose 
Of  the  roser  al  aboute  ; 
He  shitteth  every  man  withoute.         4100 

Thus  day  by  day  Daunger  is  wers. 
More  wondirful  and  more  divers. 
And  feller  eek  than  ever  he  was ; 
For  him  ful  oft  I  singe  '  alias  ! ' 
For  I  ne  may  nought,  thurgh  his  ire,  4105 
Recover  that  I  most  desire. 
Myn  herte,  aUas,  wol  brest  a-two. 


For  Bialacoil  I  wratthed  so. 

For  certeynly,  in  every  membra 

I  quake,  whan  I  me  remembre  41 10 

Of  the  botoun,  which  [that]  I  wolde 

FuUe  ofte  a  day  seen  and  biholde. 

And  whan  I  thenke  upon  the  kisse. 

And  how  muche  joye  and  blisse 

I  hadde  thurgh  the  savour  swete,         4115 

For  wante  of  it  I  grone  and  grete. 

Me  thenkith  I  fele  yit  in  my  nose 

The  swete  savovir  of  the  rose. 

And  now  I  woot  that  I  mot  go 

So  fer  the  fresshe  iloures  fro,  4120 

To  me  ful  welcome  were  the  deeth  ; 

Absens  therof,  alias,  me  sleeth  ! 

For  whylom  with  this  rose,  alias, 

I  touched  nose,  mouth,  and  face  ; 

But  now  the  deeth  I  must  abyde.        4i-'5 

But  Love  consente,  another  tyde. 

That  onis  I  touehe  may  and  kisse, 

I  trowe  my  jjej-ne  shal  never  lisse. 

Theron  is  al  my  coveityse, 

Which  brent  myn  herte  in  many  virjrse. 

Now  shalrepaire  agayn  sighinge,         4131 

Long  wacche  on  nightis,  and  no  slepinge; 

Thought  in  wisshing,  torment,  and  wo. 

With  many  a  turning  to  and  fro, 

That  half  my  peyne  I  can  not  telle.     4135 

For  I  am  fallen  into  hello 

From  paradj's  and  welthe,  the  more 

My  turment  greveth  ;  more  and  more 

Anoyeth  now  the  bittirnesse, 

That  I  toforn  have  felt  swetnesse.       414c 

And  Wikkid-Tunge,  thurgh  his  falshede, 

Causeth  al  my  wo  and  drede. 

On  me  he  leyeth  a  pitous  charge, 

Bicause  his  tunge  was  to  large. 

Now  it  is  tyme,  shortly  that  I  4145 

Telle  yoii  som-thing  of  Jelousy, 
That  was  in  gret  suspecioun. 
Aboute  him  lefte  he  no  masoun. 
That  stoon  coude  leye,  ne  querrour  ; 
He  hired  hem  to  make  a  tour.  4150 

And  first,  the  roses  for  to  kepe, 
Aboute  hem  made  he  a  diohe  depe. 
Eight  wondir  large,  and  also  brood  ; 
Upon  the  whiche  also  stood 
Of  squared  stoon  a  sturdy  wal,  4155 

^Vhich  on  a  cragge  was  founded  al, 
And  right  gret  thikkenesse  eek  it  bar. 
Abouten,  it  was  founded  squar, 


ZU  (^omami  of  tU  (^obc. 


43 


An  hiindred  fadome  on  every  syde, 

It  was  al  liclie  longe  and  wyde.  4160 

Lest  any  tyme  it  were  assayled, 

Ful  wel  aboute  it  was  batayled  ; 

And  rounde  enviroun  eek  were  set 

Ful  many  a  riche  and  fair  touret. 

At  every  corner  of  this  wal  4165 

Was  set  a  tour  ful  principal ; 

And  everich  hadde,  withoute  fable, 

A  porte-colys  defensable 

To  kepe  of  enemies,  and  to  greve, 

That  there  hir  force  wolde  preve.         4170 

And  eek  amidde  this  purpryse 

Was  maad  a  tour  of  gret  maistryse  ; 

A  fairer  saugli  no  man  with  sight. 

Large  and  wyde,  and  of  gret  might. 

They  [ne]  dredde  noon  assaut  4175 

Of  ginne,  gunne,  nor  skaffaut. 

[For]  the  temprure  of  the  mortere 

Was  maad  of  licour  wonder  dere  ; 

Of  qiiikke  lyme  persant  and  egre. 

The  which  was  tempred  with  vinegre. 

The  stoon  was  hard  fas  ademant,        4181 

Wherof  they  made  the  foundement. 

The  tour  was  rounde,  maad  in  compas  ; 

In  al  this  world  no  richer  was, 

Ne  better  ordeigned  therwithal.  4185 

Aboute  the  tour  was  maad  a  wal. 

So  that,  bitwixt  that  and  the  tour, 

fRosers  were  set  of  swete  savour. 

With  many  roses  that  they  bere. 

And  eek  within  the  castel  were  4190 

Springoldes,  giinnes,  bows,  archers  ; 

And  eek  above,  atte  corners. 

Men  seyn  over  the  walle  .stonde 

Grete  engynes,  -f-whiche  were  nigh  honde  ; 

And  in  the  kernels,  here  and  there,    4195 

Of  arblasters  gret  plentee  were. 

Noon   armure   might    hir    stroke    with- 

stonde. 
It  were  foly  to  prece  to  honde. 
Without  the  diche  were  listes  made, 
With  walles  batayled  large  and  brade,420o 
For  men  and  hors  shulde  not  atteyne 
To  neigh  the  diche  over  the  pleyne. 
Thus  Jelousye  hath  enviroun 
Set  aboute  his  garnisoun 
With  walles  rounde,  and  diche  depe,  4205 
Only  the  roser  for  to  kepe. 
And  Daunger  [eek],  erly  and  late 
The  keyes  kepte  of  the  utter  gate. 


The  which  openeth  toward  the  eest. 
And  he  hadde  with  him  atte  leest       4210 
Thritty  servauntes,  echon  by  name. 

That  other  gate  kepte  Shame, 
Which  openede,  as  it  was  couth, 
Toward  the  parte  of  the  soutli. 
Sergeauntes  assigned  were  hir  to         4-'i5 
Ful  many,  hir  wille  for  to  do. 

Than  Drede  hadde  in  hir  baillye 
The  keping  of  the  conestablerye, 
Toward  the  nortK,  I  undirstonde. 
That  opened  upon  the  left  honde,        4220 
The  which  for  no-thing  may  be  sure, 
But-if  she  do  [hir]  bisy  cure 
Erly  on  morowe  and  also  late. 
Strongly  to  shette  and  barre  the  gate. 
Of  every  thing  that  she  may  see  4225 

Drede  is  aferd,  wher-so  she  be  ; 
For  with  a  puff  of  litel  winde 
Drede  is  astonied  in  hir  minde. 
Therfore,  for  stelinge  of  the  rose, 
I  rede  hir  noiight  the  yate  unclose.     4230 
A  foulis  flight  wol  make  hir  flee. 
And  eek  a  shadowe,  if  she  it  see. 

Thanne  Wikked-Tunge,  ful  of  envye, 
With  soudiours  of  Normandye, 
As  he  that  causeth  al  the  bate,  4235 

Was  keper  of  the  fourthe  gate. 
And  also  to  the  tother  three 
He  went  ful  ofte,  for  to  see. 
Whan  his  lot  was  to  wake  a-night, 
His  instru.mentis  wolde  he  dight,        424a 
For  to  bio  we  and  make  soun. 
Offer  than  he  hath  enchesoun  ; 
And  walken  oft  upon  the  wal. 
Corners  and  wikettis  over-al 
Ful  narwe  serchen  and  espye  ;  4245 

Thoiigh  he  nought  fond,  yit  wolde  he  lye. 
Discordaunt  ever  fro  armonye, 
And  distoned  from  melodye, 
Controve  he  wolde,  and  foule  fayle, 
With  hornpypes  of  Cornewayle.  4250 

In  floytes  made  he  discordaunce, 
And  in  his  musik,  with  mischaunce. 
He  wolde  sejoi,  with  notes  newe. 
That  he  [ne]  fond  no  womman  trewe, 
Ne  that  he  saugh  never,  in  his  lyf,      4255 
Unto  hir  husbonde  a  trewe  wyf ; 
Ne  noon  so  ful  of  honestee. 
That  she  nil  laughe  and  mery  be 
Whan  that  she  hereth,  or  may  espye. 


C  5 


44 


ZU  (Fontauni  of  tU  (Jtoae. 


[Fragment  B. 


A  man  speken  of  leclieryo.  4260 

Evericli  of  hem  hath  somme  vyoe  ; 

Oon  is  dishonest,  another  is  nyoe  ; 

If  oon  be  ful  of  vilanye, 

Another  hath  a  likerous  ye  ; 

If  oon  be  ful  of  wantonesse,  4265 

Another  is  a  chideresse. 

Thus    Wikked-Tunge    (god    yeve   him 
shame  !) 
Can  putte  hem  everichone  in  blame 
Withoute  desert  and  causeles  ; 
He  lyeth,  though  they  been  giltles.     4270 
I  have  pite  to  seen  the  sorwe, 
That  f  waketh  bothe  eve  and  morwe, 
To  innocents  doth  such  grevannce  ; 
I  pray  god  yeve  him  evel  chaunce, 
That  he  ever  so  bisy  is  4275 

Of  any  womman  to  seyn  amis  ! 

Eek  Jelousye  god  confounde, 
That  hath  [y]-maad  a  toiir  so  rounde, 
And  made  aboute  a  garisoun 
To  sette  Bialacoil  in  prisoun  ;  4280 

The  which  is  shet  there  in  the  tour, 
Ful  longe  to  holde  there  sojour, 
There  for  to  live[n]  in  penaunce. 
And  for  to  do  him  more  grevaunce, 
f  Ther  hath  ordeyned  Jelousye  4285 

An  olde  vekke,  for  to  espye 
The  manor  of  his  governaunce  ; 
The  whiche  devel,  in  hir  enfaunce, 
Had  lerned  [muche]  of  Loves  art. 
And  of  his  pleyes  took  hir  part  ;  4290 

She  was  f  exi^ert  in  his  ser%'yse. 
She  knew  ech  wrenche  and  every  gyse 
Of  love,  and  every  [loveres]  wyle, 
It  was  [the]  harder  hir  to  gyle. 
Of  Bialacoil  she  took  ay  hcde,  4295 

That  ever  he  liveth  in  wo  and  drede. 
He  kepte  him  coy  and  eek  i^rivee. 
Lest  in  him  she  hadde  see 
Any  foly  countenaiince, 
For  she  knew  al  the  olde  da\ince.         4300 
And  aftir  this,  whan  Jelousye 
Had  Bialacoil  in  his  baillye, 
And  shette  him  up  that  was  so  free. 
For  seure  of  him  he  wolde  be. 
He  trusteth  sore  in  his  castel ;  4305 

The  strongs  werk  him  lyketh  wel. 
He  dradde  nat  that  no  glotouns 
Sliulde  stele  his  roses  or  botouns. 
The  roses  weren  assured  aUe, 


Defenced  with  the  stronge  walle.          4310 
Now  Jelousye  ful  wel  may  be 
Of  drede  devoid,  in  libertee, 
Wliether  that  he  slepe  or  wake  ; 
For  of  his  roses  may  noon  be  take. 

But  I,  alias,  now  morne  shal ; 
Bicause  I  was  without  the  wal, 
Ful  mocho  dole  and  mone  I  made. 
Who  hadde  wist  what  wo  I  hadde, 
I  trowe  he  wolde  have  had  pitee. 
Love  to  deere  had  sold  to  me 
The  good  that  of  his  love  hadde  I. 
I  f  wende  a  bought  it  al  queyutly  ; 
But  now,  thurgli  doubling  of  my  peyn, 
I  see  he  wolde  it  selle  ageyn. 
And  me  a  newe  bargeyn  lere, 
The  which  al-out  the  more  is  dere, 
For  the  solace  that  I  have  lorn. 
Than  I  hadde  it  never  aforn. 
Certayn  I  am  ful  lyk,  indeed. 
To  him  that  cast  in  erthe  his  seed 
And  hath  joie  of  the  newe  sirring. 
Whan  it  greneth  in  the  ginning. 
And  is  also  fair  and  fresh  of  flour. 
Lusty  to  seen,  swote  of  odour  ; 
But  er  he  it  in  sheves  shore, 
May  faUe  a  weder  that  shal  it  dere, 
And  make[n]  it  to  fade  and  falle, 
The  stalk,  the  greyn,  ai.d  floures  alle  ; 
That  to  the  ftilier  is  fordone 
The  hope  that  he  hadde  to  sone. 
I  drede,  certeyn,  that  so  fare  I ; 
For  hope  and  travaile  sikerly 
Ben  me  biraft  al  with  a  storm  ; 
The  floure  nil  seden  of  my  corn. 
For  Love  hath  so  avaunced  me, 
^Vllan  I  bigan  my  privitee 
To  Bialacoil  al  for  to  telle. 
Whom  I  ne  fond  froward  ne  felle, 
But  took  a-gree  al  hool  my  play. 
But  Love  is  of  so  hard  assay,  4350 

That  al  at  onis  he  reved  me, 
^Vllan  I  -f-wend  best  aboven  have  be. 
It  is  of  Love,  as  of  Fortune, 
That  chaungeth  ofte,  and  nil  contune  ; 
Wliich  whylom  wol  on  folke  smyle,     4355 
And  gloumbe  on  hem  another  whyle  ; 
Now  freend,  now  foo,  [thou]  shalt  hir  fele, 
For  [in]  a  twinkling  tourneth  hir  wheel. 
She  can  wrythe  hir  heed  awey. 
This  is  the  concours  of  hir  pley  ;  4360 


431 


■ii^o 


4325 


4330 


4335 


4340 


4345 


Fragment  B.] 


ZU  i^owiciunt  of  tU  (Koee. 


45 


She  can  areyso  that  doth  naorne, 

And  whirle  adown,  and  overturne 

Who  sittith  hieghst,  f al  as  hir  flist  ; 

A  fool  is  he  that  wol  hir  trist. 

For  it  f  am  I  that  am  com  doun  4365 

Tlmrgli  -f-change  and  revolucionn  ! 

Sith  Bialacoil  mot  fro  me  twinne, 

Sliet  in  the  prisonn  yond  withinne, 

His  absence  at  myn  herte  I  fele  ; 

For  al  my  joye  and  al  myn  hele  4370 

Was  in  him  and  in  the  rose, 

That  but  yon  f  wal,  which  liim  doth  close, 

Open,  that  I  may  him  see, 

Love  nU  not  that  I  cured  be 

Of  the  peynes  that  I  endiire,  4375 

Nor  of  my  criiel  aventure. 

A,  Bialacoil,  myn  owne  dere  ! 
Though  thou  he  now  a  prisonere, 
Kepe  atte  leste  thyn  lierte  to  me, 
And  suffre  not  that  it  datinted  bo  ;      43S0 
Ne  lat  not  Jelousye,  in  his  rage, 
Putten  thyn  herte  in  no  servage. 
Although  he  chastice  thee  withoute, 
And  make  thy  body  unto  him  loute. 
Have  herte  as  hard  as  dyamaunt,         4385 
Stedefast,  and  nought  jiliaunt ; 
In  prisoiin  though  thy  body  bo. 
At  large  kepe  thjm  herte  free. 
A  trewe  herte  wol  not  plye 
For  no  manace  that  it  may  drye.         4390 
If  Jelousye  doth  thee  payne, 
Quyte  him  his  whyle  thus  agayne. 
To  venge  thee,  atte  leest  in  thought. 
If  other  way  thou  mayest  nought  ; 
And  in  this  wyse  sotilly  4395 

Worche,  and  winne  the  maistry. 
But  yit  I  am  in  gret  affray 
Lest  thou  do  not  as  I  say  ; 
I  drede  thou  canst  me  greet  maugree. 
That  thoii  emprisoned  art  for  me  ;      4400 
But  that  [is]  not  for  my  trespas. 
For  thurgh  me  never  discovered  was 
Yit  thing  that  oughte  be  secree. 
Wei  more  anoy  [ther]  is  in  me, 
Than  is  in  thee,  of  this  mischaunce  ;  4405 
For  I  endure  more  hard  penaunce 
Than  any  [man]  can  seyn  or  thinke. 
That  for  the  sorwe  almost  I  sinke. 
Wlian  I  remembre  me  of  my  wo, 
Ful  nygh  out  of  my  wit  I  go.  4410 

Inward  myn  herte  I  fele  blede, 


For  comfortles  the  deetli  I  drede. 
Ow  I  not  wel  to  have  distresse. 
Whan  false,  thurgh  hir  wikkednesse, 
And  traitours,  that  arn  envj'ous,  4415 

To  noyen  me  be  so  coragious  ? 

A,  Bialacoil !  ful  wel  I  see. 
That  they  hem  shape  to  disoejTe  thee. 
To  make  thee  buxom  to  hir  lawe. 
And  with  hir  corde  thee  to  drawe       4420 
Wher-so  hem  lust,  right  at  hir  wil  ; 
I  drede  they  have  thee  brought  thertil. 
Withoute  comfort,  thought  me  sleeth  ; 
This  game  wol  bringe  me  to  my  deeth. 
For  if  your  fgode  wille  I  lese,  4425 

I  mote  be  deed  ;  I  may  not  chese. 
And  if  that  thou  foryete  me, 
Myn  herte  shal  never  in  lyking  be  ; 
Nor  elles-where  finde  solace. 
If  I  be  put  out  of  your  grace,  4430 

As  it  shal  never  been,  I  hope  ; 
Than  sliulde  I  falle[n]  in  wanhope. 

[Here,  at  1.  4070  of  Uio  French  text, 
ends  the  irork  of  G.  de  Lorris  ;  (mil 
begins  the  work  0/ Jean  de  Metin.] 

Alias,  in  wanhope  ? — nay,  pardee  ! 
For  I  wol  never  dispeired  be. 
If  Hope  me  faile,  than  am  I  4435 

Ungracious  and  unworthy  ; 
In  Hope  I  wol  comforted  be. 
For  Love,  whan  he  bitaught  hir  me, 
Seide,  that  Hope,  wher-so  I  go, 
Shulde  ay  be  relees  to  my  wo.  4440 

But  what  and  she  my  balis  bete. 
And  be  to  me  ctirteis  and  swetc  ? 
She  is  in  no-thing  ful  certeyn. 
Lovers  she  put  in  ful  gret  pej-n. 
And  makith  hem  with  wo  to  dele.       4445 
Hir  fair  biheest  discej^eth  fele, 
For  she  wol  hihote,  sikirlj'. 
And  fallen  aftir  outrely. 
A  !  that  is  a  ful  noyoiis  thing  ! 
For  many  a  lover,  in  loving,  4450 

Hangeth  upon  hir,  and  trusteth  fast, 
Wliiche  lese  hir  travel  at  the  last. 
Of  thing  to  conien  she  woot  right  nought ; 
Therfore,  if  it  be  wysly  sought, 
Hir  counseille,  foly  is  to  take.  4455 

For  many  tymes,  whan  she  wol  make 
A  ful  good  silogisme,  I  drede 


46 


Z^t  (Kotnaun^  of  f$e  (Roee. 


[Fragment  '. 


That  aftir^vard  ther  slial  in  dede 

Polwe  an  evel  conclnsioun  ; 

This  piit  me  in  confusioun.  44<5o 

For  many  tymes  I  have  it  seen, 

That  many  have  bigyled  been, 

For  trust  that  they  have  set  in  Hope, 

Which  fel  hem  aftirward  a-slope. 

But  natheles  yit,  gladly  she  wolde,  4465 
That  he,  that  wol  him  with  hir  holde, 
Hadde  alle  tymes  f  his  purpos  clere, 
Withoute  deceyte,  or  any  were. 
That  she  desireth  sikirly  ; 
"Whan  I  hir  blamed,  I  did  foly.  4470 

But  what  avayleth  hir  good  wille, 
■Whan  she  ne  may  staunche  my  stoiinde 

ille? 
Tliat  helpith  litel,  that  she  may  do, 
Ontake  biheest  nnto  my  wo. 
And  heeste  certeyn,  in  no  wyse,  4475 

■\Vithoute  j-ift,  is  not  to  fpryse. 

^\^lan  heest  and  deed  a-sundir  varie, 
Tliey  doon  [me  have]  a  gret  contrarie. 
Thns  am  I  possed  np  and  doun 
With  dool,  thought,  and  confusioun ;  4480 
Of  my  disese  ther  is  no  noumbre. 
Daunger  and  Shame  me  cncumbre, 
Brede  also,  and  Jelousyo, 
And  Wikkcd-Tunge,  ful  of  envye. 
Of  whiche  the  sharps  and  cruel  ire     4485 
Ful  oft  me  put  in  g^ret  martire. 
They  han  my  joye  fully  let, 
Sith  Bialacoil  they  have  bishet 
Fro  me  in  prisoun  wikkidly, 
Wliom  I  love  so  entierly,  449o 

That  it  wol  my  bane  be, 
But  I  the  soner  may  him  see. 
And  yit  moreover,  wurst  of  alle, 
Ther  is  set  to  kepe,  foule  hir  bifalle  ! 
A  rimpled  vekke,  fer  ronne  in  age,      4405 
Frovming  and  yelowe  in  hir  visage, 
"Wliich  in  awayte  Ivth  day  and  night. 
That  noon  of  hem  may  have  a  sight. 
Xow  moot  my  sorwe  enforced  be  ; 
Ful  soth  it  is,  that  Love  yaf  me  4500 

Three  wonder  yiftes  of  his  grace. 
Which  I  have  lorn  now  in  this  place, 
Sith  they  ne  may,  withoute  drede, 
Helpen  but  litel,  who  taketh  hede. 
For  here  availeth  no  Swete-Thought,  4505 
And  Swete-Speche  helpith  right  nought. 
The  thridde  was  called  Swete-Loking, 


That  now  is  lorn,  without  lesing. 

[The]  yiftes  were  fair,  but  not  forthy 

Thoy  helpe  me  but  simp[il]ly,  4510 

But  Bialacoil  [may]  loosed  be. 

To  gon  at  large  and  to  be  free. 

For  him  my  lyf  lyth  al  in  dout, 

But-if  he  come  the  rather  out. 

Alias  !  1  trowe  it  wol  not  been  !  4515 

For  how  shuld  I  evermore  him  seen  ? 

He  may  not  out,  and  that  is  wrong, 

Bicause  the  tour  is  so  strong. 

How  shulde  he  out  ?  by  whos  prowesse. 

Out  of  so  strong  a  forteresse  ?  4520 

By  me,  certeyia,  it  nil  be  do  ; 

God  woot,  I  have  no  wit  therto  ! 

But  wel  I  woot  I  was  in  rage. 

Whan  I  to  Love  dide  homage. 

Who  was  in  cause,  in  sotlifastnesse,   4525 

Bnt  hir-silf,  dame  Idelnesse, 

Wliich  me  conveyed,  thurgh  fair  jirayere, 

To  entre  into  that  fair  vergere  ? 

She  was  to  blame  me  to  leve. 

The  which  now  doth  me  sore  grave. 

A  foolis  word  is  nought  to  trowe, 

Ne  worth  an  appel  for  to  lowe  ; 

Men  shulde  him  snibbe  bittirly, 

At  pryme  temps  of  his  foly. 

I  was  a  fool,  and  she  me  leved, 

Thurgh  whom  I  am  right  nought  releved. 

She  aecomplisshed  al  my  wil, 

That  now  me  greveth  wondir  il. 

Eesoun  me  seide  what  shulde  falle. 

A  fool  my-silf  I  may  wel  calle,  4540 

Tliat  love  asyde  I  had  not  leyde. 

And  trowed  that  dame  Resoun  seyde. 

Eesoiin  had  bothe  skile  and  right. 

Whan  she  me  blamed,  with  al  hir  might, 

To  medle  of  love,  that  hath  me  shent  ; 

But  certeyn  now  I  wol  repent.  4546 

'  And  shulde  I  repent  ?     Nay,  parde  ! 
A  fals  traitour  than  shulde  I  be. 
The  develles  cngins  wolde  me  take. 


4S3<J 


4535 


If  I  my  f  lorde  wolde  forsake,  4550 

Or  Bialacoil  falsly  bitraye. 

Shulde  I  at  mischeef  hate  him  ?  nay, 

Sith  he  now,  for  his  curtesye. 

Is  in  prisoun  of  Jelousye. 

Curtesye  certeyn  dide  he  me,  4555 

So  -f-muche,  it  may  not  yolden  be, 

"Whan  he  the  hay  passen  me  lete. 

To  kisse  the  rose,  faire  and  swete  ; 


ZH  (Botnaunf  of  tU  (S^oet. 


47 


Slivilde  I  therfore  cunne  liim  maugree  ? 

Nay,  certejaily,  it  slial  not  be  ;  4560 

For  Love  shal  never,  "(-if  god  wil, 

Here  of  me,  thiirgh  -word  or  wil, 

Offence  or  complaynt,  more  or  lesse, 

Neither  of  Hope  nor  Idilnesse  ; 

For  certis,  it  were  wrong  that  I  4565 

Hated  hem  for  hir  cnrtesye. 

Ther  is  not  ellis,  but  suifre  and  thinke, 

And  waken  whan  I  shulde  winke  ; 

Abyde  in  hope,  til  Love,  thurgh  chatince, 

Sende  me  soconr  or  allegeannce,  4570 

Expectant  ay  til  I  may  mete 

To  geten  mercy  of  that  swete. 

'  Whylom  I  thinke  how  Love  to  me 
Seyde  he  wolde  take[n]  att[e]  gree 
My  servise,  if  unpacience  4575 

Caused  me  to  doon  offence. 
He  sej'de,  "  In  thank  I  shal  it  take, 
And  high  maister  eek  thee  make. 
If  wikkednesse  ne  reve  it  thee  ; 
But  sone,  I  trowe,  that  shal  not  be."  4580 
These  were  his  wordis  by  and  by  ; 
It  senied  he  loved  me  trewly. 
Now  is  ther  not  but  serve  him  wele, 
If  that  I  thinke  his  thank  to  fele. 
My  good,  myn  harm,  lytli  hool  in  me  ; 
In  Love  may  no  defaute  be  ;  45S6 

For  trewe  Love  ffailid  never  man. 
Sothly,  the  faute  mot  nedis  than 
(As  God  forbede  !)  be  founde  in  me, 
And  how  it  cometh,  I  can  not  see.      4590 
Now  lat  it  goon  as  it  may  go  ; 
MTiether  Love  wol  socoure  me  or  slo. 
He  may  do  hool  on  me  his  wil. 
I  am  so  sore  bounde  him  til. 
From  his  servyse  I  may  not  fleen  ;      4595 
For  lyf  and  deth,  withouten  wene, 
Is  in  his  hand  ;  I  may  not  chese  ; 
He  may  me  do  bothe  winne  and  lese. 
And  sith  so  sore  he  doth  me  greve, 
Yit,  if  my  lust  he  wolde  acheve  4600 

To  Bialacoil  goodly  to  be, 
I  yeve  no  force  what  felle  on  me. 
For  though  I  dye,  as  I  mot  nede, 
I  praye  Love,  of  his  goodlihede, 
To  Bialacoil  do  gentilnesse,  4605 

For  whom  I  live  in  such  distresse, 
That  I  mote  deyen  for  penaunce. 
But  first,  witho^^te  repentaunce, 
I  wol  me  confesse  in  good  entent, 


And  make  in  haste  my  testanient,      46111 
As  lovers  doon  that  felen  smerte  : — 
To  Bialacoil  leve  I  myn  herte 
Al  hool,  withoute  departing. 
Or  doublenesse  of  repenting.' 

Coment  Eaisoun  vient  a  L'amant. 

Thus  as  I  made  vay  passage  4615 

In  complojTit,  and  in  cruel  rage, 
And  I  fnist  wher  to  finde  a  loche 
That  couthe  unto  myn  helping  eche, 
Sodeynly  agayn  comen  doun 
Out  of  hir  tour  I  saugh  Eesoun,  4620 

Discrete  and  wys,  and  fi^l  plesaunt. 
And  of  hir  porte  ful  avenaunt. 
The  righte  wey  she  took  to  me, 
Wliich  stood  in  gi-eet  perplexite, 
That  was  posshed  in  every  side,  4625 

That  I  nist  where  I  might  abyde. 
Til  she,  demurely  sad  of  chero, 
Seide  to  me  as  she  com  nere  : — 

'  Myn  owne  freend,  art  thou  yit  greved  ? 
How  is  this  quarel  yit  acheved  4630 

Of  Loves  syde  ?     Anoon  me  telle  ; 
Hast  thou  not  yit  of  love  thy  fille  ? 
Art  thou  not  wery  of  thy  servyse 
That  thee  hath  [jiyned]  in  sich  wyse  ? 
Wliat  joye  hast  thou  in  thy  loving  ?  4635 
Is  it  swete  or  bitter  thing  ? 
Canst  thou  yit  chese,  lat  me  see, 
What  best  thy  socour  mighto  bo  ? 

'  Thou  servest  a  ful  noble  lord, 
That  maketh  thee  thral  for  thy  reward, 
Which  ay  renewith  thy  turment,        464 1 
With  foly  so  he  hath  thee  blent. 
Thou  felle  in  mischeef  thilke  day, 
Wlian  thoiT  didest,  the  sothe  to  say, 
Obeysaunce  and  eek  homage  ;  4645 

Thou  wroiightest  no-thing  as  the  sage. 
Whan  thou  bicam  his  liege  man. 
Thou  didist  a  gret  foly  than  ; 
Thou  wistest  not  what  fel  therto. 
With  what  lord  thou  haddist  to  do.    4650 
If  thou  haddist  him  wel  knowe, 
Thou  haddist  nought  be  broiight  so  lowc  ; 
For  if  thou  wistest  what  it  were, 
Tliou  noldist  serve  him  half  a  yeer. 
Not  a  weke,  nor  half  a  day,  4655 

Ne  yit  an  hour  withoute  delay, 
Ne  never  f  han  loved  paramours. 


48 


ZU  (Uowaunf  of  tU  (Roe^. 


[Fragment  B. 


His  lordshiij  is  so  ful  of  slionres. 
Knowest  him  ought  ? ' 

L'Amaunt.  '  Ye,  dame,  parde  ! ' 

Raisoun.     '  Nay,  nay.' 

L'Amaunt,       '  Yes,  I.' 

Raisoun.  '  Wherof,  lat  see  ? '  4660 

L'Amattnt.     '  Of  that  he  seyde  I  shuldo 
be 
Glad  to  have  sich  lord  as  he. 
And  maister  of  sich  seignory.' 

Raisoun.     '  Knowist  him  no  more  ?  ' 

L'Amaunt.  'Nay,  certis,  I, 

Save  that  he  yaf  me  rewles  there,       4665 
And  wente  his  wey,  I  niste  where, 
And  I  abood  boande  in  balaunce.' 

Raisoun.    '  Lo,  there  a  noble  conisaunce ! 
But  I  -w-il  that  thou  knowe  him  now 
Ginning  and  ende,  sith  that  thou       4670 
Art  so  anguisshous  and  mate, 
Disfigured  out  of  astate  ; 
Tlier  may  no  wrecclio  have  more  of  wo, 
Ne  caitif  noon  enduren  so. 
It  were  to  every  man  sitting  4675 

Of  his  lord  have  knowleching. 
For  if  thou  knewe  him,  out  of  dout. 
Lightly  thou  shulde  oscapen  out 
Of  the  prisoun  that  marreth  thee.' 

L'Amaunt.     'Ye,  dame!  sith  my  lord 
is  he,  4680 

And  I  his  man,  maad  with  myn  hondo, 
I  wolde  right  fajTi  xindirstonde 
To  knowe[n]  of  what  kinde  he  bo. 
If  any  wolde  enforme  me.' 

Raisoun.     '  I  wolde,'  seid  Resoun,  '  thee 
lore,  4685 

Sith  thou  to  lerne  hast  sich  desire, 
And  shewe  thee,  withouten  fable, 
A  thing  that  is  not  demonstrable. 
Thou  shalt  [here  Icrne]  without  science, 
And  knowe,  withoute  experience,       4690 
The  thing  that  may  not  knowen  be, 
Ne  wist  ne  shewid  in  no  degree. 
Thou  mayst  the  sothe  of  it  not  witen, 
Tliough  in  thee  it  were  writen. 
Thou  shalt  not  knowe  therof  more     4695 
Whyle  thou  art  reuled  by  his  lore  ; 
But  ixnto  him  that  love  wol  flee, 
The  knotte  may  unclosed  be, 
Which  hath  to  thee,  as  it  is  founde, 
So  long  be  knet  and  not  tinbounde.    4700 
Now  sette  wel  thyn  entencioun. 


Ti)  here  of  love  discripcioun. 
'  Love,  it  is  an  hateful  pees, 

A  free  acquitavmce,  without  relees, 

fA  trouthe,  fret  full  of  flvlshede,  4705 

A  sikernesse,  al  set  in  drede  ; 

In  herte  is  a  dispeiring  hope. 

And  fulle  of  hope,  it  is  wanhope  ; 

"Wyse  woodnesse,  and  wood  resoun, 

A  swete  peril,  in  to  droune,  4710 

An  he^'y  birthen,  light  to  here, 

A  wikkod  wawe  awey  to  were. 

It  is  Caribdis  perilous, 

Disagreable  and  gracious. 

It  is  discordaunce  that  can  accorde,    4715 

And  accordaunce  to  discorde. 

It  is  cunning  withoute  science, 

Wisdom  withoute  sapience. 

Wit  withotite  discrecioun, 

Havoir,  withoute  possessioun.  47-"' 

It  is  f  sike  liele  and  hool  siknesse, 

K  fthrust  dro^vned  fin  dronkenesse, 

+An  helthe  ful  of  maladye, 

And  charitee  ful  of  envye, 

t-\n  hunger  ful  of  habundaunce,         4715 

And  a  gredy  suffisauuce  ; 

Delyt  right  ful  of  lievinesse, 

And  dreri[h]ed  ful  of  gladnesse  ; 

Bitter  swetnesse  and  swete  errour, 

Right  evel  savoured  good  savour  ;       4730 

fSinne  that  pardoun  hath  withinne, 
-•^nd    pardoun     spotted    without     [with] 

sinne ; 
A  peyne  also  it  is,  joyous, 
And  felonye  right  pitous  ; 
Also  pley  that  selde  is  stable,  47^=; 

And  stedefast  [stat],  right  mevable  ; 
A  strengthe,  weyked  to  stonde  upright, 
And  feblenesse,  ful  of  might ; 
Wit  unavysed,  sage  folye, 
And  joye  ful  of  turmentrye  ;  4740 

X  laughter  it  is,  weping  ay, 
Rest,  that  traveyleth  night  and  day  ; 
Also  a  swete  heUe  it  is. 
And  a  sorowful  Paradys  ; 
A  plesaunt  gayl  and  esy  jirisoun,         4745 
And,  ful  of  froste,  somer  sesoun  ; 
Pryme  temps,  ful  of  frostes  whyte, 
And  May,  devoide  of  al  delyte. 
With  seer  braunches,  blossoms  ungrene  ; 
And  newe  fruyt,  fillid  with  winter  tene. 
It  is  a  slowe,  may  not  forbere  4751 


Fragment  B.] 


ZU  (KomAuni  of  tU  (S^OQt. 


Eagges,  ribaned  with  gold,  to  wore : 

For  al-so  wel  wol  love  be  set 

Under  ragges  as  riclie  rocliet  ; 

And  eek  as  wel  fbe  amourettes  4755 

In  mourning  blak,  as  bright  burnettes. 

For  noon  is  of  so  moohel  prys, 

Ne  no  man  founden  [is]  so  wys, 

Ne  noon  so  high  is  of  parage, 

Ke  no  man  founde  of  wit  so  sage,        4760 

No  man  so  hardy  ne  so  wight, 

Ne  no  man  of  so  mochel  might, 

Noon  so  fiTlfilled  of  bounte, 

f  But  he  with  love  may  daimted  be. 

Al  the  world  holdith  this  way  ;  4765 

Love  makith  alle  to  goon  miswey. 

But  it  be  they  of  yvcl  lyf, 

AVh.jm  Genius  eursith,  man  and  wyf. 

That  wrongly  werke  ageyn  nature. 

Noon  suche  I  love,  ne  have  no  cure     4770 

Of  suche  as  Loves  servaunts  been. 

And  wol  not  by  my  counsel  fleen. 

For  I  ne  preyse  that  h)ving, 

Wher-thurgh  man,  at  the  laste  ending, 

Shal  calle  hem  wrecchis  fvdle  of  wo,    4775 

Love  greveth  hem  and  shendith  so. 

But  if  thou  wolt  wel  Love  eschewe, 

For  to  escape  out  of  his  mewe, 

And  make  al  hool  thy  sorwe  to  slake. 

No  bottir  counsel  mayst  thou  take,     4780 

Than  thinke  to  fleen  wel,  y-wis  ; 

May  nought  heliie  elles  ;    for  wite  thoii 

this  :— 
If  thou  flee  it,  it  shal  flee  thee  ; 
Folowe  it,  and  folowen  shal  it  thee.' 
L'Amaunt.      Whan   I   hadde    herd    al 
Eesoim  sejai,  4785 

Which  hadde  spilt  hir  speche  in  veyn  : 
'  Dame,'  seyde  I,  '  I  dar  wel  sey 
Of  this  avaunt  me  wel  I  may 
That  from  your  seole  so  deviaunt 
I  am,  that  never  the  more  avaunt      4790 
Eight noughtam  I,  thurgh  your  doctryne ; 
I  dulle  under  your  disciplyne  ; 
I  wot  no  more  than  [I]  wist  f  er. 
To  me  so  oontrarie  and  so  fer 
Is  every  thing  that  ye  me  lere  ;  4795 

And  yit  I  can  it  al  fparcuere. 
Myn  herte  foryetith  therof  right  nought. 
It  is  so  writen  in  my  thought  ; 
And  depe  "f-graven  it  is  so  tendir 
That  al  by  hertc  I  can  it  rendre,         4800 


And  rede  it  over  comtinely  ; 
But  to  my-silf  lewedist  am  I. 

'  But  sith  ye  love  disoreven  so. 
And  lakke  and  preise  it,  bothe  two, 
Defyneth  it  into  this  letter,  4805 

That  I  may  thenke  on  it  the  better 
For  I  herde  never  fdiffyne  it  ere, 
And  wilfully  I  wolde  it  lore.' 

Ilaisoiin.     '  If  love  be  serohed  wel  and 
sought. 
It  is  a  sykenesse  of  the  thought  4810 

Annexed  and  -f-knet  bitwixe  tweyne, 
f  Which  male  and  female,  with  00  cheyne, 
So  frely  byndith,  that  they  nil  twinne, 
Whether  so  therof  they  lese  or  winne. 
The  roote  springith,  thurgh  hoot  Tircn- 
ning,  4S15 

Into  disordinat  desiring 
For  to  kissen  and  onbrace. 
And  at  her  lust  them  to  solace. 
Of  other  thing  love  recohith  nought, 
But  setteth  hir  herte  and  al  hir  thought 

More  for  delectacioun  ^^',21 

Than  any  procreacioun 

Of  otlier  fruyt  by  fengendring  ; 

Which  love  to  god  is  not  plesing  ; 

For  of  hir  body  fruyt  to  get  4825 

They  yeve  no  force,  they  are  so  set 

Upon  delyt,  to  pley  in-fere. 

And  somme  have  also  this  manere, 

To  feynen  heiu  for  love  seke  ; 

Sicli  love  I  preise  not  at  a  leke.  48,^0 

For  paramours  they  do  but  feyne  ; 

To  love  truly  they  disdeyne. 

They  falsen  ladies  traitoursly. 

And  sweren  hem  othes  utterly, 

With  many  a  lesing,  and  many  a  fable. 

And  al  they  flndeu  decej'vable.  48.^6 

And,  whanne  they  f  her  lust  han  geten. 

The  hoote  ernes  they  al  foryeten. 

Wimmen,  the  harm  they  byen  ful  sore  ; 

Biit  men  this  thonken  evermore,        4840 

That  lasse  harm  is,  so  mote  I  thee, 

Disceyve  them,  than  discej^ed  be  ; 

And  namely,  wher  they  ne  may 

Finde  non  other  mene  wey. 

For  I  wot  wel,  in  sothfastnesse,  4845 

That  fwho  doth  now  his  bisynesse 

With  any  womman  for  to  dele. 

For  any  lust  that  he  may  fele, 

But-if  it  be  for  engendrure, 


5° 


tU  (Kowaunf  of  i^t  (Uoee. 


[Fragment  B. 


He  doth  trespasse,  I  you  ensure.  4850 

For  he  shulde  setten  al  his  wil 

To  geten  a  likly  thing  him  til, 

And  to  sustene[n],  if  he  might, 

And  kepe  forth,  by  kindes  right. 

His  owne  lyknesse  and  semblable,       4S55 

For  bieause  al  is  corumpable, 

And  faile  shulde  successioun, 

Ne  were  fther  generacioun 

Our  sectis  strene  for  to  save. 

Whan  fader  or  moder  am  in  grave,   4860 

Hirchildren  shulde,  whan  they  ben  deedo, 

Ful  diligent  ben,  in  hir  steede, 

To  use  that  werke  on  such  a  wyse. 

That  oon  may  thurgh  another  ryse. 

Therfore  set  Kinde  therin  delyt,  4865 

For  men  therin  shulde  hem  delyte. 

And  of  that  dede  be  not  erke. 

But  ofte  sythos  haunt  that  werke. 

For  noon  wolde  drawe  therof  a  draught 

Ne  were  delji;,  which  hath  him  caught. 

This  hadde  sotil  dame  Nature  ;  48^1 

For  noon  goth  right,  I  thee  ensure, 

Ne  hath  entent  hool  ne  parfyt  ; 

For  hir  desir  is  for  delj't, 

The  which  fortened  croce  and  eke       4S75 

The  pley  of  love  for-ofte  seke, 

And  thralle  hem-silf,  they  be  so  nyce, 

Unto  the  prince  of  every  -^-yce. 

For  of  ech  sinne  it  is  the  rote, 

UnlefttUe  lust,  though  it  be  sote,         4880 

And  of  al  y^'el  the  racyne, 

As  TuUius  can  determyne, 

"WTiich  in  his  tyme  was  ful  sage, 

In  a  boke  he  made  of  Age, 

■^^Tier  that  more  he  preyseth  Elde,      4885 

Though  he  bo  croked  and  unwelde, 

And  more  of  commendacioun, 

Than  Youthe  in  his  discripcioun. 

For  Youthe  set  bothe  man  and  wyf 

In  al  perel  of  soule  and  lyf ;  4S90 

And  perel  is,  but  men  have  grace. 

The  ftyme  of  youthe  for  to  pace, 

Withoute  any  deth  or  distresse, 

It  is  so  ful  of  wildenesse  ; 

So  ofte  it  doth  shame  or  damage         4895 

To  him  or  to  his  linage. 

It  ledith  man  now  up,  now  doun, 

In  mochel  dissolucioun. 

And  makith  him  love  yvel  company, 

And  lede  his  lyf  disrewlily,  4900 


And  halt  him  payed  with  noon  ( 

Within  him-silf  is  such  debate. 

He  chaungith  purpos  and  entent, 

And  yalt  [him]  into  som  covent, 

To  liven  aftir  her  empryse,  4905 

And  lesith  fredom  and  fraunchyse, 

That  Nature  in  him  hadde  set, 

The  which  ageyn  he  may  not  get, 

If  he  there  make  his  mansioun 

For  to  abyde  professioun.  4910 

Thoiigh  for  a  tyme  his  herte  absente, 

It  may  not  fayle,  he  shal  repente, 

And  eke  abyde  thilke  day 

To  leve  his  abit,  and  goon  his  way. 

And  lesith  his  worship  and  his  name. 

And  dar  not  come  ageyn  for  shame  ;  4916 

But  al  his  lyf  he  doth  so  mourne, 

Bieause  he  dar  not  hoom  retourne. 

Fredom  of  kinde  so  lost  hath  he 

That  never  may  recured  be,  4920 

fBut-if  that  god  him  graunto  grace 

Tliat  he  may,  er  he  hennes  pace, 

Conteyne  undir  obedience 

Thurgh  the  vertu  of  pacience. 

For  Youthe  set  man  in  al  folye,  4925 

In  unthrift  and  in  ribaudye. 

In  leccherye,  and  in  outrage. 

So  ofte  it  chaungith  of  corage. 

Youthe  ginneth  ofte  sich  bargeyn. 

That  may  not  ende  withouten  peyn.  4930 

In  gret  perel  is  set  youth-hede, 

Delyt  so  doth  his  bridil  lede. 

Delyt  fthus  hangith,  drede  thee  nought, 

Bothe  mannis  body  and  his  thought, 

Onlj'  thvirgh  f  Youthe,  his  chamberere, 

Tliat  to  don  j'vel  is  customere,  4936 

And  of  nought  elles  taketh  hede 

But  only  folkes  for  to  lede 

Into  disporte  and  wildenesse, 

So  is  [she]  froward  from  sadnesse.       4940 

'  But  Elde  drawith  hem  therfro  ; 
Who  wot  it  nought,  he  may  wel  go 
fDemand  of  hem  that  now  am  olde. 
That  whylom  Youthe  hadde  in  holde. 
Which  yit  -fTemembre  of  tendir  age,  4945 
How  it  hem  brought  in  many  a  rage. 
And  many  a  foly  therin  wrought. 
But  now  that  Elde  hath  f  hem  thiirgh- 

sought, 
They  repente  hem  of  her  folye, 
That  Youthe  hem  putte  in  jupardye,   4950 


Fragment  B.] 


^6e  (^otnaunf  of  iU  (S^oei. 


51 


In  perel  and  in  muche  wo, 
And  made  hem  ofte  amis  to  do, 
And  snen  j"\'el  companye, 
Riot  and  avouterye. 

'  But  Elde  f  can  age5m  restreyne      4955 
From  suche  foly,  and  refreyne. 
And  set  men,  by  hir  ordinaiince, 
In  good  renle  and  in  governaunce. 
Bnt  yvel  she  spendith  hir  servyse, 
For  no  man  wol  hir  love,  fne  pryse ;  4960 
She  is  hated,  this  wot  I  wele. 
Hir  aoqneyntaunoe  wolde  no  man  fele, 
Ne  han  of  Ekle  companye, 
Men  hate  to  he  of  hir  alye. 
For  no  man  wokle  hicomen  olde,         4965 
Ne  dye,  whan  he  is  yong  and  holde. 
And  Elde  mei'\'eilith  right  gretly, 
Whan  they  remembre  hem  inwardly 
Of  many  a  jierelous  empryse, 
■WTiiche   that   they  wrought   in    sondry 
■vvyse,  4970 

How  ever  they  might,  withoute  blame, 
Escape  awey  withoute  shame. 
In  yotithe,  withoute[n]  damage 
Or  repreef  of  her  linage, 
Losse  of  memhre,  sheding  of  blode,     4975 
Perel  of  deth,  or  losse  of  good. 

'  Wost    thoii    nought    where     Yovithe 
abit, 
That  men  so  preisen  in  her  wit  ? 
With  Delyt  she  halt  sojour, 
For  botlie  they  dwellen  in  00  tour.     49S0 
As  longe  as  Youthe  is  in  sesoun, 
They  dwellen  in  con  mansioiin. 
Delyt  of  Youthe  wol  have  servyse 
To  do  what  so  he  wol  devyse  ; 
And  Youthe  is  redy  evermore  4985 

For  to  obey,  for  smerte  of  sore, 
Unto  Delyt,  and  him  to  yive 
Hir  servise,  whyl  that  she  may  live. 

'  Wliere  Elde  abit,  I  wol  thee  telle 
Shortly,  and  no  whyle  dwelle,  4990 

For  thider  bihoveth  thee  to  go. 
If  Deth  in  youthe  thee  not  slo. 
Of  this  journey  thon.  maist  not  faile. 
With  hir  Labour  and  Travaile 
Logged  been,  with  Sorwe  and  Wo,      4995 
That  never  out  of  hir  courte  go. 
Peyne  and  Distresse,  Syknesse  and  Ire, 
And  Malencoly,  that  angi-y  sire, 
Ben  of  hir  pale.ys  senatours  ; 


Groning     and    Grucching,    hir    herber- 
geours,  5000 

The  day  and  night,  hir  to  turment, 
With  cruel  Deth  thej'  hir  present, 
And  tellen  hir,  erliche  and  late. 
That  Deth  -f-stant  armed  at  hir  gate. 
Than  bringe  they  to  hir  remembraunce 
The  foly  dedis  of  hir  infaunce,  5006 

Wliich  causen  hir  to  mourne  in  wo 
That  Youthe  hath  hir  bigiled  so, 
Which  sodeynly  awey  is  hasted. 
She   fwepeth   the   tyme   that    she   hath 
wasted,  5010 

Compleyning  of  the  preterit, 
And  the  present,  that  not  abit. 
And  of  hir  olde  vanitee. 
That,  but  aforn  hir  she  may  see 
In  the  future  som  socour,  5015 

To  leggen  hir  of  hir  dolour, 
To  graiint  hir  tyme  of  repentaunce. 
For  hir  sinnes  to  do  penaunce, 
And  at  the  laste  so  hir  governe 
To  winne  the  joy  that  is  eterne,  5020 

Fro  which  go  bakward  Youthe  "t-hir  made. 
In  vanitee  to  drotme  and  wade. 
For  present  tyme  abidith  nought. 
It  is  more  swift  than  any  thought  ; 
So  litel  whyle  it  doth  endure  5025 

That  ther  nis  compte  ne  mesure. 

'  But  how  that  ever  the  game  go, 
Wlio  list  -fhave  joye  and  mirth  also 
Of  love,  be  it  he  or  she, 
High  or  lowe,  who[so]  it  be,  5030 

In  fruyt  they  shulde  hem  delyte  ; 
Her  part  they  may  not  elles  quyte. 
To  save  hem-silf  in  honestee. 
And  yit  ful  many  oon  I  see 
Of  wimmen,  sothly  for  to  seyne,  5035 

That  [ay]  desire  and  wolde  fayne 
The  pley  of  love,  they  be  so  wilde. 
And  not  coveite  to  go  with  childe. 
And  if  with  child  they  be  perchaunce, 
They  wole  it  holde  a  gret  mischaunce  ; 
But  what-som-ever  wo  they  fele,  5041 

They  wol  not  pleyne,  but  concele  ; 
But-if  it  be  any  fool  or  nyce. 
In  whom  that  shame  hath  no  justyce. 
For  to  delyt  echon  they  drawe,  5045 

That  haunte  this  werk,  bothe  high  and 

lawe, 
Save  sich  that  ar[e]n  worth  right  nought, 


^0e  (Rowrtuttf  of  t^t  (Rose. 


[Fragmknt  B. 


That  for  money  wol  be  bought. 

Such  love  I  preisc  in  no  w.vse, 

Whan  it  is  fgiven  for  coveitise.  ^n^o 

Iprpisonowomman,  though  fshe  be  wood, 

That  yeveth  hir-silf  for  any  good. 

For  litel  shulde  a  man  telle 

Of  hir,  that  wol  hir  body  selle, 

Be  she  mayde,  be  she  'wy^i  5"55 

That  quik  wol  selle  hir,  by  hir  lyf. 

How  faire  chere  that  ever  she  make, 

He  is  a  ^^Tecche,  I  undirtake. 

That  f  loveth  such  one,  for  swete  or  sour, 

Though  she  him  callo  hir  paramour,  5060 

And  laugheth  on  him,  and  makitli  him 

feeste. 
For  certejnily  no  suche  [a]  beeste 
To  be  loved  is  not  worthy, 
Or  bcrc  the  name  of  dru[e]ry. 
Noon  shulde  hir  please,  but  he  were  wood, 
That  wol  dispoile  him  of  his  good.      5066 
Yit  nevertholes,  I  wol  not  sey 
fBut  she,  for  solace  and  for  pley. 
May  a  jewel  or  other  thing 
Take  of  her  loves  free  yeving  ;  5<^7'^'> 

But  that  she  aske  it  in  no  wj-so, 
For  drede  of  shame  of  coveityse. 
,-\.nd  she  of  hirs  may  liim,  corteyn, 
Withotite  sclaundre,  yeven  agejni. 
And  joyne  her  hertes  togidre  so  5075 

In  love,  and  take  and  yevc  also. 
Trowe  not  that  I  wolde  hem  twinne, 
\Vhan  in  lier  love  ther  is  no  sinne  ; 
I  wol  that  they  togedre  go. 
And  doon  al  that  they  ban  ado,  51)80 

As  cartels  shiilde  and  debonaire. 
And  in  her  love  beren  hem  faire, 
Withotite  \yce,  bothe  he  and  she  ; 
So  that  alwey,  in  honestee, 
Fro  foly  love  f  they  kepe  hem  clere     50S5 
That  brenneth  hertis  with  his  fere  ; 
And  that  her  love,  in  any  wyse. 
Be  devoid  of  coveityse. 
Good  love  shulde  engendrid  be 
Of  trewe  herte,  just,  and  secree,  5090 

And  not  of  such  as  sette  her  thought 
To  have  her  lust,  and  ellis  nought. 
So  are  they  caught  in  Loves  lace, 
Truly,  for  bodily  solace. 
Fleshly  delyt  is  so  present  5095 

AVith  thee,  that  sette  al  thyn  entent, 
Withoute  more  (what  shulde  I  glose  ?) 


For  to  gete  and  have  the  Eose  ; 

Which  makith  thee  so  mate  and  wood 

That  thou  desirest  noon  other  good.   5100 

But  thou  art  not  an  inche  the  nerre. 

But  ever  abydest  in  sorwe  and  werre. 

As  in  thy  face  it  is  sene  ; 

It  makith  thee  bothe  pale  and  lene  ; 

Thy  might,  thy  vertu  goth  away.        5105 

A  sory  gest,  in  goodc  fay, 

Tiictw  f  herberedest  than  in  thyn  inne. 

The  God  of  Love  whan  thou  let  inne  ! 

Wherfore  I  rede,  thou  shette  him  out. 

Or  he  shal  greve  thee,  out  of  doute  ;   51 10 

For  to  thy  profit  it  wol  turne, 

If  he  nomore  with  thee  sojourne. 

In  gret  mischeef  and  sorwe  sonken 

Ben  hertis,  that  of  love  arn  dronken, 

As  thoix  peraventure  knowen  shal,       5115 

Whan  thou  hast  lost  •f'thy  tyme  al. 

And  spent  i  thy  youthe  in  ydilnosse. 

In  waste,  and  woful  hxstinesse  ; 

If  thou  maist  live  the  tyme  to  sec 

Of  love  for  to  delivered  be,  5120 

Tliy  tyme  thou  shalt  biwepe  sore 

The  whiche  never  thoti  maist  restore. 

(For  tyme  lost,  as  men  may  see, 

For  no-thing  may  recured  be). 

And  if  thou  scape  yit,  atte  laste,  5r.'5 

Fro  Love,  that  hath  thee  so  fasto 

Knit  and  bounden  in  his  lace, 

Certeyn,  I  holde  it  but  a  grace. 

For  many  oon,  as  it  is  seyn. 

Have  lost,  and  spent  also  in  veyn,       51  v> 

In  liis  servyse,  withoute  socour. 

Body  and  soule,  good,  and  tresour, 

Wit,  and  strengthe,  and  eek  richesse. 

Of  which  they  hadde  never  redresse.' 

Thus  taught  and  preched  hatliResoun. 
But  Love  spilte  hir  sermoun,  5i.^C) 

That  was  so  imj^ed  in  my  thought. 
That  hir  doctrine  I  sette  at  nought. 
And  yit  ne  seide  she  never  a  dele. 
That  I  ne  iinderstode  it  wele,  5140 

Word  by  word,  the  mater  al. 
But  iinto  Love  I  was  so  thral, 
Which  callith  over-al  his  pray, 
He  chasith  so  my  thought  f  alway. 
And  holdith  myn  herte  undir  his  sele. 
As  trust  and  trew  as  any  stele  ;  5146 

So  that  no  devocioun 
Ne  hadde  I  in  the  sermoun 


Fkagment  B.] 


ZH  (Kowauni  of  tU  (Hoee. 


53 


Of  dame  Eesomi,  ne  of  liir  rede  ; 

It  toke  no  sojour  in  myn  hede.  5150 

For  alle  yede  out  at  oon  ere 

That  in  that  otlier  she  dide  lere  ; 

Fully  on  me  she  lost  liir  lore, 

Hir  speche  me  greved  wondir  sore. 

f  Thau  nnto  hir  for  ire  I  seidc,  5155 

For  anger,  as  I  dide  abraide  : 
'  Dame,  and  is  it  your  wille  algate, 
That  I  not  love,  but  that  I  hate 
Alle  men,  as  ye  me  teche  ? 
For  if  I  do  aftir  your  speche,  5160 

Sith  that  ye  seyn  love  is  not  good, 
Than  must  I  nedis  say  with  mood. 
If  I  it  lave,  in  liatrede  ay 
Liven,  and  voide  love  away 
From  me,  [and  been]  a  sinful  wrecche. 
Hated  of  all  that  [love  that]  tecclie.     5166 
1  may  not  go  noon  other  gate. 
For  either  must  I  love  or  hate. 
And  if  I  hate  men  of-newe 
More  than  love,  it  wol  me  rewe,  5170 

As  by  your  preching  semeth  me. 
For  Love  no-thing  ne  preisith  thee. 
Ye  yeve  good  counseil,  sikirly. 
That  prechith  me  al-day,  that  I 
Shulde  not  Loves  lore  alowe  ;  5175 

He  were  a  fool,  wolde  yovi  not  trowe  ! 
In  speche  also  ye  ban  me  taught 
Another  love,  that  knowen  is  naught. 
Which  I  have  herd  you  not  repreve. 
To  love  ech  other  ;  by  your  leve,  5180 

If  ye  wolde  diffyne  it  me, 
I  wolde  gladly  here,  to  see. 
At  the  leest,  if  I  may  lere 
Of  sondry  loves  the  manere.' 

Saigon.     '  Certis,     freend,    a    fool    art 
thou  5185 

Wlian  that  thou  no-thing  wolt  allowc 
That  I  [thee]  for  thy  profit  say. 
Yit  wol  I  sey  thee  more,  in  fay ; 
For  I  am  redy,  at  the  leste. 
To  accomplisshe  thy  requeste,  5190 

But  I  not  wher  it  wol  avayle  ; 
In  veyne,  perauntre,  I  shal  travayle. 
Love  ther  is  in  sondry  wyse. 
As  I  shal  thee  here  devyse. 
For  som  love  leful  is  and  good  ;  5195 

I  mene  not  that  which  makith  thee  wood. 
And  bringith  thee  in  many  a  fit. 
And  ravisshith  fro  thee  al  thy  wit. 


It  is  so  merveilotxs  and  queynt ; 

With  sticli  love  be  no  more  aqueynt.  ^jdo 

Comment  Raisoun  diflanist 
fAmistie. 

'  Love  of  Frendshipe  also  ther  is. 
Which  makith  no  man  doou  amis, 
Of  wille  knit  bitwixe  two. 
That  wol  not  lireke  for  wele  ne  wo  ; 
Which  long  is  lykly  to  contune,  5205 

Whan  wille  and  goodis  ben  in  comune  ; 
Groiinded  by  goddis  ordinaunce, 
Hool,  withoute  discordaunce ; 
With  hem  holding  comuntee 
Of  al  her  goode  in  charitee,  5210 

That  ther  be  noon  excepcioun 
Thurgh  chaiinging  of  entencioun  ; 
That  ech  helpe  other  at  hir  needo. 
And  wysly  hele  bothe  word  and  dede  ; 
Trewe  of  mening,  devoid  of  sloutlio,    5215 
For  wit  is  nought  vrithoute  trouthe  ; 
So  that  the  ton  dar  al  his  thought 
Seyn  to  his  freend,  and  spare  nought. 
As  to  him-silf,  without  dreding 
To  be  discovered  by  wreying.  5220 

F(ir  glad  is  that  conjunocioun. 
Whan  ther  is  noon  suspeciovin 
[Ne  lak  in  hem],  whom  they  wolde  prove 
That  trew  and  parfit  weren  in  love. 
For  no  man  may  be  amiable,  5225 

But-if  he  be  so  ferme  and  stable. 
That  fortune  chaunge  him  not,  ne  blindo. 
But  that  his  freend  alwey  him  finde, 
Bothe  pore  and  riclie,  in  oo[n]  [e]state. 
For  if  his  freend,  thurgh  any  gate,      $230 
Wol  compleyne  of  his  povertee. 
He  shulde  not  byde  so  long,  til  he 
Of  his  helping  him  requere  ; 
For  good  deed,  don  [but]  thurgh  prayere, 
Is  sold,  and  bought  to  dere,  y-wis,       5235 
To  hert  that  of  gret  valour  is. 
For  hert  fulfilled  of  gentilnesse 
Can  yvel  demene  his  distresse. 
And  man  that  worthy  is  of  name 
To  asken  often  hath  gret  shame.  5240 

A  good  man  brenneth  in  his  thought 
For  shame,  whan  he  axeth  ought. 
He  hath  gret  thought,  and  dredith  ay 
For  his  disese,  whan  he  shal  pray 
His  freend,  lest  that  he  warned  be,     5245 


54 


ZH  (Komaunf  of  tU  (Koee. 


[Fragment  B. 


Til  that  he  preve  his  stabiltee. 

But  whan  that  he  hath  founilen  oou 

That  trusty  is  and  trew  as  stone, 

And  [hath]  assayed  him  at  al, 

And  found  him  stedefast  as  a  wal,      5250 

And  of  his  freendship  be  certeyne, 

He  shal  him  shewe  bothe  joye  and  peyne, 

And  al  that  [he]  dar  thinke  or  sey, 

Withoute  shame,  as  he  wel  may. 

For  how  shulde  he  ashamed  bo  5255 

Of  sich  oon  as  I  tolde  thee  ? 

For  whan  he  woot  hia  secreo  thought. 

The   thridde   shal   knowe   ther-of    right 

nought ; 
For  tweyn  in  nombre  is  bet  than  three 
In  everj-  counsel  and  secree.  5260 

Repreve  he  dredeth  never  a  del, 
Who  that  biset  his  wordis  wel ; 
For  every  v^^i-s  man,  out  of  drede. 
Can  kepe  his  tunge  til  he  see  nede ; 
And  fooles  can  not  holdo  hir  tunge  ;  5265 
A  fooles  belle  is  sone  mnge. 
Yit  slial  a  trewe  freend  do  more 
To  helpc  his  felowe  of  his  sore. 
And  socoure  liim,  whan  he  hath  nede, 
In  al  that  he  may  doou  in  dede  ;  5270 

And  gladder  [be]  that  he  him  plesith 
Than  [is]  his  felowe  that  he  esith. 
And  if  he  do  not  his  requeste, 
He  shal  as  mochel  him  molesto 
As  his  felow,  lor  that  he  5275 

May  not  fulfille  his  voluntee 
[As]  fullj'  as  he  hath  requered. 
If  fbothe  hertis  Love  hath  fered, 
Joy  and  wo  they  shul  depart. 
And  take  evenly  ech  his  part.  5280 

Half  his  anoy  he  shal  have  ay. 
And  comfort  [him]  what  that  lie  may  ; 
And  of  -j-his  blisse  parte  shal  he, 
if  love  wol  departed  be. 

'  And  whUom  of  this  f  amitee  5285 

Spak  Tiillius  in  a  ditee  ; 
•]-"  A  man  shulde  maken  his  request 
Unto  his  freend,  that  is  honest ; 
And  he  goodly  shulde  it  fulfille. 
But  it  the  more  were  out  of  skile,        5290 
And  otherwise  not  graunt  therto. 
Except  only  in  -fcases  two  : 
If  men  his  freend  to  deth  wolde  dryve, 
Lat  him  be  bisy  to  save  his  lyve. 
Also  if  men  wolen  him  assayle,  5295 


Of  his  vrarship  to  make  him  faile. 

And  hindren  him  of  his  renoun, 

Lat  him,  with  ful  entencioun. 

His  dever  doon  in  ech  degree 

That  his  freend  ne  shamed  be,  53011 

In  this  two  fcases  with  his  might, 

Taking  no  kepe  to  skile  nor  right. 

As  ferre  as  love  may  him  excuse ; 

This  oughte  no  man  to  refuse." 

This  love  that  I  have  told  to  thee        5305 

Is  no-thing  contrarie  to  me  ; 

This  wol  I  that  thou  tblowe  wel, 

And  leve  the  tother  everydel. 

This  love  to  vertu  al  atteudith,  5309 

The  tothir  fooles  blent  and  shendith. 

'  Another  love  also  there  is, 
That  is  contrarie  iinto  this, 
Whicli  desyre  is  so  constreyned 
That  [it]  is  but  wille  feyne<l ; 
Awey  fro  trouthe  it  doth  so  varie,        5315 
That  to  good  love  it  is  contrarie  ; 
For  it  maymeth,  in  many  wyse, 
Syke  hertis  with  coveityse  ; 
Al  in  winning  and  in  profyt 
Sich  love  settith  his  delj-t.  5320 

This  love  so  hangeth  in  balaunce 
That,  if  it  lese  his  hope,  perciiaunce, 
'Of  lucre,  that  he  is  set  upon. 
It  wol  faile,  and  quenche  anon  ; 
For  no  man  may  be  amorous,  5325 

Ne  in  his  living  vertuous, 
But-[if  ]  he  love  more,  in  mood, 
Men  for  hem-silf  than  for  hir  good. 
For  love  that  profit  doth  abyde 
Is  fals,  and  bit  not  in  no  tyde.  5330 

[This]  love  cometh  of  dame  Fortune, 
That  litel  whyle  wol  contune  ; 
For  it  shal  chaungen  wonder  sone. 
And  take  eclips  right  as  tlie  mone. 
Whan  f  she  is  from  us  [y]-let  5335 

Thurgh  erthe,  that  bitwixe  is  set 
The  Sonne  and  hir,  as  it  may  faile. 
Be  it  in  party,  or  in  alle  ; 
The  shadowe  maketh  her  bemis  merke. 
And  hir  homes  to  shewe  derke,  5,340 

That  part  where  she  hath  lost  -f-the  lyght 
Of  Phebus  fully,  and  tlie  sight  ; 
Til,  whan  the  shadowe  is  overpast. 
She  is  enlumined  ageyn  as  faste,         5344 
■)- Thurgh  brightnesse  of  the  sonne  hemes 
That  yeveth  to  hir  ageyn  liir  lemes. 


Fragment  B.] 


ZU  (RoMtaunf  of  (U  (Foee. 


55 


That  love  is  right  of  sich  nature  ; 

Now  is  [it]  fair,  and  now  obscure, 

Now  bright,  now  clipsy  of  mauere, 

And  whylom  dim,  and  whylom  clere.  5350 

As  sone  as  Poverte  giuneth  take. 

With  mantel  and  [with]  wedis  blake 

[It]  hidith  of  Love  the  light  awey, 

That  into  night  it  turneth  day ; 

It  may  not  see  Eichesse  shyne  5355 

Til  the  blakke  shadowes  fyne. 

For,  whan  Eichesse  shyneth  bright. 

Love  recovereth  ageyn  his  light ; 

And  whan  it  failith,  he  wol  flit. 

And  as  she  fgroweth,  so  groweth  it.  5360 

'  Of  this  love,  here  what  I  sey  : — 
The  riche  men  are  loved  ay, 
And  namely  tho  that  sparand  bene. 
That  wol  not  wasshe  hir  hertes  clene 
Of  the  filthe,  nor  of  the  vyce  5365 

Of  gredy  breuning  avaryce. 
The  riche  man  ful  fond  is,  y-wis, 
That  weneth  that  he  loved  is. 
If  that  his  herte  it  undirstood, 
It  is  not  he,  it  is  his  good  ;  5370 

He  may  wel  witen  in  his  thought. 
His  good  is  loved,  and  he  right  nought. 
For  if  he  be  a  nigard  eke, 
Men  wole  not  sette  by  him  a  leke, 
But  haten  him  ;  this  is  the  soth.  5375 

Lo,  what  profit  his  catel  doth  ! 
Of  every  man  that  may  him  see. 
It  geteth  him  nought  but  enmitee. 
But  he  amende  f  him  of  that  vyce. 
And  knowe  him-silf,  he  is  not  wys.     5380 

'  Certis,  he  shulde  ay  freendly  be, 
To  gete  him  love  also  ben  free. 
Or  ellis  he  is  not  wyse  ne  sage 
No  more  than  is  a  gote  ramage. 
That  he  not  loveth,  his  dede  proveth, 
Whan  he  his  richesse  so  wel  loveth,  5386 
That  he  wol  hyde  it  ay  and  spare, 
His  pore  freendis  seen  forfare  ; 
To  kepe  fit  ay  is  his  purpose, 
Tn  for  drede  his  eyen  close,  5390 

And  til  a  wikked  deth  him  take  ; 
Him  hadde  lever  asondre  shake. 
And  late  fhis  limes  asondre  ryve, 
Than  leve  his  richesse  in  his  lyve. 
He  thenkith  parte  it  with  no  man  ;    5395 
Certayn,  no  love  is  in  him  than. 
How  shulde  love  within  him  be, 


Whan  in  his  herte  is  no  pite  ? 

That  he  trespasseth,  wel  I  wat, 

For  ech  man  knowith  his  estat ;  54<->o 

For  wel  him  foughte  be  reproved 

That  loveth  nought,  ne  is  not  loved. 

'  But  sith  we  arn  to  Fortune  com.en. 
And  fhan  out  sermoun  of  hir  nomen, 
A  wondir  wil  I  telle  thee  now,  5405 

Thou  herdist  never  sich  oon,  I  trow. 
I  not  wher  thou  me  leven  shal. 
Though  sotlifastnesse  it  be  fin  al, 
As  it  is  writen,  and  is  sooth. 
That  unto  men  more  profit  doth  5410 

The  froward  Fortune  and  contraire, 
Than  the  swote  and  debonaire  : 
And  if  thee  thinke  it  is  doutable. 
It  is  thurgh  argument  provable. 
For  the  debonaire  and  softo  5415 

Falsith  and  bigylith  ofte  ; 
For  liche  a  moder  she  can  cherishe 
And  milken  as  doth  a  norys  ; 
And  of  hir  goodo  to  f  hem  deles, 
And  yeveth  f  hem  part  of  her  joweles. 
With  grete  richesse  and  dignitee  ;      54.' i 
And  hem  she  hoteth  stabilitee 
In  a  state  that  is  not  stable, 
But  chaunging  ay  and  variable  ; 
And  fedith  f  hem  with  glorie  veyne,    5425 
And  worldly  blisse  noncerteyne. 
Whan  she  f  hem  settith  on  hir  whele, 
Than  wene  they  to  be  right  wcle, 
And  in  so  stable  state  withalle, 
That  never  they  wene  for  to  faUe.       5430 
And  whan  they  set  so  high[e]  be, 
They  wene  to  have  in  certeintee 
Of  hertly  frendis  f  so  gret  noumbre. 
That  no-thing  mighte  her  stat  encombre  ; 
They  truste  hem  so  on  every  syde,       5435 
Wening  with  f  hem  they  wolde  abyde 
In  every  perel  and  mischaunce, 
Withoute  chaunge  or  variaunee, 
Bothe  of  catel  and  of  good  ; 
And  also  for  to  spende  hir  blood         544u 
And  alle  hir  membris  for  to  spille, 
Only  to  fulfllle  hir  wille. 
They  maken  it  hole  in  many  wyse, 
And  hoten  hem  hir  ful  servyse, 
How  sore  that  it  do  hem  smerte,  5445 

Into  hir  very  naked  sherte  ! 
Herte  and  al,  so  hole  they  yeve. 
For  the  tyme  that  they  may  live, 


56 


ZU  (Homauttt  of  f^e  (^oee. 


[Fkagmest  B. 


So  that,  with  her  flateryo, 

They  maken  foolis  glorifye  5450 

Of  hir  worclis  [greet]  speking, 

And  han  f  there-of  a  rejoysing, 

And  trowe  hem  as  the  Evangylo  ; 

And  it  is  al  falsheed  and  gyle, 

As  they  shal  afterwarde[s]  see,  5455 

Whau  they  am  falle  in  povertoa, 

Anil  been  of  good  and  catel  bare  ; 

Tlian    shiilde    they    seen    who    freendis 

ware. 
For  of  an  hundred,  certeynlj-, 
Nor  of  a  thousand  ful  scarsly,  5460 

Ne  shal  they  fynde  unnethis  oon, 
Whan  povertee  is  comen  npon. 
For  fthis  Fortune  that  I  of  telle, 
With  men  whan  hir  lust  to  dwello, 
Makith  hem  to  lese  hir  conisaiinco,    5465 
And  nonrishith  hem  in  ignoraunce. 

•  But  froward  Fortune  and  i)erversc, 
Wlian  high  estatis  she  doth  reverse, 
And  maketh  hem  to  tumble  doun 
Of  hir  whelo,  with  sodeyn  tourn,         5470 
And  from  hir  richesse  doth  hem  flee, 
And  plongoth  hem  in  povertee. 
As  a  stepnioder  envyous. 
And  leyeth  a  piastre  dolorous 
I'nto  her  hertis,  wounded  egrc,  5475 

Which  is  not  tempred  with  vinegre, 
But  with  poverte  and  indigence, 
i  She  sheweth,  by  experience, 
That  she  is  Fortune  verely 
In  whom  no  man  shulde  aify,  5480 

Xor  in  hir  yeftis  have  fiaunce, 
She  is  so  ful  of  variatmce. 
Thus  can  she  maken  high  and  lowo. 
Whan  they  from  richesse  ar[e]n  throwc, 
Fiilly  to  knowen,  withouten  were,       5485 
Frcend  of  feflfect,  and  freend  of  chere  ; 
And  which  in  love  weren  trow  and  stable. 
And  whiche  also  weren  variable. 
After  Fortune,  hir  goddesse. 
In  poverte,  outlier  in  richesse  ;  5490 

For  al  fshe  yeveth,  out  of  drede, 
Unhappe  bereveth  it  in  dede  ; 
For  Infortune  flat  not  oon 
Of  freendis,  whan  Fortune  is  goon  ; 
I  mene  tho  freendis  that  wol  flee         5495 
Anoon  as  entreth  povertee. 
And  yit  they  wol  not  leve  hem  so. 
But  in  ech  place  where  they  gf) 


They  calle  hem  "wrecche,"  scorne  and 

blame. 
And  of  hir  mishappe  hem  diffame,      5500 
And,  namely,  siche  as  in  richesse 
Pretendith  most  of  stablenesse, 
Whan  that  they  sawe  him  set  onlofte. 
And  weren  of  him  socoured  ofte. 
And  most  y-hol|)e  in  al  hir  nede  :        5505 
But  now  they  take  no  maner  hede. 
But  seyn,  in  voice  of  flateryo. 
That  now  apperith  hir  folyo, 
Over-al  where-so  they  i'are. 
And  singe,  "  Go,  farewel  feldofare."    5510 
Alle  suche  freendis  I  beshrewe. 
For  of  [the]  trewe  ther  be  to  fewe  ; 
But  sothfast  freendis,  what  so  bityde, 
In  every  fortune  wolen  abyde  ; 
They  han  hir  hertis  in  suche  noblesse 
That  they  nil  love  for  no  richesse  ;      5516 
Nor,  for  that  Fortune  may  hem  sende, 
They  wolen  hem  socoure  and  defends  ; 
And  chaunge  for  softe  ne  for  sore. 
For  who  is  freend,  loveth  evermore.    5520 
Though  men  drawe  swerd  his  freend  to  slo, 
He  may  not  hewe  hir  love  atwo. 
But,  in  [the]  case  that  I  shal  sey, 
For  i^ride  and  ire  leso  it  he  may, 
And  for  reprove  by  nyceteo. 
And  discovering  of  privitee. 
With  tonge  woiinding,  as  feloun, 
Thurgh  venemons  detraccioun. 
Frend  in  this  case  wol  gon  his  way. 
For  no-thing  greve  htm  more  ne  may ; 
And  for  nought  ellis  wol  he  flee,  55,^1 

If  that  he  love  in  stabiliteo. 
And  certeyn,  he  is  wel  bigoon 
Among  a  thousand  that  fyndith  oon. 
For  ther  may  be  no  richesse,  55,^5 

Ageyns  frendship,  of  worthinesse; 
For  it  no  may  so  high  atteigne 
As  may  the  valoure,  sooth  to  sejaie. 
Of  him  that  loveth  trew  and  wel ; 
Frendship  is  more  than  is  catel. 
For  freend  in  court  ay  better  is 
Than  peny  in  [his]  purs,  certis  ; 
And  Fortune,  mishapping, 
Whan  upon  men  she  is  f  falling, 
Thurgh  misturning  of  hir  chaunce, 
And  fcasteth  hem  oiite  of  balavmce. 
She  makith,  thurgh  hir  adversitee, 
Men  ful  cleerly  for  to  see 


55^5 


554" 


5545 


t^t.  (Romaunf  of  t^i^  (Hoee. 


57 


Him  that  is  freend  in  existence 

From  him  that  is  by  apparence.  5550 

For  Infortime  makith  anoon 

To  kiiowe  thy  freendis  fro  thy  foon, 

By  experience,  right  as  it  is  ; 

The  wliich  is  more  to  preyse,  y-wis, 

Than  fis  miclie  richesse  and  tresour  ; 

For  more  f  doth  profit  and  valour        5556 

Poverte,  and  such  adversitee, 

Bifore  than  doth  prosperitee  ; 

For  the  toon  yeveth  oonisaimce, 

And  the  tother  ignoraunce.  5560 

'  And  thus  in  poverte  is  in  dede 
Trouthe  declared  fro  falsehede  ; 
For  feynte  frendis  it  wol  declare, 
And  trewe  also,  what  wey  they  fare. 
For  whan  he  was  in  his  richesse,  5565 

These  freendis,  ful  of  doublenesse, 
Oflfrid  him  in  many  wyse 
Hert  and  body,  and  servyse. 
What   wolde   he   than   ha   "f-yeve   to   ha 

bought 
To  knowen  openly  her  thought,  5570 

That  he  now  hath  so  clerly  seen  ? 
The  lasse  bigyled  he  sholde  have  been 
And  he  hadde  than  perceyved  it. 
But  richesse  nold  not  late  him  wit. 
Wei  more  avauntage  doth  him  than,  5575 
Sith  that  it  makith  him  a  wys  man. 
The  greet  mischeef  that  he  freceyveth, 
Than  doth  richesse  that  him  deceyveth. 
Richesse  riche  ne  makith  nought 
Him  that  on  tresDur  set  his  thought  ; 
For  richesse  stont  in  suffisaunce  5581 

And  no-thing  in  habundaunce  ; 
For  siiffisaunce  al-only 
Makith  men  to  live  richely. 
For  he  that  hath  [but]  miches  tweyne, 
Ne  [more]  value  in  his  demeigne,  55S6 

Liveth  more  at  ese,  and  more  is  riche, 
Than  doth  he  that  is  [so]  chiche. 
And  in  his  bern  hath,  soth  to  seyn. 
An  hundred  f  muwis  of  whete  greyn,  5590 
Though  he  be  chapman  or  marchaunt, 
And  have  of  golde  many  besaunt. 
For  in  the  geting  he  hath  such  wo. 
And  in  the  keping  drede  also, 
And  set  evermore  his  bisjaiesse  5595 

For  to  encrese,  and  not  to  lesse. 
For  to  augment  and  multiply. 
And  though  on  hepis  -f-it  lye  him  by, 


Yit  never  shal  make  his  richesse 

Asseth  unto  his  gredinesse.  56<x) 

But  the  povre  that  recchith  nought, 

Save  of  his  lyflode,  in  his  thought, 

Which  that  he  getith  with  his  travaile. 

He  dredith  nought  that  it  shal  faile, 

Though  he  have  Ij'tel  worldis  good,     5605 

Mete  and  drinke,  and  esy  food, 

Upon  his  travel  and  living, 

And  also  suffisaunt  clothing. 

Or  if  in  syknesse  that  he  falle, 

And  lothe  mete  and  drink  withalle,    5610 

Though  he  have  nought,  his  mete  to  by, 

He  shal  bithinke  him  hastely. 

To  putte  him  out  of  al  daimger. 

That  he  of  mete  hath  no  mister  ; 

Or  that  he  m<iy  with  litel  eke  5615 

Bo  founden,  whyl  that  he  is  seke  ; 

Or  that  men  shul  him  ■j-bere  in  hast. 

To  live,  til  his  syknesse  be  past. 

To  somme  naaysondewe  bisj-de  ;  5619 

He  cast  nought  what  shal  him  bityde. 

He  thenkith  nought  that  ever  he  shal 

Into  any  syknesse  falle. 

'  And  though  it  falle,  as  it  may  be, 
That  al  betyme  spare  shal  he 
As  mochel  as  shal  to  him  suffyce,        5625 
Whyl  he  is  syke  in  any  wj-se. 
He  doth  [it],  for  that  he  wol  be 
Content  with  his  povertee 
Withoute  nede  of  any  man. 
So  miche  in  litel  have  he  can,  5630 

He  is  apayed  with  his  fortune  ; 
And  for  he  nil  be  importune 
Unto  no  wight,  ne  onerous. 
Nor  of  hir  goodes  coveitoiis  ; 
Therfore  he  spareth,  it  may  wel  been, 
His  pore  estat  for  to  sustene.  5636 

'  Or  if  him  lust  not  for  to  spare, 
But  suffrith  forth,  as  nought  ne  ware, 
Atte  last  it  hapneth,  as  it  may, 
Kight  unto  his  laste  day,  5640 

And  f  taketh  the  world  as  it  wolde  be  ; 
For  ever  in  herte  thenkith  he. 
The  soner  that  [the]  deeth  him  slo, 
To  paradys  the  soner  go 
He  shal,  there  for  to  live  in  blisse,       5645 
Where  that  he  shal  no  good  misse. 
Thider  he  hopith  god  shal  him  sende 
Aftir  his  wrecchid  lyves  ende. 
Pictagoras  himsilf  reherses, 


58 


tU  (Botnaunt  of  f6«  (Ro6^ 


[Fragment  B. 


In  a  book  that  the  Golden  Verses        5650 
Is  clepid,  for  the  nobilitoe 
Of  the  honourable  ditee  : — 
"  Than,  whan  thou  gost  thy  body  fro, 
Free  in  the  eir  thou  shalt  iip  go, 
And  leven  al  humanitee,  5f>55 

And  piirely  live  in  deitee." — 
He  is  a  fool,  withouten  were, 
That  trowith  have  his  countre  here. 
"  In  erthe  is  not  our  coiintree," 
That  may  these  clerkis  seyn  and  see  5660 
In  Boece  of  Consolacioun, 
^Vliere  it  is  maked  mencioun 
Of  our  countreo  pleyn  at  the  eye. 
By  teching  of  philosophye, 
^Vhe^e  lewid  men  might  lero  wit,        5665 
Who-so  that  wolde  translaten  it. 
If  he  be  sich  that  can  wol  live 
Aftir  his  rente  may  him  yive, 
And  not  desyreth  more  to  have, 
That  may  fro  povertee  him  save  :        5670 
A  wys  man  seide,  as  we  may  seen. 
Is  no  man  wrecchcd,  but  he  it  weue, 
Be  he  king,  knight,  or  riband. 
And  many  a  ribaud  is  mery  and  baud, 
That  swinkith,  and  berith,  bothe  day  and 
night,  5675 

Many  a  burthen  of  gret  might, 
The  wliiche  doth  him  lasse  oifense, 
For  he  suffrith  in  pacience. 
They  laugh  and  daunce,  trippe  and  singe, 
And  ley  not  up  for  her  living,  5680 

But  in  the  tavern  al  dispendith 
The  winning  that  god  hem  senditli. 
Than  goth  he,  fardels  for  to  here, 
\^'ith  as  good  chere  as  he  dide  ere  ; 
To  swinke  and  traveile  he  not  feynith. 
For  for  to  robben  he  disdeynith  ;         5686 
But  right  anoon,  aftir  his  swinko. 
He  goth  to  tavern  for  to  drinkc. 
Alle  these  ar  riche  in  abundaunce. 
That  can  thvis  have  suffisaunce  5690 

Wei  more  than  can  an  usurere. 
As  god  wel  knowith,  withoute  were. 
For  an  usurer,  so  god  mo  see, 
Shal  never  for  richesse  riche  bee. 
But  evermore  pore  and  indigent,         5695 
Scarce,  and  gredy  in  his  entent. 

'  For  soth  it  is,  whom  it  displese, 
Ther  may  no  marchaunt  live  at  ese  ; 
His  herte  in  sich  a  f  were  is  set. 


That  it  quik  brenneth  [more]  to  get,   57CK) 

No  never  shal  fenough  have  geten  ; 

Tliough  he  have  gold  in  gerners  yeten. 

For  to  be  nedy  he  drodith  sore. 

Wherfore  to  geten  more  and  more 

He  set  his  herte  and  his  desire  ;  5705 

.So  hote  he  brennith  in  the  fire 

Of  coveitise,  that  makith  him  wood 

To  purchase  other  mennes  good. 

He  undirfongith  a  gret  peyne, 

That  vmdirtakith  to  drinke  up  fieyne  ; 

For  the  more  he  drinkith,  ay  5711 

Tlie  more  he  leveth,  the  soth  to  say. 

■[■This  is  the  thiirst  of  fals  geting. 

That  last  ever  in  coveiting, 

And  the  anguisshc  and  distresse  5715 

With  the  fire  of  grodinesse. 

She  fighteth  with  him  ay,  and  stryveth, 

Tliat  his  herte  asondre  ryveth  ; 

Such  gredinesse  him  assaylith. 

That  whan  he  most  hath,  most  he  faylith. 

'  Phisiciens  and  advocates  57-M 

Gon  right  by  the  same  yates  ; 
The}'  selle  hir  science  for  winning, 
And  haunte  hir  crafte  for  greet  geting. 
Hir  winning  is  of  such  swetnesse,        5725 
Tliat  if  a  man  fallo  in  sikenesse, 
They  are  ful  glad,  for  hir  encrese  ; 
For  by  hir  wille,  withoute  lees, 
Everiche  man  shulde  be  seke,  5729 

And  though  they  dye,  they  set  not  a  leke. 
After,  whan  they  the  gold  have  take, 
Ful  litel  care  for  hem  they  make. 
They  wolde  that  fourty  were  seke  at  onis, 
Ye,  two  hundred,  in  flesh  and  bonis. 
And  yit  two  thousand,  as  I  gesse,         5735 
I'or  to  encresen  her  richesse. 
They  wol  not  worchen,  in  no  wyse, 
But  for  lucre  and  coveityse  ; 
For  fysyk  ginneth  first  by  fi/, 
The  fj-sycien  also  sothely  ;  5740 

And  sithen  it  goth  fro  y)/  to  -fsi/ ; 
To  truste  on  hem,  it  is  foly ; 
For  they  nil,  in  no  maner  gree, 
Do  right  nought  for  charitee. 

'  Eke  in  the  same  secte  are  set  5745 

Alle  tho  that  prechen  for  to  get 
Worshipes,  honour,  and  richesse. 
Her  hertis  am  in  greet  distresse, 
That  folk  [ne]  live  not  holily. 
But  aboven  al,  specialy,  5750 


ZH  (Rowaunf  of  tU  (^06i, 


59 


Sicli  as  prechen  [for]  veynglorie, 
And  toward  god  have  no  memorio, 
But  forth  as  j'pocrites  trace, 
And  to  her  soules  deth  purchace, 
And  outward  fshewen  holynesse,         ; 
Though  they  be  fulle  of  cursidnesse. 
Not  liche  to  the  apostles  twelve, 
They  deceyve  other  and  hem-selve  ; 
Bigyled  is  the  gyler  than. 
For  preching  of  a  cursed  man,  = 

Though  [it]  to  other  may  profyte, 
Himsilf  availeth  not  a  myto  ; 
For  oft  good  predicacionn 
Cometh  of  evel  entencioun. 
To  him  not  vailith  his  preching,  = 

Al  helpe  he  other  with  his  teching  ; 
For  where  they  good  ensaumple  take, 
There  is  he  with  veynglorie  shake. 

•  But  lat  us  leven  these  prechoures. 
And  speke  of  hem  that  in  her  toures  t 
He4ie  up  her  gold,  and  faste  shette, 
And  sore  theron  her  herte  sette. 
They  neither  love  god,  ne  dredc 
They  kepe  more  than  it  is  nedc, 
And  in  her  bagges  sore  it  hinde,  ; 

Out  of  the  Sonne,  and  of  the  winde  ; 
They  putto  up  more  than  nede  ware, 
Whan  they  seen  pore  folk  forfare. 
For  hiinger  dye,  and  for  cold  qviake  ; 
God  can  wel  vengeaunce  therof  take.  ; 
fThree  gret  mischeves  hem  assailith. 
And  thus  in  gadring  ay  travaylith  ; 


With  moche  peyne  they  winne  richesso  ; 

And  drede  hem  holdith  in  distresse, 

To  kepe  that  they  gadre  faste  ;  57CS5 

With  sorwe  they  leve  it  at  the  laste  ; 

With  sorwe  they  bothe  dye  and  live. 

That  fto  richesse  her  hertis  yive. 

And  in  defatite  of  love  it  is. 

As  it  shewith  ful  wel,  y-wis.  5790 

For  if  these  gredy,  the  sothe  to  seyn, 

Loveden,  and  were  loved  ageyn. 

And  good  love  regned  over-allc. 

Such  wikkidnesse  ne  shidde  falle  ; 

But  he  shulde  yeve  that  most  good  had 

To  hem  that  weren  in  nede  bistad,      5796 

And  live  withoute  fals  u.sure, 

For  charitee  ful  clene  and  pure. 

If  thoy  hem  yeve  to  goodnesse. 

Defending  hem  from  ydelncsse. 

In  al  this  world  tlian  pore  noon 

We  shulde  finde,  I  trowe,  not  oon. 

But  chaunged  is  this  world  nnstablo  : 

For  love  is  over-al  vendable. 

We  see  that  no  man  loveth  now 

But  for  winning  and  for  prow  ; 

And  love  is  thralled  in  servage 

Whan  it  is  sold  for  avauntage  ; 

Yit  wommen  wol  hir  bodies  selle 


sSoo 


5805 


Suche  soules  goth  to  the  devel  of  hellc.' 

[Here  ends  1.  5171)  of  the  F.  text.  A 
great  gap  follows.  The  next  line  an- 
mcers  to  1.  10717  oftlie  sa^nc] 


FBAGMENT  C. 


Whan  Love  had  told  hena  his  entente, 

The  baronage  to  counoel  wente  ; 

In  many  sentences  they  fillo. 

And  dyversly  they  seide  hir  willo  : 

But  aftir  discord  they  accorded,  5815 

And  hir  accord  to  Love  recorded. 

■  Sir,'  seiden  they,  '  we  been  at  oon. 

By  even  accord  of  everichoon, 

Out-take  Richesse  al-only, 

That  sworen  hath  ful  hauteynly,  5820 

That  she  the  castel  -f-nil  assaile, 

Ne  smyte  a  stroke  in  this  bataile. 

With  dart,  ne  mace,  spere,  ne  knyf. 


For  man  that  speketh  or  bereth  the  lyf. 


And  blameth  your  empryse,  y-wis. 
And  from  our  boost  departed  is, 
(At  leeste  wey,  as  in  this  plyte,) 
So  hath  she  this  man  in  dispyte  ; 
For  she  seith  he  ne  loved  hir  never. 
And  therfor  she  wol  hate  him  ever. 
For  he  wol  gadre  no  tresore. 
He  hath  hir  wrath  for  evermore. 
He  agilte  hir  never  in  other  caas, 
Lo,  here  al  hoolly  his  trespas  ! 
She  seith  wel,  that  this  other  day 
He  asked  hir  leve  to  goon  the  way 


5S-\^ 


6o 


ZU  (Homaunf  of  iU  (Roee. 


[Fragment  C. 


That  is  clepid  To-moche-Yeving, 

And  spak  iul  faire  in  his  praying  ; 

But  whan  he  prayde  hir,  pore  was  he, 

Therfore  she  warned  him  the  entree.   5840 

Ne  yit  is  he  not  thriven  so 

That  he  hath  geten  a  yieny  or  two, 

Tliat  quitly  is  his  o\vne  in  hold. 

Thvis  hath  Eichesse  us  alle  tokl ; 

And  whan  Eichesse  us  this  recorded,  5845 

Withouten  hir  we  been  accorded. 

'  And  we  finde  in  our  accordaunce, 
That  False-Semblant  and  Abstinaunce, 
With  alle  the  folk  of  hir  bataile, 
Shulle  at  the  hinder  gate  assayle,        5850 
That  Wikkid-Tunge  hath  in  keping. 
With  his  Normans,  fuUe  of  jangling. 
And  with  hem  Curtesie  and  Largesse, 
That  shulle  shewe  hir  hardinesse 
To  the  olde  wyf  that  f  kepeth  so  harde 
Fair-Welcoming  within  her  warde.     5856 
Than  shal  Delyte  and  Wel-Helinge 
Fonde  Shame  adoun  to  bringe  ; 
With  al  hir  boost,  erly  and  late. 
They  shulle  assailen  f  thilke  gate.        5860 
Agaynes  Drede  shal  Hardinesse 
Assayle,  and  also  Sikernesse, 
With  al  the  folk  of  hir  leding, 
That  never  wist  wliat  was  fleing. 

'  Fraunchj-se  shal  fighte,  and  eek  Pitee, 
With  Daunger  ful  of  crueltee.  5S66 

Thus  is  your  boost  ordeyned  wel ; 
Doun  shal  the  castel  every  del, 
If  everiche  do  his  entente, 
So  that  Venus  be  presente,  5870 

Your  moder,  ful  of  vassalage, 
That  can  y-nough  of  such  usage  ; 
Witboiiten  hir  may  no  ^\^ght  spede 
This  werk,  neither  for  word  ne  dede. 
Therfore  is  good  ye  for  hir  sende,         5875 
For  thurgh  hir  may  this  werk  amende.' 

Amour.     '  Lordinges,   my    moder,    the 
goddesse. 
That  is  my  lady,  and  my  maistresse, 
Nis  not  [at]  al  at  my  willing, 
Ne  doth  not  al  my  desyring.  5880 

Yit  can  she  som-tyme  doon  labour, 
Whan  that  hir  lust,  in  my  socour, 
-f-Al  my  nedes  for  to  acheve. 
But  now  I  thenke  hir  not  to  greve. 
My  moder  is  she,  and  of  childhede      5885 
I  bothe  worshipe  hir,  and  eek  drede  ; 


For  who  that  dredeth  sire  ne  dame 

Shal  it  abye  in  body  or  name. 

And,  natheles,  yit  cunne  we 

Sende  after  hir,  if  nede  be  ;  5890 

And  were  she  nigh,  she  comen  wolde, 

I  trowe  that  no-thing  might  hir  holde. 

'  My  moder  is  of  greet  prowesse  ; 
She  hath  tan  many  a  forteresse. 
That  cost  hath  many  a  pound  er  this,  5895 
Ther  I  nas  not  present,  y-wis  ; 
And  yit  men  seide  it  was  my  dede  ; 
But  I  come  never  in  that  stede  ; 
Ne  me  ne  lyketb,  so  mote  I  thee. 
Such  f  toures  take  withoute  me.  5900 

For-why  me  thenkcth  that,  in  no  wyse, 
It  ma.y  ben  cleped  but  marchandise. 

'  Go  bye  a  courser,  blak  or  whyte. 
And  pay  therfor  ;  than  art  thou  quyte. 
The  marchaunt  oweth  thee  right  nought, 
Ne  thou  him,  whan  thoii  [hast]  it  bought. 
I  wol  not  selling  clepe  yeving,  5907 

For  selling  axeth  no  guerdoning  ; 
Here  lyth  no  thank,  ne  no  meryte. 
That  oon  goth  from  that  other  al  quyte. 
But  this  selling  is  not  semblable  ;        5911 
For,  whan  his  hors  is  in  the  stable, 
He  may  it  selle  ageyn,  pardee, 
And  winne  on  it,  such  hap  may  be  ; 
Al  may  the  man  not  lese,  y-wis,  5915 

For  at  the  leest  the  skm  is  his. 
Or  eUes,  if  it  so  bityde 
Tliat  he  wol  kepe  his  hors  to  rj-de, 
Yit  is  he  lord  ay  of  his  hors. 
But  thilke  chaffare  is  wel  wors,  5920 

There  Venus  entremeteth  nought  ; 
For  who-so  such  chaffare  hath  bought. 
He  shal  not  worchen  so  ^^lysly, 
That  he  ne  shal  lese  al  outerly 
Bothe  his  money  and  his  chaffare  ;      5925 
But  the  seller  of  the  ware 
The  prys  and  profit  have  shal. 
Certeyn,  the  byer  shal  lese  al  ; 
For  he  ne  can  so  dere  it  bye 
To  have  lordship  and  ful  maistrye,      5930 
Ne  have  power  to  make  letting 
Neither  for  yift  ne  for  precbing. 
That  of  his  chaffare,  maugre  his. 
Another  shal  have  as  moche,  y-^^'is, 
If  he  wol  yeve  as  moche  as  be,  5935 

Of  what  contrey  so  that  he  be  ; 
Or  for  right  nought,  so  happe  may. 


Fragment  C] 


ZU  (Kowaunf  of  (h  (Koee. 


6i 


If  he  can  flater  hir  to  liir  pay. 

Ben  than  stiche  marchannts  wyse  ? 

No,  bnt  fooles  in  every  wyse,  5940 

Whan  they  bye  such  thing  wilfully, 

Ther-as  they  less  her  good  -f-fully. 

But  natheles,  this  dar  I  saye, 

BIy  moder  is  not  wont  to  paye. 

For  she  is  neither  so  fool  ne  nyce,        5945 

To  entremete  hir  of  sicli  vyce. 

But  truste  wel,  he  shal  paye  al. 

That  repente  of  his  bargeyn  shal, 

Whan  Poverte  put  him  in  distresse, 

Al  were  he  scoler  to  Richesse,  5950 

That  is  for  me  in  gret  yarning. 

Whan  she  assenteth  to  my  willing. 

'  But,  [by]  my  moder  seint  Venus, 
And  by  hii-  fader  Saturnus, 
That  hir  engendrid  by  his  lyf,  5955 

But  not  upon  his  wedded  wyf ! 
Yit  wol  I  more  unto  you  swere, 
To  make  this  thing  the  seurere  ; 
Now  by  that  feith,  and  that  fleautee 
fl  owe  to  aUe  my  brethren  free,  5960 

Of  which  ther  nis  wight  under  heven 
That  can  her  fadres  names  neven. 
So  dyvers  and  so  many  ther  be 
That  with  my  moder  have  be  privee  ! 
Yit  wolde  I  swere,  for  sikernesse,        5965 
The  pole  of  helle  to  my  witnesse, 
Now  drinke  I  not  this  yeer  clarree. 
If  that  I  lye,  or  forsworn  be  ! 
(For  of  the  goddes  the  usage  is, 
That  who-so  him  forswereth  amis,       5970 
Shal  that  yeer  drinke  no  clarree). 
Now  have  I  sworn  y-nough,  pardee  ; 
If  I  forswere  me,  than  am  I  lorn, 
But  I  wol  never  be  forsworn. 
Sith  Richesse  hath  me  failed  here,       5975 
She  shal  abye  that  trespas  fdere. 
At  leeste  wey,  but  [she]  hir  arme 
With  swerd,  or  sparth,  or  gisarme. 
For  certes,  sith  she  loveth  not  me. 
Fro  thilke  tyme  that  she  may  see        5980 
The  castel  and  the  tour  to-shake. 
In  sory  tyme  she  shal  awake. 
If  I  may  gryjie  a  riche  man, 
I  shal  so  pulle  him,  if  I  can. 
That  he  shal,  in  a  fewe  stoundes,         5985 
Lese  alle  his  markes  and  his  poundes. 
I  shal  him  make  his  pens  outslinge, 
But-[if]  they  in  his  gerner  springe  ; 


6010 


Our  maydens  shal  eek  plukke  him  so, 
That  him  shal  neden  fetheres  mo,       5990 
And  make  him  selle  his  lond  to  spende, 
But  he  the  bet  cunne  him  defende. 

'  Pore  men  han  maad  hir  lord  of  me  ; 
Although  they  not  so  mighty  be. 
That  they  may  fede  me  in  delyt,  5995 

I  wol  not  have  hem  in  despyt. 
No  good  man  hateth  hem,  as  I  gesse  ; 
For  chinche  and  feloun  is  Richesse, 
That  so  can  chase  hem  and  dispyse, 
And  hem  defoule  in  sondry  wyse.        6000 
They  loven  ful  bet,  so  god  me  spede. 
Than  doth  the  riche,  chinchy  fgnede. 
And  been,  in  good  feith,  more  stable 
And  trewer,  and  more  serviable  ; 
And  therfore  it  suffyseth  me  6005 

Hir  goode  herte,  and  hir  fleautee. 
They  han  on  me  set  al  hir  thought, 
And  therfore  I  forgete  hem  nought. 
I  fwolde  hem  bringe  in  greet  noblesse, 
If  that  I  were  god  of  Richesse, 
As  I  am  god  of  Love,  sothly. 
Such  routhe  upon  hir  pleynt  have  I. 
Therfore  I  must  his  socour  be, 
That  peyneth  him  to  serven  me  ; 
For  if  he  deyde  for  love  of  this,  601, 

Than  semeth  in  me  no  love  ther  is.' 

'  Sir,'  seide  they,  '  sooth  is,  every  del. 
That  ye  reherce,  and  we  wot  wel 
Thilk  oth  to  holde  is  resonable  ; 
For  it  is  good  and  covenable. 
That  ye  on  riche  men  han  sworn. 
For,  sir,  this  wot  we  wel  biforn  ; 
If  riche  men  doon  you  homage, 
That  is  as  fooles  doon  outrage  ; 
But  ye  shul  not  forsworen  be, 
Ne  let  therfore  to  drinke  clarree, 
Or  piment  maked  fresh  and  newe. 
Ladyes  shrdle  hem  such  jiepir  brewe. 
If  that  they  falle  into  hir  laas. 
That  they  for  wo  mowe  seyn  '  Alias  ! ' 
Ladyes  shuln  ever  so  curteis  be,  603 1 

That  they  shal  quyte  your  oth  al  free. 
Ne  seketh  never  other  vicaire. 
For  they  shal  speko  with  hem  so  faire 
That  ye  shal  holde  you  payed  ful  wel, 
Though  ye  you  medle  never  a  del.      6036 
Lat  ladies  worche  with  hir  thinges. 
They  shal  hem  telle  so  fele  tydinges. 
And  moeve  hem  eke  so  many  requestis 


6020 


6025 


Z^c  (Romaunt  of  tU  (Koee. 


[Fragment  C. 


By  flatery,  that  not  honest  is,  6040 

And  therto  yeve  hem  such  thankinges, 
Wliat  with  kissing,  and  with  talkinges, 
That  certes,  if  they  trowed  be, 
Shal  never  leve  hem  lond  ne  fee 
That  it  nil  as  the  moeble  fare,  6045 

Of  which  they  first  delivered  are. 
Now  may  j'd  telle  us  al  j'our  wille. 
And  we  your  hcstes  shal  fulfiUe. 

'  But  Fals-Somblant  dar  not,  for  drede 
Of  you,  sir,  medle  him  of  this  dede,   6050 
For  he  seith  that  ye  been  his  fo  ; 
Ho  not,  if  ye  wol  worche  him  wo. 
Wherfore  we  pray  j'ou  alle,  beati-sire. 
That  ye  forgive  him  now  your  ire, 
And  that  he  may  dwelle,  as  your  man, 
With  Abstinence,  his  dere  lemman  ;  6056 
This  our  accord  and  our  wil  now.' 

'  Parfay,'  seido  Love, '  I  graunte  it  yow  ; 
I  wol  wel  holdo  him  for  my  man  ;       6059 
Now  lat  him  come  : '  and  he  forth  ran. 
'  Fals-Semblant,'  quod  Love,  '  in  this  -vsni'se 
I  take  thee  here  to  my  servyse, 
That  thou  our  freendis  helpc  alway, 
And  fhindre  hem  neither  night  ne  day, 
But  do  thy  might  hem  to  releve,         6065 
And  eek  our  enemies  that  thou  grevc. 
Thyn  be  this  might,  I  graunt  it  thee. 
My  king  of  harlotes  shalt  thou  be  ; 
We  wol  that  thou  have  such  honour. 
Certeyn,  thou  art  a  fals  traitour,        6070 
And  eek  a  theef ;  sith  thou  were  born, 
A  thousand  tyme  thou  art  forsworn. 
But,  natheles,  in  our  hering, 
To  putte  oiTr  folk  out  of  douting, 
I  bid  thee  techo  hem,  wostow  how  ?   6075 
By  somme  general  signe  now, 
In  what  place  thou  shalt  founden  be, 
If  that  men  had  mister  of  thee  ; 
And  how  men  shal  thee  best  espye, 
For  thee  to  knowe  is  greet  maistrye  :  60S0 
Tel  in  what  place  is  thyn  haunting.' 

F.  Scm.  '  Sir,  I  have  fele  dyvers  woning, 
That  I  kepe  not  rehersed  be. 
So  that  ye  wolde  respyten  me. 
For  if  that  I  telle  you  the  sothe,         60S5 
I  may  have  harm  and  shame  bothe. 
If  that  my  felowes  wisten  it. 
My  tales  shulden  me  be  quit  ; 
For  certeyn,  they  wolde  hate  me, 
If  ever  I  knewe  hir  cruelte  ;  6090 


For  they  wolde  over-al  hokle  hem  stille 

Of  trouthe  that  is  ageyn  hir  wille  : 

Suclie  tales  kepen  they  not  here. 

I  might  eftsone  bye  it  ful  dere. 

If  I  seide  of  hem  any  thing,  fxxjs 

That  ought  displeseth  to  hir  hering. 

For  whatword  that  hem  prikke  orbj-teth, 

In  that  word  noon  of  hem  delyteth, 

Al  were  it  gospel,  the  evangyle. 

That  woldo  reprove  hem  of  hir  gyle,  6100 

For  they  are  ci-uel  and  haviteyn. 

And  this  thing  wot  I  wel,  certeyn. 

If  I  speke  ought  to  peire  hir  loos, 

Yotir  court  shal  not  so  wel  be  cloos, 

That  they  ne  shal  wite  it  atte  last.     6105 

Of  good  men  am  I  nought  agast. 

For  they  wol  taken  on  hem  no-thing, 

Whan  that  they  knowe  al  my  moning  : 

But  he  that  wol  it  on  him  take. 

He  wol  himself  suspecious  make,        61 10 

That  he  his  lyf  let  covertly. 

In  Gyle  and  in  Ipocrisy, 

That  me  engendred  and  yaf  fostring.' 

'  They  made  a  ful  good  engendring,' 
Quod  Love,  '  for  who-so  soothly  telle,  61 15 
They  engendred  the  devel  of  helle  ! 

'  But  nedely,  how-so-ever  it  bo,' 
Quod  Love,  '  I  wol  and  charge  thee. 
To  telle  anoon  thy  woning-ijlaces, 
Hering  ech  wight  that  in  this  place  is  ; 
And  what  Ij^  that  thou  livest  also,     6121 
Hyde  it  no  lenger  now  ;  wherto  ? 
Thou  most  discover  al  thy  wurching. 
How  thou  servest,  and  of  what  thing, 
Though  that  thou  shuldest  for  thy  soth- 
sawe  6125 

Ben  al  to-beten  and  to-drawc  ; 
And  yit  art  thou  not  wont,  pardee. 
But  natheles,  though  thou  beten  be, 
Thou  shalt  not  be  the  first,  that  so 
Hath  for  soth-sawe  suffred  wo.'  6130 

F.   Sem.   '  Sir,  sith  that  it  may  lyken 
you. 
Though  that  I  shulde  be  slayn  right  now. 
I  shal  don  your  comaundement, 
For  therto  have  I  gret  talent.'  61^4 

Withouten  wordes  mo,  right  than, 
Fals-Semblant  his  sermon  bigan, 
And  seide  hem  thus  in  audience  : — 
'  Barouns,  tak  hede  of  my  sentence  ! 
That  wight  that  list  to  have  knowing 


Fragment  C] 


tH  (S^omaunt  of  t^t  (Hoee. 


63 


Of  Fals-Semblant,  fill  offlatering,      6140 
He  must  in  worldly  folk  him  seke, 
And,  certes,  in  the  cloistres  eke  ; 
I  wone  no-where  hnt  in  hem  tweye  ; 
But  not  lyk  oven,  sooth  to  seye  ; 
Shortly,  I  wol  herherwe  me  6145 

There  I  hojie  best  to  hulstred  be  ; 
And  ccrteynly,  sikerest  hyding 
Is  underneth  humblest  clothing. 

'  Religious  folk  ben  ful  covert ; 
Seculer  folk  ben  more  appert.  6150 

But  natheles,  I  wol  not  blame 
Religious  folk,  ne  hem  diifame, 
In  what  habit  that  ever  they  go  : 
Religioun  humble,  and  trcwe  also, 
Wol  I  not  blame,  ne  dispyse,  6155 

But  I  nil  love  it,  in  no  wyse. 
I  mene  of  fals  religious. 
That  stoute  ben,  and  malicious  ; 
That  wolen  in  an  abit  go, 
And  setten  not  hir  herte  therto.  6160 

'  Religious  folk  ben  al  pitous  ; 
Thou  shalt  not  seen  oon  dispitous. 
They  loven  no  pryde,  ne  no  stryf, 
But  humbly  they  wol  lede  hir  lyf ; 
With  f  swicli  folk  wol  I  never  be.        6165 
And  if  I  dwelle,  I  feyne  me 
I  may  wel  in  her  abit  go  ; 
But  me  were  lever  my  nekke  atwo, 
Than  f  leto  a  purpose  that  I  take, 
"What  covenaunt  that  ever  I  make.     6170 
I  dwelle  with  hem  that  proudo  be. 
And  fulle  of  wylos  and  subtelto  ; 
Tliat  worship  of  this  world  coveyten. 
And  grcte  f  nedes  cunne  espleyteu  ;    6174 
And  goon  and  gadren  greet  pitaunces, 
And  purchace  hem  the  acqueyntaunces 
Of  men  that  mighty  Ij'f  may  leden  ; 
And  feyne  hem  pore,  and  hem-self  feden 
With  gode  morcels  delicious. 
And  drinkcn  good  wyn  precious,         61S0 
And  preche  us  povert  and  distresse. 
And  fisshen  hem-self  greet  richesse 
With  wyly  nettis  that  they  caste  : 
It  wol  come  foul  out  at  the  laste. 
They  ben  fro  clene  religioun  went  ;     61S5 
They  make  the  world  an  argument 
That  hath  a  foul  conclusioun. 
"  I  have  a  robe  of  religioun. 
Than  am  I  al  religious  : " 
This  argument  is  al  roignous  ;  6190 


It  is  not  worth  a  croked  brere  ; 
Habit  ne  maketh  fmonk  ne  frere. 
But  clene  lyf  and  devocioun 
Maketh  gode  men  of  religioun. 
Nathelesse,  ther  can  noon  answere,    6i()5 
How  high  that  ever  his  heed  he  shere 
With  rasour  whetted  never  so  kene. 
That  Gj-le  in  braunches  cut  thrittene  ; 
Ther  can  no  wight  distincte  it  so. 
That  he  dar  sey  a  word  therto.  6200 

'  But  what  herberwe  that  ever  I  take, 
Or  what  semblant  that  ever  I  make, 
I  mene  but  gyle,  and  folowe  that  ; 
For  right  no  mo  than  Gibbe  our  cat 
[f  Fro  myce  and  rattes  went  his  wyle], 
Ne  entende  I  [not]  biit  to  f  begyle  ;      6206 
Ne  no  wight  may,  by  my  clothing, 
Wite  with  what  folk  is  my  dwelling , 
Ne  by  my  wordis  yet,  pardee, 
So  softe  and  so  plesaunt  they  be.  6210 

Bihold  the  dedes  that  I  do  ; 
But  thou  be  blind,  thoii  oughtest  so  ; 
For,  varie  hir  wordis  fro  hir  dode, 
They  thenke  on  gyle,  without[en]  drede, 
Wliat  maner  clothing  that  they  were. 
Or  what  estat  that  ever  they  here,      6216 
Lered  or  lewd,  lord  or  lady, 
Knight,  squier,  burgeis,  or  bayly.' 

Eight   thiis   whyl   Fals-Semblant    ser- 
moneth, 
Eftsones  Love  him  aresoneth,  6220 

And  brak  his  tale  in  the  speking 
As  though  he  had  him  told  lesing  ; 
And  seide  :  '  AVhat,  devel,  is  that  I  here '/ 
What  folk  hast  thou  us  nempned  here  ? 
May  men  finde  religioun  6225 

In  worldly  habitacioun  ?  ' 

F.  Sem.  '  Ye,  sir  ;  it  foloweth  not  that 
they 
Shulde  lede  a  wikked  lyf,  parfey, 
Ne  not  therfore  her  soules  lese, 
That  hem  to  worldly  clothes  chese  ;    6230 
For,  certes,  it  were  gret  pitee. 
Men  may  in  seculer  clothes  see 
Florisshen  holy  religioun. 
Ful  many  a  seynt  in  feeld  and  toun. 
With  many  a  virgin  glorious,  6235 

Devout,  and  ful  religious, 
Had  deyed,  that  fcomun  clothe  ay  beren, 
Yit  seyntes  never-the-les  they  weren 
I  coude  reken  yoti  many  a  ten  ; 


64 


^U  (S^omaunt  of  tU  (^oee. 


[Fragment  C. 


Ye,  wel  nigli  alle  these  holy  wimmen, 
That  men  in  chirches  herie  and  sake,  6241 
Bothe  maydens,  and  these  wyves  eke, 
That  bareu  fmany  a  fair  child  here, 
Wered  alwey  clothis  seculere, 
And  in  the  same  dyden  they,  6245 

That  seyntes  weren,  and  been  alwey. 
The  eleven  thousand  maydens  dere. 
That  beren  in  heven  hir  cierges  clere, 
Of  which  men  rede  in  chirche,  and  singe, 
Were  take  in  seculer  clothing,  6250 

Whan  they  resseyved  martirdom. 
And  wonnen  heven  nnto  her  hoom. 
Good  herto  maketh  the  gods  thought  ; 
The  clothing  yeveth  ne  reveth  nought. 
The  gode  thought  and  the  worching,  6255 
That  maketh  freligioun  flo%vring, 
Ther  lyth  the  good  religioun 
After  the  right  entencioun. 

'  Wlio-so  toke  a  wethers  skin. 
And  wrapped  a  gredy  wolf  therin,       6260 
For  he  shulde  go  with  lambes  whyte, 
Wenest  thou  not  he  wolde  hem  byte  ? 
Yis  !  never-the-las,  as  he  were  wood, 
He   wolde   hem   wery,    and    drinke    the 

blood  ; 
And  wel  the  rather  hem  disceyve,       6265 
For,  sith  they  coiide  not  perceyve 
His  treget  and  his  cnieltee, 
They  wolde  him  folowe,  al  wolde  he  flee. 

'  If  ther  be  wolves  of  sich  hewe 
Amonges  these  apostlis  newe,  6270 

Thou,  holy  chirche,  thou  mayst  be  wayled! 
Sith  that  thy  citee  is  assayled 
Thourgh  knightes  of  thyn  owne  table, 
God  wot  thj'  lordship  is  doutable  ! 
If  they  enforce  [hem]  it  to  winne,        6275 
That  shulde  defende  it  fro  withinne. 
Who  might  defence  ayens  hem  make  ? 
Without[en]  stroke  it  mot  be  take 
Of  trepeget  or  mangonel  ; 
Without  displaying  of  pensel.  6280 

And  if  god  nil  don  it  socour, 
But  lat  [hem]  renne  in  this  colour. 
Thou  moost  thyn  heestes  laten  be. 
Than  is  ther  nought,  but  yelde  thee. 
Or  yeve  hem  tribute,  doutelees,  6285 

And  holde  it  of  hem  to  have  pees  : 
But  gretter  harm  bityde  thee, 
That  they  al  maister  of  it  be. 
Wel  conne  they  scorne  thee  withal  ; 


By  day  stuflfen  they  the  wal,  6290 

And  al  the  night  they  mynen  there. 
Nay,  thou  f  most  planten  ellcswhero 
Thyn  impes,  if  tho\i  wolt  fruyt  have ; 
Abyd  not  there  thy-self  to  save. 

'  But  now  jiees  !  here  I  turne  ageyn  ; 
I  wol  no  more  of  this  thing  f  seyn,      6296 
If  I  may  passen  me  herby  ; 
I  mighte  maken  you  wery. 
Biit  I  wol  heten  you  alway 
To  helpe  your  freendes  what  I  may,    6300 
So  they  wollen  my  company  ; 
For  they  be  shent  al-outerly 
But-if  so  fallo,  that  I  be 
Oft  with  hem,  and  they  w^ith  me. 
And  eek  my  lemman  mot  they  serve,  6305 
Or  they  shul  not  my  love  deserve. 
Forsothe,  I  am  a  fals  traitour  ; 
God  jugged  me  for  a  theef  trichour  ; 
Forsworn  I  am,  but  wel  nygh  non 
Wot  of  my  gyle,  til  it  be  don.  6310 

'  Thourgh   me    hath    many   oon    deth 
resseyved. 
That  my  treget  never  aperceyved  ; 
And  yit  resseyveth,  and  shal  resseyve, 
That  my  falsnesse  fnever  aperceyvo  : 
But  who-so  doth,  if  he  wys  be,  6315 

Him  is  right  good  be  war  of  me. 
But  so  sligh  is  the  [fdeceyving 
That  to  hard  is  the]  aperceyving. 
For  Protheus,  that  coude  him  chaunge 
In  every  shap,  hoomly  and  straunge,  6320 
Coude  never  sich  gyle  ne  tresoun 
As  I ;  for  I  com  never  in  toun 
Ther-as  I  mighte  knowen  be, 
Though  men  me  bothe  might  here  and  see. 
Ful  wel  I  can  my  clothes  chaunge,      6325 
Take  oon,  and  make  another  straunge. 
Now  am  I  knight,  now  chastelejTi ; 
Now  prelat,  and  now  chapeleyn  ; 
Now  prest,  now  clerk,  and  now  forstere  ; 
Now  am  I  maister,  now  scolere  ;  6330 

Now  monk,  now  chanoun,  now  baily  ; 
Wliat-ever  mister  man  am  I. 
Now  am  I  prince,  now  am  I  page, 
And  can  by  herte  every  langage. 
Som-tyme  am  I  boor  and  old  ;  6335 

Now  am  I  yong,  [and]  stout,  and  bold  ; 
Now  am  I  Robert,  now  Robyn  ; 
Now  frere  Menour,  now  lacobyn  ; 
And  with  me  folweth  my  loteby, 


ZH  (Kowaunf  of  tU  (^ou. 


65 


6345 


bi50 


To  don  me  solas  and  compauy,  6,^4 

That  higlit  dame  ■f-Abstineiice-StrejTied, 

In  many  a  quejmt  arraj'  |y]-feyned. 

Eight  as  it  cometh  to  hir  l.yking, 

I  fulfllle  al  hir  desiring. 

Somtyme  a  wommans  cloth  take  I ; 

Now  am  I  mayde,  now  lady. 

Somtyme  I  am  religious  ; 

Now  lyk  an  anker  in  an  hous. 

Somtyme  am  I  i^rioresse, 

And  now  a  nonne,  and  now  abhesse 

And  go  thurgh  alle  regionns, 

Seking  alle  religiovms. 

But  to  what  ordre  that  I  am  sworn, 

I  take  the  strawe,  and  flete  the  corn  ; 

To  fblynde  folk  [ther]  I  euhabite,        63, 

I  axe  no-more  but  hir  abite. 

What  wol  ye  more  ?  in  every  wyse, 

Eiglit  as  me  list,  I  me  disgj'se. 

Wei  can  I  here  me  under  weed  ; 

Unlyk  is  my  word  to  mj-  deed. 

Thus  make  I  in  my  trappes  falle, 

Thurgh  my  prj-vileges,  alle 

That  ben  in  Cristendom  alyve. 

I  maj'  assoile,  and  I  may  shryve, 

Tliat  no  prelat  naay  lette  me, 

Al  folk,  wher-ever  they  founde  be  : 

I  nofit  no  prelat  may  don  so. 

But  it  the  pope  be,  and  no  mo. 

That  made  thilk  establisshing. 

Now  is  not  this  a  propre  thing  ? 

But,  were  my  sleightes  aperceyved, 

[+No  shulde  I  more  been  reces'ved] 

As  I  was  wont  ;  and  wostow  why  ? 

For  I  dide  hem  a  tregetry  ; 

But  therof  yeve  I  litel  tale, 

I  have  the  silver  and  the  male  ; 

So  have  I  i^reched  and  eek  shriven, 

So  have  I  take,  so  have  f  me  yiven, 

Thurgh  hir  foly,  husbond  and  wjnf, 

That  I  lede  right  a  joly  lyf, 

Thurgh  simplesse  of  the  prelacye  ; 

They  know  not  al  my  tregetrye. 

'  Biit  for  as  moche  as  man  and  wyf 
Shuld  shewe  hir  paroche-jirest  hir  lyf 
Ones  a  yeer,  as  seith  the  book,  6385 

Er  any  wight  his  housel  took, 
Tliau  have  I  pryvileges  large, 
That  may  of  moche  thing  discharge  ; 
For  he  may  seye  right  thus,  pardee  : — 
"  Sir  Freest,  in  shrift  I  teUe  it  thee,  6390 


6360 


6365 


6370 


6375 


6380 


That  he,  to  whom  that  I  ani  shriven, 

Hath  me  assoiled,  and  me  yiveu 

Penaunce  soothly,  for  my  sinne, 

Which  that  I  fond  me  gilty  inne  ; 

Ne  I  ne  have  never  entencioun  6395 

To  make  dotible  confessiouu, 

Ne  reherce  eft  my  shrift  to  thee  : 

0  shrift  is  right  y-nc;-.gh  to  me. 
This  oughte  thee  suffice  wel, 

Ne  be  not  rebel  never-a-del ;  64CXJ 

For  certes,  though  thou  haddest  it  sworn, 

1  w(jt  no  prest  ne  prelat  born 

That  may  to  shrift  eft  me  constrejTie. 

And  if  they  don,  I  wol  n^e  pleyne  ; 

For  I  wot  where  to  pleyne  wel.  6405 

Thou  shalt  not  streyne  me  a  del, 

Ne  enforce  me,  ne  fyit  me  trouble, 

To  make  my  confessioun  double. 

Ne  I  have  none  affeccioun 

To  have  double  absoluciouu.  64:0 

The  firste  is  right  y-nough  to  mc  , 

This  latter  assoiling  quyte  I  thee. 

I  am  unbounde  ;  what  mayst  thou  flude 

More  of  my  sinnes  me  to  unbinde  ? 

For  he,  that  might  hath  in  his  hond,  6415 

Of  alle  my  sinnes  me  unbond. 

And  if  thou  wolt  me  thus  constreyne, 

That  me  mot  nedis  on  thee  pleyne, 

There  shal  no  jugge  imperial, 

Ne  bisshop,  ne  official,  6420 

Don  jugement  on  me  ;  for  I 

Shal  gon  and  pleyne  me  openly 

Unto  my  shrift-fader  newe, 

(That  hight  not  Frere  Wolf  untrewe  !; 

And  he  shal  fchevise  him  for  me,        6425 

For  I  trowe  he  can  hampre  thee. 

But,  lord  !  he  wolde  be  wrooth  withalle, 

If  men  him  wolde  Frere  Wolf  calle  ! 

For  he  wolde  have  no  pacience, 

Bu.t  don  al  cruel  vengeaunce  !  6430 

He  wolde  his  might  don  at  the  leest, 

[Ne]  no-thing  spare  for  goddes  heest. 

And,  god  so  wis  be  my  socour. 

But  thou  yeve  me  my  Saviour 

At  Ester,  whan  it  lyketh  me,  6435 

Withoute  presing  more  on  thee, 

I  wol  forth,  and  to  him  goon. 

And  he  shal  housel  me  anoon. 

For  I  am  out  of  thy  gracching  ; 

I  kepe  not  dele  with  thee  no-thing."  6440 

Thus  may  he  shryve  him,  that  forsaketli 


66 


Z^t  (Uowauttf  of  (U  (^oee. 


[Fragment  C. 


His  paroche-i)rest,  and  to  nie  taketli. 

And  if  the  prest  wol  liim  refuse, 

I  am.  ful  redy  liim  to  accuse, 

And  liim  pnnisshe  and  hampre  so,      6445 

That  he  his  cliirche  shal  forgo. 

'  But  who-so  hath  in  his  feling 
The  consequence  of  such  shry^'ing, 
Shal  seen  that  prest  may  never  have  might 
To  knowe  the  conscience  aright  6450 

Of  him  that  is  under  his  cure. 
And  this  ageJ^^s  holy  scripture, 
Tliat  biddeth  every  herde  honeste 
Have  verry  knowing  of  his  beste. 
But  pore  folk  that  goon  by  strete,        6455 
That  have  no  gold,  ne  sommes  grete. 
Hem  wolde  I  Icte  to  hir  prelates. 
Or  lete  hir  prestes  knowe  hir  states, 
For  to  me  right  nought  yevc  they.' 

Amour.  '  And  why  f  is  it  ? ' 

F.  Sem.  '  For  they  ne  may.    6460 

They  ben  so  bare,  I  take  no  keep  ; 
But  I  wol  have  the  fatte  sheep  ; — 
Lat  parish  prestes  have  the  lene, 
I  yeve  not  of  hir  harm  a  bene  ! 
And  if  that  prelats  grucchen  it,  6465" 

That  oughten  f  wroth  be  in  hir  wit, 
To  lese  her  fatte  bestcs  so, 
I  shal  yeve  hem  a  stroke  or  two. 
That  they  shal  lesen  with  [the]  force. 
Ye,  bothe  hir  mytre  and  hir  croce.      6470 
Thus  jape  I  hem,  and  have  do  longe. 
My  priveleges  been  so  stronge.' 

Fals-Semblant  wolile  have  stinted  here. 
But  Love  ne  made  him  no  such  chere 
That  he  was  wery  of  his  sawe  ;  6475 

But  for  to  make  him  glad  and  fawe, 
He  seide  : — '  Tel  on  more  specialy. 
How  that  thou  servest  untrewly. 
Tel  forth,  and  shame  thee  never  a  del ; 
For  as  thj-n  abit  she^vith  wel,  6480 

Thou  -j-semest  an  holy  heremyte.' 

-F.  Sem.   '  Soth  is,  but  I  am  an  ypocryte.' 

Arnold' ,  '  Thou  gost  and  prechest  pover- 
tee?' 

jp'    Sem.    '  Ye,    sir ;    but   richesse   hath 
poustee.' 

Avioia:     '  Thou     prechest     abstinence 
also  ? '  6485 

F.  Sem.   '•  Sir,  I  wol  fillen,  so  mote  I  go, 
My  paunche  of  gode  mete  and  wyne, 
As  shulde  a  maister  of  divyne  ; 


For  how  that  I  me  ijover  fejnie, 

Yit  alle  pore  folk  I  disdeyne.  6490 

'  I  love  fbet  the  acqueyntaunce 
Ten  tymes,  of  the  king  of  Fraunce, 
Than  of  f  pore  man  of  mylde  mode, 
Though  that  his  soule  be  also  gode. 
For  whan  I  see  beggers  quaking,         6495 
Naked  on  mixens  al  stinking, 
For  hungre  crj-e,  and  eek  for  care, 
I  entremete  not  of  hir  fare. 
They  been  so  pore,  and  ful  of  pyne. 
They  might  not  ones  yeve  me  f  djTie,  6500 
For  they  have  no-thing  but  hir  lyf ; 
Wliat  shulde  he  yeve  that  likketh   his 

knj-f? 
It  is  but  foly  to  entremete. 
To  seke  in  houndes  nest  fat  mete. 
Let  here  hem  to  the  spitel  anoon,         6505 
But,  for  me,  comfort  gete  they  noon. 
But  a  riche  sike  usurere 
Wolde  I  visyte  and  drawe  nere  ; 
Him  wol  I  comforte  and  rehete, 
For  I  hope  of  his  gold  to  gete.  6510 

And  if  that  wikked  doth  him  have, 
I  wol  go  with  him  to  his  grave. 
And  if  ther  any  reprove  me, 
Why  that  I  lete  the  pore  be, 
Wostow  how  I  fmot  asoape  ?  6515 

I  sey,  and  swere  him  ful  rape. 
That  riche  men  han  more  tecches 
Of  sinne,  than  han  pore  wrecches, 
And  han  of  coiuiseil  more  mister  ; 
And  therfore  I  wol  drawe  hem  ner.     6520 
But  as  gret  hurt,  it  may  so  be, 
Hath  f  soul  in  right  gret  poverte. 
As  soul  in  gret  richesse,  forsothe, 
Al-be-it  that  they  hurten  bothe. 
For  richesse  and  mendicitees  6525 

Ben  cleped  two  extremitees  ; 
The  mene  is  cleped  sufRsaunce, 
Ther  lji:h  of  vertu  the  aboundaunce. 
For  Salamon,  ful  wel  I  woot. 
In  his  Parables  us  wroot,  6530 

As  it  is  knowe  of  many  a  wight, 
In  his  f  thrittethe  chapitre  right  : 
"  God,  thou  me  kepe,  for  thy  poustee. 
Fro  richesse  and  mendicitee  ; 
For  if  a  riche  man  him  dresse  6535 

To  thenke  to  moche  on  [his]  richesse. 
His  herte  on  that  so  fer  is  set. 
That  he  his  creatour  foryet  ; 


ZH  (Kowauttf  of  tU  (Koe^. 


67 


And  him,  that  f  begging  wol  ay  greve, 

How  shulde  I  by  his  word  him  leve  '?  6540 

Unnethe  tliat  he  nis  a  micher, 

Forsworn,  or  elles  f  god  is  Iyer." 

Thus  seith  Salamon[es]  sawes  ; 

Ne  we  finde  writen  in  no  lawes. 

And  namely  in  our  Cristen  lay —         6545 

(Wlio  seith  '  ye,'  I  dar  sey  '  nay  ') — 

Tliat  Crist,  ne  his  apostles  dere, 

Wliyl  that  they  walkede  in  erthe  here, 

Were  never  seen  her  bred  begging. 

For  they  nolde  beggen  for  no-thing.    6550 

And  right  thus  were  men  wont  to  teche  ; 

Anil  in  this  wyse  wolde  it  preche 

The  maistres  of  divinitee 

Somtyme  in  Paris  the  citee. 

■  And  if  men  wolde  ther-ge3ai  appose 
The  naked  text,  and  lete  the  glose,      6556 
It  mighte  sone  assoiled  be  ; 
For  men  may  wel  the  sothe  see, 
That,  parde,  they  mighte  axe  a  thing 
Pleynly  forth,  without  begging.  6560 

For  they  weren  goddes  herdes  dere, 
And  cure  of  soules  hadden  here, 
They  nolde  no-thing  begge  hir  fode  ; 
Foi-  after  Crist  was  don  on  rode, 
With  -f-hir  propre  hondes  they  wrought. 
And  with  travel,  and  elles  nought,      6566 
They  wonnen  all  hir  sustenannce, 
And  liveden  forth  in  hir  penauuce, 
And  the  remenaunt  fyeve  awey 
To  other  pore  i  folk  alwey.  6570 

They  neither  bilden  tour  ne  halle. 
But  fleye  in  houses  smale  withalle. 
A  mighty  man,  that  can  and  may, 
Shulde  with  his  honde  and  body  alway 
Winne  him  his  food  in  laboring,  6575 

If  he  ne  have  rent  or  sich  a  thing, 
Although  he  be  religious. 
And  god  to  serven  curious. 
Thus  mote  he  don,  or  do  trespas, 
But-if  it  be  in  certeyn  cas,  6580 

That  I  can  reherce,  if  mister  be, 
Right  wel,  whan  the  tyme  I  see. 

'  Seke  the  book  of  Sejmt  Au.stin, 
Be  it  in  paper  or  perchemin,  6584 

There-as  he  writ  of  these  worchinges. 
Thou  shalt  seen  that  non  excusinges 
A  parfit  man  ne  shulde  seke 
By  wordes,  ne  by  dedes  eke, 
Although  he  be  religious. 


And  god  to  serven  curioiis,  6590 

That  he  ne  shal,  so  mote  I  go, 

With  propre  liondes  and  body  also, 

Gete  his  food  in  laboring. 

If  he  ne  have  propretee  of  thing. 

Yit  shulde  he  selle  al  his  substaunce,  6595 

And  with  his  swink  have  sustenaunce, 

If  he  be  parfit  in  bountee. 

Thus  han  tho  bookes  tolde  me  : 

For  he  that  wol  gon  ydillj', 

And  useth  it  ay  besily  6600 

To  havinten  other  mennes  table, 

He  is  a  trechour,  ful  of  fable  ; 

Ne  he  ne  may,  by  gode  resoun. 

Excuse  him  by  his  orisoiin. 

For  men  bihoveth,  in  som  gyse,  6605 

f  Som-tyme  leven  goddes  servyse 

To  gon  and  purchasen  her  nede. 

Men  mote  eten,  that  is  no  drede, 

And  slepe,  and  eek  do  other  thing  ; 

So  longe  may  they  leve  praying.  6610 

So  may  they  eek  hir  prayer  blinne, 

Wliile  that  they  werke,  hir  mete  to  winne.. 

Seynt  Austin  wol  therto  accorde. 

In  thilke  book  that  I  recorde. 

Justinian  eek,  that  made  lawes,  6615 

Hath  thus  forboden,  by  olde  dawes, 

"  No  man,  up  peyne  to  be  deed, 

Mighty  of  body,  to  begge  his  breed, 

If  he  may  swinke,  it  for  to  gete  ; 

Men  shulde  him  rather  mayme  or  bete. 

Or  doon  of  him  apert  justice,  6621 

Than  siiffren  hini  in  such  malice." 

They  don  not  wel,  so  mote  I  go, 

That  taken  sixch  almesse  so, 

But  if  they  have  som  privelege,  6625 

That  of  the  pejme  hem  wol  allege. 

But  how  that  is,  can  I  not  see, 

Bvit-if  the  prince  disseyved  be  ; 

Ne  I  ne  wene  not,  sikerly. 

That  they  may  have  it  rightfully.        6630 

But  I  wol  not  determyne 

Of  princes  power,  ne  defyne, 

Ne  by  my  word  comprende,  y-wis, 

If  it  so  fer  may  strecche  in  this. 

I  wol  not  entremete  a  del ;  6635 

But  I  trowo  that  the  book  seith  wel, 

Wlio  that  taketli  almesses,  that  bo 

Dewe  to  folk  that  men  may  see 

Lame,  feble,  wery,  and  bare. 

Pore,  or  in  such  maner  care,  6640 


68 


€^t  (Bowaune  of  t^  (Roee. 


[Fragment  C. 


(That  conne  winne  hem  nevermo, 

For  they  have  no  power  therto), 

He  eteth  his  o-mie  dampning, 

But-if  he  lye,  that  made  al  thuig. 

And  if  ye  such  a  tiniannt  finde,  6645 

Chastise  him  wel,  if  ye  be  kinde. 

But  they  wolde  hate  you,  percas, 

And,  if  ye  fiUen  in  hir  laas, 

They  wohle  eftsones  do  you  scathe, ' 

If  that  they  mighte,  hite  or  rathe  ;      6650 

For  they  bo  not  ful  pacient. 

That  han  the  world  thus  foule  blent. 

And  witeth  wel,  [wher]  that  god  bad 

The  good  man  sella  al  that  ho  had, 

And  folowe  him,  and  to  pore  it  yive,  6655 

He  wolde  not  therfore  that  he  live 

To  serven  him  in  mendience, 

For  it  was  never  his  sentence  ; 

But  he  bad  wirken  whan  that  nede  is. 

And  folwe  him  in  goode  dedes.  6660 

Seynt  Poule,  that  loved  al  h-ily  chirche. 

He  bade  th'apostles  for  to  wirche, 

And  winnen  hir  lyflode  in  that  wyse, 

And  hem  defended  truaundyse,  6664 

And  seide,  "  Wirketh  with  your  honden  ;  " 

Thus  shulde  the  thing  be  undcrstonden. 

He  nolde,  y-wis,  f  bidde  hem  begging, 

Ne  sellen  gospel,  ne  preching, 

Lest  they  berafte,  with  hir  asking. 

Folk  of  hir  catel  or  of  hir  thing.  6670 

For  in  this  world  is  many  a  man 

That  yeveth  his  good,  for  he  ne  can 

Werne  it  for  shame,  or  elles  he 

Wolde  of  the  asker  delivered  be  ; 

And,  for  he  him  encombreth  so,  6675 

He  yeveth  him  good  to  late  him  go  : 

But  it  can  him  no-thing  profj-te. 

They  lose  the  yift  and  the  meryte. 

The  goode  folk,  that  Poule  to  preched, 

Profred  him  ofte,  whan  he  hem  teched, 

Som  of  hir  good  in  charite  ;  6681 

But  therof  right  no-thing  took  he  ; 

But  of  his  hondwerk  wolde  he  gete 

Clothes  to  wryen  him,  and  his  mete.' 

Amour.  '  Tel  me  than  how  a  man  may 
liven,  6685 

That  al  his  good  to  pore  hath  yiven. 
And  wol  but  only  bidde  his  bedes, 
And  never  vrith  f  bond  laboure  his  nodes : 
May  he  do  so  ?  ' 

F.  Sem.  '  Ye,  sir.' 


A mour.  ■  And  how  ?  ' 

F.  Sem.   '  Sir,  I  wol  gladly  telle  yow  : — 
Seynt  Austin  seitli,  a  man  may  be       6691 
In  houses  that  han  propretee. 
As  templars  and  hospitalers. 
And  as  these  chanouns  regulars. 
Or  whyte  monkes,  or  these  blake —     6695 
(I  wole  no  mo  ensamplos  make) — 
And  take  therof  his  sustening, 
For  therinne  Ij'th  no  begging  ; 
But  othar-weyes  not,  y-wis, 
f  Yif  Austin  gabbeth  not  of  this.  6700 

And  yit  ful  many  a  monk  lalx)ureth. 
That  god  in  holy  chirche  honoureth  ; 
For  whan  hir  swinking  is  agoon. 
They  rede  and  singo  in  chirche  anoon. 

'  And  for  ther  hath  ben  greet  discord. 
As  many  a  wight  may  here  record,      6706 
Upon  the  estate  of  fmendience, 
I  wol  shortlj',  in  your  presence. 
Telle  how  a  man  may  begge  at  nede, 
That  hatli  not  wherwith  him  to  fede,  6710 
Maugre  his  felones  jangelingas, 
For  sothfastnesso  wol  non  hidinges  ; 
And  yit,  percas,  I  may  abeye 
That  I  to  yow  sothly  thus  seye. 

'  Lo,  here  the  caas  especial :  6715 

If  a  man  be  so  bestial 
That  he  of  no  craft  hath  science. 
And  nought  desyreth  ignorance. 
Than  may  he  go  a-begging  yeme. 
Til  he  som  manor  craft  can  lerne,        6720 
Thurgh  which,  without[e]  truaunding, 
He  may  in  trouthe  have  his  living. 
Or  if  he  may  don  no  labour. 
For  elde,  or  syknesse,  or  langour, 
Or  for  his  tendre  ago  also,  6725 

Than  may  he  yit  a-begging  go. 
'  Or  if  he  have,  peraventure, 
Thurgh  usage  of  his  noriture. 
Lived  over  deliciously. 
Than  oughteu  good  folk  comunly         6730 
Han  of  his  mischaaf  som  pitee. 
And  suffron  him  also,  that  he 
Maj'  gon  aboute  and  begge  his  breed. 
That  he  be  not  for  hungur  deeil. 
Or  if  he  have  of  craft  cunning,  6735 

I  And  strengthe  also,  and  desiring 
'  To  wirkan,  as  he  hadde  what, 
I  But  he  finde  neither  this  ne  that, 
I  Than  may  he  begge,  til  that  he 


Fragment  C.  , 


ZU  (S^omaunt  of  <0e  (Koee. 


69 


Have  geten  his  necessitee.  674.0 

'  Or  if  his  winning  be  so  lyte, 
That  his  laboiu-  wol  not  acqtiyte 
Sufficiantly  al  his  living, 
Yit  may  he  go  his  breed  begging  ; 
Fro  dore  to  dore  he  may  go  trace,        6745 
Til  he  the  remenaunt  may  purchace. 
Or  if  a  man  wolde  undertake 
Any  empryse  for  to  make, 
In  the  rescotis  of  our  lay, 
And  it  defenden  as  he  maj-,  6750 

Be  it  with  amies  or  lettrure, 
Or  other  covenable  cure, 
If  it  be  so  he  poro  be, 
Than  may  he  begge,  til  that  he 
May  finde  in  trouthe  for  to  swinke,     6755 
And  gete  him.  clothe[s],  mete,  and  drinke. 
Swinke  he  with  hondes  corporal. 
And  not  with  hondes  espirituel. 

'  In  al  this[e]  caas,  and  in  semblables. 
If  that  ther  ben  mo  resonables,  6760 

He  may  begge,  as  I  telle  you  here, 
And  elles  nought,  in  no  manere  ; 
As  William  Seynt  Auioiir  wolde  preche, 
And  ofte  wolde  dispute  and  teche 
Of  this  matere  alle  openly  6765 

At  Paris  ful  solemp[ne]Iy. 
And  al-so  god  my  soule  blesse. 
As  he  had,  in  this  stedfastuesse, 
The  accord  of  the  universitee. 
And  of  the  puple,  as  ser.ieth  me.  6770 

'  No  good  man  oughte  it  to  refuse, 
Ne  oughte  him  therof  to  excuse. 
Be  wrooth  or  blythe  who-so  be  ; 
For  I  wol  speke,  and  telle  it  thee, 
Al  shulde  I  dye,  and  be  put  doiin,        6775 
As  was  seynt  Poul,  in  derk  prisoun  ; 
Or  be  exiled  in  this  caas 
With  wrong,  as  maister  William  was, 
That  my  moder  Ypocrisye 
Banisshed  for  hir  greet  envye.  6780 

'  My  moder  flemed  him,  Seynt  Amour  : 
This  noble  dide  such  labour 
To  susteyne  ever  the  loyaltee, 
That  he  to  moche  agilte  me. 
He  made  a  hook,  and  leet  it  wryte,     6785 
Wherin  his  lyf  he  dide  al  wryte, 
And  wolde  ich  reneyed  begging, 
And  lived  by  my  traveyUng, 
If  I  ne  had  rent  ne  other  good. 
Wliat  ?  wened  he  that  I  were  wood  ?  6790 


For  laboiir  might  me  never  plese, 

I  have  more  wil  to  been  at  ese  ; 

And  have  wel  lever,  sooth  to  sey, 

Bifore  the  puple  patre  and  prey. 

And  wrye  me  in  my  foxerye  6795 

Under  a  cope  of  papelardye." 

Quod  Love,  '  What  devel  is  this  I  here? 
Wliat  wordes  tellest  thou  me  here  ? ' 

F.  Sem.   '  What,  sir  ?  ' 

Amour.  '  Falsnesse,  that  apert  is  ; 

Than  dredest  thou  not  god  ?  ' 

F.  Sem.  No,  certes  :    6800 

For  selde  in  greet  thing  shal  he  spede 
In  this  world,  that  god  wol  drede. 
For  folk  that  hem  to  vertii  yiven. 
And  truly  on  her  owne  liven. 
And  heni  in  goodnesse  ay  contcne,      6805 
On  hem  is  litel  thrift  y-sene  ; 
Svich  folk  drinken  gret  misese  ; 
That  Ij-f  [ne]  may  me  never  plese. 
But  see  what  gold  hau  usurers. 
And  silver  eek  in  [hir]  garners,  68io 

Taylagiers,  and  these  monyours, 
Bailifs,  bedels,  provost,  countours  ; 
These  liven  wel  nygh  by  ravyne ; 
The  smale  puple  hem  mote  enclyne. 
And  they  as  wolves  wol  hem  eten.       6815 
Upon  the  pore  folk  they  geten 
Ful  moche  of  that  they  spende  or  kepe  ; 
Nis  none  of  hem  that  he  nil  strepe, 
And  -f-wryen  him-self  wel  atto  fuUe  ; 
Withont[e]  scalding  they  hem  ptille.  6820 
The  stronge  the  feble  overgoth  ; 
But  I,  that  were  my  simple  cloth, 
Robbe  bothe  frobbed  and  robbours, 
And  gyle  -j-gyled  and  gylours. 
By  my  treget,  I  gadre  and  tlireste       6825 
The  greet  tresour  into  my  cheste, 
That  lyth  with  me  so  faste  bounde. 
Myn  highe  paleys  do  I  founde. 
And  my  delytes  I  fulfiUe 
With  wyne  at  feestes  at  my  wille,       6830. 
And  tables  fuUe  of  entremees  ; 
I  wol  no  lyf,  but  ese  and  pees,  . 

And  winne  gold  to  spende  also,  >, 

For  whan  the  grete  bagge  is  go,  ' 

It  cometh  right  [eft]  with  my  japes.    6835 
Make  I  not  wel  tumble  myn  apes  ? 
To  winne  is  alwey  myn  entent  ; 
My  purchas  is  better  than  my  rent ; 
For  though  I  shulde  beten  be, 


7° 


Z^t  (Jlomaunf  of  tU  (S^oet. 


[Fkagment  C. 


Over-al  I  entremete  me  ;  6840 

Without[e]  me  may  no  wight  dure. 

I  walke  soules  for  to  cure. 

Of  al  the  worlde  cure  have  I 

In  brede  and  lengthe  ;  boldely 

I  wol  bothe  preche  and  eek  coimceilen  ; 

With  houdes  wille  I  not  traveilen,     6846 

Per  of  the  pope  I  have  the  hulls  ; 

I  ne  holde  not  my  wittes  duUe. 

I  wol  not  stinten,  in  my  lyve, 

These  emperoures  for  to  shrj-\-e,  6850 

Or  kynges,  dukes,  and  lordes  grete  ; 

But  pore  folk  al  qnyto  I  lete. 

I  love  no  such  sh^y^■ing,  pardee, 

But  it  for  other  cause  be. 

I  rekke  not  of  pore  men,  6855 

Hir  astate  is  not  worth  an  hen. 

Where  fj-ndest  thou  a  swinker  of  labour 

Have  me  unto  his  confessour  ? 

But  empcresses,  and  duchesses, 

Thise  queues,  and  eek  [thisc]  countesses, 

Thise  abbesses,  and  eek  Bigj-ns,  ^)86i 

These  grete  ladyes  palasjiis, 

These  joly  knightes,  and  l>aillj-x-es, 

Thise  nonnes,  and  thise  burgeis  wj'\'es. 

That  riche  been,  and  eek  plesing,        6865 

And  thise  maidens  welfaring, 

Wlier-so  they  clad  or  naked  be, 

Vncounceiled  goth  ther  n<K)n  fro  me. 

And,  for  her  soules  sjivetee, 

At  lord  and  lady,  and  hir  meynee,      6870 

I  axe,  whan  they  hem  to  me  shry\e, 

The  propretee  of  al  hir  Ij've, 

And  make  hem  trowe,  bothe  meest  and 

leest, 
Hir  paroch-prest  nis  but  a  beest 
Ayens  me  and  my  company,  O.S75 

That  shrewes  been  as  greet  as  1 ; 
For  whiche  I  wol  not  hyde  in  hold 
No  privetee  that  me  is  told. 
That  I  by  word  or  signe,  y-wis, 
•j-Nil  make  hem  knowe  what  it  is,      6880 
And  they  wolen  also  tellen  me  ; 
They  hele  fro  me  no  privitee. 
And  for  to  make  yow  hem  perceiTen, 
That  usen  folk  thus  to  discey\'en, 
I  wol  you  sej-n,  withouten  drede,        6885 
What  men  may  in  the  gospel  rede 
Of  Seynt  Mathew,  the  gospelere, 
That  seith,  as  I  shal  you  sey  here. 
'  Upon  the  chaire  of  Moyses — 


Thus  is  it  glosed.  douteles  :  68po 

That  is  the  olde  testament, 

For  therby  is  the  chaire  nient- 

Sitte  Scribes  and  Pharis[i]en  ; — 

That  is  to  seyn,  the  cursed  men 

■Uliiche  that  we  j-pocrites  calle —        (>8()5 

Doth  that  they  preche,  I  rede  you  alle, 

But  doth  not  as  they  don  a  del, 

That  been  not  werj'  to  seye  wel, 

But  to  do  wel,  no  wille  liuve  they  ; 

And  they  wolde  binde  on  folk  alwey. 

That  ben  to  [be]  beg>-led  able,  6901 

fBurdens  that  ben  importable  ; 

On  folkes  shuldres  thinges  they  couchen 

That  they  nil  with  her  fingres  touchen.' 

Amour.  '  And  why  wol  they  not  touche 
it?' 

F.  Sem.  '  "VVTiy  ?  ^xx)."; 

For  hem  ne  list  not,  sikerly  : 
For  sadde  fburdens  that  men  taken 
Make  folkes  shuldres  aken. 
And  if  they  do  ought  that  good  be. 
That  is  for  folk  it  shiilde  see  :  6910 

Her  fborders  larger  maken  they, 
And  make  hir  henimes  wyde  alwey. 
And  loven  setes  at  the  table,. 
The  firste  and  most  honourable  ; 
And  for  to  han  the  first  chaieres         6<>is 
In  synagoges,  to  hem  iul  dere  is  ; 
And  willeu  that  folk  hem  loute  and  grete. 
Whan  that  they  passen  thurgh  the  strete, 
And  wolen  be  cleped  '  Maister  '  also. 
But  they  ne  shulde  not  willen  so  ;      692(r 
The  gospel  is  ther-ageyns,  I  gesse  : 
That  sheweth  wel  hir  wikkidnesse. 

'  Another  custom  use  we  : — 
Of  hem  that  wol  ayens  us  be. 
We  hate  -j-hem  deedly  everichoon,       6925 
And  we  wol  werry  +hem,  as  oon. 
Him  that  oon  hateth,  hate  we  alle. 
And  conjecte  how  to  doon  him  falle. 
And  if  we  seen  him  winne  honour, 
Kichesse  or  preys,  thurgh  his  valour.  6930 
Provende,  rent,  or  dignitee, 
Fill  fast,  y-wis,  com  passen  we 
By  what  ladder  he  is  clomben  so  ; 
And  for  to  maken  him  doun  to  go. 
With  traisoun  we  wole  him  defame,  6935 
And  doon  him  lese  his  gode  name. 
Thus  from  his  ladder  we  him  take. 
And  thus  his  f  reendes  foes  we  make  ; 


Fragment  C] 


^0e  (Jloittattttf  of  f^e  Q^oee. 


71 


Btit  word  lie  wite  shal  he  noon, 

Til  aUe  his  f  reendes  been  his  foou.      6940 

For  if  we  dide  it  openly, 

We  might  have  blame  redily  ; 

For  hadde  he  wist  of  our  malyce, 

He  hadde  him  kept,  but  he  were  nyce. 

'  Another  is  this,  that,  if  so  faUe     6945 
That  ther  be  oon  among  us  alle 
That  doth  a  good  turn,  out  of  drede, 
We  seyn  it  is  our  alder  dede. 
Ye,  sikerly,  though  he  it  feyned, 
Or  that  him  list,  or  that  him  deyned  6950 
A  man  thurgh  him  avaunced  be  ; 
Therof  alle  parceners  be  we, 
And  tellen  folk,  wher-so  we  go, 
That  man  thurgh  us  is  sprongen  so. 
And  for  to  ha%  e  of  men  preysing,        6955 
We  purchaee,  thurgh  our  flatering, 
Of  riche  men,  of  gret  poustee, 
Lettres,  to  wtnesse  our  bountee  ; 
So  that  man  weneth,  that  may  us  see, 
That  aUe  vertu  in  us  be.  6960 

And  alwey  pore  we  us  feyne  ; 
But  how  so  that  we  beggc  or  pleyne. 
We  ben  the  folk,  without  lesing. 
That  al  thing  have  without  having. 
Thus  be  we  dred  of  the  puple,  y-wis.  6965 
And  gladly  my  purpos  is  this  :  — 
I  dele  with  no  wight,  but  he 
Have  gold  and  tresour  gret  plentee  ; 
Hir  acquejnataunce  wel  love  I ; 
This  is  moche  my  desyr,  shortly.         6970 
I  entremete  me  of  brocages, 
I  make  pees  and  mariages, 
I  am  gladly  executour. 
And  many  tymes  procuratour ; 
I  am  somtyme  messager  ;  ^«)75 

Tliat  falleth  not  to  my  mister. 
And  many  tymes  I  make  enquestes  ; 
For  me  that  office  not  honest  is  ; 
To  dele  with  other  mennes  thing. 
That  is  to  me  a  gret  lyking.  (>98(> 

And  if  that  ye  have  ought  to  do 
In  place  that  I  rcpeire  to, 
I  shal  it  speden  thurgh  my  wit. 
As  sone  as  ye  have  told  me  it. 
So  that  ye  serve  me  to  pay,  0985 

My  ser\'ise  shal  be  your  alway. 
But  who-so  wol  chastyse  me, 
Anoon  my  love  lost  hath  he  ; 
For  I  love  no  man  in  no  gj'se, 


That  wol  me  repreve  or  chastyse  ;       6990 
But  I  wolde  al  folk  undertake, 
And  of  no  wight  no  teching  take  ; 
For  I,  that  other  folk  chastye, 
Wol  not  be  taught  fro  my  folye. 

'  I  love  noon  hermitage  more  ;  6995 

Alle  desertes,  and  holtes  hore. 
And  grete  wodes  everichoon, 
I  lete  hem  to  the  Baptist  lohau. 
I  quethe  him  quyte,  and  him  relesse 
Of  Egipt  al  the  wildirnesse  ;  7'»o 

To  fer  were  alle  my  mansiouns 
Fro  alle  citees  and  goode  tonnes. 
My  paleis  and  mjni  hous  make  I 
There  men  may  renne  in  openly. 
And  sey  that  I  the  world  forsake.       7*''>5 
But  al  amidde  I  bilde  and  make 
My  hous,  and  swimme  and  pley  thennne 
Bet  than  a  fish  doth  with  his  finne. 

'  Of  Antecristes  men  am  I, 
Of  whiche  that  Crist  seith  openly,       7«>"> 
They  have  abit  of  holincsse. 
And  liven  in  such  wikkednesse. 
Outward,  lambren  semen  we, 
Fulle  of  goodnesse  and  of  pitee. 
And  inward  we,  withouten  fable,         7'>'S 
Ben  grcdy  wolves  ravisable. 
We  enviroune  bothe  londe  and  see  ; 
With  al  the  world  fwerreyen  we  : 
We  wol  ordejTie  of  alle  thing. 
Of  folkes  good,  and  her  living.  7"20 

'  If  ther  be  castel  or  citee 
Wherin  that  any  bougerons  be, 
Although  that  they  of  Milayne  were. 
For  ther-of  ben  they  blamed  there  : 
Or  if  a  wight,  out  of  mesure,  7'»5 

Wolde  lene  his  gold,  and  take  usure. 
For  that  he  is  so  coveitous  : 
Or  if  he  be  to  leccherous. 
Or  fthefe,  or  haunt  e  simony e  ; 
Or  provost,  ful  of  trecherye,  7"'3" 

Or  prelat,  living  jolily, 
Or  prest  that  halt  his  queue  him  by  ; 
Or  olde  hores  hostilers, 
Or  other  bawdes  or  bordiUers, 
Or  elles  blamed  of  any  vyce,  7^i5 

Of  whiche  men  shulden  doon  justyce  : 
By  alle  the  seyntes  that  we  pray. 
But  they  defende  them  with  lamprey, 
With  luce,  with  eles,  with  samouns, 
With  tendre  gees,  and  v.ith  capouns,  7'>4'> 


72 


ZU  (^omauttf  of  tU  (F^e^- 


[Fragment  C. 


With  tartes,  or  with  f  cheses  fat, 
With  dejTite  fla^v^les,  hrode  ami  flat, 
With  caleweys,  or  with  inillaille, 
With  coninges,  or  with  t'yn  vitaillc, 
Tliat  we,  under  our  clothes  wyde,        7045 
Maken  tliurgh  oitr  golct  glyde  : 
Or  but  he  wol  do  come  in  haste 
R<w-venisoun,  [y;-bake  in  paste  : 
Whether  so  that  he  loure  or  g^oine, 
He  shal  have  of  a  corde  a  loigne,         7050 
With  whiche  men  shal  him  bindo  and 

lede, 
To  brenne  hun  for  his  sinful  dede, 
Tliat  men  shuUe  here  him  cryo  and  rore 
A  myle-wey  abonte,  and  more. 
Or  elles  he  shal  in  prisoun  dyo,  7055 

But-if  he  wol  [our]  fren«lship  bye. 
Or  snierten  that  that  he  hath  do. 
More  than  his  gilt  amounteth  to. 
But,  and  he  couthc  thurgh  his  sleight 
Do  maken  up  a  tour  of  height,  7f)6o 

Nought  roughte  I  whether  of  stone  or  tree, 
Or  erthe,  or  turves  though  it  be. 
Though  it  were  of  no  vounde  stono 
Wrought  with  squyre  and  scant ilone. 
So  that  the  tour  were  stuffed  wel         7065 
With  alle  richesse  temporel  ; 
And  thanne,  that  he  wolde  updresse 
Engyns,  bothe  more  and  lesse, 
To  caste  at  us,  by  every  sydc — 
To  here  his  goode  name  vryde —  7070 

Such  sleightes  [as]  I  shal  yow  nevene, 
Barelles  of  wj-ne,  by  sixe  or  sevene. 
Or  gold  in  sakkes  gret  plente, 
He  shulde  sone  delivered  be 
And  if  he  have  noon  sich  pitaunces,    7075 
Late  him  study  in  equipolences, 
And  lete  lyes  and  fallaces, 
If  that  he  wolde  deser\-e  our  graces  ; 
Or  we  shal  here  him  such  witnesse 
Of  sinne,  and  of  his  wrecchidnesse,     71180 
And  doon  his  loos  so  wyde  renne, 
That  al  quik  we  shiUde  him  brenne, 
Or  elles  yeve  him  suche  penaunce, 
Tliat  is  wel  wors  than  the  pitaunce. 

'  For  thou  shalt  never,  for  nothing, 
Con  knowen  aright  by  her  clothing     7086 
The  traitours  fulle  of  trecherye. 
But  thou  her  werkes  can  aspye. 
And  ue  hadde  the  g<x)d  keping  be 
Wliylom  of  the  universitee,  7090 


That  koiicth  the  key  of  Cristendome, 

+They  had  beeuturmented,  alle  and  some. 

Suche  been  the  stinking  [fals]  prophetis  ; 

Nis  non  of  hem,  that  good  prophete  is  ; 

For  they,  thurgh  wikked  entencioun,  7095 

The  yeer  of  the  incarnacioun 

A  thousand  and  two  hiindred  yeer, 

Fyvc  aiul  lifty,  ferthor  no  ncr, 

Broughten  a  book,  with  sory  grace. 

To  yeveu  ensamplo  in  comuno  place,  7100 

That  seide  thus,  though  it  were  fable  : — 

"  This  is  tlie  Gospel  Perdurable, 

That  fro  the  Holy  Goost  is  sent." 

Wel  were  it  worth  to  Ijon  [y]-brcnt  ! 

Entitled  was  in  such  manero  7105 

This  book,  of  which  I  telle  here. 

Ther  nas  no  wight  in  al  Parys, 

Biforn  Our  Lady,  at  parv>-s, 

f  That  [he]  no  mighto  bye  the  book, 

fTo  copy,  if  him  talent  took.  71 10 

Thor  might  he  see,  by  greet  tresoun, 

Ful  many  fals  comparisoun  : — 

"  As  moche  as,  thurgh  his  grete  might, 

Be  it  of  heto,  or  of  light. 

The  sunne  surmounteth  the  mono,       71 15 

That  tronbler  is,  and  chaitngeth  sone. 

And  tho  note-kernel  the  shellc — 

(I  scorne  nat  that  I  yow  telle) — 

Right  so,  witliouten  any  gyle, 

Surmounteth  this  noble  Evangyle        7120 

The  woril  of  any  evangelist." 

And  to  her  title  they  token  Christ ; 

And  many  such  comparisoun. 

Of  which  I  make  no  mencioun, 

Might  men  in  that  boke  finde,  7125 

Who-so  coude  of  hem  have  minde. 

'  Th'  universitee,  that  tho  was  aslepe, 
Gan  for  to  braide,  and  taken  kepe  ; 
And  at  the  noys  the  heed  ui^-caste, 
Xe  never  sithen  slepte  it  faste,  7130 

But  up  it  sterte.  and  armes  took 
Ayens  this  fals  horrible  book, 
Al  redy  batail  for  to  make, 
And  to  the  jnge  the  book  to  take. 
But  they  that  broughten  the  1x>ok  there 
Hente  it  an<x)n  awey,  for  fere  ;  7136 

They  nolde  shewe  it  more  a  del, 
But  thenne  it  kepte,  and  kepen  wil. 
Til  such  a  tj-me  that  they  may  see 
That  they  so  stronge  woxen  be,  7140 

That  no  wiijht  may  hem  wel  withstonde  ; 


ZU  (Fomauttf  of  tU  (^oee. 


73 


For  by  that  book  thej'  durst  uot  stonde. 

Away  thej'  goniie  it  for  to  bere, 

For  they  ne  dvirste  not  auswere 

By  exijosicioun  fne  glose  7145 

To  that  that  clerkes  wole  appose 

Ayens  the  cwrsednesse,  y-wis, 

Tliat  in  that  boke  writen  is. 

Now  wot  I  not,  ne  I  can  not  see 

What  maner  ende  that  there  shal  be  7150 

Of  al  this  [boke]  that  they  hyde  ; 

But  yit  algate  they  shal  abyde 

Til  tliat  they  may  it  bet  defende  ; 

This  trowe  I  best,  wol  be  hir  ende. 

'  Thus  Autecrist  abydeu  we,  7155 

For  we  ben  alle  of  his  meynee  ; 
And  what  man  that  wol  not  be  so, 
Eight  sone  he  shal  his  lj"f  forgo. 
We  wol  a  pu^ile  fon  him  arej'se, 
And  thurgh  our  gyle  doon  him  seise,   7160 
And  him  on  sharpe  speres  rj-\'e, 
Or  other-weyes  bringe  him  fro  iyve, 
But-if  that  he  wol  folowe,  y-wis, 
That  in  our  boke  writen  is. 
Thus  moche  wol  our  book  signify*,      7165 
That  whyl  [that]  Peter  hath  maistrye, 
May  never  Johan  shewe  wel  his  might. 

'  Now  have  I  you  declared  right 
The  mening  of  the  bark  and  rinde 
That  maketh  the  eutenciouns  blinde.  7170 
But  now  at  erst  I  wol  bigiune 
To  expowTie  you  the  pith  withinue  : — 
[  [-And  iirst,  by  Peter,  as  I  wene, 
The  Pope  himself  we  wolden  mene,] 
And  [eek]  the  seculers  comprehende,   7175 
That  Cristes  lawe  wol  defende. 
And  shulde  it  kepen  and  maynteneii 
Ayeines  hem  that  al  sustenen. 
And  falsly  to  the  puple  techen. 
-(■And  Johan  bitokeneth  hem  -j-that  pre- 
chen,  7180 

That  ther  nis  lawe  covenable 
But  thilke  Gospel  Perdurable, 
That  fro  the  Holy  Gost  was  sent 
To  turne  folk  that  been  miswent. 
The  strengthe  of  .Johan  they  undirstonde 
The    grace    in    which,    they    seye,   they 
stonde,  7186 

That  doth  the  sinful  folk  converte, 
And  hem  to  Jesus  Crist  reverte. 

'  Pul  many  another  horriblete 
May  men  in  that  boke  see,  7190 

D 


That  ben  comaunded,  doutelos, 

Ayens  the  lawe  of  Rome  expres  ; 

And  alle  with  Antecrist  they  holdeii, 

As  men  may  in  the  book  biholden. 

And  than  comaiuiden  thej'  to  sleen     7195 

Alle  tho  that  with  Peter  been  ; 

But  they  shal  nevere  have  that  might, 

And,  god  toforn,  for  stryf  to  fight. 

That  they  ne  shal  y-nough  [men]  finde 

That  Peters  lawe  shal  have  in  minde,  7-'ixj 

And  ever  holde,  and  so  mayntene, 

That  at  the  last  it  shal  be  sene. 

That  they  shal  alle  come  therto, 

For  ought  that  thej-  can  speke  or  do. 

And  thilke  lawe  shal  not  stonde,  7205 

That  they  by  Johan  have  undirstonde  ; 

But,  maugre  hem,  it  shal  adoun. 

And  been  broiaght  to  confusioun. 

But  I  wol  stinte  of  this  matere. 

For  it  is  wonder  long  to  here  ;  7210 

But  hadde  that  ilke  book  endiu'ed. 

Of  better  estate  I  were  ensured  ; 

And  freendes  have  I  yit,  pardee, 

That  han  me  set  in  greet  degree. 

'  Of  al  this  world  is  emperour  7215 

Gj-le  my  fader,  the  trechour. 
And  emp[e]resse  my  moder  is, 
Maugre  the  Holy  Gost,  y-wis, 
Our  mighty  linage  and  our  route 
Uegneth  in  everj'  regne  aboute  ;  7.':2« 

And  wel  is  fworth  wo  maistres  be, 
For  al  this  world  governe  we. 
And  can  the  folk  so  wel  disceyve. 
That  noon  our  gyle  can  perceyve  : 
And  though  they  doon,   they   dar    uot 
saye ;  7^25 

The  sothe  dar  no  wight  biwreye. 
But  he  in  Cristis  wrath  him  ledeth. 
That  more  than  Crist  my  bretheren  dre- 

deth. 
He  nis  no  ful  good  champiovm. 
That  dredeth  such  similacioun  ;  7230 

Nor  that  for  pejnie  wole  refusen 
Us  to  correoten  and  accusen. 
He  wol  not  entremete  by  right, 
Ne  have  god  in  his  eye-sight, 
And  therfore  god  shal  him  punyce  ;     7235 
But  me  ne  rekketh  of  no  vyce, 
Sithen  men  us  loven  comunably. 
And  holden  us  for  so  worthy. 
That  we  may  folk  rei)reve  echoon 


74 


ZU  (Bowauni  of  tU  O^oec. 


[Fkaoment  C. 


Ami  we  nil  have  repref  of  noon.  7240 

Wlioni.  shnlden  folk  worehiiieu  so 
But  us,  that  stinten  never  mo 
To  patron  whyl  that  folk  us  see, 
Though  it  not  so  bihindo  hem  be  ? 

'  And  where  is  more  wood  folye,       7J45 
Than  to  enhauuco  chiviilryo, 
And  love  noble  men  and  gay. 
That  jolj'  clothes  weren  alway  ? 
If  they  be  sich  folk  as  thcj'  semen, 
So  clene,  as  men  her  clothes  demen,   7350 
And  that  her  wordes  folowe  her  dede, 
It  is  gret  pite,  out  of  drede, 
For  they  wol  be  noon  ypoc rites  ! 
Of  hem,  me  thinketh  [it]  gret  spite  is  ; 
I  can  not  love  hem  on  no  syde.  7255 

But  Doggers  with  these  h<xles  wj-de, 
With  sloighe  and  pale  faces  lenc, 
And  greyo  clothes  not  ful  clene, 
But  (retted  ful  of  tatarwagges, 
And  highe  shoes,  knopped  with  dagges, 
That  frouucen  lyke  a  quaile-pjiie,        7361 
Or  botes  riveliug  as  a  gj'pe  ; 
To  such  folk  as  I  j-ou  de%-jso 
Shulde  princes  and  these  lonles  wj-se 
Take  alio  her  londes  and  her  tliinges,   7265 
Botho  werro  and  pees,  in  goveminges  ; 
To  such  folk  shulde  a  prmco  him  yive, 
That  wolde  his  13-f  in  honour  live. 
And  if  they  be  not  as  they  seme, 
That  serven  thus  the  world  to  queme,  7270 
There  wolde  I  dwelle,  to  disceyve 
The  folk,  for  they  shal  not  percej-ve. 

'  But  I  ne  speke  in  no  such  wjso. 
That  men  shulde  humble  abit  dispyse, 
So  that  no  pryde  ther-under  be.  7275 

No  man  shulde  hato,  as  thinketh  me, 
The  pore  man  in  sich  clothing. 
But  gotl  ne  preiseth  him  no-thing, 
That  seith  he  hath  the  world  foi-sake. 
And  hath  to  worldly  glorie  him  take,  7280 
And  Wol  of  siche  delyces  use  ; 
Who  may  that  Beggcr  wel  excnse  ? 
That  papelard,  that  him  yeldeth  so, 
And  wol  to  worldly  ese  go. 
And  seith  that  he  the  world  hath  left, 
And  gredily  it  grj-peth  eft,  7286 

He  is  the  hound,  shame  is  to  seyn, 
Tliat  to  his  casting  goth  agej-n. 

■  But  unto  yoiT  dar  I  not  lye  : 
But  mighte  I  felen  or  aspye  7290 


That  ye  percejTed  it  no-thing. 
Ye  shulde[n]  have  a  stark  losing 
Right  in  j-our  bond  thus,  to  biginne, 
I  nolde  it  lette  for  no  sinne.' 

Tlie  god  lough  at  the  wonder  tho,    7295 
And  every  wight  gan  lauglie  also. 
And  seide  : — '  Lo  here  a  man  aright 
For  to  bo  trusty  to  every  wight ! ' 

'  Fals  Semblant,'  quod  Love,  '  sey  to  me, 
Sith  I  thus  have  avaunced  thee,  7300 

That  in  my  court  is  thy  dwelUng, 
And  of  ribaudos  shalt  be  my  king, 
Wt)lt  thou  wel  holden  my  forwardcs  ?  ' 

F.  Son.     '  Ye,  sir,  from  heuncs  fore- 
wardes  ; 
Hadde  never  your  fader  here-bifom    7-(os 
Servaunt  so  trewe,  sith  he  was  born.' 
j       Amour,     '  That  is  ayeines  al  nature.' 

t'.  Sem.     '  Sir,  put  you  in  that  aven- 
I  ture ; 

For  though  ye  borowes  take  of  me, 
The  sikerer  shal  ye  never  bo  7310 

For  ostages,  no  sikirnesse. 
Or  chartres,  for  to  bore  witnesse. 
I  take  yonr-self  to  record  here, 
7  That  men  ne  may,  in  no  manero, 
Teren  the  wolf  out  of  his  hyde,  7315 

Til  ho  be  tfla.V"i  I'lk  and  syde, 
Though  men  him  bete  and  al  defylo  ; 
Wliat  ?  wene  j-e  that  I  wole  bigyle  ? 
For  I  am  clothed  mekely, 
Ther-under  is  al  my  trechery  ;  7320 

Mjni  herte  chaungoth  never  the  mo 
For  noon  abit,  in  which  I  go. 
Though  I  have  chere  of  simplenesse, 
I  am  not  wery  of  shrewednesse. 
My  lemman,  Strej-ned-Abstinence,       7325 
Hath  mister  of  my  purveaunce  ; 
She  hadde  ful  longe  ago  be  deed, 
Nere  my  councel  and  my  reed  ; 
Lete  hir  allone,  and  you  and  me.' 

And  Love  answerde,  '  I  truste  thee  7330 
'\Vithout[e]  borowo,  for  I  wol  noon.' 
And  Fals-Semblant,  the  theef,  anoon. 
Eight  in  that  ilke  same  place, 
Tliat  hadde  of  tresoun  al  his  face         7334 
Eight  blak  withinne,  and  whj-t  withoute, 
Thanketh  him,  gan  on  his  knees  loute. 

Than  was  ther  nought,  but  '  Every  man 
Now  to  assaut,  that  sailen  can,' 
Quod  Love,  '  and  that  ful  hardily.' 


Fragment  C] 


ZU  (Howauttf  of  tU  (Fo0^. 


75 


Than  armed  they  hem  communly        7340 

Of  sich  armour  as  to  hem  fel. 

Whan  they  were  armed,  fers  and  fel, 

They  wente  hem  forth,  alle  in  a  route, 

And  sette  the  castel  al  abonte  ; 

They  wil  novight  away,  for  no  drede,  7345 

Til  it  so  be  that  they  ben  dede. 

Or  til  they  have  the  castel  take. 

And  foure  batels  they  gan  make, 

And  parted  hem  in  foure  anoon. 

And  toke  her  way,  and  forth  they  goon. 

The  foure  gates  for  to  assaile,  7351 

Of  whiche  the  kepers  wol  not  faile  ; 

For  they  ben  neither  syke  ne  dede. 

But  hardy  folk,  and  stronge  in  dede. 
Kow  wole  I  seyu  the  countenaunce  7355 

Of  Fals-Semblant,  and  Abstinaunce, 

That  ben  to  Wikkid-Tonge  went. 

But  first  they  helde  her  parlement, 

Whether  it  to  done  were 

To  maken  hem  be  knowen  there,         7360 

Or  elles  walken  forth  disgysed. 

But  at  the  laste  they  devj-sed, 

That  they  wokl  goon  in  tapinage. 

As  it  were  in  a  pilgrimage, 

Lyk  good  and  holy  folk  unfeyned.        7365 

And  Dame  Abstineuce-Strej-ned 

Took  on  a  robe  of  camelyne. 

And  gan  hir  -f-graithe  as  a  Begyne. 

A  largo  coverchief  of  thredo 

She  wrapped  al  aboute  hir  liede,  7370 

But  she  forgat  not  hir  sautere  ; 

A  peire  of  bedes  eek  she  bei-e 

Upon  a  lace,  al  of  whyt  threde. 

On  which  that  she  hir  bedes  bede  ; 

But  she  ne  boughte  hem  never  a  del,  7375 

For  they  were  geven  her,  I  wot  wel, 

God  wot,  of  a  ful  holy  frere. 

That  seide  he  was  hir  fader  dere, 

To  whom  she  hadde  ofter  went 

Than  any  frere  of  his  covent.  7380 

And  he  vis;yted  hir  also. 

And  many  a-sermoun  seide  hir  to  ; 

He  nolde  lette,  for  man  on  lyve. 

That  he  ne  woUle  hir  ofte  sliryva 

An<i  with  so  gret  devocion  7385 

They  made[n]  her  confession. 

That  they  had  ofte,  for  the  nones. 

Two  hedes  in  one  hood  at  ones. 

Of  fair  shape  I  f  devj'se  her  thee, 
Bi\t  pale  of  face  somtyme  was  she  ;      7390 
I) 


That  false  traitouresse  untrewe 

Was  lyk  that  salowe  hors  of  hewe. 

That  in  the  Apocalips  is  shewed, 

That  signifyeth  f  tho  foUv  beshrewed. 

That  been  al  ful  of  trecherye,  7395 

And  pale,  thurgh  hyjiocrisye  ; 

For  on  that  hors  no  colour  is, 

But  only  deed  and  pale,  y-wis. 

Of  sixche  a  colour  enlangoured 

Was  Abstinence,  y-wis,  coloured  ;       74CX) 

Of  her  estat  she  her  repented. 

As  her  visage  represented. 

She  had  a  burdoun  al  of  Thefte, 
That  Gjde  had  yeve  her  of  his  yefte  ; 
And  a  scrippe  of  Fainte  Distresse,       7405 
That  ful  was  of  elengenesse. 
And  forth  she  walked  sobrely : 
And  False-Semblant  saynt,  ie  nws  dt/, 
f  Had,  as  it  were  for  such  mistere, 
Don  on  the  cope  of  a  frere,  74'" 

With  chere  simple,  and  ful  pitous  ; 
His  looking  was  not  disdeinous, 
Ne  proud,  but  meke  and  ful  pesible. 
About  his  nekke  he  bar  a  bible. 
And  squierly  forth  gan  he  gon  ;  7415 

And,  for  to  reste  his  limmes  upon, 
He  had  of  Treson  a  potento  ; 
As  he  were  feble,  his  way  he  wente. 
But  in  his  sieve  he  gan  to  thringe 
A  rasour  sharp,  and  wel  bytinge,         742c 
That  was  forged  in  a  forge, 
■\\auch  that  men  clepen  Coupe-gorge. 

So  longe  forth  hir  way  they  nomen, 
Til  they  to  Wicked-Tonge  comen, 
That  at  his  gate  was  sitting,  74^5 

And  saw  folk  in  the  way  passing. 
The  pilgrimes  saw  he  faste  by, 
Tliat  beren  hem  ful  mekely. 
And  f  humblely  they  with  him  mette. 
Dame  Abstinence  first  him  grette,       7430 
And  sith  him  Falso-Semblant  salued, 
jVnd  he  hem  ;  but  he  not  fremued. 
For  he  ne  dredde  hem  not  a-del. 
For  when  he  saw  hir  faces  wel, 
Alway  in  herte  him  thoughto  so,  743.'; 

He  shulde  knowo  hem  Ijothe  two  ; 
For  wel  he  knew  Dame  Abstinaunce, 
BiTt  he  ne  knew  not  Constreynaunce. 
He  knew  nat  that  she  was  constrayned, 
Ne  of  her  theves  lyfe  feyned,  744" 

But  wende  she  com  of  wil  al  free  ; 
5 


76 


ZH  (Uomaunt  of  tU  (Rose. 


[Fkagmekt  C. 


But  she  com  in  another  degree  ; 
And  if  of  good  wil  she  began, 
Tliat  wil  was  failed  her  [as]  than. 

And  Fals-Semblant  liad  lie  seyn  als, 
But  he  knew  nat  that  he  was  fals.       7446 
Yet  fals  was  he,  but  his  falsnesse 
Ne  coude  he  not  espye,  nor  gesso  ; 
For  Semblant  was  so  slye  wrought, 
That  falsnesse  he  ne  esjiyed  nought.    7450 
But  hudilest  thou  knoweu  him  beforn, 
Tliou  wolilest  on  a  boke  have  sworn, 
■\Vhan  thou  him  saugh  in  thilke  aray 
That  he,  that  whylom  was  so  gaj', 
And  of  the  daunce  Joly  Robin,  7455 

Was  tho  become  a  Jacobin. 
But  sothely,  what  so  men  him  calle, 
Frere[s]  Trechours  been  good  men  alle  ; 
Hir  order  wickedly  they  beren, 
Suche  minstrelles  if  [that]  they  weren. 
So  been  Augustins  and  Cordileres,       7461 
And  Carmes,  and  eek  Sakked  Freres, 
And  aUe  freres,  shodde  and  bare, 
(Though    some    of  hem   ben   grete  and 

square) 
Ful  holy  men,  as  I  hem  deme  ;  7465 

Everich  of  hem  wolde  good  man  seme. 
But  shalt  thou  never  of  ajiparence 
Seen  conclude  good  consequence 
In  none  argument,  y-wis, 
If  existence  al  failed  is.  7470 

For  men  may  finde  alwaj-  sophyme 
The  consequence  to  envenyme, 
AVho-so  that  fhath  the  subteltee 
The  double  sentence  for  to  see. 

■\Mian  the  pilgrj-mes  commen  were  7475 
To  M'icked-Tonge,  that  dwelled  there, 
Hir  harneis  nigh  hem  was  algate  ; 
By  Wicked-Tonge  adoun  they  sate, 
Tliat  bad  hem  ner  him  for  to  come, 
And  of  tydinges  telle  him  some,  7480 

And    sayde    hem  : — •  What  cas  maketh 

yow 
To  come  into  this  place  now  ?  ' 
'  Sir,'  seyde  Strained- Abstinaunce, 
'  We,  for  to  drye  our  penaiuice. 
With  hertes  pitous  and  devoute,  7485 

Are  commen,  as  pilgrimes  gon  aboute  ; 
Wei  nigh  on  fote  alway  we  go  ; 
Ful  f  dusty  been  our  heles  two  ; 
And  thus  bothe  we  ben  sent 
Thurghout  this  world  that  is  miswent, 


To  j'eve  ensample,  and  preche  also.     7491 

To  fisshen  sinful  men  we  go, 

For  other  fisshing  ne  fisshe  we. 

And,  sir,  for  that  charitee, 

As  we  be  wont,  herberwe  we  crave,     7495 

Your  lyf  to  amende  ;  Crist  it  save  ! 

And,  so  it  shulde  you  nat  displese, 

We  wolden,  if  it  were  your  ese, 

A  short  sermoun  unto  you  seyn.' 

And  Wikked-Tonge  answerde  ageyn, 

'  The  hous,'  quod  he,  '  such  as  ye  see,    7501 

Shal  nat  be  warned  you  for  me, 

Sey  what  you  list,  and  I  wol  here.' 

'  Graunt  mercy,  swete  sire  dere  ! ' 

Quod  alderfirst  Dame  Abstinence,        7505 

And  thus  began  she  hir  sentence  : 

Const.  Abstinence.  '  Sir,  the  first  vertue, 
certej-n, 
Tlie  gretest,  and  most  sovereyn 
That  may  be  founde  in  any  man, 
For  ha\-ing,  or  for  wit  he  can,  7510 

That  is,  his  tonge  to  reireyne  ; 
Therto  ought  every  wight  him  pej-ne. 
For  it  is  better  stUle  be 
Than  for  to  speken  harm,  pardee  1 
"And  he  that  herkeneth  it  gladly,  7515 

He  is  no  good  man,  sikerly: 
And,  sir,  aboven  al  other  sinne, 
In  that  art  thou  most  gilty  inne 
Thou  spake  a  jape  not  long  ago, 
(And,  sir,  that  was  right  j'\'el  doj         7520 
Of  a  yong  man  that  here  repaired, 
And  never  yet  this  place  apaired. 
Thou  seydest  he  awaited  nothing 
But  to  disceyve  Fair- Welcoming. 
Ye  seyde  notliing  sooth  of  that ;  7525 

But,  sir,  ye  lye  ;  I  teU  you  plat  ; 
He  ne  cometh  no  more,  ne  goth,  x)ardee  ! 
I  trow  ye  shal  him  never  see. 
Fair- Welcoming  in  jirison  is, 
Tluit  ofte  hath  pleyed  with  you,  er  this. 
The  fairest  games  that  he  coude,  75.?! 

Withoute  filthe,  stUle  or  loude  ; 
Now  dar  fhe  nat  himself  solace. 
Ye  han  also  the  man  do  ohace, 
That  he  dar  neither  come  ne  go.  7535 

WTiat  meveth  you  to  hate  him  so 
But  properly  your  wikked  thought. 
That  many  a  fals  lesing  hath  thought  ? 
That  meveth  your  foole  eloquence, 
That  jangleth  ever  in  audience,  7540 


Z^t  (^owaunf  of  t^t  (Hoee. 


77 


And  on  the  folk  areysetli  blame, 

And  doth  hem  dishonour  and  shame, 

For  thing  that  may  have  no  preving. 

But  lyklinesse,  and  contriving. 

For  I  dar  seyn,  that  Reson  demeth,    7545 

It  is  not  al  sooth  thing  that  semeth 

And  it  is  sinne  to  controvo 

Thing  that  is  [for]  to  reiirove  ; 

This  wot  ye  wel  ;  and,  sir,  therefore 

Ye  am  to  blame  [wel]  the  more.  7550 

And,  nathelesse,  he  rekketh  lyte  ; 

He  yeveth  nat  now  thereof  a  myte  ; 

For  if  he  thoughte  harm,  parfay, 

He  wolde  come  and  gon  al  day  ; 

He  coude  him-selfe  nat  abstene.  7555 

Now  Cometh  he  nat,  and  that  is  sene, 

For  he  ne  taketh  of  it  no  cure, 

But-if  it  be  through  aventure, 

And  lasse  than  other  folk,  algate. 

And  thou  here  watchest  at  the  gate,   7560 

With  spere  in  thyne  arest  alway  ; 

There  muse,  mvisard,  al  the  day. 

Thou  wakest  night  and  day  for  thought  ; 

Y-wis,  thy  traveyl  is  for  nought. 

And  Jelousye,  withouten  faile,  7565 

Shal  never  quyte  thee  thy  travaile. 

And  scathe  is,  that  Fair- Welcoming, 

Without[en]  any  trespassing, 

Shal  wrongfully  in  prison  be, 

Ther  wepeth  and  languissheth  he.       7570 

And  though  thou  never  yet,  y-wis, 

Agiltest  man  no  more  but  this,- 

(Take  not  a-greef )  it  were  worthy 

To  putte  thee  out  of  this  baily, 

And  afterward  in  prison  lye,  7575 

And  fettre  thee  til  that  thou  dye  ; 

For  thou  shalt  for  this  sinne  dwello 

Right  in  the  devils  ers  of  helle, 

But-if  that  thou  repente  thee.'  7579 

'  Ma  fay,  thou  lyest  falsly  ! '  quod  he. 
'  WHiat  ?  welcome  with  mischaunce  now  ! 
Have  I  therfore  herbered  you 
To  seye  nae  shame,  and  eek  reprove  ? 
With  sory  happe,  to  your  bihove. 
Am  I  to-day  your  herbergere  !  7585 

Go,  herber  yoii  elleswhere  than  here. 
That  han  a  Iyer  called  me  ! 
Two  tregetours  art  thou  and  he, 
That  in  myn  hous  do  me  this  shame, 
And  for  my  soth-sawe  ye  me  blame.    7590 
Ts  this  the  sermoun  that  ye  make  ? 


To  alle  the  develles  I  me  take. 

Or  elles,  god,  thou  me  confounde  . 

But  er  men  diden  this  castel  foiinde. 

It  passeth  not  ten  dayes  or  twelve,      7595 

But  it  was  told  right  to  my-selve. 

And  as  they  seide,  right  so  tolde  I, 

He  kiste  the  Rose  privily  ! 

Thus  seide  I  now,  and  have  seid  yore  ; 

I  not  wher  he  dide  any  more.  7600 

Wliy  shulde  men  sey  me  such  a  thing. 

If  it  hadde  been  gabbing? 

Right  so  seide  I,  and  wol  seye  yit ; 

I  trowe,  I  lyed  not  of  it ; 

And  with  my  hemes  I  wol  blowe         7605 

To  alle  neighboris  a-rowo, 

How  he  hath  bothe  comen  and  gon.' 

Tho  spak  Fals-Semblant  right  anon, 
'  Al  is  not  gospel,  out  of  doute, 
Tliat  men  seyn  in  the  toune  aboute  ;  7610 
Ley  no  deef  ere  to  my  speking  ; 
I  swere  yow,  sir,  it  is  gabbing  ! 
I  trowe  ye  wot  wel  certeynly, 
Tliat  no  man  loveth  him  tenderly 
That  seith  him  harm,  if  he  wot  it,       7615 
Al  be  he  never  so  pore  of  wit. 
And  sooth  is  also  sikerly, 
(This  knowe  yo,  sir,  as  wel  as  I), 
That  lovers  gladly  wol  visyten 
The  places  ther  hir  loves  habj^ten.       7620 
This  man  yo\i  loveth  and  eek  honoiTreth  j 
This  man  to  serve  you  laboureth  ; 
And  clepeth  yoii  his  freend  so  dere. 
And  this  man  maketh  you  good  chere. 
And  every-wher  that  [he]  you  naeteth. 
He  you  saleweth,  and  he  you  greteth.  7626 
He  preseth  not  so  ofte,  that  ye 
Ought  of  his  come  encombred  be  ; 
Ther  presen  other  folk  on  yow 
Ful  ofter  than  [that]  he  doth  now.      7630 
And  if  his  herte  him  streyned  so 
Unto  the  Rose  for  to  go, 
Ye  shulde  him  seen  so  ofte  nede, 
That  ye  shulde  take  hini  with  the  dede. 
He  coude  his  coming  not  forbere,         7635 
Though  ye  him  thrilled  with  a  spere  ; 
It  nere  not  thanne  as  it  is  now. 
But  trusteth  wel,  I  swere  it  yow. 
That  it  is  clene  out  of  his  thought. 
Sir,  oertes,  he  ne  thenketh  it  nought  ; 
No  more  ne  doth  Fair- Welcoming,     7641 
That  sore  abyeth  al  this  thing. 


78 


ZU  (Jlomaunt  of  t^z  (Uoee. 


[Fragment  C. 


And  if  they  were  of  oon  assent, 

Fill  sone  were  the  Hose  hent  ; 

The  maugre  youres  wohle  be.  7645 

And  sir,  of  I)  thing  herkeneth  me  : — 

Sith  ye  this  man,  that  loveth  yow, 

Han  seid  such  harm  and  shame  now, 

Witeth  wcl,  if  he  gessed  it, 

Ye  may  wel  demen  in  yovir  wit,  7650 

He  nolde  no-thing  love  yon  so, 

Ne  callen  yon  his  freend  also, 

But  night  and  day  he  f  wohle  wake, 

The  castel  to  destroye  and  take. 

If  it  were  sooth  as  ye  de^•J•se  ;  7655 

Or  som  man  in  som  maner  wyse 

Might  it  warne  him  overjvlel, 

Or  by  him-self  percey\'en  wcl  ; 

For  sith  he  might  not  come  and  gon 

As  lie  was  whylom  wont  to  don,  7660 

He  might  it  sone  wite  and  see  ; 

Bnt  now  al  other--wyse  fdoth  he. 

Than  have  f.ve,  sir,  al-onterly 

Poserved  helle,  and  jolyly 

Tlie  deth  of  hello,  doutelcs,  7665 

That  thrallen  folk  so  giltoles.' 

Fals-Semblant  proveth  so  this  thing 
That  he  can  no<m  answering, 
,\nd  seoth  alwey  such  apiiaratince, 
That  nygli  lie  fel  in  repeutanncc,       7670 
And  seide  him  : — '  Sir,  it  may  wel  be. 


I  Semblant,  a  good  man  semen  ye  ; 

I  And,  Abstinence,  ful  ^vyse  ye  seme  ; 

1  Of  o  talent  you  bothe  I  deme.  7674 

\Miat  connceil  wole  ye  to  mo  yeven  ?' 
I      F.  Sem.  '  Right  here  anoon  thou  slialt 
I  be  shriven, 

I  And  sey  thy  sinne  withouto  more  ; 
j  Of  this  shalt  thou  repente  sore  ; 
I  For  I  am  preest,  and  have  poustee 

To  shrj-^-e  folk  of  most  dignitee  7680 

That  been,  as  wyde  as  world  may  dure. 

Of  al  this  world  I  have  the  euro. 

And  that  ha<l  never  yit  porsonn. 

No  vicarie  of  no  maner  toun. 

And,  god  wot,  I  have  of  thee  7685 

A  thousand  tymcs  more  pitee 

Than  hath  thy  preest  parochial, 

Though  he  thy  freend  be  special. 

I  have  avanntage,  in  o  wyse. 

That  your  prelates  ben  not  so  wyse    7690 

Xe  half  so  lettred  as  am  I. 

I  am  licenced  boldely 

In  divinitee  to  retle. 

And  to  confesscn,  out  of  drede. 

If  j-e  wol  you  now  confesse,  7695 

I  And  leve  your  sinnes  more  and  lease, 

Without  abood,  knele  donn  anon, 

And  you  shal  have  absolucion.'  7698 


Explicit. 


THE    MINOR   POEMS. 


I.     AX  A.  B.  C. 

Incipit  carnit-n  secundum  nrdinem  Utei-ai-um  Alphabet':. 


Almighty  and  al  merciable  qnene, 

To  whom  that  al  this  world  fleeth  for 

socour, 
To  have  relees  of  sinne,  sorwe  and  tene, 
f iloriovis  virgine,  of  alle  floitres  flour, 
To  thee  I  flee,  confounded  in  erroiir  !      5 
Help  and  releve,  thou  mighty  debonaire, 
Hiive  mercy  on  my  perilous  langour  ! 
Venquisshed  m'  hath  my  cmel  adversaire. 

Bountee  so  fix  hath  in  thyn  herte  his 

tente, 
Tliat  wel  I  wot  thou  wolt  my  socour  be,  id 
Thou  canst  not  wame  him  that,  with 

good  entente, 
Axeth  thjaa  help.  Thyn  herte  is  ay  so  free, 
Thou  art  largesse  of  pleyn  felicitee. 
Haven  of  refut,  of  quiete  and  of  reste. 
Lo,  how  that  thevos  seven  chasen  me  !  15 
Help,  lady  bright,   er  that  my  shiji  to- 

breste ! 

Comfort  is  noon,  but  in  yow,  ladydere  ; 
For  lo,  my  sinne  and  my  confusioun. 
Which  oughtcu  not  in  thy  presence  ap- 

pere, 
Han  take  on  me  a  grevous  accioun         20 
Of  verrey  right  and  desperacioun  ; 
And,  as  by  right,  they  mighten  wel  sus- 

tene 
That  I  were  worthy  my  dampnacioun, 
Nere  mercy  of  you,  blisftil  hevene  quene. 


Doute  is  ther  noon,  thou  queen  of  miseri- 
corde,  25 

That  thou  n'art  cause  of  grace  and  mercy 
1  here  ; 

\  God  vouched  sauf  thurgh  thee  with  us 
t'acorde. 
For  certes,  Cristes  blisful  moder  dere, 
Were  now  the  bowe  bent  in  swich  manere, 
As  it  was  first,  of  justice  and  of  yre,  30 
The  rightful  God  uolde  of  no  mercy  here; 
But  thiirgh  thee  han  we  grace,  as  we 
desyre. 

Ever  hath  mjTi  hope  of  refut  been  in  thee, 

I  For  heer-bifom  ful  ofte,  in  many  a  wj-se. 

Hast  thou  to  misericorde  recej'^'cd  me.  35 

But  mercy,  lady,  at  the  greto  assyse, 

I  WTian  we  shul  come  bifore  the  hye  jua- 

tyse  ! 
So  litel  fruit  shal  thanne  in  me  be  fovxnde, 
That,   but  thou  er  that   day  me  i  wel 

ehastj-se. 
Of  verrey  right  my  werk  nxe  wol  con- 

founde.  40 

Fleeing,  I  flee  for  socour  to  thy  tente 
I  Me  for  to  hytle  from  tempest  ful  of  drede, 
I  Biseching  yoii  that  ye  you  not  absente, 

Thoughlbewikke.  Ohelpyit  at  this  node! 

Al  have  I  been  a  beste  in  wille  and  dede, 

Yit,  lady,  thou  me  clothe  with  thy  grace. 
I  Thyn  enemy  and  myw  (lady,  tak  hede)  47 
'  Un-to  my  deetli  in  poynt  is  mc  to  chace. 


8o 


ZU  (t\\iMv  ^oerne. 


Qlorions  mayde  and  moder,  wliich  that 

never 
Were  bitter,  neither  in  erthe  nor  in  see,  50 
But  fill  of  swetnesse  and  of  mercy  ever, 
Help  that  my  fader  be  not  wroth  with  me ! 
Spok  thou,  for  I  no  dar  not  him  y-see. 
So  liave  I  doon  in  ertlie,  alias  ther-whylo  ! 
Tliat  certes,  hut-if  thon  my  soconr  be,  55 
To  stink  eterno  he  wol  my  gost  exyle. 

He  vouched  sauf,  tol  him,  as  was  his  willo, 
Bicome  a  man,  to  have  "ur  alliaunce. 
And  with  his  precious  blood  lie  wroot  the 

billo 
Uivon  the  crois,  as  general  acqnitannce, 
To  every  penitent  in  ful  creannce  ;        61 
And   therfor,  latly  bright,   then  for  ns 

praye. 
Than  shalt  thou  Iwtho  stinto  al  his  grev- 

aunce, 
And  make  our  foo  to  fallen  of  hisprajo 

I  wot  it  wel,  thou  wolt  ben  our  soconr,  65 
Tliou  art  so  ful  of  bountee,  in  certej-n. 
For,  whan  a  soulo  falletli  in  errour. 
Thy  piteo  goth  and  haleth  him  ayejTi. 
Than   niakest   thou    his  pees  with    his 

sovereyn. 
And  bringest  him   out   of  the  crooked 

strote.  70 

Who-so  thco  loveth  ho  shiil  not  love  in 

veTO, 
Tliat  shal  ho  finde,  as  he  the  lyf  shal  lete. 

Kalenderes  enlumined  ben  they 

That  in  this  world  ben  lighted  with  thy 

name. 
And  who-so  goth  to  you  the  righte  wey,  75 
Him  thar  not  dretle  in  soule  to  lie  lame. 
Now,  queen  of  comfort,  sitli  thou  art  that 

same 
To  whom  I  seche  for  my  medicyne, 
Lat  not  my  foo  no  more  mj*  wonnde  en- 
tamo, 
M%-n  hole  in-to  tli.^-n  hand  al  I  resigne.  80 

Lady,  thy  sorwe  can  I  not  portreye 
Under  the  cros,  ne  his  grevous  penannco. 
But,  for  your  bothes  peynes,  I  you  preye, 
Lat  not  our  aider  foo  make  his  bobaunce, 
Tliat  he  hath  in  his  listes  of  miscbaunce  85 
Convict  that  ye  bothe  have  bought  so  | 
dero- 


As  I  seide  erst,  thou  ground  of  our  sub- 

staunce. 
Continue  on  us  thy  pitoiis  eyen  clere  ! 

Moises,  that  saugh  the  bush  with  flaumes 

redo 
Brenninge,  of  which  ther  never  a  stikke 

brende,  ^o 

Was  signe  of  thjni  nnwommod  maiden- 

hede. 
Tliou  art  the  bush  on  which  ther  gan 

descende 
The  Holy  Gost,  the  which  that  Moises 

wendo 
Hatl  ben  a-fyr  ;  and  this  was  in  figure. 
Now  lady,  from  the  fyr  thou  us  defendo  95 
Which  that  in  helle  eternally  shal  dure. 

Noble  princesse,  that  never  haddest  poro, 

Certes,  if  any  comfort  in  us  be, 

That  cometh  of  thee,  thou  Cristos  moder 

dere. 
Wo  ban  non  other  melodye  or  gleo       loo 
Us  to  rejoyse  in  our  adversitee, 
N'  advocat  noon  that  wol  and  dar  so  preye 
For  us,  and  that  for  litel  hyre  as  ye, 
That  helpen  for  an  Ave-Marie  or  twes  e. 

O  verrey  light  of  cyen  that  ben  blinde,  105 
O  verrey  lust  of  labour  and  distresse, 
O  tresorere  of  bountee  to  mankinde. 
Thee   whoni    God    chees  to  moder    for 

humblesse  ! 
From  his  anoille  he  made  thee  maistresse 
Of  hevene  and  erthe,  our  bille  up  for  to 

bede.  1 10 

Tliis  world  awaiteth  ever  on   thy  good- 

nesse. 
For  thou  ne  failest  never  wight  at  nedo. 

Purpos  I  have  sum  tyme  for  t'enqiiere, 
"Wlierfore  and  why  the  Holy  Gost  thee 

soughte, 
Wlian  Gabriellesvois  cam  to  thyn  ere.  115 
He   not   to   werre   tis   swich    a    wonder 

wroughto. 
But  for  to  save  us  that  he  sithen  boughte. 
Tlian  nedeth  us  no'wepen  us  for  to  save, 
But  only  ther  we  did  not,  as  us  oughte, 
Do  penitence,  and  mercyaxe  and  have.  120 

Queen  of  comfort,  yit  whan  I  me  bithink 
That  I  agilt  have  bothe.  him  and  thee, 


II.    ZU  tompk^nk  unto 


8i 


And  that  my  soule  is  -worthy  for  to  sinke, 
Alias,  I,  caitif,  whider  may  I  flee  ? 
Who  shal  iin-to  thy  sone  mj'  mene  be?  125 
Who,  but  thy-self,  that  art  of  pitee  welle  ? 
Thou  hast  more  reuthe  on  onr  adversiteo 
Than  in  this  world  mighte  any  timge  telle. 

Redresse  me,  moder,  and  me  chastyse, 
For,  certejaily,  my  fadres  chastisinge  130 
That  dar  I  nought  abyden  in  no  -^vyse  : 
So  liidous  is  his  rightful  rekeninge. 
Moder,  of  whoni  our  mercy  gan  to  springe, 
Beth  ye  my  juge  and  eek  my  soules  leche  ; 
For  ever  in  you  is  pitee  haboiindinge    135 
To  ech  that  wol  of  pitee  you  biseche. 
Soth  is,  that  God  ne  graunteth  no  pitee 
With-oiite  thee ;  for  God,  of  his  goodnesse, 
Foryiveth  noon,  but  it  lyke  un-to  thee. 
He  hath  thee  maked  vicaire  and  mais- 

tresse  140 

Of  al  the  world,  and  eek  govemeresso 
Of  hevene,  and  he  represseth  his  justj-se 
After  thy  wille,  and  therefore  in  witnesse 
He  hath  thee  crouned  in  so  ryal  wyse. 
Temple  devout,  ther  god  hath  his  won- 

iiige,  145 

Pro  which  these  misbilevcd  pryved  been, 
To  you  my  soule  penitent  I  bringe. 
Receyve  me  !  I  can  no  fertlier  fleen  ! 
With  thornes  venimou?,  O  hevene  queen, 
For  which  the  erthe  acursed  was  ful  yore, 
I  am  so  wounded,  as  ye  may  wel  seen,  151 
That  I  am  lost  almost ; — it  smert  so  sore. 

Virgine,  that  art  so  noble  of  apparaile, 
And  ledest  us  in-to  the  hye  tour  154 

Explicit 


Of  Paradys,  thou  me  wisse  and  counsaile. 
How  I  may  have  thy  grace  and  thysocour ; 
Al  have  I  been  in  filthe  and  in  errour. 
Lady,  un-to  that  cotirt  thou  me  ajourne 
That  cleped  is  thy  bench,  O  fresshe  flour  ! 
Ther-as  that  mercy  ever  shal  sojourn  e.  160 

Xristus,    thy   sone,    that   in   this   world 

alighte, 
Up-on  the  cros  to  snffro  his  passioun. 
And  feek,  that  Longius  his  herte  pighte. 
And  made  his  herte  blood  to  renneadoun ; 
And  al  was  this  for  my  salvacioun  ;      165 
And  I  to  him  am  fals  and  eek  unkinde, 
And  yit  he  wol  not  my  dampnacioun — 
This  thanke  I  you,  socour  of  al  mankinde. 

Ysaac  was  figure  of  his  doeth,  certeyn, 
That  so  fer-forth  his  fader  wolde  obej-e  17(1 
That  him  no  roughte  no-thing  to  be  slajai ; 
Right  so  thy  sone  list,  as  a  lamb,  to  deye. 
Now  lady,  ful  of  mercy,  I  you  preye, 
Sith  he  his  mercy  mesured  so  large. 
Bo  yo  not  skant ;  for  alio  we  singe  and 
seye  175 

That  ye  ben  from  vcngeaimce  ayour  targe. 

Zacharie  you  clepeth  the  open  welle 
To  wasshe  sinful  soule  out  of  his  gilt. 
Therfore  this  lessouii  oughte  I  wel  tf)  telle 
That,  nere  thy  tender  herte,   we  weren 

spilt.  1 80 

Now  lady  brighte,  sith  thou  canst  and  wilt 
Ben  to  the  seed  of  Adam  merciable, 
So  bring  us  to  that  palais  that  is  bilt 
To  penitents  that    ben   to   mercy  able. 

Amen.  184 


II.     THE   COMPLEYNTE   UNTO   PITE. 


PiTK,  that  I  have  sought  so  yore  ago. 
With  herte  sore,  and  ful  of  besy  peyne, 
Tliat  in  this  world  was  never  wight  so  wo 
With-oute  dethe  ;  and,  if  I  shal  not  feyne. 
My  purpos  was,  to  Pite  to  compleyne       5 
Upon  the  crueltee  and  tirannye 
Of  Love,  that  for  my  trout  he  doth  me  dye. 


And  when  that  I,  by  lengihe  of  certeyn 

yeres. 
Had  ever  in  oon  a  tyme  sought  to  speke. 
To  Pite  ran  I,  al  bespreynt  with  teres,   10 
To  preyen  hir  on  Crueltee  m'  awreke. 
But,   or   I  might  with  any  worde  out- 
broke. 


ZU  QHmor  (pocine. 


Or  tellen  any  of  my  peynes  smerte, 

I  fond  liir  deed,  and  buried  in  an  herte. 

AdoTin  I  fel,  when  that  I  sangh  the  herse, 
Deed  as  a  stoon,  whyl  that  the  swogh  me 

laste ;  16 

But  up  I  roos,  with  coloiir  ful  diverse, 
And  pitonsly  on  hir  myn  yen  caste, 
And  ner  the  cori)S  I  gan  to  presen  faste. 
And  for  the   soule   I  shoop  mo   for  to 

preye ;  20 

I  fnaa  but  lorn  ;  ther  fnas  no  more  to 

seye. 

Thus  am  I  slaj-n,  sith  that  Pito  is  deed  ; 
Alias  !   that  day  !    that  ever  hit  shulde 

falle  ! 
Wliat  manor  man  dar  now  holde  up  his 

heed  ? 
To  whom  shal  any  soj-wful  herto  callo  ?  25 
Now  Crueltoo  hath  cast  to  sleen  lis  alle. 
In  ydel  hope,  folk  redelees  of  pcyne — 
Sith  she  is  deed — to  whom  shnl  wo  com- 

pleyne  ? 

But  yet  encreseth  me  this  wonder  newe, 
That  no  wight  woot  that  slie  is  deed,  ))at  I ; 
So  many  men  as  in  hir  t3Tne  hir  knewe, 
And  yet  she  dyed  not  so  sotleynly  ;  32 
For  I  have  sought  hir  ever  ful  Ijesily 
Sith  first  I  hadde  wit  or  mannes  minde  ; 
But  she  was  deed,  er  that  I  coude  hir 
finde.  35 

Abonte  hir  herse  ther  stodeu  lustUy, 
Withouten  any  wo,  as  thoughte  me, 
Bonntee  parfit,  wel  armed  and  richely, 
And  fressho  Beautee,  Lust,  and  .I<ilitee, 
Assured  Manor,  Youthe,  and  Honestoe,  40 
Wisdom,  Estaat,  [and]  Dreed,  and  Oo- 

vemaunce, 
Confetlred  bothe  by  boude  and  alliaunce. 

A  compleynt  haddo  T,  writen,  in  myn 

bond, 
For  to  have  put  to  Pite  as  a  bille, 
But  whan  I  al  this  companj'e  ther  fond, 
That  rather  wolden  al  my  cause  spille  46 
Than  do  me  help,  I  hekl  my  plej-nte  stillo ; 
For  to  that  folk,  wthouten  any  faile, 
Withonte  Pite  may  no  bille  avaUe. 

Then  levo  I  al  thise  virtues,  sauf  Pite,    50 
Keiiingthe  corps,asye  have  herd  me  seyn, 


Confedred  alle  by  bonde  of  Crueltee, 
And  been  assented  that  I  shal  be  sleyn. 
And  I  have  put  my  complejait  up  ageyn  ; 
For  to  my  foos  my  bille  I  dar  not  shewe, 
ThefFect  of  wliich  seith  thus,   in  wordes 
fewe  : —  56 

The  mile. 
•"  '  Humblest  of  herte,  hyest  of  reverence. 
Benigne  flour,  coroune  of  vertues  alle, 
Sheweth  unto  your  rial  excellence 
Your  servaunt,  if  I  durste  me  so  calle,  (hi 
His  mortal  harm,  in  which  he  is  y-falle. 
And  noght  al  only  for  his  evel  fare, 
But  for  your  renoun,  as  he  shal  declare. 

'  Hit     stondeth    thus  :    j-our     contraire, 

Cmeltee. 
Allyed  is  ageynst  your  regalye  t>s 

Under  colour  of  womanly  Beautee. 
For    men    [no]   shuld    not    knowc    liir 

tirannye, 
AVith  B->untee,  Gcntilesse,  and  Cnrtesye, 
And  hath  dopryv'od  j-ou  now  of  your  place 
Tliat    hight    "Beaxitee,    apertenant     to 

Grace."  70 

'  For  kindly,  by  your  heritage  riglit, 
Ye  been  annexed  ever  unto  Bonntee  ; 
And  verrayly  ye  oughte  do  your  might 
To  helpe  Trouthe  in  liis  adversitee. 
Ye  been  also  the  coroune  of  Beautee  ;    75 
And  certes,  if  ye  wanton  in  thise  tweyne, 
The  world  is  lore  ;  ther  fnis  no  more  to 
seyne. 

*[  '  Eek  what  availetli    Maner  and  (ion- 

tilesse 
Withoute  you,  benigne  creature  / 
Shal  Ci-ueltee  be  your  govemeresse  y      So 
Alias  !  what  herte  may  hit  longe  endure  'f 
Wlierfor,  but  ye  the  rather  take  cure 
To  broke  that  perilous  alliaunce. 
Ye  sleen  hem  that  ben  in  your  obeisauiice. 
'  And  further  over,  if  ye  suffre  this,        85 
Your  renoun  is  fordo  than  in  a  throwe  ; 
Ther  shal  no  man  wite  wel  what  Pite  is. 
Alias !  that  your  renoun  shuld  be  so  lowe ! 
Ye  be  than  fro  your  heritage  y-throwe 
By  Crueltee,  that  occupieth  your  place  ;  90 
And  we  despeired,  that  .sokcn  to  yonr 

grace. 


III.    ZH  Q^ooft  of  tU  ®uc6e00e. 


83 


'  Have  mercy  on  me,  thou  Herenns  qnene, 
That  you  have  sought  so  tenderly  and 

yore  ; 
Let  somstreem  of  yoiir  light  on  me  be  sene 
That  love  and  drede  yoti,  ay  lenger  the 

more.  95 

For,  sothly  for  to  seyne,  I  here  the  sore, 
And,   though   I  be  not   cunning   for  to 

plejTie, 
For  goddes  love,  have  mercy  on  my  peyne ! 

^  '  My  peyne  is  this,  that  what  so  I  desire 
That  have  I  not,  ne  no-thing  lyk  therto  ; 
And  ever  set  Desire  myn  herte  on  fire ; 
Eek  on  that  other  syde,  wher-so  I  go,  102 
What  maner  thing  that  may  encrese  wo 
That  have  I  redy,  unsoght,  everywhere  ; 
Me  [ne]  lakketh  but  my  deth,  and  than 
my  bare.  105 


'  Wliat  nedeth  to  shews  parcel   of  my 

peyne? 
Sith  every  wo  that  herte  may  bethinks 
I  sufFre,  and  yet  I  dar  not  to  you  pleyne  ; 
For  wel  I  woot,   al-thotigh  I   wake  or 

winke, 
Ye  rekke  not  whether  I  flete  or  sinke.  1 10 
But  natheles,  my  trouthe  I  shal  sustene 
Unto  my  death,  and  that  shal  wel  be 

sene. 

'  This  is  to  seyne,  I  wol  be  yovires  ever  ; 
Though  ye  me  slee  by  Cmeltee,  your  fo, 
Algate  my  spirit  shal  never  dissever     115 
Fro  your  serv-yse,  for  any  peyne  or  wo. 
.Sitli  ye  be  deed — alias  !  that  hit  is  so  ! — 
Thus  for  your  deth  I  may  wel  wepe  antl 
pleyne  i  j  8 

With  herte  sore  and  ful  of  besy  peyne.' 


Ilere  endeth  tJic  exclamacion  of  the  Deth  of  Pi/te. 


III.     THE   BOOK   OF   THE   DUCHESSE. 


The  Proem. 
I  HAVE  gret  wonder,  by  this  lighte. 
How  that  I  live,  for  day  ne  nighte 
I  may  nat  slepe  wel  nigh  noght ; 
I  have  so  many  an  ydel  thoght 
Purely  for  defaute  of  slepe. 
That,  by  my  trouthe,  I  take  +kepe 
Of  no-thing,  how  hit  cometh  or  goth, 
Ne  me  nis  no-thing  leef  nor  loth. 
Al  is  y-licho  good  to  me — 
Joye  or  sorowe,  wherso  hit  be — 
For  I  have  feling  in  no-thing. 
But,  as  it  were,  a  mased  thing, 
Alway  in  point  to  falle  a-doun  ; 
For  tsory  imaginacioun 
Is  alway  hoolly  in  my  minde. 

And  wel  ye  woot,  agaynes  kinde 
Hit  were  to  liven  in  this  wyse  ; 
For  nature  wolde  nat  suffyse 
To  noon  erthely  creature 
Not  longe  tyme  to  endure 


Withoute  slepe,  and  be[en]  in  sorwe  : 
And  I  ne  may,  no  night  ne  morwe, 
Slepe;  and  f  thus  melancolye, 
And  dreed  I  have  for  to  ifye, 
Defaute  of  slepe,  and  hevinesse 
Hath  sleyn  my  spirit  of  quiknesse. 
That  I  have  lost  al  lustihede. 
Suche  fantasyes  ben  in  myn  hede 
So  I  not  what  is  best  to  do. 

But  men  mighte  axe  me,  why  so 
I  may  not  slepe,  and  what  me  is? 
But  natheles,  who  aske  this 
Leseth  his  asking  trewely. 
My-selven  can  not  telle  why 
The  sooth  ;  but  trewely,  as  I  gesse, 
I  holde  hit  be  a  siknesse 
That  I  have  suffred  this  eight  yere. 
And  yet  my  bote  is  never  the  nere  ; 
For  ther  is  phisicien  but  oon. 
That  may  me  hole  ;  but  that  is  doon. 
Passe  we  over  until  eft ; 
That  wil  not  be,  moot  nede  be  left ; 


84 


^6e  QUtttor  ^otme. 


Our  first  matere  is  good  to  kepe. 

So  whan  I  saw  I  might  not  slepe, 
Til  now  late,  this  other  night,  45 

Upon  my  bedde  I  sat  upright. 
And  liad  oon  reche  me  a  book, 
A  romannce,  and  ho  hit  me  took 
To  rede  and  dryve  the  night  away  ; 
For  me  thoghte  it  bettor  play  50 

Tlien  playe[n]  either  at  chesse  or  tables. 

And  in  this  boko  were  writen  fables 
That  clerkes  haddo,  in  oldo  tjTne, 
And  other  poets,  put  in  rvmo 
To  rede,  and  for  to  be  in  mindo  55 

Whvl  men  I..V0.I  the  Igwp.  tif  kind'^, 
Tliis  bonk  no  spiik  but  of  sncli  thinges. 
Of  yipnps  lyvf-^.  mill  of  kinn^i'S^       —7 
And  many  othore  thinges  sniale.     » 
Amonge  al  tliis  I  fond  a  tiilo  6(i 

That  mo  thouglito  a  wonder  thing. 

This  was  the  tale  :  Ther  was  a  king 
Tliat  highto  Soys,  and  haddo  a  vryf, 
The  beste  that  mighte  bore  l.yf ; 
And  this  qnene  highto  Alcyone.  65 

So  hit  befcl,  therafter  sone. 
This  king  woldo  wenden  over  see. 
To  tellen  shortly,  whan  tliat  ho 
Was  in  the  see,  thus  in  this  wyse, 
Soche  a  tempest  gan  to  ryso  70 

That  brak  hir  mast,  and  made  it  falle. 
And  cleftc  hir  ship,  anil  dreinto  hem  alio, 
That  never  was  founden,  as  it  telles, 
Bord  no  man,  rie  nothing  elles. 
Right  thus  this  king  Seys  losto  his  lyf.  75 

Xow  +for  to  siicken  of  his  wyf  : — 
This  lady,  that  was  left  at  home. 
Hath  wonder,  that  the  king  no  como 
Hoom,  for  hit  was  a  longo  tonne. 
Anon  her  herte  tgan  to  erme  ;  80 

And  for  that  hir  thonghte  evermo 
Hit  was  not  wel  -^he  dwelte  so, 
She  longed  so  after  the  king 
Tliat  certes,  hit  were  a  pitous  thing 
To  telle  hir  hertely  sorwful  lyf  85 

That  f  haddo,  alas  I  this  noble  wyf; 
For  him  she  loved  alderbest. 
Anon  she  sento  bothe  eest  ami  west 
To  soke  him,  but  they  founde  nought. 

'  Alas ! '  quoth  she,  '  that  I  was  wrought ! 
And  wher  my  lord,  my  love,  be  deed  ?   91 
Certes,  I  nil  never  ete  breed, 
I  make  a-vowe  to  my  god  here, 


But  I  mowe  of  my  lorde  here  ! ' 

Such  sorwe  this  lady  to  her  took  95 

That  trewely  I,  which  made  this  book, 

Had  swich  pite  and  swich  rowthe 

To  redo  hir  sorwe,  that,  by  my  trowthe, 

I  fordo  the  worse  al  the  morwo 

After,  to  thenken  on  her  sorwe.  icx) 

So  whan  f  she  coudo  here  no  word 
That  no  man  mighte  findc  hir  lord. 
Fill  oft  she  swouned,  and  seide  '  alas  ! ' 
For  sorwe  ful  nigh  wood  she  was, 
Ne  sho  coude  no  reed  but  oon  ;  105 

But  doun  on  knees  she  sat  anoon. 
And  f  weep,  that  pite  was  to  here. 

'  A  !  mercy  !  swete  lady  dere  ! ' 
Quod  sho  to  Juno,  hir  goddesse  ; 
'  Help  me  out  of  this  distresso,  i  to 

And  yeve  me  grace  my  lord  to  see 
Sono,  or  wite  wlier-so  ho  be. 
Or  how  ho  fareth,  or  in  what  wyse, 
And  T  shal  make  you  sacrifyse, 
.Vnd  hoolly  youres  become  I  shal  115 

With  good  wil,  body,  herto,  and  al  ; 
And  but  thou  wilt  this,  lady  swete. 
Send  me  grace  to  slepe,  and  meto 
'  In  my  slepe  som  cortejii  sweven, 
Wher-through  that  I  may  knowen  even 
Whether  my  lord  be  quik  or  deed.'        121 
With  that  word  she  heng  doun  the  heed, 
And  fil  a-swowni  as  cold  as  ston  ; 
Hir  women  caughto  her  up  anon, 
And  broghten  hir  in  bed  al  naked,        1 25 
And  she,  forweped  and  forwaked, 
Was  wery,  and  thus  the  dede  sleep 
Fil  on  her,  or  she  toko  keep. 
Through  Juno,  that  had  herd  hir  bone, 
That  made  hir  [for]  to  slope  sone  ;         130 
For  as  she  prayde,  fso  was  don. 
In  dede  ;  for  Juno,  right  anon. 
Called  thus  her  messagere 
To  do  her  erande,  and  he  com  nere. 
Wlian  ho  was  como,  she  bad  him  thus  :  135 
'  Go  bet,'  quod  Juno,  '  to  Morpheus, 
Thou  knowest  him  wel,  the  god  of  sleep  ;• 
Xow  undorstond  wel,  and  tak  keep. 
Soy  thus  on  my  halfe,  that  he 
Go  faste  into  the  grete  see,  14.0 

And  bid  him  that,  on  alle  thing, 
He  take  up  Seys  body  the  king. 
That  Ij-th  ful  pale  and  no-thing  rody. 
Bid  him  crepe  into  the  body. 


III.    ZU  QE-ooR  of  tU  ©uc^eeee. 


«5 


J  50 


155 


:6o 


■65 


And  do  it  goon  to  Alcyone  145 

The  quene,  tlier  she  l^-th  alone, 
And  shewe  hir  shortly,  hit  is  no  nay, 
How  hit  was  dreynt  this  other  day  ; 
And  do  the  body  speke  fso 
Eight  as  hit  was  wont  to  do. 
The  whyles  that  hit  was  on  lyve. 
Go  now  faste,  and  hy  thee  blyve  ! ' 

This  messager  took  leve  and  wente 
Upon  his  wey,  and  never  ne  stente 
Til  he  com  to  the  derke  valeye 
That  stant  hytwene  roclies  tweye, 
Ther  never  yet  grew  corn  ne  gras, 
Ne  tree,  ne  f  nothing  that  ought  was, 
Beste,  ne  man,  ne  fnothing  elles. 
Save  ther  were  a  fewe  welles 
Came  renning  fro  the  cliffes  adoun, 
That  made  a  deedly  sleping  soun. 
And  ronnen  dotin  right  by  a  cave 
That  was  imder  a  rokke  y-grave 
Amid  the  valey,  wonder  depe. 
Ther  thise  goddes  laye  and  slepe, 
Morpheus,  and  EclympastejTe, 
That  was  the  god  of  slepes  heyre, 
That  slepe  and  did  non  other  werk. 

This  cave  was  also  as  derk  1 7 

As  helle  pit  ovex--al  aboute  ; 
They  had  good  leyse*  for  to  route 
To  envye,  who  might  slepe  beste  ; 
Some  henge  hir  chin  upon  hir  breste 
And  f  slepe  lapright,  hir  heed  y-hed,     ij 
And  some  lay[e]  naked  in  hir  bed, 
And  slepe  whyles  the  dayes  laste. 

This  messager  com  flying  faste, 
And  cryed,  '  O  ho  !  awak  anon  ! '  17 

Hit  was  for  noght  ;  ther  herde  him  non 
'  Awak  ! '  quod  he,  '  who  is,  lyth  there  ?  ' 
And  blew  his  horn  right  in  hir  ere. 
And  cryed  '  a-yyfikptb  ! '  wonder  hye. 
This  god  of  slepe,  with  his  oon  ye 
Cast  up,  faxed,  '  who  clepeth  there 
'  Hit  am.  I,'  quod  this  messagere  ; 
'  Juno  bad  thou  shuldest  goon  ' — 
And  tolde  him  what  he  shulde  doon 
As  I  have  told  yow  here-tofore  ; 
Hit  is  no  need  reherse  hit  more  ; 
And  wente  his  wey,  whan  he  had  sayd. 

Anon  this  god  of  slepe  a-braj-d 
Out  of  his  slepe,  and  gan  to  goon, 
And  did  as  he  had  bede  him  doon  ; 
Took  vip  the  dreynt  e  body  sone,  195 


«85 


90 


And  bar  hit  forth  to  Alcyone, 

His  wyf  the  quene,  ther-as  she  lay, 

Right  even  a  quarter  before  day. 

And  stood  right  at  hir  beddes  fete. 

And  called  hir,  right  as  she  hete,  200 

By  name,  and  seyde,  '  my  swete  wyf, 

Awak  !  let  be  yom-  sor-w-ful  lyf ! 

For  in  your  sorwe  ther  lyth  no  reed  ; 

For  certes,  swete,  I  f  nam  but  deed  ; 

Ye  shul  me  never  on  Ij^'e  y-see.  205 

But  good  swete  herte,  [look]  that  ye 

Bury  my  body,  fat  whiche  a  tyde 

Ye  mowe  hit  finde  the  see  besyde  ; 

And  far-wel,  swete,  my  worldes  blisse  ! 

I  praye  god  your  sorwe  lisse  ;  210 

To  litel  whyl  our  blisse  lasteth  ! ' 

With  that  hir  eyen  up  she  casteth. 
And  saw  noght ;    '  f  A  ! '    quod   she,   '  for 

sorwe  ! ' 
And^deycd  within  tho-thridde  ixumye. 
But  what  she  sayde  more  in  that  swow 
I  may  not  telle  j'ow  as  now,  216 

Hit  were  to  longe  for  to  dwelle  ; 
My  first  matere  I  wil  yow  telle, 
Wherfor  I  have  told  this  thing 
Of  Alcione  and  Seys  the  king.  220 

For  thus  moche  dar  I  say[e]  wel, 
I  had  be  dolven  everydel. 
And  deed,  right  through  defaute  of  sleep, 
If  I  nad  red  and  take[n]  keep 
Of  this  tale  next  before  :  225 

And  I  wol  telle  yow  wherfore  ; 
For  I  ne  might,  for  bote  ne  bale, 
Slepe,  or  I  had  red  tliis  tale 
Of  this  dreynte  Seys  the  king, 
And  of  the  goddes  of  sleping.  230 

Milan  I  had  red  this  tale  wel. 
And  over-loked  hit  everydel. 
Me  thoughte_wouderJf_lut  wexeso  ; 
For  i  had'never  herd  speke,  or  tho. 
Of  no  goddes  that  coude  make  235 

Men  [for]  to  slepe,  ne  for  to  wake  ; 
For  I  ne  knew  never  god  but  oon. 
And  in  my  game  I  sayde  anoon — 
And  yet  me  list  right  evel  to  pleye — 
'  Bather  then  that  I  shulde  deye  240 

Through  defaiite  of  sleping  thus, 
I  wolde  yive  thilke  Morpheus, 
Or  his  goddesse,  dame  Juno, 
Or  som  wight  elles,  I  ne  roghte  who — 
To  make  me  slepe  and  have  som  reste— 


86 


ZU  Qlltnot  (poetne. 


246 


I  wil  yive  him  the  ahler-beste 

Yift  that  ever  he  abood  his  l.\-ve. 

And  here  on  warde,  right  now,  as  l)l>-ve  ; 

If  he  wol  make  me  slepe  a  lyto, 

Of  dowiie  of  pure  dowvcs  whyte  250 

I  wil  yive  liim  a  fether-bed, 

Eayed  with  golde,  and  right  wel  cled 

In  f>-n  l)lak  satin  dontremere, 

And  many  a  pilow,  and  everj-  liore 

Of  clothe  of  EejTies,  to  slepe  softe  ;       255 

Him  thar  not  nede  to  tumen  ofte. 

And  I  wol  yive  him  al  that  falles 

To  a  chambre  ;  and  al  his  halles 

I  wol  do  peynte  with  pnro  golde, 

And  tapite  hom  ful  many  folde  a6o 

Of  00  suto  ;  thia_ghal  he  have. 

IfJLwiste  wher  were  his  cave, 

If  he  can  make  mo  slepe  sone, 

As  did  the  goddesso  -j-Alcionc. 

And  thus  this  ilko' god,  Slorpheus,        265 

May  winne  of  mo  mo-lfes  thus 

Tlian  over  he  wan  ;  and  to  .Juno, 

That  is  his  goddesse,  I  shal  so  do, 

I  trow  that  she  shal  holdo  her  payd.' 

I  hadde  iinneth  that  word  y-sayd      270 
Right  thns  as  I  have  told  hit  yow. 
That  sode.^-nly,  I  niste  how, 
Swieh  a  lust  anoon  me  took 
To  slepe,  that  right  npon  my  book 
I  fil  aslepe,  and  ther«'ith  even  275 

Me  mette  so  inly  swete  a  ffweven, 
So  wonderful,  that  never  yit 
I  trowe  no  man  hadde  the  wit 
To  conne  wel  my  sweven  rode  ; 
No,  not  Josepl),  wiUioute  drede,  280 

Of  Egipte,  h^  that  redUe  so 
The  kinges  meting  Pharao, 
No  more  than  coiide  the  leste  of  «s  ; 
Ne  nat  scarslv  JMacrol>qps, 
(HetiraTwroot  al  th'aWsioun  285 

That  he  mette,  king  Scipionn. 
The  noble  man,  the  AfFrican — 
Swiche  mervayles  fortuned  than) 
I  trowe,  a-rede  my  dremes  even. 
Lo,  thus  hit  was,  this  was  my  sweven.  290 


Mk  thoughte  thus  : — that  hit  was  May, 

And  in  the  dawning  ther  I  lay. 

Me  mette  thus,  in  my  bed  al  naked  : — ■ 


fl  loked  forth,  for  I  was  waked 
With  smale  foules  a  gret  hepe,  295 

That  had  affrayed  me  out  of  f  slepe 
Through  noyso  and  swetnesse  of  hir  song  ; 
And,  as  me  mette,  they  sate  among. 
Upon  my  chambre-roof  withoute. 
Upon  the  tyles,  fal  a-boute,  300 

And  songon,  everich  in  his  'wj-se, 
The  moste  solempne  ser^yse 
By  note,  that  ever  man,  I  trowe, 
Had  herd  ;  for  som  of  hem  song  lowe, 
Som  hye,  and  al  of  oon  acorde.  305 

To  telle  shortly,  at  00  wordo, 
Was  never  y-herd  so  swete  a  Steven, 
But  hit  had  be  a  thing  of  hevon  ; — 
So  mery  a  soun,  so  swete  entunes. 
That  certes,  for  the  tonne  of  Tewnes,  310 
I  nolde  but  I  had  herd  hem  singe  ; 
For  al  my  chambre  gan  to  ringo 
Through  singing  of  hir  amionye. 
For  instrument  nor  melodye 
Wjis  nowher  herd  yet  half  so  swete,      315 
Nor  of  acorde  half  so  mete  ; 
For  ther  was  noon  of  hem  that  feyned 
To  singe,  for  ech  of  hem  him  peyned 
*To  finde  out  mery  crafty  notes  ; 
Tliey  ne  spared  not  hir  throtes.  320 

And,  sooth  to  seyn,  my  chambre  was 
Ful  wel  depeynted,  and  with  glas 
Were  al  the  windowes  wel  y-glased, 
Ful  clore,  and  nat  an  hole  y-crascd. 
That  to  beholde  hit  was  gret  joye.         325 
For  hooUy  al  the  storie  of  Troye 
Was  in  the  glasing  y-wroght  thu.s. 
Of  Ectiir  and  +king  Priamus. 
Of  Achilles  and  f  Lamedon, 
Of  f  Medea  and  of  Jason,  330 

Of  Paris,  Eleyne,  and  Lavyne. 
And  -f-alle  the  walles  with  colours  fyne 
Were  peynted,  liothc  text  and  glose, 
■f-Of  al  tlie  Romaunce  of  the  Rose. 
My  windowes  weren  shet  echon,  335 

And  through  the  glas  the  sunne  shon 
I'pon  my  bed  with  brighte  hemes, 
With  many  glade  gilden  stremes  ; 
And  eek  the  welken  was  so  fair, 
Blew,  bright,  clere  was  the  air,  340 

And  ful  atempre,  for  sothe,  hit  was  ; 
For  nother  f  cold  nor  hoot  hit  nas, 
Ne  in  al  the  welken  was  a  cloude. 
And  as  I  lay  thus,  wonder  loude 


III.    ZU  (^ooft  of  tU  ©uc^eeee. 


87 


356 


36s 


Me  thoughte  I  lierde  an  lumte  blowe    345 
T'  assaye  his  horn,  and  for  to  knowe 
Whether  hit  were  clere  or  hors  of  sonne. 

f  I  herde  goinge,  itp  and  donne, 
Men,  hors,  honndes,  and  other  thing  ; 
And  al  men  speken  of  hunting,  ?5« 

How  they    wolde     slee    the    hert    with 

strengthe, 
And  how  tlie  hert  had,  upon  lengthe. 
So  moche  enibosed,  I  not  now  what. 
Anon-right,  whan  I  herde  that, 
How  that  they  wolde  on  hunting  go< 
I  was  right  glad,  and  vip  anoon  ; 
[I]  took  my  hors,  and  forth  I  wente 
Out  of  my  chambre  ;  I  never  stente 
Til  I  com  to  the  feld  without  e. 
Ther  overtook  I  a  gret  route 
Of  liuntes  and  eek  of  foresteres. 
With  many  relayes  and  lymeres. 
And  hyed  hem  to  the  forest  faste, 
And  I  with  hem  ;— so  at  the  laste 
I  asked  oon,  ladde  a  lymere  :— 
'  Say,  felow,  who  shal  hunte[n]  here  ? ' 
Quod  I ;  and  he  answerde  ageyn, 
'  Sir,  LhYljiiivrour  Or-tnvirn  ,' 
Quod  he,  '  and  is  heer  faste  bj-.' 
'  A  goddes  halfe,  in  good  tj-me,'  quod  I, 
•  Go  we  faste  ! '  and  gan  to  ryde.  3: 

Whan  we  came  to  the  forest-syde. 
Every  man  dide,  right  anoon, 
As  to  hunting  fil  to  doon. 
The  mayster-hunte  anoon,  fot-hoot,      3 
With  a  gret  home  blew  three  moot 
At  the  uncoupling  of  his  houndes. 
Within  a  whyl  the  hert  [y]-founde  is, 
Y-halowed,  and  rechased  faste 
Longe  tyme  ;  and  -f-at  the  laste, 
This  hert  rused  and  stal  away 
Fro  alle  the  houndes  a  pre^y  way. 
The  houndes  had  overshoto  hem  alle. 
And  were  on  a  defaute  y-falle  : 
Thcrwith  the  hunte  wonder  faste 
Blew  a  forloyn  at  the  laste. 

I  was  go  walked  fro  my  tree. 
And  as  I  wente,  ther  cam  by  me 
A  v^helj).  that  fanned  me  as  I  stood, 
That  hadde  y-folowed,  and  coude  no  good. 
Hit  com  and  creep  to  me  as  lowe,  39' 

Eight  as  hit  hadde  me  y-knowe, 
Hild  doun  his  heed  and  joyned  his  eres. 
And  leyde  al  smothe  doun  his  heres. 


380 


385 


I  wolde  ban  caught  hit,  and  anoon       395 

Hit  fledde,  and  was  fro  me  goon  ; 

And  I  him  folwed,  and  hit  forth  wente 

Doun  by  a  floury  grene  wente 

Ful  thikke  of  gras,  lul  softe  and  swete, 

With  floures  fele,  faire  under  fete,       400 

And  litel  used,  hit  seemed  thus  ; 

For  bothe  Flora  and  Zephirus, 

They  two  that  make  floures  growe, 

Had  mad  hir  dwelling  ther,  I  trowe  ; 

For  hit  was,  on  to  beholde,  4^5 

As  thogh  the  erthe  euvye  wolde 

To  be  gayer  than  the  heven, 

To  have  mo  floures,  swiche  seven 

As  in  the  welken  sterres  be. 

Hit  had  forgete  the  povertee  41" 

That  winter,  through  his  colde  morwes, 

Had  mad  hit  suffre[n],  and  his  sorwes  ; 

Al  was  forgeten,  and  that  was  sene. 

For  al  the  wode  was  waxen  grene, 

Swetnesse  of  dewe  had  mad  it  waxe.     415 

Hit  is  no  need  eek  for  to  axe 
Wher  ther  were  many  grene  greves. 
Or  thikke  of  trees,  so  ful  of  leves  ; 
And  every  tree  stood  by  hira-selve 
Fro  other  wel  ten  foot  or  twelve.  ^20 

So  grete  trees,  so  huge  of  strengthe, 
Of  foui-ty  or  fifty  fadme  lengthe. 
Clone  withouto  bough  or  stikkc. 
With  croppes  brode,  and  eek  as  thikke— 
They  were  nat  an  inche  a-sonder—      425 
That  hit  was  shad  we  over-al  under  ; 
And  many  an  hert  and  many  an  hindc 
Was  both  before  me  and  bihinde. 
Of  founes,  soures,  bulikes,  does 
Was  ful  the  wode,  and  many  roes,        43" 
And  many  squirelles,  that  sete 
Ful  bye  upon  the  trees,  and  ete. 
And  in  hir  maner  made  festes. 
Shortly,  hit  was  so  ful  of  bestes. 
That  thogh  Argus,  the  noble  countour, 
Sete  to  rekene  in  his  countoiir,  436 

And  rekene[d]  with  his  figures  ten— 
For  by  tho  figures  mowe  al  ken, 
If  they  be  crafty,  rekene  and  noumbre. 
And  telle  of  every  thing  the  noumbre— 
Yet  shidde  he  fayle  to  rekene  even      44' 
The  wondres,  me  mette  in  my  sweven. 
But  forth  they  romed  fwonder  faste 
Doun  the  wode  ;  so  at  the  laste 
I  was  war  of  a  man  in  blak,  445 


88 


^6e  (minor  (poem©. 


That  sat  and  had  y-turned  his  bak 
To  an  oke,  an  huge  tree. 
'  Lord,'  thoghte  I,  '  who  may  that  be  ? 
Wliat  ayleth  liim  to  sitten  here  V  ' 
Anoon-right  I  wente  nere  ;  450 

Than  fond  I  sitte  even  i\pright 
A  wonder  wel-faringe  knight — 
By  the  maner  me  thoiighte  so — 
Of  good  mochel,  and  ty"»K  therto. 
Of  the  age  of  four  and  twenty  yeer.      455 
I' lion  his  berde  but  litel  hoer, 
And  he  was  cloth«»i  .il  Ih  lilTtkke. 
1  staiked  even  unto  his  bakko, 
And  ther  I  stood  as  stille  as  ought, 
That,  sooth  to  sayc,  he  saw  mo  nouglit, 
For-why  lie  lieng  liis  heed  adoune.        461 
And  witjt  a  deedlysi^rwfn]  soiuie 
He  made  oi  rj-me  ten  vers  or  twelve, 
Of  a  compleynt  to  him-selvc, 
The  moste  pite,  the  nioste  rowthe,        465 
That  ever  I  herde  ;  for,  by  my  trowthe, 
Hit  was  gret  wonder  that  nature 
Might  suffre[n]  any  creature 
To  have  swich  sorwe,  and  be  not  deed. 
Pul  pitous,  pale,  and  nothing  reed,       471) 
He  sayde  a  lay,  a  maner  song, 
Withoute  note,  withoute  song, 
And  hit  was  this  ;  for  fwel  I  can 
Eeherse  hit ;  right  thus  hit  began. — 
1'  I  have  of  sorwe  so  gret  woon,  4-5 

That  joye  goto  I  never  noon, 
.  Now  that  I  see  mj'  lady  bright, 
f   Wliich  I  have  loved  with  al  my  might, 
fla  fro  me  deed,  and  is  a-goon.  f  471) 

[  '^:  Alias,  [o]  deeth  !  what  ayleth  thoo,     481 
That  thou  noldest  have  taken  me, 

"Whan  that  thou  toke  my  Imly  swetc  ? 
That  was  so  fajT,  so  fresh,  so  free. 
So  good,  that  men  may  wel  [y]-see         485 

Of  al  goodnesse  she  had  no  mete  I ' — 
Whan  he  had  mad  thus  his  complajnite, 
His  sorowfitl  herte  gan  faste  faynte. 
And  his  spirites  wexen  dede  ; 
Tlie  blood  was  fled,  for  pure  drode,       490 
Doun  to  his  herte,  to  make  him  warm — 
For  wel  hit  feled  the  herte  had  harm — 
To  wite  cek  why  hit  was  a-drad 
By  kinde,  and  for  to  make  hit  glad  ; 
For  hit  is  membre  principal  405 

Of  the  body  ;  and  that  made  al 
His  hewe  chaunge  and  wexe  grene 


And  iiale,  for  ino  blood  was  sene 
In  no  maner  lime  of  his. 

Anoon  therwith  whan  I  saw  this,     5<k> 
He  ferde  thus  evel  ther  he  sete, 
I  wente  and  stood  right  at  his  lete. 
And  grette  him,  but  he  spak  noght. 
But  argued  with  his  owne  thoght, 
And  in  liis  witte  disputed  faste  505 

Why  and  how  his  lyf  might  laste  ; 
Him  thoughte  his  sorwes  were  so  smerte 
And  laj'  so  colde  upon  his  herte  ; 
So,  through  his  sorwe  and  hevy  thoglit. 
Made  him  that  he  ne  herde  me  noght  : 
For  he  had  wel  nigh  lost  his  minde,     511 
Thogh  Pan,  that  men  clepe  god  of  kinde, 
Were  for  his  sorwes  never  so  wrooth. 

But  at  the  laste,  to  sayn  right  sootli. 
He  was  war  of  me,  how  I  stood  515 

Before  him,  and  dide  of  myii  IkmhI. 
And  fgrette  him,  as  I  best  coude. 
Debonairly,  and  no-thing  loude. 
He  sayde,  '  I  prey  thee,  be  not  wrooth, 
I  herde  thee  not,  to  sayn  the  sooth,       520 
Xc  I  saw  thee  not,  sir,  trewely.' 
,     '  A  !  goode  sir,  no  fors,'  quod  I. 
'I  am  right  soiy  if  I  have  ought 
Destroubled  yow  out  of  your  thought ; 
For-jave  me  if  I  have  mis-take.'  525 

'  Yis,  th'  amendes  is  light  to  make,' 
Quod  he,  '  for  ther  Ij-th  noon  ther-to  ; 
Ther  is  no-thing  missayd  nor  do.' 

Lo  !  how  goodly  spak  this  kniglit. 
As  it  had  been  another  wight  ;  5,^0 

He  made  it  noiither  tough  ne  queynte. 
And  I  saw  that,  and  gan  me  aquejTite 
With  him,  and  fond  him  so  tretable, 
Uight  wonder  skilful  and  resonable. 
As  me  thoghte,  for  al  his  bale.  535 

Anoon-right  I  gan  finde  a  tale 
To  him,  to  loke  wher  I  miglit  ought 
Have  more  knowing  of  his  thfmght. 

'  Sir,'  quod  I,  '  this  game  is  doon  ; 
I  holde  that  this  hert  be  goon  :  540 

Thise  huntes  conne  him  nowher  see.' 

'  I  do  no  fors  therof,'  quod  he, 
'  My  thought  is  ther-on  never  a  del.' 

'  By  our  lord,'  quod  I,  '  I  trow  yow  wel, 
Eight  so  me  thinketh  by  your  chere.    545 
But,  sir,  00  thing  wol  ye  here  ? 
Me  thinketh,  in  gret  sorwe  I  yow  see 
JBut  certes,  [good]  sir,  yif  that  ye 


III.    ZH  Q^ooft  of  tU  ©uc^eeee. 


Wolde  ought  disctire  me  your  wo, 

I  wolde,  as  wis  god  helpe  me  si>.  551) 

Amende  hit,  yif  I  can  or  may  ; 

Ye  mowe  preve  hit  by  assaj-. 

For,  hy  my  trouthe,  to  make  yow  hool, 

I  wol  do  al  my  power  hool ; 

And  telleth  me  of  yonr  sorwes  smerte, 

Paraventnre  hit  may  ese  your  herte,    556 

That  semeth  ful  sake  tinder  j'our  syde.' 

With  that  he  loked  on  me  asyde, 
As  wh<i  sayth,  '  nay,  that  wol  not  be.' 
'  Graiint  mercy,  gode  trend,'  quod  he, 
'  I  thanke  thee  that  thou  woldest  so,    561 
But  hit  may  never  the  rather  be  do. 
No  man  may  my  sorwe  glade, 
Tliat    maketh    my    hewe    to    falle    and 

fade, 
And  liath  rnyn  understonding  lorn,      565 
That  me  is  wo  that  I  was  born  ! 
May  noght  make  my  sorwes  slyde, 
Noixght  the  ren^edies  of  Qvyde  ; 
Ne  Orjjheus,  god  of  melodye, 
Ne  DedaluS,  with  f  playes  slye  ;  570 

Ne  hele  me  may  -I  phisicieu. 
Noght  ]j)i)cras,  ne  Galien  ; 
Me  is  wo  that  I  live  houres  twfilve  ; 
But  who  so  wol  assaye  him-selve 
Whether  his  herte  can  have  pite  575 

Of  any  sorwe,  lat  him  see  me. 
I  wrecche,  that  deeth  hath  niad  al  naked 
Of  alle  blisse  that  was  ever  maked, 
Y-worthe  worste  of  alle  wightes, 
That  hate  my  dayes  and  my  nightes  ;  580 
My  lyf,  my  lustes  be  me  lothe. 
For  al  welfare  and  I  be  wrothe. 
The  pure  deeth  is  so  f  my  fo, 
fThogh  I  wolde  deye,  hit  wolde  not  so  ; 
For  whan  I  folwe  hit,  hit  wol  flee  ;       585 
I  wolde  have  fhit,  hit  nil  not  me. 
This  is  my  peyne  withonte  reed, 
Alway  deying,  and  be  not  deed. 
That  fSesiphits,  that  lyth  in  helle. 
May  not  of  more  sorwe  telle.  590 

And  who  so  wiste  al,  by  my  trouthe. 
My  sorwe,  but  he  hadde  routhe 
And  pite  of  my  sorwes  smerte, 
That  man  hath  a  feendly  herte. 
For  who  so  seetli  me  first  on  morwe     595 
Ma.^'  seyn,  he  hath  [y]-met  with  sorwe  ; 
F_i>r  I  am  sorwe  and  sorwe  is  J  . 

■  A  11.1s  !  fuvl  T  wol  telle  the  why  : 


My  f  song  is  turned  to  pleyning, 

And  al  my  laughter  to  weping,  (hk) 

^ly  glade  thoghtes  to  hevinesse, 

In  travaile  is  myn  ydelnesse 

And  eek  my  reste  ;  my  wele  is  wo. 

My  good  is  harm,  and  ever-mo 

In  wrathe  is  turned  my  x^leying,  605 

And  my  delyt  in-to  sbrwing. 

Myn  hele  is  tiirned  into  seeknesse. 

In  drede  is  al  my  sikernesse. 

To  derke  is  turned  al  my  light. 

My  wit  is  foly,  my  day  is  night,  610 

My  love  is  hate,  my  sleep  waking, 

Mj'  mirthe  and  meles  is  fasting. 

My  countenaunce  is  nycete, 

And  al  abaved  wher-so  I  be. 

My  pees,  in  pleding  and  in  werre  ;        615 

Alias  !  how  mighte  I  fare  werre  ? 

'  My  boldnesse  is  turned  to  shame. 
For  fals  Fortune  hath  pleyd  a  game 
Atte  dies  with  me,  alias  !  the  whyle  ! 
The  traj'tcresse  fals  and  ful  of  gyle,      620 
That  al  behoteth  and  no-thing  halt, 
She  gotli  upright  and  yet  she  halt, 
That  baggeth  foiile  and  loketh  faire. 
The  dispitouse  debonaire, 
That  scorneth  many  a  creature  !  625 

An  j-dole  of  fals  portraitiu-e 
Is  she,  for  she  wil  sone  wrj'en  ; 
She  is  the  monstres  heed  y-wryen, 
As  filth  over  y-strawed  with  floures  ; 
Hir  moste  worship  and  hir  fflour  is     630 
To  lyen,  for  that  is  hir  nature  ; 
Withoitte  fej'th,  lawe,  or  mesure 
She  is  fals  ;  and  ever  laughinge 
"With  oon  eye,  and  that  other  wepinge. 
That  is  broght  tip,  she  set  al  doi^n.        635 
I  lykne  hir  to  the  scorpioun, 
That  is  a  fals  flatering  beste  ; 
For  witli  his  hedc  he  maketh  festi% 
Bitt  al  amid  his  flateringo 
With  his  tayle  he  wol  stinge,  O40 

And  envenyme  ;  and  so  wol  she. 
She  is  th'  onvyous  charite 
That  is  ay  fals,  and  semeth  wele  ; 
So  tnrneth  she  hir  false  whele 
Aboute,  for  it  is  no-thing  stable,  645 

Now  by  the  fjTe,  now  at  table  ; 
Ful  many  oon  hath  she  thus  y-blont. 
She  is  pley  of  enchauntement. 
That  semeth  oon  and  is  nat  so, 


yo 


C^e  Qllinor  ^oetne. 


The  false  theef !  what  hath  she  do,       650 
Trowest  thou  ?    by  our  lord,  I  wol  thee 

seye. 
Atte  ches  with  me  she  gan  to  pleye  ; 
With  hir  false  dranghtes  divers 
She  stal  on  me,  and  took  my  fers 
And  whan  I  saw  my  fers  aweye,  655 

Alas  !  I  couthe  no  lenger  pleye, 
But  seyde,  "  farwel,  swote,  y-wis, 
And  farwel  al  that  ever  ther  is  !  " 
Therwith  Fortune  seyde  "  chek  here  !  " 
And   "  mate  !  "    in   f  mid  pointe  of  the 

chekkere  660 

With  a  poune  erraunt,  alias  ! 
Pul  citiftier  to  pley  she  was 
Than  Athalus,  that  made  the  game 
First  of  the  ches  :  so  was  his  name. 
But  god  wolde  I  had  ones  or  twycs       665 
Y-koud  and  knowe  tlie  jeupardycs 
That  conde  the  Grck  Pithagores  ! 
I  shulde  have  pleyd  the  bet  at  ches. 
And  kept  my  fers  the  bet  therby ; 
And  thogli  wherto  ?  for  trewely  670 

I  hold  that  wish  nat  worth  a  stree  . 
Hit  had  be  never  the  bet  for  me. 
For  Fortune  can  so  many  a  wj'le, 
Ther  be  but  fewe  can  hir  begyle. 
And  eek  she  is  the  las  to  blame  ;  675 

My-self  I  woldc  have  do  the  same, 
Before  god,  hadde  I  been  as  she  ; 
She  oghto  the  more  excused  be. 
For  this  I  say  yet  more  therto, 
Hadde  I  be  god  and  mighte  have  do     680 
My  wille,  whan  fmy  fers  she  caughte, 
I  wolde  have  drawe  the  same  draughte. 
For,  also  wis  god  yive  me  reste, 
I  dar  wel  swere  she  took  the  beste  ! 
'But    through  that  draughte  I  have 

lorn  685 

My  blisse  ;  alias  !  that  I  was  bom  ! 
For  evermore,  I  trowe  trewly. 
For  al  my  wil,  my  lust  hoolly 
Is  turned  ;  but  yet,  what  to  done  ? 
By  our  lord,  hit  is  to  deye  sone  !  690 

For  no-thing  I  [ne]  leve  it  noght. 
But  live  and  deye  right  in  this  thoght. 
fTher  nis  planete  in  firmament, 
Ne  in  air,  ne  in  erthe,  noon  element. 
That  they  ne  j-ive  me  a  yift  echoon       695 
Of  wepLng,  whan  I  am  aloon. 
For  whan  that  I  a^•J•se  me  wel, 


And  bethenke  me  every-del. 

How  that  ther  Ivth  in  rekening. 

In  my  sorwe,  for  no-thing  ;  71  x) 

And  how  ther  leveth  no  gladncsse 

May  gladde  me  of  my  distresse. 

And  how  I  have  lost  suffisance. 

And  therto  I  have  no  plesance. 

Than  maj'  I  say,  I  have  right  noght.    705 

And  whan  al  this  falleth  in  my  thoght, 

Alias  !  than  am  I  overcome  ! 

For  that  is  doon  is  not  to  come  ! 

I  have  more  sorowe  than  Tantale.' 

And  whan  I  herde  him  telle  this  tale 
Thus  pitously,  as  I  yow  telle,  71 1 

Unnethe  mighte  I  lenger  dwelle, 
Hit  dide  myn  herte  so  moche  wo. 

'  A  !  good  sir  I '  quod  I,  '  say  not  so  ! 
Have  som  pite  on  your  nature  7i,s 

That  formed  yow  to  creature  : 
Remembre  yow  of  Socrates  ; 
For  he  ne  counted  nat  three  strees 
Of  noght  that  Fortune  coude  do.' 
j       '  No,'  quod  he,  '  I  can  not  so.'  720 

'  Why  so  ?  good  sir  !  f  parde  ! '  quod  I ; 
' ''  Ne  say  noght  so,  for  trewely, 

Thogh  j'e  had  lost  the  ferses  twelve, 
j  And  ye  for  sorwe  mordred  your-selve, 
'  Ye  sholde  be  dampned  in  this  cas  7^5 

]  By  as  good  right  as  Medea  was, 
;  That  slow  hir  children  for  Jason  ; 
And  Phyllis  fals  for  Demophon 
Heng  hir-self,  so  weylaway  ! 
For  he  had  broke  his  terme-da\-  7.^0 

To  come  to  hir.     Another  rage 
Had  Dydo,  f  quene  eek  of  Cartage, 
That  slow  hir-self,  for  Eneas 
Was  fals  ;  [a  !]  whiche  a  fool  she  was  ! 
And  Ecquo  dyed  for  Narcisus  735 

Nolde  nat  love  hir  ;  and  right  thus 
Hath  many  another  foly  don. 
And  for  Dalida  dyed  Sampson, 
That  slow  him-self  with  a  pilere. 
But  ther  is  i  noon  a-lyve  here  740 

Wolde  for  a  fers  make[n]  this  wo  ! ' 

'  Why  so  ?  '  quod  he  ;  '  hit  is  nat  so  ; 
Thou  wost^ful  litel  what  thou  menest ; 
I  have  lost  more  than  thou  wenest.' 
'  Lo,  "t^sir,  how  may  that  be  ?  '  quod  I ;  745 
'  Good  sir,  tel  me  al  hoolly 
In  what  wyse,  how,  why,  and  wherfore 
That  ye  have  thus  your  blisse  lore.' 


Ill,    Z^t  QE>ooft  of  tU  ®uc6e00e. 


'  Blj-tlily,'  quod  he,  '  com  sit  adoiiu  ; 
I  telle  thee  tip  condicioun  75" 

That  thou  fhoolly,  with  al  thy  wit, 
Do  thyn  entent  to  herkene  hit.' 
'  Yis,  sir.'     '  Swere  thy  trouthe  ther-to.' 
'  Gladly.'     '  Do  than  holde  her-to  ! ' 
'  I  shai  right  blythly,  so  god  me  save,   755 
HooUy,  with  al  the  witte  I  have, 
Here  yow,  as  wel  as  I  can.' 

'  A  goddes  half ! '  quod  he,  and  began  : — 
'  Sir,'  quod  he,  '  sith  first  I  couthe 
Have  any  maner  wit  fro  youthe,  760 

Or  kiudely  understonding 
To  comprehende,  in  any  thing, 
What  love  was,  in  myn  owne  wit, 
Dredeles,  I  have  ever  yit 
Be  tributarj',  and  yiven  rente  7(>5 

To  love  hoolly  with  gode  entente. 
And  through  plesaunce  become  his  thral, 
With  good  wil,  body,  herte,  and  al. 
Al  this  I  putte  in  his  servage. 
As  to  my  lorde,  and  dide  homage  ;        770 
And  ful  devoutly  i  prayde  him  to, 
He  shulde  besette  myn  herte  so. 
That  it  plesaunce  to  him  were, 
And  worship  to  my  lady  dere. 

'  And  this  was  longe,  and  many  a  yecr 
Or  that  myn  herte  was  set  o-wher,        776 
That  I  did  thus,  and  niste  why  ; 
I  trowe  hit  cam  me  kindely. 
Paraunter  I  was  therto  fable 
As  a  whyt  wal  or  a  table  ;  7H0 

For  hit  is  redy  to  cacche  and  take 
Al  that  men  wil  therin  make, 
Wlicr-so  men  wol  portreye  or  peynte. 
Be  the  werkes  never  so  queynte. 

'  And  thilke  tyme  I  ferde  fso  785 

I  was  able  to  have  lemed  the. 
And  to  have  coud  as  wel  or  better, 
Paraunter,  other  art  or  letter. 
But  for  love  cam  first  in  my  thought, 
Therfore  I  forgat  it  nought.  790 

I  chees  love  to  my  firste  craft, 
Therfor  hit  is  with  me  [y]-laft. 
Forwhy  I  took  hit  of  so  yong  age. 
That  malice  hadde  my  corage 
Nat  that  tyme  turned  to  no-thing         795 
Through  to  mochel  knowlechiug. 
For  that  tyme  Yoiithe,  my  maistresse. 
Governed  me  in  ydelnesse  ; 
For  hit  was  in  my  firste  youthe, 


And  tho  ful  litel  good  I  couthe  ;  800 

For  al  my  werkes  were  flittinge, 

fAnd  al  my  thoghtes  varyiuge  ; 

Al  were  to  me  y-liche  good. 

That  I  knew  tho  ;  hut  thus  hit  stood. 

'  Hit  happed  that  I  cam  fa  day         805 
Into  a  place,  ther  fl  say, 
Trewly,  the  fayrest  companye 
Of  ladies,  that  ever  man  with  ye 
Had  seen  togedi-es  in  00  idace. 
Shal  I  clepe  hit  hap  other  gi-ace  810 

That  broghte  me  ther  ?  nay,  but  Fortune, 
That  is  to  lyen  ful  comune. 
The  false  trayteresse,  pervers, 
God  wolde  I  coude  clepe  hir  wers  ! 
For  now  she  worcheth  me  ful  wo,  815 

And  I  wol  telle  sone  why  so. 

'  Among  thise  ladies  thus  echoon, 
Soth  to  sejTi,  I  saw  [ther]  oon 
That  was  lyk  noon  of  [al]  the  route  ; 
For  I  dar  swere,  withoute  dovite,  820 

That  as  the  someres  sonne  bright 
Is  fairer,  clerer,  and  hath  more  light 
Than  any  fplanete,  [is]  in  hcven. 
The  mone,  or  the  sterres  seven, 
For  al  the  worlde,  so  had  she  825 

Surmounted  hem  alle  of  beaute, 
Of  maner  and  of  comlinesse, 
Of  stature  and  fwel  set  gladnesse, 
Of  goodlihede  fso  wel  beseye — 
Shortly,  what  shal  I  more  seye  ?  830 

By  god,  and  by  his  halwes  twelve, 
It  was  my  swete,  right  as  hir-selve  ! 
She  had  so  stedfast  countenaunce. 
So  noble  port  and  meyntenaunce. 
And  Love,  that  had  herd  my  bone,        835 
Had  espyed  me  thus  sone. 
That  she  ful  sone,  in  my  thoght. 
As  helpe  me  god,  so  was  y-caught 
So  sodenly,  that  I  ne  took 
No  maner  freed  but  at  hir  look  84(; 

And  at  myn  herte  ;  for-why  hir  eycn 
So  gladly,  I  trow,  myn  herte  seyen. 
That  purely  tho  myn  owne  thoght 
Seyde  hit  were  -jbet  serve  hir  for  noght 
Than  with  another  to  he  wel.  845 

And  hit  was  sooth,  for,  everydel, 
I  wil  anoon-right  telle  thee  why. 

'  I  saw  hir  daunce  so  comlily, 
Carole  and  singe  so  swetely, 
Laughe  and  pleye  so  womanly.  850 


92 


^U  Qllmor  (poettt0. 


And  loke  so  tlelionairly, 

So  goodly  speke  and  so  frendly, 

Tliat  certes,  I  trow,  that  overmore 

Nas  seyn  so  Ijlisful  a  tresore. 

For  ever*'  heer  [np]ou  hir  hede,  855 

Soth  to  sejTi,  hit  was  not  rode, 

Ne  nouther  yelw,  ne  broun  hit  nas  ; 

Me  thoghte,  most  lyk  gold  hit  was. 

And  whiche  eyen  mj-  la<ly  hadde  ! 

Debonair,  goode,  glade,  and  sadde,       860 

Simple,  of  good  mochel.  noght  to  wyde  ; 

Therto  hir  look  nas  not  a-syde, 

Ne  overthwert,  but  beset  so  wel, 

Hit  drew  and  took  np,  everydel, 

Alle  that  on  hir  gan  beholde.  865 

Hir  cyen  semed  anoon  she  wolde 

Have  mercy  ;  fooles  wenden  so  : 

But  hit  was  never  the  rather  do. 

Hit  nas  no  cotintrefeted  thing. 

It  was  hir  owne  pure  loking,  870 

Tliat  the  goddesse,  dame  Nature, 

Had  made  hem  opene  by  mesnre, 

And  close  :  for.  were  she  never  so  glad, 

Hir  loking  was  not  foly  sprad. 

No  wildely.  thogh  that  she  pleyde  ;       875 

But  ever,  me  thoghte,  hir  eyen  seyde, 

"  By  god,  my  wrathe  is  al  for-yive  !  " 

'  Therwith  hir  listo  so  wel  to  live. 
That  dulnessc  was  of  hir  a-drad. 
She  nas  to  sobre  ne  to  glad  ;  880 

In  alle  thinges  more  mesure 
Had  never,  I  trowe,  creature. 
But  many  oon  with  hir  loke  she  herte. 
And  that  sat  hir  ful  lyte  at  herte, 
For  she  knew  no-thing  of  hir  thoght ;  885 
But  whether  she  knew,  or  knew  hit  noght, 
Algate  she  ne  roghte  of  hem  a  stree  ! 
To  gete  hir  love  no  ner  nas  he 
Tliat  woned  at  home,  than  he  in  Inde  ; 
The  formest  was  alway  behinde.  890 

But  gode  folk,  over  al  other. 
She  loved  as  man  maj*  do  his  brother  ; 
Of  whiche  love  she  was  wonder  large, 
In  skilful  places  that  hero  charge. 

'  f  Which  a  visage  had  she  ther-to  !  8()5 
Alias  !  myn  herte  is  wonder  wo 
That  I  ne  can  discry\-en  hit  ! 
Me  lakketh  bothe  English  and  wit 
For  to  nndo  hit  at  the  fulle  ; 
And  eek  mj-  spirits  be  so  dullc  grxi 

So  greet  a  thing  for  to  de^-jse. 


I  have  no  wit  that  can  siiffyse 

To  c(>mprehende[n]  hir  beaute  ; 

But  thus  moche  dar  I  seyn,  that  she 

Was  fro'ly,  fresh,  and  lyvely  hewed  ;  905 

And  every  day  hir  beaute  newed. 

And  negh  hir  face  was  alder-best ; 

For  certes,  Nature  had  swich  lest 

To  make  that  fair,  that  trewly  she 

Was  hir  cheef  patron  of  beautee,  910 

And  cheef  ensample  of  al  hir  werke. 

And  moustre  ;  for,  be  hit  never  so  derke. 

Me  thinketh  I  see  hir  ever-mo. 

And  yet  more-over,  thogh  alle  tho 

That  over  lived  were  now  a-lyve,  915 

[They]  ne  sholde  have  founde  to  discryve 

In  al  hir  face  a  wikked  signe  ; 

For  hit  was  sad,  simple,  and  benigne. 

'  And  which  a  goodly  softe  speche 
Had  that  swete,  my  lyves  leche  !  920 

So  frondlj',  and  so  wel  y-gronndeil, 
Ui>  al  resoun  so  wel  y-founded, 
And  so  tretable  to  alle  gode, 
That  I  dar  swere  fby  the  rode, 
Of  eloquence  was  never  founde  925 

So  swete  a  sowninge  facoimde. 
No  trewer  touged,  ne  scorned  lasse, 
Ne  bet  coude  hele  ;  that,  by  the  masse 
I  durste  swere,  thogh  the  pope  hit  songe, 
That  ther  was  never  f  through  hir  tonge 
Man  ne  woman  gretly  harmed  ;  931 

As  for  hir,  [ther]  was  al  harm  hid  ; 
Ne  lasse  flatering  in  hir  wordc, 
Tliat  piirely,  hir  simi:)le  recordc 
Was  founde  as  trewe  as  any  bonde,      935 
Or  trouthe  of  any  mannes  honde. 
Ne  chyde  she  coude  never  a  del. 
That  knoweth  al  the  world  fvil  wel. 

'  But  swich  a  fairnesse  of  a  nekke 
Had  that  swete,  that  boon  nor  brekke 
Nas  ther  non  sene,  that  mis-sat.  941 

Hit  was  whj-t,  smothe,  streght,  and  -fflat, 
Witliouten  hole  ;  t'ln^  canel-boon, 
As  bj-  seming,  had  she  noon. 
Hir  throtc,  as  I  have  now  memoire,     945 
Semed  a  round  tour  of  y^"oire. 
Of  good  gretnesse,  and  noght  to  grete. 

'  And  gode  faire  WnvrE  she  hete. 
That  was  my  lady  name  right. 
She  was  bothe  fair  and  bright,  c)5() 

.She  hadde  not  hir  name  wrong. 
Eight  faire  shuldres,  and  body  long 


III.    ZU  (§00^  of  ^^^  ©uc^eeee. 


93 


She  hadde,  and  armes,  every  litli 
Tattish,  llessliy,  not  greet  therwith  ; 
Eight  whyte  handes,  and  nayles  rede,  955 
Rounde  brestes  ;  and  of  good  brede 
Hir  hippes  were,  a  streight  flat  bak. 
I  knew  on  hir  non  other  lak 
That  al  hir  limmes  nere  fsewing. 
In  as  fer  as  I  had  knowing.  960 

'  Therto  she  coude  so  wel  pleye, 
Whan  that  hir  liste,  that  I  dar  seye, 
That  she  was  lyk  to  torche  bright, 
That  every  man  may  take  of  light 
Ynogh,  and  hit  hath  never  the  lesse.  965 

'  Of  maner  and  of  comlinesse 
Eight  so  ferde  my  lady  dere  ; 
For  every  wight  of  hir  nianere 
Might  cacche  ynogh,  if  that  he  wolde. 
If  he  had  eyen  hir  to  beholde.  97° 

For  I  dar  f  sweren,  if  that  she 
Had  among  ten  thousand  be, 
She  wolde  have  be,  at  the  leste, 
A  cheef  mirour  of  al  the  feste, 
Thogh  they  had  stonden  in  a  rowe,      97s 
To  mennes  eyen  that  cotide  have  knowe. 
For  wher-so  men  had  pleyd  or  waked. 
Me  thoghte  the  felawship  as  naked 
Withouten  hir,  that  saw  I  ones, 
As  a  ooroune  withovite  stones.  9'So 

Trewely  she  was,  to  myn  yij, 
The  soleyn  fenix  of  Arabye, 
For  ther  liveth  never  but  oon  ; 
Nc  swich  as  she  no  knew  I  noon. 

'  To  speke  of  goodnesse  ;  trewly  she  9<S5 
Had  as  moche  dcbonairte 
As  ever  had  Hester  in  tlie  bible, 
h^.     And  more,  if  more  were  possible. 
*~  And,  soth  to  seyne,  therwith-al 

She  had  a  wit  so  general,  99" 

So  hool  enclyned  to  alle  gode. 
That  al  hir  wit  was  set,  liy  the  rode, 
Withoute  malice,  upon  gladnesse  ; 
f  Tlierto  I  saw  never  yet  a  lesse 
Harmful,  than  she  was  in  doing.  99s 

I  sey  nat  that  she  ne  had  knowing 
What  f  was  harm  ;  or  elles  she 
Had  coud  no  good,  so  thinketh  me. 

'  And  trewly,  for  to  speke  of  trouthe. 
But  she  had  had,  hit  had  be  routhe.   1000 
Therof  she  had  so  moche  hir  del — 
And  I  dar  seyn  and  swere  hit  wel — 
That  Trouthe  him-pelf,  over  al  and  al, 


Had  chose  his  maner  principal 

In  hir,  that  was  his  resting-place.       11x35 

Ther-to  she  hadde  the  moste  grace. 

To  have  stedftvst  perseveraunce. 

And  esy,  atempre  governaunce, 

That  ever  I  knew  or  wiste  yit ; 

So  pure  suffraunt  was  hir  wit.  1010 

And  reson  gladly  she  understood, 

Hit  folowed  wel  she  coude  good. 

She  used  gladly  to  do  wel ; 

These  were  hir  maners  every-del. 

'  Therwith  she  loved  so  wel  right,    1015 
She  wrong  do  wolde  to  no  wight ; 
No  wight  might  do  hir  no  shame, 
She  loved  so  wel  hir  owne  name. 
Hir  luste  to  holde  no  wight  in  honde  ; 
Ne,  be  thou  siker,  she  fnolde  fonde    1020 
To  holde  no  wight  in  balannce. 
By  half  word  ne  by  countenaunce, 
But-if  men  wolde  upon  hir  lye  ; 
Ne  sende  men  in-to  Walakye, 
To  Pi-uyse  and  in-to  Tartarye,  loJ^ 

To  Alisaundre,  ne  in-to  Turkye, 
And  bidde  him  faste,  anoon  that  he 
Go  hoodies  fto  the  drye  see, 
And  come  boom  by  the  Carrenare  ; 
And  seye,  "  Sir,  be  now  right  ware      1030 
That  I  may  of  yow  here  seyn 
Worship,  or  that  ye  come  ageyn  ! " 
She  ne  Tised  no  suche  knakkes  smale. 
'  But  wherfor  that  I  telle  my  tale  ? 
Eight  on  this  same,  as  I  have  seyd,     1035 
Was  hooUy  al  my  love  leyd  ; 
For  certes,  she  was,  that  swete  wyf. 
My  sivfRsauuce,  my  lust,  my  lyf, 
Myn  hap,  myn  hele,  and  al  my  blisse, 
My  worldes  welfare  and  my  flisse,     1040 
And  I  hirs  hooUy,  everydel.' 

'  By  our  lord,'  quod  I,  '  I  trowe  yow  wel! 
Hardely,  your  love  was  wel  beset, 
I  not  how  ye  mighte  have  do  bet.' 
'  Bet?  ne  no  wight  so  wel ! '  quod  he.  1045 
'  I  trowe  hit,  sir,'  quod  I,  '  parde  ! ' 
'  Nay,  leve  hit  wel ! '    '  Sir,  so  do  I  ; 
I  leve  yow  wel,  that  trewely 
Yow  thoghte,  that  she  was  the  beste, 
And  to  boholde  the  alderfaireste,         1050 
Wlio  so  had  loked  fwith  your  eyen.' 

'  With  myn  ?  nay,  alle  that  hir  seyen 
Seyde,  and  swore[n]  hit  was  so. 
And  thogh  they  ne  hadde,  I  wolde  tho 


94 


ZU  Qfllmor  (potma. 


Have  loved  best  mj-  ladj-  frc,  1(155 

Thogli  I  had  had  al  the  heantee 

That  ever  had  Alcipyades, 

And  al  the  strengthe  of  Ercules, 

And  therto  had  the  worthinesse 

Of  Alisaundre,  and  al  the  richesse      1060 

That  ever  was  in  Babiloyne, 

In  Cartage,  or  in  Macedoyne, 

Or  in  Rome,  or  in  Ifinive  ; 

Antl  therto  al-so  hardy  bo 

As  was  Ector,  so  have  T  joye,  1065 

That  Achilles  slow  at  Troye— 

And  tlierfor  was  he  slayn  also 

In  a  temple,  for  botho  two 

Were  slayn,  he  and  f  Antilogug, 

And  so  seyth  Daros  Frigius,  1070 

For  love  of  [hir]  Polixena— 

Or  been  as  wj-s  as  Minerva, 

I  wolde  ever,  withonto  drede. 

Have  loved  hir,  for  I  mosto  node  ! 

"  Nede  !  "  nay,  f  I  gabbo  now,  1075 

ffoght  "  nede,"  and  I  wol  telle  how. 

For  of  good  willc  myn  herte  hit  wolde, 

And  eok  to  love  hir  I  was  holdo 

As  for  the  fairest  and  the  beste. 

■  She  was  as  good,  so  have  I  resto,   1080 
As  ever  was  Penolopo  of  Grece, 
Or  as  the  noble  ^s-j'*'  lAicrece, 
That  was  the  beste — ho  telleth  thus, 
The  Eomain  Tj-tus  Livius — 
She  was  as  good,  and  no-thing  lyke,  1085 
Thogh  hir  stories  be  autentyke  ; 
Algate  she  was  as  trewe  as  she. 

'  But  wherfor  that  I  telle  thee 
WHian  I  first  my  lady  sey  ? 
I  was  right  yong,  [the]  sooth  to  soy,   i<x)<) 
And  fnl  gret  need  I  hadde  to  leme  ; 
AVhan  my  herte  wolde  yeme 
To  love,  it  was  a  greet  empryse. 
But  as  my  wit  coude  best  sufiyse. 
Alter  my  j-onge  childly  wit,  1095 

AVithoute  drede,  I  besettc  hit 
To  love  hir  in  my  beste  wyse, 
To  do  hir  worship  and  ser^■J'se 
That  I  ftbo  coude,  by  my  trouthe, 
Withoute  feyning  outher  slouthe  ;       i  ux) 
For  wonder  fajTi  I  wolde  hir  see. 
So  mochel  hit  amended  me. 
That,  whan  I  saw  hir  first  a^morwe, 
I  was  warished  of  al  my  sorwe 
Of  al  day  after,  til  hit  were  eve  ;  1105 


Me  thoghte  no-thing  mighte  me  greve, 
Were  my  sorwes  never  so  smerte. 
And  yit  she  sit  so  in  mjai  herte, 
Tliat,  by  my  trouthe,  I  nolde  noght, 
For  al  this  worlde,  out  of  my  thoght  mo 
Leve  my  lady  ;  no,  trewly  ! ' 

'  Now,  by  my  trouthe,  sir,'  quod  I, 
'  Me  thinketh  ye  have  such  a  chaunce 
As  shrift  withoute  rcpentaunce.' 

'  Repentaunce  !  nay  fy,'  quod  he  ;     11 15 
'  Shulde  I  now  repente  me 
To  love  ?  nay,  certes,  than  were  I  wol 
Wers  than  was  Achitofel, 
Or  Anthenor,  so  have  I  joye. 
The  traj'toiir  that  betraysed  Troye,     1 120 
Or  the  false  Genelon, 
Ho  that  purchased  the  treson 
Of  Rowland  and  of  Olivere. 
Nay,  whyl  I  am  a-lj-ve  here 
I  nil  foryete  hir  never-mo.'  1125 

'  Now,  gode  sir,'  quod  I  [right]  tho, 
'  Ye  han  wel  told  mo  her-before. 
It  is  no  need  reherse  hit  more 
How  ye  sawe  hir  first,  and  wliere  ; 
But  wolde  ye  telle  me  the  manere,      1130 
To  hir  which  was  your  firste  speche — 
Therof  I  wolde  yow  be-seche — 
And  how  she  knewo  first  your  thoglit, 
Wliether  ye  loved  hir  or  noght. 
And  telleth  me  eek  what  ye  have  lore  ; 
I  herde  yow  telle  her-before.'  1 1  ?6 

'  Ye,'  seydo  he,  '  thou  nost  what  thou 
menest ; 
I  have  lost  more  than  thou  wenest.' 

'  AVhat  los  is  that,  [sir]  ?  '  quod  I  tho  ; 
'  Nil  she  not  love  yow  ?  is  hit  so  ?        1 140 
Or  have  ye  oght  [y-]doon  amis. 
That  she  hath  left  yow  ?  is  hit  this  ? 
For  goddes  love,  tel  me  al.' 

'  Before  god,'  quod  he,  '  and  I  shal. 
I  saye  right  as  I  have  seyd,  1 145 

On  hir  was  al  my  love  leyd  ; 
And  yet  she  niste  hit  fnever  a  del 
Noght  longe  tyme,  leve  hit  wel. 
For  be  right  siker,  I  divrste  noght       1149 
For  al  this  worlde  telle  hir  my  thoght. 
No  I  wolde  have  wratthed  hir,  trewly. 
For  wostow  why  ?  she  was  lady 
Of  the  body  ;  she  had  the  herte. 
And  who  hath  that,  may  not  asterte. 

'  Biit,  for  to  kepe  me  fro  ydelnesse,  1155 


III.    ZU  (^ooft  of  tU  ©uc^eeee. 


95 


Trewly  I  did  my  besinesse 

To  make  songes,  as  I  best  coude, 

And  ofte  tyme  I  song  hem  loude  ; 

And  made  songes  a  gret  del, 

Al-thogh  I  coude  not  make  so  wel        1160 

Songes,  ne  knows  the  art  al, 

As  coude  Lamekes  sone  Tubal, 

That  fond  out  first  the  art  of  songe  ; 

For,  as  his  brothers  hamers  ronge 

Upon  his  anvelt  up  and  doun,  1165 

Therof  he  took  the  firste  soun  ; 

But  G-rekes  seyu,  Pictagoras, 

That  he  the  firste  finder  was 

Of  the  art  ;  Aurora  telleth  so. 

But  therof  no  fors,  of  hem  two.  1170 

Algates  songes  thus  I  made 

Of  my  feling,  niyn  herte  to  glade  ; 

And  lo  !  this  was  [the]  altlier-flrste, 

I  not  wher  [that]  hit  were  the  werste. — 

II  "Lord,  hit  maketh  niyn  herte  light. 
Whan  I  thenke  on  that  swete  wight  11 76 

That  is  so  semely  on  to  see  ; 

And  wisshe  to  god  hit  might  so  be, 
That  she  wolde  holde  me  for  liir  knight, 
My  lady,  that  is  so  fair  and  bright !  " — 

•  Now  have  I  told  thee,  sooth  to  saye, 
My  firste  song.     Upon  a  daye  1182 

I  bethoghte  me  what  wo 
And  sorwe  that  I  suftred  tho 
For  hir,  and  yet  she  wiste  hit  noght,  1185 
Ne  telle  hir  durste  I  nat  my  thoght. 
"  Alias  ! "  thoghte  I,  '•  I  can  no  reed  ; 
And,  biit  I  telle  hir,  I  fnam  but  deed  ; 
And  if  I  telle  hir,  to  seye  f  sooth, 
I  am  a-dred  she  wol  be  wrooth  ;  iigo 

Alias  !  what  shal  I  thanne  do  ?  " 

'  In  this  debat  I  was  so  wo, 
Me  thoghte  myn  herte  braste  a-tweyn  ! 
So  atte  laste,  soth  to  seyu, 
I  me  bethoghte  that  nature  1195 

Ne  formed  never  in  creature 
So  moche  beaute,  trewely. 
And  bounte,  withouten  mercy. 

'In  hope  of  that,  my  tale  I  tolde 
With  sorwe,  as  that  I  never  sholde,    1200 
For  nedes  ;  and,  maugree  my  heed, 
I  moste  have  told  hir  or  be  deed. 
I  not  wel  how  that  I  began, 
Ftil  evel  reherse[n]  hit  I  can  ; 
And  eek,  as  helpe  me  god  with-al,       1205 
I  trowe  hit  was  in  the  dismal. 


That  was  the  ten  woundes  of  Egipte  ; 

For  many  a  word  I  over-skipte 

In  my  tale,  for  pvire  fere 

Lest  my  wordes  n^is-set  were.  1210 

With  sorweful  herte,  and  woundes  dede, 

Softe  and  quaking  for  pure  drede 

And  shame,  and  stinting  in  my  tale 

For  ferde,  and  myn  hewe  al  pale, 

Ful  ofte  I  wex  bothe  pale  and  reed  ;     i-'i5 

Bowing  to  hir,  I  heng  the  heed  ; 

I  durste  nat  ones  loke  hir  on, 

For  wit,  manere,  and  al  was  gon. 

I  seyde  "  niercy  !  "  and  no  more  ; 

Hit  nas  no  game,  hit  sat  me  sore         1220 

'  So  atte  laste,  sooth  to  seyn, 
Wlian  that  myn  herte  was  come  ageyn. 
To  telle  shortly  al  my  speehe, 
With  hool  herte  I  gan  hir  beseche 
That  she  wolde  be  my  lady  swete  ;       1225 
And  swor,  and  gan  hir  hertely  lieto 
Ever  to  be  stedfast  and  trewe. 
And  love  hir  alwey  freshly  newe, 
And  never  other  lady  have, 
And  al  hir  worship  for  to  save  123" 

As  I  best  coude  ;  I  swor  hir  this — 
"  For  yoiires  is  al  that  ever  ther  is 
For  evermore,  myn  herte  swete  ! 
And  never  i  false  yow,  but  I  mete, 
I  nil,  as  wis  god  helpe  me  so  !  "  1235  . 

'  And  whan  I  had  my  tale  y-do, 
God  wot,  she  acounted  nat  a  stree 
Of  al  my  tale,  so  thoghte  me. 
To  telle  shortly  fas  hit  is, 
Trewly  hir  answere,  hit  was  this  ;       1240 
I  can  not  now  wel  counterfete 
Hir  wordes,  biit  this  was  the  grete 
Of  hir  answere  ;  she  sayde,  "  nay" 
Al-outerly.     Alias  !  that  day 
The  sorwe  I  suffred,  and  the  wo  !         1245 
That  trewly  Cassandra,  that  so 
Bewayled  the  destruccioun 
Of  Troye  and  of  Ilioun, 
Had  never  swich  sorwe  as  I  tho. 
I  durste  no  more  say  therto  1250 

For  pure  fere,  but  stal  away  ; 
And  thus  I  lived  ful  many  a  day  : 
That  trewely,  I  hadde  no  need 
Ferther  than  my  beddes  heed 
Never  a  day  to  seehe  sorwe  ;  1255 

I  fond  hit  redy  every  morwe, 
For- why  I  loved  hir  in  no  gere. 


96 


ZU  QUmot  (poctne. 


'  So  hit  befel,  another  yere, 
I  thoughte  ones  I  wohle  fondo 
To  do  hir  knowe  and  imderstonde       i.''x> 
My  wo  ;  and  she  wol  nndcrstood 
Tliat  I  ne  wilned  thing  hut  good, 
And  worship,  and  to  kope  liir  name 
Over  fal  thing,  and  drede  hir  sluune, 
And  was  so  hesy  hir  to  serve  ; —  1265 

And  pite  were  I  shuhle  sterve, 
Sith  that  I  wihied  niM«n  harm,  y-wis. 
So  wl)an  my  hidy  knew  al  this, 
My  lady  yaf  me  al  hooUy 
The  noble  yift  of  hir  mercy,  1270 

Saving  hir  worship,  by  al  weyes  ; 
Dredles,  I  nn/ue  noon  other  weyes. 
And  therwitli  she  yaf  me  a  ring  ; 
I  trowe  hit  was  the  firste  thing  ; 
But  if  myn  lierte  was  y-waxo  i  J75 

Glad,  that  is  no  need  to  axe  ! 
As  helpe  me  go<l,  1  was  jvs  blj'vo, 
Eeysed,  as  fro  ilethe  to  lyve. 
Of  alle  hajipes  the  alder-beste. 
The  gladdest  and  tlic  moste  at  reste.   1280 
For  trewely,  that  swute  wight, 
Wlian  I  had  wrong  and  she  the  right, 
She  wolde  alwcy  so  goodely 
For-yevo  me  so  debonairly. 
In  alle  my  yonthe,  in  alle  channce,     1J85 
She  took  me  in  hir  governauuco. 

'  Thcrwith  she  was  alway  so  trewo, 
Our  joye  was  ever  y-liche  newe  ; 
Our  hertes  weni  so  even  a  payre. 
That  never  nas  that  oon  contrayre      uyo 
To  that  other,  for  no  wo. 
For  sothe,  y-lichc  they  sufFred  tho 
Oo  blisse  and  eek  00  sorwe  bothe  ; 
Y-liche    they    were    bothe    gladde    and 

wrothe  ; 
Al  was  us  oon,  withonte  were.  1295 

And  thus  we  lived  ful  many  a  yere 


So  wel,  I  can  nat  telle  how.' 

'  Sir,'  qnod  I,  '  wher  is  she  now  '^  ' 
'  '  Now  ! '  (juod  he,  and  stinte  anoon. 

Therwitli  he  wex  as  deed  as  stoon.  i,v>o 

And  seyde,  '  alias  !  that  1  was  bore  I 
:  That  was  the  los,  that  her-before 
'  I  tolde  thee,  that  I  had  lorn. 

Bethenk  how  I  seyde  her-beforn,  1304 

!  "  Thou  wost  ful  litel  what  thou  menest ; 

I  have  lost  more  than  thou  wenest " — 
!  God  wot,  alias  !  right  that  was  she  ! ' 

'  Alias  !  sir,  how  ?  what  may  that  be  y ' 
!  '  She  is  deed  ! '  '  Nay  ! '  '  Yis,  by  my 
'  trouthe  ! ' 

!  '  Is  that  your  los  ?  bv  yod,  hit  is  r()utl^f^  ! ' 
]       And  with  that  worili,  right  anoon,  i.^i  i 

They  gan  to  strake  forth  ;  al  was  do<m, 

For  that  tj-me,  the  hert-hunting. 
I        \yitb  Miyt   me  thoghte^  that  thi^  kiny 

Gan  ['luikly]  hoomward  for  to  rydf     U15 

Unto  a  place  -ftlier  besyde, 

■\Vhich  was  from  us  but  a  lyte. 

A  long  castel  with  walles  whyte. 

By  sej-nt  Johan  !  on  a  riche  hil, 
,  As  me  mette  ;  but  thus  it  fil.  1320 

Right  thus  me  mette,  as  1  yow  telle. 

That  in  the  castel  fwas  a  belle, 

^^llir  ''•-'  ""^i^""  I'oures  twelve. - 

Thcrwith  I  awook  my-selve, 
And  fond  me  l.ying  in  my  bed  ;  1^25 

And  tlie  book  tliat  I  had  red. 
Of  -^vfiTi^  P'"'^  ^"y^  Vl2_  king, 
And  of  the  goddes  of  sleping, 
I  fond  it  in  myn  honde  lul  even. 
i       Thoghte  I,  '  this  is  so  queynt  a  sweven, 
That  I  wol,  by  processe  of  tyme,  1331 

Fonde  to  putte  this  sweven  in  ryme 
As  I  can  best  ;  and  that  anoon.' — 
This  was  my  sweven  :  nowJiit  isdoon.  1334 


Explicit  the  Boke  of  the  Ducbesse. 


IV.    Z^t  Contpfejnt  of  (mate. 


97 


IV.     THE   COMPLEYNT   OF   MAES. 


The  Proem 
■  Gladeth,  ye  foules,  of  the  morow  gray, 
Lo  !  Venus  risen  among  yon  rowes  rede  ! 
And   flonres  fresshe,  honoureth   ye  this 

day  ; 
For  when  the  sonne  uprist,  then  wol  ye 

sprede. 
But  ye  lovers,  that  lye  in  any  drede,        5 
Fleeth,  lest  -wikked  tonges  yow  espye  ; 
Lo !  yond  the  sonne,  the  candel  of  jelosye ! 

With  teres  blewe,  and  with  a  wounded 

hei-te 
Taketh  your  leve  ;   and,  with  seynt  John 

to  borow, 
Apeseth  somwhat  of  your  sorowes  smerte, 
Tyme  cometh  eft,  that  cese  shal   your 

sorow  ;  1 1 

The    glade    night    is    worth    an     hevy 

morow  ! ' — 
(Seynt  Valentync  !  a    foul  thus  herde  I 

singe 
Upon  thy  day,  er  sonne  gan  uij-sijringe). — 

Yet  sang  this  foul — '  I  rede  yow  al  a-wake, 
And  ye,  that  han  not  chosen  in  humble 

wyse,  16 

Without    repenting    cheseth    yow    your 

make. 
And  ye,  that  han  ful  chosen  as  I  devyse. 
Yet  at  the  leste  renoveleth  your  serv-yso  ; 
Confermeth  it  perpetuoly  to  dure,  20 

And  paciently  taketh  your  aventure. 

And  for  the  worship  of  this  hye  festc, 
Yet  wol  I,  in  my  briddes  wyse,  singe 
The  sentence  of  the  compleynt,   at  the 

leste, 
That  woful  Mars  made  atte  departinge  25 
Fro  fresshe  Venus  in  a  morweninge. 
Whan  Phebus,  with  his  fyry  torches  rede, 
Eansaked  every  lover  in  his  drede. 

The  Story. 
%  Whylom    the    thridde     hevenes    lord 

above, 
As  wel  by  hevenish  revolucioun  30 


As  by  desert,  hath  wonne  Venus  his  love, 
And  she  hath  take  him  in  sul^joccioun, 
And   as   a   maistresse    taught    hini    his 

lessoiin, 
Comaunding  him  that  never,  in  hir  ser- 

vj'se, 
He  nero  so  bold  no  lover  to  despyso.       35 

For  she  forbad  him  jelosye  at  alle. 
And  cruelte,  and  host,  and  tirannye ; 
She  made  him  at  hir  lust  so  humble  and 

talle, 
That  when  hir  deyned  c.isteon  liim  hir  yt', 
He  took  in  pacience  to  live  or  dye  ;        40 
And  thus  she  brydeleth  him  in  hir  man- 

ere. 
With  no-thing  but  with  scovu-ging  of  hir 

chere. 

Who  regneth  now  in  blisse  but  Venvis, 
That  hath  this  worthy  knight  in  govern- 

aunce  ? 
Who  singeth  now  but  Mars,  that  serveth 

thus  45 

The  faire  Venus,  causer  of  plesaunce  ? 
He  bj^nt  him  to  perpetual  obeisaunce, 
And  she  bynt  hir  to  loven  him  for  ever, 
But  so  be  that  his  trespas  hit  dissever. 

Thus  be  they  knit,  and  regnen  as  in  heven 
By  loking  most ;  til  hit  fil,  on  a  tyde,  5 1 
That  by  hir  bothe  assent  was  set  a  steven, 
That  Mars  shal  entre,  as  faste  as  he  may 

Into  hir  nexte  paleys,  to  abyde. 
Walking  his  cours  til  she  had  him  a-take. 
And  he  preyde  hir  to  haste  hir  for  his 
sake.  56 

Then  seyde  he  thus — "  mj-n  hcrtes  lady 

swete. 
Ye  knowc  wel  my  mischef  in  that  place  ; 
For  sikerly,  til  that  I  with  yow  mete,    59 
My  lyf  stant  ther  in  aventure  and  grace  ; 
But  when  I  see  the  beaute  of  your  face, 
Ther  is  no  dreed  of  deeth  may  do  me 

smerte, 
For  al  your  lust  is  cso  to  myn  horte." 


98 


ZU  QUtnoi:  (poem©. 


Shehath  sogret  compassion  of  hir  knight, 
That  dwelleth  in  solitude  til  she  come  ;  65 
For  hit  stood  so,  that  ilke  t yme,  no  wight 
Counseyled  him,  ne  seyde  to  him  welcome, 
That  nigh  hir  wit  for  wo  was  overcome  ; 
Wlicrfore  she  spedde  hir  as  faste  in  hir 

wcye. 
Almost  in  oon  day,  as  he  dide  in  tweye.  70 

The  grete  joye  that  was  betwix  hem  two, 
Whan  they  be  met,  ther  may  no  tunge 

telle, 
Ther  is  no  more,  but  unto  bed  they  go. 
And  thus  in  joye  and  blisse  I  lete  hem 

dwelle  ; 
This  worthy  Mars,  that  is  of  knighthod 

welle,  75 

The  flour  of  fairnes  lappeth  in  his  armes, 
And  Venus  kisseth  Mars,  the  god  of  armes. 

Sojourned  hath  this  Mars,  of  which  I  rede. 

In  chambre  amid  the  paloys  prively 

A  certeyn  tyme,  til  him  fel  a  drede,       &> 

Tlirough  Phobus,  that  was  comen  hastely 

Within  tlie  paleys-yates  sturdely, 

With  torche    in   honde,   of  which    the 

stremes  brighte 
On  Venus  chambre  knokkeden  ful  lighte. 
The  chambre,  ther  as  lay  this  fresshe 

quene,  f*5 

Depej-nted  was  with  whyte  boles  grctc. 
And  by  the  light  she  knew,  that  shoon 

so  shene, 
That  Phebus  cam  to  brenne  hem  with  his 

hete ; 
This  sely  Venus,  fdreynt  in  teres  wete, 
Enbraceth  Mars,  and  seyde,  "  alas !  I  dye ! 
The  torch  is  come,  that  al  this  world  wol 

wrye."  91 

Up  sterte  Mars,  him  liste  not  to  slepe, 
Whan  he  his  lady  herde  so  compleyne  ; 
But,  for  his  nature  was  not  for  to  wepe, 
In  stede  of  teres,  fro  his  eyen  tweyne     95 
The  fjTy  sparkes  brosten  out  for  peyne  ; 
And  hente  his  hauberk,  that  lay  him  be- 

syde; 
Flee  wolde  he  not,  ne  mighte  him-selven 

hyde. 
He  throweth  on  his  helm  of  huge  wighte. 
And  girt  him  with  his  swerde  ;  and  in 

his  honde  loo 


His  mighty  spere,   as  he   was   wont   to 

fighte. 
He  shaketh  so  that  almost  it  to-wonde  ; 
Ful  hevy  he  was  to  walken  over  londe  ; 
Ho  may  not  holde  with  Venus  companj'e, 
But  bad  hir  fleen,  lest  Phebus  hir  espye. 

O  woful  Mars  !  alas  !  what  mayst  thou 
seyn,  106 

That  in  the  paleys  of  thy  disturbauncc 

Art  left  beliindo,  in  peril  to  be  sloyn  ? 

And  yet  ther-to  is  double  thy  pcnaunce, 

For  she,  that  hath  thjTi  herte  in  govern- 
aunce,  1 10 

Is  passed  halfe  the  stremes  of  thyn  y6n  ; 

That  thou  nere  swift,  wel  mayst  thou 
wepe  and  cryen. 

Now  fleeth  Venus  un-to  Cylonius  tour, 
With  voide  cours,  for  fere  of  Phebus  light. 
Alas  !  and  ther  ne  hath  she  no  socour,  1 15 
For  she  ne  fond  ne  saw  no  manor  wight  ; 
And  eek  as  ther  she  had  but  litil  might ; 
Wher-for,  hir-selvcn  for  to  hydo  and  save. 
Within  the  gate  she  fledde  into  a  cave. 
Derk  was  this  cave,  and  smoking  as  the 

helle,  120 

Not  but  two  pas  within  the  gate  hit  stood  ; 
A  naturel  day  in  derk  I  lete  hir  dwellc. 
Now  W(j1   I  spcko  of  Mars,  furious  and 

wood  ; 
For  sorow  he  wolde  have  seen  his  herte 

blood  ; 
Sith  that  he  mighte  fhir  don  no  com- 

panye,  i.'S 

He  ne  roghte  not  a  myte  for  to  dye. 

So  feble  he  wcx,  for  hete  and  for  his  wo, 
That  nigh  he  swelt,  he  mighte  unnethe 

endure ; 
He  passeth  but  00  steyre  in  dayes  two. 
But  ner  the  les,  for  al  his  hevy  armure,  130 
He  foloweth  hir  that  is  his  lyves  cure  ; 
For  whos  departing  he  took  gretter  yre 
Thanne  for  al  his  brenning  in  the  fyre. 
After  he  walketh  softely  a  pas, 
Compleyning,  that  hit  pite  was  to  here.  135 
He  seyde,  "  O  lady  bright,  Venus  !  alas  ! 
That  ever  so  wyde  a  compas  is  my  spere  ! 
Alas  !  whan  shal  I  mete  yow,  herte  dere. 
This  twelfte  day  of  April  I  endure. 
Through  jelous  Phebus,  this  misaventure." 


IV.    ZU  ^ompfepnf  of  QlUre. 


99 


Now  fhelpe  god  sely  Vemis  allone  !      141 
But,  as  god  -wolde,  hit  happed  for  to  he, 
That,  whyl  that  Venus  weping  made  hir 

mone, 
Cylenius,  ryding  in  his  chevauche,       144 
Fro  Venus  valance  mighte  his  paleys  see, 
And  Venus  he  salueth,  and  maketh  chere. 
And  hir  recey\'eth  as  his  frend  ful  dere. 

Mars  dwelleth  forth  in  his  adversitee, 
Compleyning  ever  on  hir  departinge  ; 
And  what  his   compleynt  was,  remem- 

breth  me  ;  150 

And  therfore,  in  this  histy  morweninge. 
As  I  best  can,  I  wol  hit  seyn  and  singe. 
And  after  that  I  wol  my  leve  take  ; 
And  god  yeve  every  wight  joye  of  his 

make  ! 


The  Compleynt  of  Mars. 

The  Proem  of  the  Compleynt. 
H  The  ordre  of  compleynt  requireth  skil- 
fully, 155 
That  if  a  wight  shal  pleyne  pitously, 
Ther  mot  he  cause  wherfor  that  men 
pleyne  ; 
Or  men  may  deme  ho  pleyneth  folily 
And  caviseles  ;  alas  !  that  am  not  I ! 
"Wherfor  the  ground  and  cause  of  al 
my  peyne,                                          160 
So  as  my  troubled  wit  may  hit  ateyne, 
I  wol  reherse  ;  not  for  to  have  redresse. 
But  to  declare  my  ground  of  hevinesse. 

Devotion. 

1i  The  firste  tyme,  alas !  that  I  was  wroght, 
And  for  certeyn  effectes  hider  broght  165 

By  him  that  lordeth  ech  intelligence, 
I  yaf  my  trewe  servise  and  my  thoght. 
For    evermore — how    dere    I    have    hit 
boght ! — 
To  hir,  that  is  of  so  gret  excellence, 
That  what  wight  that  first  sheweth  his 
presence,  170 

When  she  is  wroth  and  taketli  of  him  no 

cure. 
He  may  not  longe  in  joye  of  love  endure. . 

This  is  no  feyned  mater  that  I  telle  ; 
My  lady  is  the  verrey  sours  and  welle 


Of   beauto,    lust,   i'redoni,    and    gentil- 

nesse,  i  ;,=; 

Of  riche  aray — how  dere  men  hit  selle  ! — 

Of  al  disport  in  which  men  frendly  dwelle, 

Of  love  and  pley,  and  of  benigne  hum- 

blesse. 

Of  soune  of  instruments  of  al  swetnesse ; 

And  therto  so  wel  fortuned  and  thewed, 

That  through  the  world  hir  goodnesse  is 

y-shewed.  181 

What  wonder  is  then,  thogh  that  I  be- 

sette 

My  servise  on  suehe  con,  that  may  me 

knette 

To  wele   or  wo,   sith   hit  Ij-th   in    hir 

might?  1S4 

Therfor  my  herto  for  ever  I  to  hir  hette  ; 

Ne  trewly,  for  my  dcthe,  I  shal  not  lette 

To  ben   hir  trewest  servaunt  and  hir 

knight. 
I   flatcr  noght,   that   may   wito  every 
wight ; 
For  this  day  in  hir  servise  shal  I  dye  ; 
But  grace  be,  I  see  hir  never  with  ye.    190 

A  Lady  in  fear  and  woe. 
1  To  whom  shal  I  than  pleyne  of  my  dis- 

Who  may  me  helpe,  who  may  my  harm 
redresse  ? 
Shal  I  compleyne  unto  my  lady  free  "? 
Kay,  certes  !  for  she  hath  such  hevinesse. 
For  fore  and  eek  for  wo,  that,  as  I  gesse. 
In  litil  tymo  hit  wol  hir  bane  be.       196 
But  were  she  sauf,  hit  wer  no  fors  of  me. 
Alas  !  that  ever  lovers  mote  endure. 
For  love,  so  many  a  perilous  aventure  ! 

For  thogh  so  be  that  lovers  be  as  trewe  200 
As  any  metal  that  is  forged  newe. 

In  many  a  cas  hem  tydeth  ofte  sorowe. 

Somtyme  hir  ladies  will  not  on  hem  rewc, 

Somtyme,  j'if  that  jelosye  hit  knewe. 

They  mighten  lightly  leye  hir  heed  to 

borowe ;  205 

Somtyme  envyous  folks    with   tunges 

horowe 

Depraven  hem  ;  alas  !    whom  may  they 

plese  ? 
But  he  be  fals,  no  lover  hath  his  ese. 


ZU  (Dlinor  d^oeme. 


But  what  availoth  suche  a  long  sermoun 
Of  aventures  of  love,  up  ami  doun  ?      210 

I  wol  returne  and  speken  of  my  peyne  ; 
The  point  is  this  of  my  dostruccioun, 
My  righte  lady,  my  sulvacioun. 

Is  in  affray,  and  not  to  whom  to  pleyne. 

O  herte  swete,  O  lady  sovereyne  !       215 
For  your  disese,  wel  oghte  I  swoune  and 

ewelte, 
Thogh  I  non  other  harm  ne  drede  felte. 

Instability  0/  Happiness. 
T  To  what  fj-n  made  the  god  that  sit  so 

hye, 
Benethen  him,  love  other  companye. 
And  stre3meth  folk  to  love,  malgro  hir 
hede  ?  220 

And  then  hir  joye,  for  oght  I  can  esjjye, 
Ne  lasteth  not  the  twinkeling  of  an  y6, 
And  somme  han  never  joye  til  they  be 

dedc. 
Wliat  meneth  this  ?  what  is  this  misti- 
hede  ? 
Wherto  constreyneth  lie  his  folk  so  faste 
Thing  to  desyre,  but  hit  shulde  laste  ?  226 
And  thogh  he  made  a  lover  love  a  thing. 
And  maketh  hit  seme  stedfast  and  during. 
Yet  putteth  he  in  hit  such  misaventure. 
That  reste  nis  ther  noon  in  his  yeving.  230 
And  that  is  wonder,  that  so  just  a  king 
Doth  such  hardnesso  to  his  creature. 
Thus,  whether  love  breke  or  ellcs  diu-o, 
Algates  he  that  hath  with  love  to  done 
Hath  ofter  wo  then  changed  is  the  mone. 
Hit  semeth  ho  hath  to  lovers  enmite,  236 
And  lyk  a  fissher,  as  men  alday  may  sec, 
Baiteth  his  angle-hook  with  som  ples- 
aunce. 
Til  mony  a  fish  is  wood  til  that  he  be  239 
Sesed  ther-with ;  and  then  at  erst  hath  he 
Al  his   desyr,   and   ther-with   al   mis- 

chaunce ; 
And   thogh  the  Ij-ne   breke,   he   hath 
penaiince  ; 
For  with  the  hoke  he  wounded  is  so  sore. 
That  he  his  wages  hath  for  ever-more. 

The  Brooch  of  Thebes. 
IT  The  broche  of  Thebes  was  of  suche  a 
kinde,  245 

So  ful  of  rubies  and  of  stones  lude, 


That  every  wight,  that  setto  on  hit  an 

He   wendo   anon   to    worthe   out    of  his 

mindo ; 
So  sore  the  beaute  wolde  his  herte  binds. 
Til  he  hit  hadde,  him  thoghte  he  mosto 

dye  ;  250 

And  whan  that  hit  was  his,  than  shulde 

he  drj-e 
Such  wo  for  drede,  ay  whyl  that  he  hit 

hadde, 
That   wclnigh    for    the   fere   he    shuldo 

madde. 

And  whan  hit  was  fro  his  possessionn, 
Than  had  he  double  wo  and  passioun   255 

For  he  so  fair  a  tresor  had  forgo  ; 
But  yet  this  broche,  as  in  conclusioun. 
Was  not  the  cause  of  this  confusioun  ; 

But  he  that  wroghte  hit  enfortuned  hit 
so, 

That  every  wight  that  had  hit  shuld 
have  wo ;  260 

And  therfor  in  the  worcher  was  the  vyce, 
And  in  the  covetour  that  was  so  nyce. 

ho  fareth  hit  by  lovers  and  by  me  ; 
For  thogh  my  lady  have  so  gret  beautd. 
That   I  was  mad   til  I  had  gete  hir 
grace,  265 

She  was  not  cause  of  myn  adversitee, 
But   he   that   wroghte   hir,    also    mot   I 
thee, 
Tliat  putte  suche  a  beaute  in  hir  face, 
That  made  me  to  covete  and  purchace 
Myn    owne   deth ;    him   Avyte   I   that    I 
dye,  270 

And  myn   unwit,  that   ever  I  clomb  so 
hye 

An  Appeal  for  Sympathy. 
^  But  to  yow,  hardy  knightes  of  renoun, 
Sin  that  ye  be  of  my  divisioun, 

Al  be  I  not  worthy  ■\  so  grete  a  name, 
Yet,  seyn  these  clerkes,  I  am  your  pa- 
troun  ;  275 

Ther-for  ye  oghte  have  som  compassioun 
Of  my  disese,  and  take  it  noght  a-game. 
Tlie  proudest  of  j'ow  may  be  mad  ful 
tame  ; 
Wherfor  I  prey  yow,  of  your  gentilesse, 
That  ye  compleyne  for  myn  hevinesse.  280 


V.    Z^t  ^avkwitrxt  of  ^ouke. 


And  ye,  my  ladies,  that  ben  trewe  and 

stable, 
By  way  of  kinde,  ye  oghten  to  T)e  able 

To  have  pite  of  folk  that  be  in  peync  : 
Now  have  ye  cause  to  clothe  yow  in  sable  ; 
Sith  that  your  emperice,  the  honorable. 
Is  desolat,  wel  oghte  ye  to  pleyne  ;    2S6 
Now  shiild  your  holy  teres  fallo  and 
reyne. 
Alas  !  your  honour  and  your  emperice. 
Nigh    deed  for   drede,    ne    can    hir    not 
chevise. 


Compleyneth  eek,  ye  lovers,  al  in-fere,  291) 
For  hir  that,  with  unfeyned  humble  cliere. 

Was  ever  rcdy  to  do  yow  socour  ; 
Compleyneth  hir  that  ever  hath  had  yow 

dere  ; 
Compleyneth  beaute,  fredom,  andmanere ; 
Compleyneth  hir  that  endeth  your  la- 
bour ;  -05 
Compleyneth   thilke    ensample    of    al 
honour, 
That  never  dide  but  al  gentilesse  ;        207 
Kytheth  therfor  on  hir  som  kindenesse.' 


THE   PARLEMENT   OF   FOULES. 


ITie  Proem. 
The  lyf  so  short,  the  craft  so  long  to  lerne, 
Tli'assay  so  hard,  so  sharp  the  conquering. 
The  dredful  joye,  that  alwey  slit  so  yeme, 
Al  this  mene  I  by  love,  that  my  fcling  4 
Astonyeth  with  his  wonderful  worching 
So  sore  y-wis,  that  whan  I  on  him  thinke, 
Nat  wot  I  wel  wher  that  I  wake  or  winke. 

For  al  be  that  I  knowe  not  love  in  dede, 
Ne  wot  how  that  he  quyteth  folk  hir  hyre. 
Yet  happeth  me  ful  ofte  in  bokes  rede  10 
Of  his  miracles,  and  his  cruel  yre  ; 
Ther  rede  I  wel  he  wol  be  lord  and  syre, 
I  dar  not  seyn,  his  strokes  been  so  sore. 
But  god   save   swich   a   lord  !    I   can  no 

more. 
Of  usage,  what  for  luste  what  for  lore,   15 
On  bokes  rede  I  ofte,  as  I  yow  tolde. 
But  wherfor  that  I  speke  al  this?  not  yore 
Agon,  hit  happed  me  for  to  beholde 
Upon  a  boke,  was  write  with  lettres  olde  ; 
And  ther-upon,acerteyn  thing  tolerne,2o 
The  longe  day  ful  fastc  I  radde  and  yerne. 

For  out  of  olde  feldes,  as  men  seith, 
Cometh  al  this  newe  corn  fro  yeer  to  yere  ; 
And  out  of  olde  bokes,  in  good  feith, 
Cometh  al  this  newe  science  that  men 
lere.  2  =; 


But  now  to  pitrpos  us  of  this  materc — 
To  rede  forth  hit  gan  me  so  delj'te, 
That  al  the  day  mo  thoughte  but  a  lyto. 

This  book  of  which  I  make  mencioun, 
Entitled  was  al  thus,  as  I  shal  telle,       .^o 
'  TuUius  of  the  dreme  of  Scipioun  '  ; 
Chapitres  seven  hit  hadde,  of  hevene  and 

helle. 
And    erthe,    and    sotiles    that    therinno 

dwelle. 
Of  whiche,  as  shortly  as  I  can  hit  tretc,  34. 
Of  his  sentence  I  wol  you  seyn  the  grete. 

First  telleth  hit,  whan  Scipioun  was  come 
In  Afrik,  how  he  mette  Massinisse, 
That  him  for  joye  in  armeshath  y-nome. 
Than  telleth  fhit  hir  speche  and  al  the 

blisse 
That  was  betwix   hem,  til  the  day  gan 

misse  ;  40 

And  how  his  aimcestre,  African  so  dere, 
Gan  in  his  slepe  that  night  to  him  appere. 

Than  telleth  hit  that,  fro  a  sterry  place, 
How  African  hath  him  Cartage  shewed, 
And  warned  him  before  of  al  his  grace,  45 
And  seyde  him,  what  man,  lered  other 

lewed, 
Tliat  loveth  comun  profit,  wel  y-thewed, 
He  shal  unto  a  blisful  place  wende, 
Ther  as  joye  is  that  last  withouten  ende. 


ZU  (Dltnor  (poewe. 


Than  askod  ho,  if  folk  that  heer  be  dede 
Have  lyf  and  dwelling  in  another  place ;  51 
And  African  seyde,  '  ye,  withoute  drede,' 
And  that  oiir  present  worldos  lyves  space 
Nis  but  a  maner  deth,  what  woy  we  trace, 
And  rightful  folk  shal  go,  after  they  dye. 
To  heven ;  and  shewed  liim  the  galaxye.  56 

Than  shewed  he  him  the  litel  erthe,  that 

heer  is, 
At  regard  of  the  hovenes  qnantite  ; 
And  after  shewed  he  him  the  nyne  speres, 
And  after  that  the  melodye  herde  he     60 
That  cometh  of  thilko  speres  thryes  three. 
That  welle  is  of  musyke  and  melodye 
In  this  world  heer,  and  cause  of  armonye. 

Than  bad  he  him,  sin  erthe  was  so  Ij-te, 
And  ful  of  torment  and  of  harde  grace,  65 
That  he  ne  shulde  him  in   the  world 

delyte. 
Than  tolde  he  him,  in  certeyn  yeres  space. 
That  every  sterre  shulde  come  into  his 

place 
Ther  hit  was  first ;  and  al  shulde  out  of 

minde  69 

That  in  this  worlde  is  don  of  al  mankinde. 

Than  praydo  him  Scipioun  to  telle  him  al 
The  wey  to  come  un-to  that  hevene  blisso  ; 
And  he  seyde,  'know  thy-self  first  im- 
mortal. 
And  loke  ay  besily  ihoxi  werko  and  wisse 
To  comun  profit,  and  thou  shalt  nat  misse 
To  comen  swiftly  to  that  place  dere,  76 
That  ful  of  blisse  is  and  of  soules  clere. 

But  brekers  of  the  lawe,  soth  to  seyne. 
And  lecherous  folk,  after  that  they  be 

dode,  79 

Sh  ul  al  wey  whirle  aboute  th'erthe  in  peyne, 
Til  many  a  world  be  passed,  out  of  drede. 
And  than,  for-yeven  alle  hir  wikked  dede, 
Than  shul  they  come  unto  that  blisful 

place. 
To  which  to  comen  god  thee  sende  his 

grace ! ' — 

The  day  gan  fallen,  and  the  derke  night, 
That  reveth  bestes  from  hir  besinesse,    86 
Berafte  me  my  book  for  lakke  of  light. 
And  to  my  bedde  I  gan  me  for  to  dresse, 
I'ulfild  of  thought  and  besy  hevinesse  ; 


For  bothe  I  hadde  thing  which  that  I 
nolde,  9<) 

And  eek  I  ne  hadde  that  thing  that  I 
wolde. 

But  fj-nally  my  spirit,  at  the  laste, 
For-wery  of  my  labovir  al  the  day. 
Took  rest,  that  made  me  to  slepe  faste. 
And  in  my  slepe  I  mette,  as  I  lay,  95 

How  African,  right  in  that  selfe  aray 
That    Scipioun    him    saw    before    that 

tyde, 
Was  comen,  and  stood  right  at  my  beddes 

syde. 

Tlie  wery  hunter,  slepinge  in  his  bed, 
To  wode  ayein  his  minde  goth  anoon  ;  100 
The  juge   dremeth   how   his  plees   ben 

sped; 
The  carter  dremeth  how  his  cartes  goon ; 
The  riche,  of  gold ;  the  knight  fight  with 

his  foon, 
The  soke  met  ho  drinketh  of  the  tonne  ; 
The  lover  met  he  hathhislady  wonne.  105 

Can  I  nat  seyn  if  that  the  cause  were 

'For  I  had  red  of  African  beforn. 

That  made   mo  to  mete  that  he  stood 

there  ; 
But  thus  seyde  he,  '  thou  hast  thee  so 

wcl  born 
In  loking  of  myn  olde  book  to-torn,     no 
Of  which  Macrobie  roghte  nat  a  lyte, 
That    somdel    of   thy    labour    wolde    I 

quyte  ! ' — 

Citherea  !  thou  blisful  lady  swete, 
That  with  thy  fyr-brand  dauntest  whom 

thee  lest. 
And  madest  me  this  sweven  for  to  mete. 
Bo  thou  my  help  in  this,  for  thou  mayst 

best;  116 

As  wisly  as  I  saw  thee  north-north-west. 
When  I  began  my  sweven  for  to  vrrytc, 
So  yif  me  might  to  rj'ine  hit  and  end.\-te  ! 

The  Story. 
This  forseid  African  mc  hente  anoon,  120 
And  forth  'ss-ith  him  unto  a  gate  broghte 
Eight  of  a  parke,  walled  with  grenc  stoon; 
And  over   the  gate,  with  lettres  large 

y-wroghte, 
Ther  weren  vers  y-writen,  as  m.e  thoghte, 


V.    ZU  (pcivkvMnt  cf  §o\xk0> 


103 


On  eyther  lialfe,  of  ful  gret  difference,  1^5 

Of  which  I  shal  yow  sey  the  pleyn  sen- 
tence. 

•  Thorgh  me  men  goon  in-to  that  hlisful 
place 

Of  hertes  hele  and  dedly  woundes  cure  ; 

Tliorgh  me  men  goon  unto  the  welle  of 
Grace, 

Ther  grene  and  lusty  May  shal  ever 
endure  ;  >30 

This  is  the  wey  to  al  good  aventure  ; 

Be  glad,  thou  reder,  and  thy  sorwe  of- 
caste, 

Al  open  am  I ;  passe  in,  and  hy  the 
faste  ! ' 

'  Thorgh  me  men  goon,'  than  spak  that 

other  syde, 
'  Unti>  the  mortal  strokes  of  the  spere,  135 
Of  which  Disdayn  and  Daunger  is  the 

Ther  tree  shal  never  fruit  ne  leves  bare. 
This  streem  you  ledeth  to  the  sorwful 

were, 
Ther  as  the  fish  in  prison  is  al  drye  ; 
Th'eschewing  is  only  the  remedye.'      140 

Thisovers  of  gold  and  blak  y-writen  were. 
The  whiche  I  gan  a  stounde  to  beholde, 
For  with  that  oon  enoresed  ay  my  fere. 
And  with  that  other  gan  myn  herte  bolde ; 
That  oon  me  hette,  that  other  did  me 
colde,  145 

No  wit  had  I,  for  errour,  for  to  chese, 
To  entre  or  flee,  or  me  to  save  or  lese. 

Right  as,  betwixen  adamauntes  two 
Of  even  might,  a  pece  of  iren  y-set,      149 
That  hath  no  might  to  meve  to  ne  fro — 
For  what  that  on  may  hale,  that  other 

let— 
Ferde  I,  that  niste  whether  me  was  bet. 
To  entre  or  leve,  til  African  my  gyde 
Me    hente,  and   shoof   in    at   the   gates 

wyde, 
And  seyde,  '  hit  stondeth  writen  in  thy 

face,  '55 

Thyn  errour,  though  thou  telle  it  not  t(j 

But   dred   thee   nat  to   come  in-to  this 
place. 


For  this  wryting  is  no-thing  ment  by 

thee, 
Ne  by  noon,  but  he  Loves  servant  be  ; 
For  thou  of  love  hast  lost  thy  tast,   I 

gesse,  '60 

As  seek  man  hath  of  swete  and  bitter- 


But    natheles,    al-thoiigh   that   thoii   be 

dulle, 
Yit  that  thou  canst  not  do,  yit  mayst 

thoti  see  ; 
For  many  a  man  that  may  not  stonde 

a  puUe, 
Yit   lyketh    him    at    the    wrastling    for 

to  be,  165 

And  demeth  yit  wher  he  do  bet  or  he  ; 
And  if  thou  haddest  cunning  for  t'endyte, 
I  shal  thee  showen  mater  of  to  wi-yte.' 
With  that  my  bond  in  his  he  took  auoon. 
Of  which  I  comfort  caughte,  and  wente 

in  faste  ;  170 

But  lord  !  so  I  was  glad  and  wel  begoon  ! 
For  over-al,  wher  that  I  myn  eyen  caste, 
Were  trees  clad  with  levcs  that  ay  shal 

laste, 
Eche  in  his  kinde,  of  colour  fresh  and 


grene 
As  emeraude,  that  joye 


to  sene.     175 


The  bilder  ook,  and  eek  the  hardy  asshe  ; 
The  piler  elm,  the  cofre  iinto  careyne  ; 
The    boxtree    piper  ;    holm    to    whippes 

lasshe  ; 
The    sayling    firr  ;    the   cipres,    deth   to 

pleyne  ;  '79 

The  sheter  ew,  the  asp  for  shaftes  pleyne  ; 
The  olyve  of  pees,  and  eek  the  drunken 

vyne. 
The  victor  palm,  the  laurer  to  devyne. 

A  garden  saw  I,  ful  of  blosmy  bowes, 
Upon  a  river,  in  a  grene  mede,  184 

Ther  as  that  swetnesso  evermore  y-now  is, 
With  floures  whyte,  blewc,  yelowe,  and 

rede  ; 
And  colde  welle-stremes,  no-tbing  dede, 
That  swommen  ful  of  smale  fisshes  lighte, 
Withfinnes  rede  and  scales  silver-brighte. 

On  every  bough  the  briddes  herde  I  singe. 
With  voys  of  aungel  in  hir  armonye,  191 


I04 


ZU  (^xMv  (JJoetne. 


Som   besyed   hem   liir   bridiles   forth   to 

bringe  ; 
The  litel  conyes  to  hir  pley  ^nno  hye, 
And  farther  al  aboute  I  gan  espye 
The  dredful  roc,  the  bult,  the  hert  and 

hinde,  195 

Squerels,  and  bestes  smale  of  gentil  kinde. 

Of  instruments  of  strenges  in  acord 
Herdo  I  so  pleye  a  ravissliing  swetnesse, 
That  god,  that  maker  is  of  al  and  lord, 
Ne  herde  never  better,  as  I  gesso  ;         2(j() 
Therwith  a  wind,  unnethe  hit  might  be 

lesse, 
Made  in  the  leves  grene  a  noise  softe 
Acordant  to  the  foules  songe  on-lofte. 

The  air  of  that  place  so  attempre  was 
That  never  was  grevaunce  of  hoot  ne 

cold ;  205 

Ther  wex  oek  everj*  holsom  spyce  and 

gras, 
Ne  no  man  may  ther  wexe  seek  ne  old  ; 
Yet  was  ther  joye  more  a  thousand  fold 
Tlien  man  can  telle ;  ne  never  wolde  it 

nighte, 
But  ay  clccr  day  to  any  mannes  sighte. 
Under  a  tree,  besyde  a  welle,  I  say        211 
Cripj-de  our  lord  his  arwes  forge  and  fylc  ; 
And  at  his  fete  his  bowe  al  redy  lay, 
And  wel  his  doghter  tempred  al  the  whyle 
The  hedes  in  the  welle,  and  with  hir 

-wTle  215 

She  couched  hem  after  as  they  shulde 

serve, 
Som  for  to  slee,  and  som  to  wonnde  and 

kerve. 

Tho  was  I  war  of  Plesaunce  anon-right. 
And  of  Aray,  and  Lnst,  and  Curtesye  ; 
And  of  the  Craft  that  can  and  hath  the 

might  220 

To  doon  by  force  a  wight  to  do  folye — 
Disfigurat  was  she,  I  nil  not  lye  ; 
And  by  him-self,  under  an  oke,  I  gesse, 
Sawe  I   Delyt,   that   stood  Arith   Gentil- 

nesse. 
I  saw  Beautee,  withonten  any  atyr,      225 
And  Youthe,  ful  of  game  and  lolj-te, 
Fool-hardinesse,  Flatery,  and  Desyr, 
Messagerye,  and  Mede,  and  other  three — 
Hir  names  shnl  noght  here  be  told  for  me — 


And  upon  pilers  grete  of  jasper  longe  230 
I  saw  a  temple  of  bras  y-founded  stronge. 

About  0  the  temple  daunceden  alway 
Wommen  y-nowe,  of  whiche  somme  ther 

were 
Faire  of  hem-self,  and  somme  of  hem 

were  gay  ; 
In    kirtels,    al    disshevele,    wente    they 

there —  235 

That  was  hir  office  alwey,  j'eer  by  yere — 
And  on  the  temple,  of  doves  whyte  and 

faire 
Saw  I  sittinge  many  a  hundred  pairs 

Before  the  temple-dore  ful  soberly 
Dame  Pees  sat,  with  a  curteyn  in  hir 

bond :  240 

And  hir  besj-de,  wonder  discretly, 
Dame  Pacience  sitting  ther  I  fond 
With  face  pale,  upon  an  hille  of  sond  ; 
And   alder-next,  within   and   eek   with- 

oute,  244 

Behest  and  Art,  and  of  hir  folke  a  route. 

Within  the  temple,  of  syglies  bote  as  fyr 
I  herde  a  swogh  that  gan  aboute  renne  ; 
A\Tiich  syghes  were  engendred  with  desyr. 
That  maden  everj'  auter  for  to  brenne 
Of  newe  flaume  ;  and  wel  aspyed  I  thenne 
That  al  the  cause  of  sorwes  that  tliey 

drj^e  251 

C!om  of  the  bitter  goddesse  Jalousye. 
The  god  Priapus  saw  I,  as  I  wente, 
Within   the  temple,  in   soverajTi  place 

stonde, 
In   swich   aray  as  whan  the  asse  him 

shente  255 

With  crye  by  night,  and  with  his  ceptre 

in  honde ; 
Fill  besily  men  gunne  assaye  and  fonde 
Upon  his  hede  to  sette,  of  sondry  hewe, 
Garlondes  ful  of  fresshe  floures  newe. 
And  in  a  privee  comer,  in  disporte,     260 
Fond  I  Venus  and  hir  porter  Richesse, 
That  was  ful  noble  and  hauteyn  of  hir 

porte  ; 
Derk  was  that  place,  but  afterward  light- 

nesse 
I  saw  a  Ij'te,  unnethe  hit  might  be  lesse, 
And  on  a  bed  of  golde  she  lay  to  reste,  265 
Til  that  the  bote  sonne  gan  to  weste. 


V.    ZU  (pMkmint  of  5oufc0. 


105 


Hir  gilte  lieres  with  a  golden  tlirede 
Y-bounden  were,  untressed  as  she  lay, 
Aud  naked  fro  the  breste  unto  the  hede 
Men  might   hir  see  ;  and,  sothly  for  to 
say,  270 

The  remcnant  wel  kevered  to  my  pay 
Eight  with  a  siibtil  kerchef  of  Valence, 
Ther   was   no   thikkor   cloth    of   no   de- 
fence. 

The  place  yaf  a  thousand  savours  swote, 
And  Bachus,  god  of  wyn,  sat  hir  besyde, 
And   Ceres    next,    that   doth   of  hunger 

bote ;  276 

And,  as  I  seide,  amiddes  lay  Cipryde, 
Ti)  whom    on    knees  two  yonge  folkes 

crydc 
To  ben  hir  help  ;  but  thus  I  leet  hir  lye. 
And  farther  in  the  temple  I  gan  espye 

That,  in  dispyte  of  Diane  the  chaste,  281 
Fill  many  a  bowe  y-broke  heng  on  the 

wal 
Of  maydens,  suche  as  gunne  hir  tymes 

waste 
In  hir  servyse  ;  and  peynted  over  al 
Of  many  a  story,  of  which  I  touche  shal 
A  fewe,  as  of  Calixte  and  Athalaunte,  286 
And  many  a  mayde,  of  which  the  name  I 

wante  ; 

Semyramns,  Candace,  and  Ercules, 
Biblis,  Dido,  Tisbe  and  Piramns^ 
Tristram,  Isoude,  Paris,  and  Achilles,  290 
Eleyne,  Cleopatre,  and  Troilus, 
Silla,  and  eek  the  moder  of  Romulus — 
Alle  these  were  peynted  on  that  other 

syde, 
And  al  hir  love,  and  in  what  plyte  they 

dyde. 

■Whan  I  was  come  ayen  into  the  place  295 
That  I  of  spak,  that  was  so  swote  and 

grene. 
Forth  welk  I  tho,  my-selven  to  solace. 
Tho  was   I   war  wher  that  ther  sat  a 

queue 
That,  as  of  light  the  somer-sonne  shene 
Passeth  the  sterre,  right  so  over  mesure 
She  fairer  was  than  any  creature.         301 

And  in  a  launde,  upon  an  hUle  of  floures, 
Was  set  this  noble  goddesse  Nature  ; 


Of  braunches  were  hir  halles   and   hir 

boures, 
Y-wTought  after  hir  craft  and  hir  mesure  ; 
Ne   ther   nas   foul   that    cometh   of    en- 

gendrure,  306 

That  they  ne  were  prest  in  hir  presence. 
To  take  hir  doom  and  yeve  hir  audience. 

For  this  was  on  seynt  Valentynes  day, 
Whan  every  foul  cometh  ther  to  chese 

his  make,  310 

Of  every  kinde,  that  men  thenke  may  ; 
And    that    so    huge    a   noyso   gan   they 

make, 
That  erthe  and  see,  and  tree,  and  every 

lake 
So  ful  was,  that  unnethe  was  ther  space 
For  me  to  stonde,  so  ful  was  al  the  place. 

And   right  as  Aleyn,   in  the   Pleynt   of 
Kinde,  316 

Devj-seth  Nature  of  aray  and  face, 
In   swich   aray  men  mighte[n]  hir   ther 

finde. 
This  noble  emperesse,  ful  of  grace, 
Bad  every  foul  to  take  his  owne  place,  320 
As   they  were   wont   alwey  fro   yeer   to 

yere, 
Seynt  Valentj-nes  day,  to  stonden  there. 

That  is  to  sey,  the  foules  of  ravyne 
Were   hyest   set  ;    and   than   the   foules 

smalc. 
That  eten  as  hem  nature  wolde  enclyne. 
As  worm,  or  thing  of  whiche  I  telle  no 

tale  ;  326 

But  water-foul  sat  lowest  in  the  dale  ; 
And  foul  that  liveth  by  seed  sat  on  the 

grene. 
And   that   so   fele,   that   wonder  was  to 

sene. 

Ther  mighte  men  the  royal  egle  finde, 
That  with  his  sharpe  look  perceth  the 

Sonne  ;  331 

And  other  egles  of  a  lower  kinde, 
Of  which  that  clerkes  wel  devysen  conne. 
Ther  was  the  tyraunt  with  his  fethres 

donne 
And  greye,   I   mene   the   goshauk,    that 

doth  pyne  335 

To  briddes  for  his  outrageous  ravyne. 


E3 


io6 


ZU  (HUnor  ^oeme. 


The   gentil   fax^con,    that    w-ith    his   feet 

distrcj-neth 
The  kinges  hond  ;  the  hardy  sperhaxik 

eke, 
The  quayles  foo  ;  the  merlion  that  peyneth 
Him-self  ful  ofte,  the  larke  for  to  seke  ; 
Ther    was    the    douve,    with    hir    ej-en 

moko  ;  341 

The  jalous  swan,    aj-ons   his   deth    that 

singeth  ; 
The  oule  eek,   that   of  detho   t}ie   l>ode 

bringeth  ; 

The  crane  the  geaunt,  with  his  trompes 
soune  ; 

The  theef,  the  chogh  ;  and  eek  the  jang- 
ling pye ;  345 

The  scorning  jay ;  the  eles  foo,  the 
herouue  ; 

Tlie  false  hipwing,  ful  of  trecherj-e  ; 

The  stare,  that  the  counseyl  can  l>ewrye  ; 

Tlie  tame  ruddok  ;  and  the  coward  kyte  ; 

The  cok,  that  orloge  is  of  thorpes  Ij-te  ;  350 

The  sparow,  Venus  sone  ;  the  nightin- 
gale, 

That  clepeth  forth  the  fresshe  leves  newe  ; 

The  swalow,  mordrer  of  the  flyCs  smale 

That  niaken  hony  of  floures  fresshe  of 
hewe  ; 

Tlie  wedded  turtel,  with  hir  herte  trewe  ; 

The  pecok,  with  his  aungels  fethres 
hrighte  ;  356 

The  fesaunt,  scomer  of  the  cok  by  nighte  ; 

The  waker  goos  ;   the  cukkow  ever  un- 

kinde  ; 
The  popinjay,  ful  of  delicasye  ; 
The  drake,  stroyer  of  his  ovmc  kinde  ;  360 
The  stork,  the  wreker  of  avouterye  ; 
The  hote  conneraunt  of  glotonye  ; 
The  raven  wys,   the  crow  with  vois   of 

care  ; 
The  throstel  olde  ;  the  frosty  feldefare. 

AVliat  sholde  I  seyn  ?  of  fooles  every 
kinde  365 

That  in  this  worlde  han  fethres  and 
stature, 

Men  niighten  in  that  place  assembled 
finde 

Before  the  noble  goddesse  Nature. 

And  everich  of  hem  did  his  besy  cxire 


Benignely  to  chese  or  for  to  take,  3-0 

By  hir  acord,  his  formel  or  his  make. 

But  to  the  poynt — Nature  held  on  hir 

honde 
A  formel  cgle,  of  shap  the  gentileste 
That  ever  she  among  hir  werkes  fonde, 
The  most  bcnigne  and  the  goodlieste  ; 
In  hir  was  every  vertii  at  his  reste,       376 
So   ferforth,    that    Nature    hir-self   had 

blisse 
To  loke  on  hir,  and  ofte  hir  bek  to  kisse. 

Nature,  the  vicaire  of  th'almyghty  lorde, 
That  hoot,  cold,  hevy,  light,  [and]  moist 

and  dreye  380 

Hath  knit  by  even  noumbre  of  acorde, 
In  esy  vois  began  to  speke  and  seye, 
'  Foules,   tak   hede   of   my    sentence,    I 

preye, 
And,  for  your  ese,  in  furthering  of  your 

nede,  384 

As  i'aste  as  I  may  speke,  I  wol  me  spede. 
Ye  know  wel  how,  sejTit  Valentynes  day. 
By  my  statut  and  through  my  gover- 

naunce, 
Ye  come  for  to  chese — and  flee  your  way — 
Your  makes,  as  I  prik  yow  with  plesaunee. 
But  natheles,  my  rightful  ordenaunce  390 
May  I  not  lete,  for  al  this  world  to  winne. 
That  he  that  most  is  worthy  shal  beginne. 

The  tercel  egle,  as  that  ye  knowen  wel, 
The  foul  royal  above  yow  in  degree, 
The  wyso  and  worthy,  secree,   trewe  as 

stel,  395 

The  which  I  ^formed  have,  as  ye  may  see. 
In  every  part  as  hit  best  lyketh  me. 
Hit  nedeth  noght  his  shap  yow  to  devyse. 
He  shal  first  chese  and  speken  in  his 

gyse. 

And  after  him,  by  order  shul  ye  chese,  400 
After  your  kinde,  everich  as  yow  lyketh. 
And,  as  your  hap  is,  shul  ye  winne  or 

lese ; 
But  which  of  yow  that  love  most  en- 

tryketh, 
God  sende  him  hir  that  sorest  for  him 

syketh.' 
And  therwith-al  the  tercel  gan  she  calle. 
And  seyde,   '  my  sone,  the  choys  is  to 

thee  falle.  406 


V.    ZU  (pavitmnt  of  5oufe0. 


107 


But  natheles,  in  this  condicioun 
Mot  be  the  choys  of  everich  that  is  here, 
That  she  agree  to  his  elecciovm,  409 

Who-so  he  be  that  shulde  been  hir  fere  ; 
Tliis  is  our  usage  alwey,  fro  yeer  to  yere  ; 
And  who  so  may  at  this  time  have  his 

grace, 
In  blisful  tyme  he  com  in-to  this  place.' 

With  hed  enclyned  and  with  ful  humble 

chere 
This  royal  tercel  spak  and  taried  nought  ; 
'  Unto  my  sovereyn  lady,  and  noght  my 

fere,  416 

I  chese,  and  chese  with  wille  and  herte 

and  thought. 
The   formel    on    your    hond    so    wel   y- 

wrought, 
Wlios  I  am  al  and  ever  wol  hir  serve. 
Do  what  hir  list,  to  do  me  live  or  sterve. 

Beseching  hir  of  mercy  and  of  grace,  421 
As  she  that  is  my  lady  sovereyne  ; 
Or  let  mo  dye  present  in  this  place. 
For  certes,  long  may  I  not  live  in  peyne  ; 
For  in  myn  herte  is  corven  every  veyne  ; 
Having  reward  [al]  only  to  my  trouthe,  426 
My  dere  herte,  have  on  my  wo  som 
routhe. 

And  if  that  I  to  hir  be  founde  untrewe, 
Disobeysaunt,  or  wilful  negligent, 
Avauntour,  or  in  proces  love  a  newe,   430 
I  iiray  to  you  this  be  my  jugemcnt, 
That  with  these  foules  I  be  al  to-rent. 
That  ilke  day  that  ever  she  me  tindo 
To  hir  untrewe,  or  in  my  gilte  unkinde. 

And  sin  that  noon  loveth  hir  so  wel  as  I, 
Al  bo  she  never  of  love  rae  behette,  436 
Than    oghte    she   be   myn    thourgh    hir 

mercy. 
For  other  bond  can  I  noon  on  hir  knette. 
For  never,  for  no  wo,  ne  shal  I  lette  439 
To  serven  hir,  how  fer  so  that  she  wende  ; 
Sey  what  yow  list,  my  tale  is  at  an  ende.' 

Eight  as  the  fresshe,  rede  rose  newe 
Ayen  the  somer-sonne  coloured  is, 
Right  so  for  shame  al  wexen  gan  the 

hewe 
Of  this  formel,  whan  she  herde  al  this  ; 
She  neyther  answerde   '  wel,'   ne   seyde 

amis.  446 


So  sore  abasshed  was  she,  til  that  Nature 
Seyde,  '  doghter,  drede  yow  noght,  I  yow 
assure. ' 

Another  tercel  egle  spak  anoon 

Of  lower  kinde,  and  seyde,   '  that   shal 

not  be  ;  450 

I  love  hir  bet  than  ye  do,  liy  seynt  John, 
Or  atte  leste  I  love  hir  as  wel  as  ye  ; 
And  lenger  have  served  hir,  in  my  degree, 
And  if  she  shulde  have  loved  for  long 

loving,  454 

To  me  allone  had  been  the  guerdoning. 

I  dar  eek  seye,  if  she  me  finde  fals, 
Unkinde,  j  angler,  or  rebel  any  wyse. 
Or  jalous,  do  me  hongen  by  the  hals  ! 
And  but  I  here  me  in  hir  servyse 
As  wel  as  that  my  wit  can  me  suffyse,  460 
Fro  poj-nt  to  poynt,  hir  honour   for  to 

save, 
Tak  she  my  lyf,  and  al  the  good  I  have.' 

The  thridde  tercel  egle  answerde  the, 
'  Now,  sirs,  ye  seen  the  litel  leyser  here  ; 
For  every  foul  cryeth  out  to  been  a-go  465 
Forth  with  his  make,  or  with  his  lady 

dere ; 
And  eek  Nature  hir-self  ne  wol  nought 

here. 
For  tarying  here,  noght  half  that  I  wolde 

seye  ; 
And  but  I  speke,  I  mot  for  sorwe  deye. 

Of  long  servj'se  avaunte  I  me  no-thing, 
But  as  possible  is  me  to  dye  to-day  471 
For  wo,  as  he  that  hath  ben  languisshing 
Tliise  twenty  winter,  and  wel  happen  may 
A  man  may  serven  bet  and  more  to  pay 
In  half  ayere,al-though  hit  were  no  more. 
Than  som  man  doth  that  hath  served  ful 
yore,  476 

I  ne  say  not  this  by  me,  for  I  ne  can 
Do  no  servyse  that  may  my  lady  plese  ; 
But  I  dar  seyn,  I  am  hir  trewest  man 
As  to  my  dome,  and  ieynest  wolde  hir  ese  ; 
At  shorte  wordes,  tQ  that  deth  me  sese,  481 
I  wol  ben  hires,  whether  I  wake  or  winke. 
And  trewe  in  al  that  herte  may  bethinke.' 

Of  al  my  lyf,  sin  that  day  I  was  born. 
So  gentil  plee  in  love  or  other  thing    485 
Ne  herde  never  no  man  rae  beforn, 

5 


io8 


Z^i.  (nitnov  (poms. 


\Mio[so]  that  hadde  leyser  and  cunning 
For  to  reherse  hir  chere  and  hir  speking ; 
And  from  the  morvve  gan  this  speche  laste 
TU  dounwarddrowthe  sonnewonderfaste. 
The  noyse  of  foiiles  for  to  ben  delivered  491 
So  loude  rong,   'have  doon  and  let  us 

wenJe ! ' 
That  wcl  wende  I  the  wode  had  al  to- 
shivered. 
'  Come  of  ! '  they  cryde,  '  alias  !  ye  wil  us 

shende ! 
Whan  shal  your  cursed  pleding  have  an 
cndo  ?  495 

How  shulde  a  juge  eyther  party  levo, 
For  yee  or  nay,  with-outen  any  preve  ? ' 

Tlie  goos,  the  cokkow,  and  the  doke  also 
So  crydcn  '  kok,  kek ! '  '  kukkow! '  '  quek, 

quek ! '  hye, 
That  thorgh  myn  eres  the  noyse  wente  tho. 
The  goos  seyde,  '  al  this  nis  not  worth  a 

flye !  501 

But  I  can  shape  hereof  a  remedye, 
And  I  wol  sey  my  verdit  faire  and  swytlie 
For    water-foul,    who-so    ho    wrooth    or 

blythe.' 
'  And  I  for   worm-foul, '  seyde  the   fool 

ciikkow,  505 

'  For  I  wol,  of  myn  owne  auctoriti, 
For  comune  spede,  take  the  charge  now. 
For  to  delivers  us  is  gret  charity. ' 
'  Ye  may  abyde  a  whyle  yet,  parde  !  ' 
Seide  the  turtel,  '  if  hit  be  yovir  ■wille  510 
A  wight  may  spake,  him  were  as  good  be 

stille. 
I  am  a  seed-foul,  oon  the  unworthieste. 
That  wot  I  wel,  and  litel  01  kunninge  ; 
But  bet  is  that  a  wightes  tonge  reste 
Tlian  entremeten  him  of  such  doinge  515 
Of  which  he  neyther  rede  can  nor  singe. 
And  who-so  doth,  ful  foule  himself  acloy- 

eth, 
For  office  uncommitted  ofte  anoyeth.' 
Nature,  which  that  alway  had  an  ere 
To  murmour  of  the  lewednes  bohinde,  520 
With    facound    voys    seide,    '  hold    your 

tonges  there  ! 
And  I  shal  sone,  I  hope,  a  counseyl  iinde 
You  to  delivere,  and  fro  this  noyse  un- 

binde: 


I  juge,  of  every  folk  men  shal  oon  caUe 
To  seyn  the  verdit  for  you  foules  alle. '  525 

Assented  were  to  this  conclusioun 
The  briddes  alle  ;  and  foules  of  ravyne 
Han  chosen  first,  by  plej'n  elcccioun, 
The  tercelet  of  the  faucon,  to  diffyno  529 
Al  hir  sentence,  and  as  him  list,  termyne ; 
And  to  Nature  him  gonnen  to  presente, 
And  she  accepteth  him  with  glad  entente. 

The  tercelet  seide  than  in  this  manere  : 
'  Ful  hard  were  hit  to  prove  hit  by  resoiin 
Who  loveth  best  this  gentil  formel  here  ; 
For  everich  hath  swich  replicacioun,   536 
That    noon    by   skilles    may   bo    broght 

a-doun  ; 
I  can  not  seen  that  arguments  avayle  ; 
Than  semeth  hit  ther  moste  be  batayle.' 

'  Al  redy  !  '  quod  these  egles  tercels  tho. 
'  Nay,  sirs  !  '  quod  he,  '  if  that  I  dorste  it 

seye,  541 

Ye  doon  me  WTong,  my  tale  is  not  y-do  ! 
For  sirs,  ne  taketh  noght  a-gref,  I  preye. 
It  may  noght  gon,  as  ye  wolde,  in  this 

weye ; 
Oure  is  the  voys  that  han  the  cliarge  in 

honde,  545 

And  to  the  juges  dome  ye  moten  stonde  ; 

And  therfor  pees  !  I  seye,  as  to  my  wit. 
Me  wolde  thinke  how  that  the  worthieste 
Of  knighthode,  and  longest  hath  used  hit, 
Moste  of  estat,  of  blode  the  gentileste,  550 
Were  sittingest  for  hir,  if  that  hir  leste  ; 
And  of  these  three  she  wot  hir-self,  I  trowe, 
Which  that  he  be,  for  hit  is  light  to 
kno^?■e.' 

The  water-foules  han  her  hedes  loyd 
Togeder,  and  of  short  avysement,  555 

Whan  everich  had  his  largo  golee  seyd, 
They  seydeu  sothly,  al  by  oon  assent. 
How  that  '  the  goos,  with  hir  facounde 

gent. 
That  so  desjrreth  to  pronounce  our  node, 
Shal  telle  our  tale,'  and  preyde  '  god  hir 

spede.'  560 

And  for  these  water-foules  tho  began 
The  goos  to  speke,  and  in  hir  cakelinge 
She  seyde,   '  pees !  now  tak  kepe  every 


V.    ZU  (parfemenf  of  ^ouke. 


to9 


And    herkeneth   which    a    reson    I  shal 

bringe  ; 
My  wit  is  sharp,  I  love  no  taryinge  ;     ^6^ 
I  seye,  I  rede  him,  though  he  were  my 

brother. 
But    she    wol    love    him,    lat    him   love 

another  ! ' 

'  Lo  here  !  a  parfit  reson  of  a  goos  !  ' 
Quod  the  sperhauk  ;  '  never  mot  she  thee ! 
Lo,  swich  hit  is  to  have  a  tonge  loos !  570 
Now   parde,  fool,   yet   were   hit   bet   for 

thee 
Have   holde  thy  pees,  than  shewed  thy 

nycete  ! 
Hit  lyth  not  in  his  wit  nor  in  his  wille. 
But  sooth  is  seyd,  "  a  fool  can  noght  be 

stille.'" 

The  laughter  aroos  of  gentil  foules  alle, 

And  right  anoon  the  seed-foul  chosen 
hadde  576 

The  turtel  trewe,  and  gunne  hir  to  hem 
calle, 

And  preyden  hir  to  seye  the  sothe  sadde 

Of  this  matere,  and  asked  what  she  radde ; 

And  she  answerde,  that  pleynly  hir  en- 
tente 580 

She  wolde  shewe,  and  sotlily  what  she 
mente. 

'Nay,  godforbede  alovershuldechaimge ! ' 
The  turtel  seyde,  and  wex  for  shame  al 

reed  ; 
'  Thogh    that    his     lady     ever-more     be 

straunge,  584 

Yet  let  him  serve  hir  ever,  til  he  be  deed  ; 
For  sothe,  I  preyse  noght  the  gooses  reed  ; 
Tor  thogh  she  deyed,  I  wolde  non  other 

make, 
I  wol  ben  hires,  til  that  the  deth  me  take. ' 

'  Wei  bourded  !  '  quod  the  doke,  '  by  my 
hat !  589 

That  men  shulde  alwey  lovon,  causeles. 

Who  can  a  reson  finde  or  .wit  in  that  ? 

Daunceth  he  mury  that  is  mirtheles  ? 

Who  shulde  recche  of  that  is  reccheles  ? 

Ye,  qiiek  !  '  yit  quod  the  doke,  ful  wel  and 
faire, 

'  There  been  mo  sterres,  god  wot,  than  a 
paire ! '  595 


'  Now  fy,  cherl !  '  quod  the  gentil  tercelet, 
'  Out  of  the  dunghil  com  that  word  ful 

right. 
Thou  canst  noght  see  which  thing  is  wel 

be-set  : 
Thou  farest  by  love  as  o\iles  doon  by  light. 
The  day  hem  blent,  tnl  wel  they  see  by 

night  ;  600 

Thy  kind  is  of  so  lowe  a  wrechednesse. 
That  what  love  is,  thou  canst  nat  see  ne 

gesse. ' 

Tho  gan  the  cukkow  piitte  him  forth  in 

prees 
For  foul  that  eteth  worm,  and  seide  blyve, 
'  So  I,'  quod  he,  '  may  have  my  make 'in 

pees,  605 

I  recche  not  how  longe  that  j'e  stry^'e  ; 
Lat  ecli  of  hem  be  soleyn  al  hir  ly%'e, 
This  is  my  reed,  sin  they  may  not  acorde  ; 
This  shorte  lesson  nedeth  noght  recorde. ' 

'  Ye  !  have  the  glotoun  fild  ynogh  his 

paunche,  610 

Than  are  we  wel ! '  seyde  the  merlioun  ; 
'  Thou  mordrer  of  the  lieysugge  on  the 

braunche 
That  broghte  thee  forth,  thou  frewthelees 

glotoun  ! 
Live  thou  soleyn,  wormes  corrupcioun  ! 
For  no  fors  is  of  lakke  of  thy  nature  ;  615 
Go,  lewed  be  thou,  whyl  the  world  may 

dure ! ' 

'Now  pees,'  quod  Nature,   'I  comaunde 

here  ; 
For  I  have  herd  al  your  opinionn. 
And  in  effect  yet  be  we  never  the  nere  ; 
But  fynally,  this  is  my  conclusioun,     620 
That  she  hir-self  shal  han  the  eleccioun 
Of  whom  hir  list,  who-so  be  ^vTOoth  or 

blythe. 
Him  that  she  cheest,  he  shal  hir  have  as 

swythe. 

For  sith  hit  naay  not  here  discussed  be 
Who  loveth  hir  best,  as  seide  the  tercelet. 
Than  wol  I  doon  hir  this  favour,  that 

she  626 

Shal  have  right  him  on  whom  hir  herte 

is  set. 
And  he  hir  that  his  herte  hath  on  hir 

knet. 


ZU  QlXtnot  ^oeme. 


This  juge  I,  Nature,  for  I  may  not  lye  ; 
To  noon  estat  I  have  non  other  ye.       630 

But  as  for  counseyl  for  to  chese  a  make, 
If  hit  were  reson,  certes,  than  wolde  I 
Counseyle  yow  the  royal  tercel  take, 
As  seiJe  the  tercelet  ful  skilfully. 
As  for  the  gentilest  and  most  worthy,  635 
\Miich  I  have  wroght  so  wel  to  my  ples- 

aunce ; 
That  to  yow  oghte  been  a  suffisaunce. ' 

With    dredful  vols   the    formel  hir  an- 
swerde, 

•  My  rightful  lady,  goddesse  of  Nature, 
Soth  is  that  I  am  ever  under  your  yerde, 
Lyk  as  is  everiche  other  creature,         641 
And  moot  be  youres  whyl  my  lyf  may 

dure  ; 
Aud  therfor  graunteth  me  my  flrste  bone. 
And  myn  entente  I  wol  yow  sey  right 

sone.' 

■  I  graunto  it  you,'  quod  she  ;  and  right 

anoon  645 

This  formel  egle  spak  in  this  degree, 

•  Almiglity  quene,  unto  this  year  be  doon 
I  aske  respit  for  to  a^-j-son  me. 

And   after  that  to    have    my   choys    al 

free  ; 
This  al  and  som,  that  I  wolde  speke  and 

seye ;  650 

Ye  gete  no  more,  al-though  j'e  do  me  deye. 

I  wol  noght  serven  Venus  ne  Cupyde 
For  sothe  as  yet,  by  no  manere  wey.' 
'  Now  sin  it  may  non  other  wj-se  betyde,' 
Quod  tho  Nature,  '  here  is  no  more  to 

sey ;  655 

Than  wolde  I  that  these  fotdes  were  a-wey 
Ech  with  his  make,  for  tarying  lenger 

here  ' — 
And  seyde  hem  thus,  as  ye  shul  after  here. 

■To   you    speke    I,    ye    tercelets,'   quod 
Nature, 

■  Beth   of  good   herte   and   serveth,    alle 

three ;  660 

A  yeer  is  not  so  longe  to  endure. 
And  ech  of  yow  peyne  him,  in  his  degree. 
For  to  do  wel  ;  for,  god  wot,  quit  is  she 


Fro  yow  this  yeer ;  what  after  so  befalle, 
This  entremes  is  dressed  for  yoii  alle.'  665 
And  whan  this  werk  al  broght  was  to  an 

ende. 
To  every  foule  Nature  yaf  his  make 
By  even  acorde,   and   on   hir   wey  they 

wende. 
A !  lord !   the  blisse  and  joye  that  they 

make !  669 

For  ech  of  hem  gan  other  in  winges  take. 
And  with  hir  nekkes  ech  gan  other  winde. 
Thanking  alwey  the   noble  goddesse  of 

kinde. 

But  first  were  chosen  foules  for  to  singe, 
As  yeer  by  yere  was  alwey  hir  usaunce 
To  singe  a  roundel  at  hir  departinge,  675 
To  do  Nature  honour  and  plesaunce. 
The  note,  I  trowo,  maked  was  in  Frauncc ; 
The  wordes  were  swicli  as  ye  may  heer 

finde. 
The  nexte  vers,  as  I  now  have  in  minde. 

Qui  bien  aime  a  tard  oublie. 
'Now  welcom    somer,    with    thy   sonne 
softe,  680 

That  hast  this  wintres  weders  over-shake. 
And  driven  awey  the  longe  nightes  blake ! 
Seynt   Valentyn,    that    art    ful    hy    on- 

lofte  ;— 
Tlius  singen  smale  foule.s  for  thy  sake — 
Now  irelcom  somer,  with  thy  sonne  softe,  685 
That  liast  this  tvintres  tveders  over-shake. 
Wel  han  they  cause  for  to  gladen  ofte, 
Sith  ech  of  hem  recovered  hath  his  make  ; 
Ful  blisful  may  they  singen  whan  they 
•wake  ; 
Now  welcom  somer,  with  thy  sonne  softe,  690 
TTiat  hast  this  wintres  weders  ocer-shake, 
And  driven  atoey  the  longe  nightes  blake.' 
And  with  the  showting,  whan  hir  song 

was  do. 
That  foules  maden  at  hir  flight  a-way, 
I  wook,  and  other  bokes  took  me  to     695 
To  rede  upon,  and  yet  I  rede  alway  ; 
I  hope,  y-wis,  to  rede  so  som  day 
That  I  shal  mete  som  thing  for  to  fare  698 
The  bet  ;  and  thus  to  rede  I  nil  not  si^are. 


Explicit  tractatus  de  congregacione  Volucrum  die  sancti  Valentini. 


VI.    il  tortnpkint  to  ^ie  Bal^. 


VI.     A   COMPLEINT   TO   HIS   LADY. 


I.     (In  seven-line  stanzas.) 
The  longe  night,  wlian  every  creature 
Shnlde  have  hir  rest  in  somwhat,  as  by 
kinde, 
Or  elles  ne  may  hir  lyf  nat  long  endvue, 
Hit  falleth  most  in-to  my  woful  minde 
How  I  so  fer  have  broght  my-self  be- 
hinde,  5 

That,  sairf  the  deeth,  ther  may  no-thing 

me  lisse. 
So  desespaired  I  am  from  alle  blisse. 

This  same   thoght    me   lasteth  til    the 

morwe, 

And  from  the  morwe  forth  til  hit  be  eve; 

Ther  nedeth  me  no  care  for  to  borwe,     lo 

For  bothe  I  have  good  leyser  and  good 

leve  ; 
Ther  is  no  wight  that  wol  me  wo  bereve 
To  wepe  y-nogh,  and  wailen  al  my  fllle  ; 
The  sore  spark  of  peyne  f  doth  me  spille. 


II.     {In  TerzaRimi;  imperfect.) 
[f  The  sore  spark  of  peyne  doth  me  spille ;] 
This  Love  hath  [eek]  me  set  in  swich  a 
place  i6 

That  my  desyr  [he]  never  wol  fulfille  ; 
For  neither  jiiteo,  niercy,  neither  grace 
Can  I  nat  finde  ;  and  ffro  my  sorwful 

herte, 

For  to  be  deed,  I  can  hit  nat  arace.    20 

The  more  I  love,  the  more  she  doth  me 

smerte  ; 

Through  which  I  see,  with-oute  remedye. 

That  from  the  deeth  I  may  no  wyse 


[+For  this  day  in  hir  servise  shal  I  dye]. 

III.     {In  Tersa  Mima  ;  imperfect.) 
[f  Thus  am  I  slain,  with  sorwes  ful  dy- 
verse  ;  25 

Ful  longe  agoon  I  oghte  have  taken 
hede]. 


Now  sothly,  what  she  hight  I  wol  re- 
herse  ; 
Hir  name  is  Bountee,  set  in  womanhede, 
Sadnesse  in  youthe,  and  Beautee  pryde- 

lees, 
And  Plesaunce,  under  governaunce  and 
drede  ;  30 

Hir  surname  eek  is  Faire  Rewthelees, 
The  Wyse,  y-knit  un-to  Good  Aventure, 
That,  for  I  love  hir,  fsleeth  me  giltelees. 
Hir  love  I  best,  and  shal,  whyl  I  may 
dure. 
Bet  than  my-self  an  hundred  thoixsand 
deel,  35 

Than  al  this  worldes  richesse  or  crea- 
ture. 
Now  hath  nat  Love  roe  bestowed  weel 
To  love,  ther  I  never  shal  have  part  ? 
Alias  !  right  thus  is  turned  me  the  wheel. 
Thus  am  I  slayn  with  loves  fyry  dart.    40 
I  can  but  love  hir  best,  my  swete  fo  ; 
Love  hath  me  taught  no  more  of  his  art 
But  serve  alwey,  and  stinte  for  no  wo. 

IV.     {In  ten-line  stanzas.) 
[With]-in  my  trewe  careful  herte  ther  is 
So  moche  wo,  and  [eek]  so  litel  blis,       45 

That  wo  is  me  that  ever  I  was  bore  ; 
For  al  that  thing  which  I  desyre  I  mis, 
And  al  that  ever  I  wolde  nat,  I-wis, 

That  finde  I  redy  to  me  evermore  ; 
And  of  al  this  I  not  to  whom  me  pleyne.  50 
For  she  that  mighte  me  out  of  this 

bringe 
Ne  reccheth   nat  whether  I  wepe  or 
singe  ; 
So  litel  rewthe  hath  she  upon  my  peyne. 

Alias  !  whan  sleping-time  is,  than  I  wake, 
Whan  I  shulde  daunce,  for  fere  than  I 

quake  ;  55 

[fYow  rekketh  never  wher  I  flete  or 

sinke  ;] 
This  bevy  lyf  I  lede  for  your  sake, 
Thogh  ye  ther-of  in  no  wyse  hede  take. 


ZH  (DUnor  ^oew0. 


[fFor  on  my  wo  yow  deyneth  not  to 
tliinke.]  59 

My  hertes  lady,  and  hool  my  lyves  quene  ! 
For  trcwly  dorste  I  seye,  as  that  I  fele, 
Me  semeth  that  your  swete  hcrte  of  stele 
Is  whetted  now  agej-nes  me  to  kene. 
My  dere  herte,  and  best  beloved  fo, 
"Why  lyketh  yow  to  do  me  al  this  wo,    65 
■\Vliat  have  I  doon  that  greveth  yow,  or 
sayd, 
But  for  I  serve  and  love  yow  and  no  mo? 
And  whylst  I  live,  I  wol  H  do  ever  so  ; 
And  therfor,  swete,  ne  beth  nat  e%'il 
apayd. 
For  so  good  and  so  fair  as  [that]  ye  be,  70 
Hit  were  [a]  right  gret  wonder  but  ye 

haddo 
Of  alle  servants,  bothe  goode  and  badde  ; 
And  leest  worthy  of  alle  hem,  I  am  he. 

But  iicver-the-les,  my  righte  lady  swete, 
Tliogh  that  I  be  unconning  and  unmetc  75 

To  serve  as  I  best  coude  ay  your  hy- 
nesse, 
Yit  is  ther  fayner  noon,  that  wolde  I  hete, 
Than  I,  to  do  +yow  eso,  or  elles  bete 

^^'hat-so  I  wiste  were  to  fyow  distresse. 
And  haddo  I  might  as  good  as  Ihave  wille. 

Than  shulde  ye  fele  wher  it  wer  so  or 
noon  ;  81 

For  fin  this  worlde  living  is  ther  noon 
That  fayner  wolde  your  hertes  wil  fulfille. 

For  bothe  I  love,  and  eek  dreed  yow  so 

sore, 
And  algates  moot,  and  have  doon  yow, 
ful  yore,  85 

That  bet  loved  is  noon,  ne  never  shal ; 
And  yit  I  wolde  beseche  yow  of  no  more 
But  leveth  wel,  and  be  nat  ^v^ooth  ther- 
fore, 
And  lat  me  sers-e  yow  forth  ;    lo  !   this 
is  al. 
For  I  am  nat  so  hardy  ne  so  wood         90 
For  to  desire  that  ye  shulde  love  me  ; 
For  wel  I  wot,  alias  !  that  may  nat  be  ; 
I  am  so  litel  worthy,  and  ye  so  good. 

For  ye  be  oon  the  worthiest  on-lyve. 
And  I  the  most  unlykly  for  to  thryve  ;  95 
Yit,  for  al  this,  [now]  witeth  ye  right 
wele. 


That  ye  ne  shul  me  from  your  ser\-ice 

dryve 
That  I  nil  ay,  with  alle  my  wittes  fyve, 

Serve  yow  trewly,  what  wo  so  that  I  fele. 

For  I  am  set  on  yow  in  swioh  manere  k« 

That,  thogh  ye  never  wil  ujion  me  re  we, 

I  mostc  yow  love,  and  fever  been  as 

trewe 

As  anj'  can  or  may  on-Iy\-e  [here]. 

+The  more  that  I  love  yow,  goodly  free, 
Tlie  lasse  finde  I  that  ye  loven  me  ;      105 

Alias  !   whan  shal  that  harde  wit  a- 
mende  ? 
Wlier  is  now  al  your  wommanly  pitee. 
Your  gentilesse  and  your  debonairtee, 

Wil   ye  no    thing   ther-of   upon    me 
spende  ? 
And  so  hool,  swete,  as  I  am  youres  al,  1 10 

And  so  gret  wil  as  I  have  yow  to  serve, 

Now,  certes,  and  yc  lote  me  thus  storve, 
Yit  have  ye  wonne  tlier-on  but  a  smal. 

For,    at   my   knowing,    I    do    fno-thing 
.      why. 
And  this  I  wol  beseche  yow  hertely,     115 

That,  ther  ever  ye  finde,  whyl  ye  live, 
A  trewer  ser^■ant  to  yow  than  am  I, 
Leveth    [mo]    thanne,    and    sleeth    me 
hardcly. 
And  I  my  deeth  to  you  wol  al  forgive. 
And  if  ye  findo  no  trewer  f  man  than  me, 
[Wliy]  will  ye  suifre  than  that  I  thus 
spille,  121 

And  for  no  maner  gilt  but  my  good 
wille? 
As  good  wer  thanne  untrewe  as  trewe 
to  be. 

But  I,  my  lyf  and  deeth,  to  yow  obeye, 
And   with  right   buxom   herte  hoolly  I 
preye,  125 

As  [is]  your  moste  plesure,  so  doth  by  me ; 
f  Wel  lever  is  me  lyken  yow  and  deyo 
Than  for  to  any  thing  or  thinke  or  se3'e 
That  f  mighte  yow  offende  in  any  tyme. 
And  therfor,  swete,  rewe  on  my  peynes 
smerte,  130 

And   of  your  grace  granteth  me  som 

drope ; 
For  elles  may  me  laste  fblis  ne  hope, 
Ne  -f-dwellen  in  my  trouble  careful  herte. 


VII.    dElneft^a  anb  <Erctfe. 


113 


VII.     ANELIDA   AND   AECITE. 


The  Compleynt  of  feire  Anelida 
and  fals  Arcite. 

Proem. 
Thou  ferse  god  of  armes,  Mars  tlie  rede, 
That  in  the  frosty  country  called  Trace, 
Within  thy  gfrisly  temple  ful  of  drerte 
Honoured  art,  as  patroun  of  that  place  ! 
With  thy  Bellona,  Pallas,  ful  of  grace,    5 
Be  present,  and  my  song  continiie  and 

gye; 
At  my  beginning  thus  to  thee  I  crye. 

For  hit  ful  depe  is  sonken  in  my  minde, 
With  pitous  herte  in  English  for  t'endyte 
This  olde  storie,  in  Latin  which  I  finde,  10 
Of  queue  Anelida  and  fals  Arcite, 
That  clde,  which  that  al  can  frets  and 

byte, 
As  hit  hath  freten  mony  a  noble  storie. 
Hath  nigh  devoured  out  of  our  memorie. 

Be  favorable  eek,  thou  Polymnia,  15 

On  Pamaso  that,  with  thy  sustres  glade. 
By  Elicon,  not  fer  from  Cirrea, 
Singest  with  vois  memorial  in  the  shade, 
Under   the   laurer  which   that  may  not 

fade. 
And  do  that  I  my  ship  to  haven  winne  ;  20 
First    folow    I    Stace,    and    after    him 

Corinne. 

The  Story, 
lamque  domos patrias,  dc.  ;  Statii  Thebais, 

xii.  519. 
WTian  Theseus,  with  werres  longe  aiad 

grete, 
The  aspre  folk  of  Cithe  had  over-come. 
With  laurer  crouned,  in  his  char  gold- 
bete, 
Hoom  to  his  contre-houses  is  y-come  ; —  25 
For  which  the  peple  blisful,  al  and  somme. 
So  cryden,  that  unto  the  sterres  hit  wente, 
And  him  to  honouren  dide  al  hir  en- 
tente ; — 


Beforn  this  diik,  in  signe  of  hy  victorie, 
Tlie  trompes  come,  and  in  his  baner  large 
The   image   of  Mars;  and,    in   token   of 

glorie,  31 

Men   mighten    seen    of    tresor   many   a 

charge, 
Many  a  bright  helm,  and  many  a  spere 

and  targe. 
Many  a  fresh  knight,  and  many  a  blisful 

route, 
On  hors,  on  fote,  in  al  the  felde  aboute.  35 

Ipolita  his  wyf,  the  hardy  queue 
Of  Cithia,  that  he  conquered  hadde, 
With  Emelye,  hir  yonge  suster  shene, 
Faire  in  a  char  of  goldc  he  with  him  ladde, 
That  al  the  ground  aboute  hir  char  she 

spradde  40 

With  brightnesse  of  the  beaiitee  in  hir 

face, 
Fulfild  of  largesse  and  of  alle  grace. 

With  his  triumphe  and  laurer-croiined 

thus, 
In  al  the  floure  of  fortunes  yevinge, 
Leto  I  this  noble  prince  Theseus  45 

Toward  Athenes  in  his  wey  rydinge, 
And  founde  I  wol  in  shortly  for  to  bringe 
The  slye  wey  of  that  I  gan  to  -wTyte, 
Of  queue  Anelida  and  fals  Arcite. 

Mars,    which  that   through    his   fvirious 

coxrrse  of  yre,  50 

The  olde  wrath  of  Juno  to  fulfiUe, 
Hath  set  the  peples  hertes  bothe  on  fyre 
Of  Tliebes  and  Grece,   everich  other  to 

kille 
With  blody  speres,  ne  rested  never  stille, 
But  throng  now  her,  now  ther,  among 

hem  bothe,  55 

That  everich  other  slough,   so  wer  they 

wrothe. 

For  whan  Amishiorax  and  Tydeus, 
Ipomedon,  Parthonopee  also 
Were  dede,  and  slayn  [was]  proud  Cam- 
paneus, 


114 


ZU  Qlltnor  (poeme. 


Ami  whan  the  wrecches  Thebaiis,  hreth- 
eren  two,  60 

Were  slajn,  and  king  Adrastus  hoom. 
a-go, 

So  desoLit  stood  Thohes  and  so  bare, 

That  no  wight  coude  rcmedio  of  his  care. 

And  whan  the  olde  Creon  gan  espye 
How   that   the   blood    roial   was   broght 

adoun,  65 

He  held  the  cite  by  his  tirannye. 
And  did  the  gentils  of  that  regioun 
To  been  his  frendes,  and  d>vellen  in  the 

toun. 
So  what  for  love  of  him,  and  what  for  awe. 
The  noble  folk  wer  to  the  toune  y-drawe. 

Among  al  these,  Anelida  the  queno        71 
Of  Ermony  was  in  that  toun  dwellinge. 
That  fairer  was  then  is  the  sonne  shone  ; 
Tliroiigh-out  the  world  so  gan  hir  name 

springe. 
That  hir  to  seen  had  everj'  wight  lykinge  ; 
For,  as  of  trouthe,  is  ther  noon  hir  liche,  76 
Of  al  the  women  in  this  worlde  riche. 

Yong  was  this  quene,  of  twenty  yeer  of 

eldo. 
Of  midel  stature,  and  of  swich  faimesse, 
That  nature  had  a  joye  hir  to  behclde  ;    80 
And  for  to  speken  of  hir  stedfastnesse, 
She  passed  hath  Penelope  and  Lucresse, 
And  shortly,  if  she  shal  be  comprehended, 
In  hir  ne  mighte  no-thing  been  amended. 
This  Theban  knight  [Arcite]  eek,  sooth  to 

seyn,  85 

Was  yong,  and  ther-with-al  a  lusty  knight, 
But  he  was  double  in  love  and  no-thing 

pleyn. 
And  subtil  in  that  crafte  over  any  wight, 
And   with   his  cunning  wan    this  lady 

bright ; 
For  so  ferforth  he  gan  hir  trouthe  assure, 
That  she  him  ftrust  over  any  creature.  91 

^^^lat  shuld  I  seyn  ?  she  loved  Arcite  so, 
That,wlian  that  he  was  absent  any  throwe. 
Anon  hir  thoghte  hir  herte  brast  a-two  ; 
For  in  hir  sight  to  hir  he  bar  him  lowe,  95 
So   that   she  wende    have   al  his   herte 

y-knowe ; 
But  he  was  fals  ;  it  nas  but  feyned  chere, 
As  nedeth  not  to  men  such  craft  to  lere. 


Bvit  never-the-les  fv\l  mikel  besinesse 
Had  he,  er  that  ho  mighte  his  lady  winne, 
And  swoor  he  woldo  dyen  for  distresse,ioi 
Or  from  his  wit  he  seyde  he  wolde  twinne. 
Alas,  the  whyle  !  for  hit  was  routhe  and 

sinne, 
Tliat  she  upon  his  sorowes  wolde  rewe, 
But  no-thing  thenketh  the  fals  as  doth 

the  trewe.  11)5 

Hir  fredom  fond  Arcite  in  swich  manere, 
That  al  was  his  that  she  hath,  moche  or 

lyte, 
Ne  to  no  creature  made  she  chere 
Ferther  than  that  hit  lyked  to  Arcite  ; 
Ther  was  110  lak  with  which  he  mighte 

hir  -w^-to,  1 10 

She  was  so  ferforth  yeven  him  to  plese, 
That  al  that  lyked  him,  hit  did  hir  ese. 

Ther  nas  to  hir  no  maner  lettre  y-sent 
That    touched    love,    from    any    maner 

wight. 
That  she  no  shewed  hit  him,  er  hit  was 

brent;  115 

So  pleyn  she  was,  and  did  hir  fulle  might, 
Tliat  she   nil  hyden   nothing   from   hir 

knight, 
Lest  he  of  anj'  untrouthe  hir  upbreyde  ; 
Withouten  bode  his  heste  she  obeydc. 

And  eek  he  made  him  jelous  over  here,  120 
Tliat,  what  that  any  man  had  to  hir  seyd, 
Anoon  he  wolde  preyen  hir  to  swere 
What  was  that  word,  or  make  him  evel 

apayd  ; 
Than  wende  she  out  of  hirwit  have  brayd ; 
But  al  this  nas  but  sleight  and  flaterye, 
Withouten  love  he  fejTied  jelosye.         126 

And  al  this  took  she  so  debonerly, 
That  al  his  wUle,  hir  thoghte  hit  skilful 

thing. 
And  ever  the  lenger  -f^loved  him  tenderly, 
And  did  him  honour  as  he  were  a  king.  130 
Hir  herte  was  wedded  to  him  with  a  ring ; 
So  ferforth  upon  trouthe  is  hir  entente, 
That  wher  he  goth,  hir  herte  with  him 

wente. 

Whan  she   shal   etc,    on   him  is   so  hir 

thoght,  134 

That  wel  unnethe  of  mete  took  she  keep  ; 


VII,    ilnefiia  an^  ^vcik. 


And   whan   that    she  was    to   hir   reste 

broght, 
On  him  she  thoghte  alwey  til  that  she 

sleep  ; 
■Wlian  he  was  absent,  prevely  she  weep  ; 
Thus  liveth  fair  Anelida  the  quene       139 
For  fals  Arcite,  that  did  hir  al  this  tene. 

This  fals  Arcite,  of  his  new-fangelnesse. 
For  she  to  him  so  lowly  was  and  trewe, 
Took  lesse  deyntee  for  hir  stedfastnesse. 
And  saw  another  ladj',  prond  and  newe, 
And  right  anon  he  cladde  him  in  hir 

hewe — ■  145 

Wot  I  not  whether  in  whji;e,  rede,   or 

grene — 
And  falsed  fair  Anelida  the  quene. 

But  never-the-les,  gret  wonder  was  hit 

noon 
Tliogh  he  wer  fals,  for  hit  is  kinde  of 

man,  149 

Sitli  Laniek  was,  that  is  so  longe  agoon. 
To  been  in  love  as  fals  as  ever  he  can  ; 
He  was  the  firste  fader  that  began 
To  loven  two,  and  was  in  bigamye  ; 
And  he  found  tentes  first,  but-if  men  lye. 

This  fals  Arcite  sumwhat  moste  he  feyne, 
Whan  he  wex  fals,  to  covere  his  trai- 

torye,  156 

Right  as  an  hors,  that  can  both  byte  and 

plejTie  ; 
For  he  bar  hir  on  honde  of  trecherye, 
And    swoor  he    coude    hir    doublenesse 

espye. 
And  al  was  falsnes  that  she  to  him  mente  ; 
Thus  swoor  this  theef,  and  forth  his  way 

he  weute.  161 

Alas  !  what  herte  might  endnren  hit, 
For  routhe  or  wo,  hir  sorow  for  to  telle  ? 
Or  what  man  hath  the  cv^nning  or  the 

wit  ? 
Or  what  man  might  with-in  the  chambre 

d  we  lie,  165 

If  I  to  him  rehersen  shal  the  helle, 
That  suffreth  fair  Anelida  the  quene 
For  fals  Arcite,  that  did  hir  al  this  tene  ? 
She  wepeth,  waileth,  swowneth  pitously, 
To  grounde  deed  she  falleth  as  a  stoon  ; 
Al  crampissheth  hir  limes  crokedly,     171 
She  speketh  as  hir  wit  were  al  agoon  ; 


Other  colour  then  asshen  hath  she  noon. 
Noon  other  word  -j  she  speketh  moche  or 

lyte, 
But '  mercy,  cruel  herte  myn,  Arcite  !'  175 

And  thus  endureth,  til  that  she  was  so 

mate 
That  she  ne  hath  foot  on  which  she  may 

sustene  ; 
But  forth  languisshing  ever  in  this  estate. 
Of  which  Arcite  hath  nother  routhe  ne 

tene  ; 
His    herte  was    elles-where,    newe    and 

grene,  iSd 

That  on  hir  wo  :ie  dejmeth  him  not  to 

thinke, 
Him   rekketli   never   wher   she   flote    or 

sinke. 
His  newe  lady  holdeth  him  so  narowe 
Up  by  the  brydel,  at  the  staves  ende. 
That   every  woril,  he  dradde  hit  as  an 

arowe ;  1S5 

Hir  daunger  made  him  Ijothe  bowe  and 

bende. 
And  as   hir   liste,   made   him   turne    or 

wende ; 
For  she  ne  graunted  him  in  hir  livinge 
No  grace,  why  that  he  hath  lust  to  singe; 

But  drof  him  forth,    unnethe   liste  hir 

knowe  190 

That  he  was  servaunt  fto  hir  ladyshippe, 

But  lest  that  he  wer  proude,   she  held 

him  lowe  ; 
Thus  serveth  he,  withouten  fee  or  shipe, 
She   sent   him    now    to   londe,    now    to 
shippe  ;  194 

And  for  she  yaf  him  daunger  al  his  fille, 
Therfor  she  had  him  at  hir  owne  wille. 

Ensample  of  this,  ye  thrifty  wimmen  alle, 
Take  here  Anelida  and  fals  Arcite, 
That  for  hir  liste  him  '  dere  herte  '  calle. 
And  was  so  meek,  therfor  he  loved  hir 

lyte ;  200 

The  kinde  of  mannes  herte  is  to  delyte 
In  thing  that  straunge  is,  also  god  me 

save  ! 
For  what  he  may  not  gete,  that  wolde  he 

have. 
Now  turne  we  to  Anelida  ageyn, 
That  pyneth  day  by  day  in  languisshing ; 


ii6 


ZU  QlUnor  (poems. 


But  whan   she  saw  that  hir  ne  gat  no 
geyn,  206 

Upon  a  day,  ful  sorowfolly  weping, 
She  caste  hir  for  to  make  a  compleyning. 
And  witli  hir  o\vne  honde  she  gan  hit 

wryte  ; 
And   sente   hit    to   hir    Theban    knight 
Arcite.  210 

The  Compleynt  of  Anelida  the  quene 
upon  fals  Arcite. 

Prorm. 
So   thirleth   with  the  poj-nt  of  remem- 

hrauncc, 
The   swerd   of  sorowe,  y-whet  with  fals 
plcsaunce, 
Myn  herte,  bare  of  blis  and  blak  of 
howe, 
That  turned  is  in  quaking  al  my  daunce, 
My  suretee  in  a-whapedcountenaunce ;  215 
Sith  hit  availeth  not  for  to  ben  trewe  ; 
For  who-so  trewest  is,   hit    shal    hir 
rewe, 
That  sei^'eth  love  and  doth  hir  obser\'- 
aunce 
Alwey  to  oon,  and  chaungeth  for  no 
newe. 

(Strophe.) 


I  wot  my-self  as  wel  as  any  wight  ;       220 
For  I  loved  oon  with  al  my  herte  and 
might 
More  then  my-self,  an  hundred  thou- 
sand sythe, 
And  called  him  my  hertes  lyf,  my  knight, 
And  was  al  his,  as  fer  as  hit  was  right ; 
And  whan  that  he  was  glad,  than  was 
I  blythe,  225 

And  his  disese  was  my  deeth  as  swythe  ; 
And  he  ayein  his  trouthe  me  had  plight 
For  ever-more,  his  lady  me  to  kythe. 


Xow  is  he  fals,  alas  !  and  causeles. 
And  of  my  wo  he  is  so  routheles,  230 

That  with  a  worde  him  list  not  ones 
deyne 
To  bring  ayein  my  sorowful  herte  in  pees, 
For  he  is  caught  up  in  a-nother  lees. 


Riglit  as  him  list,  he  laugheth  at  my 

peyne,  234 

And  I  ne  can  myn  herte  not  restreyne. 

That  I  ne  love  him  alwey,  never-the-les  ; 

And  of  al  this  I  not  to  whom  me  pleyne. 

3. 

And    shal    I    pleyne — alas !    the    harde 

stounde — 
Un-to  my  foo  that  yaf  my  herte  a  wounde. 
And  yet  desyreth  that  myn  harm  Vie 
more  ?  240 

Nay,  certes  !  ferther  wol  I  never  f  founde 
Non  other  help,  my  sores  for  to  sounde. 
My  destinee  hath  shapen  it  ful  yore  ; 
I  wil  non  other  medecyne  ne  lore  ; 
I  wil  ben  ay  ther  I  was  ones  bounde,  245 
That  I  have  seid,  be  seid  for  ever-more  ! 
4. 
Alas  !  wher  is  become  your  gentilesse  ! 
Your  wordes  fuUe  of  plesaunce  and  hum- 
blesse  ? 
Your  observaunces  in  so  low  manere. 
And  your  awayting  and  your  besinesse  250 
Upon  me,  that  ye  calden  your  maistresse. 
Your  soverej-n  lady  in  this  worlde  here? 
Alas  !  and  is  ther  nother  word  ne  chere 
Ye  vouchesauf  upon  myn  hevinesse  ? 
Alas  !  your  love,  I  bye  hit  al  to  dere.  255 

6. 
Now  certes,  swete,  thogh  that  ye 
Thus  causeles  the  cause  be 
Of  my  dedly  adversitee. 
Your  manly  reson  oghte  it  to  respyte 
To  slee  your  frend,  and  namely  me,  260 
Tliat  never  yet  in  no  degree 
Offended  yow,  as  wisly  he. 
That  al  wot,  out  of  wo  my  soule  quyte  ! 
T  But  for  I  shewed  yow,  Arcite, 
Al  that  men  wolde  to  me  wryte,        265 
And  was  so  besy,  yow  to  dolyte— 
My  honour  save — meke,  kinde,  and  free, 
Therfor  ye  putte  on  me  the  wj-te. 
And  of  me  recche  not  a  mj'te, 
Thogh  that  the  swerd  of  sorow  byte  270 
My  wofiil  herte  through  your  crueltee. 

6. 
My  swete  foo,     why  do  ye  so,     for  shame? 
And  thenke  ye    that  furthered  be    your 
name, 


VII.    ilnefiM  ani  ^vcitt. 


117 


To  love  a  newe,     and  been  untrewe  ? 
nay! 
And  putte  yow     in  sclaunder  now      and 
blame,  275 

And  do  to  me     adversitee     and  grame, 
That  love  yow  most,         god,  wel  thon 

west !      alway  ? 

Yet  turn  ayeyn,     and  bo  al  pleyn     soni 

day, 

And  than  shal  this     that  now  is  mis     be 

game,  279 

And  al  for-yive,    whyl  that  I  live    may. 

(Antistroxjhe.) 

1. 

Lo  !  herte  myn,  al  this  is  for  to  seyne, 
As  whether  shal  I  preye  or  elles  pleyne  ? 

Whiche  is  the  wey  to  doon  yow  to  be 

trewe  ? 

For  either  mot  I  have  yow  in  my  cheyne, 

Or   with   the   dethe  ye   mot  dejmrte  ns 

tweyne  ;  285 

Ther  ben  non  other  mene  weyes  newe  ; 

For  god  so  wisly  on  my  soule  rewe. 
As  verily  ye  sleen  me  with  the  peyne ; 

That  may  ye  see  unfejTied  of  myn  hewo. 

2. 

For   thus   fcrforth   have   I  my  deth  [y]- 
soght,  290 

My-self  I  mordro  with  my  prevy  thoght  ; 
For  sorow  and  routhe  of  your  unkinde- 
nesse 
I  wepe,  I  wake,  I  fasto  ;  al  helpeth  noght ; 
I  wejn-e  joye  that  is  to  speke  of  oght, 
I  voyde  companye,  I  flee  gladnesse  ;  295 
Who  may  avaunte  hir  bet  of  hevinesse 
Then  I  ?    and  to  this  plyte  have  ye  mo 
broght, 
Withouto  gilt ;  mc  nedeth  no  witnesse. 


And  sholdo  I  preye,  and  weyve  woman- 

hede  ? 
Nay  !  rather  deth  then  do  so  foul  a  dede, 
And  axe  mercy  gilteles  !  what  nede?  301 
And  if  I  pleyne  what  lyf  that  I  lede, 
Yow  rekketh  not ;  that  know  I,  out  of 
drede  ; 
And  if  I  unto  yow  myn  othes  bede 


For  myn  exciise,  a  scorn  shal  be  my 

mede ;  305 

Your  chere  floureth,  but  hit  wol  not  sede  ; 

Ful  longe  agoon  I  oglite  have  take  hede. 


For  thogh  I  hadde  yow  to-morow  ageyn, 
I  might  as  wel  holde  Averill  fro  reyn, 

As  holde  yow,  to  make  yow  stedfast.  310 
Almighty  god,  of  troutho  sovereyn, 
Wher  is  the  trouthe  of  man  ?  who  hath 
hit  slejTi  ? 

Who  that  hem  loveth  shal  hem  fyndo 
as  fast 

As  in  a  tempest  is  a  roten  mast. 
Is  that  a  tame  best  that  is  ay  feyn        315 

To  renne  away,  when  he  is  leest  agast  ? 

5. 

Now  mercy,  swete,  if  I  misseye, 
Have  I  seyd  oght  amis,  I  preye  ? 
I  not ;  my  wit  is  al  aweye. 

I  fiire  as  doth  the  song  of  Chaunte-pleure. 
For  now  I  pleyne,  and  now  I  pleye,  321 
I  am  so  mased  that  I  deyc, 
Arcite  hath  born  awey  the  keyo 

Of  al  my  worldo,  and  my  good  aventure  ! 
U  For  in  this  worldo  nis  creature      325 
Wakinge,  in  more  discomfiture 
Then  I,  ne  more  sorow  endure  ; 

And  if  I  slepe  a  furlong  wey  or  tweye, 
Than  thinketh  me,  that  your  figure 
Before  me  stant,  clad  in  asure,  330 

To  profren  eft  a  newe  assure 

For  to  be  trewe,  and  mercy  me  to  preye. 


The  longo  night       this  wonder  sight      I 

drye, 
And  on  the  day     for  this  afray    I  dye,  334 
And  of  al  this     right  noght,  y-wis,     ye 
recclie. 
Ne  never  mo     myn  yen  two     be  drye. 
And  to  your  routhe     and  to  your  trouthe 
I  crye. 
But  welawey  !   to  fer  be  they   to  fecche ; 
Thus    holdoth   me       my    destinee      a 
wrecche.  339 

But  me  to  redo     out  of  this  dredo     or  gye 
Ne  may  my  wit,      so  weyk  is  hit,      not 
strecche. 


^6e  Qllinor  Q^oeme. 


('(incJii.ihm. 
Than   ende    I   tlius,   sith   I  may  do    no 

more, 
I  yeve  hit  up  for  now  and  over-more  ; 

For  I  shal  never  eft  iiuttcn  in  halaunce 

My     sekemes,     ne    leme    of    love     the 

lore.  345 

But  as  the  swan,  I   have  herd  sej'd  ful 

yore, 

Ayeins    his    deth    shal    singe    in    his 

penaunce, 
So  singe  I  here  my  destiny  or  chaunce, 


How  that  Arcite  Anelida  si>  sore 

Hath  thirled  with  the  poynt  of  remem- 
braunce !  3511 

The  story  continual. 
Whan  that  Anelida  this  woful  qtiene 
Hath  of  hir  hande  writen  in  this  wyse, 
AYith  face  deed,  betwixe  pale  and  grene. 
She  fel  a-swowe  ;  and  sith  she  gan  to  ryse, 
And  unto  Mars  avoweth  sacrifyse         355 
With-in    the   temple,    with    a    sorowful 

chore. 
That  shapen  was  as  ye  shal  after  here.  357 


{UnfinUhed.) 


VIII.     CH AUGERS  WORDES   UNTO   ADAM, 
HIS    OWNE   SCRIVEYN. 


Adam  scriveyn,  if  ever  it  thee  bifalle 
Boece  or  Troilns  to  wryten  newe, 
Under   thy   lokkes  thou  most  have  the 

scalle, 
But  after  my  making  thou  wryte  trewe. 


So  ofte  a  days  I  mot  thy  werk  renewe,     5 
Hit  to  correcte  and  eek  to  nibbe  and 

scrape  ; 
And  al  is  through  thy  negligence  and 

rape. 


IX.     THE   FORMER    AGE. 


A  BLisFui,  lyf,  a  paisible  and  a  swete 

Ledden  the  peples  in  the  former  age  ; 

They  holde  hem  payed  fof  fruites,  that 
they  ete, 

Wliich  that  thefeldes  yave  hem  by  usage ; 

They  ne  were  nat  forpampred  with  out- 
rage ;  5 

Unknowen  was  the  quern  and  eek  the 
melle  ; 

They  eten  mast,  hawes,  and  swich  poun- 
age, 

And  dronken  water  of  the  colde  wella 


Yit  nas  the  gi-ound  nat  wounded  with 

the  plough. 
But  com  up-sprong,  unsowe  of  mannes 

hond,  II) 

The  which  they  fgniden,  and  ecte  nat 

half  y-nough. 
No  man  3'it  knew  the  forwes  of  his  lond  ; 
No   man   the    fyr   out    of   the    flint  yit 

fond; 
Un-korven  and  un-grobbed  lay  the  vyne  ; 
No  man  yit  in  the  morter  spyces  grond  15 
To  clarre,  ne  to  sause  of  galantyne. 


VIII.   (Botiee  unto  il^am.— x.  5<>^^"w^- 


No  mader,  welde,  or  wood  no  litestere 
Ne  knew;    the  flees  was  of  his  former 

hewe ; 
No  flesh  ne  wiste  offence  of  egge  or  spere ; 
No  coyn  ne  knew  man  which  was  fals  or 

trewe ;  20 

No  ship  yit  karf  the  wawes  grene  and 

blewe  ; 
No   marchaunt   yit   ne  fette   outlandish 

ware  ; 
No  ftrompes  for  the  werres  folk  ne  knewe, 
No   toures  heye,   and  walles  rounde  or 

square. 

What  sholde  it  han  avayled  to  werreye  ?  25 
Ther  lay  no  profit,  ther  was  no  richesse, 
Bwt  cursed  was  the  tyme,  I  dar  wel  seye, 
That  men  first  dide  hir  swety  bysinesse 
To  grobbe  up  metal,  lurkinge  in  dark- 

nesse, 
And  in  the  riveres  first  gemmes  soghte.  30 
Alias  !  than  sprong  up  al  the  cursednessc 
Of  covetyse,  that  first  our  sorwe  broghte  ! 

Thise  tyraunts  putte  hem  gladly  nat  in 

pres. 
No  f  wildnesse,  ne  no  busshes  for  to  winne 
Ther  poverte  is,  as  seith  Diogenes,  35 

Ther  as  vitaile  is  eek  so  skars  and  thinne 
That  noght  but  mast  or  apples  is  ther- 

inne. 
But,  ther  as  bagges  been  and  fat  vitaile, 
Tlier  wol  they  gon,  and  spare  for  no  sinne 
\Vith  al  hir  ost  the  cite  for  t'assaile.      40 


Yit  were   no   paleis-chaumbres,   no  non 

halles  ; 
In  caves  and  [in]  wodes  softe  and  swete 
Slepten  this  blissed  folk  with-oute  walles. 
On  gras  or  leves  in  parfit  f  quiete. 
No  ■  doun    of   fetheres,    ne    no    bleclied 

shete  45 

Was  kid  to   hem,    but  in    seurtee   they 

slepte  ; 
Hir  hortes  were  al  oon,  with-oute  galles, 
Everich  of  hem  his  feith  to  other  kepte. 

Unforged  was  the  hauberk  and  the  plate  ; 
The  lambish  peple,  voyd  of  alle  vyce,     50 
Hadden  no  fantasye  to  debate. 
But  eeh  of  hem  wolde  other  wel  cherj-ce  ; 
No  pryde,  non  envye,  non  avaryce. 
No  lord,  no  taylage  by  no  tyrannye  ; 
Hiunblesse  and  pees,  good  feith,  the  em- 
perice,  55 

[fFulfilled  erthe  of  olde  curtesye.] 

Yit  was  not  Jupiter  tlio  likerous. 
That  first  was  fader  of  delicacye, 
Come   in   this  world  ;    ne  Nembrot,   de- 
sirous 
To    reynen,    had    nat   maad    his   tonros 
hye.  6'  > 

Alias,   alias !    now   may  men  wepe   and 

crye  ! 
For  in  otir  dayes  nis  but  covetyse 
[And]  doublenesse,  and  tresoun  and  envye, 
Poysoun,   manslauhtre,   and  mordre  in 
sondry  wyse.  64 


Finit  Etas  prima.    Chancers. 


X.     FOETUNE. 


Balacles  de  visage  sanz peinture. 
I.    Le  Pleintif  countre  Fortune. 

This  wrecched  worldes  transmutacioun, 
As   wele   or    wo,    now    povre    and    now 

honour, 
With-outen  ordre  or  wys  discrecioun 
tjoverned  is  by  Fortunes  errour  ; 
But  natheles,  the  lak  of  hir  favour  5 


Ne  may  nat  don  me  singen,  though  I  dye, 
'  lay  totit  perdu  mon  temps  et  mon  labour  :' 
For  fynally,  Fortune,  I  thee  defye  ! 

Yit  is  me  left  the  light  of  my  resoun, 
To  knowen  frend  fro  fo  in  thy  mirour.  in 
So  muche  hath  yit  thy  whirling  up  and 

doun 
Y-taught  me  for  to  knowen  in  an  hour. 
But  trewely,  no  force  of  thy  reddour 


ZH  QUinov  (|)om0. 


To  liim  that  over  him-self  liath  the  mays- 

trye! 
My  siiffisaixnce  shal  be  my  socovir  :  15 

For  fynally,  Fortune,  I  thee  defye  ! 

0  Socrates,  thoxi  stedfast  champiourij 
She  never  niighte  be  thy  tormentour  ; 
Thou  never  dreddest  hir  oppressioun, 
Ne  in  hir  chere  founde  thou  no  savour.  20 
Thou  knewe  wel  deceit  of  hir  colour, 
And  that  hir  moste  worshipe  is  to  lye. 

1  knowe  hir  eek  a  fals  dissimulour  : 
For  fynally,  Fortune,  I  thee  dofyo  ! 

II.  La  respounse  de  Fortune  au  Pleintif. 

Xi>   man   is   wrecched,   but  him-self  hit 

wene,  25 

And   he   that   hath   him-self    hath    suf- 

fisaunce. 
^Vliy  seystow  thannc    I  am  to   thee  so 

kene, 
That  hast  thy-self  out  of  mygovernaunce? 
Sey  thus  :   '  Graunt  mercy  of  thyn  ha- 

boundaunce 
That  thou  hast  lent  or  this.'    ^^'hy  wolt 

thou  strj've  ?  30 

What    wostow    yit,    how    I    thee    wol 

avaunce  ? 
And  eek  thou  hast  thy  beste  frend  alyve  ! 

I  have  thee  taught  divisioun  bi-twene 
Trend  of  effect,  and  frend  of  counten- 

aunce  ; 
Thee    nedeth    nat    the     galle    of    noon 

hyene,  35 

That  cureth  eyen  derke  fro  hir  penaunce  ; 
Now  seestow  cleer,  that  were  in  ignor- 

aunce. 
Yit  halt  thj-n  ancre,  and  yit  thou  mayst 

arryve 
Ther  bountee  berth  the  keye  of  my  sub- 

staunce :  39 

And  eek  thou  hast  thy  beste  frend  alyve. 

How  many  have  I  refused  to  sustene. 
Sin  I  thee  fostred  have  in  thy  plesaunce  ! 
Woltow  than  make  a  statut  on  thy  queue 
That  I  shal  been  ay  at  thyn  ordinaunce  ? 
Thou  born  art  in  my  regne  of  variaunce. 


Aboute  the  wheel  with  other  most  thou 
dryve.  4*' 

My  lore  is  bet  than  wikke  is  thy  grev- 
aunce. 

And  eek  thou  hast  thy  beste  frend  alyve. 

III.    La  respounse  du  Pleintif 
countre  Fortune. 

Thy  lore  I  dampne,  hit  is  adversitee. 
My  frend  maystow  nat  reven,  blind  god- 

desse !  50 

That  I  thy  frendes  knowe,  I  thanke  hit 

thee. 
Tak  hem  agayn,  lat  hem  go  lye  on  presse  ! 
The  negardye  in  keping  hir  richesse 
Prenostik  is  thou  wolt  hir  tour  assayle ; 
AVikke  appetyt  comth  ay  before  seknesse : 
In  general,  this  reule  may  nat  fayle.      56 

La  respounse  de  Fortune  countre 
le  Pleintif, 
Thou  pinchest  at  my  mutabilitee. 
For  I  thee  lente  a  drope  of  my  richesse. 
And  now  me  lyketh  to  with-drawe  me. 
AThy  sholdestow  my  realtee  ojjpresse  ?  60 
The  see  may  ebbe  and  flowen  more  or  lesse ; 
The  welkne  hath  might  to  shyne,  reyne, 

or  hayle  ; 
Eight  so  mot  I  kythen  my  brotelnesse. 
In  general,  this  reule  may  nat  fayle. 

Lo,  th'execucion  of  the  magestee  65 

That  al  purveyeth  of  his  rightwisnesse. 
That  same  thing  '  Fortune '  clepen  j-e. 
Ye  blinde  bestes,  ful  of  lewednesse  ! 
The  hevene  hath  propretee  of  sikernesse. 
This  world  hath  ever  resteles  travayle  ;  70 
Tliy  laste  day  is  ende  of  myn  intresso  : 
In  general,  this  reule  may  nat  fajde. 

Lenvoy  de  Fortune. 
Princes,  I  prey  you  of  your  gentilesse, 
Lat  nat  this  man  on  me  thus  cryo  and 

pleyne. 
And  I  shal  quyte  you  your  bisinesse       75 
At  my  requeste,  as  three  of  you  or  tweyne; 
And,  but  you  list  releve  him  of  his  peyne, 
Preyeth  his  beste  frend,  of  his  noblesse. 
That  to  som  beter  estat  he  mayatteyne.  79 


Explicit. 


XL    QUercifea  (gtaut^.      xii.  Zo  (Hoeemounbe.         121 


XL     MERCILES   BEAUTE :    A   TEIPLE   ROUNDEL. 


I.  Captivity. 

Your  yen  two  wol  slee  me  sodenly, 
I  may  the  beautfe  of  hem  not  sustene, 
So  woundeth  hit  through-out  my  herte 
kene. 

And  but  your  word  wol  ]ielen  hastily 
My  hertes  wounde,  whyl  that  hit  is  grene, 
Vour  yen  two  wol  slee  me  sodenly,  6 

I  may  the  beauts  of  hem  not  sustene. 

Upon  my  trouthe  I  sey  yow  feithfully, 

Tliatyeben  ofmylyf  and  deeth  the  qiiene ; 

For  with  ray  deeth  the  trouthe  shal  be  sene. 

Your  yen  ttvo  wol  slee  me  sodenly,  1 1 

I  may  the  beatitd  of  hem  not  sustene, 

So  tooiindeth  h  it  through-out  m  y  herte  kene. 

II.  Rejection. 

So  hath  your  beaute  fro  your  herte  chaced 

Pitee,  that  me  ne  availeth  not  to  pleyne ; 

For  Daunger    halt    your    mercy   in   his 

cheyne.  i6 

Giltles  my  deeth  thus  lian  ye  me  pur- 

chaced ; 
I  sey  yow  sooth,  me  nedeth  not  to  feyne  ; 


<S'o  hath  your  bmutd  fro  your  herte  chaced 
Pitee,  that  me  ne  availeth  not  to  ideyne.  20 


Alias!   that   nature    hath   in   yow   com- 
passed 
So  greet  beauty,  that  no  man  may  attejnie 
To  mercy,  though  he  sterve  for  the  i^ej-ne. 
So  hath  your  beaut&  fro  your  herte  chaced 
ntee,  that  me  ne  availeth  not  tox>leyne;  25 
For  Daunger  halt  your  mercy  in  his  cheyne. 

III.     Escape. 
Sin  I  fro  Love  escaped  am  so  tht, 
I  never  thenk  to  ben  in  his  i)rison  lene ; 
Sin  I  am  free,  I  counte  him  not  a  bene. 

He  may  answere,  and  seye  this  or  that ;  30 
I  do  no  fors,  I  speke  right  as  I  mene. 
Sin  I  fro  Love  escaped  am  so  fat, 
I  never  thenk  to  ben  in  his  2mson  lene. 

Love  hath  my  name  y-strike  out  of  liis 

sclat, 
And  he  is  strike  out  of  iny  bokes  clene  35 
For  ever-mo  ;  fther  is  non  other  mene. 
Sin  I  fro  Love  escaped  am  so  fat, 
I  never  thenk  to  ben  in  his  prison  lene; 
Sin  I  am  free,  I  counte  him  not  a  bene.  39 


Explicit. 


XIL     TO    ROSEMOUNDE.     A   BALADE. 


Madame,  ye  ben  of  al  beaute  shryne 
As  fer  as  cercled  is  the  mappemounde  ; 
For  as  the  cristal  glorious  ye  shyne, 
And  lyke  ruby  ben  your  chekes  rounde. 
Tlierwith  ye  ben  so  mery  and  so  jocounde, 
Tliat  at   a   revel   whan   that   I  see   you 
daunce,  (, 

It  is  an  oynement  unto  my  wounde, 
Thogh  ye  to  me  ne  do  no  daliaunce. 


For  thogh  I  wepe  of  teres  ful  a  tyne. 
Yet  may  that  wo  myn  herte   nat  con- 

founde ;  id 

Your  f  seemly  voys  that  ye  so  f  smal  out- 

twyne 
Maketh    my    thoght   in    joye   and    blis 

habounde. 
So  curteisly  I  go,  with  love  bounde, 
That  to  my-self  I  sey,  in  my  penaunce, 


tU  QUtnot  (poems. 


Sufiysetli  me  to  love  yoit,  Rosemonnde, 
Tliogh  ye  to  me  ne  do  no  daliaunee. 

Nas  never  pyk  walwed  in  galauntj-ne 
As  I  in  love  am  walwed  and  j--woiinde  : 
For  which  ful  ofte  I  of  my-self  divj'ne 

Tregentil. 


That  I  am  trewe  Tristam  the  secounde.  20 
My  love  may  not  refreyd  bo  nor  afonnde  ; 
I  brenne  ay  in  an  amorous  plesannce. 
Do  what  yoii  list,   I  wil  j^oiir  thral  be 

founde, 
Thogh  ye  to  me  ne  do  no  daliaunee.      24 

Chaucer. 


XIII.     TRUTH. 


Balade  de  bon  conseyl. 
Flee  fro  the  preos,  and  dwello  with  sotli- 

fastnesse, 
SuffycG    unto    thy   good,  though  hit  be 

smal; 
For  herd  hath  hate,  and  climbing  tikel- 

nesse, 
Prees  hath  en\ye,  and  welo  blent  overal ; 
Savour  no  more  than  thee  bihove  shal ;  5 
Werk  wel  thy-self,  that  other  folk  canst 

redo  ; 
And  trouthe  shal  delivere,  hit  is  no  drede. 

Tempest  thee  noght  al  croked  to  redresse. 
In  trust  of  hir  that  turneth  as  a  bal : 
Gret  reste  stant  in  litel  besinesse  ;  10 

And  eok  be  war  to  sporno  agoyn  an  al ; 
Str}'\e  noght,   as  doth  the  crokke  with 

the  wal. 
Daunte   thy-self,    that  dauntest   othoros 

dede  ; 
And  trouthe  shal  delivere,  liit  is  no  drede. 


Tliat  thee  is  sent,  recej-re  in  buxumnesse, 
The  wrastling   for   this   worlde   axeth  a 

fal.  16 

Her  nis  non  hoom,  hor  nis  but  wilder- 

nesse  : 
Forth,  pilgrim,  forth  !     Forth,  beste,  out 

of  tliy  stal ! 
Know  tliy  contreo,  look  up,  thank  God 

ofal; 
Hold  the  hye  wey,  and  lat  thy  gost  thee 

lede  :  20 

And  trouthe  shal  delivere,  hit  is  no  drede. 

Envoy. 
Therfore,    thou    vache,    levc    th.'vn    old 

wrecchednesse 
Unto  the  worlde  ;  love  now  to  be  thral  ; 
Ci-j-e  him  mercy,  that  of  his  hy  goodnesse 
Made  thee  of  noght,  and  in  especial       25 
Draw  unto  him,  and  pray  in  general 
For  thee,  and  eek  for  other,  hevenlicli 

mede ;  27 

And  trovithe  shal  delivere,  hit  is  no  drede. 


Explicit  Le  bon  counseill  de  G.  Chaucer. 


XIV.     GEXTILESSE. 


Moral  BEilade  of  Chaucer. 

The  firste  stuk,  fa<ler  of  gentilesse — • 
What  man  that  claymeth  gentil  for  to  be, 
Must  folowe  his  trace,  and  alio  his  wittes 


Vertu  to  sewe,  and  vyces  for  to  flee. 
For  unto  vertu  longeth  dignitee. 


And  noght  the  revers,  saufly  dar  I  deme, 
Al  were  he  mji:re,  croune,  or  diademe. 
This  firste  stok  was  ful  of  rightwisnesse, 
Trewe  of  his   word,  sobre,  pitous,   and 

free. 
Clone  of  his  goste,  and  loved  besinesse,    10 
Ageinst  the  vyce  of  slouthe,  in  honestee  ; 


XIII.  ^tuf^.— XVI.  Benvop  a  ^cogan. 


23 


And,  but  his  heir  lovo  vertu,  as  dide  lie, 
He  is  noght  gentil,  thogh.  lie  riche  seme, 
Al  were  lie  mytre,  croiine,  or  diademe. 

Yyce  may  wel  be  heir  to  old  richesse  ;    15 
But  ther  may  no  man,  as  men  may  wel  see. 


Bequethe  his  heir  his  vertuous  noblesse 
I  That  is  appropred  unto  no  degree, 
I   But  to  the  firste  fader  in  niagestee, 
I  That  fniaketh  him  his  heir,  that  can  him 
queme,  20 

'  Al  were  he  mytre,  croune,  or  diademe. 


XV.     LAK   OF   STEDFASTNESSE. 


Balade. 

SoM  tymo  this  world  was  so  stedfast  and 

stable, 
That  mannes  word  was  obligaoioun, 
And  now  hit  is  so  fals  and  deceivable, 
That  word  and  deed,  as  in  conclusioun, 
Ben  no-thing  lyk,  for  turned  up  so  doun  5 
Is  al  this  world  for  mode  and  wilfulnesse, 
That  al  is  lost  for  lak  of  stedfastnesse. 

What  niaketh  this  world  to  be  so  variable. 
But  lust  that  folk  have  in  dissensioun  ? 
Among  us  now  a  man  is  holde  unable,   10 
But-if  he  can,  by  som  collusioun, 
Don  his  neighbour  wrong  or  oppressioun. 
What  causeth  this,  but  wilful  wrecched- 

nesse, 
That  al  is  lost,  for  lak  of  stedfastnesse  ? 


Trouthe  is  put  doun,  resoun  is  holden 
fable ;  15 

Vertu  hath  now  no  dominacioun, 

Pitee  exyled,  no  man  is  merciable. 

Through  covetyso  is  blent  discrecionn  ; 

The  world  hath  mad  a  permutacioun 

Fro  right  to  wrong,  fro  trouthe  to  fikel- 
uesse,  20 

That  al  is  lost,  for  lak  of  stedfastnesse. 

Lenvoy  to  King  Richard. 
O  prince,  desyre  to  bo  honourable. 
Cherish  thy  folk  and  hate  extorcioun  ! 
Suffre  no  thing,  that  may  be  reprevable 
To  tliyn  estat,  don  in  thy  regioun.  25 

Shew  forth  thy  swerd  of  castigacioun, 
Dred  God,  do  law,  love  trouthe  and  worthi- 
nesse,  27 

And  wed  thy  folk  agein  to  stedfastnesse. 


Explicit. 


XVI.     LENVOY   DE   CHAUCEE  A   SCOGAK 


To-BROKEN  been  the  statuts  hye  in  heveue 
That  Great  were  eternally  to  dure, 
Sitli  that  I  see  the  brighte  goddes  sevene 
Mow  wepe  and  wayle,  and  passioun  en- 
dure. 
As  may  in  erthe  a  mortal  creature.  5 

Alias,  fro  whennes  may  this  thing  pro- 
cede? 
Of  whiche  errour  I  deye  almost  for  drede. 


By  worde  eterne  whylom  was  hit  shape 
That  fro  the  fifte  cercle,  in  no  manere, 
Ne   mighte    a   drope   of    teres   doun    es- 
cape. 10 
But  now  so  wepeth  Venus  in  liir  spere. 
That  with  hir  teres  she  wol  drenche  us 

here. 
Alias,  Scogan  !  this  is  for  thyn  offence ! 
Thou  cavisest  this  deluge  of  pestilence. 


124 


ZU  QUtnor  (J)oem6. 


Hast  thou  not  seyd,  in  blaspheme  of  this 

gocldes,  15 

Through   prrde,    or   through    thy   grete 

rakelnosse, 
Swich  thing  as  in  the  lawe  of  love  for- 

bode  is  ? 
That,  for  thy  lady  saw  nat  thy  distresse, 
Therfor  then  yave  hir  up  at  Michelmesse  ! 
Alias,  Scogan  !  of  olde  folk  ne  yonge     20 
Was  never  erst   Scogan  blamed  for  his 

tonge  ! 

Thou  drowe  in  scorn  Cupyde  eek  to  record 
Of  thilke  rebel  word  that  t  h<  >u  hast  spoken. 
For  which  he  wol  no  lenger  be  thy  lord. 
And,  Scogan,  thogh  his  bowe  be  nat 
broken,  25 

He  wol  nat  with  his  arwes  been  y-wroken 
On  thee,  ne  me,  ne  noon  of  our  figure  ; 
We  shul  of  him  have  nej-ther  hurt  ne  cure. 

Now  certes,  frend,  I  drede  of  thyn  nn- 
happe. 

Lest  for  thy  gilt  the  wreclie  of  Love  pro- 
cede  30 

On  alle  hem  that  ben  hore  and  rounde  of 
shape, 


That  ben  so  lykly  folk  in  love  to  spede. 
Than  shul  we  for  our  labour  lian  no  mede  ; 
But  wel  I  wot,  thou  wilt  answere  and  seye : 
'  Lo  !  olde  Grisel  list  to  ryme  and  pleye  !  ' 

Nay,  Scogan,  sey  not  so,  for  I  m'excuse,  36 
God  help  me  so  !  in  no  rym,  doutelees, 
Ne  thinke  I  never  of  slepe  wak  my  muse, 
That  rusteth  in  my  shethe  stille  in  pees. 
Wliyl  I  was  J'ong,  I  putte  hir  forth  in 
prees,  40 

But  al  shal  jiasse  that  men  prose  or  ryme  ; 
Take  every  man  his  turn,  as  for  his  tyme. 

Envoy. 

I  Scogan,  that  knelest  at  the  stremes  heed  ' 
Of  grace,  of  alle  honoiir  and  worthinesse, 
In  th'ende  of  which  streme'-*  I  am  dul  as 

deed,  45 

Forgete  in  solitarie  wildernesse  ; 
Yet,   Scogan,   thenke  on   Tullius  kinde- 

nesse, 
Minne  thy  frend,  ther  it  may  fructifye  ! 
Far-wcl,  and  lok  thou  never  eft   Love 

defye !  49 

1  I.e.  Windesore.  2  i_e.  Grenewidi. 


XYII.  LEXTOY  DE  CHAUCER  A  BUKTON. 


The  counseil  of  Chaucer  touching 

Mariage,  which  was  sent  to  Bukton. 

Mv  maister  Bukton,  whan  of  Criste  otir 

kinge 
Was  axed,   what  is  trouthe  or  sothfast- 

nesse. 
He  nat  a  word  answerde  to  that  asinge, 
As  who   saith  :    '  no   man  is   al   trewe, ' 

I  gesse. 
And  therfor,  thogh  I  highte  to  expresse 
The  sorwe  and  wo  that  is  in  mariage,      6 
I  dar  not  wryte  of  hit  no  wikkednesse, 
Lest  I  my-self  falle  eft  in  swich  dotage. 

I  wol  nat  seyn,  how  that  hit  is  the  chevne 
Of  Sathanas,  onwhichhe  gnawethever,  10 


But  I  dar  seyn,  were  he  out  of  his  peyne. 
As   by   his    wille,   he   wolde   be    boiinde 

never. 
But  thilke  doted  fool  that  eft  hath  lever 
Y-cheyned  be  than  out  of  prisoun  crepe, 
God  lete  him  never  fro  his  wo  dissever,  15 
Ne  no  man  him  bewayle,  though  he  wepe. 
But  yit,  lest  thou  do  worse,  tak  a  wyf ; 
Bet  is  to  wedde,  than  brenne  in  worse 

■R-yse. 
But  thou  shalt  have  sorwe  on  thy  flesh, 

thy  lyf. 
And  been  thy  wyves  thral,  as  seyu  these 

wyse;  2<> 

And  if  that  holy  writ  may  nat  sufifyse, 
Experience  shal  thee  teche,  so  mayhappe, 


XVIII.    ZU  €ompfepnf  of  (^enuB. 


125 


That  thee  were  lever  to  be  take  in  Fryse 
Than  eft  to  falle  of  wedding  in  the  trappe. 

Envoy. 

This  litel  writ,  proverbes,  or  figure         25 
I  sende  you,  tak  kepe  of  hit,  I  rede  : 


Unwys  is  he  that  can  no  wele  endure. 
If  tlioii  be  siker,  put  thee  nat  in  drede. 
Tlie  Wyf  of  Bathe  I  pray  you  that  ye  rede 
Of  this  niatere  that  we  have  on  honde.  30 
God  graunte  you  your  lyf  frely  to  lede 
In  fredom :  for  ful  hard  is  to  be  bonde. 


Explicit. 


XVIII.     THE   COMPLEYNT    OF  VENUS. 


I.     {The  Lover's  worthiness.) 
Thek  nis  so  hy  comfort  to  my  plesaunce, 
Wlian  that  I  am  in  any  hevinesse, 
As  for  to  have  leyser  of  remembraunce 
Upon  the  manhod  and  the  worthinesse, 
Upon  the  trouthe,  and  on  the  stedfastnesse 
Of  him  whos  I  am  al,  whyl  I  may  dure  ;  6 
Tiler  oghte  blame  me  no  creature, 
For  every  wight  preiseth  his  gentilesse. 

In  him  is  bountee,  wisdom,  govemaunce 
Wei  more  then  any  mannes  wit  can  gesse ; 
For   grace   hath,   wold   so    ferforth   him 
avaunce      .  11 

That  of  knighthode  he  is  parfit  richesse. 
Honour  honoureth  him  for  his  noblesse  ; 
Therto  so  wel  hath  formed  him  Nature, 
That  I  am  his  for  ever,  I  hini  assure,       15 
For  every  wight  preisetli  his  gentilesse. 

And  not-withstanding  al  his  siiffisaunce. 
His  gentil  herte  is  of  so  greet  humblesse 
To  me  in  worde,  in  werke,  in  contenaunce, 
And  me  to  serve  is  al  his  besinesse,  20 
That  I  am  set  in  verrey  sikernesse. 
Tliiis  oghte  I  blesse  wel  myn  aventure, 
Sith  that  him  list  me  serven  and  honoure ; 
For  every  wight  preigeth  his  gentilesse. 


II.     {Disquietude  caused  by  Jealousy.) 
Now  certes.  Love,  hit  is  right  covenable 
That  men  ful  dere  bye  thy  noble  thing,  26 
As  wake  a-bedde,  and  fasten  at  the  table, 
Weping  to  laughe,   and   singe   in   com- 

pleyning, 
And  doun  to  caste  visage  and  loking, 


Often  to  chaungen  hewe  and  contenaunce, 
fPleyne  in  sleping,  and  dremen  at  the 
daunce,  3: 

Al  the  revers  of  any  glad  feling. 

Jalousye  be  hanged  by  a  cable  ! 
She  wolde  al  knowe  through  hir  espying; 
Ther  dotli  no  wight  no-thing  so  resonable, 
That  al  nis  harm  in  hir  imagening.        36 
Thus  dere  abought  is  love,  in  yeving. 
Which  ofte  he  yiveth  with-oute  ordin- 

aunce. 
As  sorow  ynogh,  and  litel  of  plesaunce, 
Al  the  revers  of  any  glad  feling.  40 

A  litel  tyme  his  yift  is  agreable. 
But  ful  encomberous  is  the  using  ; 
For  sotel  Jalousye,  the  deceyvable, 
Ful  often-tyme  causeth  destoiirbing. 
Thus  be  we  ever  in  drede  and  suffering, 
In  nouncerteyn  we  languisshe  in   pen- 

aunce,  46 

And  ban  ful  often  many  an  hard  mes- 

chaunce, 
Al  the  revers  of  any  glad  feling. 

III.     {Satisfaction  in  Constancy.) 
But  certes.  Love,  I  sey  nat  in  such  wyse 
That  for  t'escape  out  of  your  lace  I  mente ; 
For  I  so  longe  have  been  in  your  servyse  51 
That  for  to  lete  of  wol  I  never  assente  ; 
No  force  thogh  Jalousye  me  tormente  ; 
Suffyceth  me  to  see  him  whan  I  may,    54 
And  therfore  certes,  to  myn  ending-day 
To  love  him  best  ne  shal  I  never  repente. 

And  certes.  Love,  whan  I  me  wel  avyse 
On  any  estat  that  man  may  represente, 


126 


ZU  (Wltnor  dpoeme. 


Than  have  ye  makcd  mo,  through  your 

franchyse, 
Chese  the  best  tliat  ever  on  erthe  wente. 
Now  love  wel,  herte,  and  look  thou  never 

stente ;  6i 

And  let  the  jeloiis  pntte  hit  in  assay 
That,  for  no  peyno  wol  I  nat  sey  nay  ; 
To  love  him  best  ne  shal  I  never  repente. 
Herte,  to  thee  hit  oghte  y-nogh  suffyso  65 
That  Love  so  hy  a  grace  to  thee  sente. 
To  chese  the  worthiest  in  alle  w'j-se 
And  most  agreablo  unto  myn  entente. 
Seche  no  ferther,  neyther  wey  no  wente, 
Sith  I  have  suffisaunce  unto  my  pay.     70 
Thiis  wol  I  ende  this  compleynt  or  lay  ; 
To  love  him  best  ne  shal  I  never  repente. 


Lenvoy. 

Princess,   receyveth   this    complejmt   in 

gree. 
Unto  your  excellent  benignitee 

Direct  after  my  litel  suffisaunce.         75 
For  eld,  that  in  my  spirit  duUeth  me. 
Hath  of  endyting  al  the  soteltee 

Wei    ny   bereft    out    of    my    remem- 

braunce ; 
And   eek   to   me   hit   is   a   greet   pen- 
aunce, 
Sith  rym  in  English  hath  swich  scarsitee, 
To  folowo  word  by  word  the  curiositee  Si 
Of  Graunson,  flour  of  hem  that  make 
in  Fraunce. 


XIX.     THE   COMPLEINT   OF  CHAUCER  TO   HIS 
EMPTY  PUESE. 


To  you,  my  purse,  and  to  non  other  wight 
Compleyne  I,  for  ye  be  my  lady  dere  ! 
I  am  so  sorj',  now  that  ye  bo  light  ; 
For  certes,  but  ye  make  me  hevy  chere, 
Me  were  as  leef  be  leyd  ujvon  my  here  ;  5 
For  whiche  un-to  your  mercy  thus  I  crye  : 
Beth  hevy  ageyn,  or  elles  mot  I  dye  ! 

Now  voucheth  savif  this  day,  or  hit  be 

night, 
That  I  of  you  the  blisful  soun  may  here. 
Or  see  your  colour  lyk  the  sonne  bright, 
That  of  yelownesse  hadde  never  pere.  n 
Ye  be  my  lyf,  ye  be  myn  hertes  stere, 
Queue  of  comfort  and  of  good  companye  : 
Beth  hevy  ageyn,  or  elles  mot  I  dye  ! 


Now  purs,  that  be  to  me  my  lyv-es  light,  15 
And  saveour,  as  doun  in  this  worlde  here. 
Out  of  this  toune  help  me  through  your 

might. 
Sin  that  yo  wole  nat  been  my  tresorere  ; 
For  I  am  shave  as  nye  as  any  frere. 
But  yit  I  pray  un-to  your  curtesye  :       20 
Beth  he\-j-  agejTi,  or  eUos  mot  1  dye  ! 

Lenvoy  de  Chaucer. 

O  conquerour  of  Brutes  Albioun  ! 
^Vhich  that  by  lyne  and  free  eleccioun 
Ben  verray  king,  this  song  to  you  I  sende ; 
And  ye,  that  mowen  al  our  harm  amende, 
Have  mindo  up-on  my  supplicacioun  !   26 


XX.      PEOYEEBS. 


Proverbe  of  Chaucer. 


What  shul  thise  clothes  f  many-fold, 
Lo  !  this  hote  somers  day  ? — 

After  greet  heet  cometh  cold  ; 
No  man  caste  his  pilche  away. 


n. 


Of  al  this  world  the  wyde  compas 
Hit  wol  not  in  myn  armes  tweyne. — 

Who-so  mochel  wol  embrace 
Litel  therof  he  shal  distreyne. 


M)fnptnliX' 


127 


APPENDIX. 


[The  folloioing  Poems  are  also  probably  gennine  ;  hut  are  placed  here 
for  lack  of  external  evidence.] 


XXI.     AGAINST  WOMEN   UNCONSTANT. 


Balade. 

Madame,  for  your  newe-fangelnesse, 
Many  a  servaunt  have  ye  put  out  of  grace, 
I  take  my  leve  of  your  unstedfastnesse. 
For  wel  I  wot,  wliyl  ye  have  lyves  space. 
Ye  can  not  love  ful  half  yeer  in  a  place  ;  5 
To  newe  thing  your  lust  is  ever  kene  ; 
In  Steele  of  blew,  thus  may  ye  were  al 
grene. 

Eight  as  a  mirour  nothing  may  enpresse. 
But,  lightly  as  it  cometh,  so  mot  it  pace. 
So  fareth  your  love,  you.r  werkes  bereth 

witnesse.  10 

Ther  is  no  feith  that  may  yoiar  herte  en- 

hrace ; 


But,  as  a  wedercok,  that  turneth  his  face 
With  every  wind,  ye  fare,  and  that  is 

sene  ; 
In  stede  of  blew,  thus  may  ye  were  al 

grene. 

Ye  might  be  shryned,  for  yot^r  brotelnesse. 
Bet  than  Dalyda,  Creseide  or  Can  dace  ;  16 
For  ever  in  chaunging  fstant  your  siker- 

nesse. 
That  tache  may  no  wight  fro  your  herte 

arace  ; 
If  ye  lese  oon,  ye  can  wel  tweyn  piirchace  ; 
Al  light  for  somer,  ye  woot  wel  what  I 

mene,  20 

In  stede  of  blew,  thus  may  ye  were  al 

grene. 


Explicit. 


XXII.     AN    AMOROUS   COMPLEINT. 
DAMOURS.) 


(COMPLEINT 


An  amorous  Compleint,  made  at 
Windsor. 

I,    WHICH     that     am     the    sorwefuUeste 

man 
That  in  this  world  was  ever  yit  livinge, 
And  leest  recoverer  of  him-selven  can, 
Beginne  fthus  my  deedly  compleininge 
On  hir,  that  may  to  lyf  and  deeth  me 

bringe,  5 


Which  hath  on  me  no  mercy  ne  no  rewthe 
That  love  hir  best,  but  sleeth  me  for  my 
trewthe. 

Can  I  noght  doon  ne  seye  that  may  yow 

lyke, 
f  For  certes,  now,  alias !  alias !  the  whyle ! 
Your   plesaunce   is   to   laughen  whan  I 

syke,  10 

And  thus  ye  me  from  al  my  blisse  exyle. 


ZU  QUtnov  (poewe. 


Ye  han  me  cast  in  tliilke  spitous  yle 
Ther  ne\er  man  on  lyvo  mighte  asterte  ; 
This  have  I  for  I  lovii  yon,  swete  herte  ! 


Sooth  is,  that  wel  I  woot,  by  lyklinesse, 
If  that  it  were  thing  possible  to  do          i6 
T'acompte  j-oure  bevitee  and  goodnesse, 
I  have  no  wonder  thogh  ye  do  me  wo  ; 
SithI,th'unworthiestthatmayrydeorgo, 
Durste  ever  thinkon  in  so  hy  a  place,    20 
What  wonder  is,  thogh  ye  do  mc  no  grace? 
.Ulas  !  thus  is  mj'  Ij-f  brotight  to  an  ende, 
My  deeth,  I  see,  is  my  concliisioun  ; 
I  may  wel  singe,  '  in  sory  tyme  I  spende 
My  Ij'f ; '  that  song  may  have  confusionn  ! 
For  mercy,  pitee,  and  deep  afFeccioun,  26 
I  sey  for  me,  for  al  my  deedly  chere, 
AUe  thise  diden,  in  that,  me  love  y<5w  dero. 
And  in  this  wyse  and  in  dispayre  I  live 
In  love  ;  nay,  but  in  disjiayre  I  dye  !      30 
But  shal  I  thus  [to]  yow  my  deeth  for-give. 
That  causelos  doth  mo  this  sorow  drye  ? 
Ye,  certes,  I !  For  she  of  my  folye 
Hath  nought  to  done,  although  she  do  me 
sterve ;  ' 

Hit  is  nat  with  hir  wil  that  I  hir  serve !  35 
Than  sith  I  am  of  my  sorowe  the  cause 
And  sith  that  I  have  this,  withoute  hir 

reed. 
Than  may  I  seyn,  right  shortly  in  a  clause. 
It  is  no  blame  unto  hir  womanheed 
Though  swich  a  wrecche  as  I  be  for  hir 
deed ;  40 

[And]  yet  alwey  two  thinges  doon  me  dy6. 
That  is  to  seyn,  hir  bcutee  and  myn  ye. 
So  that,  algates,  she  is  the  verray  rote 
Of  my  disese,  and  of  my  dethe  also  ; 
For  with  oon  word  she  mighte  be  my  bote. 
If  that  she  vouched  sauf  for  to  do  so.     46 
But  [why]  than  is  hii-  gladnesse  at  my  wo  ? 
It  is  hir  wone  plesaunce  for  to  take. 
To  seen  hir  servaunts  dyen  for  hir  sake  ! 
But  certes,  than  is  al  my  wonderinge,  50 
Sithen  she  is  the  faj-rest  creature 
As  to  my  dome,  that  ever  was  livinge. 
The  benignest  and  beste  eek  that  nature 
Hath  wrought   or   shal,   whyl   that   the 
world  may  dure, 

Explicit. 


Why  that  she  lefte  pite  so  behinde  ?      55 
It  was,  y-wis,  a  greet  defaute  in  kinde. 

Yit  is  al  this  no  lak  to  hir,  pardee. 
But  god  or  nature  sore  wolde  I  blame  ; 
For,  though  she  shewe  no  pite  unto  me, 
Sithen  that  she  doth  othere  men  the  same, 
I  no  oughte  to  despyse  my  ladies  game ;  61 
Itishirpley  to  laughen  whan  men  syketh. 
And  I  assente,  al  that  hir  list  and  lyketh ! 


Yit  wolde  I,  as  I  dar,  with  sorweful  herte 
Biseche  un-to  your  meko  womanhede  65 
That   I   now    dorste   my   sharpe   sorwes 

smerte 
Shewe  by  worde,  that  ye  wolde  ones  rede 
The  pleynte  of  me,   the  which  ful  sore 

drede 
That  I  have  seid  here,  through  myn  un- 

conninge, 
In  any  worde  to  your  displesinge.  70 

Lothest  of  an  j'thing  that  ever  was  loth 
Were  mo,  as  wisly  god  my  sonic  save  ! 
To  seyn  a  thing  through  which  ye  might 

be  ^^Toth  ; 
And,  to  that  day  that  I  be  leyd  in  grave, 
A  trewer  sorvaunt  shulle  ye  never  have  ; 
And,  though  that  I  on  yow  have  pleyned 

here,  76 

Forgiveth  it  me,  myn  owne  lady  dere  ! 

Ever  have   I   been,  and  shal,   how-so   I 

wende, 
Outher  to  live  or  dye,  your  humble  trewe ; 
Ye  been  to  me  my  ginning  and  myn  ende, 
Sonne  of  the  sterre  bright  and  clere  of 

hewe,  ^' 

Alwey  in  oon  to  love  yow  freshly  newe. 
By  god  and  by  my  trouthe,  is  myn  entente; 
To  live  or  dye,  I  wol  it  never  repente  ! 
This  compleynt  on  seint  Valentj-nes  day, 
Wlian  every  foul  [ther]  chesen  shal  his 

make,  ^6 

To  hir,  whos  I  am  hool,  and  shal  alwey, 
This  woful  song  and  this   compleynt  I 

make, 
Tliat  never  yit  wolde  me  to  mercy  take  ; 
And  yit  wol  I  [for]  evermore  her  serve  9" 
And  love  hir  best,   although  she  do  me 

sterve. 


XXIV.    (^omanfj  (Tlo6fe60e. 


129 


XXIII.     A   BALADE   OF   COMPLEYNT. 

[This  is  added  as  being  a  good  example  of  a  Compleyiit  in  Chaucer's  style.] 


CoMPLEYNE  ne  ooude,  ne  might  myn  herte 

never 
My  peynes  halve,  ne  what  torment  I  have, 
Tliough  that  I  sholde  in  your  presence 

ben  ever, 
^ly  hertes  lady,  as  wisly  he  me  save 
That  bountee  made,  and   beutee  list  to 

grave  5 

In  your  persone,  and  bad  hem  bothe  infere 
Kver  t'awayte,  and  ay  be  wher  ye  were. 

As  wisly  he  gye  alle  my  joyes  here 
As  I  am  youres,  and  to  yow  sad  and  trewe, 
And  ye,  my  lyf  and  cause  of  my  good 
chere,  10 


And  deeth  also,  whan  ye  my  peynes  newe. 
My  worldes  joye,  whom  I  wol  serve  and 

sewe. 
My  heven  hool,  and  al  my  suffisaunce. 
Whom  for  to  serve  is  set  al  my  plesaunce. 

Besechin^  yow  in  my  most  humble  wyse 
T'accepte  in  worth  this  litel  povre  dyte,  16 
And  for  my  trouthe  my  service  nat  de- 

spyse, 
Myn  observaunce  eek  have  nat  in  despyte, 
Ne  yit  to  long  to  suffren  in  this  plyte  ; 
I  yow  beseche,  myn  hertes  lady,  here,    20 
Sith   I  yow  serve,  and   so  wil  yeer   by 

yere. 


XXIV.     WOMANLY   NOBLESSE. 

[This  genuine  poem  ivas  first  jirinted  in  June,   1894.] 


Balade  that  Chaucier  made. 

So  hath  mj- herte caughtinremembraunce 

Your  beaute  hool,  and  stedfast  govern- 

aunce. 

Your  vertues  alle,  and  your  hy  noblesse. 

That  you  to  serve  is  set  al  my  plesaunce  ; 

So  wel  me  lykth  yoiir  womanly  oonten- 

aunce,  5 

Your  fresshe   fetiires   and   yovir   com- 

linesse, 
That,    whyl    I   live,    my    herte   to    his 
maistresse, 
You  hath  ful  chose,  in  trewpersi5veraunce. 
Never  to  chaunge,  for  no  maner  dis- 
tresse. 

H^ud     sith    I    [you]    shal    do    this    ob- 
servaunce 10 
Al  my  lyf,  withouten  displesaunce. 

You  for  to  serve  with  al  my  besinesse, 
fTaketh  me,  lady,  in  your  obeisaunce] 
And  have  me  somwhat  in  your  souven- 
aunce. 
My  woful  herte  suffreth  greet  duresse ;  15 
And    [loke]   how   humb][el]y,    with    al 
simplesse, 


My  wil  I  c6nforme  to  your  ordenaunce. 
As  you  best  list,  my  peynes  f  to  redresse. 

Considring  eek  how  I  hange  in  balaunce 
In    your    servyc6 ;     swich,    lo !     is    my 
chaunce,  20 

Abyding  grace,  whan  that  your  gentil- 
nesse 
Of  my  gret  wo  list  doon  allegeaunce, 
And  with  your  pite  me  som  wyse  avaunce. 
In  ful  rebating  of  my  hevinesse  ; 
And   think   f  res6un,   that  wommanly 
noblesse  25 

Shuld  nat  desyre  ffor  to  doon  outrance 
Ther-asshe  findeth  noon  nnbuxumnesse. 

Lenvoye. 

Auctour  of  norture,  lady  of  plesaiince, 

Soveraine  of  beaute,  flour  of  womman- 

hede. 

Take  ye  non  hede  unto  mjm  ignoraunce,  30 

But  this  receyveth  of  your  goodlihede. 

Thinking    that    I    have    caught    in    re- 

membraunce 
Y'our  beautfe  hool,  your  stedfast  govern- 


BOETHIUS     DE    CONSOLATIONE 
PHILOSOPHIE. 

BOOK    L 


Metre  I.     Cnrmina  qui  quondam  studio 
ftorente  peregi. 

Allas  !  I,  weping,  am  constreined  to 
biginnen  vers  of  sorowful  matere,  that 
whj-lom  in  florisching  stndie  made  delit- 
ablo  ditees.     For  lo !  rendingo  Muses  of 

5  poetes  end.vten  to  mo  thinges  to  be 
writen  ;  and  drery  vers  of  wrecchednesso 
weten  my  face  with  verray  teres.  At 
the  Iccste,  no  drede  ne  mighte  ovcr- 
comen   tho  Muses,  that  they  ne  weren 

ii>  felawes,  and  folweden  my  wey,  that  is 
to  seyn,  uhan  I  was  exyled  ;  they  that 
•weren  glorie  of  my  youthe,  whylom  welc- 
ful  and  grene,  comforten  now  the  sorow- 
ful werdes  of  me,  olde  man.     For  eldo 

15  is  comen  unwarlj-  upon  mo,  hasted  by 
the  harmes  that  I  have,  and  sorow  hath 
comaunded  his  age  to  be  in  me.  Heres 
hore  ben  shad  overtymeliche  upon  myn 
hevcd,  and  the  slake  skin  trembleth  upon 

20  myn  empted  body.  Thilke  deeth  of  men 
is  weleful  that  ne  cometh  not  in  yores 
that  ben  swete,  but  cometh  to  wrecches, 
often  y-clepcd.  Alias  !  alias !  with  how 
deef  an  ere  deeth,  cruel,  tometh  awey 

25  fro  wi-ecches,  and  naiteth  to  closen 
wepinge  eyen  !  "Whyl  Fortune,  unfeith- 
fnl,  favorede  nje  with  lighte  goodes,  the 
sorowful  houre,  that  is  to  seyn,  the  deeth, 
hadde  almost  dreynt  myn  heved.     But 

30  now,  for  Fortune  cloudy  hath  chaunged 


hir  deceyvablo  chore  to  mc-ward,  myn 
I  unpitous  lyf  draweth  a-long  unagreable 
I  dwellinges  in  me.  O  ye,  my  frondcs,  what 
I  orwhertoavauntede  ye  me  to  ben  weloful? 
1  for  ho  that  hath  fallen  stood  nat  in  35 
i  stcdefast  degree. 

Prose  I.     llec  dum  mecuvi  tacitus  ipse 
I  reputari  m. 

Wliyle   that   I   stillo   rccordede    thise 

thinges  with  mj'-self,  and  markede  my 

I  weeply  compleynte  with  office  of  pointel, 

,   I  saw,  stondinge  aboven  the  heighte  of 

!  myn  heved,  a  woman  of  ful  greet  re-  5 

!   verence   by   semblaunt,    hir   eyen  bren- 

j  ningo  and  cleer-seinge  over  the  comune 

might  of  men  ;  with  a  lyfly  colour,  and 

with  swich  vigour  and  strengthe  that  it 

ne  mighte  nat  ben  emjitcd  ;    al  were  it  i<> 

so  that  she  was  ful  of  so  greet  age,  that 

men  ne  wolde  nat  trowen,  in  no  manere, 

that  she  were  of  oure  eldc.     The  stature 

of  hir  was  of  a  doutous  jugement ;    for 

som-tyme  she  constreincdo  and  shronk^ 

hir-selven  lyk  to  the  comune  mesure  of 

men,  and  sum-tymc  it  semede  that  she 

touchede  the  heveno  with  the  heighte  of 

hir  heved  ;  and  whan  she  heef  hir  heved 

hyer,   she  percede  the  selve  hevene,   so  20 

that  the  sighte  of  men  looking  was  in 

ydel.     Hir  clothes  weren  maked  of  right 

delye  thredes  and  subtil  crafte,  of  per- 

'  durable  matere  ;  the  whiche  clothes  she 


ivi6.    Q0oo6  I :    (^dvt  II. 


25  hadde  woven  with  liir  owene  liondes,  as 
I  knew  wel  after  by  hir-self,  declaringe 
and  shewinge  to  me  the  beautee  ;  the 
whiche  clothes  a  derknesse  of  a  forleten 
and   dispysed   elde   hadde    dusked    and 

30  derked,  as  it  is  wont  to  derken  bi- 
smokedo  images.  In  the  nethereste 
hem  or  bordure  of  thiso  clothes  men 
redden,  y- woven  in,  a  Grekissh  P,  that 
sif/nifyeth  the  lyf  Actif;  and  aboven  that 

35  lettre,  in  the  heyeste  bordure,  a  Grekissh 
T,  that  signifyeth  the  lyf  Contemplatif. 
And  bi-twixen  these  two  lettres  ther 
weren  seyn  degrees,  nobly  y-wi-oght  in 
manere  of  laddres  ;    by  whiche  degrees 

40  men  mighten  climben  fro  the  nethereste 
lettre  to  the  uppercste.  Natheles,  handes 
of  some  men  hadde  corven  that  cloth 
by  violence  and  by  strengthe  ;  and 
everiche  man  of  hem  hadde  born  awey 

45  swiche  poces  as  he  mighte  geten.  And 
forsothe,  this  forscide  woman  bar  smale 
bokes  in  hir  right  hand,  and  in  hir  left 
hand  she  bar  a  ceptre.  And  whan  she 
say  thise  poetical  Muses  aprochen  aboute 

50  my  bed,  and  endjd;inge  wordes  to  my 
wepinges,  she  was  a  litel  amoved,  and 
glowede  with  cruel  eyen.  '  Who,'  quod 
she,  '  hath  suffred  aprochen  to  this  syko 
man  thise  comune  strompetes  of  swicli 

55  a  place  that  men  clepe'i  the  theatre? 
The  whiche  nat  only  ne  asswagcn  nat 
hise  sorwes  with  none  remedies,  but  they 
wolden  feden  and  norisshen  hem  with 
swete  venim.     Forsothe,   thise  ben   tho 

60  that  with  thornes  and  prikkinges  of 
talents  or  affecciouns,  whiche  that  ne 
ben  no-thing  fructefyinge  nor  proiitable, 
dostroyen  the  corn  plentevous  of  fruitcs 
of  resoun  ;    for  they  holden   the   hertes 

65  of  men  in  usage,  but  they  no  delivere 
nat  folk  fro  maladye.  But  if  ye  Muses 
hadden  withdrawen  fro  me,  with  your 
iiateryes,  any  uncunninge  and  unprofit- 
able  man,    as   men    ben   wont   to   finde 

70  comunly  amonges  the  poexsle,  I  wolde 
wene  suffre  the  lasse  grevously  ;  for-why, 
in  swiche  an  unprofitable  man,  myn 
ententes  ne  weren  no-thing  endamaged. 
But  ye  withdrawen  f  frora  me  this  man, 

75  that  hath  be  norisshed  in  the  studies  or 


scoles  of  Eleaticis  and  of  Achademicis  in 
Grece.  Bixt  goth  now  rather  awey,  ye 
mermaidenes,  whiche  that  ben  swete  til 
it  be  at  the  laste,  and  suffreth  this  man 
to  be  cured  and  heled  by  niyne  Muses,'  Ko 
that  is  to  seyn,  by  noteful  sciences.  And 
thus  this  companye  of  Muses  y-blamed 
casten  wrothly  the  chore  dounward  to 
the  erthe ;  and,  shewinge  by  reednesse 
hir  shame,  they  passcden  sorowfully  the  85 
threshfold.  And  I,  of  whom  the  sighte, 
plounged  in  teres,  was  derked  so  that 
I  ne  mighte  not  knowen  what  that 
womman  was,  of  so  imi^erial  auctoritee, 
I  wex  al  abaisshed  and  astoned,  and  caste  9" 
my  sighte  doun  to  the  erthe,  and  bigan 
stille  for  to  abyde  what  she  wolde  don 
afterward.  Tho  com  she  ner,  and  setto 
hir  doun  up-on  the  uttereste  corner  of 
my  bed  ;  and  she,  biholdinge  my  chere,  95 
that  was  cast  to  the  erthe,  hevy  and 
grevous  of  wepinge,  compleinede,  with 
thise  wordes  that  I  shal  seyen,  tho  per- 
turbacioun  of  my  thought. 

Metre  II.     lieu  quam  precipiti  mcrsa 
pro/undo. 

'  Alias !  how  the  thought  of  man,  dreint 
in  over-throwinge  deepnesse,  dulleth,  and 
forleteth  his  propre  cleernesse,  mintinge 
to  goon  in-to  foreine  derknesses,  as  oftc 
as  his  anoyous  bisinesse  wcxeth  with-  5 
oute  mesure,  that  is  driven  to  and  fro 
with  worldly  windes  !  This  man,  that 
whylom  was  free,  to  whom  the  hevene 
was  open  and  knowen,  and  was  wont 
to  goon  in  hevcneliche  pathes,  and  saugh  10 
the  lightnesso  of  the  rede  sonne,  and 
saugh  the  sterres  of  the  colde  mone,  and 
whiche  sterre  in  hevene  uscth  wandering 
recourses,  y-flit  by  dyverse  speres — this 
man,  overeomer,  hadde  comprehended  15 
al  this  by  noumbre  of  acountincje  in  astro- 
nomye.  And  over  this,  he  was  wont  to 
seken  the  causes  whennes  the  souning 
windes  moeven  and  bisien  the  smothe 
water  of  the  see  ;  and  what  spirit  torneth  2n 
the  stable  hevene  ;  and  why  the  sterre 
aryseth  oiit  of  the  rede  eest,  to  fallen  in 
the  westrene  wawes  ;  and  what  atempreth 


(goef$tu0.    (gooft  I:  (proee  ii. 


the    lusty   hotires   of    the    firste 

25  sesoun,    that   highteth   and   api^araileth 

the  erthe  with  rosene  flowres  ;  and  who 

maketh  that   plentevouse  autompne,   in 

fuUe   yeres,    fleteth    with    he\7    grapes. 

And  eek  this  man  was  wont  to  telle  the 

31)  dyverse    causes    of    nature    that   weren 

y-hidde.    Alias  !  now  lyeth  he  empted  of 

light  of  his  thought ;   and  his  nekke  is 

pressed  with  hevy  cheynes  ;   and  bereth 

his  chere  encl.yned  adoun  for  the  grete 

35  weighte,  and  is  constreined  to  looken  on 

the  fool  erthe ! 


Pr.osE  n.     Set  medicine,  tnquil,  tewpus 
est. 

But  tjTOO  is  now,'  quod  she,  '  of  medi- 
cine more  than  of  compleinte.'  Forsothe 
than  she,  entendinge  to  me- ward  with 
alle  the  lookinge  of  hir  eyen,  seide  : — '  Art 
5  nat  thou  he,'  quod  she,  '  that  whylom 
y-iiorisshed  with  my  milk,  and  fostered 
with  myne  metes,  were  escaped  and' 
comcn  to  corage  of  a  parfit  man  ?  Certes, 
T  yaf  thee  swiehe  armures  that,  yif  thou 

Id  thy-self  ne  ha<ldest  first  cast  hem  a-wey, 
they  shidden  han  defended  thee  in  siker- 
nesse  that  may  nat  ben  over-comen. 
Knowest  thou  me  nat  ?  Why  art  thou 
stille  ?     Is  it  for  shame  or  for  astoninge  ? 

15  It  were  me  lever  that  it  were  for  shame  ; 
but  it  semeth  me  that  astoninge  hatli 
oppressed  tliee. '  And  whan  she  say  mc 
nat  only  stille,  but  with-outen  office  of 
tiinge  and  al  doumb,  she  leide  hir  hand 

21)  softely  upon  my  brest,  and  seide  :  '  Here 
nis  no  peril,'  quod  she  ;  '  he  is  fallen  into 
a  litargie,  whiche  that  is  a  comune 
sykenes  to  hertes  that  ben  deceived.  He 
hath  a  litel  foryeten  him-self,  but  certes 

25  he  shal  lightly  remembren  him-self,  yif 
so  be  that  he  hath  knowen  me  or  now  ; 
and  that  he  may  so  don,  I  wil  •n'j'pen 
a  litel  his  eyen,  that  ben  derked  by  the 
cloude  of  mortal  thinges. '     Thise  wordes 

30  seide  she,  and  with  the  lappe  of  hir  gar- 
ment, y-plyted  in  a  froiinoe,  she  dryede 
mjTi  eyen,  that  weren  fulle  of  the  wawes 
of  my  wepinges. 


Metrk  III.  Tunc  me  discussa  Uquenint 
node  tenebre. 
Thus,  whan  that  night  was  discussed 
and  chased  a-wey,  derknesses  forloften 
me,  and  to  myn  eyen  repeirede  ayein  hir 
firste  strengthe.  And,  right  by  ensaumple 
as  the  Sonne  is  hid  whan  the  sterres  ben  5 
clustred  (that  is  to  seijn,  whan  sterres  ben 
covered  icith  cloudes)  by  a  swifte  winde 
that  hig]ite  Chorus,  and  that  the  firma- 
ment stant  derked  by  wete  iiloungy 
cloudes,  and  that  the  sterres  nat  apperen  10 
up-on  hevene,  so  that  the  night  semeth 
sprad  up-on  erthe  :  yif  thanne  the  wind 
that  highte  Borias,  y-sent  out  of  the  caves 
of  the  contree  of  Trace,  beteth  this  night 
(that  is  to  seyn,  chaseth  it  a-wey),  and  15 
descovereth  the  closed  day  :  than  shyneth 
Phebus  y-shaken  with  sodein  light,  and 
smyteth  with  his  hemes  in  mervelinge 
eyen. 

Prose  III.     Hand  aliter  tristicie  nebulis 
dissolutis. 
Right    so,    and   non   other   wyse,    the 
cloudes  of  sorwe  dissolved  and  don  a-wey, 
I  took  hevene,  and  receivede  minde  to 
knowen  the  face  of  my  fysicien  ;  so  that 
I  sette  myn  eyen  on  hir,  and  fastnede  my  5 
lookinge.     I   beholde   my   norice   Philo- 
sophie,  in  whos  houses  I  hadde  conversed 
and  haunted  fro  my  youthe  ;  and  I  seide 
thus.     '  O  thou  maistresse  of  alle  vertues, 
descended  from  the  soverein  sete,  why  ic 
artow  comen  in-to  this  solitarie  place  of 
myn  exil  ?     Artow  comen  for  thou  art 
maked  coupable  with  me  of  false  blames  ?' 
Phil.    '  O,'  quod  she,  '  my  norry,  sholde 
I  forsaken  thee  now,  and  sholde  I  nat  15 
parten  with  thee,  by  comune  travaile,  the 
charge  that  thou  hast  suffred  for  envie  of 
my  name  ?    Certes,  it  nere  not  leveful  ne 
sittinge  thing  to   Philosophie,   to   leten 
with-outen  companye  the  wey  of  him  that  20 
is  innocent.    Sholde  I  thanne  redoute  my 
blame,  and  agrysen  as  though  ther  were 
bifallen  a  newe  thing  ?  quasi  diceret,  non. 
For  trowestow  that  Philosophie  be  now 
alderfirst   assaUed   in   perils   by  folk   of  25 
wikkede  maneres?     Have  I   nat  striven 


(god^im.    (gooft  I:  (pvoee  iv. 


133 


with  ful  greet  stryf,  in  olde  tyme,  bifore 
the  age  of  my  Plato,  ayeines  the  foolhardi- 
nesse  of  folye  ?    And  eek,  the  same  Plato 

30  livinge,  his  niaister  Socrates  deservede 
victoria  of  unrightful  deeth  in  my  pre- 
sence. The  heritage  of  which  Socrates — 
the  hentage  is  to  seyn  the  doctrine  of  the 
whiche  Socrates  in  his  opinioun  of  Felicitee, 

35  that  I  clepe  welefulnesse — whan  that  the 
poeple  of  Epicuriens  and  Stoiciens  and 
many  othre  euforceden  hem  to  go  ravisshe 
everich  man  for  his  part — that  is  to  seyn, 
that  everich  of  hem  wolde  drawen  to  the 

40  defence  of  his  opinioun  the  icordes  of 
Socrates — they,  as  in  partie  of  hir  preye, 
to-drowen  me,  cryinge  and  debatinge 
ther-ayeins,  and  corven  and  to-renten  my 
clothes  that   I  hadde  woven  with   myn 

45  haudes  ;  and  with  tho  cloutes  that  they 
hadden  araced  out  of  my  clothes  they 
wenten  awey,  weninge  that  I  hadde  gon 
with  hem  everydel.  In  whiche  Epi- 
curiens and  Stoiciens,  for  as  moche  as  ther 

50  semede  some  traces  or  steppes  of  myn 
habite,  the  folye  of  men,  weninge  tho  Epi- 
curiens and  Stoiciens  my  famuleres,  per- 
verted {sc.  persequendo)  some  through  the 
errour   of  the   wikkede    or    \incunninge 

55  multitude  of  hem.  This  is  to  seyn  that, 
for  they  semede  philosophres,  they  toeren 
pursued  to  tJie  deeth  and  slayn.  So  yif  thou 
hast  nat  knowen  the  exilinge  of  Anaxo- 
gore,  ne  the  enpoysoninge  of  Socrates,  ne 

60  the  tourments  of  Zeno,  for  they  weren 
straungeres  :  yit  mightestow  han  knowen 
the  Senecciens  and  the  Canios  and  the 
fSoranos,  of  whiche  folk  the  renoun  is 
neither   over-olde   ne   imsolemime.     The 

65  whiche  men,  no-thing  elles  ne  broughte 
hem  to  the  deeth  but  only  for  they  weren 
enfourmed  of  myne  maneres,  and  seme- 
den  most  unlyke  to  the  studies  of  wik- 
kede folk.    And  forthy  thou  oughtest  nat 

70  to  wondren  though  that  I,  in  the  bittre 
see  of  this  lyf,  be  fordriven  with  tem- 
pestes  blowinge  aboute,  in  the  whiche 
tempestes  this  is  my  most  purpos,  tliat  is 
to  seyn,  to  displesen  to  wikkede  men.     Of 

75  whiche  shrewes,  al  be  the  ost  never  so 
greet,  it  is  to  dispyse  ;  for  it  nis  governed 
with  no  leder  of  resoun,  but  it  is  ravisshed 


only  by  fletinge  errour  folyly  and  lightly. 
And  if  they  som-tyme,  makinge  an  ost 
ayeins  us,  assaile  us  as  strenger,  our  leder  So 
draweth  to-gidere  hise  richesses  in-to  his 
tour,  and  they  ben  ententif  aboute  sar- 
pulers  or  sachels  unprofitable  for  to  taken. 
But  we  that  ben  heye  aboven,  siker  fro 
alle  tumiUte  and  wode  noise,  warnestored  S5 
and  enclosed  in  swich  a  palis,  whider  as 
that  chateringe  or  anoyinge  folj-e  ne  may 
nat  atayne,  we  scorne  swiche  ravineres 
and  henteres  of  fouleste  tliinges. 

Metre  IV.  Quisquis  composito  serenuseuo, 
Who-so  it  be  that  is  cleer  of  vertu,  sad, 
and  wel  ordiuat  of  livinge,  that  hath  put 
iinder  foot  the  jiroiide  werdes  and  looketh 
upright  up-on  either  fortune,  he  may 
holde  his  chere  undiscomfited.  The  rage  5 
ne  the  manaces  of  the  see,  commoevinge 
or  chasinge  upward  hete  fro  the  botme, 
ne  shal  not  moeve  that  man ;  ne  the 
unstable  mountaigne  that  highte  Vesevvis, 
that  wryth(!th  out  through  his  brokene  ro 
chiminees  smokinge  fyres.  Ne  the  wey 
of  fthonder-leyt,  that  is  wont  to  smyten 
heye  toures,  ne  shal  nat  moeve  that  man. 
Wher-to  thanne,  o  wrecches,  drede  ye 
tirauntes  that  ben  wode  and  felonous  15 
with-o\ite  any  strengthe?  Hope  after 
no-thing,  ne  drede  nat ;  and  so  shaltow 
desarnien  the  ire  of  thilke  unmighty 
tiraunt.  But  who-so  that,  quakinge, 
dredeth  or  desireth  thing  that  nis  nat  J<> 
stable  of  his  right,  that  man  that  so  doth 
hath  cast  awey  his  sheld  and  is  remoeved 
fro  his  place,  and  cnlaceth  him  in  the 
cheyne  with  the  which  he  may  ben 
drawen.  -5 

Prose  IV.  Sentisne,  inquit,  hec. 
Felestow,'  quod  she,  '  thise  thinges, 
and  entren  they  aught  in  thy  corage  ? 
Artow  lyke  an  asse  to  the  harpe  ?  Wliy 
wepestow,  why  spillestow  teres?  Yif 
thou  abydest  after  help  of  thy  leche,  thee  5 
bihoveth  discovere  thy  wounde.'  Tho 

I,  that  hadde  gadered  strengthe  in  my 
corage,  answerede  and  seide  :  '  And 
nedeth  it  yit, '  quod  I,  '  of  rehersinge  or 
of    amonicioun ;     and    sheweth    it    nat  10 


134 


(goe^^iue.    (gooft  i:  (ptoet  IV. 


y-nougli  by  liim-self  the  sliarpnesse  of 
Fortune,  that  wexeth  wood  ayeins  me? 
Ne  moeveth  it  nat  thee  to  seen  the  face 
or  the  nianere  of  this  phice  (J.  i^moMn)? 
Is  this  the  librarie  whiche  that  thon 
haddest  chosen  for  a  right  certeiu  sete  to 
thee  in  mjm  hous,  ther-as  thou  desputedest 
ofte  with  me  of  the  sciences  of  thinges 
touchinge  divinitee  and  touchinge  man- 
kinde  ?  Was  thanne  myn  habite  swich 
as  it  is  now  ?  Was  than  my  face  or  my 
chere  swiche  as  now  {quwi  diceret,  non), 
whan  I  soughte  with  thee  secrets  of 
nature,  whan  thou  enformedest  my  ma- 
neres  and  the  resoun  of  alle  my  Ij^f  to  the 
ensaumple  of  the  ordre  of  hevene  ?  Is  nat 
this  the  guerdoun  that  I  refcrre  to  thee, 
to  whom  I  have  be  obeisaunt  ?  Certes, 
thou  confermedest,  by  the  mouth  of  Plato, 

1  this  sentence,  that  is  to  seyn,  that  comune 
thinges  or  comunalitees  weren  blisful,  yif 
they  that  haddcn  studied  al  fuUy  to  wis- 
dom govemeden  tliiike  thinges,  or  elles 
yif  it  so  bifille  that  the  govemoures  of 

;  comunalitees  studieden  to  geten  wisdom.' 
Thou  seidcst  eek,  by  the  mouth  of  the 
same  Plato,  that  it  was  a  necessarie 
cause,  -w-yse  men  to  taken  and  desire  the 
governaunce  of  comune  thinges,  for  that 

>  the  govemements  of  citees,  y-left  in  the 
haudcs  of  felonous  tormentours  citizenes, 
ne  sholde  nat  bringe  in  pestilence  and 
destruccioun  to  gode  folk.  And  therfor 
I,  folwinge  thilke  atictoritee  («c.  Platonis), 

;  desired  to  putten  forth  in  execucioun  and 
in  acte  of  combine  administracioun  thilke 
thinges  that  I  hadde  lerned  of  thee  among 
my  secree  resting-whyles.  Thou,  and  god 
that  putte  thee  in  the  thoughtes  of  wyse 

)  folk,  ben  knowinge  with  me,  that  no- 
thing ne  hroughto  me  to  maistrie  or 
dignitee,  but  the  comune  studie  of  alle 
goodncsse.  And  ther-of  comth  it  that 
bi-twixen  wikked  folk  and  me  ban  ben 

>  grevous  discordes,  that  ne  mighten  ben 
relesed  by  preyeres  ;  for  this  libertee  hath 
the  freedom  of  conscience,  that  the  wratthe 
of  more  mighty  folk  hath  alwey  ben  de- 
spysed  of  me  for  savacioun  of  right.     How 

>  ofte  have  I  resisted  and  withstonde  thilke 
man    that   highte  Conigaste,   that  made 


alwey  assautes  ayeins  the  prospre  fortunes 
of  pore  feble  folk  ?  How  ofte  eek  have 
I  put  of  or  cast  out  him,  Trigwille,  pro- 
vost of  the  kinges  hous,  bothe  of  the  65 
wronges  that  he  hadde  bigunne  to  don, 
and  eek  fully  performed  ?  How  ofte  have 
I  covered  and  defended  by  the  auctoritee 
of  me,  put  ayeins  x^erils — that  is  to  seyn, 
put  myn  auctoritee  in  peril  for  —  the  70 
wrecched  pore  folk,  that  the  covetyse  of 
straungeres  uniiunished  tourmenteden 
alwey  ^vith  miseyses  and  grevaiuices  out 
of  noumbre  ?  Never  man  ne  drow  me  yit 
fro  right  to  wronge.  Whan  I  say  the  75 
fortunes  and  the  richesses  of  the  poeple 
of  the  provhices  ben  harmed  or  amenused, 
outlier  by  privee  ^a^•ynes  or  by  comune 
tributes  or  cariages,  as  sory  was  1  as  they 

that    suffreden    the    harm. Glossa.  So 

^Vhan  that  Theodoric,  the  king  of  Guthes, 
in  a  dere  yere,  hadde  hise  gerneres  ful  of 
corn,  and  comattndede  that  no  man  ne  sholde 
byen  no  corn  til  his  com  were  sold,  and  that 
at  a  grevous  dereprys,  Doece  mtJi^tood  that  85 
ordinaunce,  and  over-corn  it,  knowinge  al 

this  the  king  himself. Textus.  Whan 

it  was  in  the  soure  hungry  tyme,  ther 
was  establisshed  or  cryed  grevous  and 
inplitable  coempcioun,  that  men  sayen  90 
wel  it  sholde  greetly  turmenten  and  en- 
damagen  al  the  province  of  Cami^aigne, 
I  took  stryf  ayeins  the  provost  of  the 
pretorie  for  comune  profit.  And,  the  king 
linowinge  of  it,  I  overcom  it,  so  that  the  93 
coempcioun   ne   was   not  axed   ne    took 

effect. [Glossa.]  -fCoempcioitn,  that  is  to 

seyn,  comune  achat  or  hying  to-gidere,  that 
were  establisshed  iip-on  the  poejile  by  siciche 
a  manere  imposicioun,   as  icho-so  boughte  100 
a  busshel  corn,  he  moste  yeve  the  king  the 

fifte  part. [Textus.]   Paulin,    a   coun- 

seiller  of  Eomo,  the  richesses  of  the 
whiche  Paulhi  the  houndes  of  the  palays, 
that  is  to  seyn,  the  officeres,  wolden  ban  105 
devoured  by  hope  and  covetise,  yit  drow 
I  him  out  of  the  jowes(sc./aMd6i«)of  heni 
that  gapeden.  And  for  as  moche  as  the 
peyne  of  the  accusacioun  ajuged  biforn  ne 
sholde  nat  sodeinly  henten  ne  punisshen  1 10 
wrongfully  Albin,  a  counseiller  of  Rome, 
I  putte  nic  ayeins  the  hates  and  indig- 


(^oef6tu0.    (^006  I:  {pvoet  IV. 


135 


naciouns  of  the  aocusor  Ciprian.  Is  it  nat 
thaniie  y-nough  y-seyn,  that  I  have  piir- 
115  chased  grete  discordes  ayems  my-self? 
But  I  oughte  be  the  more  assured  ayeins 
alle  othre  folk  (s.  liomayns),  that  for  the 
Live  of  rightwisnesse  I  ne  reserved  never 
no-thijig  to  my-self  to   hemward  of  the 

I  JO  kinges  halle,  sc,  officers,  by  the  vk'hiche 
I  were  the  more  siker.  But  thoriigh  tho 
same  accusors  accusinge,  I  am  con- 
demijned.  Of  the  noiimbir  of  the  whiche 
accusors  oon  Basilius,  that  whylom  was 

I  -5  chased  out  of  the  kinges  service,  is  now 
compelled  in  accusinge  of  my  name,  for 
nede  of  foreine  moiieye.  Also  Opilion  and 
Gavidencius  han  accused  nie,  al  be  it  so 
that   the  justice    legal    hadde    whylom 

130  demed  hem  bothe  to  go  in-to  exil  for  hir 
trecheryes  and  fraudes  withoute  noumbir. 
To  whiche  jugement  they  nolden  nat 
obeye,  but  defendeden  hem  by  the  siker- 
nesse  of  holy  houses,  that  is  to  seyn,Jiedden 

'35  into  seintuaries  ;  and  whan  this  was  aper- 
ceived  to  the  king,  he  comaundede,  that 
but  they  voidede  the  citee  of  Eavenne  by 
certein  day  assigned,  that  men  sholde 
merken  hem  on  the  forheved  with  an  hoot 

140  yren  and  chasen  hem  out  of  the  toune. 
Now  what  thing,  semeth  thee,  mighte  ben 
lykned  to  this  crueltee  ?  'For  certes,  thilke 
same  day  was  received  the  accusinge  of 
my  name  by  thilke  same  accusors.    What 

145  may  ben  seid  her-to  ?  (qtiasi  diceret,  nichil). 
Hath  my  studie  and  my  cunninge  de- 
served thus  ;  or  elles  the  forseide  damjj- 
nacioun  of  me,  made  that  hem  rightful 
accusors  or  no  ?  {quasi  diceret,  non).     Was 

150  not  Fortune  ashamed  of  this?  Certes,  al 
hadde  nat  Fortune  ben  ashamed  that 
innocence  was  accused,  yit  oughte  she 
han  had  shame  of  the  iilthe  of  myne 
acciisours. 

155  But,  axestow  in  somme,  of  what  gilt 
I  am  accused,  men  seyn  that  I  wolde  save 
the  companye  of  the  senatours.  And 
desirest  thou  to  heren  in  what  manere  ? 
I   am   accused   that   I   sholde   han    des- 

iTm)  tourbed  the  accusor  to  beren  lettres,  by 
whiche  he  sholde  han  maked  the  sena- 
tourcs  gilty  ayeins  the  kinges  real  ma- 
jestee.     O  maistresse,  what  demestow  of 


this  ?  Shal  I  forsake  this  blame,  tliat  I  ne 
be  no  shame  to  thee  ?  (quasi  diceret,  non). 
Certes,  I  have  wold  it,  that  is  to  seyn,  the 
savaciovn  of  the  senat,  ne  I  shal  never 
leten  to  wilne  it,  and  that  I  confesse  and 
am  aknowe ;  but  the  entente  of  the 
accusor  to  be  destourbed  shal  cese.  For 
shal  I  clepe  it  thanne  a  felonie  or  a  sinne 
that  I  have  desired  the  savacioun  of  the 
ordre  of  the  senat  ?  (quasi  diceret,  diibito 
quid).  And  certes  yit  hadde  thUke  same 
senat  don  by  me,  thorugh  hir  decrets  and  ' 
hir  jugements,  as  though  it  were  a  sinne 
or  a  felonie  ;  that  is  to  seyn,  to  wilne  the 
savacioun  of  hem  (sc.  senatus).  But  fol3^e, 
that  lyeth  alwey  to  him-self,  may  not 
chaunge  the  merite  of  thinges.  Neltrowe  1 
nat,  by  the  jugement  of  Socrates,  that  it 
were  leveful  to  me  to  hyde  the  sothe, 
ne  assente  to  lesinges.  But  certes,  how 
so  ever  it  be  of  this,  I  putte  it  to  gessen  or 
preisen  to  the  jugement  of  thee  and  of  1 
wyso  folk.  Of  whiche  thing  al  the  ordi- 
naunce  and  the  sothe,  for  as  moche  as 
folk  that  ben  to  comen  after  our  dayes 
shullen  knowen  it,  I  have  piit  it  in  scrip- 
ture and  in  remembraunce.  For  touching  1 
the  lettres  falsly  maked,  by  whiche  lettres 
I  am  accused  to  han  hoped  the  fredom  of 
Eome,  what  aperteneth  me  to  speke  ther- 
of?  Of  whiche  lettres  the  fraude  hadde 
ben  shewed  apertly,  yif  I  hadde  had  1 
libertee  for  to  han  used  and  been  at  the 
confessioun  of  myne  accusours,  the 
whiche  thing  in  alle  nedes  hath  greet 
strengthe.  For  what  other  fredoni  may 
men  hopen  ?  Certes,  I  wolde  that  som  :; 
other  fredom  mighte  ben  hoped.  I  wolde 
thanne  han  answered  by  the  wordes 
of  a  man  that  highte  Canius  ;  for  whan 
he  was  acciised  by  Gains  Cesar,  Ger- 
meynes  sone,  that  he  (Canius)  was  know-  2 
inge  and  consentinge  of  a  coniuracioun 
y-maked  ayeins  him  (sc.  Gaitts),  this 
Canius  answerede  thus  :  "  Yif  I  hadde 
wist  it,  thou  haddest  nat  wist  it."  In 
which  thing  sorwe  hath  nat  so  dulled  my  2 
wit,  that  I  pleyne  only  that  shrewede  folk 
aparailen  felonies  ayeins  vertu ;  but  I 
wondre  greetly  how  that  they  maj-  per- 
forme  thinges  that  they  hadde  hoj^ed  for  to 


(^oef6tu0.    (^ooft  I:  (^roee  iv. 


!  don.  For-why,  to  wilne  shrewednesse, 
that  comtli  peravonture  of  cure  def'aute  ; 
bvit  it  is  lyk  a  monstre  and  a  mervaille, 
how  that,  in  the  present  sighte  of  god, 
may  ben  acheved  and  performed  swiche 

>  thinges  as  every  felonous  man  hath  con- 
ceived in  his  thought  ayeins  innocents. 
For  which  thing  oon  of  thy  famileres  nat 
unskilfully  axed  thus  :  "  Yif  god  is, 
whennes  comen  wikkede  thinges  ?     And 

;  .yif  god  no  is,  whennes  comen  gode 
thinges?"  But  al  hadde  it  ben  leveful 
that  felonous  folk,  that  now  desiren  the 
blood  and  tlie  deeth  of  alle  gode  men  and 
eek  of  alle  the  senat,  han  wilned  to  gon 

I  destroyen  me,  whom  they  han  seyen 
alwey  bataUen  and  defenden  gode  men 
and  eek  al  the  senat,  yit  had  I  nat 
desser\'ed  of  the  faderes,  that  is  to  seyn,  of 
the  senatourea,  that  they  sholden  wilne  my 

;  destruccioun. 

Thou  remembrcst  wol,  as  I  gesse,  that 
whan  I  wolde  doon  or  seyen  any  thing, 
thou  thyself,  alwey  present,  rewledest  me. 
At   the   city  of  Verone,   whan   that  the 

>  king,  gredy  of  comune  slaughter,  caste 
him  to  transporten  up  al  the  ordre  of  the 
senat  the  gilt  of  his  real  majestee,  of  the 
whiche  gilt  that  Albin  was  accused,  with 
how  gret  sikernesse  of  peril  to  me  de- 

:  fendede  I  al  the  senat  !  Thou  wost  wel 
that  I  seye  sooth,  ne  I  ne  avauntede  me 
never  in  preysinge  of  my-self.  For  alwey, 
whan  any  wight  receiveth  precious  renoun 
in  avauntingo  him-self  of  his  werkes,  he 

'  amenuseth  the  secree  of  his  conscience. 
But  now  thou  mayst  wel  seen  to  what 
endo  I  am  comen  for  myne  innocence  ; 
I  receive  peyne  of  fals  felonye  for  guerdon 
of  verray   vertu.     And  what   oj)en  con- 

;  fessioun  of  felonye  hadde  ever  juges  so 
acordaunt  in  crueltee,  that  is  to  seyn,  as 
myn  accusinge  hath,  that  either  errour  of 
mannes  wit  or  elles  condicioun  of  For- 
tune,   that   is   imcertein   to   alle  mortal 

i  folk,  ne  submittede  some  of  hem,  that  is 
to  seyn,  that  it  ne  enclynede  soin  juge  to  han 
pitee  or  comjMssioun  ?  For  al-thogh  I 
hadde  ben  accused  that  I  wolde  brenne 
holy  houses,  and  strangle  preestes  with 
wikkede  swerde,  or  that  I  hadde  greythed 


deeth  to  al  gode  men,  algates  the  sentence 
sholde  han  punisshed  me,  present,  con- 
fessed, or  convict.  But  now  I  am  remewed 
fro  the  citee  of  Home  almost  fyve  hundred 
thousand  pas,  I  am  with-oute  defence 
dampncd  to  proscripcioun  and  to  the 
deeth,  for  the  studie  and  bountees  that 
I  have  doon  to  the  senat.  But  O,  wel  ben 
they  worthy  of  merite  {as  who  seith,  nay), 
ther  mighte  never  yit  non  of  hem  be 
convict  of  swiche  a  blame  as  myne  is  !  Of 
whiche  trespas,  myne  accusours  sayen  ful 
wel  the  dignitee  ;  the  whiche  dignitee, 
for  they  wolden  derken  it  with  medeling 
of  som  felonye,  they  baren  me  on  hand, 
and  lyeden,  that  I  hadde  point  and  de- 
fouled  my  conscience  with  sacrilege,  for 
coveitiseof  dignitee.  And  certes,  thou  thy- 
self, that  art  plaunted  in  me,  chacedest 
out  of  the  sege  of  my  corage  al  coveitise  of 
mortal  thinges ;  no  sacrilege  hadde  no 
leve  to  han  a  i)lace  in  me  biforn  thyne 
oyen.  For  thou  droppedest  every  day  in 
myne  eres  and  in  my  thought  thilke 
comaundemeut  of  Pictagoras,  that  is  to  ig 
seyn,  men  shal  serve  to  godde,  and  not  to 
goddes.  Ne  it  was  nat  convenient,  ne  no 
nede,  to  taken  help  of  the  foulest  spirites  ; 
I,  that  thou  hast  ordeined  and  set  in 
swiche  excellence  that  thou  makedest  mc  2(j 
lyk  to  god.  And  over  this,  the  right  clene 
secree  chaumbre  of  myne  hous,  that  is  to 
seyn,  my  iryf,  and  the  companye  of  mj-n 
honest  freendes,  and  my  wyves  fader,  as 
wel  holy  as  worthy  to  ben  reverenced, 3" 
thorugh  his  owne  dedes,  defenden  me 
from  alle  suspecioun  of  swich  blame.  But 
O  malice !  For  they  that  accusen  me 
taken  of  thee,  Philosophie,  feith  of  so  gijet 
blame  !  For  they  trowen  that  I  have  had  .?" 
affinitee  to  malefice  or  enchauntement, 
by-cause  that  I  am  replenisshed  and 
fulfilled  with  thy  techinges,  and  enformed 
of  thy  maneres.  And  thus  it  suffiseth  not 
only,  that  thy  reverence  ne  availe  me  not,  31 
but-yif  that  thou,  of  thy  free  wille,  rather 
be  blemished  with  myn  offencioun.  But 
certes,  to  the  harmes  that  I  have,  ther 
bitydeth  jnt  this  encrees  of  harm,  that 
the  gessinge  and  the  jugement  of  moche  31 
folk  ne  looken  uo-thing  to  the  desertes  of 


iS.s 


^cH^iufi.    (gooft  I :   ailXttvt  V. 


137 


thinges,  but  only  to  the  aventiire  of 
fortune ;  and  jugen  that  only  swiche 
thinges  ben  purveyed  of  god,  whiche  that 

.^2u  temporel  welefulnesse  commendeth. 

Glose.  As  thus :  that,  yif  a  loujht  have 
prosperitee,  he  is  a  good  man  and  worthy  to 
han  that  prosperitee;  and  who-so  hath 
adversitec,  he  is  a  uikked   man,  and  god 

.^-'5  hath  forsake  him,  and  he  is  worthy  to  han 
that  adversitee.     This  is   the  opinioun  of 

some  folk. And    ther-of    comth    that 

good  gessinge,  first  of  alle  thing,  forsaketh 
wrecches  :  certes,  it  greveth  me  to  thinke 

^^o  right  now  the  dyverse  sentences  that  the 
poeple  seith  of  me.  And  thus  moche 
I  seye,  that  the  laste  charge  of  contrarious 
fortune  is  this  :  that,  whan  that  any 
blame  is  leyd  upon  a  caitif,  men  wenen 

335  that  he  hath  deserved  that  he  suffreth. 
And  I,  that  am  put  awey  fro  gode  men, 
and  despoiled  of  dignitees,  and  defouled 
of  my  name  by  gessinge,  have  suffred 
torment  for  my  gode  dedes.     Certes,  rae 

340  semeth  that  I  see  the  felonous  covines  of 
wikked  men  habounden  in  joye  and  in 
gladnesse.  And  I  see  that  every  lorel 
shapeth  him  to  finde  out  newe  fraudes  for 
to  accu.se  gode  folk.     And  I  see  that  gode 

.H5  men  beth  overthrowf  n  for  drede  of  my 
peril  ;"'and  every  luxurious  tourmentour 
dar  doon  alle  fclonye  unpunisshed  and 
ben  excited  therto  by  yiltes  ;  and  inno- 
cents ne  ben  not  only  despoiled  of  siker- 

35<J  nesse  but  of  defence  ;  and  therfore  me  list 
to  cryen  to  god  in  this  wyse  : — 


Metre  V.     O  stelliferi  conditor  orbis. 

O  thou  maker  of  the  whele  that  bereth 

the  sterres,  which  that  art  y-fastned  to 

thy  perdurable  chayer,   and  tomest  the 

hevene   with   a   ravisshing  sweigh,    and 

5  constreinest   the   sterres    to   suffren   thy 

lawe ;  so  that  the  mone  som-tyme  shyning 

with  hir  ful  homes,  meting  with  alle  the 

hemes  of  the  Sonne  hir  brother,  hydeth 

the  sterres  that  ben  lesse  ;   and  somtyme, 

III  whan   the    mone,    pale   with    hir   derke 

homes,  approcheth  the  sonne,  leseth  hir 

lightes  ;  and  that  the  eve-sterre  Hesperus, 

whiche  that  in  the  firste  tyme  of  the  night 

F 


bringeth  forth  hir  colde  arysinges,  oometh 
eft  ayein  hir  used  cours,  and  is  pale  by  15 
the  morwe  at  the  rysing  of  the  Sonne,  and 
is  thanne  cleped  Lucifer.  Thou  restreinest 
the  day  by  shorter  dwelling,  in  the  tymo 
of  colde  winter  that  maketh  the  leves  to 
falle.  Thoii  di\'idest  the  swifte  tydes  of  20 
the  night,  whan  the  hote  somer  is  comen. 
Thy  might  atempreth  the  variaunts 
sesons  of  the  yere  ;  so  that  Zephirus  the 
deboneir  wind  bringeth  ayein,  in  the  first 
somer  sesoun,  the  leves  that  the  wind  that  25 
highte  Boreas  hath  reft  awey  in  autumpne, 
that  is  to  seyn,  in  the  laste  ende  of  somer ; 
and  the  sedes  that  the  sterre  that  highte 
A  returns  saw,  ben  waxen  heye  cornes 
whan  the  sterre  Sirius  eschaufeth  hem.  30 
Ther  nis  no-thing  unbounde  from  his  olde 
lawe,  ne  forleteth  the  werke  of  his  propre 
cstat.  O  thou  governour,  governinge 
alle  thinges  by  certein  ende,  why  re- 
fusestow  only  to  governe  the  werkes  of  35 
men  by  dewe  manere  ?  Why  sulfrest 
thou  that  slydinge  fortune  torneth  so 
grete  entrechannginges  of  thinges,  so  that 
anoyous  peyne,  that  sholde  dewely 
piuiissho  felouns,  punissheth  innocents  ?  40 
And  folk  of  wikkode  maneres  sitten  in 
heye  chayres,  and  anoyingc  folk  treden, 
and  that  unrightfully,  on  the  nekkes  of 
holy  men?  And  vertiT,  cler-shyninge 
natiirelly,  is  hid  in  derke  derkenesses,  and  45 
the  rightful  man  bereth  the  blame  and 
the  peyne  of  the  feloun.  Ne  forsweringe 
ne  the  fraude,  covered  and  kembd  with 
a  fals  colour,  ne  anoyeth  nat  to  shrewes  ; 
the  whiche  shrewes,  whan  hem  list  to  5<> 
usen  hir  strengthe,  they  rojoysen  hem  to 
putten  under  hem  the  sovereyne  kinges, 
whiche  that  poeple  with-outen  noumbre 
dreden.  O  thou,  what  so  ever  thou 
be  that  knittest  alle  bondes  of  thinges,  55 
loke  on  thise  WTrecchede  erthes  ;  wo  men 
that  ben  nat  a  foule  party,  but  a  fayr 
party  of  so  grete  a  werk,  we  ben  tormented 
in  this  see  of  fortune.  Thou  governour, 
withdraw  and  restreyne  the  ravisshinge  &) 
flodes,  and  fastne  and  ferme  thise  erthes 
stable  with  thilke  hondo,  with  whiche 
thoiT  governest  the  hcvenc  that  is  so 
large. ' 


138 


(go«f6tu0.    (^ooft  I:   (J)rO0e  V. 


Prose  V.     Ilic  iihi  continuato  dolore 
delatraui. 

Whan  I  badde,  with  a  continuel  sorwe, 
sobbed  or  borken  out  thise  thinges,  she 
with  hir  chere  pesible,  and  no-thing 
amoeved  with  my  compleintes,  seido  thus : 
5  'Whan  I  say  thee,'  quod  she,  '  sorweful 
and  wepinge,  I  wiste  anon  that  thou  were 
a  wrecche  and  exiled  ;  but  I  wiste  never 
how  fer  thyno  exile  was,  yif  thy  tale  ne 
hadde  shewed  it  to  me.     But  certes,  al  be 

lo  thou  fer  fro  thy  contree,  thou  nart  nat 
put  out  of  it ;  but  thou  hast  failed  of  thy 
weye  and  gon  amis.  And  j-if  thou  hast 
lever  for  to  wene  that  thou  be  put  out  of 
thy  contree,  than  hast  thou  put  out  thy- 

15  selfratherthan  any  other  wight  hath.  For 
no  wight  but  thy-self  ne  mighto  never 
han  don  that  to  thee.  For  yif  thou  re- 
membre  of  what  contree  thou  art  bom,  it 
nis   nat  governed  by  emperours,   ne  by 

20  governement  of  multitude,  as  weren  the 
contrees  of  hem  of  Athenes  ;  but  00  lord 
and  00  king,  and  that  is  god,  that  is  lord  of 
thy  contree,  whiche  that  rejoyscth  him 
of  the  dwelling  of  hise  citczones,  and  nat 

25  for  to  putte  hem  in  exil  ;  of  the  whiche 
lorde  it  is  a  soveraj-ne  fredom  to  be 
governed  by  the  brydel  of  him  and  obeye 
to  his  justice.  Hastow  foryeten  thilke 
right  olde  lawo  of  thy  citee,  in  the  whiche 

30  citee  it  is  ordeined  and  establisshed,  that 
for  what  ^v'ight  that  hath  lever  founden 
ther-in  his  sete  or  his  hous  than  elles- 
wher,  he  may  nat  be  exiled  by  no  right 
from   that   place?      For   whivso    that   is 

3!;  contened  in-with  the  palis  and  the  clos  of 
thilke  citee,  ther  nis  no  drede  that  he 
may  deser\-c  to  ben  exiled.  But  who-so 
that  leteth  the  wil  for  to  enhabite  there, 
he  forleteth  also  to  deserve  to  ben  citezein 

40  of  thilke  citee.  So  that  I  sey,  that  the 
face  of  this  place  ne  moveth  me  nat  so 
mochel  as  thjTie  owne  face.  Xe  I  axe  nat 
rather  the  walles  of  thy  librarie,  apar- 
ayled  and  -svrought  with  yvory  and  with 

45  glas,  than  after  the  sete  of  thy  thought. 
In  whiche  I  putte  nat  whylom  bokes,  but 
I  putte  that  that  maketh  bokes  worthy  of 
prys   or   precious,    that   is   to    seyn,    the 


sentence  of  my  bokes.  And  certeinly  of 
thy  desertes,  bistowed  in  comune  good,  5" 
thou  hast  seid  sooth,  but  after  the  multi- 
tude of  thy  gode  dedes,  thou  hast  seid 
fewe  ;  and  of  the  honestee  or  of  the  fals- 
nesse  of  thinges  that  ben  aposed  ayeins 
thee,  thou  hast  remembred  thinges  that  55 
ben  knowen  to  alle  folk.  And  of  the 
felonyes  and  fraudes  of  thyne  accusours, 
it  semeth  thee  have  j--touched  it  forsothe 
rightfully  and  shortly,  al  mighten  the 
same  thinges  betore  and  more  plenti-  6c 
vousely  ben  couth  in  the  mouthe  of  the 
poeple  that  knoweth  al  this.  Thou  hast 
eek  blamed  gretly  and  compleined  of  the 
wrongful  dede  of  the  senat.  And  thou 
hast  sorwed  for  my  blame,  and  thou  hast  O5 
woijen  for  the  damage  of  thy  renoun  that 
is  apayred ;  and  thy  laste  sorwe  eschaufede 
ayeins  fortune,  and  compleinest  that 
giierdouns  ne  ben  nat  evenliche  yolden  to 
the  desertes  of  folk.  And  in  the  latere  7" 
endo  of  thy  wode  Muse,  thou  preyedest 
that  thilke  pees  that  govorneth  the  hevene 
sholde  goveme  the  erthe.  But  for  that 
manye  tribulaciouns  of  aflfecciouns  han 
assailed  thee,  and  sorwe  and  ire  and  75 
wepinge  to-drawen  thee  dj^ersely ;  as 
thou  art  now  feble  of  thought,  mightier 
remedies  ne  shullen  nat  j-it  touchen  thee, 
for  whiche  we  wol  usen  somdel  lighter 
medicines  :  so  that  thilke  passiouns  that  8ci 
ben  woxen  hardc  in  swellinge,  by  pertur- 
baciouns  flowing  in-to  thy  thought, 
mowen  wexen  esy  and  softe,  to  receiven 
the  strengthe  of  a  more  mighty  and  more 
egre  medicine,  by  an  esier  touchinge.  85 

Metke  VI. 

Cum  Phebi  radiis  graue 

Cancri  sidus  inestuat. 
Wlian  that  the  he^-y  sterre  of  the 
Cancre  eschaufeth  by  the  hemes  of  Phc- 
bus,  that  is  to  seyn,  whan  that  Phebus  the 
Sonne  is  in  the  signe  of  the  Caticre,  who-so 
yeveth  thanne  largely  hise  sedes  to  the  .■; 
feldes  that  refusen  to  receiven  hem,  lat 
him  gon,  bigyled  of  trust  that  he  haddo 
to  his  corn,  to  acorns  of  okes.  Yif  thou 
wolt  gadre  violettes,   ne  go  thou  not  to 


(|>oet6tu0.    (^ooft  I:  (pro0e  vi. 


139 


10  the  purpiir  wode  whan  the  feld,  chirk- 
inge,  agryseth  of  colde  by  the  felnesse  of 
the  winde  that  highte  Aqiiilon.  Yif  thou 
desirest  or  wolt  usen  grapes,  ne  seke  thou 
nat,   with  a  glotonous  hond,  to  streyne 

15  and  presse  the  stalkes  of  the  vine  in  the 
ferst  somer  sesoun  ;  for  Bachus,  the  god 
of  wyne,  hath  rather  yeven  hise  yiftes  to 
autumpne,  the  later  ende  of  somer.  God 
tokneth  and  assigneth  the  tjTnes,  ablinge 

JO  hem  to  hir  propres  offices  ;  ne  he  ne 
suffreth  nat  the  stoundes  whiche  that 
him-self  hath  devyded  and  constreyned 
to  ben  y-medled  to-gidere.  And  forthy 
he  that  forleteth  certein  ordinaunce  of 

25  doinge  by  over-throwinge  wey,  he  ne  hath 
no  glade  issue  or  ende  of  his  werkes. 

Peose  VI.     Priimim  igitw  paterisne  me 

pauculis  rogacionibus. 
First  woltow  suffre  me  to  touche  and 
assaye  the  estat  of  thy  thought  by  a  fewe 
demaundes,  so  that  I  may  understonde 
what  be  the  manere  of  thy  curacioun  ?  ' 
5  Boece.  '  Axe  me,'  quod  I,  '  at  thy  wille, 
what  thou  wolt,  and  I  shal  answere.' 

Tho  seide  she  thus  :  '  Whether  we- 
nestow,'  quod  she,  '  that  this  world  be 
governed    by    foolish     hajjpes    and    for- 

10  tunous,  or  elles  that  there  be  in  it  any 
govei-nement    of    resoun  ?  '  '  Certes,' 

qviod  I,  '  I  ne  trowe  nat  in  no  manere, 
that  so  certein  thinges  sholde  be  moeved 
by  fortunous  lortune  ;  but  I  wot  wel  that 

15  god,  maker  and  mayster,  is  governour  of 
his  werk.  Ne  never  nas  yit  day  that 
mighte  putte  me  out  of  the  sothnesse  of 
that  sentence.' 

'  So   is   it,'    quod   she  ;   '  for   the   same 

20  thing  songe  thou  a  litel  her-biforn,  and 
biweyledest  and  biweptest,  that  only  men 
weren  put  out  of  the  cure  of  god.  Por  of 
alle  other  thinges  thou  ne  doutedest  nat 
that  they  nere  governed  by  resoun.     But 

25  owh  !  (j.  pape  !)  I  wondre  gretly,  certes, 
why  that  thou  art  syk,  sin  that  thou  art 
put  in  so  holsom  a  sentence.  But  lat  us 
seken  depper;  I  conjecte  that  ther  lak- 
keth  I  not  nere  what.     But  sey  me  this  • 

30  sin  that  thou  ne  doutest  nat  that  this 


world  be  governed  by  god,  with  whiche 
governailes  takestow  hede  that  it  is 
governed  ? '  '  Unnethe, '  quod  I,  '  knowe 
I  the  sentence  of  thy  questioun  ;  so  that 
I  ne  may  nat  yit  answeren  to  thy  de-  35 
maundes. ' 

'I  nas  nat  deceived,'  quod  she,  'that 
ther  ne  faileth  somwhat,  by  whiche  the 
maladye  of  thy  pertu.rbacioun  is  crept 
in-to  thy  thought,  so  as  the  strengthe  of  40 
the  palis  chyning  is  open.  But  sey  me 
this  :  remembrest  thou  what  is  the  ende 
of  thinges,  and  whider  that  the  enten- 
cioun  of  alle  kinde  tendeth  ?  '  'I  have 
herd  it  told  som-tyme,'  quod  I ;  '  but  45 
drerinesse  hath  dulled  my  memorie.' 

'  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  thou  wost  wel 
whennes  that  alle  thinges  ben  comen  and 
procedeth?  '  '  I  wot  wel,'  quod  I,  and 
answerede,  that  '  god  is  beginning  of  al. '   5" 

'  And  how  may  this  be, '  quod  she,  '  that, 
sin  thou  knowest  the  beginning  of 
thinges,  that  thou  ne  knowest  nat  what 
is  the  ende  of  thinges  ?  But  swiche  ben 
the  customes  of  perturbaciouns,  and  this  55 
power  they  han,  that  they  may  moeve 
a  man  out  of  his  place,  that  is  to  seyn,  fro 
the  stablenes  and  perfeccioun  of  his  knoto- 
inge ;  but,  certes,  they  may  nat  al  arace 
him,  ne  aliene  him  in  al.  But  I  wolde  60 
that  thou  woldest  answere  to  this  : 
remembrestow  that  thou  art  a  man?' 
'Why  sholde  I  nat  remembre  that':" 
quod  I. 

'Maystow  nat  telle  me  thanne,' quod  65 
she,  '  what  thing  is  a  man  ? '     '  Axestow 
me   nat,'   quod   I,    '  whether    that   I   be 
a  resonable  mortal  beest  ?    I  woot  wel,  and 
I  confesso  wel  that  I  am  it.' 

'Wistestow  never  yit  that  thou  were  70 
any   other   thing?'    quod   she.  'No,' 

quod  I. 

'  Now  woot  I,'  quod  she,  '  other  cause  of 
thy  maladye,  and  that  right  grete.  Thou 
hast  lett  for  to  knowen  thy-self,  what  75 
thou  art  ;  thorugh  whiche  I  have  pleynly 
founden  the  cause  of  thy  maladye,  or  elles 
the  entree  of  recoveringe  of  thyn  hele, 
For-why,  for  thou  art  confounded  with 
foryeting  of  thy-self,  for-thy  sorwestow  80 
that  thou  art  exiled  of  thy  propre  goodes. 


140 


(goe(6tu0.    (^ooft  I :  (\\Utvt  VII. 


And  for  thou  ne  wost  what  is  the  ondo  of 
thlngcs,  for-thy  demestow  that  fclonous 
and  wikked  men  ben  mighty  and  wclefuL 
S5  And  for  thou  hast  foryetcn  by  whicho 
govemoments  the  world  is  governed,  for- 
thy  wonestow  that  thise  mutaciouns  of 
fortune  fleton  with-oute  governour.  Thise 
ben  grete  causes  not  only  to  maladye, 
(/>  l)ut,  ccrtes,  grete  causes  to  deeth.  But 
I  thanke  the  auctor  and  the  maker  of 
helo,  that  nature  hath  not  al  forleten 
thee.  I  have  grete  norisshinges  of  thj-n 
helo,  and  that  is,  the  sotho  sentence  of 
95  govemaunce  of  the  worldo  ;  that  thou 
bilevest  that  the  governingo  of  it  nis  nat 
subject  ne  underput  to  the  folic  of  thise 
happos  aventurous,  but  to  the  rcsoun  of 
god.     And  tlier-for  doute  thee  no-thing  ; 

ujo  for  of  this  litol  spark  thyn  heto  of  lyf 
slial  shyne.  But  for  as  moche  as  it  is 
nat  tyme  yit  of  faster  remedies,  and  the 
nature  of  thoughtcs  deceived  is  this, 
that  as  ofte  as  they  casten  awey  sotho 

105  opiniouns,  they  clothen  hem  in  false 
opiniouns,  of  which  false  opiniouns  the 
dcrkenesse  of  perturbacioun  woxeth  up, 
that  confoundeth  the  verray  insighte  : 
and  that  derkenessc  shal  I  assaye  som- 

110  what  to  maken  thinne  and  wayk  by 
lighto  and  mcnclicho  remedies ;  so  that. 


after  that  the  derkencsso  of  deceivingo 
desiringes  is  don  awey,  thou  mowo  kuowo 
the  shyninge  of  verray  light. 

Metre  VII.     Xubibus  atris. 

The  sterres,  covered  with  blako  cloudes, 
ne  mowen  yeten  a-doun  no  light.  Yif  the 
trouble  wind  that  hight  Auster,  turning 
and  walwinge  the  see,  medleth  the  heto, 
Ouxt  is  to  seijn,  the  boyling  uj)  from  the  5 
holme;  the  wawes,  that  whylom  weren 
clere  as  gins  and  lyko  to  the  fairo  clere 
dayes,  withstande  anon  the  sightes  of  men 
by  the  filthe  and  ordure  that  is  resolved. 
Ajid  the  fletinge  streem,  that  royleth  10 
duun  dj'\'ersly  fro  heye  mountaignes,  is 
arested  and  resisted  ofto  tyme  by  the 
encountringe  of  a  stoon  that  is  departed 
and  fallen  from  som  rocho.  And  for- 
thy,  yif  thou  w<dt  loken  and  demon  15 
sooth  with  clcer  light,  and  holden  the 
wey  with  a  right  path,  wcj've  thou  joye, 
dryf  fro  thee  drode,  flemo  thou  hope,  no 
lat  no  sorwe  aprocho  ;  that  is  to  seyn,  lat 
non  of  thise  /our  passuiuns  over-comen  thee  20 
or  blende  thee.  For  cloudy  and  derke  is 
thilko  thought,  and  bounde  with  brydles, 
where-as  thise  thinges  regnen.' 


Explicit  Liber  Primus. 


BOOK    11. 


Prose  I.     Postea  patdispcr  conticuit. 

After  this  she  stinte  a  litol ;  and,  after 
that  she  haddo  gadered  by  atempre  stille- 
ncsse  mj-n  attencioun,  she  seide  thus  : 
{As  tcho  viujhte  seyn  thus:  After  thise 
5  thinges  she  stinte  a  litel ;  and  whan  she 
aperceived  by  atempre  stillenesse  that  I  was 
ententifto  herkenc  hir,  she  bigan  to  speke  in 
thiswyse) :  '  Yif  I,'  quod  she,  '  have  under- 
stonden  and  knowen  outrely  the  causes 
10  and  the  habit  of  thy  maladye,  thou 
languissest  and  art  defeted  for  desyr  and 
talent  of  thy  rather  fortune.     She,  that 


ilke  Fortune  only,  that  is  chaunged,  as 
thou  feynest,to  thce-ward,  hath  perverted 
the  cleemesse  and  the  estat  of  thy  corage.  15 
I  understonde  the  fcle-foldo  colours  and 
deceites    of    thilke    mervoilous   monstre 
Fortune,  and  how  she  useth  ful  flateringe 
familaritee  with  hem  that  she  enforceth 
to  bigyle ;  so  longe,  til  that  she  confounde  20 
with    unsufferable   sorwe   hem   that  she 
hath  left  in  dcspeyr  unpurveyed.    And  yif 
thou    remembrest    wel    the    kinde,    the 
maneres,  and  the  desert  of  thilke  Fortune, 
thou   shalt   wel   knowc   that,  as  in  hir,  25 
thou  never  ne  haddest  ne  hast  y-lost  any 
fair  thing.     But,  as  I  trowe,  I  shal  nat 


^ott^iue.    Q^ooS  II:   (prose  i. 


141 


gretly  travailen  to  do  thee  remembren  on 
thise  thinges.  For  thou  were  wont  to 
30  hurtelen  and  despysen  hir,  with  manly 
wordes,  whan  she  was  Ijhvundissingo  and 
present,  and  piirsewedest  liir  witlx  sen- 
tences that  were  drawen  out  of  myn 
entree,  that  is  to  seyn,  out  of  myn  informa- 
35  ciotm.  But  no  sodein  mutacioun  ne 
bitydeth  nat  with-<jute  a  manere  chaung- 
inge  of  corages  ;  and  so  is  it  befallen  that 
thou  art  a  litel  departed  fro  the  pees  of 
thy  thought. 
4(j  But  now  is  tyme  that  thou  drinko  and 
ataste  some  softe  and  dclitable  thinges  ; 
so  that,  whan  they  ben  entred  within 
thee,  it  mowe  maken  wey  to  strengero 
<lrinkes  of  medicynes.  Com  now  forth 
45  thorfore  the  suasioun  of  swotonesse  re- 
tli'oricn,  whiche  that  goth  only  the  right 
wey,  whyl  she  forsaketh  nat  myno 
estatuts.  And  with  Rhetorice  com  forth 
3Iusiee,  a  damiscl  of  our  hous,  that 
so  singeth  nowligliter  moedes  or prolaciounx, 
now  hevycr.  What  eyleth  thee,  man? 
What  is  it  that  liath  cast  thee  in-to 
morninge  and  in-to  wepinge  ?  T  trowe 
tiiat  thou  hast  seyn  som  nowe  thing  and 
55  uncouth.  Thou  wenest  tliat  Fortune  be 
chaunged  ayein  thee  ;  but  thou  wenest 
wrong,  yif  thou  that  wene.  Alwey  tho 
ben  hir  maneres ;  she  hath  rather  kept, 
as  to  thee-ward,  hir  propre  stablenesse  in 
60  the  chaungingo  of  hir-self.  Eight  swich 
was  she  whan  she  flaterod  thee,  and 
deceived  thee  with  unlcvei'ul  lykinges  of 
fals  welefiilnesse.  Thou  hast  now  knowen 
and  atajTit  the  doutous  or  double  visage 
fi5  of  thilke  blinde  goddcsso  Fortune.  She, 
that  yit  covereth  hir  and  wimpleth  hir 
to  other  folk,  hath  shewed  hir  every- 
del  to  thee.  Yif  thou  aprovest  hir  and 
thenkest  that  she  is  good,  use  hir  maneres 
71)  and  pleyne  thee  nat.  And  yif  thou 
agrysest  hir  false  trecherye,  desjiyse  and 
cast  awey  hir  that  pleyeth  so  harmfully  ; 
for  she,  that  is  now  cause  of  so  muche 
sorive  to  thee,  sholde  ben  cause  to  thee  of 
75  pees  and  of  joye.  She  hath  forsaken  thee, 
forsothe ;  the  whiche  that  never  man 
may  ben  siker  that  she  ne  shal  forsake 
him. Close.   Btit  nathelcs,  some  bokes 


lian  the  text  thtis :    For  sothe,  she  hath 
forsaken  thee,  ne  ther  nis  no  man  siker 

that  she  ne  hath  nat  forsaken. 

Holdostow  than  thilke  welefulnesso 
precious  to  thee  tliat  shal  passen  ?  And 
is  present  Fortune  dereworthe  to  thee, 
which  that  nis  nat  feithful  for  to  dwelle;  ] 
and,  whan  she  goth  awey,  that  she 
bringeth  a  wight  in  sorwe?  For  sin  she 
may  nat  ben  with-holden  at  a  mannes 
wille,  she  maketli  him  a  wrecche  whan 
she  departeth  fro  him.  What  other  thing  < 
is  fliltinge  Fortune  but  a  manor  shewinge 
of  wrecchedncsse  that  is  to  comen  ?  No 
it  no  suflfysoth  nat  only  to  loken  on  thinge 
that  is  present  biforn  the  eyen  of  a  man. 
But  wisdom  lokoth  and  amesureth  tho  ( 
endo  of  thinges  ;  and  the  same  chaung- 
inge  from  con  in-to  an-other,  tJiat  is  to 
seyn,  from  adversifee  in-to  prosperitee, 
maketh  that  the  manaces  of  Fortune  no 
ben  nat  for  to  dreden,  ne  the  flateringes  i 
of  hir  to  ben  desired.  Thus,  at  the  laste, 
it  Viihoveth  thee  to  suflfron  -with  eveno 
wille  inpaeience  al  that  is  don  in-with  the 
floor  of  Fortune,  that  is  to  seyn,  in  this 
world,  sin  thou  hast  ones  put  thy  nekkc  i 
under  the  yok  of  hir.  For  yif  thou  wolt 
Avrji;en  a  lawe  of  wendinge  and  of  dwell- 
inge  to  Fortune,  whiche  that  thou  hast 
chosen  frely  to  ben  thy  lady,  artow  nat 
wrongful  in  that,  and  makest  Fortune  i 
wroth  and  aspore  by  thyn  inpationce, 
and  yit  thou  maj-st  nat  chaunge  hir  V 
Yif  thou  committest  and  bitakest  thy 
sailes  to  the  winde,  thou  shalt  be  shoven, 
not  thider  that  thou  woldest,  but  whider  i 
that  the  wind  shoveth  thee.  Yif  thou 
easiest  thy  sedes  in-to  the  feldes,  thou 
sholdcst  ban  in  minde  that  the  yeres  ben, 
amonges,  other-whyle  plentevous  and 
other-whyle  bareyne.  Thou  hast  bitaken  i 
thy-self  to  the  governaunce  of  Fortune, 
and  for-thy  it  bihovoth  thee  to  ben 
obeisaunt  to  the  maneres  of  thy  lady. 
Enforcest  thou  thoe  to  aresten  or  with- 
holden  tho  swiftnesse  and  the  sweigh  of  i 
hir  turninge  whole  ?  O  thou  fool  of  alio 
mortal  fooles,  if  Fortune  bigan  to  dwcllo 
stable,  she  cesede  thanne  to  ben  For- 
tune ! 


142 


II :   QUefre  I. 


Metrk  I.    JIcc  cum  siipcrba  verterit  tdces 
dextra. 

Whan  Fortune  with  a  prond  right 
hand  hath  tomed  hir  channginge 
stoundes,  she  fareth  lyk  the  maneres  of 

the  boilinge  EnrjT>e. Glosa.    Ktirj/pe 

5  is  an  arm  of  the  gee  that  ebbeth  and 
floireth;    and  som-tyme   the  streem    is    on 

o   .oyd'\   and  som-tymc   on    the    other. 

Text.  She,  cruel  Fortune,  casteth  adoan 
kinges  that  whylom  weren  y-drad  ;  and 

lo  she,  deceivahle,  enhaunsoth  up  the  hum- 
ble chere  of  liim  that  is  discomfited. 
Ne  she  neither  hereth  ne  rekketh  of 
wrecchede  wopinges  ;  and  she  is  so  hard 
that  she  langheth  and  scornetli  the  wep- 

'5  inges  of  hem,  the  wliicho  she  hath  makod 
wepo  with  hir  free  wille.  Thus  she 
pleyeth,  and  thus  she  proeveth  hir 
strengthes  ;  and  sheweth  a  greet  wonder 
to  alle  hir  ser^-anntes,  yif  that  a  wight 

21  •  is  sej-n  weleful,  and  overthrowe  iu  an 
houre. 


Prose  II.     Vellem  aut'm  pauca  tecum. 

Certes,  I  wolde  pleten  with  thee  a  fewe 
thinges,  usingo  the  wonles  of  Fortune  ; 
tak  hede  now  thy-self,  yif  that  she  a.xeth 
right.  "  O  thou  man,  wher-fore  makest 
5  thou  me  gilty  by  thyne  every -dayes  pleyn- 
inges?  What  wrong  have  I  don  thee? 
What  goodes  have  I  bireft  thee  that 
weren  thj-ne?  Strjf  or  plete  with  me, 
bifore  what  juge  that  thou  wolt,  of  the 

lo  possessioun  of  richesses  or  of  dig^nitees. 
And  yif  thou  mayst  shewen  me  that  ever 
any  mortjil  man  hath  received  any  of  tho 
thinges  to  ben  hise  in  propre,  than  wol 
I  graunte  frely  that  alle  thilke  thinges 

15  weren  thj-ne  whiche  that  thou  axest. 
Whan  that  nature  broughte  thee  forth 
out  of  thy  moder  wombe,  I  recej-red  thee 
naked  and  nedy  of  alle  thinges,  and 
I    norisshede    thee    with   my   richesses, 

2o  and  was  redy  and  ententif  through  my 
favour  to  susteyne  thee  ;  and  that  maketh 
thee  now  inpacient  ayeins  me  ;  and 
I  environnde  thee  with  alle  the  aboun- 


dance  and  shyninge  of  alio  goodes  that 
ben  in  my  right.  Now  it  lyketh  me  to  25 
with-<lrawcn  my  hand ;  thou  hast  had 
grace  as  he  that  hath  used  of  foreine 
goodes ;  thou  hast  no  right  to  pleyne 
thee,  as  though  thou  haddest  outrely  for- 
lorn alle  thy  thinges.  Why  pleynest  thou  30 
thanne?  I  have  done  thee  no  wrong. 
Kichesses,  honours,  and  swicho  other 
thinges  ben  of  my  right.  My  servauntes 
knowen  me  for  liir  lady ;  they  comen 
with  me,  and  departen  whan  I  wende.  35 
I  dar  wel  affermen  hardily,  that  yif  tho 
thinges,  of  which  thou  pleynest  that  thon 
hast  forlorn,  hadde  l)en  thyne,  thou  ne 
haddest  not  lorn  hem.  .Shal  I  thanne 
only  ben  defended  to  usen  my  right  ?  4c 
Certes,  it  is  leveful  to  the  heveno  to  make 
clere  dayes,  and,  after  that,  to  coveren 
tho  same  dayes  with  derke  nightes.  Tho 
yeer  hath  eek  levo  to  apparailen  tho 
visage  of  tlie  erthe,  now  with  floures  and  45 
now  with  fruit,  and  to  confounden  hem 
som-tyme  with  reynes  and  with  coldes. 
The  see  hath  eek  his  right  to  ben  som- 
tyme  calmo  and  blaundishing  with 
smothe  water,  and  som-tyme  to  ben  hor-  50 
rible  with  wawes  an<l  with  tempestes. 
But  the  covetise  of  men,  that  may  nat 
ben  stanched,  shal  it  l)inde  me  to  ben 
stedefast,  sin  that  stedefastnesse  is  un- 
couth to  my  maneres  ?  Swich  is  my  55 
strengthe,  and  this  pley  I  pleye  con- 
tinuely.  I  tome  the  whirlinge  wheel 
with  the  torning  cercle  ;  I  am  glad  to 
chavingen  the  lowest  to  the  licyest,  and 
the  heyest  to  the  lowest.  Worth  up,  if  60 
thou  wolt,  so  it  be  by  this  lawe,  that  thou 
ne  holde  nat  that  I  do  thee  wronge  thogh 
thou  descende  adoun,  whan  the  resoun  of 
my  pley  axeth  it.  Wistest  thou  nat 
how  Cresus,  the  king  of  Lydiens,  of  65 
whiche  king  Cyrus  was  ful  sore  agast 
a  litel  bifom,  that  this  rewlicho  Cresus 
was  caught  of  Cj-rus  and  lad  to  the  fyr  to 
ben  brent,  but  that  a  rayn  descendede 
doun  fro  hevene  that  rescowede  him  ?  70 
And  is  it  out  of  thy  minde  how  that 
Paulus,  consul  of  Rome,  whan  he  hadde 
taken  the  king  of  Percieps,  weep  pitously 
for  the   captivitee    of   the    self   kinge? 


(goee0tu0.    (gooft  II :  ^toee  iii. 


f43 


75  Wliat  other  thing  biwailen  the  erj-inges 
of  tragedies  but  only  the  dedes  of  Fortune, 
that  with  an  \uiwar  stroke  overtorneth 

realmes  of  grete  nobley? Close.  Tra- 

gedie  is  to  scyn,  a  ditee  of  a  prosperitee  for 

80  o  tyme,  that  endeth  in  wrecchednesse. 

Lernedest  nat  thou  in  Greke,  whan  thou 
were  yonge,  that  in  the  entree,  or  in  the 
celere,  of  Jupiter,  ther  ben  couched  two 
tonnes  ;  that  on  is  ful  of  good,  that  other 

85  is  ful  of  harm  ?  Wliat  right  hast  thou  to 
pleyne,  yif  thou  hast  taken  more  plente- 
vously  of  the  gode  syde,  that  is  to  seyn,  of 
viy  richesses  and  prosperites ;  and  what 
cek  if  I  ne  be  nat  al  departed  fro  thee  ? 

gf>  Wliat  eek  yif  my  mutabilitoo  yivcth  thee 
rightful  cause  of  hope  to  han  yit  beter 
thinges  ?  Natheles  dismaye  thee  nat  in 
thy  thought ;  and  thou  that  art  put  in 
the  comune  realme  of  alle,  ne  desyre  nat 

95  to  liven  by  thj-n  only  propre  right. 


Metrk  II.     Si  quantas  rapidis  flatihus 
incitus. 

Though  Plentee,  that  is  goddesse  of 
richesses,  hielde  adoun  with  ful  horn,  and 
withdraweth  nat  hir  hand,  as  many 
richesses    as    the    see    tometh    upward 

."i  sandes  whan  it  is  moeved  with  ravissh- 
inge  blastes,  or  eUes  as  many  richesses 
as  ther  shynen  brighte  sterres  on  hcvono 
on  the  sterry  nightes ;  yit,  for  al  that, 
mankinde  nolde  not  cese  to  wepe  wrecch- 

K)  ede  plejTites.  And  al  be  it  so  that  god 
rceeyveth  gladly  hir  preyers,  and  yiveth 
them  (as  fool-large)  moche  gold,  and 
aparaileth  coveitous  men  with  noble  or 
clere  honours  :    yit   semeth   hem  haven 

15  y-geten  no-thing,  but  alwey  hir  cruel 
ra\'yne,  devouringe  al  that  they  han 
gcten,  sheweth  other  gapinges  ;  that  is  to 
seyn,  gapen  and  desyren  yit  after  mo  rich- 
esses.   ^^^lat  brydles  mighten  withholden, 

20  to  any  certein  ende,  the  desordenee  cove- 
tise  of  men,  whan,  ever  the  rather  that  it 
flotcth  in  large  yiftes,  the  more  ay  bren- 
neth  in  hem  the  th\irst  of  havinge  ? 
Cortes   he   that,   quakinge   and   dredful, 

25  woneth  him-selven  nedy,  he  ne  liveth 
nevor-niore  richo." 


Prose  III.     Tliis  igitiir  si  pro  se  tecum 
Fortuna  loquerettir. 

Therfor,  j-if  that  Fortune  spake  with 
thee  for  hir-self  in  this  manere,  for-sotho 
thou  ne  haddest  nat  what  thou  mightest 
answere.  And,  if  thou  hast  any-thing 
wherwith  thou  mayest  rightfully  de-  5 
fenden  thy  compleint,  it  behoveth  thee 
to  sheweia  it  ;  and  I  wol  yeven  thee  space 
to  tellcn  it.'  Boece.  '  Certeynly,' qiiod 
I  thanne,  'thiso  beth  faire  thinges, 
and  onointed  with  hony  swetenesse  of  ic 
rethorike  and  musike  ;  and  only  whyl 
they  ben  herd  they  ben  delicious.  But  to 
wrecches  is  a  depper  felinge  of  harm  ; 
this  is  to  seyn,  that  wrecches  felen  the 
harmes  that  they  suffren  more  grevonsly  15 
than  the  remedies  or  the  delites  of  thise 
wordes  moiren  gladen  or  comforfen  hem  ;  so 
that,  whan  thise  thinges  stintcn  for  to 
soune  in  eres,  the  sorwe  that  is  inset 
gi-eveth  the  thought.'  -'* 

Phil.  'Right  so  is  it,' quod  she.  'For 
thise  ne  ben  yit  none  remedies  of  thy 
maladye  ;  biit  they  ben  a  maner  norissh- 
inges  of  thy  sorwe,  yit  rebel  ayein  thy 
curacioun.  For  whan  that  tyme  is,  I  25 
shal  moevo  swiche  thinges  that  percen 
hem-self  dope.  But  nathele.s,  that  thou 
shalt  not  wihio  toleten  thy-sclf  a  wrecche, 
hast  thou  foryetcn  the  noiamber  and  the 
manere  of  thy  welefulnesse  ?  I  holde  me  30 
stille,  how  that  the  soverayne  men  of  the 
citee  token  thee  in  cure  and  kepinge, 
whan  thou  were  orphelin  of  fader  and 
moder,  and  were  chosen  in  aflRnitee  of 
princes  of  the  citee  ;  and  thou  bigunne  35 
rather  to  be  leef  and  dere  than  forto  ben 
a  neighbour  ;  the  whiche  thing  is  the 
most  precious  kinde  of  any  propinquitee 
or  alyaunce  that  may  ben.  Who  is  it 
that  ne  seide  tho  that  thou  were  right  4" 
weleful,  with  so  grete  a  nobleye  of  thy 
fadres-in-lawe,  and  with  the  chastitee  of 
thy  wyf,  and  with  the  oportunitee  and 
noblesse  of  thy  masculin  children,  that  ia 
to  seyn,  thy  sones?  And  over  al  this— me  45 
list  to  passen  the  comune  thinges — how 
thou  haddest  in  thy  youthe  dignitees  that 


144 


(goef^tue.    Q0oo6  ii:   (lUefre  in. 


wcrcn  -wcrned  to  olcle  men.  But  it  de- 
lytcth  mo  to  comen  now  to  the  sin^iler 

50  nphepinge  of  thy  welefiilnosso.  Yif  any 
fruit  of  mortal  thinges  may  han  any 
woighte  or  prys  of  welefulnesse,  mightest 
thou  ever  forycten,  for  any  charge  of 
liarm   that   mighte  bifallo,   the  remem- 

5.'  braunce  of  tliilko  day  that  thou  sayo  thy 
two  sones  maked  conseilores,  and  y-lad 
to-gedere  fro  thyn  Iiouse  under  so  greet 
assemblee  of  senatoures  and  under  the 
blythenesse  of  poeple  ;    and  whan  thou 

(■«>  sayo  hem  set  in  the  court  in  here  chayeres 
of  dignitees?  Thou,  rethorien  or  pro- 
nonnecrcof  kingospreysinges,  deservedcst 
glorie  of  wit  and  of  eloquence,  wlian 
thou,  sittinge  bitwone  thy  two  sones,  con- 

C5  soilercs,  in  the  phvce  that  highto  Circo, 
Kwlfuldest  the  abydingo  of  the  mul- 
t  itude  of  poeple  that  was  sprad  al)outen 
thee,  with  so  largo  preysinge  and  laude, 
lis   men  singen  in  ^•ictories.      Tho  yavo 

70  thou  wordes  to  Fortune,  as  I  trowo, 
that  is  to  seijn,  tho  feffedest  thou  Fortune 
iritli  gloginge  tcordes  and  deceivedest  hi}; 
whan  she  acoycdc  thee  and  norisshede 
theo   as   hir   o-wne   tlelyces.      Thou   here 

7"  away  of  Fortune  a  yifte,  that  is  to  seyn, 
sicichfi  (/iierdoun,  that  she  never  yaf  to 
privco  man.  Wilt  thou  therfor  leye 
ji  rekoninge  with  Fortune  ?  She  hath 
now  twinkled  first  upon  thee  with  a  wik- 

J-o  kode  eye.  Yif  thou  considere  the  noum- 
bro  and  tho  manero  of  thy  blisses  and  of 
thy  sorwes,  thou  mayst  nat  forsaken  that 
thou  art  yit  blisful.  For  if  thou  therfor 
wenost  thy-sclf  nat  weleful,  for  tliinges 

85  that  tho  semeden  joyful  ben  passed,  ther 
nis  nat  why  thou  sholdest  wene  thy-self 
a  \\Tecche  ;  for  thinges  that  semen  now 
sorye  passen  also.  Art  thou  now  comen 
first,  a  sodein  gest,  in-to  the  shadwe  or 

cio  tabernacle  of  this  lyf ;  or  trowest  thou 
that  any  stedefastnesse  be  in  mannes 
thinges,  whan  ofte  a  swift  houre  dis- 
solveth  the  same  man  ;  thut  is  to  seyn, 
whan  the  soule  dfjmrteth  fro  the  body  ? 

<  5  For,  al-though  that  seldo  is  ther  any  feith 
that  fortunous  thinges  wolen  dweUen,  yit 
natheles  the  lastc  day  of  a  mannes  lyf  is 
a  manere  deeth  to  Fortune,  and  also  to 


thilke   that   hath    dwelt.     And    therfor, 
what,   wonestow,   thar  [thee]  recche,  yif  100 
thou  forlote  hir  in  dcyingo,  or  clles  that 
she,    Fortune,    forlete    thee    in    fleeinge 
awey  ? 

Metrk  III.     Cum  polo  rhebus 
roaeis  quadrigis. 
Whan  Phebus,  the  sonne,  biginnotli  to 
sjireden  his  clocrnesse  with  rosono  chari- 
cttes,thanne  the  sterre,  y-dimmcd,  paleth 
hir  whyte  chores,  liy  tlio  flambcs  of  the 
sonne  that  overcometh  the  sterre-light.  5 
TTiis  is  to  seyn,  u-Jian  the  sonne  is  risen, 
the  dey-sterrc  wexeth  pale,  and  lescth  hir 
light  fw  the  grete  brightnesse  of  the  sonne. 
Whan  tho  wodo  wexetli  rody  of  rosene 
floures,  in  the  first  somer  sesoun,  thorugh  10 
the  brethe  of  tho  winde  Zcphirus  that 
wexeth  warm,  yif  the  cloudy  wind  Auster 
blowo  felliche,  than  goth  awey  tho  fairc- 
nesso  of  thornes.  Ofte  tho  see  is  clcer 

and  calm  withonte  moevinge  flodes  ;  and  15 
ofte  tho  horrible  wind  Aquilon  mocveth 
boilinge  tempestcs  and  ovor-whelveth  the 
see.  Yif  the  forme  of  this  worlde  is  so 
soldo  stable,  and  j'if  it  tumeth  by  so 
many  entrechaungingeSjWolt  thou  thanno  20 
trnsten  in  the  tombUngo  forttmcs  of 
men  ?  Wolt  thou  trowen  on  flittingo 
goodes?  It  is  ccrtein  and  cstaljlisshcd 
by  lawe  perdurable,  that  no-thing  that  is 
engendrod  nis  stedefast  no  stable.'  ^5 

Prosk  rv.     Tunc  ego,  ucra, 
inquam,  commemoraa. 

Thanno  seido  I  thus  :  '  O  norico  of  alio 
vertues,  thou  seist  ful  sooth  ;  no  1  no  may 
nat  forsake  the  right  swifte  cours  of  my 
prosperitee  ;  that  is  to  seyn,  tiiat  i>rosperitee 
ne  be  comen  to  me  wonder  siviftly  and  sone.  5 
But  this  is  a  thing  that  groetly  smertetli 
me  whan  it  remembreth  mo.  For  in  alio 
adversitee  of  fortune,  the  most  iinsoly 
kinde  of  contrarious  fortune  is  to  han 
ben  weleful.'  10 

Phil.  '  But  that  thou,'  quod  she,  '  abyest 
thus  the  torment  of  thy  false  opinioun, 
that  maj'st  thou  nat  rightfully  blamen 
ne  arcttcn   to  thinges  :  as  who  scilh,  for 


(goef0iu6.    (goo8  II:  Cproee  iv. 


145 


)5  thou  hast  yit  many  hahundavnces  of  thinges. 

■ Text  For  al  be  it  so  that  the  ydel 

name  of  aventiirous  -welefulnesse  moeveth 
thee  now,  it  is  levefnl  that  thou  rekne 
with   me   of  how  manye   grote  thinges 
20  thou  hast  yit  plentee.     And  therfor,  yif 
that  thilke  thing  that  thoii  haddest  for 
most  precious  in  al  thy  rich  esse  of  for- 
tune be  kept  to  thee  yit,  by  the  grace  of 
god,  unwemmed  and  undefouled,  mayst 
15  thou  thanne  pleyne  rightfully  upon  the 
meschef  of  Fortune,  sin  thou  hast  yit  thy 
beste  thinges  ?     Certes,  yit  liveth  in  good 
point   thilke   precious  honour    of   nian- 
kinde,  Symacus,  thy  wy\-es  fader,  which 
V>  t  liat  is  a  man  maked  alle  of  sapience  and 
of  vertu  ;  the  whiche  man  thou  woldest 
hyen  redely  with  the  prys  of  thj-n  owne 
lyf.    He  biwayleth  the  wronges  that  men 
don  to  thee,  and  nat  for  him-self ;  for  he 
35  liveth  in  sikernesse  of  any  sentences  put 
ayeins   him.      And   yit  liveth   thy   wyf, 
that  is  atempro  of  wit,  and  passinge  other 
wimmen  in  clennesse  of  ehastetee  ;  and 
for  I  wol  closen  shortely  hir  bountees,  she 
40  is  lyk  to  hir  fader.     I  telle  thee  wel,  that 
she  liveth  looth  of  this  lyf,  and  kepeth  to 
thee  only  hir  goost  ;  and  is  al  maat  and 
overcomen   by   wcpintje   and  sorwe    for 
desyr  of  thee,  in  the  whiche  thing  only 
45  I  moot  gratmten  that  thy  welei'ulnesse  is 
amenused.     What  shal  I  sej-n  eek  of  thy 
two  sones,  conscilours,  of  whiche,  as  of 
children   of  hir   age,   ther   shyneth   the 
lyknesse  of  the  wit  of  hir  fader  or  of  hir 
50  elder  fader  ?     And  sin  the  sovereyn  cure 
of  aUe  mortel  folk  is  to  saven  hir  owen 
lyves,  O  how  weleful  art  thou,  yif  thou 
knowe   thy  goodes  !      For  yit   ben  ther 
thinges   dwelled   to   thee-ward,  that  no 
55  man   douteth   that    they   ne    ben    more 
dereworthe  to  thee  than  thyn  owen  lyf. 
And  for-thy  drye  thy  teres,  for  yit  nis 
nat  everich  fortitne  al  hateful   to   thee- 
ward,  ne  over  greet  temiiest  hath  nat  yit 
6«  fallen  upon  thee,  whan  that  thyn  ancres 
eleven  faste,  that  neither  wolen  suffren 
the  counfort  of  this  tymc  present  ne  the 
hope  of  tyme  cominge  to  passen  ne  to 
faylen.'         Boece.  '  And  I  preye,'  quod  I, 
(i5  '  that    faste     moten     they    halden ;    for 


whyles  that  they  halden,  how-so-ever  that 
thinges  ben,  I  shal  wel  fleten  forth  and 
escapen  ;  but  thou  mayst  wel  seen  how 
grete  aparayles  and  aray  that  mo  lak- 
keth,  that  ben  passed  away  fro  me.'  70 

rhil.  '  I  have  som-what  avattnsed  and 
forthered  thee,'  quod  she,  '  yif  that  thou 
anoye  nat   or    forthinke   nat   of  al   thy 
fortune  :  as  tcho  seith,   I  have  som-ichat 
comforted  thee,  so  that  thou  tevipest  thee  75 
nat  thus  with  al  thy  fortune,  sin  thou  hast 
yit  thy  beste  thinges.  But  I  may  nat  suifren 
thy  deliecs,  that  pleynest  so  wepinge  and 
anguissous,  for  that  ther  lakkcth   som- 
what  to  thy  welefulnesse.    For  what  man  80 
is  so  sad  or  of  so  pariit  welefulnesse,  that 
he  ne  stryveth  and  pleyneth  on  som  halve 
ayen  the  qualitee  of  his  estat  ?     For-why 
fill  angitissous  thing  is  the  condiciottn  of 
mannes  goodes  ;  for  either  it  cometh  nat  S5 
al-togider  to  a  wight,  or  elles  it  last  nat 
pcrpetuel.      For    sum    man    hath    gretc 
richesses,  but  he  is  ashamed  of  his  un- 
gentel  linage  ;    and  som  is  renowned  of 
noblesse  of  kinrede,  but  he  is  enclosed  in  90 
so  grete  angitisshe  of  nede  of  thinges,  that 
him  were  lever  that  he  were  unknowe. 
And  som  man  haboundeth  both  in  rich- 
esse  and  noblesse,  but  yit  he  bewaileth 
his  chaste  lyf,   for  he  ne  hath  no  wyf.  95 
And  som  man  is  wel  and  selily  y-maried, 
but  he  hath  no  children,  and  norissheth 
his   richesses    to    the   eyres    of    strange 
folkes.      And  som  man   is   gladed  with 
children,  but  he  wepeth  ful  sory  for  the  100 
trespas  of  his  sone  or  of  his  doughter. 
And  for  this  ther  ne  acordeth  no  wight 
lightly  to  the  condicioun  of  his  fortune  ; 
for  alwey  to  every  man  ther  is  in  som- 
what  that,  unassayed,  he  ne  wot  nat ;  or  105 
elles  he  dredeth   that  he  hath   assayed. 
And  adde  this   also,  that   every  welelul 
man  hath  a  ful  delicat  felinge  ;  so  that, 
but-yif  alle  thinges  bifalle  at  his  owne 
wil,  for  he  is  impacient,  or  is  nat  used  to  110 
han  non  adversitee,  anon  he  is  throwen 
adoun  for  every  litel  thing.    And  ful  litel 
thinges    ben   tho    that   withdrawen   the 
somme  or  the  perfeccioun  of  blisfulnesse 
fro  hem  that  ben  most  fortttnat.     How  115 
I  many  men,  trowest  thou,  wolden  demen 


46 


^oef$tu0.    (^ooft  II :  (mefre  iv. 


hem-self  to  ben  almost  in  hevene,  yif 
they  mighten  atayne  to  the  leest  party  of 
the  remnaiint  of  thy  fortune  ?  This  same 
place  that  thou  clepest  exil,  is  contree  to 
hem  that  enhabiten  heer,  and  forthy 
nothing  [is]  wrecched  but  whan  thou 
wenest  it :  as  who  seith,  thou  thyself,  ne 
no  wight  elles,  nis  a  wrecche,  but  whan  he 
weneth  him-selfa  wrecche  by  reputacioun  of 
his  corage.  And  ayeinward,  alle  fortune 
is  blisful  to  a  man  by  the  agreabletee  or 
by  the  egalitee  of  him  that  suffreth  it. 
AVliat  man  is  that,  that  is  so  weleful, 
that  nolde  changen  his  estat  whan  he 
hath  lost  pacience?  The  swetnesse  of 
mannes  welefulnesse  is  sprayned  with 
many  biter nesses  ;  the  whiche  weleful- 
nesse, al-though  it  seme  swete  and  joyful 
to  hem  that  iiseth  it,  yit  may  it  nat  ben 
with-holden  that  it  ne  goth  away  whan  it 
wole.  Tlianne  is  it  wel  sene,  how  wn-ecched 
is  the  blisfxilnesse  of  mortal  thinges,  that 
neither   it    dureth   perpetuel   with    hem 

>  that  every  fortune  receiven  agreablely  or 
egaly,  ne  it  delyteth  nat  in  al  to  hem 
that  ben  ang^iissous.  O  ye  mortal  folk, 
what  seke  ye  thanne  blisfulnesse  out  of 
your-self,  whiche  that  is  put  in  your-self  ? 

;  Erroiir  and  folye  confoundeth  yow. 

I  shal  shewe  thee  shortely  the  poynt 
of  sovereyne  blisfulnesse.  Is  ther  any- 
thing more  precious  to  thee  than  thy- 
self? Thoti  wolt answere,  "nay."  Thanne, 

>  yif  it  so  be  that  thou  art  mighty  over 
thy-self,  that  is  to  seyn,  by  trarujtiillitee  of 
thy  sotdle,  than  hast  thou  thing  in  thy 
power  that  thou  noldest  never  lesen,  ne 
Fortune   ne    may   nat   beneme   it   thee. 

;  And  that  thoii  mayst  knowe  that  blisful- 
nesse ne  may  nat  standen  in  thinges  that 
ben  fortunous  and  temporel,  now  under- 
stonde  and  gader  it  to-gidere  thus  :  Yif 
blisfulnesse  be  the  sovereyn  good  of  nature 

1  that  liveth  by  resoun,  ne  thilke  thing  nis 
nat  soverej-n  good  that  may  be  taken 
awey  in  any  'w-yse,  (for  more  worthy 
thing  and  more  digne  is  thilke  thing  that 
may  nat  ben  taken  awey) ;  than  sheweth 

;  it  wel,  that  the  unstablenesse  of  fortune 
may  nat  atayne  to  receiven  verray  blis- 
fulnesse.    And  yit  more-over  :  what  man 


that  this  toumbling  welefulnesse  ledeth, 
either  he  woot  that  it  is  chaungeable,  or 
elles  he  woot  it  nat.  And  yif  he  woot  i^o 
it  nat,  what  blisful  fortune  may  ther  be 
in  the  blindnesse  of  ignorance  ?  And  yif 
ho  woot  that  it  is  chaungeable,  he  moot 
alwey  ben  adrad  that  he  ne  lese  that 
thing  that  he  ne  doubteth  nat  but  that  175 
he  may  lesen  it ;  as  who  seith,  he  mot  ben 
alwey  agast,  lest  he  lese  that  he  wot  tcel  he 
may  lese  it.  For  which,  the  continuel 
<lreed  that  he  hath  ne  suffreth  him  nat 
to  ben  weleful.  Or  yif  he  lese  it,  he  180 
weneth  to  be  dispysed  and  forleten. 
Certes  eek,  that  is  a  ful  litel  good  that 
is  l)orn  with  evene  herte  whan  it  is  lost  ; 
that  is  to  seyn,  that  men  do  no  more  fors  of 
the  lost  than  of  the  havinge.  And  for  as  185 
moche  as  thou  thy-self  art  he,  to  whom  it 
hath  ben  shewed  and  proved  by  ful 
manye  demonstraciouns,  as  I  wot  wel, 
that  the  sowles  of  men  ne  mowe  nat 
deyen  in  no  wyse ;  and  eek  sin  it  is  cleer  190 
and  certein,  that  fortunous  welefulnesse 
endetli  by  the  deeth  of  the  body  ;  it  may 
nat  ben  douted  that,  yif  that  deeth  may 
take  awey  blisfulnesse,  that  alle  the  kinde 
of  mortal  thinges  ne  descendeth  into  195 
wrecchednesse  by  the  ende  of  the  deeth. 
And  sin  we  knowcn  wel,  that  many  a 
man  hath  sought  the  fruit  of  blisfulnesse 
nat  only  with  sufFringe  of  deeth,  but  eek 
with  suffringe  of  peynes  and  tormentes  ;  200 
how  mighte  than  this  present  lyf  maken 
men  blisful,  sin  that,  whan  thilke  selve 
lyf  is  ended,  it  ne  maketh  folk  no 
wrecches  ? 

Metre  IV.     Quisquis  violet  perennem. 

What  maner  man,  stable  and  war,  that 
wole  founden  him  a  perdurable  sete,  and 
ne  wole  nat  ben  cast  down  with  the  loude 
blastes  of  the  wind  Evirus ;  and  wole 
desp.yse  the  see,  manasinge  with  flodes  ;  5 
lat  him  eschewen  to  bilde  on  the  cop 
of  the  mountaigne  or  in  the  moiste  sandes. 
For  the  felle  wind  Auster  tormenteth  the 
cop  of  the  mountaigne  with  all  his 
strengthes  ;  and  the  lause  sandes  refusen  10 
to  beren  the  hevy  wighte.        And  forthy. 


(goH^iuB.    (goo&  II:    ^vo6t  v. 


147 


if  thoti  wolt  fleen  the  perilotis  aventiire, 
that  is  to  seyn,  of  the  icorlde  ;  have  minde 
oerteinly  to  ficchen  thyn  hous  of  a  merye 
site  in  a  lowe  stoon.  For  al-tliongh  the 
wind,  troubling  the  see,  thondre  with 
over-throwinges,  thou  that  art  pnt  in 
quiete,  and  weleful  by  strengthe  of  thy 
palis,  shalt  leden  a  cleer  age,  scorninge 
the  woodnesses  and  the  ires  of  the  eyr. 


V.    Set  cum  rationum  iam  \ 


te. 


But  for  as  moche  as  the  norisshinges 
of  my  resoiins  descenden  now  in-to  thee, 
I  trowe  it  were  tyme  to  usen  a  litel 
stronger  medicynes.  Now  vinderstond 
5  lieer,  al  were  it  so  that  the  yiftes  of 
Fortune  ne  were  nat  br^^tel  ne  transitorie, 
what  is  ther  in  hem  that  may  be  thyn 
in  any  tyme,  or  elles  that  it  nis  foul,  yif 
that  it  be  considered  and  loked  perfitly? 

10  Riehesses,  ben  they  precious  by  the  nature 
of  hem-self,  or  elles  by  the  nati^re  of 
thee  ?  What  is  most  worth  of  riehesses  ? 
Is  it  nat  gold  or  might  of  moneye 
assembled?      Certes,     thilke     gold    and 

15  thilke  moneye  shyneth  and  yevethbetere 
renoun  to  hem  that  despenden  it  thanne 
to  thilke  folk  that  mokeren  it ;  for  avar- 
ice maketh  alwey  mokereres  to  ben  hated, 
and  largesse  maketh  folk  cleer  of  renoun. 

20  For  sin  that  swich  thing  as  is  transferred 
fram  o  man  to  another  ne  may  nat 
dwellen  with  no  man  ;  certes,  thanne  is 
thilke  moneye  precioiis  whan  it  is  trans- 
lated into  other  folk  and  stenteth  to  ben 

25  liad,  by  usage  of  large  yevinge  of  him 
that  hath  yeven  it.  And  also  :  yif  that  al 
the  moneye  that  is  over-al  in  the  worlde 
were  gadered  toward  o  man,  it  sholde 
maken  alle  other  naen  to  ben  nedy  as  of 

30  that.  And  certes  a  voys  al  hool,  that 
is  to  seyn,  imth-oute  amenusinge,  fulfiUeth 
to-gidere  the  hering  of  moche  folk  ;  but 
certes,  youre  riehesses  ne  mowen  nat 
passen  in-to  moche  folke  with-oute  amen- 

35  usinge.  And  whan  they  ben  apassed, 
nedes  they  maken  hem  pore  that  for-gon 
the  riehesses.  O  !  streite  and  nedy  clepe 
I  this  richesse,  sin  that  many  folk  ne 
may   nat   han   it  al,    ne   al   may   it   nat 


comen  to  o  man  with-outen  povertee  of  4^^ 
alle  other   folk  !     And  the   shyningo   of 
gemmes,    that    I    clepe    precious    stones, 
draweth  it  nat  the  ej'en  of  folk  to  hem- 
ward,  that  is  to  seyn,  for  the  beaittee  ?    But 
certes,  yif  ther  were  beautee  or  bountee  45 
in  the  shyninge  of  stones,  thilke  cleer- 
nesse  is  of  the  stones  hem-self,  and  nat 
of  men  ;  for  whiche  I  wondre  gretly  that 
men  mervailen  on  swiche  thinges.     For- 
why,  what  thing  is  it,  that  yif  it  wanteth  50 
moeving  and  joynture  of  sowle  and  body, 
that  by  right  mighte  semen  a  fair  crea- 
ture to  him  that  hath  a  sowle  of  resoun  ? 
For  al  be  it  so  that  gemmes  drawen  to 
hem-self  a  litel  of  the  laste  V)eautee  of  the  55 
world,  through  the  entente  of  hir  creatour 
and  through  the  distinccioun  of  hem-self ; 
yit,  for  as  mochel  as  they  ben  put  iinder 
youre  excellence,  theyne  han  nat  deserved 
by  no  wey  that  ye  sholden  mervailen  on  60 
hem.    And  the  beautee  of  feldes,  delyteth 
it  nat  mochel  un-to  yow  ?  ' 

Boece.  '  Why  sholde  it  nat  delyten  us, 
sin  that  it  is  a  right  fair  porcioun  of  the 
right  faire  werke,  that  is  to  seyn,  of  this  65 
toorld  ?  And  right  so  ben  we  gladed  som- 
tyme  of  the  face  of  the  see  whan  it  is 
cleer ;  and  also  mervailen  we  on  the 
hevene  and  on  the  sterres,  and  on  the 
Sonne  and  on  the  mone.'  T^ 

Philosophye.  '  Aperteneth,'  quod  she, 
'any  of  thilke  thinges  to  thee?  Why 
darst  thou  glorifyen  thee  in  the  shyninge 
of  aiay  swiche  thinges?  Art  thou  dis- 
tingwed  and  embelised  by  the  springinge  75 
floxires  of  the  first  somer  sesotin,  or 
swelleth  thy  plcntee  in  the  fruites  of 
somer?  Wh.y  art  thou  ravisshed  with 
ydel joyes?  Why embracest thou straunge 
goodes  as  they  weren  thyne  ?  Fortixne  ne  80 
shal  never  maken  that  swiche  thinges 
ben  thyne,  that  nature  of  thinges  hath 
maked  foreine  fro  thee.  Sooth  is  that, 
with-outen  doute,  the  frutes  of  the  erthe 
owen  to  ben  to  the  norissinge  of  bestes.  85 
And  yif  thou  wolt  fulfille  thy  node  after 
that  it  suffyseth  to  nature,  than  is  it  no 
nede  that  thou  seke  after  the  super  flu  itee 
of  fortune.  For  with  ftil  fewe  things 
and  with  ful  litel  thinges  nature  halt  hir  90 


tu0.    (gooR  II:    (^r06«  V. 


apayed  ;  and  yif  tlioii  wolt  achoken  the 
fulfillinge  of  nature  with  superfluitees, 
certes,  thilke  thinges  that  thovi  wolt 
thresten  or  pouren  in-to  nature  shullen 
5  ben  nrijoyfiil  to  thee,  or  elles  anoyous. 
Wenest  thovi  eek  that  it  be  a  fair  thing 
to  shyne  with  dyverse  clothinge  ?  Of 
whiche  clothinge  yif  the  beautee  be 
agreeable  to  loken  np-on,  I  wol  mervailen 
)  on  the  nature  of  the  matere  of  thilke 
clothes,  or  elles  on  the  werkman  that 
wroughte  hem.  But  also  a  long  route  of 
meynee,  maketh  that  a  blisfiil  man  ?  The 
whiche  servants,  yif  they  ben  vicious  of 
5  condicionns,  it  is  a  great  charge  and  a 
distrnccionn  to  the  hous,  and  a,  greet 
enemy  to  the  lord  him-self.  And  yif  they 
ben  goode  men,  how  shal  straunge  or 
foreine  goodnesse  ben  put  in  the  noumbre 
)  of  thy  richesse?  So  that,  by  all  these 
forseide  thinges,  it  is  clearly  y-shewed, 
that  never  oon  of  thilke  thinges  that 
thou  acountedest  for  thyne  goodes  nas 
nat  thy  good.  In  the  whiche  thinges, 
;  yif  ther  be  no  beautee  to  ben  desyred, 
why  sholdcst  thou  ben  sory  yif  thou  lese 
hem,  or  why  sholdest  thou  rejoysen  thee 
to  holden  hem  ?  For  yif  they  ben  faire 
of  hir  owne  kinde,  what  ajierteneth  that 
1  to  thee  ?  For  al  so  wel  sholden  they  ban 
ben  faire  by  hem-selve,  though  they  weren 
departed  fram  aUe  thyne  richesses.  For- 
why  faire  ne  precious  ne  weren  they  nat, 
for  that  they  comen  among  thy  richesses  ; 
;  but,  for  they  semeden  faire  and  precious, 
ther-for  thoti  haddest  lever  rekne  hem 
amonges  thy  richesses.  But  what  de- 
sirest  thou  of  Fortune  with  so  grete  a 
noise,  and  with  so  grete  a  fare  ?  I  trowe 
(  thoii  seke  to  dryve  awey  nede  with  ha- 
bundaunce  of  thinges ;  but  certes,  it 
torneth  to  you  al  in  the  contrarie. 
Forwhy  certes,  it  nedeth  of  ful  manye 
helpinges  to  kepen  the  diversitee  of 
precioTis  ostelments.  And  sooth  it  is, 
that  of  manye  thinges  han  they  nede 
that  manye  thinges  han  ;  and  ayeinward, 
of  litel  nedeth  hem  that  mesuren  hir  fille 
after  the  nede  of  kinde,  and  nat  after 
1  the  otitrage  of  coveityse.  Is  it  thanne  so, 
that   ye    men    ne   han   no   proper    good  I 


y-set  in  you,  for  which  ye  moten  seken 
outward  youre  goodes  in  foreine  and 
subgit  thinges?  So  is  thanne  the  con- 
dicioun  of  thinges  torned  up-so-down, 
that  a  man,  that  is  a  devyne  beest  by 
merite  of  his  resoun,  thinketh  that  him- 
self nis  neither  faire  ne  noble,  but-yif 
it  be  thorugh  possessioun  of  ostelments 
that  ne  han  no  sowles.  And  certes,  al 
other  thinges  ben  apayed  of  hir  owne 
beautee  ;  but  ye  men,  that  ben  semblable 
to  god  by  your  resonable  thought,  desiren 
to  aparailen  your  excellent  kinde  of  the 
lowest  thinges  ;  ne  ye  understonden  nat 
how  greet  a  wrong  ye  don  to  your 
creatour.  For  he  wolde  that  mankindo 
were  most  worthy  and  noble  of  any  othre 
erthely  thinges  ;  and  ye  threste  adoun 
your  dignitees  benethe  the  lowest  thinges. 
For  yif  that  al  the  good  of  every  thinge 
be  more  precious  than  is  thilke  thing 
whos  that  the  good  is  :  sin  ye  demen 
that  the  fouleste  thinges  ben  youre 
•goodes,  thanne  submitten  ye  and  putten 
your-selven  under  tho  fouleste  thinges 
by  your  estimacioun ;  and  certes,  this 
tydeth  nat  with-oute  youre  desertes.  For 
certes,  swiohe  is  the  oondicioun  of  alle 
mankinde,  that  only  whan  it  hath  know- 
inge  of  it-selve,  than  passeth  it  in 
noblesse  alle  other  thinges  ;  and  whan 
it  forleteth  the  knowinge  of  it-self,  than 
is  it  brought  binethen  alle  beestes.  For- 
why al  other  livinge  beestes  han  of  kinde 
to  knowe  nat  hem-self;  but  whan  that 
men  leten  the  knowinge  of  hemself,  it 
Cometh  hem  of  vice.  But  how  brode 
sheweth  the  errour  and  the  folye  of  yow 
men,  that  wenen  that  any  thing  may  i 
ben  aparailed  with  straunge  aparaile- 
ments  !  But  for  sothe  that  may  nat  ben 
doon.  For  yif  a  wight  shyneth  with 
thinges  that  ben  put  to  him,  as  thtis,  if 
thilke  thinges  shynen  icith  which  a  man  is  j 
aparailed,  certes,  thilke  thinges  ben 
comended  and  preysed  with  which  he  is 
aparailed  ;  but  natheles,  the  thing  that 
is  covered  and  wrapped  under  that 
dwelleth  in  his  filthe.  And  I  denye  i 
that  thilke  thing  be  good  that  anoyeth 
him   that   hath   it.      Gabbe   I    of   this? 


II:  (Dro0e  VI. 


149 


Thou  wolt  seye  "  naj'."  Certes,  richesses 
han  anoyed  ful  ofte  hem  that  hau  tho 

1)5  richesses  ;  sin  that  every  wililied  shrewe, 
(and  for  his  wikkednesse  the  more  gredy 
after  other  folkes  richesses,  wher-so  ever 
it  be  in  any  place,  be  it  gold  or  precious 
stones),  weneth   him  only  m.ost   worthy 

iH)  that  hath  hem.  Thou  thanne,  that  so 
liisy  dredest  now  the  swerd  and  now  the 
spere,  yif  thou  haddest  entred  in  the 
path  of  this  lyf  a  voide  wayferinge  man, 
than  woldest  thou  singe  beforn  the  theef ; 

lu  as  who  seith,  a  pore  man,  that  berth  no 
richesse  on  him,  by  the  loeye,  may  buldely 
singe  biforn  theves,  for  he  hath  nat  wherof 
to  ben  robbed.  O  precious  and  right  cleer 
is  the   blisfulnesse   of  mortal   richesses, 

15  that,  whan  thoii  hast  geten  it,  than  hast 
tliou  lorn  thy  sikernesse  ! 

Metre  V.     Felix  nimium  prior  etas. 

Blisfvil  was  the  first  age  of  men  !  They 
helden  hem  apayed  with  the  metes  that 
the  trewe  feldes  broughten  forth.  They 
ne  distroyede  nor  deceivede  nat  hem-self 
5  with  outi'age.  They  weren  wont  lightly 
to  slaken  hir  hunger  at  even  with  acornes 
of  okes.  They  ne  coude  nat  medly  the 
yifte  of  Bachvis  to  the  cleer  hony ;  that 
is  to  seyn,  they  coude  make  no  piment  nor 

10  clarree  ;  ne  they  coude  nat  medle  the 
brighte  fleeses  of  the  contree  of  Seriens 
with  the  venim  of  Tyrie  ;  this  is  to  seyn, 
they  coude  nat  deyen  tchyte  fleeses  of  Serien 
contree  tvitli  the  blode  of  a  maner  shelfisshe 

'5  that  menfinden  in  Tyrie,  with  whiche  blood 
tiie7i  deyen  purpxir.  They  slepen  hoolsom 
slepes  up-on  the  gras,  and  dronken  of  the 
renninge  wateres  ;  and  layen  under  the 
shadwes   of  the  heye  pyn-trees.     Ne  no 

ai)  gest  ne  straungere  ne  carf  yit  the  heye 
see  with  ores  or  with  shippes  ;  ne  they 
ne  hadde  seyn  yit  none  newe  strondes, 
to  leden  marchaundyse  in-to  dyverse 
contrees.     Tho  weren  the  cruel  clariouns 

^5  ful  hust  and  ful  stille,  ne  blood  y-shad 
by  egre  hate  ne  hadde  nat  deyed  yit 
armures.  For  wher-to  or  which  wood- 
nesse  of  enemys  wolde  first  moeven  armes, 
whan  they  seyen  cruel  woundes,  ne  none 


medes   be   of  blood   y-shad?         I  wolde  30 
that  ouro  tymes  sholde  torne    ayein   to 
tho  olde  maneres  !     But  the  anguissous 
love  of  havinge  brenneth  in   folk  more 
cruely  than  the  fyr  of  the  mountaigiie 
Ethna,    that   ay  brenneth.      Alias  !    what  35 
was  he  that  first  dalf  up  the  gobetes  or 
the  weightes  of  gold  covered  under  erthe, 
and  the  precious  stones  that  wolden  han 
ben   hid?      He   dalf  up   precious  perils. 
Tliat  is  to  seyn,  that  he  that  hem  first  ?fp  40 
dalf,  he  dalf  up  a  precious  jyeril;  for-icliy 
for  the  preciousnesse  of  swiche  thinye,  hath 
many  man  ben  in  peril. 

PuosB  VI.  Quid  autem  de  dignitatibiis. 

But  what  shal  I  seye  of  dignitees  and 
of  powers,  the  whiche  ye  men,  that 
neither  knowen  verray  dignitee  ne  verray 
power,  areysen  hem  as  heye  as  the 
hevene  ?  The  whiche  dignitees  and  5 
powers,  yif  they  comen  to  anj'  wikked 
man,  they  don  as  grete  damages  and 
destrucoiouns  as  doth  the  flaumbe  of  the 
mountaigne  Ethna,  whan  the  flaumbe 
walweth  ui)  ;  ne  no  deluge  ne  doth  so  10 
criiel  harmes.  Certes,  thee  remembreth 
wel,  as  I  trowe,  that  thilke  dignitee  that 
men  clepen  the  imperie  of  consulers,  tho 
whiche  that  whylom  was  biginninge  of 
fredom,  youre  eldres  coveiteden  to  han  15 
don  away  that  dignitee,  for  the  pryde  of 
the  consulers.  And  right  for  the  same 
pryde  your  eldres,  biforn  that  tyme, 
hadden  don  awey,  out  of  the  citee  of 
Eome,  the  kinges  name ;  that  is  to  seyn,  20 
they  nolde  han  no  lenrjer  no  kiny.  But  now, 
yif  so  be  that  dignitees  and  powers  ho 
yeven  to  goode  men,  the  whiche  thing 
is  ful  selde,  what  agreable  thing  is  ther 
in  tho  dignitees  or  powers  but  only  the  ^^5 
goodnesse  of  folkes  that  usen  hem  ?  And 
therfor  it  is  thus,  that  honour  ne  comth 
nat  to  vertu  for  cause  of  dignitee,  but 
ayeinward  honour  comth  to  dignitee  for 
cause  of  vertu.  But  whicho  is  thilke  30 
youre  dereworthe  power,  that  is  so  cleer 
and  so  requerable?  O  ye  erthelicho 
bestea,  considere  ye  nat  over  which 
thinge  that  it  semeth  that  ye  han  power  ? 


[r;o 


(goH^iue.     (goQ&  II:    (|)ro0e  VI. 


35  Now  yif  tlion  saye  a  mous  amonges  other 
mys,  that  chalaunged  to  him-self-ward 
right  and  power  over  alle  other  mys, 
how  greet  scorn  woldest  thou  han  of  it  ! 
Glosa.   So  fareth  it  bij  men  ;  the  body  hath 

4<>  power  over  the  body.  For  yif  thou  loke 
wel  up-on  the  body  of  a  wight,  what 
thing  shalt  thou  finde  more  freele  than  is 
mankinde  ;  the  whiche  men  wel  ofte  ben 
slayn  with  bytinge  of  smale  flyes,  or  elles 

45  witli  the  entringe  of  crepinge  wormes 
in-to  the  privetees  of  mannes  body  ?  But 
wher  shal  man  finden  any  man  that  may 
exercen  or  haunten  any  right  up-on 
another  man,  but  only  up-on  his  body, 

50  or  elles  up-on  thinges  that  ben  lowere 
than  the  body,  the  whiche  I  clepe  for- 
tunous  possessiouns  ?  Mayst  thou  ever 
have  any  comaundement  over  a  free 
corage  ?    Mayst  thou  remuen  fro  the  estat 

55  of  his  propre  reste  a  thought  that  is 
clyvinge  to-gidere  in  him-self  by  stede- 
fast  resoun  ?  As  why  lorn  a  tyraunt 
■wrende  to  confounds  a  free  man  of  corage, 
and  wende  to  constrejTie  him  by  torment, 

60  to  maken  him  discoveren  and  acusen  folk 
that  wisten  of  a  coniuracioun,  which  I 
clepe  a  confederacies  that  was  cast  ayeins 
this  tyraunt ;  but  this  free  man  boot  of 
his  owne  tonge  and  caste  it  in  the  visage 

65  of  thilke  wode  tyraunt;  so  that  the  tor- 
ments that  this  tyraiint  wende  to  han 
maked  matere  of  crueltee,  this  wj'se  man 
maked  it  matere  of  vertu. 

But  what  thing  is  it  that  a  man  may 

70  don  to  another  man,  that  he  ne  may 
recej^ven  the  same  thing  of  othre  folk 
in  him-self :  or  thus,  tchat  may  a  man  don 
to  folk,  that  folk  ne  may  don  him  the  same? 
I  have  herd  told  of  Busirides,  that  was 

75  wont  to  sleen  his  gestes  that  herberweden 
in  his  hous  ;  and  he  was  sleyn  him-self 
of  Ercvdes  that  was  his  gest.  Kegulus 
hadde  taken  in  bataile  many  men  of 
Affrike  and  cast  hem  in-to  feteres  ;  but 

80  sone  after  he  moste  yeve  his  handes  to 
ben  boundewith  the  cheynes  of  hem  that 
he  hadde  whylom  overcomen.  Wen  est 
thou  thanne  that  he  be  mighty,  that 
hath  no  power  to  don  a  thing,  that  othre 

85  ne  may  don  in  liim  that  he  doth  in  othre  ? 


And  yit  more-over,  yif  it  so  were  that 
thise  dignitees  or  poweres  hadden  any 
propre  or  natural  goodnesse  in  hem-self, 
never  nolden  they  comen  to  shrewes. 
Por  contrarious  thinges  ne  ben  nat  wont  90 
to  ben  y-felawshiped  to-gidere.  Kature 
refviseth  that  contrarious  thinges  ben 
y-joigned.  And  so,  as  I  am  in  certein 
that  right  wikked  folk  han  dignitees  ofte 
tyme,  than  sheweth  it  wel  that  dignitees  95 
and  powers  ne  ben  nat  goode  of  hir  owne 
kinde  ;  sin  that  they  sufFren  hem-self  to 
eleven  or  joinen  hem  to  shrewes.  And 
certes,  the  same  thing  may  I  most 
digneliche  jugen  and  seyn  of  alle  the  100 
yiftes  of  fortune  that  most  plentevously 
comen  to  shrewes  ;  of  the  whiche  yiftes, 
I  trowe  that  it  oughte  ben  considered, 
that  no  man  douteth  that  he  nis  strong 
in  whom  he  seeth  strengthe ;  and  in  105 
whom  that  swiftnesse  is,  sooth  it  is  that 
he  is  swift.  Also  musike  maketh  mu- 
siciens,  and  phisike  maketh  phisiciens, 
and  rethorike  rethoriens.  For-why  the 
nature  of  every  thing  maketh  his  pro-  110 
pretee,  ne  it  is  nat  entremedled  with  the 
effects  of  the  contrarious  thinges  ;  and, 
as  of  wil,  it  chaseth  out  thinges  that  ben 
to  it  contrarie.  But  certes,  richesse  may 
not  restreyne  avarice  unstaunched  ;  ne  115 
power  ne  maketh  nat  a  man  mighty 
over  him-self,  whiche  that  vicious  lustes 
holden  destreyned  with  cheynes  that  ne 
mowen  nat  be  unbounden.  And  digni- 
tees that  ben  yeven  to  shrewede  folk  nat  120 
only  ne  maketh  hem  nat  digne,  but  it 
sheweth  rather  al  openly  that  they  ben 
unworthy  and  undigne.  And  why  is  it 
thus  ?  Certes,  for  ye  han  joye  to  clepen 
thinges  with  false  names  that  boren  hem  125 
alle  in  the  contrarie  ;  the  whiche  names 
ben  ful  ofte  reproeved  by  the  effecte  of 
the  same  thinges ;  so  that  thise  ilke 
richesses  ne  oughten  nat  by  right  to  ben 
cleped  richesses ;  ne  swich  power  ne  130 
oughte  nat  ben  cleped  power  ;  ne  swich 
dignitee  ne  oughte  nat  ben  cleped  dig- 
nitee.  And  at  the  laste,  I  may  con- 
clude the  same  thing  of  alle  the  yiftes 
of  Fortune,  in  which  ther  nis  nothing  135 
to  ben  desired,  ne  that  hath  iu  him-self 


(goet6tu0.    (^ooft  II :  (ptoet  vii. 


151 


natnrel  bountee,  as  it  is  ful  wel  y-sene. 
For  neither  they  ne  joignen  hem  nat 
alwey  to  goode  men,  ne  maken  hem 
140  alwey  goode  to  whom  that  they  ben 
y-joigned. 

Metre  VI.     Nouimus  quantas  dederit 

ruinas. 

We  han  wel  knowen  how  many  grete 

harmes  and  destrucciouns  weren  don  by 

the   emperor  Nero.     He   leet  brenne   the 

citee    of    Rome,    and    made    sleen     the 

5  senatoures.  And  he,  cruel,  wliylom  slew 
his  brother;  and  he  was  maked  moist 
with  the  blood  of  his  moder ;  that  is  to 
seyn,  he  leet  sleen  and  slitten  the  body  of 
his  moder,  to  seen  wher  he  teas  conceived  ; 

10  and  he  loked  on  every  halve  up-on  her 
colde  dede  body,  ne  no  tere  ne  wette  his 
face,  but  he  was  so  hard-herted  that  he 
mighte  ben  domes-man  or  juge  of  hir 
dede  beautee.     And  natheles,  yit  govern- 

15  ede  this  Nero  by  ceptre  alio  the  poeples 
that  Phebus  the  Sonne  may  seen,  com- 
inge  from  his  outereste  arysinge  til  he 
hyde  his  hemes  under  the  wawes  ;  that 
is  to  seyn,  he  governed  alle  the  poeples  by 

20  ceptre  imperial  that  the  sonne  goth  abotite, 
from  est  to  west.  And  eek  this  Nei-o 
governed  by  ceptre  alle  the  poeples  that 
ben  under  the  colde  sterres  that  highten 
"  septem  triones  " ;  this  is  to  seyn,  he  gover- 

25  nede  alle  the  poeples  that  ben  under  the 
party  of  the  north.  And  eek  Nero  governed 
alle  the  poeples  that  the  violent  wind 
Nothus  scorkleth,  and  baketh  the  bren- 
ning  sandes  by  his  drye  hete  ;  that  is  to 

30  seyn,  alle  the  poeples  in  the  south.  But  yit 
ne  mighte  nat  al  his  hye  power  tome  the 
woodnesse  of  this  wikked  Nero.  Alias  ! 
it  is  a  grevous  fortune,  as  ofte  as  wikked 
swerd  is  joigned  to  cruel  venim  ;  that  is 
35  to  seyn,  venimous  crueltee  to  lordshippe. ' 

Pkosb  vii.     Turn  ego,  sets,  inquam. 

Thanne  seyde  I  thus  :  '  Thou  wost  wel 

thy-self    that    the    coveitise    of    mortal 

thinges  ne  hadde  never  lordshipe  of  me  ; 

but  I  have  wel  desired  matere  of  thinges 

5  to   done,   as  who  seith,   I  desire    to   han 


matere  of  govcrnaunce  over  comunalitees, 
for  vertu,  stille,  ne  sholde  nat  elden  ;' 
that  is  to  seyn,  that  [him]  leste  that,  or  he 
wex  olde,  his  vertu,  that  lay  now  ful  stille, 
ne  should  natperisshe  unexercised  in  govern-  10 
aunce  of  comune  ;  for  which  men  mighten 
ax)eken  or  wryten  of  his  goode  governe- 
ment. 

Philosophye.       Tor    sothe,'    quod   she, 
'and  that  is  a  thing  that  may  drawen  15 
to    governaunce    swiche    hertes   as    ben 
worthy   and   noble   of  hir    nature  ;    but 
natheles,   it  may  nat  drawen  or   toUen 
swiche   hertes  as  ben  y-brought  to  the 
fxxlle  perfeccioun  of  vertu,  that  is  to  seyn,  20 
coveitise  of  glorie  and  renotin  to  han  wel 
administred  the  comune  thinges  or  don 
gode  desertes  to  profit   of  the   comune. 
For  see  now  and  considere,  how  litel  and 
how  voide  of  aUe  prys  is  thilke  glorie.  25 
Certein  thing  is,  as  thou  hast  lerned  by 
the  demonstracioun  of  astronomye,  that 
al  the   environinge  of  the  erthe  aboute 
ne  halt  nat  but  the  resoun  of  a  prikke 
at  regard  of  the  greetnesse  of  hevene  ;  30 
that  is  to  seyn,  that  yif  ther  were  maked 
comparisoun  of  the  erthe  to  the  greet- 
nesse of  hevene,  men  wolden  jugen  in  al, 
that  the  erthe  ne  helde  no  space.    Of  the 
whiche  litel  regioun  of  this  worlde,  the  35 
fertile  partye  is  enhabited  with  livingo 
bestes  that  we  knowen,  as  thou  thyself 
hast  y-lerned  by  Tholomee  that  proveth 
it.     And  yif  thou  haddest  with-drawen 
and   abated   in   thy  thought   fro   thilke  40 
ferthe  partye  as  moche  space  as  the  see 
and  the  niareys  contenen  and  over-goon, 
and   as   moche  space   as  the  regioun  of 
droughte  over-streccheth,  that  is  to  seyn, 
sandes  and  desertes,  wel  unnethe  sholde  45 
ther  dwellen  a  right  streit  place  to  the 
habitacioun   of  men.      And   ye   thanne, 
that  ben  environed  and  closed  with-in 
the  leste  prikke  of  thilke  prikke,  thinken 
ye  to  manifesten  your  renoun  and  don  50 
youre   name   to   ben   born   forth  ?      But 
your   glorie,    that   is   so    narwe   and    so 
streite  y-throngen  in-to  so  litel  boundes, 
how  mochel  coveiteth  it  in  largesse  and 
in    greet   doinge  ?     And   also   sette   this  55 
there-to  :  that  many  a  nacioun,  dyverse 


ig: 


^od^iw.    (^ooft  II:    (proee  vii. 


of  tonge  and  of  maneres  and  eek  of 
resoun  of  hir  livinge,  ben  enhabited  in 
the  clos  of  thilke  litel  habitacle  ;  to  the 

>  wliiche  naciouns,  what  for  difficnltee  of 
weyes  and  what  for  dy^'orsitee  of  Ian- 
gages,  and  what  for  defaiite  of  untisage 
and  entrecomuninge  of  marchanndise, 
nat  only  the  names  of  singiiler  men  ne 

5  may  nat  strecohen,  but  eek  the  fame  of 
citees  ue  may  nat  strecchen.  At  the 
laste,  certes,  in  the  tyme  of  Marcus 
Tullius,  as  him-self  writ  in  his  book,  that 
the  renoun  of  the  comune  of  Rome  no 

>  liadde  nat  yit  passed  ne  cloumben  over 
tlie  mountaigno  that  liighto  Caucasus  ; 
jind  yit  was,  thilke  tyme,  Eome  wel 
waxen  and  greetly  redouted  of  the  Parthes 
and  eek  of  other  folk  euhabitinge  aboute. 

;  Seestow  nat  thanne  how  streit  and  how 
compressed  is  thilke  glorie  that  ye  trav- 
ailen  abonto  to  shewe  and  to  multiplye  ? 
May  thanne  the  glorie  of  a  singuler 
Romaine  strecchen  thider  as  the  fame 

>  of  the  name  of  Rome  may  nat  climben 
ne  passen?  And  eek,  seestow  nat  that 
the  maneres  of  dyverse  folk  and  eek  hir 
lawes  ben  discordaunt  among  hem-self; 
so  that  thilke  thing  that  som  men  jugen 

;  worthy  of  prcysinge,  other  folk  jugen 
that  it  is  worthy  of  torment  ?  And  ther- 
of  comth  it  that,  though  a  man  delyte 
him  in  preysinge  of  his  renoun,  he  may 
nat  in  no  wyse  bringen  forth  ne  spreden 

I  his  name  to  many  maner  poeples.  There- 
for every  man  oughte  to  ben  apayed  of 
his  glorie  that  is  publisshed  among  his 
owne  neighbours  ;  and  thilke  noble  re- 
noun  shal    ben    restreyned   within    the 

;  boundes  of  o  manere  folke.  But  how 
many  a  man,  that  was  ful  noble  in  his 
tyme,  hath  the  wrecched  and  nedy 
foi-yetinge  of  wryteres  put  out  of  minde 
and  don  awey  !     Al  be  it  so  that,  certes, 

.  thilke  wrj-tinges  profiten  litel ;  thewhiche 
wrytinges  long  and  derk  elde  doth  awey, 
bothe  hem  and  eek  hir  autours.  But  ye 
men  semen  to  geten  yow  a  perdurabletee, 
whan  ye  thenken  that,  in  tyme  to- 
cominge,  your  fame  shal  lasten.  But 
natheles,  yif  thou  wolt  maken  compari- 
soun  to  the  ondeles  spaces  of  eternitee, 


what  thing  hast  thoii  by  whiche  thou 
mayst  rejoysen  thee  of  long  lastinge  of 
thy  name?  For  yif  ther  were  maked  ; 
comparisoun  of  the  abydinge  of  a  moment 
to  ton  thousand  winter,  for  as  mochel  as 
bothe  the  spaces  ben  ended,  yit  hath  the 
moment  som  porcioun  of  it,  al-though  it 
litel  be.  But  natheles,  thilke  selve  noum- 
bre  of  yeres,  and  eek  as  many  yeres  as 
ther-to  may  bo  multiiilyed,  ne  may  nat, 
certes,  ben  comparisoned  to  the  perdura- 
bletee that  is  endeles  ;  for  of  thinges  that 
han  eude  may  be  maked  comparisoun, 
but  of  thinges  that  ben  with-outen  ende, 
to  thinges  that  han  ende,  may  be  maked 
no  comparisoun.  And  forthy  is  it  that, 
al-though  renoun,  of  as  long  tyme  as  ever 
thee  list  to  thinken,  were  thought  to  the 
regard  of  eternitee,  that  is  unstaunchablo 
and  infinit,  it  ne  sholde  nat  only  semen 
litel,  but  ijleynliche  right  naught.  But 
ye  men,  certes,  ne  conne  don  nothing 
a-right,  but-yif  it  be  for  the  audience 
.of  poeplo  and  for  ydel  rumours ;  and 
ye  forsaken  the  greto  worthinesse  of 
conscience  and  of  vertu,  and  ye  seken 
your  guerdouns  of  the  smale  wordes  of 
straungo  folk.  Have  now  heer  and 
understonde,  in  the  lightnesse  of  swich 
pryde  and  veiue  glorie,  how  a  man 
scornede  festivaly  and  merUy  swich  vani- 
tee.  Wliylom  ther  was  a  man  that 
hadde  assayed  with  stryvinge  wordes  i 
another  man,  the  whiche,  nat  for  visage 
of  verray  vertu  but  for  proud  veine 
glorie,  had  taken  up-on  him  falsly  the 
name  of  a  philosophre.  This  rather  man 
that  I  spak  of  thonghte  ho  wolde  assaye,  i 
wher  he,  thilke,  were  a  phUosophre  or 
no  ;  that  is  to  seyn,  yif  that  he  wolde 
han  suffred  lightly  in  pacience  the 
wronges  that  weren  don  un-to  him.  This 
feynede  philosophre  took  pacience  a  litel  i 
whyle,  and,  whan  he  hadde  received 
wordes  of  outrage,  he,  as  in  stryvinge 
ayein  and  rejoysinge  of  him-self,  seyde 
at  the  laste  right  thus:  " understondest 
thou  nat  that  I  am  a  phQosophre  ?  "  That  i 
other  man  answerde  ayein  ful  bj^ingly, 
and  seyde  :  "  I  hadde  wel  understonden 
it,  yif  thou   haddest   holden   thy  tonge 


Joef6tU0.      (^OOft  II:     ^VCU  VIII. 


153 


stille."      Bvit  what   is   it  to  tliise  noble 

160  worthy  men  (foi-,  certes,  of  swiche  folke 
speke  I)  that  seken  gloria  with  vertu? 
Wliat  is  it  ? '  quod  she  ;  '  what  atteyneth 
fame  to  swiche  folk,  whan  the  body  is 
resolved  by  the  deeth  at  the  laste  ?     For 

165  j'if  it  so  be  that  men  dyen  in  al,  that 
is  to  scyn,  body  and  soicle,  the  whiche 
thing  onr  resoun  defendeth  lis  to  hileven, 
tlianne  is  ther  no  glorie  in  no  wyse.  For 
what  sholde  thilke  glorie  hen,   whan  he, 

170  of  whom  thilke  glorie  is  seyd  to  be,  nis 
right  naught  in  no  wyse  ?  And  yif  the 
sowle,  whiche  that  hath  in  it-self  science 
of  goode  werkes,  vinbounden  fro  the 
prison  of  the  erthe,  wendeth  frely  to  the 
175  hevene,  despyseth  it  nat  thanne  alle 
erthely  occupacioun ;  and,  being  in 
hevene,  rejoyseth  that  it  is  exempt  fro 
alle  erthely  thinges?  As  icho  seith,  thanne 
rekketh  the  sotole  of  no  glorie  of  renottn 

180  of  this  world. 

Metre  VII.    Qiiicunque  solam  mente 
in-aecipiti  petit. 

Who-so  that,  with  overthrowinge 
thought,  only  seketh  glorie  of  fame, 
and  weneth  that  it  be  sovereyn  good  : 
lat  him  loken  up-on  the  brode  shewinge 
5  contrees  of  hevene,  and  up-on  the  streite 
site  of  this  erthe ;  and  he  shal  ben 
ashamed  of  the  encrees  of  his  name,  that 
may  nat  fulfiUe  the  litel  compas  of  the 
erthe.     O  !  what  coveiten  provide  folk  to 

10  liften  up  hir  nekkes  in  ydel  in  the  dedly 
yok  of  this  worlde  ?  For  al-though  that 
renoun  y-sprad,  passinge  to  feme  poeples, 
goth  by  dyverse  tonges  ;  and  al-though 
that   grate    hoiises   or  kinredes   shynen 

15  with  clere  titles  of  honours ;  yit,  natheles, 
deeth  despyseth  alle  heye  glorie  of  fame  : 
and  deeth  wrappeth  to-gidere  the  lieye 
hevedes  and  the  lowe,  and  maketh  egal 
and  evene   the   heyeste  to   the   loweste. 

2"  Wher  wonen  now  the  bones  of  trewe 
Fabricius?  What  is  now  Briitus,  or 
stierne  Catoun  ?  The  thinne  fame,  yit 
lastinge,  of  hir  ydel  names,  is  marked 
with  a  fawe  lattras  ;  but  al-though  that 

25  we  hail  knowen  the  faire  wordes  of  the 


fames  of  hem,  it  is  nat  yeven  to  knowe 
hem  that  ben  dede  and  consumpte.  Lig- 
geth  thanne  stille,  al  outrely  unknow- 
able ;  ne  fame  ne  maketh  yow  nat  knowe. 
And  yif  ye  wene  to  liven  the  longer  for  30 
winde  of  your  mortal  name,  whan  o 
ciTiel  day  shal  ravisshe  yow,  thanne  is 
the  seconde  deeth  dwellinge  un-to  yow.' 
Glose.  Tlie  first  deeth  he  clepeth  heer  the 
depaHinge  of  the  body  and  the  smcle  ;  and  ,^5 
the  seconde  deeth  he  clepeth,  as  hcer,  the 
stintinge  of  the  renoun  of  fame. 

Prose  VIII.     Set  ne  me  inexorabile  contra 
fortunam. 

'  But  for  as  moohel  as  thou  shalt  nat 
wenen,'  quod  she,  '  that  I  here  untretabln 
bataile  ayeins  fortune,  yit  som-tyme  it 
bifalleth  that  she,  deceyvable,  deserveth 
to  han  right  good  thank  of  men  ;  and  5 
that  is,  whan  she  hir-self  opiieth,  and 
whan  she  descovereth  hir  frount,  and 
sheweth  hir  maneres.  Peraventure  yit 
understondest  thou  nat  that  I  shal  seye. 
It  is  a  wonder  that  I  desire  to  telle,  and  10 
forthy  nnnethe  may  I  unpleyten  my 
sentence  with  wordes  ;  for  I  deme  that 
contrarious  Fortune  profiteth  more  to 
men  than  Fortune  debonaire.  For  al- 
wey,  whan  Fortune  semeth  debonaire,  15 
than  she  lyeth  falsly  in  bihetinge  the 
hope  of  welefulnessa  ;  but  forsothe  con- 
trarious Fortune  is  alwey  soothfast,  whan 
she  sheweth  hir-self  unstable  thorugli 
hir  chaunginge.  The  amiable  Fortune  20 
deceyveth  folk ;  the  contrarie  Fortune 
techeth.  The  amiable  Fortune  bindeth 
with  the  beautee  of  false  goodes  the 
hertes  of  folk  that  usen  hem  ;  the  con- 
trarie Fortune  unbindeth  hem  by  the  .25 
knowinge  of  freele  welefulnesse.  The 
amiable  Fortune  inayst  thou  seen  alwey 
f  windy  and  flowinge,  and  ever  mis- 
knowinge  of  hir-self;  the  contrarie  For- 
tune is  atempre  and  restreyned,  and  wys  ^o 
thorugh  exercise  of  hir  adversitee.  At 
the  laste,  amiable  Fortune  with  hir 
flateringes  draweth  miswandringe  men 
fro  the  sovereyne  good  ;  the  contrarious 
Fortune  ledeth  ofte  folk  ayein  to  sooth-  3,1 


154 


(§0dUu6.     (^OOfi  II:    (nUtvt  VIII. 


fast  goodes,  and  lialetli  hem  ayein  as 
with  an  hooke.  Wenest  thon  thanne 
that  thon  oughtest  to  leten  this  a  litel 
tiling,    that    this    aspre    and    horrible 

4"  Fortune  hath  discovered  to  thee  the 
thoughtes  of  thy  trewe  freendes?  For- 
why  this  ilke  Fortune  hath  departed 
and  uncovered  to  thee  bothe  the  certein 
visages  and  eek  the  doutous  visages  of 

45  thy  felawes.  Whan  she  departed  awey 
fro  thee,  she  took  awey  hir  freendes,  and 
lafte  thee  thyne  freendes.  Now  whan 
thou  were  riehe  and  weleful,  as  thee 
semede,  with  how  mochel  woldest  thou 

5"  han  bought  the  fuUe  knowinge  of  this, 
tliat  is  to  seyn,  the  Intnvinge  of  thy  verray 
freendes"}  Now  plejTie  thee  nat  thanne 
of  richesse  y-lorn,  sin  thou  hast  founden 
the   moste  precious   kinde   of  richesses, 

.';5  that  is  to  seyn,  thy  verray  freendes. 

Metre  VIII.    Quod  mundus  stabili 
Jide. 

That  the  world  with  stable  feith  varieth 
acordable  chaunginges ;  that  the  con- 
trarious    qualitec    of    elements    holden 


among  hem-self  aliauncoperdiirable ;  that 
Phebus  the  sonne  with  his  goldene  chariet  5 
bringeth  forth  the  rosene  day  ;  that  the 
mono  hath  commaundement  over  the 
nightes,  which  nightes  Hesperus  the  eve- 
sterre  hath  brought  ;  that  the  see,  greedy 
to  flowen,  constreyneth  with  a  certein  10 
ende  hise  flodes,  so  that  it  is  nat  leveful 
to  strecche  hise  brode  termes  or  boundes 
up-on  the  erthes,  that  is  to  seyn,  to  covere 
al  Hie  erthe  : — al  this  acordaunce  of 
thinges  is  bounden  with  Love,  that  15 
governeth  erthe  and  see,  and  hath  also 
commaundements  to  the  hevenes.  And 
yif  this  Love  slakede  the  brydeles,  alle 
thinges  that  now  loven  hem  to-gederes 
woldeji  maken  a  bataile  continuely,  and  20 
strj-ven  to  fordoon  the  fasoun  of  this 
worlde,  the  whiche  they  now  leden  in 
acordable  feith  by  faire  moevinges.  This 
Love  halt  to-gideres  poeples  joigned  with 
an  holy  bond,  and  knittcth  sacrement  25 
of  mariages  of  chaste  loves  ;  and  Love 
endj-teth  lawes  to  trewe  felawes.  O ! 
weleful  were  mankinde,  yif  thilke  Love 
that  governeth  hevene  governed  youre 
corages ! '  30 


Explicit  Liber  secundus. 


BOOK    III. 


Prose  I.     lam  cantum  ilia  finierat. 

By  this  she  hadde  ended  hir  song, 
whan  the  sweetnesse  of  hir  ditee  hadde 
thorugh-perced  me  that  was  desirous  of 
herkninge,  and  I  astoned  hadde  yit 
5  streighte  myn  eres,  that  is  to  seyn,  to 
herkne  the  bet  what  she  uxilde  seye  ;  so 
that  a  litel  here-after  I  seyde  thus  :  '  O 
thou  that  art  sovereyn  comfort  of  an- 
guissous  corages,  so  thou  hast  remounted 

■  <J  and  norisshed  me  with  the  weighte  of 
thy  sentences  and  with  delyt  of  thy 
smgiuge  ;  so  that  I  trowe  nat  now  that 
I  be  unparigal  to  the  strokes  of  Fortune  : 
as  tcho  seyth,  I  dar  icel  now  suffren  al  the 

15  assautcs  of  Fortune,  and  tvel  dcfende  me 


fro  hir.  And  tho  remedies  whiche  that 
thoti  seydest  lier-bLforn  weren  right 
sharpe,  nat  only  that  I  am  nat  a-grisen 
of  hem  now,  but  I,  desirous  of  heringe, 
axe  gretely  to  heren  the  remedies.'  Than  20 
seyde  she  thus  :  '  That  felede  I  ful  wel,' 
quod  she,  '  whan  that  thou,  ententif  and 
stille,  ravisshedest  my  wordes ;  and  I 
abood  til  that  thou  haddest  swich  habite 
of  thy  thought  as  thou  hast  now  ;  or  elles  25 
til  that  I  niy-self  hadde  maked  to  thee 
the  same  habit,  which  that  is  a  more 
verray  thing.  And  certes,  the  remenaunt 
of  thinges  that  ben  yit  to  seye  ben  swiche, 
that  first  whan  men  fasten  hem  they  ben  30 
bytinge,  but  whan  they  ben  receyved 
withiune  a  wight,  than  ben  they  swete. 


(goef6tu0.    {^ooft  III:   (proee  n. 


But   for   thou    seyst    that    thou   art    so 
desirous  to  herkne  hem,  with  how  gret 

35  brenninge  woldest  thou  glowen,  yif  thou 
wistest  whider  I  wol  leden  thee ! ' 
'  Whider  is  that  ? '  quod  I. 

'  To  thilke  verray  welefulnesse,'  qiiod 
she,    '  of  whiche    thyn   herte    dremeth  ; 

40  but  for  as  moche  as  thy  sighte  is  ocujiied 
and  distorbed  by  imaginacioun  ofcrthely 
thinyes,  thou  niayst  nat  yit  seen  thilke 
selve  welefulnesse.'  '  Do,'  quod  I,  '  and 
sliewe  me  what  is  thilke  verray  weleful- 

45  nesse,  I  preye  thee,  with-oute  taryinge.' 

'  That   wole   I   gladly  don,'  quod  she, 

'  for  the  cause  of  thee  ;  but  I  wol  first 

marken   thee   by  wordes  and  I  wol  en- 

forcen  me  to  enformon  thee  thilke  false 

50  cause  of  blisfulnesse  that  thou  more  know- 
est ;  so  that,  whan  thou  hast  fwWy  bi- 
liolden  thilke  false  goodes,  and  torned 
thyn  eyen  to  that  other  syde,  thou  mows 
kuowe  the  cleernesse  of  verray  blisful- 

55  nesse. 

Metke  I.     Qui  severe  imjemium  uolet 
ay  rum. 

Who-so  wole  sowe  a  feeld  plentivous, 
lat  him  first  delivere  it  fro  thornes,  and 
kerve  asunder  with  his  hook  the  busshes 
and  the  fern,  so  that  the  corn  may  oomen 
5  hevy  of  eres  and  of  greynes.  Hony  is 
the  more  swete,  yif  movithes  ban  first 
tasted  savoures  that  ben  wikkid.  The 
sterres  shynen  more  agreably  whan  the 
wind  Nothus  leteth  his  ploungy  blastes  ; 

u)  and  after  that  Lucifer  the  day-sterre 
hath  chased  awey  the  derke  night,  the 
day  the  fairere  ledeth  the  rosene  hors 
of  the  Sonne.  And  right  so  thou,  bi- 
holdinge  first  the  false  goodes,  bigin  to 

15  with-drawen  thy  nekke  fro  the  yok  of 
erthely  affecciouns ;  and  after-ward  the 
verray  goodes  shoUen  entren  iu-to  thy 
corage.' 

Prose  II.     Tunc  defixo  paidlulum  uisii. 

Tho  fastnede  she  a  litel  the  sighte  of 
hir  eyen,  and  with-drow  hir  right  as  it 
were  in-to  the  streitc  sete  of  hir  thought  ; 


and  bigan  to  speke  right  thus  :  '  AUe  the 
cures,'  quod  she,  '  of  mortal  folk,  whiche  5 
that  travaylen  hem  in  many  maner 
studies,  goon  certes  by  diverse  weyes, 
but  natheles  they  enforcen  hem  alle  to 
comen  only  to  oon  ende  of  blisfulnesse. 
And  blisfulnesse  is  swiche  a  good,  that  10 
who-so  that  hath  geten  it,  he  ne  may, 
over  that,  no-thing  more  desyre.  And 
this  thing  is  forsothe  the  sovereyn  good 
that  conteyneth  in  him-solf  alle  maner 
goodes ;  to  the  whiche  good  yif  ther  15 
failede  any  thing,  it  mighte  nat  ben 
cleped  sovereyn  good  :  for  thanne  were 
ther  soni  good,  out  of  this  ilko  sovereyn 
good,  that  mighte  ben  desired.  Now  is 
it  cleer  and  certein  thanne,  that  blisful-  20 
nesse  is  a  parfit  estat  by  the  congre- 
gacioun  of  alle  goodes ;  the  whiche 
blisfulnesse,  as  I  have  seyd,  alle  mortal 
folk  enforcen  hem  to  geten  by  diverse 
weyes.  Tor-why  the  coveitise  of  verraj-  25 
good  is  naturelly  y-plaunted  in  the  hertes 
of  men  ;  but  the  miswandringe  errour 
mis-ledeth  hem  in-to  false  goodes.  Of 
the  whiche  men,  som  of  hem  wenen  that 
sovereyn  good  be  to  liven  with-oute  node  3" 
of  any  thing,  and  travaylen  hem  to  bo 
haboundaimt  of  richesses.  And  som 
other  men  demen  that  soverejoi  good 
be,  for  to  ben  right  digne  of  reverence  ; 
and  enforcen  hern  to  ben  reverenced  ?5 
among  hir  neighbours  by  the  honours 
that  they  han  y-geten.  And  som  folk 
ther  ben  that  holden,  that  right  heigh 
power  be  sovereyn  good,  and  enforcen 
hem  for  to  regnen,  or  elles  to  joignen  40 
hem  to  hem  that  regnen.  And  it  semeth 
to  some  other  folk,  that  noblesse  of  re- 
noun  be  the  sovereyn  good  ;  and  hasten 
hem  to  geten  glorious  name  by  the  arts 
of  werro  and  of  pees.  And  many  folk  45 
mesuren  and  gessen  that  sovereyn  good 
be  joye  and  gladnesse,  and  wenen  that 
it  bo  right  blisful  thing  to  ploiingen  hem 
in  voluptuous  delyt.  And  ther  ben  folk 
that  entrechaungen  the  causes  and  the  S'' 
endes  of  thise  forseyde  goodes,  as  they 
that  desiren  richesses  to  han  power  and 
delytes  ;  or  elles  they  desiren  jjower  for 
to  han  moneye,  or  for  cause  of  renoun. 


156 


(^oef0tu0.    (gooft  III:  QUefre  ii. 


55  In  thise  thinges,  and  in  swiclie  otlire 
tliinges,  is  torned  alle  the  entencioun  of 
desiringes  and  of  werkes  of  men ;  as 
thus  :  noblesse  and  favour  of  people, 
whiclie  that  yeveth  to  men,  as  it  semeth 

60  hem,  a  maner  cleernesse  of  renoun  ;  and 
wyf  and  children,  that  men  desiren  for 
cause  of  delyt  and  of  merinesse.  But 
forsothe,  frendes  ne  sholden  nat  he 
rekned  a-mong  the  godes  of  fortune,  but 

65  of  vertu  ;  for  it  is  a  ful  holy  maner  thing. 
Alle  thise  othre  thinges,  forsothe,  ben 
taken  for  cause  of  power  or  elles  for 
cause  of  delyt.  Certes,  now  am  I  redy 
to  referren  the  goodes  of  the  body  to  thise 

70  forseide  thinges  aboven  ;  for  it  semeth 
that  strengthe  and  gretnesse  of  body 
yeven  iiowcr  and  worthinesse,  and  that 
beaiitee  and  swiftnesse  yeven  noblesses 
and  glorie  of  ronoun  ;  and  hele  of  body 

75  semeth  yovcn  delj't.  In  alle  thise  thinges 
it  semeth  only  that  blisfulnesse  is  desirecL 
For-why  thUke  thing  that  every  man 
desireth  most  over  alle  thinges,  he 
demeth   that   it   be  the  soverej-n   good  ; 

80  but  I  have  defj-ned  that  blisfulnesse  is 
the  sovereyn  good  ;  for  which  every  wight 
demeth,  that  thilke  estat  that  he  desireth 
over  alle  thinges,  that  it  be  blisfulnesse. 
Now  hast  thou  thanne  biforn  thyn  eyen 

85  almest  al  the  purposed  forme  of  the  wele- 
fulnesse  of  man-kinde,  that  is  to  seyn, 
riehesses,  honours,  power,  and  glorie,  and 
delj-ts.  The  whiche  delji;  only  considerede 
Epicurus,  and  juged  and  establisshed  that 

9<i  delyt  is  the  sovereyn  good  ;  for  as  moche 
as  alle  othre  thinges,  as  him  thouglite, 
bi-refte  awey  joye  and  mirthe  fram  the 
herte.  But  I  retorne  ayein  to  the  studies 
of  men,  of  wliiche  men  the  corage  alwey 

95  reherseth  and  seketh  the  sovereyn  good, 
al  be  it  so  that  it  be  with  a  derked 
memorie  ;  but  he  not  by  whiche  path, 
right  as  a  dronken  man  not  nat  by 
■whiche  path  he  may  retorne  him  to  his 
ico  ho\is.  Semeth  it  thanne  that  folk  folyen 
and  erren  that  enforcen  hem  to  have 
nede  of  nothing  ?  Certes,  ther  nis  non 
other  thing  that  may  so  wel  performe 
blisfulnesse,  as  an  estat  plentivous  of  alle 
i05  goodes,  that  ne  hath  node  of  non  other 


thing,  but  that  is  sutRsaunt  of  himself 
unto  him-self.  And  folyen  swiche  iblk 
thanne,  that  wenen  that  thilke  thing 
that  is  right  good,  that  it  be  eek  right 
worthy  of  honour  and  of  reverence  ?  1 
Certes,  nay.  For  that  thing  nis  neither 
foul  ne  worthy  to  ben  despised,  that  wel 
neigh  al  the  entencioun  of  mortal  folic 
travaylen  for  to  geten  it.  And  power, 
ouglito  nat  that  eek  to  ben  rekened  i 
amonges  goodes?  "Wliat  elles?  For  it 
is  nat  to  wene  that  thilke  thing,  that  is 
most  worthy  of  alle  thinges,  be  feble  and 
with-oute  strengthe.  And  cleernesse  of 
renoun,  oughte  that  to  ben  despised?  i. 
Certes,  ther  may  no  man  forsake,  that  al 
thing  that  is  right  excellent  and  noble, 
that  it  ne  semeth  to  ben  right  clcer  and 
renomed.  For  certes,  it  nedeth  nat  to 
seye,  that  blisfulnesse  be  [nat]  anguissous  i . 
ne  dreiy,  no  subgit  to  grevaunces  ne  to 
sorwes,  sin  that  in  right  litel  thinges 
folk  seken  to  have  and  to  nsen  that  may 
delyten  hem.  Certes,  thise  ben  the 
thinges  that  men  wolen  and  desiren  to  1; 
geten.  And  for  this  cause  desiren  they 
riehesses,  dignitees,  regnes,  glorie,  and 
delices.  For  therby  wenen  they  to  ban 
suffisannce,  honour,  power,  renoiui,  and 
gladnesse.  Than  is  it  good,  that  men  i.- 
seken  thus  by  so  many  diverse  studies. 
In  whiche  desyi-  it  may  lightly  ben 
shewed  how  gret  is  the  strengthe  of 
nature  ;  for  how  so  that  men  han  di\'erse 
sentences  and  discordinge,  algates  men  i- 
acorden  alle  in  lovinge  the  ende  of  good. 

llExr.K  II.     Qiiantas  rerum  flectat  habenas. 

It  lyketh  me  to  shewe,  by  subtU.  song, 
with  slakke  anddelitable  soun  of  strenges, 
how  that  Nature,  mighty,  enclineth  and 
flitteth  the  governements  of  thinges,  and 
by  whiche  lawes  she,  purveyable,  kepeth  5 
the  grete  world  ;  and  how  she,  bindinge, 
restrejTieth  alle  thinges  by  a  bonde  that 
may  nat  ben  unbounde.  Al  be  it  so  that 
the  lyouns  of  the  centre  of  Bene  beren 
the  faire  chaynes,  and  taken  metes  of  10 
the  handes  of  folk  that  yeven  it  hem, 
and  dreden  hir  sturdy  maystres  of  whiche 


Ill: 


hoQi.  III. 


157 


they  ben  wont  to  suffren  betinges  :  yif 
that  hir   horrible   mouthes  ben  be-bled, 

15  that  is  to  seyn,  of  bestes  devoured,  hir 
corage  of  time  passed,  that  hath  ben  ydel 
and  rested,  repeyreth  ayein ;  and  they 
roren  grevously  and  remembren  on  hir 
nature,  and  slaken  hir  nekkes  I'ram  hir 

20  chaynes  xmbotinde  ;  and  hir  mayster,  first 
to-torn  with  blody  tooth,  assayeth  the 
wode  wrathes  of  hem  ;  this  is  to  seyn, 
they  freten  hir  inayster.  And  the  jange- 
linge    brid    that    singetli    on    the   heye 

25  braunclies,  that  is  to  seyn,  in  the  wode, 
and  after  is  enclosed  in  a  streyt  cage  : 
al-thoiTgh  that  the  pleyinge  bisinesse  of 
men  yeveth  hem  honiede  drinkos  and 
large  metes  with  swete  studie,  yit  nathe- 

•io  les,  yif  thilke  brid,  skippinge  out  of  liir 
streyte  cage,  seeth  the  agreables  shadewes 
of  the  wodes,  she  defouleth  with  hir  feet 
liir  metes  y-shad,  and  seketh  moiirninge 
only  the  wode  ;  and  twitereth,  desiringe 

?,$  the  wode,  with  hir  swete  vois.  The  yerde 
of  a  tree,  that  is  haled  a-doim  by  mighty 
strcngthe,  boweth  redily  the  crop  a-doun  : 
but  yif  that  the  hand  of  him  that  it  bente 
lat  it  gon  ayein,   anon  the  crop  loketh 

10  up-right  to  hevene.  The  sonne  Pliebus, 
that  faUeth  at  even  in  the  westrene 
wawes,  retorneth  ayein  eftsones  his  carte, 
by  privee  path,  ther-as  it  is  wont  aryse. 
Alle  thinges  seken  ayein  to  hir  propre 

(■5  cours,  and  alle  thinges  rejoysen  hem  of 
hir  retorninge  ayein  to  hir  nature.  Ne 
non  ordinaunce  nis  bitaken  to  thinges, 
but  that  that  hath  joyned  the  endinge 
to  the  beginninge,  and  hath  maked  the 

50  cours  of  it-self  stable,  that  it  chaungeth 
nat  from  his  propre  kinde. 

Prose  III.   Vos  quoque,  0  terrena  animalia. 

Certes  also  ye  men,  that  ben  ertheliche 
beestes,  dremen  alwey  youre  beginninge, 
al-though  it  bo  with  a  thinne  imagina- 
cioun  ;  and  by  a  maner  thoughte,  al  be 
5  it  nat  cleerly  ne  parfitly,  ye  loken  fram 
a-fer  to  thilke  verray  fyn  of  blisfulnesse  ; 
and  ther-fore  naturel  entencioun  ledeth 
you  to  thilke  verray  good,  but  many 
maner  errours  mis-torneth  you  ther-fro. 


Consider  now  yif  that  liy  thilke  thinges,  10 
by  whiche  a  man  weneth  to  geten  him 
blisfulnesse,  yif  that  he  may  comen  to 
thilke  ende  that  he  weneth  to  come  by 
nature.  For  yif  that  moneye  or  honours, 
or  thise  other  forseyde  thinges  bringen  15 
to  men  swich  a  thing  that  no  good  ne 
faylo  hem  ne  semeth  fayle,  cortes  than 
wole  I  graunte  that  they  ben  maked 
blisful  by  thilke  thinges  that  they  han 
geten.  But  yif  so  be  that  thilke  thinges  20 
ne  mowen  nat  perfornien  that  they  bi- 
heten,  and  that  ther  be  defaute  of  manye 
goodes,  sheweth  it  nat  tlianne  cleerly 
that  fals  beautee  of  blisfulnesse  is  knowen 
and  ateint  in  thilke  thinges  ?  First  and  25 
forward  thou  thy-self,  that  haddest  ha- 
bundaunces  of  richesses  nat  long  agon, 
I  axe  yif  that,  in  the  habundaunce  of  alle 
thilke  richesses,  thou  were  never  an- 
guissous  or  sory  in  thy  corage  of  any  30 
wrong  or  grevaunce  that  bi-tidde  thee  on 
any  syde  ? '  '  Certes,'  quod  I,  '  it  no  re- 
membreth  me  nat  that  evere  I  was  so 
free  of  my  thought  that  I  ne  was  alwey 
in  anguissh  of  som-what.'  35 

'And  was  nat  that,'  quod  she,  '  for  that 
thee  lakked  som-what  that  thou  noldest 
nat  han  lakked,  or  elles  thou  haddest 
that  thou  noldest  nat  han  had  ? '  '  Eight 
so  is  it,'  quod  I.  40 

'  Thanne  desiredest  thou  the  presence 
of  that  oon  and  the  absence  of  that 
other  ? '         'I  graunte  wel,'  quod  I. 

'  Forsothe,'    quod    she,    '  than    nedeth 
ther  som-what  that  every  man  desireth  ?  '  45 
'  Ye,  ther  nedeth,'  quod  I. 

'  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  and  he  that  hath 
lakke  or  nede  of  aught  nis  nat  in  every 
wey    suffisaunt    to    himself?'  'No,' 

quod  I.  50 

'  And  thou,'  quod  she,  '  in  al  the  plentee 
of  thy  richesses  haddest  thilke  lakke  of 
suffisaunse  ? '         '  What  elles  ?'  quod  I 

'  Thanne  may  nat  richesses  maken  that 
a  man  nis  nedy,  ne  that  he  be  suffisaunt  55 
to  him-self ;  and  that  was  it  that  they 
bi-highten,  as  it  semeth.  And  eek  certes 
I  trowe,  that  this  be  gretly  to  considere, 
that  moneye  ne  hath  nat  in  his  owne 
kinde  that  it  ne  may  ben  bi-nomen  of  60 


(gott^iue.    (gooR  III;   (nUivt  iii. 


hem  tliat  han  it,  mangre  hem  ? '         '  I  bi- 
knowe  it  wel,'  qiiod  I. 

'  Why  sholdest  thou  nat  hi-knowen  it,' 
quod  she,  '  whan  every  day  the  strenger 

65  folk  bi-nemen  it  fro  the  febler,  maugre 
hem  ?  For  whennes  comen  elles  alle  thise 
foreyne  compleyntes  or  quereles  of  plet- 
inges,  but  for  that  men  axen  ayein  here 
moneye  that  hatli  ben  bi-nomen  hem  by 

70  force  or  by  g>-le,  and  alwey  maugre 
hem  ? '         '  Right  so  is  it,'  quod  I. 

'  Than,'  quod  she,  '  hath  a  man  nede 
to  seken  him  foreyne  helpe  by  ■whicho  he 
may  defende  his  moneye  ? '         '  Who  may 

75  sey  nay  ? '  quod  I. . 

'  Certes,'  quod  she  ;  '  and  him  nededo 
non  help,  yif  ho  ne  hadde  no  moneye  that 
he  mighte  lese  ?'  '  That  is  douteles,' 
quod  I. 

>>o  '  Than  is  this  thinge  tomed  in-to  the 
contrarye,'  quod  she.  '  For  richesses, 
that  men  wenen  sholde  make  suffisaunce, 
they  maken  a  man  rather  han  nede  of 
foreyne  help  !     Which  is  the  manere  or 

^5  the  gyse,'  quod  she,  '  that  richesse  may 
dryve  awey  nede  ?  Riche  folk,  may  they 
neither  han  hunger  ne  thurst  ?  Thise 
riche  men,  may  they  fele  no  cold  on  hir 
limes  on  winter?  But  thou  wolt  answeren, 

90  that  riche  men  han  y-now  wher-with  they 
may  staunchen  hir  hunger,  slaken  hir 
thurst,  and  don  a-wey  cold.  In  this  wyse 
may  nede  be  counforted  by  richesses  ; 
but  certes,  nede  ne  may  nat  al  outrely 

95  ben  don  a-wey.  For  though  this  nede, 
that  is  alwey  gapinge  and  gredy,  be  ful- 
fild  with  richesses,  and  axe  any  thing, 
yit  dwelleth  thanne  a  nede  that  mighte 
be  fulfild.  I  holde  me  stille,  and  telle 
100  nat  how  that  litel  thing  suffiseth  to 
nature  ;  but  certes  to  avarice  y-nough 
ne  sufRseth  no-thing.  For  sin  that  rich- 
esses ne  may  nat  al  don  awey  nede,  but 
richesses  maken  nede,  what  may  it  thanne 
105  be,  that  ye  wenen  that  richesses  mowen 
yeven  you  suifisaunce  ? 

Metre  III.     Quamvis  fluentc  diues  auri 

gurcjite. 
Al   were  it   so  that  a  riche  coveytons 
man  hadde  a  river  fletinge  al  of  gold,  yit 


sholde  it  never  staunchen  his  coveitisc  : 
and  though  he  hadde  his  nekke  y- 
charged  with  precious  stones  of  the  redo  5 
see,  and  though  he  do  ere  his  feldes  plen- 
tivous  with  an  hiindred  oxen,  never  ne 
shal  his  bytingo  bisinesse  for-leten  him 
wliyl  he  liveth,  ne  the  lighte  richesses  ne 
shoUe  nat  beren  him  companye  whan  he  '" 
is  deed. 

Pkose  IV.     Set  dignitates. 

But  dignitees,  to  whom  they  ben  comen, 
maken  they  him  honorable  and  reverent  ? 
Han  they  nat  so  gret  strengthe,  that  they 
may  putte  vertues  in  the  hertes  of  folk 
that  usen  the  lordshipes  of  hem  ?  Or  5 
elles  may  they  don  a-wey  the  vyoes? 
Certes,  they  ne  be  nat  wont  to  don  awey 
wikkednesse,  but  they  ben  wont  rather 
to  shewen  wikkednesse.  And  ther-of 
comth  it  that  I  have  right  grete  desdeyn,  10 
that  dignitees  ben  yeven  ofte  to  wikked 
pien ;  for  which  thing  Catullus  cleped 
a  consul  of  Home,  that  highte  Nonius, 
"postum"  or  "boch";  as  tvho  seyth,  he 
cleped  him  a  congregacioitn  of  vyces  in  his  15 
brest,  as  a  postum  is  ful  of  compcioun, 
al  were  this  Nonius  set  in  a  chayre  of 
dignitee.  Seest  thou  nat  thanne  how 
gret  vilenye  dignitees  don  to  wiltked 
men  ?  Certes,  unworthinesse  of  wikked  20 
men  sholde  be  the  lasse  y-sene,  yif  they 
nere  renomed  of  none  honours.  Certes, 
thou  thyself  ne  mightest  nat  ben  brought 
with  as  manye  perils  as  thou  mightest 
suflfren  that  thou  woldest  beren  the  25 
magistrat  with  Decorat  ;  that  is  to  seyn, 
that  for  no  peril  that  mighte  befallen  thee 
by  offence  of  the  king  Theodorike,  thou 
noldest  nat  be  felaive  in  governaunce  with 
Decorat  ;  whan  thoti  saye  that  he  hadde  .30 
wikked  corage  of  a  likerous  shrewe  and 
of  an  accuser.  Ne  I  ne  may  nat,  for 
swiche  honours,  jugen  hem  worthy  of 
reverence,  that  I  deme  and  holde  un- 
worthy to  han  thilke  same  honours.  Now  35 
yif  thou  saye  a  man  that  were  fulfild  of 
wisdom,  certes,  thou  ne  mightest  nat 
deme  that  he  were  unworthy  to  the 
honour,  or  elles  to  the  wisdom  of  which 


(goe^6tu0.    (^006  III:   (proee  v. 


159 


4„  he  is  fiilfild?'— 'No,'  quod  I.— '  Certes, 
dignitees,'  quod  she,  '  apertienen  proprely 
to  vertu  ;  and  vertu  transporteth  dignitee 
anon  to  thilke  man  to  which  she  hir-self 
is   conjoigned.      And   for  as    moche    as 

45  honours  of  poeple  ne  may  nat  maken  folk 
digne  of  honour,  it  is  wel  seyn  clearly 
that  they  ne  han  no  propre  beautee  of 
dignitee.  And  yit  men  oixghten  taken 
more  heed  in  this.     For  yif  it  so  he  that 

50  a  wikked  wight  be  so  mochel  the  foulere 
and  the  more  out-cast,  that  he  is  despysed 
of  most  folk,  so  as  dignitee  ne  may  nat 
maken  shrewes  digne  of  reverence,  the 
which  shrewes  dignitee  sheweth  to  moche 

55  folk,  thanne  maketh  dignitee  shrewes 
rather  so  moche  more  despysed  than 
preysed  ;  and  forsothe  nat  unpunisshed  : 
that  is  for  to  seyn,  that  shrewes  revcngen 
hem  ayeimvard  up-on  dignitees  ;  for  they 

60  yilden  ayein  to  dignitees  as  gret  guer- 
doun,  whan  they  bi-spotten  and  defovilen 
dignitees  with  hir  vilenye.  And  for  as 
mochel  as  thou  mowe  knowe  that  thilke 
verray  reverence  ne  may  nat  comen  by 

65  thise  shadewy  transitorie  dignitees,  un- 
dirstond  now  thus  :  yif  that  a  man  hadde 
used  and  had  many  maner  dignitees  of 
consules,  and  were  comen  peraventure 
amongo  straunge  naciouns,  sholde  thilke 

70  honour  maken  him  worshipful  and  re- 
douted  of  straunge  folk  ?  Certes,  yif 
that  honour  of  poeple  were  a  naturel 
yift  to  dignitees,  it  ne  mighte  never 
oesen  nowher  amonges  no  maner  folk  to 

75  don  his  office,  right  as  fyr  in  every  con- 
tree  ne  stinteth  nat  to  eschaiifen  and 
to  ben  hoot.  But  for  as  moche  as  for 
to  ben  holden  honourable  or  reverent 
ne   Cometh   nat    to    folk   of   hir   propre 

80  strengthe  of  nature,  but  only  of  the  false 
opinioun  of  folk,  that  is  to  seyn,  that  wenen 
that  dignitees  maken  folk  digne  of  honour  ; 
anon  therfore  whan  that  they  comen 
ther-as  folk  ne  knowen  nat  thilke  digni- 

85  tees,  hir  honours  vanisshen  awey,  and 
that  anon.  But  that  is  amonges  straunge 
folk,  mayst  thou  seyn  ;  but  amonges  hem 
ther  they  weren  born,  ne  dureu  nat 
thilke  dignitees  alwey  ?     Certes,  the  dig- 

90  nitee   of   the    provostrie    of    Rome   was 


whylom  a  gret  power ;  now  is  it  nothing 
but  an  ydel  name,  and  the  rente  of  the 
senatorie  a  gret  charge.  And  yif  a  wight 
whylom  hadde  the  office  to  taken  hede  to 
the  vitailes  of  the  poeple,  as  of  corn  and  9.=; 
other  thinges,  he  was  holden  amonges 
grete  ;  but  what  thing  is  now  more  out- 
cast thanne  thilke  provostrie  ?  And,  as 
I  have  seyd  a  litel  her-biforn,  that  thilke 
thing  that  hath  no  propre  beautee  of  loti 
him-self  receiveth  som-tj'me  prys  and 
shyninge,  and  som-tyme  leseth  it  by  the 
opinioun  of  usaunces.  Now  yif  that  dig- 
nitees thanne  ne  mowen  nat  maken  folk 
digne  of  reverence,  and  yif  that  dignitees  105 
wexen  foule  of  hir  wille  by  the  filthe  of 
shrewes,  and  yif  that  dignitees  lesen  hir 
shyninge  by  chaunginge  of  tymes,  and 
yif  they  wexen  foule  by  estimaciouu  of 
poeple  :  what  is  it  that  they  han  in  hem-  no 
self  of  beaiitee  that  oughte  ben  desired  '? 
as  who  seyth,  nan ;  thanne  ne  mowen 
they  yeven  no  beautee  of  dignitee  to  non 
other. 

Metrk  IV.      Qitamvis  se,  Tyrio  superhus 
ostro. 

Al  be  it  so  that  the  proude  Nero,  with 
alle  his  wode  luxurie,  kembde  him  and 
aparailede  him  with  faire  purpres  of 
Tirie,  and  with  whyte  perles,  algates  yit 
throf  he  hateful  to  alle  folk  :  this  is  to  5 
seijn,  that  al  ivas  lie  iehated  of  alle  folk. 
Yit  this  wikked  Nero  hadde  gret  lordship, 
and  yaf  whylom  to  the  reverents  sena- 
tours  the  un worshipful  setes  of  dignitees. 
Unworshipfiil  setes  he  clepeth  here,  for  that  10 
Nero,  that  icas  so  wikked,  yaf  tho  dignitees. 
Who-so  wolde  thanne  resonably  wenen, 
that  blisfulnesse  were  in  swiche  honours 
as  ben  yeven  by  vicious  shrewes  ? 

Prose  V.    An  uero  regna  reginnque 
familiaritas. 

But  regnes  and  familiaritees  of  kinges, 
may  they  maken  a  man  to  ben  mighty  ? 
How  elles,  whan  hir  blisfulnesse  diireth 
perpetuely  ?  But  certes,  the  olde  age  of 
tyme  passed,  and  eok  of  present  tyme  5 
now,    is    ful    of    ensaumples    how    that 


i6o 


(gott^\u0.    (gooft  III :   QUefre  V. 


Icinges  ben  cliavmged  in-to  wreccliednesse 
out  of  hir  welefulnesse.  O  !  a  noble  thing 
and  a  cleer  thing  is  power,  that  is  nat 

lo  founden  mighty  to  kepen  it-self !  And 
yif  that  power  of  reaiimes  be  anctour  and 
mater  of  blisfulnesse,  yif  thilke  power 
lakketh  on  any  syde,  amenuseth  it  nat 
thilke     blisfulnesse     and     bringeth     in 

15  wreechednesse  ?  But  yit,  al  be  it  so 
that  the  reaumes  of  mankinde  strecchen 
V)rode,  yit  mot  ther  nede  ben  moclie  folk, 
over  whiche  that  every  king  ne  hath  no 
lordshipe  ne  comaundement.   And  certes, 

20  up-on  thilke  syde  that  power  faileth, 
which  that  maketh  folk  blisful,  right 
on  that  same  syde  novin-power  entreth 
under-nethe,  that  maketh  hem  wrecches  ; 
in  this  manere  thanne  moten  kinges  han 

2,5  more  porcioun  of  wreechednesse  than  of 
welefulnesse.  A  tyraunt,  that  was  king 
of  Sisile,  that  hadde  assayed  the  peril 
of  his  estat,  shewede  by  similitude  the 
dredes  of  reaumes  by  gastnesse  of  a  swerd 

30  that  heng  over  the  heved  of  his  familier. 
What  thing  is  thanne  this  power,  that 
may  nat  don  awey  the  bytinges  of  bisi- 
nesse,  ne  eschewo  the  prilikes  of  drede  ? 
And   certes,   yit   wolden    they   liven    in 

35  sikernesse,  but  they  may  nat ;  and  yit 
they  glorifye  hem  in  hir  power.  Boldest 
tliou  thanne  that  thilke  man  bo  mighty, 
that  thoii  seest  that  he  wolde  don  that 
he   may   nat   don  ?      And   boldest    thou 

40  thanne  him  a  mighty  man,  that  hath 
envirownede  his  sydes  with  men  of  armes 
or  serjaunts,  and  dredeth  more  hem  that 
he  maketh  agast  than  they  dreden  him, 
and  that  is   put   in   the   handes   of  his 

45  servaunts  for  he  sholde  seme  mighty  ? 
But  of  familieres  or  servaunts  of  kinges 
what  sholde  I  telle  thee  anything,  sin 
that  I  myself  have  shewed  thee  that 
reavtmes  hom-self  ben  ful  of  gret  feblesse? 

50  The  whiche  familieres,  certes,  the  ryal 
power  of  kinges,  in  hool  estat  and  in 
estat  abated,  ful  ofte  throweth  adown. 
Nero  constreynede  Senek,  his  familier 
and  his  mayster,  to  chesen  on  what  deeth 

.=;5  he  wolde  deyen.  Antonius  comaundede 
that  knightes  slowen  with  hir  swerdes 
Papinian    his  familier,   which    Papinian 


hadde  ben  longe  tyme  ful  mighty 
amonges  hem  of  the  court.  And  yit, 
certes,  they  wolden  bothe  han  renounced  6u 
hir  power ;  of  whiche  two  Senek  en- 
forcede  hint  to  yeven  to  Nero  his  rich- 
esses,  and  also  to  han  gon  in-to  solitarie 
exil.  But  whan  the  grete  weighte,  that 
is  to  sei/n,  of  lordes  power  or  of  fortune,  65 
draweth  hem  that  shuUen  falle,  neither 
of  hem  ne  mighte  do  that  he  wolde. 
Wliat  thing  is  thanne  thilke  power,  that 
though  men  han  it,  yit  they  ben  agast ; 
and  whanne  thou  woldest  han  it,  thou  70 
nart  nat  siker  ;  and  j'if  thou  woldest 
forleten  it,  thou  mayst  nat  eschuen  it  ? 
But  whether  swiche  men  ben  frendes 
at  nede,  as  ben  conseyled  by  fortune  and 
nat  by  vertti  ?  Certes,  swiche  folk  as  75 
weleful  fortune  maketh  freendes,  con- 
trarious  fortune  maketh  hem.  enemys. 
And  what  pestilence  is  more  mighty  for 
to  anoye  a  wight  than  a  familier  enenay  ? 

,   Metre  V.     Qui  se  uolet  esse  potentem, 

Who-so  wol  be  mighty,  he  mot  daunten 
his  cruel  corage,  ne  putte  nat  his  nekke, 
overcomen,  under  the  foule  reynes  of 
lecherye.  For  al-be-it  so  that  thy  lord- 
shipe strecche  so  fer,  that  the  contree  5 
of  Inde  quaketh  at  thy  comaundements 
or  at  thy  lawes,  and  that  the  last  He  in 
the  see,  that  hight  Tyle,  be  thral  to  thee, 
yit,  yif  thou  mayst  nat  putten  awey  thy 
foule  derke  desjTS,  and  drj'ven  out  fro  10 
thee  wrecched  complaintes,  certes,  it  nis 
no  power  that  thou  hast. 

Prose  VI.    Gloria  uero  quam  fallax  saepe. 

But  glorie,  how  deceivable  and  how 
foul  is  it  ofte  !  for  which  thing  nat 
unskilfully  a  tragedien,  that  is  to  seyn, 
a  maker  of  ditees  that  highten  tragedies, 
cryde  and  seide  :  "  O  glorie,  glorie,"  quod  5 
he,  "  thou  art  nothing  elles  to  thousandes 
of  follies  but  a  greet  sweller  of  eres  ! " 
For  manye  han  had  ful  greet  renoun  by 
the  false  opinioun  of  the  poeple,  and  what 
thing  may  ben  thought  fouler  than  swiche  10 
preysinge  ?  For  thilke  folk  that  ben 
preysed   falsly,    they   moten    nedes    han 


(^ocf^tue.    (gooft  III :   QUefrc  vii. 


i6i 


shame  of  liir  preysiuges.  And  yif  that 
folk  han  geteii  hem  thonk  or  preysinge 

15  by  hir  desertes,  what  thing  hath  thilke 
prys  eched  or  encresed  to  the  conscience 
of  wyse  folk,  that  mesuren  hir  good, 
nat  by  the  rumour  of  the  poeple,  but 
by  the  soothfastnesse  of  conscience  ?  And 

20  yif  it  seme  a  fair  thing,  a  man  to  han 
encresed  and  spred  his  name,  than  fol- 
weth  it  that  it  is  demed  to  ben  a  foul 
thing,  yif  it  ne  1)6  y-sprad  and  encresed. 
But,  as  I  seyde  a  litel  her-biforn  that,  sin 

.'5  ther  mot  nedes  ben  many  folk,  to  whiche 
folk  the  renoun  of  a  man  ne  may  nat 
comen,  it  befalleth  that  he,  that  thou 
wenest  be  glorious  and  renomed,  semeth 
in  the  nexte  partie  of  the  erthes  to  ben 

,^0  with-oute   glorie  and  with-oute  renou.n. 

And  certes,  amonges  tliise  thinges  I  ne 

trowe  nat  that  the  prys  and  grace  of  the 

poeple   nis   neither   worthy   to    ben    re- 

menibred,  ne  cometli  of  wyse  jugement, 

35  ne  is  fernie  perdurably.  But  now,  of  this 
name  of  gentilesse,  what  man  is  it  that 
ne  may  wel  seen  how  veyn  and  how 
flittinge  a  thing  it  is  ?  For  yif  the  name 
of  gentilesse  be  referred  to  renoun  and 

40  cleemesse  of  linage,  thanne  is  gentil  name 
but  a  foreine  thing,  that  is  to  seyn,  to  hem 
that  (jlorifyen  hem  of  hir  linage.  For  it 
semeth  that  gentilesse  be  a  maner  prey- 
singe   that  conitli  of  the  deserte  of  an- 

45  cestres.  And  yif  preysinge  maketli 
gentilesse,  thanne  moten  they  nedes  be 
gentil  that  ben  preysed.  For  which  thing 
it  folweth,  that  yif  thou  ne  have  no 
gentilesse  of  thy-self,  that  is  to  seyn,  preyse 

50  that  comth  of  thy  deserte,  foreine  gentilesse 
ne  maketh  thee  nat  gentU..  But  certes, 
yif  ther  be  any  good  in  gentilesse,  I  trowe 
it  be  al-only  this,  that  it  semeth  as  that 
a  maner  necessitee  be  imposed  to  gentil 

55  men,  for  that  they  ne  sholden  nat  out- 
rayen  or  forliven  fro  the  virtues  of  hir 
noble  kinrede. 

Metre  VI.     Omne  hominum  genus  in 
terris. 

Al  the  linage  of  men  that  ben  in  erthe 
ben  of  semblable  birthe.  On  allone  is 
fader  of  thinges.     On  allone  ministreth 


alle  thinges.  He  yaf  to  the  sonne  hise 
hemes  ;  he  yaf  to  the  mone  hir  homes.  5 
He  yaf  the  men  to  the  erthe  ;  he  yaf  the 
sterres  to  the  hevene.  He  encloseth  with 
membres  the  soules  that  comen  fro  his 
hye  sete.  Thanne  comen  alle  mortal  folk 
of  noble  sede  ;  why  noisen  ye  or  bosten  of  i'^ 
youre  eldres?  For  yif  thou  loke  your 
biginninge,  and  god  your  aiictor  and  yoiir 
maker,  thanne  nis  ther  no  forlived  wight, 
but -yif  he  norisshe  his  eorage  un-to  vyces, 
and  forlete  his  propre  burthe.  '5 

Prose  VII.     Quid  autem  de  corporis 
itohiptatibtis. 

But  what  shal  I  seye  of  delices  of  body, 
of  whiche  delices  the  desiringes  ben  ful 
of  anguissh,  and  the  fulfillinges  of  hem 
ben  fill  of  penaunce?  How  greet  syk- 
nesse  and  how  grete  sorwes  unsufferable,  5 
right  as  a  maner  fruit  of  wikkednesse, 
ben  thilke  delices  wont  to  bringen  to  the 
bodies  of  folk  that  usen  hem  !  Of  whiche 
delices  I  not  what  joye  may  ben  had  of 
hir  moevinge.  But  this  wot  I  wel,  that  10 
who-so-ever  wole  remembren  him  of  hise 
luxures,  he  shal  wel  understoude  that 
the  issues  of  delices  ben  sorwful  and 
sorye.  And  yif  thilke  delices  mowen 
maken  folk  blisful,  than  by  the  same  15 
cause  moten  thise  bestes  ben  cleped  blis- 
ful ;  of  whiche  bestes  al  the  eutencioun 
hasteth  to  fvilfille  hir  bodily  jolitee.  And 
the  gladnesse  of  wyf  and  children  were 
an  honest  thing,  but  it  hath  ben  seyd  -'o 
that  it  is  over  muchel  ayeins  kinde,  that 
children  han  ben  foiinden  tormentoiirs  to 
hir  fadres,  I  not  how  manye  :  of  whiche 
children  how  bytinge  is  every  condicioun, 
it  nedeth  nat  to  teUen  it  thee,  that  hast  25 
or  this  tyme  assayed  it,  and  art  yit  now 
anguissous.  In  this  approve  I  the  sen- 
tence of  my  disciple  Euripidis,  that  seyde, 
that  "  he  that  hath  no  children  is  weleful 
by  infortune."  30 

Metre  VII.     Habet  omnis  hoc  uoluptas. 

Every  delyt  hath  this,  that  it  anguissheth 
hem  with  prikkes  that  usen  it.  It  re- 
sembleth  to  thise  flyinge  flyes  that  we 


l62 


U0.     (^OOR  III:    (p¥O0e  VIII. 


clepen  been,  that,  after  that  he  hath  shad 

5  hise  agreable  honies,  he  fleeth  awey,  and 

stingeth   the   hertes,    of    hem   that   hen 

y-smite,  with  hytinge  overlonge  hoklinge. 

Prose  VIII.     Nihil  igitur  (hihium  est. 

Now  is  it  no  doute  thanne  that  thise 
weyes  ne  ben  a  maner  misledinges  to 
blisfulnesse,  ne  that  they  ne  niowe  nat 
leden  folk  thider  as  they  biheteu  to  leden 
5  hem.  But  with  how  grete  harmes  thise 
forseyde  weyes  ben  enlaced,  I  shal  shewe 
thee  shortly.  For-why  yif  thoii  enforcest 
thee  to  asemble  moneye,  thou  most  bi- 
^e^•en  him  his  m(meye  that  hath  it.     And 

lo  yif  thou  wolt  shynen  with  dignitees,  thou 
most  bisechen  and  supplien  hem  that 
.veven  the  dignitees.  And  yif  thou  covei- 
test  by  honoiir  to  gon  biforn  other  folk, 
tliou  shalt  defoule  thy-self  thorugh  hum- 

15  blesse  of  axinge.  Yif  thou  desirest  power, 
thou  shalt  bj'  awaytcs  of  thy  subgits 
anoyoiisly  .ben  cast  under  manye  perUes. 
Axest  thou  glorie  ?  Thou  shalt  ben  so 
destrat  by  aspre  thinges  that  thou  shalt 

20  forgoon  sikernesse.  And  yif  thou  wolt 
leden  thy  lyf  in  deliccs,  every  wight  shal 
despisen  thee  and  forleten  thee,  as  thou 
that  art  thral  to  thing  that  is  right  foul 
•and  brotel ;  that  is  to  seyn,  servaunt  to 

25  thy  body.  Now  is  it  thanne  wel  seen, 
how  litel  and  how  Itrotel  possessioun  they 
coveiten,  that  piitton  the  goodes  of  tlio 
bo<ly  alx)ven  hir  oAvne  resoiin.  For  mayst 
thou  sorniounten  thise  olifaunts  in  gret- 

30  uesse  or  weight  of  body  ?  Or  mayst  thou 
ben  stronger  than  the  bole  ?  Mayst  thou 
ben  swifter  than  the  tygre  ?  Bihold  the 
spaces  and  the  stablenesse  and  the  swifte 
cours  of  .the  hevene,  and  stint  som-tyme 

35  to  wondren  on  foule  thinges  ;  the  which 
hevene,  certes,  nis  nat  rather  for  thise 
thinges  to  ben  wondred  up-on,  than  for 
the  resoun  by  which  it  is  governed.  But 
the  shyuing  of  thy  forme,  that  is  to  seyti, 

40  the  beaiitee  of  thtj  body,  how  swiftly  pass- 
inge  is  it,  and  how  transitorie  ;  certes,  it 
is  more  flittinge  than  the  mutabilitee  of 
flowers  of  the  somer-sesoun.  For  so  Aris- 
totle telleth,  that  yif  that  men  haddeu 


eyen  of  a  beest  that  highte  IjTix,  so  that  45 
the  lokinge  of  folk  mightepercen  thorugh 
the  thinges  that  with-stonden  it,  who-so 
loked  thanne  in  the  entrailes  of  the  body 
of  Alcibiades,   that  was  ful  fajT  in  the 
superfice  with-oute,  it  shold  seme  right  50 
foul.     And  forthy,  yif  thou  semest  fayr, 
thy  nature  maketh  nat  that,   but  the 
desceivaunce  of  the  feblesse  of  the  eyen 
that  loken.     But  preyse  the  goodes  of  the 
body  as  mochel  as  ever  thee  list  ;  so  that  55 
j  thou  knowe  algates  that,  what-so  it  be, 
that  ia  to  seyn,  of  the  goodes  of  thy  body, 
which  that   thou  wondrest   iTp-ou,  may 
ben  destroyed  or  dissolved  by  the  hete  of 
a  fevere  of  three  dayes.     Of  alle  whichc  60 
forseyde    thinges   I    may    rcducen    this 
shortly  in  a  somme,  that  thise  worldly 
goodes,  whiche  that  ne  mowen  nat  yeven 
that  they  biheten,  ne  ben  nat  parfit  by 
the  congregacioun  of  alle  goodes  ;  that  65 
they  ne  ben   nat  weyes  ne  pathes  that 
bringen  men  to  blisfulnesse,  ne  maken 
pien  to  ben  blisful. 

Metre  VIII.     £heu  !  quae  miseros 
tramite  deuios. 

Alias  !  which  folyc  and  which  igno- 
raunce  misledeth  wandringe  wrecches 
fro  the  path  of  verraj-  goode  !  Certes, 

ye  ne  seken  no  gold  in  grene  trees,  ne  ye 
ne  gaderen   nat   precious   stones   in   the  5 
I  \'ynes,  ne  ye  ne  hyden  nat  yo\ir  ginnes 
I  in  the  hye  mountaigues  to  cacehen  fish 
of  whiche  ye  may   maken   riche   festes. 
And  yif  yow  lyketh  to  hunte  to  roes,  ye 
ne  gon  nat  to  the  fordes  of  the  water  that  10 
highte    Tyrene.      And    over    this,    men 
knowen  wel  the  crykes  and  the  cavemes 
of  the  see  y-hid  in  the  flodes,  and  knowen 
eek  which  water  is  most  plentivous    of 
whyte  perles,  and  knowen  which  water  15 
haboundcth  most  of  rede  piirpre,  that  is  to 
seyn,  of  a  maner  shelle-fish  vnth  tchich  men 
dyenpurpre  ;  and  knowen  which  strondes 
habounden  most  with  tendre  fisshes,  or  of 
sharjie  fisshes  that  highten  echiues.    But  20 
follt  suflfren  hem-self  to   ben  so  blinde, 
that  hem  ne  reccheth  nat  to  knowe  where 
thilke  goodes  ben  j'-hid  whiche  that  they 


kH$w0.    (^00^  III:   (pvoct  IX. 


163 


coveiten,  but  plouugcn  hem  in  ertlie  and 
25  sekeu  there  thilke  good  that  sormonnteth 
the  hevene  that  bereth  the  sterres.  What 
IJreyere  may  I  maken  that  be  digne  to 
the  nyce  thoughtes  of  men  '?  But  I  iDreye 
that  they  coveiten  richesse  and  honours, 
30  so  that,  whan  they  han  geten  tho  false 
goodes  with  greet  travaile,  that  ther-by 
they  mowe  knowen  the  verray  goodes. 


Pkose  IX.     Ilactenus  iiiendacis  formam. 

Itsuffyseth  that  I  have  shewed  hider-to 
the  forme  of  false  welefuluesse,  so  that, 
yif  thoii  loke  now  cleerly,  the  order  of 
myu  entencionn  requireth  from  hennes- 
5  forth  to  shewen  thee  the  verray  weleful- 
uesse.' '  For  sothe,'  quod  I,  '  I  see  wel 
now  that  suffisaunce  may  nat  comen  by 
richesses,  ne  power  by  reames,  ne  rever- 
ence by  dignitees,  ne  gentilesse  by  glorie, 
10  ne  joye  by  delices.' 

'  And  hast  thou  wel  knowen  the  causes, ' 
quod  she,  '  why  it  is  ?  '  '  Certes,  me 
semeth, '  quod  I,  '  that  I  see  hem  right  as 
though  it  were  thoriigh  a  litel  clifte  ;  but 
15  me  were  lever  knowen  hem  more  openly 
of  thee.' 

'  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  the  resoun  is  al 
redy.  For  thilke  thing  that  simply  is 
o  thing,  with-outen  any  devisioun,  the 
-!o  errour  and  folye  of  mankinde  departeth 
and  devydeth  it,  and  misledeth  it  and 
transporteth  from  verray  and  parfit  good 
to  goodes  that  ben  false  and  unparfit. 
But  sey  me  this.  Wenest  thou  that  he, 
-'5  that  hath  nede  of  power,  that  him  ne 
lakketh  no-thing  ?  '         '  Kay, '  quod  I. 

'  Certes,'  qiiod  she,  '  thou  seyst  a-right. 

For  yif  so  be  that  ther  is  a  thing,  that  in 

any  partye  be  febler  of  power,  certes,  as 

30  in  that,  it  mot  nedes  ben  nedy  of  foreine 

help.'         '  Eight  so  is  it,'  quod  I. 

'  Siiffisaunce  and  power  ben  thanne  of 

o  kinde  ?  '         'So  semeth  it,'  quod  I. 

'  And   demest   thou,'   quod   she,    '  that 

35  a  thing  that  is  of  this  nianere,  that  is  to 

seijn,  siiffisaunt  and   mightij,    oughte   ben 

despysed,  or  elles  that  it  be  right  digne  of 

reverence  aboven  alle  thiugesV '    '  Certes,' 

G 


qiiod  I,  '  it  nis  no  doute,  that  it  is  right 
worthy  to  ben  reverenced. '  40 

'  Lat  us,'  quod  she,  '  adden  thanue 
reverence  to  suffisaimce  and  to  power,  so 
that  we  demen  that  thise  three  thinges 
ben  al  o  thing.'  '  Certes,'  quod  I,  '  lat  its 
adden  it,  yif  we  wolen  graunten  the  sothe.'  45 

'  What  demest  thou  thanne  ■:" '  quod 
she  ;  '  is  that  a  derk  thing  and  nat  noble, 
that  is  sii,tfisaunt,  reverent,  and  mighti/,  or 
elles  that  it  is  right  noble  and  right 
clcer  by  celebritee  of  renoun  ?  Consider  50 
thanne,'  quod  she,  '  as  we  han  graunted 
her-biforn,  that  he  that  ne  hath  nede  of 
no-thing,  and  is  most  mighty  and  most 
digne  of  honoiir,  yi^  him  nedeth  any 
cleernesse  of  renovm,  which  cleemesse  he  55 
mighte  nat  gi'aunten  of  him-self,  so  that, 
for  lakke  of  thilke  cleernesse,  he  mighte 
seme  the  febeler  on  any  syde  or  the  more 
out-cast  ?  '  Glose.  This  is  to  seijn,  nay  : 
for  who-so  that  is  sujpsaunt,  might ij,  and  60 
reverent,  cleernesse  of  renoun  folneih  of  the 
forseijde  tliinges;  Jie  hath  it  al  redy  of  his 
sutfisatince.  Boece.  'I  may  nat,'  quod 
I,  ■  denye  it  ;  btit  I  mot  graunte  as  it  is, 
that  this  thing  be  right  celebrable  by  65 
cleernesse  of  renoun  and  noblesse.' 

'  Thanne  folweth  it,'  qviod  she,  '  that  we 
adden  cleernesse  of  renoun  to  the  three 
forseyde    thinges,    so    that    ther    ne    be 
amonges  heni  no  difference  ■;*  '        •  This  is  70 
a  consequence,'  quod  I. 

'  This  thing  thanne,'  quod  she,  '  that  ne 
hath  nede  of  no  foreine  thing,  and  that 
may  don  alle  thinges  by  hise  strengthes, 
and  that  is  noble  and  honourable,  nis  nat  75 
that  a  mery  thing  and  a  joyful  ?  '  '  But 
whennes,'  quod  I,  '  that  any  sorwe  mighte 
comen  to  this  thing  that  is  swiche,  certes, 
I  may  nat  thinke.' 

•  Thanne  moten  we  graunte,'  qiiod  she,  80 
'  that  this  thing  be  tul  of  gladnesse,  yif 
the  forseyde  thinges  ben  sothe  ;  and 
certes,  also  mote  we  graunten  that  sufS- 
saunoe,  power,  noblesse,  reverence,  and 
gladnesse  ben  only  dj^erse  by  names,  but  S5 
hir  substannce  hath  no  diversitee.'  '  It 
mot  needly  been  so,'  quod  I. 

'  Thilke  thing  thanne,'  quotl  she,  '  that 
is    oon    and   simple   in    his   nature,    the 


164 


(gott^iua.    (gooft  III :   ^voee  IX. 


90  wikkednesse  of  men  departeth  it  ami 
dev-jaleth  it  ;  and  whan  tliey  enforcen 
hem  to  geteu  ijartye  of  a  thing  that  ne 
hath  no  part,  they  ne  geten  hem  neither 
thilke  partye  that  nis  non,  no  the  thing 

95  al  hool  that  they  ne  desire  nat.'  '  In 
which  manere  ?  '  qnod  I. 

'  Thilke  man,'  quod  she,  '  that  secheth 
richesses  to  fleen  povertee,  he  ne  tra- 
vaileth  him  nat  for  to  gete  power  ;  for  he 

100  hath  le^■er  ben  derk  and  vyl  ;  and  eek 
withdraweth  from  him-self  many  naturel 
delyts,  for  he  noUle  lese  the  moneye  that 
he  hath  assembled.  But  certes,  in  this 
manere  he  ne  geteth  him  nat  suffisaunce 

105  that  power  forleteth,  and  that  molestie 
prikketh,  and  that  iilthe  maketh  out-cast, 
and  that  derkenesse  hydeth.  And  certes, 
he  that  desireth  only  power,  he  wasteth 
and   scatereth    richesse,   and  despyseth 

1 10  dolyts,  and  eek  honour  that  is  with-oiite 
power,  ne  he  ne  preyseth  glorie  no-thing. 
Certes,  thus  seest  thou  wel,  that  manye 
thiuges  faylen  to  him  ;  for  he  hath  som- 
tyme   defaute  of  many  necessitees,  and 

1 15  many  angiiisshes  byten  him ;  and  whan 
he  ne  may  nat  don  tho  defatites  a-wey,  he 
forleteth  to  ben  mighty,  and  that  is  the 
thing  that  he  most  desireth.  And  right 
thiis  may  I  maken  seniblable  resouns  of 

I2U  honours,  and  of  glorie,  and  of  delyts. 
For  so  as  every  of  thise  forseyde  thiuges 
is  the  same  that  thise  other  thiuges  beu, 
that  is  to  seyn,  al  oon  tfiint/,  who-so  that 
ever  seketh  to  geteu  that  oon  of  thise, 

125  and  nat  that  other,  he  ne  geteth  nat  that 
he  desireth.'  Boece.  '  ^^^^at  seyst  thou 
thanue,  yif  that  a  man  coveiteth  to  geten 
alle  thise  thinges  to-gider  ?  ' 

Philosophie.     'Certes,'   quod     she,    'I 

130  wolde  seye,  that  he  wolde  geten  hito 
soverejii  blisfulnesse  ;  but  that  shal  he 
nat  iiude  in  tho  thinges  that  I  have 
shewed,  that  ne  niowen  nat  yeven  that 
they  beheten.'       '  Certes,  no,'  quod  I. 

135  '  Thanne,'  quod  she,  '  ne  sholden  men 
uat  by  no  wey  seken  blisfulnesse  inswiche 
thinges  as  men  wene  that  they  ne  mowen 
yeven  but  o  thing  senglely  of  alle  that 
men  seken.'  "  I  graiinte  wel,'  quod  I ; 

140  •  ne  no  sother  thing  ne  may  beu  sayd. ' 


'  Now  hast  thou  thanne,'  quod  she,  'the 
forme  and  the  causes  of  false  weleful- 
nesse.  Now  torne  and  flitte  the  eyen 
of  thy  thought  ;  for  ther  shalt  thou 
seen  anon  thilke  verray  blisfulnesse  that  145 
I  have  bihight  thee.'  '  Certes,'  quod  I, 
'  it  is  cleer  and  open,  thogh  it  were  to 
a  blinde  man  ;  and  that  shewedest  thou 
me  ful  wel  a  litel  her-biforn,  whan  thou 
enforcedest  thee  to  shewe  me  the  causes  150 
of  the  false  blisfulnesse.  For  but- yif  I 
be  bigyled,  thanne  is  thilke  the  verray 
blisfulnesse  parfit,  that  pai-fitly  maketh 
a  man  suffisaunt,  mighty,  honourable, 
noble,  and  ful  of  gladnesse.  And,  for  155 
thou  shalt  wel  knowe  that  I  have  wel 
understonden  thise  thinges  with-in  my 
herte,  I  knowe  wel  that  thilke  blisful- 
nesse, that  may  verrayly  yeven  oon  of 
the  forseyde  thinges,  sin  they  ben  al  oon,  160 
I  knowe,  douteles,  that  thilke  thing  is 
the  fulle  blisfulnesse.' 

'  O    my    norie,'    quod    she,     '  by    this 
T)pinioun  I  seye  that  thou  art  lilisful,  yif 
thou  putte  this  ther-to  that  I  shal  seyn.'  165 
'  Wliat  is  that  ?  '  quod  I. 

'  Trowest  thou  that  ther  be  any  thing 
in  thise  erthely  mortal  toumbling  thinges 
that  may  bringen  this  estat  ?  '  '  Certes,' 
quod  I,  'I  trowe  it  naught;  and  thou  170 
hast  shewed  me  wel  that  over  thilke  good 
ther  nis  no-tliing  more  to  ben  desired.' 

'  Thise  thinges  thanne,'  quod  she,  '  that 
is  to  sey,  oikely  SK.ffisaiince  and  power  and 
siciche  thinges,  either  they  semen  lyke-  175 
nesses  of  verray  good,  or  elles  it  semeth 
that  they  yeve  to  mortal  folk  a  maner  of 
goodes  that  ne  beu  nat  parfit ;  but  thilke 
good  that  is  verray  and  parfit,  that  may 
they  nat  yeven.'  'I  acorde  mo  wel,'  180 
quod  I. 

'  Thanne,'  quod  she,  '  for  as  mochel  as 
thou  hast  knowen  which  is  thilke  verray 
blisfulnesse,  and  eek  whicho  thilke 
thinges  ben  that  lyen  falsly  blisfiilnesse,  185 
that  is  to  seyn,  that  by  deceite  semen  verray 
goodes,  now  behoveth  thee  to  knowe 
whennes  and  where  thou  mowe  seko 
thilke  verray  blisfulnesse.'  '  Certes,' 
quod  I,  '  that  desire  I  greetly,  and  have  190 
abideu  longe  tyme  to  herknen  it.' 


tu0.    QEiooft  III:  (proee  x. 


165 


'  But  for  as  moche,'  quod  she,  '  as  it 
lyketh  to  my  disciple  Plato,  in  his  book  of 
"  in  Timeo,"  that  in   right  litel  thinges 

195  men  sholden  bisechen  the  help  of  god, 
what  jugest  thou  that  be  now  to  done,  so 
that  we  may  desei-ve  to  fiude  the  sete  of 
thillie  verray  good  ?  '  '  Certes,'  quod  I, 
'  I  deme  that  we  shollen  clepen  the  fader 

300  of  alle  goodes  ;  for  with-outen  him  nis 
ther  no-thing  founden  a-right.' 

'  Thou  seyst  a-right,'  quod  she  ;  and 
bigan  anon  to  singen  right  thus  : — 


Metre  IX.     O  qui  perpetna  mitndum 
ratione  gttbernas. 

'  0  thou  fader,  creator  of  hevene  and  of 
erthes,  that  governest  this  world  by  per- 
durable resoun,  that  comaundest  the 
tj-mes  to  gon  from  sin  that  age  hadde 
5  beginninge ;  thou  that  dwellest  thy-self 
ay  stedel'ast  and  stable,  and  yevest  alle 
othre  thinges  to  ben  moeved  ;  ne  foreiue 
causes  necesseden  thee  never  to  compoune 
werk  of  floteringe  matere,  but  only  the 

10  forme  of  soverein  good  y-set  with-in  thee 
with-oute  envye,  <fta<  vwevede  thee  freely. 
Thou  that  art  alder-fayrest,  beringe  the 
faire  world  in  thy  thought,  forniedest 
this  world  to  the  lyknesse  semblable  of 

15  that  faire  world  in  thy  thought.  Thou 
drawest  al  thing  of  thy  soverein  en- 
saumpler,  and  comaundest  that  this 
world,  parfitliche  y-maked,  have  freely 
and  absolut    his    x's-rfit  parties.      Thou 

20  bindest  the  elements  by  noumbres  pro- 
porcionables,  that  the  colde  thinges 
mowen  acorden  with  the  hote  thinges, 
and  the  drye  thinges  with  the  moiste 
thinges  ;  that  the  fyr,  that  is  purest,  ne 

25  flee  nat  over  hye,  ne  that  the  hevinesse 
ne  drawe  nat  adoun  over-lowe  the  erthes 
that  ben  plounged  in  the  wateres.  Thou, 
knittest  to-gider  the  mene  sowle  of  treble 
kinde,    moevinge   alle    thinges,    and   de- 

30  vj-dest  it  by  membres  acordinge  ;  and 
whan  it  is  thus  devyded,  it  hath  asembled 
a  moevinge  in-to  two  roundes  ;  it  goth  to 
torne  ayein  to  him-self,  and  envirouneth 
a  ful   deep    thought,    and    torneth    the 


hevene   bj'   semblable   image.     Thou   by  35 
evene-lyke   causes  enhansest  the  sowles 
and  the  lasse  Ij-^'es,   and,   ablinge  hem 
heye  by  lighte  cartes,  thou  sowest  hem 
in-to  hevene  and  in-to  erthe  :  and  whan 
they  ben  converted  to  thee  by  thy  be-  40 
nigne  lawe,   thou  makest  hem   retorne 
ayein  to  thee  by  ayein-ledinge  fyr.     0 
fader,  yive  thou  to  the  thought  to  styen  up 
in-to  thy  streite  sete,  and  graunte  him  to 
enviroune   the  welle  of  good  ;    and,  the  45 
lighte  y-founde,  graunte  him  to  lichen  the 
clere  sightes  of  his  corage  in  thee.     And 
scaterthou  andto-breke  thou  the  weightes 
and  the  cloudes  of  erthely  hevinesse,  and 
shyne  thou  by  thy  brightnesse.    For  thovi  50 
art  cleernesse  ;  thovi  art  peysible  reste  to 
debonaire  folk  ;  thoii  thy-self  art  bigin- 
ninge,  berer,  leder,  path,  and  terme  ;   to 
loke  on  thee,  that  is  our  ende. 


Prose  X.     Quoniam  iyitur  quae  stt 
vnperfecti. 

For  as  moche  thanne  as  thou  hast  seyn, 
which  is  the  forme  of  good  that  nis  nat 
parfit,  and  which  is  the  forme  of  good  that 
is  parfit,  now  trowe  I  that  it  were  good  to 
shewe  in  what  this  perfeccioun  of  blisful-  5 
nesse  is  set.  And  in  this  thing,  I  trowe 
that  we  sholden  first  enquere  for  to  witen, 
yif  that  any  swiche  maner  good  as  thilke 
good  that  thou  hast  difRnisshed  a  litel 
heer-biforn,  that  is  to  seyn,  soverein  good,  10 
may  ben  founde  in  the  nature  of  thinges  ; 
for  that  vejTi  imaginacioun  of  thought  ne 
deceyve  us  nat,  and  pvUte  us  out  of  the 
sothfastnesse  of  thilke  thing  that  is  sum- 
mitted  unto  us.  But  it  may  nat  ben  15 
deneyed  that  thilke  good  ne  is,  and  that 
it  nis  right  as  welle  of  alle  goodes.  For 
al  thing  that  is  cleped  inparfit  is  proeved 
iuparfit  by  the  amenusinge  of  perfeccioun 
or  of  thing  that  is  parfit.  And  ther-of  20 
comth  it,  that  in  every  thing  general,  yif 
that  men  seen  any-thing  that  is  inparfit, 
certes,  in  thilke  general  ther  mot  ben 
som-thing  that  is  parfit ;  for  yif  so  be  that 
perfeccioun  is  don  awey,  men  may  nat  25 
thinke  ne  seye  fro  whennes  thilke  thing 
is  that  is  cleped  inparfit.    For  the  nature 


66 


(gottU\^6.    ^ooft  III :   (proee  x. 


ofthingesne  took  nat  liir  beginninge  of 
tliinges    ameniised    and   inparfit,   but   it 

30  proeedeth  of  tliinges  that  ben  al  hoole 
and  absohit,  and  deseendetli  so  doun  in-to 
otitterest  tliinges,  and  in-to  tliinges  empty 
and  with-oiiten  frttt.  But,  as  I  have 
y-shewed  a  litel  lier-biforn,  that  yif  tlier 

35  be  a  blisfulnesse  that  be  freele  and  veyn 
and  inparfit,  ther  may  no  man  dinite  that 
ther  nis  som  blisfulnesse  that  is  sad, 
stedefast,  and  parfit.'  Boece.  '  This  is 
conclnded,'   quod  I,   '  fermely  and  soth- 

40  fastly.' 

PhUosophie.  '  But  considere  also,'  quod 
she,  '  in  wham  this  blisfulnesse  en- 
habiteth.  The  comune  acordaunce  and 
conceite  of  the  corages  of  men  proeveth 

45  and  graunteth,  that  god,  prince  of  alle 
tliinges,  is  good.  For,  so  as  nothing  ne 
may  ben  thought  bettre  than  god,  it  may 
nat  l>en  douted  thanne  that  he,  that 
nothing  nis  bettre,   that   he   nis    good. 

5f)  Oertes,  resoun  sheweth  that  god  is  so 
good,  that  it  provetli  by  verray  force  that 
parfit  good  is  in  liim.  For  yif  god  no  is 
swich,  he  ne  may  nat  ben  prince  of  alle 
tliinges  ;  for  certes  som-thing  possessing 

55  in  it-self  parfit  good,  sholde  ben  more 
worthy  than  god,  and  it  sholde  semen  that 
tliilke  thing  were  first,  and  elder  than 
god.  For  we  han  shewed  apertly  that 
alle  thinges  that  ben  parfit  ben  first  or 

fo  thinges  that  ben  xtnpai-fit ;  and  for-thy, 
for  as  moclie  as  that  my  resoun  or  my 
proces  ne  go  nat  a-wey  with-oute  an  ende, 
we  owen  to  graunten  that  the  soverein 
god  is  right  ful  of  sovereiu  parfit  good. 

65  And  we  han  establisshed  that  the  soverein 
good  is  verray  blisfulnesse  :  thanne  mot  it 
nedes  be,  that  verray  blisfulnesse  is  set  in 
soverein  god.'  'This  take  I  wel,'  quod 
I,  '  ne  this  ue  may  nat  ben  withseid  in  no 

70  nianere.' 

'  But  I  preye,'  quod  she,  '  see  now  how 
thou  maj'st  jiroeven,  holily  and  with-oute 
corupciouu,  this  that  I  have  seyd,  that 
the  si:>verein  god  is  right  ful  of  soverein 

75  good  '         '  In  which  manere  ?  '   quod  I. 
'  Wenest  thou  aught,'  quod  she,  '  that 
Ibis  prince   of  alle  thinges  have  y-takc 
thilke  soverein  good  auy-wher  out  of  him- 


self, of  which  soverein  good  men  provetli 
that   ho   is   ful,   right  as  thou  mightest  80 
thinken  that  god,  tliat  hath  blisfubiesse 
in  him-self,  and  thilke  blisfulnesse  that 
is  in  him,  weren  dy\ers  in  substaunoe  ? 
For  yif  thou  wene  that  god  have  received 
thilke  good  out  of  him-self,  thou  mayst  85 
wene  that  he  that  yaf  thilke  good  to  god 
be  more  worthy  than  is  god.     But  I  am 
bi-knowen  and  confesse,   and  that  right 
dignely,  that  god  is  right  worthy  aboven 
alle  thinges  ;  and,  yif  so  be  that  this  good  90 
be  in  him  by  nature,  but  that  it  is  dyvers 
fro  him  by  weninge  resoun,  sin  we  speke 
of  god  prince  of  alle  thinges  :  feigne  who- 
so  feigne   may,   who   was   he  that  hath 
conjoigned  tliise  dyverse  thinges  to-gider  ?  95 
And  eek,  at  the  laste,  see  wel  that  a  thing 
that  is  dyvers  from  any  thing,  that  thilke 
thing  nis  nat  that  same  thing  fro  which 
it  is  understonden  to  ben  dyvers.  Thanne 
folweth  it,  that  thilke  thing  that  by  his  lOO 
nature  is  dyvers  fro  soverein  good,  that 
'that  thing  nis   nat   soverein  good  ;  but 
certes,  that  were  a  felonous  corsednesse 
to  thinken  that  of  him  that  nothing  nis 
more  worth.     For  alwey,  of  alle  thinges,  105 
the  nature  of  hem  ne  may  nat  ben  bettre 
than   his   biginning ;    for  which   I   may 
couclnden,  by  right  veiTay  resoun,  that 
thilke  that  is  biginning  of  alle  thinges, 
thilke  same  thing  is  soverein  good  in  his  1 10 
substaunce.'        '  Thou  hast  seyd  xight- 
fuUy,'  quod  I. 

'  But  we  han  gi-aunted,'  quod  she,  '  that 
the  soverein  good  is  blistubiesse.'  '  And 
that  is  sooth,' quod  I.  115 

'  Thanne,'  quod  she,  '  moten  we  nedes 
graunten  and  confessen  that  thilke  same 
soverein  good  be  god.'  '  Certes,' quod 
I,  'I  lie  may  nat  denye  ne  withstonde 
the  resouns  purposed ;  and  I  see  wel  that  120 
it  folweth  by  strengthe  of  the  premisses.' 

'  Loke  now,'  quod  she,  '  yif  this  be 
jn-oved  yit  more  fermely  thtts  :  that  ther 
ne  mowen  nat  ben  two  soverein  goodes 
that  ben  dyverse  amonge  hem-self.  For  1 25 
certes,  the  goodes  that  ben  djn'erse 
amonges  hem-self,  that  oon  nis  nat  that 
that  other  is  ;  thanne  ne  may  neither  of 
hem  ben  parfit,  so  as  either  of  hem  lak- 


Ill; 


)vO0t  X. 


167 


I  ketli  to  other.  Bnt  that  that  nis  nat 
parfit,  men  may  seen  apertly  that  it  nis 
nat  soverein.  The  thinges,  thanne,  that 
ben  sovereinly  goode,  ne  mowen  by  no 
wey  ben  dyverse.  But  I  have  wel  con- 
cluded that  blisfuhiesse  and  god  ben  the 
soverein  good  ;  for  whiche  it  raot  nedes 
ben,  that  soverein  blisfulnesse  is  soverein 
divinitee.'  '  Nothing,'    quod    I,    '  nis 

more  soothfast  tlian  this,  ne  more  ferme 
by  resoun  ;  ne  a  more  worthy  thing  than 
god  may  nat  ben  concluded.' 

'  Up-on  tliise  thinges  thanne,'  quod  she, 
'  right  as  thise  geometriens,  whan  they 
han  shewed  hir  proposiciouns,  ben  wont 
to  bringen  in  thinges  that  they  clepen 
porismes,  or  declaraciouns  of  forseide 
thinges,  right  so  wole  I  yeve  thee  heer  as 
a  corollarie,  or  a  mede  of  coronne.  For- 
why,  for  as  moche  as  by  the  getinge  of 
'  blisfulnesse  men  ben  maked  blisful,  and 
blisfulnesse  is  divinitee  :  thanne  is  it 
manifest  and  open,  that  by  the  getinge  of 
divinitee  men  ben  maked  blisful.  Eight 
as  by  the  getinge  of  justice  [they  ben 
maked  just],  and  by  the  getinge  of  sa- 
pience they  ben  maked  wj'se  :  right  so, 
nedes,  by  the  semblable  resoun,  whan 
they  han  geten  divinitee,  they  ben  maked 
goddes.  Thanne  is  every  blisful  man 
god  ;  but  certes,  by  nature,  ther  nis  but 
o  god  ;  but,  by  the  participacioun  of 
divinitee,  ther  ne  let  ne  desturbeth 
nothing  that  ther  ne  ben  manye  goddes.' 
'  This  is,'  quod  I,  *'  a  fair  thing  and 
a  precious,  clepe  it  as  thou  wolt ;  be  it 
porisme  or  corollarie,'  or  mede  of  corozme 
or  declaringes. 

'  Cartes,'  quod  she,  '  nothing  nis  fayrer 
than  is  the  thing  that  by  resoun  sholde 
ben  added  to  thise  forseide  thinges.' 
'  \^^lat  thmg  ?  '  quod  I. 

'  So,'  quod  she,  '  as  it  semeth  that  blis- 
fulnesse eonteneth  many  thinges,  it  were 
for  to  witen  whether  that  alle  thise 
thinges  maken  or  conjoignen  as  a  maner 
body  of  blisfulnesse,  by  dyversitee  of 
parties  or  of  membres  ;  or  elles,  yif  that 
any  of  alle  thilke  thinges  be  s^vich  that  it 
acomplisshe  by  him-self  the  substaunce  of 
blisfulnesse,  so  that  alle  thise  ot  hre  thinges 


8:; 


90 


95 


ben  referred  and  brought  to  blisfulnesse,' 
that  is  to  seyn,  as  to  the  cheef  of  hem. 
'  I  wolde,'  quod  I,  '  that  thou  makedest 
me  oleerly  to  understonde  what  thou 
seyst,  and  that  thou  recordedest  me  the 
forseyde  thinges.' 

'  Have  I  nat  jiiged,'  quod  she,  '  that 
blisfulnesse  is  good  ?  '  '  Yis,  forsothe,' 
quod  I ;  '  and  that  soverein  good.' 

'  Adde  thanne,'  quod  she,  '  thilke  good, 
that  is  maked  blisfulnesse,  to  alle  the  for- 
seide thinges  ;  for  thilke  same  blisful- 
nesse that  is  demed  to  ben  soverein 
suffisaiince,  thilke  selve  is  soverein  power, 
soverein  reverence,  soverein  cleernesse  or 
noblesse,  and  soverein  delyt.  Conclusio. 
What  seyst  thou  thanne  of  alle  thise 
thinges,  that  is  to  seyn,  siiffisaunce, 
power,  and  this  othre  thinges ;  ben  they 
thanne  as  membres  of  blisfulnesse,  or  ben  200 
they  referred  and  brought  to  soverein 
good,  right  as  alle  thinges  that  ben 
brought  to  the  chief  of  hem '? '  'I  under- 
stonde wel  ; '  quod  I,  '  what  thoti  pur- 
posest  to  seke  ;  but  I  desire  for  to  herkne  205 
that  thou  shewe  it  me.' 

'  Tak  now  thus  the  discrecioun  of  this 
qiiestion,'  qiiod  she.  'Yif  alle  thise 
thinges,'  quod  she,  '  weren  membres  to 
felicitee,  than  weren  they  dyverse  that  210 
oon  from  that  other  ;  and  swich  is  the 
nature  of  parties  or  of  membres,  that 
dyverse  membres  compounen  a  body.' 
'  Certes,'  quod  I,  '  it  hath  wel  ben  shewed 
heer-bifom,  that  alle  thise  thinges  ben  215 
alle  o  thing.' 

'  Thanne  ben  they  none  membres,'  qviod 
she ;  '  for  elles  it  sholde  seme  that  blis- 
fulnesse were  conioigned  al  of  on  mem- 
bre  allone  ;  but  that  is  a  thing  that  may  220 
nat  be  don.'  '  This  thing,'  quod  I,  '  nis 
nat  doutous  ;  but  I  abyde  to  herknen  the 
remnaunt  of  thy  questioun.' 

'  This  is  open  and  cleer,'  qiiod  she, 
'  that  alle  othre  thinges  ben  referred  and  225 
broiTght  to  good.  For  therefore  is  sufii- 
saunce  requered,  for  it  is  demed  to  ben 
good  ;  and  forthy  is  power  reqiiered,  for 
men  trowen  also  that  it  be  good  ;  and  this 
same  thing  mowen  we  thinken  and  con-  230 
jecten  of  reverence,  and  of  noblesse,  and 


i68 


Q0oef6tu0.    (^006  III:   QYletre  x. 


of  delyt.  Tlianne  is  soverein  good  the 
somine  and  the  cause  of  al  that  aughte 
ben  desired  ;  for-why  thilke  thing  that 

235  with-holdeth  no  good  in  it-self,  ne  seni- 
blannce  of  good,  it  ue  may  nat  wel  in  no 
manere  be  desired  ne  requered.  And  the 
contrarie  :  for  thogh  that  thinges  by  hir 
nature  ne  ben  nat  goode,  algates,  yif  men 

240  weiie  that  ben  goode,  yit  ben  they  desired 
as  though  that  they  weren  verrayliche 
goode.  And  therfor  is  it  that  men 
oughten  to  wene  by  right,  that  bountee 
be  the  soverein  fyn,  and  the  cause  of  alle 

245  the  thinges  that  ben  to  requeren.  But 
certes,  tliilke  that  is  cause  for  wliich  men 
requeren  any  thing,  it  semeth  that  thilke 
same  thing  be  most  desired.  As  thus  :  yif 
that  a  wight  wolde  ryden  for  cause  of 

250  hele,  he  ne  desireth  nat  so  mochel  the 
moevinge  to  ryden,  as  the  effect  of  his 
hele.  Now  thanne,  sin  that  alle  thinges 
ben  requered  for  the  grace  of  good,  they 
ne   ben   nat   desired   of   alle   folk   more 

255  thanne  the  same  good.  But  we  han 
graunted  that  blisfulnesse  is  that  thing, 
for  whiche  that  alle  thise  othre  thinges 
ben  desired ;  thanne  is  it  thus  :  that, 
certes,  only  blisfulnesse  is  requered  and 

260  desired.  By  whiche  thing  it  sheweth 
cleerly,  that  of  good  and  of  blisfulnesse  is 
al  oon  and  the  same  substaunce.'  '  I  see 
nat,'  quod  I,  '  wherfore  that  men  mighten 
discorden  in  this.' 

265  '  And  we  han  shewed  that  god  and 
verray  blisfulnesse  is  al  00  thing.'  '  That 
is  sooth,'  quod  I. 

'Thanne  mowen  we  conclude  sikerly, 
that  the  substaunce  of  god  is  set  in  thilke 

270  same  good,  and  in  non  other  place. 

Metre  X.     Hue  oiimes  XHinter  uenite  capti. 

O  Cometh  alle  to-gider  now,  ye  that  ben 
y-caught  and  y-bounde  with  wikkede 
cheynes,  by  the  deceivable  delyt  of  erthely 
thinges  enhabitinge  in  your  thought  ! 
5  Heer  shal  ben  the  reste  of  your  labours, 
heer  is  the  havene  stable  in  peysible 
quiete  ;  this  allone  is  the  open  refut  to 
wrecches.  Glosa.  This  is  to  seyn,  that 
ye    that    ben  combred  and   deceived  icifh 


worldely  affecciouns,   cometh   note  to    this  10 
soverein  good,  that  is  god,  that  is  refut  to 
hem   that  icolen  comen  to   him.     Textus. 
Alle   the  thinges  that   the   river  Tagus 
yeveth  yow  with  his  goldene  gravailes,  or 
elles    alle    the   thinges   that    the    river  15 
Hermus  yeveth  with  his  rede  brinke,  or 
that  Indus  yeveth,  that  is  next  the  bote 
party   of  the   world,    that   medleth    the 
grene  stones  with  the  whyte,  ne  sholde 
nat  cleeren  the  lookinge  of  your  thought,  20 
but   hyden   rather   your    blinde   corages 
with-in  hir  derknesse.     Al   that  lyketh 
yow  heer,  and  excyteth  and  moeveth  your 
thoughtes,  the  erthe  hath  norisshed  it  in 
hise  lowe  caves.     But  the  shyninge,  by  25 
whiche    the    hevene    is    governed    and 
whennes    he    hath    his   strengthe,    that 
eschueth  the  derke  overthrowinge  of  the 
sowle  ;  and  who-so  may  knowen   thilke 
light  of  blisfulnesse,  he  shal  wel  seyn,  30 
that  tlie  whyte  hemes  of  the  sonne  ne  ben 
nat  cleer.' 

Pkose  XI.     Assentinr,  inqtiam. 

Boece.  '  I  assente  me,"  quod  I  ;  '  for 
aUe  thise  thinges  ben  strongly  bounden 
with  right  ferme  resouns.' 

Philosophie.  '  How  mochel  wilt  thou 
preysen  it,'  quod  she,  '  yif  that  thou  5 
knowe  what  thilke  good  is  ?  '  'I  wol 
preyse  it,'  quod  I,  '  by  pr3's  with-outen 
ende,  yif  it  shal  bityde  me  to  knowe  also 
to-gider  god  that  is  good.' 

'  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  that  shal  I  do  thee  10 
by  verray  resoun,  yif  that  tho  thinges 
that  I  have  concliided  a  litel  her-biforn 
dwellen  only  in  hir  first  graunting.' 
'  They  dwellen  graunted  to  thee,'  quod  I  ; 
this  is  to  seyn,  as  ivho  seith:  I  graunte  thy  15 
forseide  conchisiotcns. 

'  Have  I  nat  shewed  thee,'  quod  she, 
'  that  the  thinges  that  ben  requered  of 
many  folkes  ne  ben  nat  verray  goodes  ne 
parfite,  for  they  ben  dyverse  that  oon  fro  20 
that  othre  ;  and  so  as  ech  of  hem  is  lak- 
kinge  to  other,  they  ne  han  no  power  to 
bringen  a  good  that  is  ful  and  absolut  ? 
But  thanne  at  erst  ben  they  verray  good, 
whanne  they  ben  gadered  to-gider  alle  25 


(goet^tue.    (gooR  iii:   (ptoae  xi. 


169 


in-to  o  forme  and  iii-to  oon  wirkinge,  so 
that  tliilke  thing  that  is  siiffisaunce, 
thLlke  same  he  power,  and  reverence,  and 
nohlesse,  and  niirthe  ;  and  forsothe,  hut- 

I  yif  alle  thise  thinges  hen  alle  oon  same 
thing,  they  ne  Iian  nat  wherhy  that  they 
mowen  hen  put  in  the  noumher  of  thinges 
that  oughten  hen  requered  or  desired.' 
'  It  is  shewed,'  quod  I ;  '  ne  her-of  may 
ther  no  man  douten.' 

'  The  thinges  thanne,'  quod  she,  '  that 
no  hen  no  goodes  whanne  they  hen  dy- 
verse,  and  whan  they  heginnen  to  hen 
alle  oon  thing  thanne  hen  they  goodes, 

i  ne  comth  it  hem  nat  thanne  hy  the 
getinge  of  unitee,  that  they  hen  maked 
goodes  ? '     '  So  it  semeth,'  quod  I. 

'  But  al  thing  that  is  good,'  quod  she, 
'  graixntest  thou  that  it  be  good  by  the 
participacioun   of  good,    or    no  ?  '  'I 

graunte  it,'  quod  I. 

'Thanne  most  thou  graunten,'  quod 
she,  '  by  semblable  resoun,  that  oon  and 
good  be  00  same  thing.     For  of  thinges, 

I  of  whiche  that  the  effect  nis  nat  nattirelly 
diverse,  nedes  the  substance  mot  be  00 
same   thing.'  '  I   ne   may  nat   denye 

that,'  quod  I. 

'  Hast  thou  nat  kuowen  wel,'  quod  she, 

;  '  that  al  thing  that  is  hath  so  longe  his 
dwelliuge  and  his  substaunce  as  longe  as 
it  is  oon  ;  but  whau  it  forleteth  to  ben 
oon,  it  mot  nedes  d;s'en  and  corumpe  to- 
gider  ? '         'In  which  manere ? '  quod  I. 

'  '  Eight  as  in  bestes,'  quod  she,  '  whan 
the  sowle  and  the  body  ben  conjoigned 
in  oon  and  dwellen  to-gider,  it  is  cleped 
a  beest.  And  whan  hir  unitee  is  destroyed 
by  the  disseveraunce   of  that  oon  from 

;  that  other,  than  sheweth  it  wel  that  it  is 
a  ded  thing,  and  that  it  nis  no  lenger 
no  beest.  And  the  body  of  a  wight,  whyl 
it  dwelleth  in  00  forme  by  conjunccioun 
of  membres,    it    is   wel   seyn   that    it  is 

>  a  figure  of  man-kinde.  And  yif  the 
parties  of  the  body  ben  so  devyded  and 
dissevered,  that  oon  fro  that  other,  that 
the.y  destroyen  unitee,  the  body  forleteth 
to  ben  that  it  was  biforn.     And,  who-so 

;  wt>lde  renne  in  the  same  manere  by  alle 

thinges,  he  sholde  seen  that,  with-oute 

G 


doiite,  every  thing  is  in  his  substaunce  as 
longe  as  it  is  oon  ;  and  whan  it  forleteth 
to  ben  oon,  it  dyeth  and  perissheth." 
'  Whan  I  considere,'  quod  I,  '  manye  , 
thinges,  I  see  non  other.' 

'Is  ther  any-thing  thanne,'  quod  she, 
'  that,  in  as  moche  as  it  liveth  natiTrelly, 
that  forleteth  the  talent  or  appetyt  of  his 
beinge,  and  desireth  to  come  to  deeth  and  : 
to   corupcioun  ?  '  '  Yif  I    considere,' 

qtiod  I,  '  the  beestes  that  han  any  maner 
nature  of  wilninge  and  of  nillinge,  I  ne 
iinde  no  beest,  but-yif  it  be  eonstreined 
fro  with-oute  forth,  that  forleteth  or  ' 
despyseth  the  entencioun  to  liven  and 
to  duren,  or  that  wole,  his  thankes, 
hasten  him  to  dyen.  For  every  beest 
travaileth  him  to  deifende  and  kepe  tlie 
savacioun  of  his  lyf,  and  eschueth  deeth  < 
and  destruccioun.  But  eertes,  I  doute 

me  of  herbes  and  of  trees,  that  is  to  seyn, 
that  I  am  in  a  doute  of  sieiche  thimjes  as 
herbes  or  trees,  that  ne  han  no  felinge 
sowles,  ne  no  naturel  wirldnges  servinge  to 
airpetytes  as  bestes  han,  whether  the;/  han 
appetyt  to  dwellen  and  to  duren.' 

'  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  ne  ther-of  tliar 
thee  nat  doute.  Now  loke  tip-on  thise 
herbes  and  thise  trees  ;  they  wexen  first 
in  swiche  places  as  ben  covenable  to  hem, 
in  whiche  places  they  ne  mowen  nat  sone 
dyen  ne  dryen,  as  longe  as  hir  nattire 
may  deffenden  hem.  For  soni  of  hem 
waxen  in  feeldos,  and  som  in  moun- 
taignes,  and  othre  waxen  in  mareys,  and 
othre  eleven  on  roches,  and  somme  waxen 
plentivous  in  sondes ;  and  yif  that  an.y 
wight  enforce  him  to  beren  hem  iu-to 
othre  places,  they  wexen  drye.  For 
natttre  j'eveth  to  every  thmg  that  that 
is  convenient  to  him,  and  travaileth  that 
they  ne  dye  nat,  as  longe  as  they  han 
power  to  dwellen  and  to  liven.  What 
woltow  seyn  of  this,  that  they  drawen 
alle  hir  norisshinges  by  hir  rotes,  right 
as  they  hadden  hir  mouthes  y-plounged 
with-in  the  erthes,  and  sheden  by  hir 
maryes  hir  wode  and  hir  bark  ?  And 
what  woltow  seyn  of  this,  that  thilke 
thing  that  is  right  softe,  as  the  niarye  is, 
that  is  alwoy  hid  in   the  sete,  al  with- 

3 


(gott^iM.      (gooft  III:     (pVCU  XI. 


inne,  and  that  is  detended  iro  with-oiite 
by  the  stedefastnesse  of  wode  ;  and  that 

)  the  nttereste  bark  is  put  ayeins  the  des- 
teniperannce  of  the  hevene,  as  a  defendour 
mighty  to  snffren  harm?  And  thus, 
certes,  maystow  wel  seen  how  greet  is 
the  diligence  of  nature  ;  for  alle  thinges 

;  renovelen  and  puplisshen  hem  with  seed 
y-multiplyed  ;  ne  ther  nis  no  man  that  ne 
wot  wel  that  they  ne  ben  right  as 
a  foiindement  and  edifice,  for  to  duren 
iiat  only  for   a   tyme,   but   right  as   for 

I  to  duren  perdurahly  by  generacioun.  And 
the  thinges  eek  that  men  wenen  ne  haven 
none  sowles,  ne  desire  they  nat  ech  of 
hem  by  semblable  resoun  to  kepen  that 
is  hirs,  that  is  to  seyn,  that  is  acordinge  to 
hir  nature  in  conscrvacioun  of  hir  beinge 
and  enduringe  ?  For  wher-for  elles  bereth 
lightnesse  the  flaumbes  up,  and  the 
weiglite  presseth  the  erthe  a-doun,  but 
for  as  moche  as  thilke  places  and  thilke 
moevinges  ben  covenable  to  everich  of 
hem  ?  And  forsothe  evei-y  thing  kepeth 
thilke  that  is  acordinge  and  jsropre  to 
him,  right  as  thinges  that  ben  contraries 
and  enemys  corompen  hem.  And  yit  the 
harde  thinges,  as  stones,  clyven  and 
holden  hir  parties  to-gider  right  faste  and 
harde,  and  deffenden  heni  in  withstond- 
inge  that  they  ne  departe  nat  lightly 
a-twinne.  And  the  thinges  that  ben 
softe  and  fletinge,  as  is  water  and  eyr, 
they  departen  lightly,  and  yeven  place 
to  hem  that  breken  or  de\'yden  hem  ; 
but  natheles,  they  retornen  sone  ayein 
in-to  the  same  thinges  fro  whennes  they 
ben  arraced.  But  fyr  fleeth  and  refuseth 
al  devisioun.  Ne  I  ne  trete  nat  heer 
now  of  wilful  moevinges  of  the  sowle 
that  is  knowinge,  but  of  the  naturel 
entencioun  of  thinges,  as  thus  :  right  as 
we  swolwe  the  mete  that  we  receiven  and 
ne  thinke  nat  on  it,  and  as  we  drawen 
ovir  breeth  in  slepinge  that  we  wite  it 
nat  whyle  we  slejien.  For  certes,  in  the 
beestes,  the  love  of  hir  livinges  ne  of  hir 
beinges  ne  comth  nat  of  the  wilninges 
of  the  sowle,  but  of  the  biginninges  of 
nature.  For  certes,  thorugh  constrein- 
inge  causes,  wil  desireth  and  embraceth 


ful   olte    tyme    the    deeth    that    nature 
dredeth ;    that    is   to    seyn   as   thus :    that  i8o 
a   man   may   hen    constreyned  so,   by  smn 
cause,  that  his  icil  desireth  and  taketh  the 
deeth  lohich  that  nature  hateth  and  dred- 
eth ful   sore.      And   somtjone   we    seeth 
the  contrarye,  as  thus  :   that  the  wil  of  185 
a  wight  destorbeth  and  C(jnstrejnieth  that 
that  nature   desireth   and  requereth  al- 
wey,  that  is  to  seyn,  the  werk  of  genera- 
cioun,  by  the  whiche  generacioun  only 
dwelleth  and  is  sustened  the  long  dura-  190 
bletee  of  mortal  thinges.     And  thus  this 
charitee  and  this  love,  that  every  thing 
hath   to  him-self,   ne  comth  nat  of  the 
moevinge  of  the  sowle,   but   of  the  en- 
tencioun of  nature.     For  the  purviaunce  195 
of  god  hath  yeven  to  thinges  that   ben 
creat  of  him  this,  that  is  a  ful  gret  cause 
to  liven  and  to  duren  ;    for  which  they 
desiren  naturelly  hir  lyf  as  longe  as  ever 
they  mowen.     For  which  thou  mayst  nat  200 
drede,    by    no    manere,    that    alle    the 
thinges  that  ben  anywhere,  that  they  ne 
requeren  naturellj'  the  ferme  stablenesse 
of   perdurable    dwellinge,    and    eek   the 
eschuinge  of  destniecioun.'     '  Now  con-  205 
fesse  I  wel,'  quod  I,  'that  I  see  now  wel 
certeinly,  with-oute  doutes,  the  thinges 
that  whylom  semeden  uncertain  to  me.' 

'  But,'  quod  she,  '  thilke  thing  that 
desireth  to  be  and  to  dwellen  perdurably,  210 
he  desireth  to  ben  oon  ;  for  yif  that  that 
oon  were  destroyed,  certes,  beinge  ne 
shulde  ther  non  dwellen  to  no  wight.' 
'  That  is  sooth,'  quod  I. 

'  Thanne,'     quod     she,     '  desiren    alle  215 
thinges  oon  ?'         'I  assente,'  quod  I. 

'  And  I  have  shewed,'  quod  she,  '  that 
thilke  same  oon  is  thilke  that  is  good?' 
'  Ye,  for  sothe,'  quod  I. 

'  Alle  thinges  thanne,'  quod  she,  '  re-  220 
quiren  good ;  and  thilke  good  thanne 
mayst  thou  descryven  right  thus  :  good 
is  thilke  thing  that  every  wight  desireth.' 
'  Ther  ne  may  be  thought,'  quod  I,  '  no 
more  verray  thing.  For  either  alle  225 
thinges  ben  referred  and  brought  to 
nought,  and  floteren  with-oute  governour, 
despoiled  of  oon  as  of  hir  propre  heved  ; 
or  elles,  yif  ther  be  any  thing  to  which 


(god^iU6.      (^0©8  III:    ^VO0i.  XII. 


:7i 


230  that  alle  thinges  tenden  and  hyen,  that 
thing  moste  ben  the  soverein  good  of  alle 
goodes.' 

Thanne  seyde  she  tlins  :  '  0  my  nory,' 
qiiod  she,  '  I  have  gret  gladnesse  of  thee  ; 

235  for  thon  hast  fieched  in  thyn  herte  the 
middel  soothfastnesse,  that  is  to  seyn,  the 
prikke ;  hiit  this  thing  hath  ben  des- 
covered  to  thee,  in  that  thoti  seydest 
that  thou  wistest  nat  a  litel  her-biforn.' 

240  '  Wliat  was  that  ?'  quod  I. 

'  That  thoii  ne  wistest  nat,'  quod  she, 
'  which  was  the  ende  of  thinges ;  and 
certes,  that  is  the  thing  that  every  wight 
desireth  ;  and  for  as  mochel  as  we  han 

245  gadered  and  comprehended  that  good  is 
thilke  thing  tliat  is  desired  of  alle,  thanne 
moten  we  nedes  confessen,  that  good  is 
the  fyn  of  alle  thinges. 

Metre  XI.     Quisquis  profunda  mente 
uestigat  uerum. 

Who-so  that  seketh  sooth  by  a  deep 
thoght,  and  coveiteth  nat  to  ben  deceived 
by  no  mis-weyes,  lat  him  rolleu  and 
trenden  with-inne  him-self  the  light  of 

5  his  inward  sighte  ;  and  lat  him  gadere 
ayein,  enclyninge  in -to  a  compas,  the 
longe  moevinges  of  his  thou(;htes  ;  and 
lat  him  techen  his  corage  that  he  hath 
enclosed  and  hid  in  his  tresors,  al  that 

10  he  compasseth  or  seketh  fro  with-oute. 
And  thanne  thilke  thinge,  that  the  blake 
cloude  of  errour  whylom  hadde  y-covered, 
shal  lighten  more  cleerly  thanne  Phebus 
him-self  ne  shyneth.         Glosa.     JVho-so 

15  wole  seken  the  deep  tjrounde  of  sooth  in  his 
thought,  and  tcol  nat  be  deceived  by  false 
proxwsiciouns  that  goon  amis  fro  the  trouthe, 
lat  him  wel  examine  and  rolle  rcith-inne 
himself  the  nature  and  the  x>ropretees  of  the 

20  thing ;  and  lat  him  yit  eftsones  examine 
and  rollen  his  thoughtes  by  good  delibera- 
cioun,  or  that  he  deme  ;  and  lat  him  techen 
his  sowle  that  it  hath,  by  natural  xjrinciples 
kindeliche  y-hid    nnth-in   it-self,   alle    the 

25  trouthe  the  whiche  he  imagineth  to  ben  in 
thinges  mth-ozcte.  And  thanne  alle  the 
derknesse  of  his  misknotvinge  shal  seme  more 
evidently  to  sighte   of  his  understondinge 


thanne  the  sonne  ne  scmeth  to  sighte  ivith- 
oute-forth.        For  certes  the  body,  bring-  30 
inge  the  weighte  of  foryetinge,  ne  hath 
nat  chased  out  of  yoi\r  thoughte  al  the 
cleernesse  of  your  knowinge  ;  for  certeinly 
the  seed  of  sooth  haldeth   and   clj^eth 
with-in  your  corage,  and  it  is  awaked  35 
and  excyted  by  the  winde  and  by  the 
blastes   of  doctrine.     For   wherfor    elles 
demen  ye  of  your  owne  wil  the  rightes, 
whan  ye  ben  axed,  but-yif  so  were  that 
the  norisshinge  of  resoun  ne  livede  y-  4C 
plounged  in  the  depthe  of  yoiir  herte? 
this  is  to  seyn,  hoio  sholden  men  demen  the 
sooth  of  any  thing  that  tcere  axed,  yif  flier 
nere  a  rote  of  soothfastnesse  that  were  y- 
plounged  and  hid  in  naturel  principles,  the  45 
whiche  soothfastnesse  lived  with-in  the  deep- 
nesse  of  the  thought.     And  yif  so  be  that 
the   Miise    and    the    doctrine    of    Plato 
singeth  sooth,  al  that  every  wight  lerneth, 
he   ne  doth    no-thing  elles  thanne  but  50 
recordeth,  as  men  recorden  thinges  that 
ben  foryeten.' 

Prose  XII.     Turn  ego,  Platoni,  inquam. 

Thanne  seide  I  thus  :  '  I  acorde  me 
gretly  to  Plato,  for  thou  remembrest 
and  recordest  me  tliise  thinges  yit  the 
secounde  tyme  ;  that  is  to  seyn,  first  whan 
I  loste  my  memorie  by  the  contagious  5 
conjunccioim  of  the  body  with  the  sowle ; 
and  eftsones  afterward,  whan  I  loste  it, 
confounded  by  the  charge  and  by  the 
burdene  of  my  sorwe.' 

And  thanne  seide  she  thus  :  '  yif  thou  10 
loke,'  quod  she,  '  first  the  thinges  that 
thou  hast  graunted,  it  ne  shal  nat  ben 
right  fer  that  thou  ne  shalt  remembren 
thilke  tiling  that  th<:)ii  seydest  that  thou 
nistest  nat.'         '  What  thing  ? '  quod  I.      15 

'  By  whiche  governement,'  quod  she, 
'that  this  world  is  governed.'  'Me 
remembreth  it  wel,'  quod  I ;  '  and  I  con- 
fesse  wel  that  I  ne  wiste  it  naught.  But 
al-be-it  so  that  I  see  now  from  a-fer  what  20 
thou  purposest,  algates,  I  desire  yit  to 
herkene  it  of  thee  more  pleynly.' 

'  Thou    ne    wendest    nat,'    quod    she, 
'a   litel    her-biforn,    that   men    sholden 


(gott^inB.    (gooft  III:  (pvoee  xii. 


f  donte  that  this  world  nis  governed  bj' 
god/  '  Certes,'  quod  I,  '  ne  yit  ne  doirte 
I  it  iianght,  ne  I  nel  never  wene  that 
it  were  to  donte  ;  as  vho  seith,  but  I  wot 
irel   that  god  govemetk   this  ivorld ;    and 

'  T  shal  shortly  answeren  thee  by  what 
rcsonns  I  am  brought  to  this.  Tliis 
world,'  qnod  I,  '  of  so  naanye  dyverse  an<l 
contrarious  parties,  ne  mighte  never  han 
ben   assembled  in   o  forme,  but-yif  ther 

:  nere  oon  that  conjoignede  so  naanye  dy- 
verse thinges  ;  and  the  same  djn-ersitee 
of  hir  natures,  that  so  discorden  that 
oon  fro  that  other,  moste  departen  and 
unjoignen    the    thinges    that    ben   con- 

1  joigned,  yif  ther  ne  were  oon  that  con- 
tenede  that  he  hath  conjoined  and  y- 
bounde.  Xe  the  certein  ordre  of  nature 
nc  sholde  nat  bringe  forth  so  ordenee 
moevinges,  by  places,  by  tymes,  by 
doiuges,  bj'  spaces,  by  qualitees,  yif  ther 
ne  were  oon  that  were  .ay  stedefast 
dwellinge,  that  ordeynede  and  disponede 
thise  dyvcrsitees  of  moevinges.  And 
thilko  thing,  what-so-ever  it  be,  by  which 

'  that  alle  thinges  ben  y-maked  and  y-lad, 
I  clepe  him  "god";  that  is  a  word  that 
is  used  to  alle  folk.' 

Thanne  seyde  she  :  '  sin  thou  felest 
thus  thise  thinges,'  qiiod  she,  '  I  trowe 
that  I  have  litel  more  to  done  that  thou, 
mighty  of  welefulnesse,  liool  and  souude, 
ne  see  eftsones  thy  contree.  But  lat  us 
loken  the  thinges  that  we  han  purposed 
her-biforn.     Have  I  nat  uoumbred  and 

'  seyd,'  quod  she,  '  that  suffisaunce  is  in 
blisfulnesse,  and  we  han  acorded  that 
god  is  thillce  same  blisfulnesse  ?'  '  Yis, 
forsothe,'  quod  I. 

'And  that,  to  governe  this  world,' 
quod  she,  '  ne  shal  he  never  han  nede 
of  non  help  fro  with-oiite  ?  For  elles, 
yif  he  hadde  nede  of  any  help,  he  no 
sholde  nat  have  no  ful  siiffisaunce  ? ' 
'  Yis,  thus  it  mot  nedes  be,'  quod  I. 

'  Thanne  ordeineth  he  by  him-self  al- 
one alle  thinges  ? '  quod  she.  '  That 
may  nat  be  denej-ed,'  quod  I. 

'  And  I  have  shewed  that  god  is  the 
same  good  ? '  'It  remembreth  me  wel,' 
quod  I. 


'  Thanne  ordeineth  he  alle  thinges  by 
thilke  good,'  qiTod  she  ;  '  siia  he,  which 
that  we  han  acorded  to  be  good,  governeth 
alle  thinges  by  him-self;  and  he  is  as 
a  keye  and  a  stere  by  which  that  the  80 
edifice  of  this  world  is  y-keiit  stable 
and  with-oute  coroumpinge.'  '  I  acorde 
me  greetly,'  quod  I  ;  '  and  I  aperceivede 
a  litel  her-biforn  that  thou  woldest  seye 
thus  ;  al-be-it  so  that  it  were  by  a  thinne  85 
suspecioun.' 

'  I  trowe  it  wel,'  quod  she  ;  '  for,  as 
I  trowe,  thou  ledest  now  more  ententifly 
thyne  eyen  to  loken  the  verray  goodes. 
But  natheles  the  thing  that  I  shal  telle  go 
thee  yit  ne  sheweth  nat  lasse  to  loken." 
'  What  is  that  ?'  quod  I. 

'  So  as  men  trowen,'  quod  she,  '  and 
that  rightfully,  that  god  governeth  alle 
thinges  by  the  keye  of  his  goodnesse,  95 
and  alle  thise  same  thinges,  as  I  have 
taught  thee,  hasten  hem  by  naturel  en- 
tencionn  to  comen  to  good  :  ther  may  no 
man  douten  that  they  ne  be  governed 
voluntariely,  and  that  they  ne  converten  loo 
hem  of  hir  owiie  wil  to  the  wil  of  hir 
ordenour,  as  they  that  ben  acordinge  and 
enclyninge  to  hir  governour  and  hir 
king.'  '  It  mot  nedes  bo  so,'  quod  I  ; 
'  for  the  reaume  ne  sholde  nat  semen  105 
blisful  jdf  ther  were  a  yok  of  mis- 
drawinges  in  djTerse  parties  ;  ne  the 
savinge  of  obedient  thinges  ne  sholde  nat 
be.' 

'Thanne   is   ther   nothing,'   quod  she,  no 
'  that  kepeth  his  nature,  that  enforceth 
him  to  goon  ayein  god  ? '         '  No,'  quod  I. 

'  And  jdf  that  any-thing  enforcede  him 
to  with-stonde  god,  mighte  it  availen  at 
the  laste  ayeins  him,  that  we  han  115 
graunted  to  ben  almighty  by  the  right 
of  blisfulnesse  ? '  '  Certes,'  quod  I,  '  al- 
outrely  it  ne  mighte  nat  availen  liim.' 

'  Thanne  is  ther  no-thing,'  quod  she, 
'that   either  wole   or  may  with-stonden  120 
to  this  soverein  good  ?'         '  I  trowe  nat,' 
quod  I. 

'  Thanne  is  thilke  the  soverein  good,' 
quod  she,  '  that  alle  thinges   governeth 
strongly,    and    ordejTieth    hem    softely.'  125 
Thanne   seyde    I    thus  :    '  I   delj'te   me,' 


(goet0tu0.    (gooft  III :    (mefre  xii. 


173 


qiTod  I,  '  nat  only  in  the  endes  or  in  the 

somme  of  the  resouns  that   thon  hast 

concluded  and  proeved,  bnt  thilke  wordes 

130  that  thou  nsest  delyten  me  moche  more  ; 

so,    at   the   laste,    fooles    that    sumtyme 

renden  grete    thinges    oughten    hen    a- 

shamed  of  hem-self ; '  that  is  to  seyn,  that 

u-e  fooles  that   reirrehenden  wihkedh/  the 

135  thimjes  that  touchen  ijoddes    ijovernaimce, 

we  otujhten  hen   ashamed  of  our-self:  as 

/,   that  seyde  that  god   refusetU  only  the 

icerkes  of  men,  and  ne  entremeteth  nat  of 

Jii'm. 

140       '  Thoii  hast  wel  herd,'  quod  she,  '  the 

fables   of  the   poetes,    how    the    giaunts 

assailedeu  the   hevene  ivith    the  yoddes ; 

but  forsothe,  the  debonair  force  of  god 

deijosede  hem,  as  it  was  worthy ;  that  is 

145  to  seyn,   destroyede  the  giaunts,  as  it  icas 

worthy.     But  wilt  thou  that  we  joigneu 

to-gider  thilke  same  resouns  ?    For  per- 

aveuture,    of    swich    oonjuncioiin    may 

sterten  up   som   fair  sparkle   of  sooth.' 

150  '  Do,'  quod  I,  '  as  thee  liste.' 

'  Wenest  thou,'  quod  she,  '  that  god  ne 
be  almighty?  No  man  is  in  doiite  of  it.' 
'  Certes,'  quod  I,  '  no  wight  ne  douteth 
it,  yif  he  be  in  his  minde.' 
155  '  But  he, '  quod  she,  '  that  is  abnightj', 
ther  nis  nothing  that  he  ne  may  ? ' 
'  That  is  sooth,'  quod  I. 

'  May  god  don  yvel  ? '  quod  she.     '  Nay, 
forsothe,'  quod  I. 
160       '  Thanne   is  yvel   nothing,'  quod   she, 
'  sin  that  he  ne  may  nat  don  yvel  that 
may  don  alle  thinges.'         '  Scornest  thou 
me ? '    quod  I ;    'or  elles  j)leyest  thou  or 
deceiuest  thou  me,  that  hast  so  woven  me 
165  with  thy  resouns  the  hous  of  Dedalus, 
so  entrelaced  that  it  is  unable  to  be  un- 
laced ;    th<ni    that    other-whyle    entrest 
ther  thou  issest,  and  other-whyle  issest 
ther   thou  entrest,  ne  foldest  thou  nat 
170  to-gider,  by  replicacioun  of  wordes,  amaner 
wonderful  cercle  or  environingo  of  the 
simplicitee  devyne?     For  certes,  a  litel 
her-biforn,  whan  thou  bigunne  at  blisful- 
nesse,    thou   seydcst   that   it  is  soverein 
175  good  ;  and  seydest  that  it  is  sot  in  soverein 
g(id  ;    and   seydest  that   god  him-self  is 
soverein  good  ;  and  that  god  is  the  fuUe 


blisfulnesse  ;  for  which  thoii  yave  me  as 
a  covenable  yift,  that  is  to  seyn,  that  no 
wight  nis  blistul  but-yif  he  be  god  also  180 
ther-with.      And  seidest   eek,   that   the 
forme  of  good  is  the  svibstauuce  of  god 
and   of  blisfulnesse  ;    and   seidest,    that 
thilke   same   oon   is   thilke    same   good, 
that  is  reqiiered  and  desired  of  alle  the  185 
kinde  of  thinges.     And  thou  proevedest. 
in  disputinge,  that  god  governetli  all  the 
thinges  of  the  world  by  the  governements 
of  bountee,  and  seydest,  that  alle  thinges 
wolen  obeyen  to  him  ;  and  seydest,  that  'S'^ 
the  nature  of  j'vel  nis  no-thing.     And 
thise  thinges  ne  shewedest  thou  nat  with 
none  resouns  y-taken  fro  with-oute,  but 
by  proeves  in  cerclesandhooialich.  knowen  ; 
the  whicho  proeves  drawen  to  hem-self  '95 
hir  feitli  and  hir  acord,  everich  of  hem 
of  other.' 

Thanne  seyde  she  thus  :  '  I  uc  scorne 
thee  nat,  ne  pleye,  ne  deceive  thee;  but 
I  have  shewed  thee  the  thing  that  is  200 
grettest  over  alle  thinges  by  the  yift  of 
god,  that  we  whylom  preyeden.  For  this 
is  the  forme  of  the  devyne  substaunce, 
that  is  swich  that  it  ne  slydeth  nat  in-to 
oiitterest  foreine  thinges,  ne  ne  receiveth  205 
no  straunge  thinges  in  him  ;  but  right 
as  Parmenides  seyde  in  Greek  of  thilke 
devyne  substaunce  ;  he  seyde  thus  :  that 
"thilke  devyne  substatince  torneth  the 
world  and  the  moevable  corcle  of  thinges,  210 
whyl  thilke  devyne  substaunce  kepcth 
it-self  with-oute  moevinge;"  that  is  to 
seyn,  that  it  ne  moeoeth  never-mo,  and  yit  it 
moeveth  alle  othre  thinges.  But  natheles, 
yif  I  have  stired  resouns  that  ne  ben  nat  215 
taken  fro  with-oute  the  compas  of  thing 
of  which  we  treten,  but  resouns  that  ben 
bistowed  with-in  that  compas,  ther  nis 
nat  why  that  thou  sholdest  merveilen  ; 
sin  thou  hast  lerned  by  the  sentence  of  .^20 
Plato,  that  "nedes  the  wordes  nioten  l)e 
cosines  to  the  thinges  of  which  they 
speken." 

Metre  XII.     Felix,  qui  potuit  boni. 

Blisful  is  that  man  that  may  seen  the 
clere  welle  of  good  ;    blistul  is  he  that 


[74 


tu6.    (goofi  IV:    (pvoet  I. 


may  nnbiuden  liini  fro  the  bondes  of  tlie 
he\-j-  erthe.  The  poete  of  Trace,  Orpheus, 
5  that  whylom  hadde  right  greet  sorwe 
for  the  deeth  of  his  w>'f,  after  that  he 
hadde  maked,  by  his  weei^ly  songes,  the 
wodes,  moevable,  to  reruien  ;  and  hadde 
maked  the  riveres  to  stonden  stille  ;  and 

lo  hadde  maked  the  hertes  and  the  hindes 
to  joigneu,  dredeles,  hir  sydes  to  cruel 
lyonus,  for  to  hcrknen  his  songe ;  and 
hadde  maked  that  the  hare  was  nat  agast 
of  tlie  hounde,  which  that  was  plesed  by 

>5  his  songe  :  so,  whan  the  moste  ardauut 
love  of  his  wif  brende  the  entrailes  of  his 
brest,  ne  the  songes  that  hadden  over- 
comeu  alle  thinges  ne  mighteu  nat  as- 
swagen    hir   lord    Orpheus,   he   pleynede 

20  him  of  the  hevene  goddes  that  weren 
crnel  to  him  ;  he  wente  him  to  the  houses 
of  helle.  And  there  he  temprede  hise 
blatmdisshinge  songes  by  resowninge 
streuges,  and  spak  and  song  in  wepinge 

25  al  that  ever  he  hadde  receivetl  and  laved 
out  of  the  noble  welles  of  his  moder 
Calliope  the  goddesse  ;  and  he  song  with 
as  mochel  as  he  miglite  of  wepinge,  and 
with  as  moche  as  love,  that  doublede  his 

30  sorwe,  mighte  yeve  him  and  techen  him  ; 
and  he  commoevede  the  helle,  and  re- 
querede  and  bisoughte  by  swete  preyere 
the  lordes  of  sowles  in  helle,  of  relesinge  ; 
that  is  to  geyn,  to  yilden  him  his  icyf. 

35  Cerberus,  the  porter  of  helle,  with  his 
three  hevedes,  was  caught  and  al  abayst 
for  the  newe  song  ;  and  the  three  god- 
desses, Furies,  and  vengeresses  of  felonyes, 
that  tormenteu  and  agasten  the  sowles 

40  by  anoy,  woxeu  sor%vful  and  sory,  and 


wepen  teres  for  pitee.  Tho  ne  was  nat 
the  heved  of  Ixiou  y-tormented  by  the 
overthrowinge  wheel ;  and  Tantalus,  that 
was  destroyed  by  the  woodnesse  of  longe 
thurst,  despyseth  the  flodes  to  driuke  ;  45 
the  fowl  that  higlite  voltor,  that  eteth 
the  stomak  or  the  giser  of  Titjiis,  is  so 
fulfild  of  his  song  that  it  nil  eten  ne 
tyren  no  more.  At  the  laste  the  lord 
and  juge  of  sowles  was  moeved  to  miseri-  50 
cordes  and  cryde,  "  we  ben  overcomen," 
quod  he;  "  yive  we  to  Orpheus  his  wyf 
to  here  him  companye  ;  he  hath  wel  y- 
bovight  hir  by  his  song  and  his  ditee  ; 
but  we  wol  putte  a  lawe  in  this,  and  55 
covenaunt  in  the  yifte  :  that  is  to  seyn, 
that,  til  he  be  out  of  helle,  yif  he  loke 
behinde  him,  that  his  wyf  shal  comen 
ayein  unto  us."  Bvit  what  is  he  that 
may  yive  a  lawe  to  loveres  ?  Love  is  60 
a  gretter  lawe  and  a  strenger  to  him-self 
than  any  latve  that  men  may  yeven.  Alias  ! 
whan  Orpheus  and  his  wyf  weren  almest 
at  the  termes  of  the  night,  that  is  to  seyn, 
at  the  laste  houndes  of  helle,  Orpheus  65 
lokede  abakward  on  Eurydice  his  wj'f, 
and  loste  hir,  and  was  deed. 

This  fable  aperteineth  to  yow  alle,  who- 
so-ever  desireth  or  seketh  to  lede  his 
thought  in-to  the  soverein  day,  that  is  to  70 
seyn,  to  cleemesse  of  soverein  good.  For 
who-so  that  ever  be  so  overcomen  that 
he  ficche  his  eyen  into  the  putte  of  heUe, 
that  is  to  seyn,  loho-so  sette  his  thoughtes  in 
erthely  thinges,  al  that  ever  he  hath  75 
drawen  of  the  noble  good  celestial,  he 
leseth  it  whan  he  loketh  the  helles,'  that 
is  to  seyn,  in-to  lowe  thinges  of  tlie  erthe 


Explicit  Liber  tercius. 


BOOK   lY. 


PaosE  I.    Hec  cum  Philosophia,  dignitate 

uiiltus. 

Whax  Philosophye  hadde  songensoftely 

and  delitably  the  forseide  thinges,  kepinge 

the  dignitee  of  hir  chere  and  the  weighte 


nat  al-outerly  foryeten  the  wepinge  and  5 
the  mourniuge  that  was  set  in  myn 
herte,  forbrak  the  entencioun  of  hir  that 
entendede  yit  to  sejoi  some  othre  thinges. 
'  O,'  qttod  I,  '  thou  that  art  gj'deresse  of 
verrey  light  ;  the  thinges  that  thou  hast  10 


of  hir  wordes,  I  thanne,  that  ne  hadde      seid  me  hider-to  ben  so  clere  to  me  ami 


Q0od0tu0.    (^ooft  IV:   QUeftre  i. 


175 


so  shewinge  by  the  devyne  lookinge  of 
hem,  and  by  thy  resouns,  that  they  ne 
niowen    ben    overcomen.       And    thilke 

15  thinges  that  thol^  toldest  me,  al-be-it  so 
that  I  hadde  whylom  foryeten  hem,  for 
the  sorwe  of  the  wrong  that  hath  ben 
don  to  me,  yit  natheles  they  ne  weren 
nat  al-outrely  unknowen  to  me.    But  this 

.'o  same  is,  namely,  a  right  greet  cause  of 
my  sorwe,  so  as  the  governour  of  thinges 
is  good,  yif  that  yveles  moweu  ben  by 
any  weyes  ;  or  elles  yif  that  yveles  passen 
with-oute  punisshinge.    The  whiohe  thing 

25  only,  how  worthy  it  is  to  ben  wondred 
up-on,  thoii  considerest  it  wel  thy-self 
certeiuly.  But  yit  to  this  thing  ther  is 
yit  another  thing  y-joigned,  more  to  ben 
wondred  up-on.  For  felonye  is  emperesse, 

3u  and  floureth  ful  of  richesses  ;  and  vertii 
nis  nat  al-only  with-oute  niedes,  but  it 
is  cast  under  and  fortroden  under  the 
feet  of  felonous  folk  ;  and  it  abyeth  the 
torments   in  stede  of  wikkede  felounes. 

35  Of  alle  whiche  thinges  ther  nis  no  wight 
that  may  merveylen  y-nough,  ne  oom- 
pleine,  that  swiclie  thinges  ben  doou  iu 
the  regne  of  god,  that  alle  thinges  woot 
and  alle  thinges  may,  and  ne  wole  nat 

40  but  only  gode  thinges.' 

Thanne  seyde  she  thus  :  '  Certes,'  quod 
she,  '  that  were  a  greet  merveyle,  and  an 
enbasshinge  with-outen  ende,  and  wel 
more  horrible  than  alle  monstres,  yif  it 

45  were  as  thou  wenest ;  that  is  to  seyn,  that 
iu  the  right  ordenee  hous  of  so  mochel 
a  fader  and  an  ordenour  of  meynee,  that 
the  vesseles  that  ben  foule  and  vyle 
sholden  ben  honoured  and  heried,   and 

50  the  precious  vesseles  sholden  ben  de- 
fouled  and  vyle  ;  but  it  nis  nat  so.  For 
yif  tho  thinges  that  I  have  concluded 
a  litel  her-biforn  ben  kept  hole  and  un- 
raced,    thou    shalt    wel    knowe    by   the 

55  autoritee  of  god,  of  the  whos  regne 
I  speke,  that  certes  the  gode  folk  ben 
alwey  mighty,  and  shrewes  ben  alwey 
out-cast  and  feble  ;  ne  the  vyces  ne  ben 
never-mo  with-oute  pejaie,  ne  the  vertues 

60  ne  ben  nat  with-oute  mede  ;  and  that 
blisfulnesses  comen  alwey  to  goode  folk, 
and    infortune   comth   alwey  to  wikked 


folk.  And  thou  shalt  wel  knowe  many 
thinges  of  this  kinde,  that  shoUen  cesen 
thy  pleintes,  and  strengthen  thee  with  6$ 
stedefast  sadnesse.  And  for  thou  hast 
seyn  the  forme  of  the  verray  blisfulnesse 
by  me,  that  have  whylom  shewed  it  thee, 
and  thou  hast  knowen  in  whom  blisful- 
nesse is  y-set,  alle  thinges  y-treted  that  70 
I  trowe  ben  necessarie  to  putten  forth, 
I  shal  shewe  thee  the  wey  that  shal 
bringen  thee  ayein  un-to  thyn  hous. 
And  I  shal  ficchen  fetheres  in  thy  thought, 
by  whiche  it  may  arysen  in  heighte,  so  75 
that,  alle  tribulacioun  y-don  awey,  thoiT, 
by  my  gydinge  and  by  my  path  and  by 
my  sledes,  shalt  mowe  retorne  liool  and 
sound  in-to  thy  contree. 

Metre  I.     Sunt  etenim  pennae  volucres 
mihi. 

I  have,  forsothe,  swifte  fetheres  that 
surmounten  the  heighte  of  hevene.  Whan 
the  swifte  thought  hath  clothed  it-self  in 
tho  fetheres,  it  despyseth  the  hateful 
erthes,  and  surmounteth  the  roundnesse  5 
of  the  grete  ayr  ;  and  it  seeth  the  cloudes 
behinde  his  bale  ;  and  passeth  the  heighte 
of  tho  region  of  the  fyr,  that  eschavifeth 
by  the  swifte  nioevinge  of  the  firmament, 
til  that  he  areyseth  him  in-to  the  houses  10 
that  bereu  the  sterres,  and  joyneth  his 
weyes  with  the  sonne  Phebus,  and  felaw- 
shipeth  the  wey  of  the  olde  colde  Satur- 
nus  ;  and  ho  y-maked  a  knight  of  tho 
clere  sterre ;  that  is  to  seyn,  that  the  15 
thought  is  maked  goddes  knight  by  the 
sekinge  of  trouthe  to  comen  to  the  verray 
knowleche  of  god.  And  thilke  thoglit 
renneth  by  the  cercle  of  the  sterres,  in 
alle  places  ther-as  the  shyninge  night  is  20 
l)einted  ;  that  is  to  seyn,  the  night  that  is 
cloudeles  ;  for  on  niyhtes  that  hen  clotideles 
it  semeth  as  the  hevene  were  peinted  ivith 
dyverse  images  of  sterres.  And  whanne 
he  hath  y-doon  ther  y-nough,  he  shal  25 
forleten  the  laste  hevene,  and  he  shal 
pressen  and  wenden  on  the  bak  of  the 
swifte  firmament,  and  he  shal  ben  maked 
parfit  of  the  worshipful  light  of  god. 
Ther  halt  the  lord  of  kinges  the  oeptre  30 


76 


(goef6tu0.    (gooft  IV:   (proee  ii. 


of  liis  might,  ami  atempretli  the  governe- 
meuts  of  the  worhl,  and  the  shyninge 
jnge  of  thinges,  stable  in  him-self,  gover- 
neth  the  swifte  cart  or  wayn,  that  is  to 

,i^  seyn,  the  circuler  moevinge  of  the  sonne. 
And  yif  thy  wey  ledeth  thee  ayein  so 
that  thou  be  broi^ght  thider,  thanne 
wolt  thou  seye  now  that  that  is  the 
contree  that   thou   requerest,    of  which 

40  thou  ue  haddest  no  niinde  :  "  but  now  it 
remembreth  me  wol,  heer  was  I  born, 
heer  wol  I  fastne  my  degree,  heer  wole 
I  dwelle."  But  yif  thee  lyketh  thanne 
to  loken  on  the.  derknesse  of  the  erthe 

45  that  thou  hast  forleten,  thanne  shalt 
thou  seen  that  thise  felonous  tyraunts, 
that  the  wrecchede  peple  dredeth,  now 
sliollen  ben  exyled  fro  thilke  fayre  con- 
tree.' 

Prose  II.     Turn,  ego,  Papae,  inquam. 

Than  seyde  I  thus  :  '  owh  !  I  wondre  me 
that  thou  bihetest  me  so  grete  thinges  ; 
ne  I  ne  doute  nat  that  thou  ne  mayst 
wel  porforme  that  thou  bihetest.  But 
.S  I  preye  thee  only  this,  that  thou  ne 
tarye  nat  to  telle  me  thilke  thinges  that 
thou  hast  moeved.' 

'  First,'    quod   she,    '  thou  most  nedes 
knowen,     that    goode    folk     ben    alwey 

10  stronge  and  mighty,  and  the  shrewes 
ben  feble  and  desert  and  naked  of  alle 
strengthes.  And  of  thise  thinges,  certes, 
everioh  of  hem  is  declared  and  shewed 
by  other.     For  so  as  good  and  yvel  ben 

15  two  contraries,  yif  so  be  that  good  be 
stedefast,  than  sheweth  the  feblesse  of 
.^•vel  al  openly;  and  yif  thou  knowe 
cleerly  the  frelenesse  of  y\-el,  the  stede- 
fastnesse  of  good  is  knowen.     But  for  as 

20  moche  as  the  fey  of  my  sentence  shal 
be  the  more  ferme  and  haboundaiint, 
I  will  gon  by  that  00  wey  and  by  that 
other  ;  and  I  wole  conferme  the  thinges 
that  ben  purposed,  now  on  this  syde  and 

25  now  on  that  syde.  Two  thinges  ther  ben 
in  whiche  the  effect  of  alle  the  dedes  of 
mankinde  standeth,  that  is  to  seyn,  wil 
and  power  ;  and  yif  that  oon  of  thise  two 
fayleth,   ther  nis   nothing  that  may  be 


lion.  For  yif  that  wil  lakketh,  ther  nis  30 
no  wight  that  undertaketh  to  don  that 
he  wol  nat  don  ;  and  j'if  power  fayleth, 
the  wil  nis  but  in  ydel  and  stant  for 
naught.  And  ther-of  cometh  it,  that  yif 
thou  see  a  wight  that  wolde  geten  that  35 
he  may  nat  geten,  thou  mayst  nat  douten 
that  power  ne  fayleth  him  to  haven  that 
he  wolde.'  'This  is  open  and  cleer,' 
[  quod  I ;  '  ne  it  may  nat  ben  deneyed  in 
no  manere.'  40 

'  And  yif  thou  see  a  wight,'  qiiod  she, 
'  that  hath  doon  that  he  wolde  doon, 
thou  nilt  nat  douten  that  he  ne  hath 
had  power  to  don  it  ?  '         '  No,'  quod  I. 

'  And  in  that  that  every  wight  may,  45 
in  that  men  may  holden  him  mighty  ; 
as  who  seyih,  in  so  moche  as  man  is  iniijhtj/ 
to  don  a  thing,  in  so  mochel  men  halt  him 
mighty  :  and  in  that  that  he  ne  may,  in 
that  men  demen  him  to  be  feble.'  '  I  50 
confesse  it  wel,'  quod  I. 

'  Remembreth  thee,'  quod  she,  '  that 
I^have  gadered  and  shewed  by  forseyde 
resouns  that  al  the  entencioun  of  the  wil 
I  of  mankinde,  which  that  is  lad  by  dyvcrse  55 
studies,  hasteth  to  comen  to  blisfulnesse  ?  ' 
'  It  remembreth  me  wel,'  quod  I,  '  that  it 
hath  ben  shewed.' 

'  And  recordeth  thee  nat  thanne,'  q\iod 
she,  '  that  blisfulnesse  is  thilke  same  good  60 
that  men  requeren  ;  so  that,  whan  that 
blisftilnesse  is  requered  of  alle,  that  good 
also  is  requered  and  desired  of  alle?' 
'  It  ne  recordeth  me  nat,'  quod  I  ;  '  for 
I  have  it  gretly  alwey  ficehed  in  my  65 
memorie.' 

'Alle  folk  thanne,'  quod  she,  'goode 
and  eek  badde,  enforcen  hem  with-oute 
difference  of  entencioun  to  comen  to 
good  ? '  '  This    is    a    verray    conse-  70 

qiience,'  quod  I. 

'  And  certein  is,'  quod  she,  '  that  by  the 
getinge  of  good  ben  men  y-maked  goode?' 
'  This  is  certein,'  quod  I. 

'  Thanne   geten   goode  men  that  they  75 
desiren  ? '         'So  semeth  it,"  quod  I. 

'  But  wikkede  folk,'  quod  she,  '  yif  they 
geten  the  good  that  the.v  ilesiren,  they  ne 
mo  we  nat  be  wikkede  ?  '  '  So  is  it,' 
(luod  I.  80 


Q2>oef6iu0.    Q^ooft  iv:   (ptoee  ii. 


11 


'Thanne,  so  as  that  oon  ami  that 
other,'  quod  she,  '  desiren  good  ;  and  the 
^oode  folk  geten  good,  and  uat  the  wikke 
folk ;  thanne  nis  it  no  doute  that  the 
goode  folk  ne  ben  mighty  and  the  wik- 
kede  folk  ben  feble  ?  '  '  Who-so  that 
ever,'  quod  I,  '  doiiteth  of  this,  he  ne 
may  nat  oonsidere  tlie  nature  of  thinges 
ne  the  consequence  of  resouns.' 

And  over  this  quod  she,  '  Yif  that  ther 
be  two  thinges  that  han  oo  same  puri)()se 
by  kinde,  and  that  oon  of  hem  pursueth 
iind  parformeth  thilke  same  thing  by 
naturel  office,  and  that  other  ne  may  nat 
doon  thilke  naturel  office,  but  folweth,  by 
other  manere  thanne  is  convenable  to 
nature,  him  that  acomplissheth  his  pur- 
pos  kindely,  and  yit  he  ne  acomplissheth 
nat  his  owne  purpos  :  whether  of  thise 

I  two  demestow  for  more  mighty  '?  '  '  Yif 
that  I  conjecte,'  quod  I,  '  that  thou  wolt 
seye,  algates  yit  I  desire  to  herkne  it 
more  pleynly  of  thee.' 

'  Thou  wilt  nat  thanne  deneye,'  quod 
she,  '  that  the  moevement  of  goinge  nis  in 
men  by  kinde  ?  '  '  No,  forsothe,'  quod  I. 
'  Ne  thou  ne  doutest  nat,'  quod  she, 
•  that  thilke  naturel  office  of  goinge  ne 
be  the  office  of  feet  ?  '         '  I  ne  doute  it 

I  nat,'  quod  I. 

'  Thanne,'  quod  she,  '  yif  that  a  wight 
be  mighty  to  moeve  and  goth  upon  his 
feet,  and  another,  to  whom  thilke  naturel 
office  of  feet  lakketh,  entbrceth  him  to 

;  gon  crepinge  up-on  his  handes  :  whiche 
of  thise  two  oughte  to  ben  holden  the 
more  mighty  by  right  ?  '  '  Knit  forth 
the  remenannt,'  quod  I ;  '  for  no  wight  ne 
douteth  that  he  that  may  gon  by  naturel 

)  office  of'  feet  ne  be  more  mighty  than  he 
that  ne  may  nat.' 

'  But  the  soverein  good,'  quod  she, 
'  that  is  eveneliclie  purposed  to  the  gode 
folk  and  to  badde,  the  gode  folk  seken  it 

)  by  natiirel  office  of  vertues,  and  the 
shrewes  enforcen  hem  to  geten  it  by 
dyverse  coveityse  oferthely  tJiinijes,  which 
that  nis  no  naturel  office  to  geten  thilke 
same  soverein  good.     Trowestow  that  it 

)  be  any  other  wyse  ?  '  '  Naj^,'  quod  I  ; 
'  for  the  consequence  is  open  and  shew- 


inge  of  thinges  that  I  have  graunteil ; 
that  nedes  gode  folk  moteu  ben  mighty, 
and  shrewes  feeble  and  unmightj'.' 

'  Thou  rennest  a-right  biforn  me,"  quod  135 
she,  '  and  this  is  the  jugement ;  (hat  is  to 
seyn,  I  jugc  of  thee  right  as  thise  leches 
ben  wont  to  hojjen  of  syke  folk,   uhan 
they  aperceyven  that  nature  is  redressed 
and  withstondeth  to  the  maladye.     But,  14a 
for  I  see  thee  now  al  redy  to  the  under- 
stondinge,  I  shal  shewe  thee  more  thikke 
and  continuel  resouns.    For  loke  now  how 
greetly    sheweth    the    feblesse    and    in- 
lirmitee  of  wikkede  folk,  that  no  mf)wen  145 
nat  comen  to  that  hir  naturel  entencioun 
ledeth  hem,  and  yit  almost  thilke  naturel 
entencioun  constrciufth  iieni.     And  what 
u-ere  to  detnen  thani>i'  (f  fdinicet:,  yif  tliilko 
naturel  help   hadde   forletcn    hem,    the  150 
which  nattirel    help   of  intencumn    goth 
awey  biforn  hem,  and  is  so  greet   that 
unnethe  it  may  ben  overcome  ?    Consider 
thanne  how  greet  defai^te  of  power  and 
how  greet   feblesse   ther   is   in   wikkede  155 
felonousfolk  ;  as  who  seyth,  the  gj-etter  thing 
that  is  coveited  and  the   desire  nat  acom- 
plisshed,    of  the    lasse   might    is    he   that 
coveiteth  it  and  may  nat  acompUsshe.    And 
forthy   Philosophie  seyth  thus  by  soverein  160 
good :  Ne  shrewes  ne  requeren  nat  lights 
medes  ne  veyne  games,  whiche  they  no 
may  folwen  ne  holden  ;  but  thej'  fallen  of 
thilke    somme    and    of   the    heighte   of 
thinges,  that  is  to  seyn,  soverein  good  ;  ne  165 
tliise  wrecches  ne  comen  nat  to  the  effect 
of  soverein  good,  the  which  they  enforcen 
hem  only  to   geten,  by  nightes  and  Tiy 
dayes  ;  in  the  getinge  of  which  good  tlie 
strengthe  of  good  iblk  is  ful  wel  y-sene.  170 
For  right  so  as  thou  mightest  demon  him 
mighty  of  goinge,  that  gooth  on  his  feet 
til  he  mightc  come  to  thilke  place,  fro  the 
whiche  place  ther  ne  laye  no  wey  forther 
to  ben  gon  ;    right  so  most  thou  nedes  175 
demen  him  for  right  mighty,  that  getetli 
and  ateyneth  to  the  ende  of  alle  thinges 
that  ben  to  desire,  biyonde  the  whiche  ende 
ther  nis  nothing  to  desire.     Of  the  which 
power  of  good  folk  men  may  conclude,  that  180 
the  wikked  men  semen  to  be  bareine  and 
naked  of  alio   strengthe.     For-why  for- 


(gocf6tu0.    q2>ooR  IV:  (pvou  II. 


leteu  they  vertues  and  folwen  ^'yces  ? 
Nis  it  nat  for  that  they  ne  knowen  nat 
the  goodes  ?  But  what  thing  is  more  feble 
and  more  caitif  thanne  is  the  blindnesse 
of  ignoraunce  ?  Or  elles  they  knowen  fvil 
wel  whiche  thinges  tliat  they  oughten 
folwe,  but  lecherye  and  coveityse  over- 
I  throweth  hem  mistomed  ;  and  certes,  so 
doth  distemperaunce  to  feble  men,  that 
ne  mowen  nat  ^vrastlen  ayeins  the  \'yces. 
Ne  knowen  they  nat  thanne  wel  that  they 
forleten  the  good  wilfully,  and  tornen 
hem  wilfully  to  ^yces  ?  And  in  this  wyse 
they  ne  forleten  nat  only  to  ben  mighty, 
but  they  tbrleten  al-outrely  in  any  wyse 
for  to  ben.  For  they  that  forleten  the 
comune  fyn  of  alle  thinges  that  ben,  they 
forleten  also  therwith-al  for  to  ben.  And 
per-aventure  it  sholde  semen  to  som  folk 
that  this  were  a  merveile  to  seyen  :  that 
shrewes,  whiche  that  contienen  the  more 
partye  of  men,  ne  ben  nat  ne  han  no 
beinge  ;  but  uatheles,  it  is  so,  and  thus 
stant  this  thing.  For  they  that  ben 
shrewes,  I  deneye  nat  that  they  ben 
shrewes  ;  but  I  deneye,  and  seye  simplely 
and  plainly,  that  they  ne  ben  nat,  ne  han 
no  beinge.  For  right  as  thou  mightest 
seyen  of  the  earayne  of  a  man,  that  it 
were  a  deed  man,  but  thou  ne  mightest 
nat  sinii^lely  callen  it  a  man  ;  so  graunte 
I  wel  forsothe,  that  vicious  folk  ben  wik- 
ked,  but  I  ne  may  nat  graunten  absolutly 
and  simplely  that  they  ben.  For  thilke 
thing  that  with-holdeth  ordre  and  kepeth 
nature,  thilke  thing  is  and  hath  beinge  ; 
but  what  thing  that  faileth  of  that,  that 
is  to  sei/n,  that  he  forleteth  naturel  ordre, 
he  forleteth  thilke  thing  that  is  set  in  his 
nature.  But  thou  wolt  seyn,  that  shrewes 
mowen.  Certes,  that  ne  deneye  I  nat ; 
but  certes,  hir  power  ne  descendeth  nat 
of  strengthe,  but  of  feblesse.  For  they 
mowen  don  wikkednesses ;  the  whiche 
they  ne  mighte  nat  don,  yif  they  mighten 
dwellen  in  the  forme  and  in  the  doinge  of 
good  folk.  And  thilke  power  sheweth  ful 
evidently  that  they  ne  mowen  right 
naught.  For  so  as  I  have  gadered  and 
proeved  a  litel  her-biforn,  that  y\-el  is 
naught ;  and  so  as  shrewes  mowen  only 


but  shrewednesses,  this  conclusioun  is 
al  cleer,  that  shrewes  ne  mowen  right  235 
naught,  ne  han  no  power.  And  for  as 
moche  as  thou  understonde  which  is  the 
strengthe  of  this  power  of  shrewes,  I  have 
definisshed  a  litel  her-biforn,  that  nothing 
is  so  mighty  as  soverein  good.'  '  That  240 
is  sooth,'  quod  I. 

'  And  thilke  same  soverein  good  may 
don  non  y\'el  ?  '         '  Certes,  no,'  quod  I. 

'  Is  ther  any  wight  thanne,'  quod  she, 
'  that  weneth  that  men  mowen  doon  alle  245 
thinges?'         'No  man,' quod  I,  '  but-yif 
he  be  out  of  his  witte.' 

'  But,  certes,  shrewes  mowen  douyvel,' 
quod  she.  '  Ye,  wolde  god,'  quod  I, 
'  that  they  mighten  don  non  ! '  ^50 

'  Thanne,'  quod  she,  '  so  as  he  that  is 
mighty  to  doon  only  but  goode  thinges 
may  don  alle  thinges  ;  and  they  that  ben 
mighty  to  don  yvele  thinges  ne  mowen 
nat  alle  thinges  :  thanne  is  it  open  thing  255 
and  manifest,  that  they  that  mowen  don 
y\e\  ben  of  lasse  power.  And  yit,  tox>roeve 
this  conclusioun,  ther  helpeth  me  this,  that 
I  have  y-shewed  her-biforn,  that  alle 
power  is  to  be  noumbred  among  thinges  200 
that  men  ovighten  requere.  And  I  have 
shewed  that  alle  thinges,  that  oughten 
ben  desired,  ben  referred  to  good,  right  as 
to  a  maner  heighte  of  hir  nature.  But  for 
to  mowen  don  yvel  and  felonye  ne  may  265 
nat  ben  referred  to  good.  Thanne  nis  nat 
y\'el  of  the  nonmbir  of  thinges  that 
oughte  ben  desired.  But  alle  power 
oughte  ben  desired  and  requered.  Than 
is  it  oiien  and  cleer  that  the  power  ne  the  270 
mowinge  of  shrewes  nis  no  power  ;  and  of 
alle  thise  thinges  it  sheweth  wel,  that  the 
goode  folke  ben  certeinly  mighty,  and  the 
shrewes  douteles  ben  unmighty.  And  it 
is  cleer  and  open  that  thilke  opinioun  of  275 
Plato  is  verray  and  sooth,  that  seith,  that 
only  wyse  men  may  doon  that  they 
desiren ;  and  shrewes  mowen  haunten 
that  hem  lyketh,  btit  that  they  desiren, 
that  is  to  seyn,  to  coiiien  to  sovereign  good,  280 
they  ne  han  no  power  to  acomplisshen 
that.  For  shrewes  don  that  hem  list, 
whan,  by  tho  thinges  in  which  they 
delyten,  they  wenen  to  ateine  to  thilke 


(goet^tue.    (gooft  iv :  $>vo6e  m. 


179 


285  good  that  they  desiren  ;  hut  they  ne  geten 
ne  ateinen  iiat  ther-to,  for  -s-j-ces  ne  comeii 
nat  to  Mistuhiesse. 

Metre  II.     Quos  uides  sedere  celsos. 

Who-so   that    the    covertoures   of  hir 

veyiie  aparailes  mighte  strepen  of  thise 

proude  kiiiges,  that  thou  seest  sitten  on 

heigh  in  hir  chaires  gliteringe  in  shjminge 

■;  purpre,  envirounedwith  sorwtularmures, 
manasinge  with  cruel  movith,  hlowinge 
by  woodnesse  of  herte,  he  shulde  seen 
thanne  that  thilke  lordes  beren  with-inne 
hir    corages    ful    streite    cheiues.      For 

:o  lecherye  tormenteth  hem  in  that  oou 
syde  with  gredy  venims  ;  and  troublable 
ire,  that  araiseth  in  him  the  flodes  of 
truublinges,  tormenteth  up-ou  that  other 
syde  hir  thought ;  or  sorwe  halt  hem  wery 

,5  and  y-caught ;  or  slydinge  and  deceivinge 
hope  tormenteth  hem.  And  therfore,  sen 
thou  seest  oon  heed,  that  is  to  seyn,  0011 
tyraunt,  beren  so  manye  tyrannyes, 
thanne  ne  doth  thilke  tyraunt  nat  that 

20  he  desireth,  sin  he  is  cast  doun  with  so 
manye  wikkede  lordes  ;  that  is  to  seyn, 
with  so  manye  vyces,  that  han  so  ivikUiUy 
lordshipes  over  him. 

Pkose  III.     Videsne  igitur  qtianto  in 

coenu. 

SeestQW  nat  thanne  in  how  grete  filthe 

thise  shrewes  ben  y-wrapped,  and  witli 

which  cleernesse  thise  good  folk  shynen  ? 

In  this  sheweth  it  wel,  that  to  goode  folk 

5  ne  lakketh  never-mo  hir  medes,  ne 
shrewes  lakken  never-mo  torments.  For 
of  aUe  thinges  that  ben  y-doon,  thilke 
thing,  for  which  any-thing  is  don,  it 
semeth  as  by  right  that  thilke  thing  be 
10  the  mede  of  that ;  as  thus  :  yif  a  man 
renneth  in  the  stadie,  or  in  the  forlong, 
for  the  corone,  thanne  lyth  the  mede  in 
the  corone  for  which  he  renneth.  And 
I  have  shewed  that  blisfi\luesse  is  thilko 

IS  same  good  for  which  that  alle  thinges 
ben  doon.  Thanne  is  thilke  same  good 
purposed  to  the  workes  of  mankinde 
right  as  a  comune  mede  ;  which  mede  ne 
may  ben  dissevered  fro  good  folk.    For  no 


wight  as  by  right,  fro  thennes-forth  that  20 
him    lakketh    goodnesse,    ne    shal    ben 
cleped  good.     For  which  thing,  folk  of 
goode  maneres,  hir  medes  ne  forsaken  hem 
never-mo.     For  al-be-it  so  that  shrewes 
wexen  as  wode  as  hem  list  aijeins  goode  2$ 
folk,   yit  never-the-lesse  the   corone    of 
wyse  men  shal  nat  fallen  ne  faden.     For 
foreine  shrewednesse  ne  binimeth  nat  fro 
the    corages   of  goode    folk    hir   propre 
honour.     But  yif  that  any  wight  rejoyse  ■.<■> 
him  of  goodnesse  that  he  hadde  take  fro 
with-otite  (as  ivho  seith,  yif  that  any  wight 
hadde  his  goodnesse  of  any  other  man  than 
of  himself),  certes,  he  that  yaf  him  thilke 
goodnesse,    or    elles    som    other    wight,  35 
mighte  binime  it  him.    But  for  as  moche 
as  to  every  wight  his  owne  propre  bountee 
yeveth  him  his  mede,  thanne  at  erst  shal 
"he  failen  of  mede  whan  he  forleteth  to 
ben  good.     And  at  the  laste,  so  as  alle  4" 
medes  ben  requered  for  men  wenen  that 
they   ben   goode,  who  is  he  that  wolde 
deme,  that  he  that  is  right  mighty  of  good 
were  part-les  of  mede?    And    of  what 
mede  shal  he  be  gi^erdoned  ?     Certes,  of  45 
right  faire  mede  and  right  grete  aboven 
alle  medes.     Eemembre  thee  of  thilke 
noble  corolarie  that   I  yaf  thee  a  litel 
her-biforn  ;  and  gader  it  to-gider  in  this 
manere  :— so  as  good  him-self  is  blisful-  5'J 
nesse,  thanne  is  it  cleer  and  certein,  that 
alle  good  Iblk  ben  maked  blisful  for  they 
ben  goode  ;  and  thilke  folk  that  ben  blis- 
ful, it  acordeth  and  is  covenable  to  ben 
goddes.     Thanne   is  the  mede  of  goode  55 
folk  swich  that  no  day  shal  enpeiren  it, 
ne  no  wikkednesse  ne  shal  derken  it,  ne 
power  of  no  wight  ne  shal  nat  amenusen 
it,  that  is  to  seyn,  to  ben  maked  goddes. 
And  sin  it  is  thus,  that  goode  me7i  ne  failen  60 
never-mo  of  hir  mede,  certes,  no  wys  man 
ne  may  doute  of  undepartable  peyue  of 
the  shrewes  ;  that  is  to  seyn,  that  thepeyne 
of  shrewes  ne  departeth  nat  from  hem-self 
never-mo.     For  so  as  goode  and  yvel,  and  65 
peyue  and  medes  ben  contrarye,  it  mot 
nedes  ben,  that  right  as  we  seen  bityden 
in  giierdoun  of  goode,  that  also  mot  the 
peyue  of  yvel  answery,  by  the  contrarye 
party,    to   shrewes.     Now  thanne,   so  as  ?> 


i8o 


(foef6iu0.    (^ooft  IV:  (metre  in. 


bountee  and  provvesse  ben  the  mede  to 
goode  folk,  al-so  is  slirewednesse  it-self 
torment  to  shrewes.  Thanne,  who-so  that 
ever   is    entecched    and    defouled    with 

;  peyne,  he  no  doiiteth  nat,  that  he  is 
entecched  an<l  defouled  with  y\'e\.  Yif 
shrewes  thanne  wolen  preysen  hem-self, 
may  it  semen  to  hem.  that  they  ben  with- 
outen   party   of  torment,  sin   they  ben 

»  swiche  that  the  uttereste  wikkednesse 
(that  is  to  seyn,  wikkede  theices,  which  that 
is  the  uttercsta  and  the  worste  kinde  of 
shrctcednesse)  ne  defouleth  ne  enteccheth 
nat  hem  only,    but  infecteth    and    en- 

;  venimeth  hem.  gretly  ?  And  also  look  on 
shrewes,  that  ben  the  contrarie  party  of 
goode  men,  how  greet  peyne  felawshipeth 
and  folweth  hem  !  For  thou  hast  lerned 
a  litel  her-biforn,  that  al  thing  that  is 

>  and  hath  beinge  is  con,  and  thilke  same 
oon  is  good  ;  thanne  is  this  the  conse- 
quence, that  it  semeth  wel,  that  al  that  is 
aud  hath  beinge  is  good  ;  this  is  to  seyn, 
as  liho  seyth,  that  beinije  and  unitee  and 

;  (joodnesse  is  al  oon.  And  in  this  naanere 
it  folweth  thanne,  that  al  thing  that 
faileth  to  ben  good,  it  stinteth  for  to  be 
and  for  to  han  any  beinge  :  wherfore  it 
is,  that  shrewes  stinten  for  to  ben  that 

I  they  wereu.  But  thilke  other  forme  of 
mankinde,  that  is  to  seyn,  the  forme  of 
the  body  with-oute,  sheweth  yit  that  thise 
shrewes  weren  wliylom  men  ;  wher-for, 
whan  they  ben  perverted  and  torned  in-to 

;  malice,  certes,  than  han  they  forlorn  the 
nature  of  mankinde.  But  so  as  only 
bountee  and  prowesse  may  enhaunseu 
every  man  over  other  men  ;  thanne  mot 
it   nedes   be   that    shrewes,   which   that 

I  slirewednesse  hath  cast  out  of  the  con- 
dicioun  of  mankinde,  ben  put  under  the 
merite  and  the  desert  of  men.  Thanne 
bitj'deth  it,  that  yif  thou  seest  a  wight 
that  be  transformed  into  vyces,  thou  ne 
mayst  nat  wene  that  ho  be  a  man.  For 
yif  he  be  ardaunt  in  avaryce,  and  that  he 
be  a  ravinour  by  violence  of  foreine 
richesse,  thoii  shalt  seyn  that  he  is  lyke 
to  the  wolf.  And  yif  he  be  felonous  and 
with-oute  reste,  and  exercyse  his  tonge 
to  chydinges,  thou  shalt  lykne  him  to  the 


hound.  And  yif  he  be  a  prevey  awaitour 
y-hid,  and  rejoyseth  him  to  ravisshe  by 
wyles,  thou  shalt  sej'u  him  Ij'ke  to  the 
fox-whelpes.  And  yif  he  be  distemprc  1^5 
and  quaketh  for  ire,  men  shal  wene  that 
he  bereth  the  corage  of  a  lyoun.  And  yif 
he  be  dredful  and  ileinge,  and  dredeth 
thinges  that  ne  oughten  nat  to  ben  dred, 
men  shal  holden  him  lyk  to  the  hert.  130 
And  yif  he  be  slow  and  astoned  and 
lache,  he  liveth  as  an  asse.  And  yif  he 
be  light  and  imstedefast  of  corage,  and 
chaungeth  ay  his  studies,  he  is  lykned  to 
briddes.  And  if  he  be  plounged  in  foule  135 
and  unclene  luxuries,  he  is  with-holden 
iu  the  foule  delyces  of  the  foule  sowe. 
Thanne  folweth  it,  that  he  that  forleteth 
bountee  and  j)rowesse,  he  forleteth  to  ben 
a  man  ;  sin  he  may  nat  passen  iu-to  the  140 
condicioun  of  god,  he  is  torned  in-to 
a  beest. 

Metke  III.     Vela  Neritii  dulcis. 

Eurus  the  wind  arj^v-ede  the  sailes  of 
mixes,  duk  of  the  coutree  of  Narice,  and 
his  wandringe  shippes  by  the  see,  in-to 
the  ile  ther-as  Circes,  the  faire  goddesse, 
doughter  of  the  sonne,  dwelleth ;  that  5 
medleth  to  hir  newe  gestes  drinkes  that 
ben  touched  and  maked  with  enchaunte- 
ments.  And  after  that  hir  hand,  mighty 
over  the  herbes,  hadde  chaunged  hir 
gestes  in-to  dyverse  maneres  ;  that  oon  of  10 
hem,  is  covered  his  face  with  forme  of 
a  boor ;  that  other  is  chaunged  in-to 
a  lyoun  of  the  contree  of  Marmorike,  and 
his  nayles  and  his  teeth  wexen  :  that 
other  of  hem  is  neweliche  chaunged  in-to  15 
a  wolf,  and  howleth  whan  he  wolde  wepe  ; 
that  other  goth  debonairely  in  the  hous 
as  a  tygre  of  Inde.  But  al-be-it  so  that 
the  godhed  of  Mercurie,  that  is  cleped  the 
brid  of  Arcadie,  hath  had  mercy  of  the  20 
duke  Ulixes,  biseged  with  dyverse  yveles, 
and  hath  unbounden  him  fro  the  pesti- 
lence of  his  ostesse,  algates  the  roweres 
and  the  marineres  hadden  by  this  y- 
drawen  in-to  hir  mouthes  and  dronken  25 
the  wikkede  drinkes.  They  that  weren 
woxen  swyn  hadden  by  this  y-chaunged 


(goef$tu0.    Q0ooft  IV :  (pvoet  iv. 


liir  mete  of  breed,  for  to  eten  akornes  of 
olves.     Non  of  liir  limes  ne  dwelletli  with 

30  hem  hole,  but  they  han  lost  the  voice  and 
the  body  ;  only  hir  thought  dwelletli  with 
hem  stable,  that  wepeth  and  biweileth 
the  monstruous  chaunginge  that  they 
suflfren.     O  overlight  hand  (as  who  seyth, 

35  O  !  fehle  and  Ik/ht  is  the  hand  of  Circes  the 
cnchaunteresse,  that  chaungeth  the  bodyes  of 
folkes  in-to  hestes,  to  regard  and  to  com- 
parisoun  of  mutacioun  that  is  maked  by 
vyces) ;  ne  the  herbes  of  Circes  ne  ben  nat 

40  mighty.  For  al-be-it  so  that  they  may 
chaungen  the  limes  of  the  bodj',  algates 
yit  they  may  nat  chaimge  the  hertes  ;  for 
with-inne  is  y-hid  the  strengthe  and  vigor 
of  men,  in  the  secree  tour  of  hir  hertes; 

45  that  is  to  seyn,  the  strenr/the  ofresoiin.  But 
tliilke  venims  of  vyces  to-drawen  a  man 
to  hem  more  mightily  than  tJie  venim  of 
Circes ;  for  vyces  ben  so  cruel  that  they 
percen  and  thorugh-passeu  the    corage 

50  with-inne  ;  and,  thogh  they  ne  anoj^e  nat 
the  body,  yit  vyces  wooden  to  destroye  men 
by  wounde  of  thought,' 

Pkose  IV.     Tinn  ego,  Fateor,  inquam. 

Than  seyde  I  thus  :  '  I  confesse  and  am 
a-knowe  it,'  quod  I:  'ne  I  ne  see  nat 
that  men  may  sayn,  as  by  right,  that 
shrewes  ne  ben  chaunged  in-to  bestes 
5  by  the  qualitee  of  hir  soules,  al-be-it  so 
that  they  kepen  yit  the  forme  of  the  body 
of  mankinde.  But  I  nolde  nat  of  shrewes, 
of  which  the  thought  cniel  woodeth 
al-wey  in-to  destruccioun  of  goode  men, 

10  that  it  were  leveful  to  hem  to  don  that.' 
'  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  ne  is  nis  nat  leveful 
to  hem,  as  I  shal  wel  shewe  thee  in  coven- 
able  place  ;  but  natheles,  yif  so  were  that 
thilke  that  men  wenen   be    leveful    to 

15  shrewes  were  binomen  hem,  so  that  they 
ne  mi/jhte  nat  anoyen  or  doon  harm  to  goode 
men,  certes,  a  greet  partye  of  the  peyne  to 
shrewes  sholde  ben  allegged  and  releved. 
For  al-be-it   so   that   this   ne   seme   nat 

20  credible  thing,  per-aventure,  to  some 
folk,  yit  moot  it  nedes  be,  that  shrewes 
ben  more  \vrecches  and  unsely  whan  they 
may  doon  and  performe   that   they   co- 


veiten,  than  yif  they  mighte  nat  com- 
plisshen  that  they  coveiten.  For  yif  so  25 
be  that  it  be  wrecchednesse  to  wilne  to 
don  y^-el,  than  is  more  wrecchednesse  to 
mowen  don  yvel ;  with-oute  whiche  mow- 
inge  the  wrecched  wil  sholde  languisshe 
with-oute  effect.  Than,  sin  that  everiche  30 
of  thise  thinges  hath  his  wrecchednesse, 
that  is  to  seyn,  wil  to  don  yvel  and  vioioinge 
to  don  yvel,  it  moot  nedes  be  that  they  ben 
constreyned  by  three  unselinesses,  that 
wolen  and  mowen  andperformen  felonyes  35 
and  shrewednesses.'  'I  acorde  me,' 
quod  I ;  '  but  I  desire  gretly  that  shrewes 
losten  sone  thilke  unselinesse,  that  is  to 
seyn,  that  shrewes  weren  desjioyled  of 
mowinge  to  don  yvel.'  40 

'  So  shullen  they, '  quod  she,  'soner,  per- 
aventure,  than  tho^^  woldest ;  or  soner 
than  they  hem-self  wene  to  lakken  moiv- 
inge  to  don  yvel.  For  ther  nis  no-thing  so 
late  in  so  shorte  boundes  of  this  lyf,  that  45 
is  long  to  abyde,  nameliche,  to  a  corage 
inmortel  ;  of  whiche  shrewes  the  grete 
hope,  and  the  hye  comi?assinges  of 
shrewednesses,  is  ofte  destroyed  by  a 
sodeyn  ende,  or  they  ben  war  ;  and  that  50 
thing  estableth  to  shrewes  the  ende  of  hir 
shrewednesse.  For  j-if  that  shrewednesse 
maketh  wrecches,  than  mot  he  nedes  ben 
most  wrecched  that  lengest  is  a  shrewe  ; 
the  whicho  wikked  shrewes  wolde  I  demen  55 
aldermost  unsely  and  caitifs,  yif  that  hir 
shrewednesse  ne  were  finisshed,  at  the 
leste  wey,  by  the  outtereste  deeth.  For 
yif  I  have  concluded  sooth  of  the  unseli- 
nesse of  shrewednesse,  than  sheweth  it  60 
cleerly  that  thilke  wrecchednesse  is  with- 
outen  ende,  the  whiche  is  certeiu  to  ben 
perdurable.'  '  Certe.s,'  quod  I,  '  this 
conclusioun  is  hard  and  wonderful  to 
graunte  ;  but  I  knowe  wel  that  it  acordeth  65 
moche  to  the  thinges  that  I  have  graunted 
her-biforn.' 

'  Thou  hast,'  quod  she,  '  the  right  esti- 
macioun  of  this  ;  but  who-so-ever  wenc 
that  it  be  a  hard  thing  to  acorde  him.  to  70 
a  conclusioun,  it  is  right  that  he  shewo 
that  some  of  the  premisses  ben  false  ;  or 
elles  he  moot  shewc  that  the  collacioun 
of  proposiciov^ns  nis  nat  speedful  to  a 


[82 


(goH^iue.    Q^ooft  IV:   (pvoet  iv. 


i  necessarie  concliisioiin.  And  yif  it  be  nat 
so,  but  that  the  premisses  ben  y-graunted, 
ther  is  not  whj'  he  sholde  blame  the 
argument.  For  this  tiling  that  I  shal 
telle  thee  now  ne  shal  nat  seme  lasse 

)  wonderful ;  but  of  the  thinges  that  ben 
taken  also  it  is  necessarie  ; '  as  u-ho  seyth, 
it  folueth  of  that  which  that  is  purposed 
hiforn.         '  'WTiat  is  that  ? '  quod  I. 

'  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  that  is,  that  thise 

;  wikked  shrewes  ben  more  blisful,  or  elles 
lasse  H-recches,  that  abyen  the  torments 
that  they  han  deserved,  than  yif  no  peyne 
of  justice  ne  chastysede  hem.  Ne  this  ne 
seye  I  nat  now,  for  that  any  man  mighte 

)  thenke,  that  the  maners  of  shrewes  ben 
coriged  and  chastysed  by  veniaunce,  and 
that  they  ben  brought  to  the  right  wey  by 
the  drede  of  the  torment,  ne  for  that  they 
yeven  to  other  folk  ensaumple  to  fleen 

;  fro  vyces  ;  but  I  nnderstande  yit  in 
another  manere,  that  shrewes  ben  more 
unsely  whan  they  ne  ben  nat  punisshed, 
al-be-it  so  that  ther  ne  be  had  no  resoun 
<ir  lawe  of  correccioun,  ne  non  ensaumple 

1  of  lokinge.'  '  And  what  manere  shal 
that  ben,'  quod  I,  '  other  than  hath  be 
told  her-biforn  ? ' 

'Have  we  nat  thaune  graunted,'  quod 
she,  '  that  goode  folk  ben  blisful,  and 
shrewes  ben  wrecches  ?  '  '  Yis,'  quod  I. 
'  Thanne, '  quod  she,  '  yif  that  any  good 
were  adiied  to  the  wrecchednesse  of  any 
wight,  nis  he  nat  raore  weleful  than  he 
that  ne  hath  no  medlinge  of  good  in  his 
solitarie  -wrecchednesse  ? '  'So  semeth  it, ' 
quod  I. 

'  And  what  seystow  thanne,'  quod  she, 
'of  thilke  wrecche  that  lakketh  alle 
goodes,  so  that  no  yood  nis  medled  in  his 
wrecchednesse,  and  yit,  over  al  his  wikked- 
nesse  for  which  he  is  a  wrecche,  that  ther 
be  yit  another  j'vel  anexed  and  knit  to 
him,  shal  nat  men  demen  him  more 
unsely  than  thilke  wrecche  of  whiche  the 
unselinesse  is  releved  by  the  particijia- 
cioim  of  som  good  ?  '  '  Wliy  sholde  he 
nat  ?  '  quod  I. 

'  Thanne,  certes. '  quod  she,  '  han 
shrewes,  whan  they  ben  punisshed,  som- 
what   of  good  anexed  to  hir  wrecched- 


nesse, that  is  to  seyn,  the  same  peyne 
that  they  suffren,  which  that  is  good  by 
the  resoun  of  justice  ;  and  whan  thilke 
same  shrewes  ascapen  with-oute  torment, 
than  han  they  som- what  more  of  yvel  yit  130 
over  the  wikkednesse  that  they  han  don, 
that  is  to  seyn,  defaute  of  peyne  ;  which 
defaute  of  peyne,  thon  hast  graunted,  is 
yvel  for  the  deserte  of  felonye. '  '  I  ne  may 
nat  denye  it,' quod  I.  135 

'  Moche  more  thanne, "  quod  she,  '  ben 
shrewes  unsely,  whan  they  ben  wrong- 
fully delivered  fro  peyne,  than  wlian 
they  ben  punisshed  by  rightful  ven- 
j.aunee.  But  this  is  open  thing  and  cleer,  140 
that  it  is  right  that  shrewes  ben  pun- 
isshed, and  it  is  wikkednesse  and  wrong 
that  they  eseapen  nnpunisshed. '  '  Who 
mighte  deneye  that  ?  '  quod  I. 

'  But,'  quod  she,  '  may  any  man  denye  145 
that  al  that  is  right  nis  good  ;  and  also 
the  contrarie,   that  al  that  is  wrong  is 
wikke  ?  '  '  Certes,'    quod    I,     '  these 

ttiinges  ben  clere  y-nough  ;  and  that  we 
han  concluded  a  litel  her-biforn.  But  150 
I  praye  thee  that  thou  telle  me,  yif  thou 
acordest  to  leten  no  torment  to  sowles, 
afler  that  the  body  is  ended  by  the 
deeth  ; '  tiiis  is  to  seyn,  under standestow 
aught  that  sowles  han  any  torment  after  the  155 
deeth  of  the  body? 

'  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  ye  ;  and  that  right 
greet ;   of  which   sowles, '  quod  she,    '  I 
trowe  that  sonie  ben  tormented  b.y  aspre- 
nesse  of  peyne ;  and  some  sowles,  I  trowe,  160 
ben  exercised  by  a  p\irginge  mekenesse. 
But  my  conseil  nis  nat  to  determinye  of 
thise  peynes.     But  I  have  travailed  and 
told  yit  hiderto,  for  thou  sholdest  knowe 
that    the    mowinge    of   shrewes,   which  165 
mowinge  thee  semeth  to  ben  unworthy, 
nis  no  mowinge  :  and  eek  of  shrewes,  of 
which  thou  pleinedest  that  they  ne  were 
nat  punisshed,  that  thou   woldest   seen 
that  they  ne  weren  never-mo  with-outen  170 
the  torments  of  hir  wikkednesse  :  and  of 
the  licence  of  the  moicinge  tv  don  yvel,  that 
thou   preydest  that  it  mighte  sone  ben 
ended,  and  that  thou  woldest  fayn  lernen 
that  it  ne  sholde  nat  longe  dure  :  and  175 
that  shrewes  ben   more  unsely  yif  they 


(goef3tu0.    Q0ooR  IV :  (proee  iv. 


183 


were  of  lenger  cUiringe,  and  most  unselj' 
yif  they  weren  perctarable.  And  after 
this,  I  have  shewed  thee  that  naore  unsely 

180  ben  shrewes,  whan  they  escapen  with- 
oute  hir  rightful  peyne,  than  whan  they 
ben  pnnisshed  by  rightful  venjaunce. 
And  of  this  sentence  folweth  it,  that 
thanne  ben  shrewes  constreined  at  the 

185  laste  with  most  grevotis  torment,  whan 
men  wene  that  they  ne  be  nat  punisshed.' 
'  Wlian  I  consider  thy  resouns,'  qxiod  I, 
'  I  ne  trowe  nat  that  men  seyn  any-thing 
more  verayly.     And  yif  I  torne  ayein  to 

igo  the  studies  of  men,  who  is  he  to  whom  it 
sholde  seme  that  he  ne  sholde  nat  only 
leven  thise  thinges,  bi\t  eek  gladly  herkne 
hem  ? ' 

'  Certes,'  qviod  she,  '  so  it  is  ;  but  men 

195  may  nat.  For  they  ban  hir  eyen  so  wont 
to  the  derknesse  of  eHhely  thinges,  that 
they  ne  may  nat  liften  hem  up  to  the 
light  of  cleer  sothfastnesse  ;  but  they  ben 
lyke  to  briddes,  of  which  the  night  light- 

200  neth  hir  lokinge,  and  the  day  blindeth 
hem.  For  whan  men  loken  nat  the  ordre 
of  tliinges,  biit  hir  lustes  and  talents,  they 
wene  that  either  the  leve  or  the  mowinge 
to  don  wikkednesse,  or  elles  the  scapinge 

205  witli-oute  pejme,  be  v/elel'ul.  But  con- 
sider tliejugement  of  the  perdurable  lawe. 
For  yif  thou  conferme  thy  corage  to  the 
beste  thinges,  thou  ne  hast  no  nede  of  no 
jiige  to  yeven  thee  prys   or   mede  ;    for 

210  thou  hast  joyned  thj'-self  to  the  most 
excellent  thing.  And  yif  thou  have  en- 
clyned  thy  studies  to  the  wikked  thinges, 
ne  seek  no  foreyne  wreker  out  of  thy- 
self ;  for  thou  thy-self  hast  thrist  thy-self 

215  iu-to  wikke  thinges  :  right  as  thou 
mightest  loken  by  dyverse  tymes  the 
foule  erthe  and  the  hevene,  and  that  alle 
other  thinges  stinten  fro  with-oute,  so 
that  thou  nere  neither  in  hevene  ne  in  erthe, 

220  ne  saye  no-thing  more ;  than  it  sholde 
semen  to  thee,  as  by  only  resoun  of 
lokinge,  that  thou  were  now  in  the  sterres 
and  now  in  the  erthe.  But  the  poeple  ne 
loketh    nat    on    thise    thinges.       WHiat 

225  thanne  ?  Shal  we  thanne  aprochen  vis  to 
hem  that  I  have  shewed  that  they  ben  lyk 
to   bestes  ?     And   what   woltow  seyn   of 


this  :  yif  that  a  man  hadde  al  forlorn  his 
sighte  and  hadde  foryeten  that  he  ever 
saugh,  and  wende  that  no-thing  ne  fayl-  230 
ede  him  of  perfeccioun  of  mankinde,  now 
we  that  mighten  seen  the  same  thinges, 
wolde  we  nat  wene  that  he  were  blinde  ? 
Ne  also  ne  acordeth  nat  the  poeple  to 
that  I  shal  seyn,  the  which  thing  is  sus-  2:15 
tened  bya  stronge  foundement  of  resouns, 
that  is  to  seyn,  that  more  unsely  ben  they 
that  don  wrong  to  othre  folk  than  they 
that  the  wrong  sufFren.'  'I  wolde 
heren  thilke  same  resouns,'  quod  I.  240 

'  Denyestow, '  quod  she,  '  that  alle 
shrewes  ne  ben  worthy  to  han  torment  ? ' 
'  Nay, '  qtiod  I. 

'  But,'   quod    she,    '  I  am    certein,   by 
many  resouns,  that  shrewes  ben  unsely.'  245 
'  It  acordeth,'  quod  I. 

'Thanne  ne  doutestow  nat,' quod  she, 
'  that  thilke  folk  that  ben  worthy  of  tor- 
ment, that  they  ne  ben  ^vrecches  ?  '  'It 
acordeth  wel,'  quod  I.  250 

'  Yif  thou  were  thanne,"  quod  she, 
'  y-set  a  juge  or  a  knower  of  thinges, 
whether,  trowestow,  tliat  men  sholden 
tormenten  him  that  hath  don  the  wrong, 
or  elles  him  that  hath  siiffred  the  wrong? '  255 
'  I  ne  doute  nat,'  quod  I,  '  that  I  noldo 
don  sufflsaimt  satisfaccioun  to  him  that 
hadde  sviffred  the  wrong  by  the  sorwe  of 
him  that  hadde  don  the  wrong.' 

'  Thanne  semeth  it,'  qiiod  she,  '  that  the  260 
doere  of  wrong  is  more  wrecche  than  he 
that  sufFred  wrong  ?  '         '  That  folweth 
wel, '  quod  I. 

'  Than,'  quod  she,  '  by  these  causes  and 
by  othre  causes  that  ben  enforced  by  the  265 
same  rote,  filthe  or  sinne,  by  the  propre 
nature  of  it,  maketh  men  wrecches  ;  and 
it  sheweth  wel,  that  the  wrong  that  men 
don  nis  nat  tlie  wrecchednesse  of  him 
that     receyveth     the     wrong,    but    the  270 
wrecchednesse    of   him    that    doth   the 
wrong.      But   certes,'   quod    she,    'thise 
oratours    or    advocats    don   al   the   con- 
trarye  :  for  they  enforcen  hem  to  com- 
moeve  the  juges  to  han  pitee  of  hem  that  275 
hansuffred  and  receyved  the  thinges  that 
ben    grevous    and    aspre,    and   yit   men 
sholden  more  rightfully  han  pitee  of  heni 


(god^iue.    (gooft  IV:  (nxefre  iv. 


that  d<iii  tlie  grevaunces  and  the  wronges ; 

280  the  whiche  shrewes,  it  were  a  more 
covenable  thing,  that  the  aocusoiirs  or 
advocats,  iiat  wroth  hut  pitous  and  de- 
l>onaii-.  ledden  tho  shrewes  that  han  don 
«Tong   to   the  jugement,    right   as  men 

285  ledeu  syke  folk  to  the  leche,  for  that  they 
shohle  seken  out  the  maladyes  of  sinne 
))y  torment.  And  by  this  covenannt, 
cither  the  entente  of  defFendoiirs  or  advo- 
cats sholde  fajlen  and  cesen  in  al,  or 

20('  ellcs,  yif  the  office  of  advocats  wolde 
hettre  jirofiten  to  men,  it  shohle  ben 
torned  in-to  the  habite  of  accusacionn ; 
that  is  to  seyn,  they  sholden  accuse  shy-cives, 
and  Dot  excuse  hem.    And  eek  the  shrewes 

295  hem-splf,  yif  hit  were  leveful  to  hem  to 
seen  at  any  clifte  the  vertu  that  they  han 
forleten,  and  sawen  that  thej-  shohlen 
imtten  adonn  the  fihhes  of  hir  A-jces  by 
the  torments  of  pcjues,  they  ne  onghte 

jrx)  nat,  riglit  for  the  recompensacioxtn  for  to 
geten  hem  bonntee  and  prowesse  wliich' 
that  they  han  hist,  demeu  ne  holden  that 
thilkc  i)eynes  weren  torments  to  hem  ; 
and  eek  they  woUlen  refuse  the  attend- 

305  aiince  of  hir  advocats,  and  taken  hem-self 
to  hii-  juges  and  to  hir  accusors.  For 
which  it  bitj-deth  that,  as  to  the  wyse 
folk,  ther  nis  no  place  y-leten  to  hate ; 
that  is  to  seyn,  that  its  hate  liath  no  2)Jace 

310  amongcs  n-yse  men.  For  no  -wight  nil 
haten  gooile  men,  but-yif  he  were  over- 
mochel  a  fool ;  ajid  for  to  haten  shrewes, 
it  nis  no  resoun.  For  right  so  as  lan- 
gnissinge  is  maladye  of  body,  right  so  ben 

315  ^Tces  and  sinne  maladye  of  corage.  And 
so  as  we  ne  deme  nat,  that  they  that  ben 
syke  of  hir  body  ben  worths*  to  ben  hated, 
but  rather  worthy  of  piteo  :  wel  more 
worthy,  nat  to  ben  hated,  but  for  to  ben 

320  had  in  pitee,  ben  they  of  whiche  the 
thoughtcs  ben  constreined  by  felonons 
Avikkednesse,  that  is  more  cruel  than  any 
languissinge  of  body. 

Mktke  IV.     Quid  tanfos  iuuat  e.rcitare 
motus. 

What  delyteth  you  to  excyten  so  grete 
moevinges  of  hateredes,  and  to  hasten  and 


bisien  the  fatal  disposicioun  of  your  deeth 
with  yoitr  propre  handes  ?  that  is  to  seyn, 
bybatailes  or  by  contelc.  For  yif  ye  axen  5 
the  deeth,  it  hasteth  him  of  his  owne  wil ; 
ne  deeth  ne  tarieth  nat  his  swifte  hors. 
And  the  men  that  the  serjient  and  the 
lyoun  and  the  tygre  and  the  here  and  the 
boor  seken  to  sleen  with  hir  teeth,  yit  10 
thilke  same  men  seken  to  sleen  everich  of 
hem  other  with  swerd.  Lo !  for  hir 
maneres  ben  djTerse  and  descordaunt, 
they  moeven  unrightful  ostes  and  cruel 
batailes,  and  wUnen  to  perisshe  V)y  entre-  15 
chaunginge  of  dartes.  But  the  resoun  of 
cmeltee  nis  naty-nough  rightful.  WUtow 
thanne  yelden  a  covenable  guerdoun  to 
the  desertes  of  men?  Love  rightfully 
goode  folk,  and  have  pitee  on  shrewes.'      20 

Pkose  V.     Uic  ego  video  inqiiam. 

'  Thus  see  I  wel,'  quod  I,  '  either  what 
blisfulnesse  or  elles  what  unselinesse  is 
establisshed  in  the  desertes  of  goode  men 
and  of  shrewes.  But  in  this  ilke  fortune 
of  poeple  I  see  somwhat  of  good  and  som-  5 
what  of  yvel.  For  no  wj-se  man  hath 
lever  ben  exyled,  jioore  and  nedy,  and 
nameles,  than  for  to  dwellen  in  his  citee 
and  flouren  of  richesses,and  he  redoutable 
by  honour,  and  strong  of  jiower.  For  in  10 
this  wyse  more  cleerly  and  more  witnes- 
fully  is  the  office  of  A\^-se  men  y-treted, 
whan  the  blisfulnesse  and  the  poustee  of 
governours  is,  as  it  were,  j--shad  amouges 
poeples  that  be  neighebours  ond  subgits;  15 
sin  that,  namely,  prisoun,  lawe,  and  thise 
othre  torments  of  laweful  peynes  ben 
rather  owed  to  felonous  citezeins,  for  the 
whiche  felonous  citezeins  tho  peynes  ben 
establisshed,  than  for  good  folk.  Thanne  20 
I  mervaile  me  greetly,'  quod  I,  '  why  that 
the  thinges  ben  so  mis  entrechaunged, 
that  torments  of  felonyes  pressen  and 
confounden  goode  folk,  and  shrewes 
ravisshen  medes  of  vertxi,  and  ben  in  25 
honours  and  in  gret  estats.  And  I  des.^Te 
eek  for  to  witen  of  thee,  whatsemeth  thee 
to  ben  the  resoun  of  this  so  wrong^ful 
a  conclusioun  ?  For  I  wolde  wondre  wel 
the    lasse.    yif  I   trowede   that   al  thise  30 


Joet6tu0.    Q2»ooft  IV:  Ipvoet  vi. 


185 


tliinges  weren  medled  by  fortunous  happe ; 
but  uow  hepeth  and  encreseth  myii  as- 
tonyiiige  god,  governotir  of  thinges,  that, 
so  as  god  yevetli  ofte  tymes  to  gode  men 

35  godes  and  mirthes,  and  to  shrewes 
yveles  and  aspre  thinges  ;  and  yeveth 
ayeinward  to  gode  folk  hardnesses,  and 
to  shrewes  he  graunteth  hem  hir  wil  and 
that  theydesyren  :  what  difference  thanne 

40  may  ther  be  bitwixen  that  that  god  dotli, 
and  the  happe  of  fortune,  yif  men  ne 
knowe  nat  tlie  cause  why  that  it  is  ?  ' 

'Ne    it    nis   no   mervaile,'    quod    she, 
'  though  that  men  wenen  that  ther   be 

45  somewhat  folissh  and  confuse,  whan  the 
resoun  of  the  ordre  is  unknowe.  But 
al-though '  that  thou  ne  knowe  nat  the 
cause  of  so  greet  a  disposiciouu,  natheles, 
for  as  raoche  as  god,  the  gode  governour, 

50  atempreth  and  governeth  the  world,  ne 
doute  thee  nat  that  alle  thinges  ben  doon 
a-right. 

Metre  V.     Si  quis  Arcturi  sidem  nescit. 

Who-so  that  ne  knowe  nat  the  sterres 
of  Arcture,  y-torned  neigh  to  the  soverein 
coutree  or  point,  that  is  to  seyn,  y-torned 
neigh  to  the  soverein  pool  of  the  firmament, 
5  and  wot  nat  why  the  sterre  Bootes  passeth 
or  gadereth  his  weynes,  and  drencheth 
his  late  flambes  in  the  see,  and  why  that 
Bootes  the  sterre  u.nfoldeth  his  over-swifte 
arysinges,  thanne  shal  he  woudren  of  the 

10  lawe  of  the  heye  eyr.  And  eek,  yif  that 
he  ne  knowe  nat  lohy  that  the  homes  of  the 
fulle  mone  wexen  pale  and  infect  by  the 
bouudes  of  the  derke  night ;  and  how  the 
mone,  derk  and  confuse,  discovereth  the 

15  sterres  that  she  hadde  y-oovered  by  hir 
clere  vigage.  The  comune  errour  moeveth 
folk,  and  maketh  wery  hir  basins  of  bras 
by  thikke  strokes  ;  that  is  to  seyn,  that 
ther  is  a  maner  of  poeple  that  highte  Cori- 

20  bantes,  that  tvenen  that,  whan  the  mone  is  in 
the  eclipse,  that  it  be  enchaunted  ;  and  ther- 
fore,  for  to  rescowe  the  mone,  they  beten  hir 
basins  with  thikke  strokes.  Ne  no  man 
ne   wondreth  whan   the   blastes   of  the 

25  wind  Chorus  beten  the  strondes  of  the 
see  by  quakinge  flodes ;    ne  no  man  ne 


wondreth  whan  the  weighte  of  the  snowe, 
y-harded  by  the  colde,  is  resolved  by  the 
brenninge  hete  of  Phebus  the  sonne  ;  for 
heer  seen  men  redely  the  causes.  But  30 
the  causes  y-hid,  that  is  to  seyn,  in  lievene, 
troublen  the  brestes  of  men  ;  the  moev- 
able  poeple  is  astoned  of  alle  thinges  that 
comen  selde  and  sodeinly  in  oiir  age. 
But  yif  the  troubly  errour  of  our  igno-  35 
raunce  departede  fro  us,  so  that  we  wisten 
the  causes  why  that  siviche  thinges  bi-tyden, 
certes,  they  sholden  cese  to  seme  wou- 
dres. 

Prose  VI.     Ita  est,  inquain. 

'  Thus  is  it,'  quod  I.  '  But  so  as  thou 
hast  yeven  or  bi-hight  me  to  unwrappen 
the  hid  cavises  of  thinges,  and  to  dis- 
covere  me  the  resouns  covered  with  derk- 
uesses,  I  prey  thee  that  thou  devyse  and  s 
juge  me  of  this  matere,  and  that  thou  do 
me  to  understonden  it ;  for  this  miracle 
or  this  wonder  troubleth  me  right  gretly.' 

And  thanne  she,  a  litel  what  smylinge, 
seyde  :  '  thou  clepest  me,'  quod  she,  '  to  10 
telle  thing  that  is  grettest  of  alle  thinges 
that  mowen  ben  axed,  and  to  the  whiche 
questioununnethes  is  ther  alight  y-nough 
to  laven  it ;  as  who  seyth,  unnethes  is  ther 
suffisauntly  anything  to  ansivere  parfitly  to  15 
thy  questioun.  Por  the  matere  of  it  is 
swich,  that  whan  o  doute  is  determined 
and  cut  awey,  ther  wexen  other  doutes 
with-oute  number  ;  right  as  the  hevedes 
wexen  of  Ydre,  the  serx>ent  that  Ercules  20 
sloich.  Ne  ther  no  were  no  manere  ne 
non  ende,  but-yif  that  a  wight  con- 
streinede  tho  doutes  by  a  right  lyfly  and 
quik  fyr  of  thought ;  that  is  to  seyn,  by 
vigour  and  strengthe  of  wit.  For  in  this  25 
manere  men  weren  wont  to  maken  ques- 
tions of  the  simplicitee  of  the  purviaunce 
of  god,  and  of  the  order  of  destinee,  and 
of  sodein  happe,  and  of  the  knowinge  and 
predestinacioundivyne,andofthelibertee  30 
of  free  wille ;  the  whiche  thinges  thou 
thy-self  aperceyvest  wel,  of  what  weight 
they  ben.  But  for  as  mochel  as  the 
knowinge  of  thise  thinges  is  a  maner 
porcioun  of  the  medicine  of  thee,  al-be-it  35 


1 86 


(^oef^iue.    (gooft  iv:  (pvoet  vi. 


so  that  I  liave  litel  tj-me  to  don  it,  yit 
iiatheles  I  wol  eiiforcen  me  to  sliewe 
somwliat  of  it.  But  al-thogli  the  no- 
lisshinges  of  ditee  of  musike  delyteth 
thee,  thoii  most  suffren  and  forberen 
a  litel  of  thiike  delyte,  whyle  that  I  weve 
to  thee  resouns  y-knit  by  ordre.'  '  As 
it  lyketli  to  thee,'  qitod  I,  '  so  do.' 

Tho  spak  she  right  as  by  another 
biginninge.  and  seyde  thus.  '  The  en- 
gendringe  of  alle  thinges,'  quod  she,  '  and 
alle  the  progressiouns  of  mnable  nature, 
and  al  that  moeveth  in  any  manere, 
t;iketh    his   canses,    his   ordre,    and    his 

'  formes,  of  the  stablenesse  of  the  divyne 
thoglit :  and  thiike  divjnie  thought,  that 
is  y-set  and  put  in  the  totir,  that  is  to  seyn, 
in  the  heighte,  of  the  .simplicitee  of  god, 
stablissheth  many  maner  gyses  tothinges 
that  ben  to  done ;  the  whiche  maner, 
whan  that  men  loken  it  in  thiike  pure 
clennesse  of  the  divyne  intelligence,  it  is 
y-cle]ied  purs-iauuee  ;  but  whan  thiike 
manor  is  referred  by  men  to  thinges  that 
it  inoveth  and  disjioneth,  thanne  of  olde 
men  it  was  cleped  destinee.  The  whiche 
thinges,  yif  that  any  wight  loketli  wel  in 
his  thought  the  strengthe  of  that  oon  and 
(if  that  other,  he  shal  lightly  mowen  seen, 
that  thise  two  thinges  ben  dyverse.  For 
liurviaunce  is  thiike  divyne  reson  that  is 
establisshed  in  the  soverein  prince  of 
thinges  ;  the  whiclie  purviaunce  dis- 
poneth  alle  thinges.     But  destinee  is  the 

'  disposicioun  and  ordinaunce  clj-vinge  to 
moevable  thinges,  by  the  whiche  dispo- 
sicioun the  piirviaunce  knitteth  alle 
thinges  in  hir  ordres  ;  for  pur\'iaunce 
embraceth  alle  thinges  to-hepe,  al-thogh 

I  that  they  ben  dj-^-erse,  and  al-thogh  they 
ben  infinite  :  but  destinee  departeth  and 
ordeineth  alle  thinges  singulerly,  and 
di^'yded  in  moevinges,  in  places,  in 
formes,  in  tymes,  as  thus  :  lat  the  nn- 

•  foldinge  of  temporel  ordiuavince,  assem- 
liled  and  ooned  in  the  lokinge  of  the 
divjne  thought,  be  cleped  purviaunce  ; 
and  thiike  same  assemblinge  and  oon- 
inge,  di^•y<:ied  and  unfolden  bj-  tymes,  lat 

;  that  ben  called  destinee.  And  al-be-it  so 
that  thise  thinges  ben  djTerse,  yit  nathe- 


les  hangeth  that  oon  on  that  other ;  for- 
why  the  order  destinal  procedeth  of  the 
simplicitee  of  pairviaiince.  Tor  right  as 
a  werkman,  that  apercej'^'eth  in  his  90 
thoght  the  forme  of  the  thing  that  he 
wol  make,  and  moeveth  the  etfeet  of  the 
werk,  and  ledeth  that  he  hadde  loked 
biforn  in  his  thoght  simply  and  pre- 
sently, by  temporel  ordinaunce  :  certes,  95 
right  so  god  disponeth  in  his  purviaunce, 
singulerly  and  stably,  the  thinges  that 
ben  to  done,  but  he  aministreth  in  many 
maneres  and  in  djTerse  tymes,  by  des- 
tinee, thiike  same  thinges  that  he  hath  100 
disponed.  Thanne,  whether  that  des- 
tinee be  exercysed  outlier  by  some  divyne 
spirits,  servaunts  to  the  divyne  piir- 
viaunce,  or  elles  by  som  sowle,  or  elles  by 
alle  nature  servinge  to  god,  or  elles  by  105 
the  celestial  moevinges  of  sterres,  or  elles 
by  the  vertu  of  angeles,  or  elles  by  the 
dyverse  subtilitee  of  develes,  or  elles  by 
any  of  hem,  or  elles  by  heni  alle,  the 
destinal  ordinaunce  is  y- woven  and  acom-  no 
plisshed.  Certes,  it  is  open  thing,  that 
the  purviaunce  is  an  unmoevable  and 
simple  forme  of  thmges  to  done  ;  and  the 
moveable  bond  and  the  temporel  ordi- 
naunce of  tliinges,  whiche  that  the  115 
di^^Tie  simplicitee  of  purviaunce  hath 
ordejTied  to  done,  that  is  destinee.  For 
which  it  is,  that  alle  thinges  that  ben 
put  under  destinee  ben,  certes,  subgits  to 
liurviaunce,  to  whiche  liurviaunce  des-  120 
tinee  itself  is  subgit  and  under.  But 
some  thinges  ben  put  under  purviaunce, 
that  surmounten  the  ordinaunce  of  des- 
tinee ;  and  tho  ben  thiike  that  stably  ben 
y-ficched  negh  to  the  firste  godhed  :  they  1.25 
surmoiinten  the  ordre  of  destinal  moev- 
abletee.  For  right  as  of  cercles  that 
toruen  a-boute  a  same  centre  or  a-bovtte 
a  poynt,  thiike  cerclo  that  is  innerest  or 
most  with-inue  joyneth  to  the  simplesse  130 
of  the  middel,  and  is,  as  it  were,  a  centre 
or  a  poynt  to  that  other  cercles  that 
tomen  a-bouten  him  ;  and  thUke  that  is 
outterest,  compassed  by  larger  envyron- 
ninge,  is  unfolden  by  larger  spaces,  in  so  135 
moche  as  it  is  forthest  fro  the  middel 
simplicitee  of  the  pojnit  ;  and  yif  ther  be 


(goef^tue.    (gootl  iv :  (|>ro6e  vi. 


187 


any-tliing  tliat  knitteth  and  felawsliip- 
peth  him-self  to  tliilke  middel  poynt,  it 

1  is  constreined  in-to  simplicitee,  that  is  to 
seyn,  in-to  wimoevdbletee,  and  it  ceseth  to 
be  shad  and  to  fleten  djrersely  :  right  so, 
by  semblable  resoun,  thilke  thing  that 
departeth  forthest  fro  the  first  thoght  of 

;  god,  it  is  nnfolden  and  summitted  to 
gretter  bondes  of  destinee :  and  in  so 
moche  is  the  thing  more  free  and  lans 
fro  destinee,  as  it  axetli  and  lioldeth  him 
ner  to  thilke  centre  of  thinges,  that  is  to 

I  seyn,  god  And  yif  the  thing  cly^-eth  to 
the  stedefastnesse  of  the  thoglit  of  god, 
and  be  with-oute  moevinge,  certes,  it  sor- 
niotinteth  the  neeessitee  of  destinee. 
Tlianne  right  swich  comparisonn  as  it  is 

;  of  skilinge  to  nnderstondinge,  and  of 
thing  that  is  engendred  to  thing  tliat  is, 
and  of  tyme  to  eternitee,  and  of  tlie  oerclo 
to  the  centre,  right  so  is  tlie  ordre  of 
moevable    destinee    to    the    stable  sim- 

I  plicitee  of  pnrviaunce.  Thilke  ordi- 
iiaunce  naoeveth  the  lievene  and  the 
sterres,  and  atemjireth  the  elements  to- 
gider  amonges  hem-self,  and  transformeth 
hem    l)y   entrechaiingeable    mutacionn ; 

'  and  thilke  same  ordre  neweth  ayein  alle 
thinges  growinge  and  fallinge  a-doun,  Ijy 
semblable  progressiovins  of  sedes  and  of 
sexes,  that  is  to  seyn,  male  and  femele. 
And  this  ilke  ordre  constreineth  the  for- 
tunes and  the  dedes  of  men  by  a  bond  of 
causes,  nat  able  to  ben  iinbounde  ;  the 
whiche  destinal  causes,  whan  they  passen 
out  fro  the  biginninges  of  the  unmoevable 
purviauuce,  it  mot  nedes  be  that  they  ne 

'  be  nat  mvitable.  And  thus  ben  the 
thinges  tul  wel  y-governed,  yif  that  the 
simplicitee  dwellinge  in  the  divyne  thoght 
sheweth  forth  the  ordre  of  causes,  unable 
to  ben  y-bowed ;  and  this  ordre  con- 
streineth by  his  propre  stabletee  the 
moevable  thinges,  or  elles  they  sholden 
fleten  folily.  For  which  it  is,  that  alle 
thinges  semen  to  ben  confus  and  trouble 
to  us  men,  for  we  ne  mowen  nat  considere 
thillie  ordinaiince  ;  natheles,  the  propre 
jnaner  of  every  things,  dressinge  hem  to 
goode,  disponeth  hem  alle. 

For  ther  nis  no-thing  don  for  caiise  of 


j-vel ;  ne  thilke  thing  that  is  don  by  wik- 
kede  folk  nis  nat  don  for  yvel.  The  whiche 
shrewes,  as  I  have  shewed  ful  ijlenti- 
voiTsly,  seken  good,  Init  wikked  errour 
mistorneth  hem,  ne  the  ordre  cominge 
fro  the  poynt  of  soverein  good  ne  de- 
clyneth  nat  fro  his  biginninge.  Btit  thou 
mayst  seyn,  what  imreste  may  ben  a 
worse  confusioun  than  that  gode  men  han 
somtyme  adversitee  and  sonityme  i^ros- 
peritee,  and  shrewes  also  now  han 
thinges  that  they  desiren,  and  now 
thinges  that  they  haten  ?  Whether  men 
liven  now  in  swich  hoolnesse  of  thoght, 
(as  7oho  seyth,  ben  men  note  so  iryse),  that 
swiche  folk  as  they  demen  to  ben  gode 
folk  or  shrewes,  that  it  moste  nedes  ben 
that  folk  ben  swiche  as  they  wenen  ? 
But  in  this  nianere  the  domes  of  men 
discorden,  that  thilke  men  that  some 
folk  demen  worthy  of  niede,  other  folk 
demen  hem  worthy  of  torment.  But  lat 
lis  graunte,  I  pose  that  som  man  may  wel 
demen  or  knowen  the  gode  folk  and  the 
badde  ;  may  he  thanne  knowen  and  seen 
thilke  innereste  atempraunce  of  corages, 
as  it  hath  ben  wont  to  be  seyd  of  bodies  ; 
as  who  seyth,  may  a  man  spelcen  and  deter- 
minen  of  atempraunces  in  corages,  as  men 
toere  wont  to  demen  or  sjyeken  of  com- 
plexioims  and  atempraunces  of  bodies  ?  Ne 
it  ne  is  nat  an  unlyk  miracle,  to  hem 
that  ne  knowen  it  nat,  (as  who  seith,  but 
it  is  lyle  a  merveil  or  a  miracle  to  hem  that 
ne  Icnou-en  it  nat),  why  that  swete  thinges 
ben  covenable  to  some  bodies  that  ben 
hole,  and  to  some  bodies  bittere  thinges 
ben  covenable  ;  and  also,  why  that  some 
s.yke  folk  ben  holpen  with  lighte  medi- 
cj-nes,  and  some  folk  ben  holpen  with 
sharpe  medicjaies.  But  natheles,  the 
leche  that  knoweth  the  manere  and  the 
atempraunce  of  hele  and  of  maladye,  ne 
mer^'cileth  of  it  no-thing.  But  what 
other  thing  semeth  hele  of  corages  but 
bouutee  and  prowesse  ?  And  what  other 
thing  semeth  maladye  of  corages  but  ; 
vj'ces  ?  "V^Tio  is  elles  kepere  of  good  or 
dryv'er  awey  of  yvel,  but  god,  governour 
and  lecher  of  thoughtes  ?  The  whiche  god, 
whan  he   hath  biholden   from  the  heye 


1 88 


(^oef0m0.    (^ooft  IV :  ^vont  vi. 


tour  of  his  purveaunce,  he  knoweth  what 
is  coveuable  to  every  wight,  and  leneth 
liem  that  he  wot  that  is  covenable  to 
hem.  Lo,  lier-of  comth  and  her-of  is  don 
this  noble  miracle  of  the  ordre  destinal, 
whan  god,  that  al  knoweth,  doth  swiche 
thing,  of  which  thing  that  unknowinge 
folk  ben  astoned.  But  for  to  constreine, 
as  who  xeyth,  but /or  to  comprehende  and 
telle  a  fewe  thinges  of  the  ili\->'ne  deep- 
nesse,  the  whiche  that  mannes  resoun 
may  understonde,  thilke  man  that  thou 
•wenest  to  ben  right  juste  and  right  kep- 
inge  of  equitee,  the  contrarie  of  that 
senieth  to  the  divyne  purveaunce,  that  al 
wot.  And  Lucan,  my  familer,  telleth 
that  "  the  victorious  cause  lykede  to  the 
goddes,  and  the  cause  overcomen  lykede 
to  Catoun."  Thanne,  what-so-ever  thou 
niayst  seen  that  is  ilon  in  this  werld 
unhoped  or  uuweued,  certes,  it  is  the 
right  ordre  of  thinges;  but,  as  to  thy 
wkkede  opinioun,  it  is  a  confusioun.  But 
I  suppose  that  sum  man  be  so  wel 
y-thewed,  that  the  di\'}'ne  jugement  and 
the  jugement  of  maukinde  acorden  hem 
to-gider  of  him  ;  but  he  is  so  unstedefast 
of  corage,  that,  yif  any  adversitee  come 
to  him,  he  wol  forleten,  par-aventure,  to 
continue  innocence,  by  the  whiche  he  ne 
may  nat  with-hoklen  fortune.  Thanne 
the  wyse  dispensaciouu  of  god  spareth 
him,  the  whiche  man  adversitee  mighte 
enpeyren ;  for  that  god  wol  nat  suffren 
him  to  travaile,  to  whom  that  travaile 
nis  nat  covenable.  Another  man  is  parfit 
in  alle  vertues.  and  is  an  holj-  man,  and 
negh  to  god,  so  that  the  pur\-iaunce  of 
god  wolde  demen,  that  it  were  a  felonye 
that  he  were  touched  with  any  adver- 
sitees ;  so  that  he  wol  nat  sufiFre  that 
swich  a  man  be  moeved  with  any  bodily 
maladye.  But  so  as  seyde  a  philosophre, 
the  more  excellent  by  me  :  he  seyde  in 
Grek,  that  "  vertues  ban  edified  the  body 

:  of  the  holy  man."  And  ofte  tyme  it 
bitydeth,  that  the  somme  of  thinges  that 
ben  to  done  is  taken  to  governe  to  gode 
folk,  for  that  the  malice  haboundant  of 
shrewes   shoMe   ben   abated.      And   god 

I  yeveth  and  departeth  to  othre  folk  pros- 


peritees  and  adversitees-  y-medled  to- 
hepe,  after  the  qiaalitce  of  hir  corages,  and 
remordeth  som  folk  hy  adversitee,  for  they 
ne  sholde  nat  wexen  proude  by  longe 
welefulnesse.  And  other  folk  he  suffreth  295 
to  ben  travailed  with  harde  thinges,  for 
that  they  sholdeu  confermen  the  vertues 
of  corage  by  the  usage  and  exercitaciouu 
of  pacience.  And  other  folk  dreden  more 
than  they  oughteu  f  that  whiche  they  .soo 
niighten  wel  beren  ;  and  somme  dispyse 
that  they  mowe  nat  beren  ;  and  thilke 
folk  god  ledeth  in-to  experience  of  him- 
self by  aspre  and  sorwful  thinges.  And 
many  othre  folk  hau  bought  honoiu'able  305 
renoun  of  this  world  by  the  prys  of 
glorious  deeth.  And  som  men,  that  ne 
moweu  nat  ben  overcomen  by  torments, 
have  yeveu  ensaumple  to  othre  folli,  that 
vertu  may  nat  ben  overcomen  by  adver-  3i'> 
sitees ;  and  of  alle  thinges  ther  nis  no 
doute,  that  they  ne  ben  don  rightfully 
and  ordenely,  to  the  profit  of  hem  to 
whom  we  seen  thise  thinges  bityde.  For 
certes,  that  adversitee  comth  somtyme  315 
to  shrewes,  and  somtjTne  that  that  they 
desiren,  it  comth  of  thise  forseide  causes. 
And  of  sorwful  thinges  that  bityden  to 
shretces,  certes,  no  man  Jie  wondreth  ;  for 
alle  men  wenen  that  they  han  wel  de-  3^<J 
served  it,  and  that  they  ben  of  wikkede 
merite ;  of  whiche  shrewes  the  torment 
somtyme  agasteth  othre  to  don  felonyes, 
and  somtyme  it  amendeth  hem  that 
sufFren  the  torments.  And  the  pros-  325 
peritee  that  is  yeven  to  shreices  sheweth 
a  greet  argument  to  gode  folk,  what  thing 
they  sholde  demen  of  thilke  welefulnesse, 
the  whiche  prosperitee  men  seen  ofte 
ser\'en  to  shrewes.  In  the  which  thing  330 
I  trowe  that  god  dispenseth  ;  for,  per- 
aventure,  the  nature  of  som  man  is  so 
overthrowinge  to  yvel,  and  so  uncoven- 
able,  that  the  nedy  povertee  of  his 
houshold  mighte  rather  egren  him  to  don  335 
felonyes.  And  to  the  nialadj-eof  him  god 
putteth  remei-Ue,  to  yeven  him  richesses. 
And  som  other  man  biholdeth  his  con- 
science defouled  with  sinnes,  and  maketh 
comi^arisoitn  of  his  fortune  and  of  him-  340 
self;  and  dredeth,  per-aventure,  that  his 


U0.    (^006  IV:   (nUfre  VI. 


i8c) 


blislulnesse,  of  which  the  usage  is  juyeful 
to  him,  that  the  lesinge  of  thilke  blisful- 
nesse   ne   be   nat  sorwfnl  to  hina ;    and 

345  therfor  he  wol  chaunge  his  maneres,  and, 
for  he  dredeth  to  lese  his  fortune,  he  for- 
leteth  his  wikkednesse.  To  otlire  folk  is 
welefuhiesse  y-yeven  unworthily,  the 
whiche  overthroweth  hem  in-to  distnic- 

350  cioun  that  they han  deserved.  And  to  som 
othre  folk  is  yeven  power  to  punisshen, 
for  that  it  shal  be  cause  of  contimta- 
cioun  and  exercysinge  to  gode  folk  and 
cause  of  torment  to  shrewes.     For  so  as 

355  ther  nis  non  alyaunce  by-twbce  gode  folk 
and  shrewes,  ne  shrewes  ne  niowen  nat 
acorden  amonges  hem-self.  And  why 
nat  ?  For  shrewes  discorden  of  hem-self 
by  hir  vyces,   the   whiche  vyces   al  to- 

360  renden  hir  consciences  ;  and  don  ofte 
tyme  thinges,  the  whiche  tlunges,  whan 
they  han  don  hem,  they  demen  that  tho 
thinges  ne  sholden  nat  han  ben  don.  For 
which  thing  thilke  soverein  purveaunce 

365  hath  maked  ofte  tyme  fair  miracle ;  so 
that  shrewes  han  maked  shrewes  to  ben 
gode  men.  For  whan  that  som  shrewes 
seen  that  they  suffren  wrongfully  felonyes 
of  othre  shrewes,  they  wexen  eschaufed 

370  in-tohateof  hem  that  anoyeden  hem,  and 
retornen  to  the  frut  of  vertu,  whan  they 
studien  to  ben  unlyk  to  hem  that  they 
han  hated.  Certes,  only  this  is  the  divyne 
might,  to  the  whiche  might  yveles  ben 

375  thanne  gode,  whan  it  useth  tho  yveles 
covenably,  and  draweth  out  the  effect  of 
any  gode ;  as  who  seyth,  that  yvel  is  good 
only  to  the  miyhtofgod,  for  the  might  of  god 
ordeyneth  thilke  yvel  to  good.         For  oon 

380  ordre  embraseth  alle  thinges,  so  that 
what  wight  that  departeth  fro  the  resoun 
of  thilke  ordre  which  that  is  assigned  to 
him,  algates  yit  he  slydeth  in-to  another 
ordre,  so  that  no-thing  nis  levefulto  folye 

385  in  the  reame  of  the  divyne  purviaunce  ; 
as  who  seyth,  nothing  nis  loith-outen  ordi- 
naunce  in  the  reame  of  the  divyne  pur- 
viaunce ;  sin  that  the  right  stronge  god 
governeth  alle  thinges  in  this  world,    For 

390  it  nis  nat  leveful  to  man  to  compre- 
henden  by  wit,  ne  unfolden  by  word,  alle 
the  subtil  ordinaunces  and  disposiciouns 


of  the  tlivyne  entente.  For  only  it  oughte 
suffise  to  han  loked,  that  god  him-self, 
maker  of  alle  natures,  ordeineth  and  395 
dresseth  alle  thinges  to  gode  ;  whyl  that 
he  hasteth  to  with-holden  the  thinges 
that  he  hath  niaked  in-to  his  semblaiince, 
that  is  to  seyn,  for  to  icith-holden  thinges 
in-to  good,  for  he  him-self  is  good,  he  400 
chaseth  out  al  yvel  fro  the  boundes  of  his 
comunalitee  by  the  ordre  of  necessitee 
destinable.  For  which  it  folweth,  that 
yif  thou  loke  the  purviaunce  ordeiuinge 
the  thinges  that  naen  wenen  ben  out-  405 
rageous  or  haboundant  in  erthes,  thou  ne 
shalt  not  seen  in  no  place  no-thing  of 
y\'el.  But  I  see  now  that  thou  art 
charged  with  the  weighte  of  the  ques- 
tioun,  and  wery  with  the  lengthe  of  my  410 
resoun  ;  and  that  thou  abydest  som  sweet- 
nesse  of  songe.  Tak  thanne  this  draught ; 
and  whan  thou  art  wel  refresshed  and 
refect,  thou  shal  be  more  stedefast  to  stye 
in-to  heyere  qviestiovins.  415 

Metre  VI.    Si  ids  celsi  iura  tonantix. 

If  thou,  wj's,  wilt  demen  in  thy  pure 
thought  the  rightes  or  the  lawes  of  the 
heye  thonderer,  that  is  to  seyn,  of  god,  loke 
thou  and  bihold  the  heightes  of  the 
soverein  hevene.  There  kepen  the  sterres,  5 
by  rightful  alliaunce  of  thinges,  hir  olde 
pees.  The  sonne,  y-moeved  by  his  rody 
fyr,  ne  distorbetli  nat  the  colde  cercle  of 
the  rnone.  Ne  the  sterre  y-cleped  'the 
Bere,'  that  enclyneth  his  ravisshinge  10 
courses  abouten  the  soverein  heighte  of 
the  worlde,  ne  the  same  sterre  Ursa  nis 
never-nio  wasshen  in  the  depe  westrenc 
see,  ne  coveiteth  nat  to  deyen  his  flaumbes 
in  the  see  of  the  occian,  al-thogh  he  see  15 
othre  sterres  y-plounged  in  the  see.  And 
Hesperus  the  sterre  bodeth  and  telleth 
alwey  the  late  nightes  ;  and  Lucifer  tfie 
sten-e  bringeth  ayein  the  clere  day.  And 
thi\s  maketh  Love  entrechaungeable  the  20 
perdurable  courses  ;  and  thus  is  discord- 
able  bataile  y-put  oixt  of  the  contree  of 
the  sterres.  This  acordau.nce  atempreth 
by  evenelyk  maneres  the  elements,  that 
the    m(.>iste   thinges,    stry\-inge  with  the  25 


190 


(goef6tu0.    (^ooft  IV:   (proee  vii. 


Clrye  thinges,  ycven  place  by  stoundes ; 
and  the  colde  thinges  joynen  hem  by 
fej^th  to  the  hote  thinges  ;  and  that  the 
lighte  tyr  aryseth  in-to  heighte  ;  and  the 

30  hevy  erthes  avalen  by  hir  weightes.  By 
thise  same  canses  the  floury  yeer  j'ildeth 
swote  smelles  in  the  lirste  somer-sesoun 
warminge  ;  and  the  hote  somer  dryeth 
the  comes  ;  and  autumpne  comth  ayein, 

35  he\'y  of  apples ;  and  the  fletinge  reyn 
bideweth  the  winter.  Tliis  atemi)raunce 
norissheth  and  bringeth  forth  al  thing 
that  fbretheth  lyf  in  this  world;  and 
thilkc   same  atempraunce,    ravisshinge, 

40  liydeth  and  binimeth,  and  drencheth 
under  the  laste  deeth,  alle  thinges  y-born. 
Amonges  thise  thinges  sitteth  the  heye 
uiaker,  king  and  lord,  welle  and  begin- 
ninge,  lawc  and  wys  juge,  to  don  equitee  ; 

45  and  governeth  and  enclyneth  the  brydles 
of  thinges.  And  tho  thinges  that  ho 
stcreth  to  gon  by  moevinge,  he  with- 
draweth  and  arcsteth  ;  and  alfermeth  the 
moevable  or  wandringe  thinges.     For  yif 

50  that  he  ne  depede  ayein  the  right  goinge 
■)f  thinges,  and  yif  that  he  ne  con- 
streinede  hem  nat  oft-sones  in-to  round- 
nesses enclj'nede,  tho  tliinges  that  ben 
now  continued  by  stable  ordinaunce,  they 

55  sholden  departon  from  hir  welle,  that  is  to 
scyn,  from  hir  bif/innim/e,  and  faylen,  that 
is  to  seijn,  tome  in-to  nought.  This  is 
the  comune  Love  to  alle  thinges  ;  and  alio 
thinges  axen  to  ben  holden  Viy  the  fyn  of 

60  good.  For  ellcs  ne  mighten  they  nat 
lasten  ;  yif  they  no  come  nat  eft-sones 
ayein,  by  Love  retomed,  to  the  cause  that 
hath  j-evcn  horn  beinge,  that  is  to  aeyn,  to 
tlocL 

Pkose  vii.     lamnc  igifiir  aides. 

Seestow  nat  thanne  what  thing  folweth 
alle  the  thinges  that  I  have  seyd?  ' 
Boece.  '  What  thing  ?  '  quod  I. 

'  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  al-outrely,  that  alle 
5  fortune  is  good.'  '  And  how  may  that 

lie  ?  '  quod  I. 

'  Now  understand,'  quod  she,  '  so  as  alle 
fortune,  whether  so  it  be  joyeftil  fortune 
or  asprc  fortune,  is  yeven  either  by  cause 


"f  gniei'tloiiing  or  elles  of  exercysinge  of  10 
good  folk,  or  elles  by  cause  to  punissheu 
or  elles  chastysen  shrewes  ;  thanne  is  alle 
fortune  good,  the  whiche  fortune  is  cer- 
tein  that  it  be  either  rightful  or  elles 
profitable.'  '  Forsothe,   this  is   a  ful  15 

verray  resouu,' quod  I ;  'and  yif  I  con- 
sider the  pur^-iaunce  and  the  destinee 
that  thou  tanghtest  me  a  litel  her-biforn, 
this  sentence  is  sustened  by  stedefast 
resouns.  But  yif  it  lyke  unto  thee,  lat  us  jo 
noumbren  hem  amonges  thilke  thinges, 
of  whiche  thou  seydest  a  litel  her-biforn, 
that  they  ne  were  nat  able  to  ben  wened 
to  the  poeple.' 

'  Why  so!"  quod  she.         '  For  that  the  25 
comune  word  of  men,'  quod  I,  '  misuseth 
this  maner  speche  of  fortune,  and  seynofte 
tymes  that  the  fortune  of  sorn  wight  is 
wikkede.' 

'  Wiltow  thanne,'   quod   she,    '  that  I  30 
aproche  a  litel  to  the  wordes  of  the  poeple, 
sb  that  it  seme  nat  to  hem  that  I  Ije  over- 
moche  departed  as  fro  the  usage  of  man- 
kinde  ?  '        'As  thou  wolt,'  quod  I. 

•  Demestow  nat,'   quod   she,    '  that  al  35 
thing  that  profiteth  is  good?'         '  Yis,' 
quod  I. 

'And  certes,  thilke  thing  that  exer- 
cyseth  or.corigeth,  profiteth  ?  '  '1  con- 
fesse  it  wel,'  quod  I.  40 

I       '  Thanne  is  it  good  ? '  quod  she.       '  Why 
nat  ?  '  quod  I. 

'  But  this  is  the  fortune,'  quod  she,  ' of 
hem  that  either  ben  put  in  vertu  and 
batailen  ayeins  asprc  thinges,  or  elles  of  45 
hem  that  eschiien  and  declynen  fro  vyces 
'  and  taken  the  wey  of  vertu.'  '  This  ne 
may  I  nat  denye,'  quod  I. 

'  But  what  seystow  of  the  merj^  fortune 
that  is  yeven  to  good  folk  in  guerdoun  ?  50 
I  Demeth  aught  the  i)oeple  that  it  is  wik- 
I  ked?'  'N'ay,  forsothe,'  quod  I;   '  Imt 

they  demen,  as  it  sooth  is,  that  it  is  right 
I  good.' 
j       '  And  what  seystow  of  that  other  tor-  55 

tune,'  quod  she,  'that,  al-thogh  that  it  be 

!  aspre,    and   restreineth   the   shrewes   by 

I  rightful    torment,    weneth     aught     the 

'  jjoeple  that  it  h%  good  ?  '         •  Xay,'  (juod 

I.  '  but  the  poeple  demeth  that  it  is  most  Ckj 


(gcd^iw.    (gooft  IV :  (mefre  vii. 


191 


wrecched  of  alle  tliinges  that  may  ben 
thought.' 

'War  now,   and  loke   wel,'  yuod   she, 
•  lest  that  we,  in  t'olwinge  the  oiiinioun  of 

65  the  poeple,  have  confessed  and  conchided 
thing  that  is  unable  to  be  wened  to  the 
poeple.'        '  What  is  that,'  quod  I. 

'  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  it  folwetli  or  comth 
of  thinges  that  ben  graunted,  that  alle 

70  fortune,  what-so-ever  it  be,  of  hem  that 
l)en  either  in  possessioiiu  of  vertu,  or  in 
the  encres  ©f  vertu,  or  elles  in  the  pur- 
chasinge  of  vertu,  that  thilke  fortune  is 
good  ;  and  that  alle  fortune  is  right  wik- 

75  kede  to  hem  that  dwellen  in  shrewed- 
iiesse  ; '  as  who  seijth,  and  thus  weneth  nat 
the  poeple.  '  That  is  sooth,'  quod  I,  '  al- 
be-it  so  that  no  man  dar  confesse  it  no 
biknowen  it.' 

80  '  Why  so  ? '  quod  she  ;  '  for  right- as  the 
stronge  man  ne  semeth  nat  to  abaisseu  or 
disdaignen  as  ofte  tyme  as  he  hereth  the 
noise  of  the  bataile,  ue  also  it  ne  semeth 
nat,  to  the  wyse  man,   to  beren  it  gre- 

85  vously,  as  ofte  as  he  is  lad  in-to  the  stryf 
of  fortune.  For  bothe  to  that  oon  man 
and  eek  to  that  other  thilke  difficultee  is 
the  matere  ;  to  that  oon  man,  of  encres 
of    his    glorious    renoun,    and    to    that 

90  other  man,  to  confirme  his  sapience,  that 
is  to  seijn,  to  the  asprcnesse  of  7iis  estat. 
For  therfore  is  it  called  "  vertu,"  for 
that  it  susteneth  and  enforseth,  by  hise 
sti-engthes,  that  it  nis  nat  overcomen  by 

95  adversitees.  Ne  certes,  thou  that  art  put 
in  the  encres  or  in  the  heighte  of  vertu, 
ne  hast  nat  comen  to  fletcn  with  delices, 
and  for  to  welken  in  bodily  luste  ;  thou 
sowest  or  plauntest  a  ful  egre  bataile  in 
Jix)  thi/  corage  ayeins  every  fortune  :  for  that 
the  sorwful  fortune  ne  confounde  thee 
nat,  ne  that  the  merye  fortune  ne  co- 
rumpe  thee  nat,  occupye  the  mene  by 
stedefast  strengthes.  For  al  that  ever  is 
105  imder  the  mene,  or  elles  al  that  over- 
passeth  the  mene,  despyseth  welefulnesse 
{as  who  seyth,  it  is  vicious),  and  ne  hath  no 
mode  of  his  travaile.  For  it  is  set  in  your 
hand  (as  who  seyth,  it  hjth  in  your  poicer) 
1 10  what  fortune  yow  is  levest,  that  is  to  seyn, 
good  or  yvel.    For  alle  fortune  that  semeth 


shari!  or  aspre,  yif  it  ne  exercj-se  uat  the 
(jode  folk  ne  chastyseth  the  wikked  folk,  it 
punissheth. 

Metke  vii.     Bella  bis  q^iinis  vx>eratus 
annis. 

The  wreker  Attrides,  that  is  to  aeyn, 
Agamenon,  that  wroughte  and  contiuuedo 
the  batailes  by  ten  yeer,  recovered  and 
purgede  in  wi-ekinge,  by  the  destruccioun 
of  Troj-e,  the  loste  chaumbres  of  mariage  5 
of  his  brother ;  this  is  to  seyn,  that  he, 
Agamenon,  ican  ayein  Eleyne,  that  ivas 
Menelaus  tvyf  his  brother.  In  the  meno 
whyle  that  thilke  Agamenon  desirede  to 
yeven  sayles  to  the  Grekissli  navj-e,  and  10 
boughte  ayein  the  windes  bj'  blood,  he 
unclothede  him  of  pitee  of  fader ;  and  the 
sory  preest  yivcth  in  sacrifyinge  the 
wrecched  cuttinge  of  throte  of  the  ilougli- 
ter;  that  is  to  seyn,  that  Agamenon  let  15 
cutten  the  throte  of  his  doughter  by  tlu 
preest,  to  maken  allyaunce  with  his  goddes, 
and  for  to  han  wind  icith  whichc  he  mighte 
wenden  to  Troye.  Itacus,  that  is  to  seyn, 
Ulixes,  biwepte  his  felawes  y-lorn,  the  20 
whiche  felawes  the  fersc  Poliphemus,  lig- 
ginge  in  his  grete  cave,  hadde  freten  and 
dreynt  in  his  empty  wombe.  But  nathe- 
les  Poliphemus,  wood  for  his  blinde  visage, 
yald  to  Ulixes  joyo  by  his  sorwful  teres ;  25 
that  is  to  seyn,  that  Ulixes  smoot  otit  the 
eye  ofl'oliphemus  that  stood  in  his  furehed, 
for  which  Ullves  hadde  Joye,  ivhun  he  say 
Poliphemus  icepinge  and  blinde.  Her- 
cules is  celebrable  for  his  harde  travailes  ;  30 
he  dauntede  the  proude  Centaurcs,  half 
hors,  half  man;  and  he  birafte  the  di- 
spoylinge  fro  the  cruel  lyoiin,  that  is  to 
seyn,  he  slowh  the  lyoun  and  rofte  him  h  is 
skin.  He  smoot  the  briddes  that  highten  35 
Arpyes  with  certein  arwes.  He  ravisshede 
apples  fro  the  wakinge  dragoun,  and  his 
hand  was  the  more  hevy  for  the  goldeue 
metal.  He  drow  Cerberus,  the  hound  of 
helle,  by  his  treble  cheyne.  He,  over-  40 
comer,  as  it  is  seyd,  hath  pxit  an  unmeke 
lord  foddre  to  his  cruel  hors  ;  this  is  to 
seyn,  that  Hercules  slowh  Diomedes,  and 
j   made   his   hors   to  freten  him.     And   he, 


192 


(goH^iue.    QE>oofi  v:   (J)ro0e  i. 


45  HerciUes,  slowh  Ydra  the  serpent,  and 
brende  the  venim.  And  Achelous  the 
flood,  defoiiled  in  his  forhed,  dreynte  his 
shamef'ast  visage  in  his  strondes;  this  is 
to  seyn,  that   Achelous  coude   transfigure 

50  himself  in-to  dyverse  lyknesses  ;  and,  as  he 
faught  with  Hercules,  at  the  laste  lie  twnede 
him  in-to  a  hole  :  and  Hercules  brak  ofoon 
of  his  homes,  and  he,  for  shame,  hidde  him 
in  his  river.      And    he,   Hercules,   caste 

55  adonu     Antheus     the     gyaunt    in    the 
strondes  of  Libie  ;  and  Cacus  apaysede 
the  wratthes  of  Evander ;  this  is  to  seyn,  j 
that  Hercules  slotch  the  monstre  Cacus,  and  1 
apaysede  with   that   deeth   the  wratthe  of 

60  Evander.  And  the  bristlede  boor  markede 
with  scomes  the  shuldres  of  Hercules,  the  1 


whiche  shuldres  the  heye  cercle  of  lievene 
sliolde  thriste.  And  the  laste  of  his  lar 
l)ours  was,  that  he  sustened  the  hevene 
up-on  his  nekke  vuibowed  ;  and  he  de-  65 
serv-ede  eft-sones  the  hevene,  to  ben  the 
prys  of  his  laste  travaile.  Goth  now 
thanne,  ye  strouge  men,  ther-as  the  heye 
wey  of  tlie  grete  ensaiiniple  ledeth  yow. 
O  nyce  men,  why  nake  ye  youre  bakkes  ?  70 
As  who  seyth  :  O  ye  slowe  and  delicat  men, 
tvhy  fiee  ye  adversitees,  and  ne  fiyhten  nat 
ayeins  hem  by  vertu,  to  winnen  the  mede  of 
the  hevene  ?  For  the  erthe,  overcomen, 
yeveth  the  sterres ' ;  this  is  to  seyn,  that,  75 
whan  that  erthely  lust  is  overcomen,  a  man 
is  malced  icorthy  to  the  hevene. 


BOOK    Y. 


Pkosf.   I.     Di.rerat,   oratirmimiue 
ciirsum. 

She  hadde  seyd,  and  torned  the  cours 
of  hir  resoun  to  some  othre  thinges  to  lien 
treted  and  to  ben  y-sped.  Thanne  seyde 
I,  '  Certes,  rightful  is  thj-n  amonestinge 
5  and  ful  digue  by  auctoritee.  But  that 
thou  seidest  whylom,  that  the  questioun 
of  the  di-s-j-ne  purviaunce  is  enlaced  with 
many  other  quest  iouns,  I  understonde 
wel  and  proeve  it  by  the  same  thing.  But 

10  I  axe  yif  that  thou  wenest  that  hap  be 
any  thing  in  any  weys ;  and,  yif  thovf 
wenest  that  hap  be  anything,  what  is 
it?' 

Thanne  quod  she,  '  I  haste  me  to  j-ilden 

15  and  assoilen  to  thee  the  dette  of  my 
bihest,  and  to  shewen  and  opnen  the  wey, 
by  which  wey  thou  mayst  come  ayein  to 
thy  contree.  But  al-be-it  so  that  the 
thinges  which  that  thou  axest  ben  right 

20  profitable  to  knowe,  >it  ben  they  diverse 
somwhat  fro  the  path  of  my  purpos ;  and 
it  is  to  douten  that  thou  ne  be  maked 
wery  by  mis-weyes,  so  that  thou  ne  mayst 
nat  sulfyce  to  mesuren   the   right  wey.' 

25  '  Ne  doute  thee  ther-of  nothing,'  quod  I. 


'  For,  for  to  knowen  thilkc  thinges  to- 
gedere,  in  the  whiche  thinges  I  delyte  me 
greetl.v,  that  slial  ben  to  me  in  stede  of 
reste ;  sin  it  is  nat  to  douten  of  tlie 
thinges  folwinge,  whan  every  syde  of  thy  30 
disputacioun  slial  han  be  stedefast  to  me 
by  undoutous  feith.' 

Thanne  seyde  she,  '  That  manere  wol 
I  don  thee  ' ;  and  bigan  to  spekcn  right 
thus.  '  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  yif  any  wight  35 
diflfinisshe  hap  in  this  manere,  that  is  to 
sejni,  that  '•  hap  is  bitydinge  y-brought 
forth  by  foolish  moevinge  and  by  no 
knettinge  of  causes,"  I  conferme  that  hap 
nis  right  naught  in  no  wyse  ;  and  I  deme  40 
al-outrely  that  hap  nis,  ne  dwelleth  but 
a  voice,  as  who  seith,  but  an  ydel  word, 
with-outen  any  significaciovm  of  thing 
submitted  to  that  vois.  For  what  place 
mighte  ben  left,  or  dwellinge,  to  folye  45 
and  to  disordenaunce,  sin  that  god  ledeth 
and  constreineth  alle  thinges  by  ordre  ? 
For  this  sentence  is  verray  and  sooth, 
that  "  nothing  ne  hath  his  beinge  of 
naught " ;  to  the  whiche  sentence  none  50 
of  thise  olde  folk  ne  withseyde  never  ; 
al-be-it  so  that  they  ne  understoden  ne 
meneden  it  naught  by  god,  prince  and 


(goe<6ttte.    (^ooft  V:  (J)tro6e  ii. 


193 


beginnere  of  werkinge,  but  they  casten 

55  [it]  as  a  manere  foundement  of  subject 
material,  that  is  to  seyn,  of  the  nature  of 
alle  resoun.  And.  yif  that  any  thing  is 
woxen  or  comen  of  no  causes,  than  shal  it 
seme  that  thilke  thing  is  comen  or  woxen 

60  of  naught ;  but  yif  this  ne  may  nat  ben 
don,  thanne  is  it  nat  possible,  that  hap 
be  any  swich  thing  as  I  have  diffinisshed 
a    litel    heer-biforn.'  '  How    shal     it 

thanne  be  ?  '  quod  I.     '  Nis  ther  thanne 

65  no-thing  that  by  right  may  be  cleped 
either  "  hap  "  or  elles  "  aventure  of  for- 
tune "  ;  or  is  ther  aught,  al-be-it  so  that 
it  is  hid  fro  the  peple,  to  which  these 
wordes  ben  covenable  ?  ' 

;o  'Myn  Aristotulis,'  quod  she,  'in  the 
book  of  his  Phisik,  diffinissheth  this  thing 
by  short  resoun,  and  neigh  to  the  sothe.' 
'  In  which  manere  ?  '  quod  I. 

'  As  ofte,'  quod  she,  '  as  men  doon  any 

75  thing  for  grace  of  any  other  thing,  and 
an-other  thing  than  thilke  thing  that 
men  entenden  to  don  bitydeth  by  some 
causes,  it  is  cleped  "  hai)."  Eight  as 
a  man  dalf  the  erthe  by  cause  of  tilyinge 

80  of  the  feeld,  and  founde  ther  a  gobet  of 
gold  bidolven,  thanne  wenen  folk  that  it 
is  bifalle  by  fortunous  bitydinge.  But, 
for  sothe,  it  nis  nat  of  naught,  for  it  hath 
his  propre  causes  ;  of  whiche  causes  the 

85  covirs  unforeseyn  and  unwar  semeth  to 
han  maked  hap.  For  yif  the  tilyere  of 
the  feld  ne  dolve  nat  in  the  erthe,  and  yif 
the  hyder  of  the  gold  ne  hadde  hid  the 
gold  in  thilke  place,  the  gold  ne  hadde 

90  nat  been  founde.  Thise  ben  thanne  the 
causes  of  the  abregginge  of  fortuit  hap, 
the  which  abregginge  of  fortuit  hap 
comth  of  causes  encountringe  and  flow- 
inge  to-gidere  to  hem-self,  and  nat  by  the 

95  entenciovin  of  the  doer.  For  neither  the 
hyder  of  the  gold  ne  the  delver  of  the 
feeld  ne  understoden  nat  that  the  gold 
sholde  han  ben  founde  ;  bvit,  as  I  sayde, 
it  bitidde  and  ran  to-gidere  that  he  dalf 
100  ther-as  that  other  hadde  hid  the  gold. 
Now  may  I  thus  diffinisshe  "  hap."  Hap 
is  an  unwar  bitydinge  of  causes  assem- 
bled in  thinges  that  ben  don  for  som 
other  thing.  But  thilke  ordre,  procedinge 


by  an  tmeschuable  bindinge  to-gidere,  105 
which  that  descendeth  fro  the  welle  of 
purviaunce  that  ordeineth  alle  thinges  in 
hir  places  and  in  hir  tymes,  maketh  that 
the  causes  rennen  and  assemblen  to- 
gidere.  Ill) 


Metre  I.     Rupis  Achemenie  scoxndis, 
ubi  uersa  sequentum. 

Tigris  and  Eufrates  resolven  and 
springen  of  00  welle,  in  the  cragges  of  the 
roche  of  the  contree  of  Achemenie,  ther-as 
the  fleinge  bataile  ficcheth  hir  dartes, 
retorned  in  the  brestes  of  hem  that  fol-  5 
wen  hem.  And  sone  after  tho  same 
riveres,  Tigris  and  Eufrates,  unjoinen  and 
departen  hir  wateres.  And  yif  they 
comen  to-gideres,  and  ben  assembled  and 
cleped  to-gidere  into  o  cours,  thanne  10 
moten  thilke  thinges  fieten  to-gidere 
which  that  the  water  of  the  entre- 
chaunginge  flood  bringeth.  The  shippes 
and  the  stokkes  arraced  with  the  flood 
moten  assemblen  ;  and  the  wateres  y-  15 
medled  wrappeth  or  implyeth  many  for- 
tunel  hax^pes  or  maneres ;  the  whiche 
wandringe  hajjpes,  natheles,  thilke  de- 
clyninge  lownesse  of  the  erthe  and  the 
flowinge  ordre  of  the  slydinge  water  20 
governeth.  Right  so  Fortune,  that  semeth 
as  that  it  fleteth  with  slaked  or  un- 
governede  brydles,  it  suff'ereth  brydles, 
that  is  to  seyn,  to  he  governed,  and  passeth 
by  thilke  lawe,  that  is  to  seyn,  hy  thilke  25 
divyne  ordenaunce. ' 


Prose  II.     Animaduei'to,  inquam. 

'  This  understonde  I  wel, '  quod  I,  '  and 
I  acorde  wel  that  it  is  right  as  thou 
seyst.  But  I  axe  yif  ther  be  any  libertee 
of  free  wil  in  this  ordre  of  causes  that 
cljrven  thus  to-gidere  in  hem-self;  or  5 
elles  I  wolde  witen  yif  that  the  destinal 
cheyne  constreineth  the  movinges  of  tho 
corages  of  men  ? ' 

'  Yis,'  quod   she  ;    '  ther  is  libertee  of 
free   wil.      Ne   ther   ne   was    nevere   no  10 
nature  of  resoun  that  it  ne  hadde  libertee 


194 


Q0oef0tu0.    Q0ooft  V:  (mefre  ii. 


of  freo  wil.  For  every  tiling  that  may 
Hiitiirely  iisen  resoun,  it  liath  doom  by 
which   it   decern eth   and   demeth   every 

15  tiling ;  thanne  knowcth  it,  by  it-self, 
thinges  that  ben  to  fleen  and  thinges 
tliat  ben  to  desiren.  And  thilke  thing 
that  any  wight  demeth  to  hen  desired, 
that  axeth   or   desireth   ho;    and  fleeth 

20  thilke  thing  that  lie  troweth  ben  to  fleen. 
■\Vlierfore  in  alio  thinges  that  resoun  is, 
in  hem  also  is  libertee  of  willinge  and  of 
nillinge.  But  I  no  ordeyne  nat,  as  who 
seyth,  J ne  gratinte  nat,  that  this  libertee 

25  be  evene-lyk  in  alle  thinges.  Forwhy  in 
the  sovereines  de\ynes  substaunces,  (hat 
is  to  seyn,  in  sjiirits,  jugement  is  more 
cleer,  and  wil  nat  y-corumped,  and  might 
redy  to  speden  thinges  that  ben  desired. 

30  Bat  the  soules  of  men  moten  nedes  be 
more  free  whan  they  loken  liem  in  the 
speculacioun  or  lokingo  of  the  devj-ne 
thought,  and  lasse  free  whan  they  slyden 
in-to  the  bodies  ;  and  yit  lasse  free  whan 

35  they  ben  gadered  to-gidere  and  compre- 
hended in  erthcly  membres.  But  the 
laste  seo-age  is  whan  that  they  ben  yeven 
to  vyccs,  and  han  y-faUo  from  the  pos- 
sessioun  of  hir  propro  resoun.     For  after 

40  that  they  han  cjist  awey  hir  eyen  fro  the 
light  of  the  soverej-n  soothfastnesse  to 
lowe  thinges  and  derke,  anon  they  derken 
by  the  cloude  of  ignoraunce  and  ben 
troubled    by    felonous    talents ;    to    the 

45  whiche  talents  whan  they  aprochen  and 
asentcn,  they  hepon  and  encresen  the 
servage  which  they  han  joyned  to  hem- 
self;  and  in  this  manere  they  ben  caitifs 
fro   hir    propre    libertee.      The    whiche 

50  thinges,  nathelesse,  the  lokinge  of  the 
devyne  purviaunce  seeth,  that  alle  thinges 
biholdeth  and  seeth  fro  eterne,  and  or- 
deineth  hem  everich  in  hir  merites  as 
they  ben  predestinat  :   and  it  is  B^yd  in 

5.i  Greek,  that  "alle  thinges  he  seeth  and 
alle  thinges  he  hereth."' 

Mexke  II.     Puro  clarum  lumine  Phebum. 

Homer  with  the  hony  mouth,  ttiat  is  to 
seyn,  Honter  tcith  the  gwete  ditees,  sLngeth, 
that   the  Sonne  is  cleer  by  pure  light  ; 


natheles  yit  ne  may  it  nat,  by  the  infirme 
light  of  his  hemes,  brekeu  or  percen  the  5 
inwarde  entrailcs  of  the  erthe,  or  elles  of 
the  see.     So  no  seeth  nat  god,  maker  of 
the  grcte  world  :  to  him,  that  loketh  alle 
thinges  from  an  heigh,  no  withstondeth 
nat  no  thinges  by  hevinosse  of  erthe  ;  ne  i<> 
the  night  ne  withstondeth  nat  to  him  by 
the  blake  cloudcs.     Thilke  (jod  seeth,   in 
00  strok  of  thought,  alle  thinges  that  ben, 
or   weren,   or  sholle  comen  ;   and  thilke 
god,  for  he  loketh  an<l  seeth  alle  thinges  15 
alone,  thou  mayst   seyn  that  ho   is  the 
verray  Sonne.' 


Prose  III.     Ttim  ego,  en,  inquam, 

Thanne  seydo  I,  '  now  am  I  confounded 
by  a  mcjre  hard  douto  than  I  was.' 

'  What  doute  is  that  ? '  quod  she.  '  For 
certes,  I  conjccte  now  by  whiche  thinges 
thou  art  troubled.'  5 

'  It  semeth,'  quotl  I,  '  to  repugnen  and 
to  contrarien  greetly,  that  god  knoweth 
biforn  alio  thinges,  and  that  ther  is  any 
freedom  of  libertee  For  yif  so  be  that 
god  loketh  alle  thinges  biforn,  ne  god  ne  10 
naay  nat  ben  desseived  in  no  manere, 
than  mot  it  nedes  been,  that  alle  thinges 
bityden  the  whiche  that  the  purviaunce 
of  god  hath  seyn  bifom  to  comen.  For 
which,  yif  that  god  knoweth  biforn  nat  15 
only  the  werkes  of  men,  but  also  hir 
conseiles  and  hir  willes,  thanne  no  shal 
ther  bo  no  libertee  of  arbitre  ;  ne,  certes, 
ther  ne  may  bo  noon  other  dede,  ne  no 
wil,  but  thilke  which  that  the  divyne  20 
purviaunce,  that  may  nat  ben  desseived, 
hath  feled  biforn.  For  yif  that  they 
mighten  wrythen  awey  in  othre  manere 
than  they  ben  pui-veyed,  than  sholde  Iher 
be  no  stedefast  prescience  of  thing  to  25 
comen,  but  rather  an  uncertein  opinioun  ; 
the  whiche  thing  to  trowen  of  god,  I  dome 
it  felonye  and  unlevefuL  Xo  I  ne  proeve 
nat  thilke  same  resoun,  as  tcho  seijlh,  I  ne 
aloioe  nat,  or  I  ne  preyse  nat,  thilke  sanw,  30 
resoun,  by  which  that  som  men  wenen 
that  they  mowen  assoilen  and  unknitten 
the  knotte  of  this  questioun.  For,  certes, 


(goef$iu0.    (gooft  V:   (proee  in. 


95 


they  seyn   t}iat  thing  nis  nat  to  comen 

35  for  that  the  purv-iaunce  of  god  hath  seyn 

it  biforn  that  is  to  comen,  but  rather  the 

contrarye,  and  that  is  this  :  that,  for  that 

the  thing  is  to  comen,  therfore  ne  may  it 

nat  ben  hid  fro  the  purviaunce  of  god  ; 

41)  and  in  this  manere  this  necessitee  slydeth 

ayein  in-to  the  contrarye  partj'e  :  ne  it 

ne  bihoveth  nat,  nedes,  that  thinges  bi- 

tyden  that  ben  i5ur\-yed,  but  it  bihoveth, 

nodes,   that  thinges  that  ben  to  comen 

45  ben  y-porveyed :  but  as  it  were  y-travailed, 

as  who  seyth,  that  thilke  ansivere  procedeth 

right  as  thogh  men  travaileden,  or  iveren 

hisy  to  enqueren,  tlie  whichc  thing  is  cause 

of  the  whiche  thing  : — as,   whether  the 

50  prescience  is  cause  of  the  necessitee  of 

thinges    to    comen,    or    elles    that    the 

necessitee  of  thinges  to  comen  is  cause 

of  the  purviaiince.     But  I  ne  enforce  me 

nat  now  to  shewen  it,  that  the  bitydingo 

55  of  thinges  y-wist  biforn  is  necessarie,  how 

so  or  in  what  manere  that  the  ordre  of 

causes  hath  it-self;  al-thogli  that  it  no 

seme  nat  that  the  prescience  bringe  in 

necessitee    of    bitydinge    to    thinges    to 

60  comen.     For  cei-tes,  yif  that  any  wight 

sitteth,  it  bihoveth  by  necessitee  that  the 

opinioun  be  sooth  of  him  that  conjecteth 

that  he  sittetli ;  and  ayeinward  also  is  it 

of  the   contrarye  :   yif  the   opinioun  be 

65  sooth  of  any  wight  for  that  he  sitteth, 

it  bUioveth   by  necessitee  that  he  sitte. 

Thanne  is  heer  necessitee  in  that  oon 

and   in    that  other  :  for   in  that  oon  is 

necessitee  of  sittinge,  and,  certes,  in  that 

70  other  is  necessitee  of  sooth.    But  therfore 

ne    sitteth    nat    a    wight,   for   that  the 

opinioun  of  the  sittinge  is  sooth  ;  but  the 

opinioun  is  rather  sooth,  for  that  a  wight 

sitteth  biforn.     And  thus,  al-thogh  that 

75  the  cause   of  the  sooth  cometh  of  that 

other  syde  {as  who  seyth,  that  al-thogh  the 

cause  of  sooth  comth  of  the  sitting,  and  nat 

of  the  trewe  oinnioiin),  algates  yit  is  ther 

comune   necessitee   in   that   oon   and  in 

80  that  other.     Thus  sheweth  it,  that  I  may 

make  semblable  skiles  of  the  purviaunce 

of  god  and  of  thinges   to  comen.     For 

althogh   th.at,    for   that    thinges   ben   to 

coiuen,  ther-fore  ben  they  purveyed,  nat, 

H 


certes,  for  that  they  ben  purveyed,  ther-  «5 
fore   ne  bityde  they  nat.     Yit  natheles, 
bihoveth  it  by  necessitee,  that  either  the 
thinges  to  comen  ben  y-purveyed  of  god, 
or  elles  that  the  thinges  that  ben  pur- 
veyed of  god  bityden.      And  this  thing  9a 
only  suffiseth  y-nough  to  destroyen  the 
freedom  of  oure  arbitre,  tlmt  is  to  seyn,  of 
oure  free  loil.     But  now,  certes,  sheweth  it 
tvel,  how  fer  fro  the  sothe  and  how  up-so- 
doun  is  this  thing  that  we  seyn,  that  the  95 
bitydinge  of  temporol  thinges  is  cause  of 
the  eterne  prescience.     But  for  to  wenen 
that  god  purvyeth  the  thinges  to  comen 
for  they  ben  to  comen,  what  other  thing 
is  it  but  for  to  wene  that  thilke  thinges  100 
that  bitidden  whylom  ben  causes  of  thilke 
soverein  purvyaunce  that  is  in  god  ^     And 
her-to  /  adde  yit  this  thing     that,  right 
as  whan  that  I  wot  that  a  thing  is,  it 
bihoveth  by  necessitee  that  thilke  selve  105 
thing  be  ;  and  eek,  whan  I  have  knowo 
that  any  thing  shal  bityden,  so  byhoveth 
it  by  necessitee  that  thilke  thing  bityde  : 
—  so  folweth  it  thanne,  that  the  bitydinge 
of  the   thing  y-wist  biforn  no  may  nat  110 
ben  eschued.     And  at  the  laste,  yif  that 
any  wight  wene   a  thing   to   ben   other 
weyes  thanne  it  is,   it  is  nat  only  un- 
science,  but  it  is  deceivable  opinioun  ful 
diverse  and  fer  fro  the  sothe  of  science.  115 
Wherfore,  yif  any  thing  be  so  to  comen, 
that  the  bitydinge  of  hit  ne  be  nat  cer- 
tein  ne  necessarie,  who  may  weten  biforn 
that  thilke  thing  is  to  comen  ?    For  right 
as  science  ne  may  nat  ben  medled  with  120 
falsnesse  {as  who  seyth,   that    yif  I  wot 
a  thing,  it  ne  may  nat  be  false  that  I  ne  wot 
it),  right  so  thilke  thing  that  is  conceived 
by  science  ne  may  nat  ben   non   other 
weys  than  as  it  is  conceived.     For  that  is  125 
the  cause  why  that  science  wantoth  lesing 
{as  tvho  seyth,  why  that  witinge  ne  receiveth 
nat  lesinge  of  that  it  toot) ;  for  it  bihoveth, 
by  necessitee,  that  every  thing  be  right 
as  science  comprehendeth  it  to  be.  What  13*^ 
shal  I  thanne  seyn  ?     In  whiche  manere 
knoweth  god  biforn  the  thinges  to  comen, 
yif  they  ne  be  nat  certein  ?     For  yif  that 
he   deme   that   they   ben   to   comen   un- 
I  eschewably,   and   so   may   be   that  it   is  135 


196 


(gott^iuB.    (gooft  V:    (pvotst  III. 


possible  that  they  ne  shollen  nat  comen, 
god  is  deceived.  But  nat  only  to  trowen 
that  god  is  deceived,  but  for  to  speke  it 
with  mouth,  it  is  a  felonous  sinne.     But 

140  yif  that  god  wot  that,  right  so  as  thinges 
ben  to  comen,  so  shuUen  they  comen — so 
that  he  wte  egaly,  as  icho  eeyth,  indiffer- 
ently, that  thinges  mowen  ben  doon  or 
ellesnaty-doon^whatisthilko  prescience 

145  that  ne  comprehendeth  no  certein  thing 
no  stable?  Or  elles  what  difference  is 
ther  bitwise  the  prescience  and  thilko 
jape-worthy  divj-ningo  of  Tiresie  the 
divj-nour,  that  seyde  :  "  Al  that  I  seye," 

150  quod  he,  "  either  it  shal  be,  or  elles  it 
ne  shal  nat  be?"  Or  elles  how  mochel 
is  worth  the  devyne  prescience  more 
than  the  opinioun  of  mankinde,  yif  so  be 
that  it  demeth  the  thinges  uncertein,  as 

i:;^  men  doon  ;  of  the  whiche  domes  of  men 
the  bitydinge  nis  nat  certein?  But  yif 
so  be  that  non  uncertein  thing  ne  may 
ben  in  him  that  is  right  certein  welle' 
of  alle  thinges,  thanne  is  the  bitydinge 

i6o  certein  of  thilke  thinges  whiche  he  hath 
wist  biforn  fermely  to  comen.  For  which 
it  folweth,  that  the  freedom  of  the  con- 
seiles  and  of  the  werkes  of  mankind  nis 
non,    sin   that   the   thoght  of  god,   that 

165  seeth  alle  thinges  without  errour  of  fals- 
nesse,  bindeth  and  constreineth  hem  to 
a  bitydinge  by  necessitee.  And  yif  this 
thing  be  ones  y-graunted  and  received, 
that  is  to  seyn,  that  ther  nis  no  free  mile, 

170  than  sheweth  it  wel,  how  greet  destruc- 
cioun  and  how  grote  damages  ther  folwen 
of  thinges  of  mankinde.  For  in  ydel  ben 
ther  thanne  puri>osed  and  bihight  medes 
to  gode  folk,  and  peynes  to  badde  folk, 

175  sin  that  no  moevinge  of  free  corage 
voluntarie  ne  hath  nat  deserved  hem, 
that  is  to  seyn,  neither  mede  ne  peyne  ;  and 
it  sholde  seme  thanne,  that  thilke  thing 
is  alderworst,  which  that  is  now  demed 

180  for  aldermost  just  and  most  rightful,  that 
is  to  seyn,  that  shrewes  ben  punisshed,  or 
elles  that  gode  folk  ben  y-gerdoned :  the 
whiche  folk,  sin  that  hir  propre  wil  ne 
sent  hem  nat   to   that   oon   ne   to   that 

185  other,  that  i^  to  seyn,  neither  to  gode  ne 
to   harm,   but   constreineth   hem  certein 


necessitee  of  thinges  to  comen  :    thanne 
ne   shollen   ther  nevere  ben,   ne  nevere 
weren,  •vyce  ne  vertu,  but  it  sholde  rather 
ben  confusioun  of  alle  desertes  medled  190 
with-outen  discrecioun.    And  yit  ther  fol- 
weth an-other  inconvenient,  f  than  whiche 
ther  ne  may  ben  thoght  no  more  felonous 
ne  more  wikke  ;  and  that  is  this:  that,  so 
as  the  ordre  of  thinges  is  y-led  and  comth  195 
of  the  purviaunce  of  god,  ne  that  nothing 
nis  leveful  to  the  conseUes  of  mankinde 
(as  who  seyth,  that  men  han  no  power  to 
doon  no-thing,  ne  wilne  no-thing),  than  fol- 
weth it,  that  oure  vyces  ben  referred  to  200 
the  maker  of  alio  good  {as  who  seyth,  than 
foliveth  it,  that  god  ouyhte  han  the  blame  of 
oure  vyces,  sin  he  constreineth  its  by  neces- 
sitee to  doon  vyces).     Thanne  is  ther  no 
resoun  to  hopen  in  god,  ne  for  to  preyen  205 
to  god  ;  for  what  sholde  any  wight  hopen 
to  god,  or  why  sholde  he  preyen  to  god, 
sin  that  the  ordenaunce  of  destinee,  which 
that  ne  may  nat  ben  incl.'VTied,  knitteth 
and  streineth  alle  thinges  that  men  may  210 
desiren  ?     Thanne   sholde   ther   be   doon 
awey  thilke  only  allj-aunce  bitwixen  god 
and  men,  that  is  to  seyn,  to  hopen  and  to 
preyen.    But  by  the  prys  of  rightwisnesse 
and  of  verray  mekenesse  we  dcserven  the  215 
gerdoun  of  the  divyne  grace,  which  that 
is  inestimable,  tliat  is  to  seyn,  that  it  is  so 
greet,  that  it  ne  may  nat  ben  ful  y-preysed. 
And  this  is  only  the  manere,  that  is  to 
seyn,    hope    and  preyeres,   for  which    it  220 
semeth  that  men  mowen  speke  with  god, 
and  by  resoun  of  supplicacioun  be  con- 
joined to  thilke  cleernesse,  that  nis  nat 
ai)roched  no  rather  or  that  men  beseken 
it  and  impetren  it.     And  yif  men  wene  225 
nat   that   hope   ne   preyeres   ne  han  no 
strengthes,  by  the  necessitee  of  thinges 
i  to  comen  y-received,  what  thing  is  ther 
thanne  by  whiche  we  mowen  ben  con- 
j  joined    and    clyven    to    thilke   soverein  230 
I  i)rince  of  thinges  ?  For  which  it  bihoveth, 
'  by   necessitee,   that   the   linage  of  man- 
]  kinde,   as  thou  songe  a  litel  her-biforn, 
be  departed  and  unjoined  from  his  welle, 
and  failen  of  his  biginninge,   that  is  to  235 
seyn,  god. 


?oef6tu0.    (goo6  V:   (J)tO0e  IV. 


197 


Metre  III.    Quenam  discors  federa  rerum. 

What  discordable  cause  hath  to-rent 
and  unjoined  the  bindings,  or  the  alUaunce, 
of  thinges,  that  is  to  seyn,  the  conjunccioun 
of  god  and  man  9  Whiche  god  hath 
5  establisshed  so  greet  bataile  bitwixen 
thise  two  soothfast  or  verray  thinges, 
that  is  to  seyn,  bitwixen  the  purviaunce  of 
god  and  free  uil,  that  they  ben  singuler 
and  devyded,  ne  that  they  ne  wolen  nat 

10  be  medeled  ne  coupled  to-gidere '?  But 
ther  nis  no  discord  to  the  verray  thinges, 
but  they  clyven,  certein,  alwey  to  hem- 
self.  But  the  thought  of  man,  confounded 
and  overthrowen  by  the  dirke  membres 

15  of  the  body,  ne  may  nat,  by  fyr  of  his 
derked  looking,  tliat  in  to  seyn,  by  the 
vigour  of  his  insighte,  whyl  the  sottle  is  in 
the  body,  knowe  the  thinne  subtil  knitt- 
inges  of  thinges.  But  wherfore  enchaufeth 

20  it  so,  by  so  greet  love,  to  finden  thilke 
notes  of  sooth  y-covered  ;  that  is  to  seyn, 
wherfore  enchaufeth  the  thoght  of  man  by 
80  greet  desyr  to  knowen  thilke  notificacions 
that  ben   y-hid   under  the  covertoures  of 

25  sooth  ?  Wot  it  aught  thilke  thing  that  it, 
anguissous,  desireth  to  knowe  ?  As  who 
seith,  nay ;  for  no  man  travaileth  for  to 
witen  thinges  that  he  wot.  And  therfore 
the  texte  seith  thus  :  but  who  travaileth  to 

30  witen  thinges  y-knowe  ?  And  yif  that  he 
ne  knoweth  hem  nat,  what  seketh  thilke 
blinde  thoght  ?  What  is  he  that  desireth 
any  thing  of  which  he  wot  right  naught  ? 
As  who  seith,  who  so  desireth  any  thing, 

35  nedes,  somwhat  he  knaweth  of  it :  or  elles, 
he  ne  coude  nat  desire  it.  Or  who  may 
folwen  thinges  that  ne  ben  nat  y-wist? 
And  thogh  that  he  seke  tho  thinges,  wher 
shal  he  finde  hem  ?    What  wight,  that  is 

40  al  imconninge  and  ignoraunt,  may 
knowen  the  forme  that  is  y-founde  ?  But 
whan  the  soule  biholdeth  and  seeth  the 
heye  thoght,  that  is  to  seyn,  god,  than 
knoweth  it  to-gidere  the  somme  and  the 

45  singularitees,  that  is  to  seyn,  the  principles 
and  everich  by  himself.  But  now,  whyl 
the  soule  is  hid  in  the  cloude  and  in  the 
derkenesse  of  the  membres  of  the  body, 
it  ne  hath   nat  al  for-yeten  it-self,   but 


it   with-holdeth   the  somme  of  thinges,  50 
and   leseth   the   singularitees.     Thanne, 
who-so  that  seeketh  soothnesse,  he  nis  in 
neither  nother  habite  ;  for  he  noot  nat  al, 
ne  he  ne  hath  nat  al  foryeten  :  but  yit 
him  remembreth  the  somme  of  thinges  55 
that  he  with-holdeth,  and  axeth  conseil, 
and  retreteth   deepliche   thinges   y-seyn 
biforn,  that  is  to  seyn,  the  grete  somme  in 
his  minde  :    so  that  ho  mowe  adden  the 
parties  that  he  hath  for-yeten  to  thilke  60 
that  he  hath  with-holden.' 

Prose  IV.    Tum  ilia :  Vetus,  inquit,  hec  est. 

Thanne  seide  she  :  '  this  is,'  quod  she, 
'  the  olde  qviestion  of  the  x'urviaunce  of 
god  ;  and  Marcus  TaUius,  whan  he  de- 
vj'ded  the  divynaciouns,  that  is  to  seyn,  in 
his  book  that  he  unroot  of  divynaciouns,  he  5 
moevede  gretly  this  questioun  ;  and  thou 
thy-self  has  y-sought  it  mochel,  and 
outrely,  and  longe  ;  but  yit  ne  hath  it 
nat  ben  determined  ne  y-sped  fermely 
and  diligently  of  any  of  yow.  And  the  10 
cause  of  this  derkenesse  and  of  this  diffi- 
cultee  is,  for  that  the  moevinge  of  the 
resoun  of  mankinde  ne  may  nat  moeven 
to  {that  is  to  seyn,  applyen  or  joinen  to)  the 
simplicitee  of  the  devyne  prescience  ;  the  15 
whiche  simplicitee  of  the  devyne  prescience, 
yif  that  men  mighten  thinken  it  in  any 
manor,  that  is  to  seyn,  that  yif  men  mighten 
thinken  and  comprehenden  the  thinges  as 
god  seeth  hem,  thanne  ne  sholde  ther  20 
dwellen  outrely  no  doute  :  the  whiche 
resoun  and  cause  of  difficultee  I  shalassaye 
at  the  laste  to  shewe  and  to  speden, 
whan  I  have  first  y-spended  and  answered 
to  tho  resouns  by  which  thou  art  y-  25 
moeved.  For  I  axe  why  thou  wenest  that 
thilke  resouns  of  hem  that  assoilen  this 
questioun  ne  ben  nat  speedfvil  y-nough 
ne  sufficient  :  the  whiche  solucioun,  or 
the  whiche  resoun,  for  that  it  demeth  that  30 
the  prescience  nis  nat  cause  of  necessitee 
to  thinges  to  comen,  than  ne  weneth  it 
nat  that  freedom  of  wil  be  destorbed  or 
y-let  by  prescience.  For  ne  drawestow 
nat  arguments  from  eUes-where  of  the  3.'i 
of  thinges   to-comen   (as   who 


.98 


r/Sott^iue.    (gooft  V:    (Jjroee  IV. 


seith,  any  other  wy  than  thus)  hut  that 
thilke  thiiifjes  that  tho  prescience  wot 
hiforn  no  niowcn  nat  unhityde  ?  That  is 
to  seyn.  that  they  moten  bityile.  But 
thannp,  j-if  that  prescience  ne  pntteth 
no  necessitoe  to  thinges  to  comen,  as 
thon  thy-self  hast  confessed  it  and  hi- 
knowen  a  litol  her-hifom,  what  cause  or 
what  is  it  (a»  who  *?«A,  ther  may  no  cauie 
be)  hy  which  that  the  endes  vohintario  of 
thinges  niightcn  he  constreined  to  certein 
bitydinge  ?  For  hy  grace  of  positi<inn,  bo 
that  thon  mowe  the  hctere  nnderstonde 
this  that  folwcth,  I  pose,  j>e;-  impossibile, 
that  ther  be  no  prescience.  Thanne  axe 
I,'  qnod  she,  '  in  as  mochel  as  apertieneth 
to  that,  sholden  thanne  thinges  that 
comen  of  free  wil  ben  constreined  to  bi- 
tyden  hy  necessitee?'  Boece.     'Nay,' 

quod  I. 

'  Thanne  ayeinward,'  quod  she,  '  I  snp- 
iwse  that  ther  bo  prescience,  but  that  it 
ne  puttcth  no  necessitee  to  thinges ; 
thanne  trowe  I,  that  thilke  selvo  freedom 
of  wil  shal  dwellen  al  hool  and  absolut 
and  unljonndcn.  But  thon  wolt  sej-n 
that,  al-be-it  so  that  prescience  nis  nat 
cause  of  the  necessitee  of  bitydinge  to 
thinges  to  comen,  algatos  yit  it  is  a  signe 
that  tlie  thinges  ben  to  bityden  by 
necessitoe.  By  this  manere  thanne,  al- 
thogh  the  prescience  ne  hadde  never 
y-ben,  yit  algate  or  at  the  leeste  tceye  it 
is  certein  thing,  tliat  the  endes  and 
bitydinges  of  thinges  to  comen  sholden 
ben  neeessarie.  For  every  signe  sheweth 
and  signifyoth  onlj-  what  the  thing  is, 
but  it  ne  maketh  nat  the  thing  that  it 
signifyoth.  For  which  it  bihoveth  first 
to  shewen,  that  no-thing  ne  bitj'deth 
that  it  ne  bitydeth  by  necessitee,  so  that 
it  may  appcre  that  the  prescience  is  signe 
of  this  necessitee  ;  or  elles,  yif  ther  nere 
no  necessitee,  certes,  thilke  prescience 
ne  mighte  nat  1)€  signe  of  thing  that  nis 
nat.  But  certes,  it  is  now  certein  that 
the  proeve  of  this,  y-sustened  bystidefast 
resoun,  ne  shal  nat  ben  lad  ne  proeved 
Ijy  signes  ne  by  arg^iments  y-taken  fro 
with-oute,  but  by  causes  co^enable  and 
neeessarie.      But  tJtoa   mayrit  seyn.   how 


may  it  be  that  tho  thinges  ne  bityden 
nat  that  bon  y-purvoyod  toconicn?    But, 
certes,    right    as    we    trowen    that    tho  9i> 
thinges  which   that   the   purviance  wot 
biforn  to  comen  ne  ben  nat  to  bityden  ; 
but  that  ne  sholden  we  nat  domen  ;  but 
rather,  al-thogh  that  they  shal  bityden, 
j-it   no   have   they   no   necessitee  of  hir  95 
kinde  to   bityden.      And   this   niaystow 
lightly   aperceiven   by  this   tluit    I  shal 
seyn.     For  we  seen  many  thinges  whan 
they  bon  ilon  biforn  otire  eyen,  right  ns 
men   soon    tho    cartere   workon    in    the  i(K> 
torninge  or  atonipringe  or  adressinge  of 
hise   cartes   or   charietes.     And   by   this 
manere  (a»  who  seith,  maystov  nnderstonde) 
of  alio  othere  workmen.     Is  ther  thanno 
any    necessitoe,    as    tcho    seith,    in    oiire  105 
lolinge,  that  constreineth  or  compelleth 
any  of  thilke  thinges  to   bon  don  so?' 
Boece.     '  Nay,'  quod  I ;  'for  in  ydel  and 
in  veyn  were  al  the  effect  of  craft,  yif 
that  alle  thinges  weren  mooved  by  con-  no 
st  reiningo  ; '  that  is  to  seyn,  by  constreininge 
o/oure  eyen  or  ofonre  sight. 

'Tho  thinges  thanne,'  quod  she,  'that, 
whan  men  doon  hem,  ne  ban  no  neces- 
sitoe that  men  doon  hem,  eek  tho  same  115 
thinges,  first  or  they  lien  doon,  they  ben 
to  comen  with-onto  necessitee.  For-why 
ther  bon  somme  thinges  to  bityden,  of 
which  the  endes  and  the  bitydinges  of 
hem  ben  absolut  and  quit  of  alle  neces-  120 
sitee.  For  certos,  I  no  trowe  nat  that 
any  man  wolde  seyn  this  :  that  tho 
thinges  that  men  doon  now,  that  they 
ne  weren  to  bityden  first  or  they  weren 
y-doon ;  and  thilke  same  thinges,  al-  125 
thogh  that  men  had  y-wist  hem  biforn, 
j-it  they  han  free  bitydinges.  For  right 
as  science  of  thinges  present  ne  bringeth 
in  no  necessitee  to  thinges  that  men 
doon,  right  so  the  prescience  of  thinges  i}> 
to  comen  ne  bringeth  in  no  necessitee  to 
thinges  to  bityden.  But  thou  mayst  seyn, 
that  of  thilke  same  it  is  y-douted,  as 
whether  that  of  thilke  thinges  that  ne 
han  non  issues  and  bitydinges  necessaries,  135 
yif  ther-of  may  bon  any  prescience ;  for 
certes,  they  semen  to  discorden.  For 
thou  wenest  that,  yif  that  thinges  ben 


(god^im.    (^ooft  V:    (Iproee  IV. 


[99 


y-seyn    bifom,    that    necessitee    I'ohveth 

>  hem  ;  and  yif  necessitee  faileth  hem, 
they  ne  mighten  nat  ben  wist  biforn, 
and  that  no-thing  ne  may  ben  compre- 
hended by  science  but  certain  ;  and  yif 
tho  thinges  that  ne  ban  no  certain  bi- 

i  tydinges  ben  purveyed  as  'certain,  it 
sliolde  ben  dirknesse  of  opinioun,  nat 
soothfastnasse  of  science.  And  thon 
wenest  tliat  it  be  diverse  fro  the  hool- 
nasse   of  science   that   any   m;in   sholdo 

)  dame  a  thing  to  ben  other-weys  thanne 
it  is  it-self.  And  the  cause  of  this  erroure 
is,  that  of  alle  the  thinges  that  every 
■wight  hatli  y-knowe,  they  wenen  that 
tlio  tliinges  been  y-knowe  al-oonly  by  the 

;  strengthe  and  by  the  natnre  of  the 
thinges  tliat  ben  y-wist  or  j--knowa  ;  and 
it  is  al  the  contrarie.  For  al  tliat  ever 
is  y-knowe,  it  is  rather  comprehended 
and  knowen,  nat  after  his  strengthe  and 

I  his  nature,  but  after  the  facultee,  that 
is  to  seyn,  the  iwioer  and  the  nature,  of  hem 
that  knowen.  And,  for  that  this  thing 
shal  mowan  shewen  by  a  short  ensaumplc : 
the  same  rovtndnesse  of  a  body,  other- 
weys  the  sighte  of  the  eye  knoweth  it, 
and  other-weyes  the  touchinge.  The 
lokinge,  by  castinge  of  his  hemes,  waiteth 
and  seeth  from  afer  al  the  body  to-gidere, 
with-oute  moevinge  of  it-self;  but  the 
touchinge  clyveth  and  conjoineth  to  the 
rounde  body,  and  moeveth  aboute  the 
environinge,  and  comprehendeth  by 
parties  the  roundnesse.  And  the  man 
him-self,  other-weys  wit  bilioldeth  him, 

:  and  other-weys  imaginacioun,  and  other- 
weys  resoun,  and  other-weys  intelligence. 
For  the  wit  comprehendeth  withoute- 
fortli  the  figure  of  the  body  of  the  man 
that  is  establissed  in  the  matere  subject; 

'  but  the  imaginacioiin  comprehendeth 
only  the  figure  withoute  the  matere. 
Resoun  surmounteth  imaginacioun,  and 
comprehendeth  by  universal  lokinge  the 
eomune  space  that  is  in  the  singuler 
paces.  But  the  eye  of  intelligence  is 
heyere  ;  for  it  surmounteth  the  environ- 
inge of  the  universitee,  and  looketh,  over 
that,  by  pure  subtilitee  of  thoght,  thilke 
same   simple  forme  of  man  that  is  per- 


durably  in  the  divyne  thoght.  In  whiche  190 
this  oughte  greetly  to  ben  considered, 
that  the  heycste  strengthe  to  compre- 
henden  thinges  enbraseth  and  contieneth 
the  lowere  strengthe ;  but  the  lowere 
strengthe  ne  aryseth  n.at  in  no  manere  195 
to  heyere  strengthe.  For  wit  ne  may 
no-thing  comprehende  out  of  matere,  ne 
the  imaginacioun  no  lokcth  nat  the  t^ni- 
versels  speces,  ne  resoun  taketh  nat  the 
simple  forme  so  as  intellirjence  taketh  it  ;  200 
but  intelligence,  that  looketh  al  aboven, 
whan  it  hath  comprehended  the  forme, 
it  knoweth  and  demeth  alle  the  thinges 
that  ben  under  that  forme.  But  s7ie 
Icnoiveth  hem  in  thilke  manere  in  the  205 
whiche  it  comprehendeth  thilke  same 
simple  forme  that  ne  may  never  ben 
knowen  to  none  of  that  other ;  that  is  to 
sei/n,  to  none  of  tho  three  forseide  thinges 
of  the  soule.  For  it  knoweth  the  univer-  210 
sitee  of  resoun,  and  the  figure  of  tho 
imaginacioiin,  and  the  sensible  material 
conceived  by  n-it ;  ne  it  ne  iiseth  nat  nor 
of  resoun  ne  of  imaginacioun  ne  of  wit 
withoute-forth  ;  but  it  biholdeth  alle  215 
thinges,  so  as  I  shal  seye,  bj'  a  strok  of 
thought  formely,  tcithovte  discours  or  col- 
lacioun.  Certes  resoun,  whan  it  looketh 
any-thing  universel,  it  ne  useth  nat  of 
imaginacioun,  nor  «i  witte,  and  algates  220 
yit  it  comprehendeth  the  thinges  imagin- 
able and  sensible  ;  for  resoun  is  she  that 
diffinisseth  the  universel  of  hir  conseyte 
right  thus  : — man  is  a  resonable  two- 
foted  beest.  And  how  so  that  this  225 
knowinge  is  universel,  yet  nis  ther  no 
wight  that  ne  woot  wel  that  a  man  is 
a  thing  imaginable  and  sensible ;  and 
this  same  considereth  wel  resoim  ;  but 
that  nis  nat  bj'  imaginacioun  nor  by  wit,  230 
but  it  looketh  it  by  a  resonable  concep- 
cioun.  Also  imaginacioun,  al-be-it  so  that 
it  taketh  of  wit  the  beginninges  to  seen 
and  to  formen  the  figures,  algates,  al- 
thogh  that  wit  ne  were  nat  present,  yit  235 
it  environoth  and  comprehendeth  alle 
thinges  sensible  ;  nat  by  resoun  sensible 
of  deminge,  but  by  resoun  imaginatif. 
Seestow  nat  thanne  that  alle  the  thinges, 
in  knowinge,  usen  more  of  hir  facultee  ^40 


(god^iue.    (goo8  V:   QUehre  iv. 


or  of  hir  power  than  they  doon  of  the 
facultee  or  potoer  of  thinges  that  ben  y- 
knowe  ?  Ne  that  nis  nat  wrong ;  for  so 
as  every  jugement  is  the  decle  or  doinge 
H5  of  him  that  demeth,  it  bihoveth  that 
every  wight  perfonne  the  werk  and  his 
entencioun,  nat  of  foreine  power,  but  of 
hia  propre  power. 


Metre  IV.     Quondam  porticus  attulit. 

Tlie  Porclie,  that  is  to  seyn,  a  gate  of 
tlie  totm  of  Athenes  ther-as  philosophreg 
hadden  hir  congregacioun  to  desputen, 
thilke  Porche  broughte  som-tyme  olde 
5  men,  ful  derke  in  liir  sentences,  that 
is  to  seyn,  philosophres  that  highten 
Stoiciens,  that  wenden  that  images  and 
sensibilitees,  that  is  U)  seyn,  sensible  imagin- 
acioiins,  or  elles  imagimiciouns  of  sensible 

lo  thinges,  weren  empreinted  in-to  sowles 
fro  bodies  witlioute-fortli  ;  as  u-Jio  seilh, 
that  thilke  Stoiciens  wenden  that  the  soicle 
hadde  ben  naked  of  it-self  as  a  mirour  or 
a  dene   parchemin,   so    that    alle  figures 

15  mosten  first  comen  fro  thinges  fro  tnthoute- 
forth  in-to  sowles,  and  ben  emjtreinted  in-to 
sotcles  :  Text  :  right  as  we  ben  wont  som- 
tyme,  by  a  swifte  pointel,  to  ficchen 
lettres  empreinted  in  the  smothenesse  or 

20  in  the  pleinnesse  of  the  table  of  wex  or 
in  parchemin  that  ne  hath  no  figure  ne 
note  in  it.  Glose.  Ihit  now  argueth 
Boece  ayeins  that  opinioun,  and  seith  thus  : 
But    yif   the    thryvinge    sowle    ne    nn- 

^5  pleyteth  no-thing,  that  is  to  seyn,  ne  doth 
no-thing,  by  his  propre  moevinges,  but 
suffreth  and  lyth  subgit  to  tho  figures 
and  to  tho  notes  of  bodies  withoute-forth, 
and  j-ildetli  images  ydel  and  vejTi  in  the 

30  manere  of  a  mirour,  whennes  thryveth 
thanne  or  whennes  comth  thilke  know- 
inge  in  our  sowle,  that  discerneth  and 
biholdeth  alle  thinges  ?  And  whennes  is 
thilke  strengthe  that  biholdeth  the  singu- 

35  ler  thinges  ;  or  whennes  is  the  strengthe 
that  devydeth  thinges  y-knowe  ;  and 
thilke  strengthe  that  gadereth  to-gidere 
the  thinges  devyded  ;  and  the  strengthe 
that    cheseth    his    entrechaunged  wey  ? 


For  som-tjine  it  heveth  up   the   heved,  40 
that  is  to  seyn,  that  it  heveth  up  the  enten- 
cioun to  right  heye  thinges  ;  Jind  som-tj-me 
it  descendeth  in-to  right  lowe   thinges. 
And   whan   it   retorneth  in-to   him-self, 
it   reproeveth   and   destroyetli   the   false  45 
thinges    by  the   trewe   thinges.     Certes, 
this   strengthe   is   cause   more   efficient, 
and  mochcl  more  mighty  to  seen  and  to 
knotve   thinges,    than    thilke    cause    tliat 
suffreth  and  receiveth  the  notes  and  the  50 
figures   impressed   in   maner  of  matere. 
Algates  the  passioun,  that  is  to  seyn,  the 
suffraunce  or  the  wit,  in  the  quike  body, 
goth  biforn,  excitinge  and  moevinge  the 
strengthes  of  the  thought.     Right  so  as  55 
whan  that  cleernesse  smytetli  the  cyen 
and  moeveth  hem  to  seen,  or  right  so  as 
vois  or  soun   hurteleth  to  tlie  eres  and 
commoeveth   hem  to   herkne,   than   is  the 
strengthe  of  the  thought  y-moeved  and  60 
excited,  and  clepeth  forth,  to  semblable 
moevinges,  the  speces  that  it  halt  with- 
inne  it-self;    and  addeth  tho  speces   to 
the   notes  and  to  the  thinges  -Nvithoute- 
forth,  and  medleth  the  images  of  thinges  65 
withoute-forth    to    tho    formes    y-hidde 
with-inne  him-self. 


Pkose  V.    Quod  si  in  corporibus  sentiendis. 

But  what  yif  that  in  bodies  to  ben 
feled,  that  is  to  seyn,  in  the  takinge  of 
knoicelechinge  of  bodily  thinges,  and  al-be- 
it  so  that  the  qualitees  of  bodies,  that 
ben  objecte  fro  withoute-forth,  moeven  5 
and  entalenten  the  instruments  of  the 
wittes  ;  and  al-be-it  so  that  the  passioun 
of  the  body,  tJiat  is  to  seyn,  the  tcit  or  the 
suffraunce,  goth  to-fom  the  strengthe  of 
the  workLnge  corage,  the  which  passioun  10 
or  suffraunce  clepeth  forth  the  dede  of 
the  thoght  in  him-self,  and  moeveth  and 
exciteth  in  this  mene  whyle  the  formes 
that  resten  withinne-forth  ;  and  yif  that, 
in  sensible  bodies,  as  I  have  seyd,  our  15 
corage  nis  nat  y-taught  or  empreinted 
by  passioun  to  knowe  thise  thinges,  but 
demeth  and  knoweth,  of  his  owne 
strengthe,    the   passioun    or    suffraunce 


(goet6tu0.    (goofi  V:  (pto0e  v. 


I  subject  to  the  body :  moclie  more  thanne 
the  thiiiges  that  ben  absolut  and  quite 
fro  alle  talents  or  aiFecciouns  of  bodies, 
as  god  or  his  aiingeles,  ne  folwen  nat  in 
discerninge  thinges  object  fro  withoute- 
forth,  but  they  accoraplisshen  and  speden 
the  dede  of  hir  thoght.  By  this  resoun 
thanne  ther  comen  many  maner  know- 
inges  to  dyverse  and  differinge  sub- 
staunces.     For  the  wit  of  the  body,  the 

I  whiche  wit  is  naked  and  despoiled  of 
alle  other  knowinges,  thilke  wit  comth 
to  beestes  that  ne  mowen  nat  moeven 
hem-self  her  and  ther,  as  oijstres  and 
vntsculcs,  and  other  siviche  shelle-fish  of 
the  see,  that  clyven  and  ben  norisshed 
to  roches.  But  the  imaginacioun  conith 
to  remuable  beestes,  that  semen  to  han 
talent  to  fleen  or  to  desiren  any  thing. 
But   resoun  is  al-only  to   the  linage   of 

1  mankindc,  right  as  intelligence  is  only 
[to]  the  devyne  nature :  of  which  it  fol- 
weth,  that  thilke  knowinge  is  more  worth 
than  thise  othre,  sin  it  knoweth  by  his 
propre  nature  nat  only  his  subject,  as 
who  seith,  it  ne  knoweth  nat  al-only  that 
apertienetJi  properly  to  his  knowinge^  but 
it  knoweth  the  subjects  of  alle  other 
knowinges.  But  how  shal  it  thanne  be, 
yif  that  wit  and  imaginacioun   stryven 

I  ayein  resoningo,  and  seyn,  that  of  thilko 
universel  thing  that  resoun  weneth  to 
seen,  that  it  nis  right  naught  ?  For  wit 
and  imaginacioun  seyn  that  that,  that  is 
sensible  or  imaginable,  it  ne  may  nat  be 
universel.  Thanne  is  either  the  juge- 
ment  of  resovin  sooth,  ne  that  ther  nis 
nothing  sensible  ;  or  elles,  for  that  resovin 
wot  wel  that  many  thinges  ben  subject 
to  wit  and  to  imaginacioun,   thanne   is 

)  the  concepcioun  of  resoun  veyn  and  false, 
which  that  loketh  and  comprehendeth 
that  that  is  sensible  and  sing^er  as 
universel.  And  yif  that  resoun  wolde 
answeren  ayein  to  thise  two,   that  is  to 

;  seyn,  to  loitte  and  to  imaginacioun,  and 
seyn,  that  soothly  she  hir-self,  that  is  to 
seyn,  resoun,  loketh  and  comprehendeth, 
by  resoun  of  universalitee,  bothe  that 
that  is  sensible  and  that  that  is  imagin- 

)  able  ;  and  that  thilke  two,  tliat  is  to  seyn. 
H 


wit  and  imaginacioun,  ne  mowen  nat 
strecchen  ne  enhansen  hem-self  to  the 
knowinge  of  imiversalitee,  for  that  tlie 
knowinge  of  hem  ne  may  exceden  ne 
surmounte  the  bodily  figures  :  certes,  of  75 
the  knowinge  of  thinges,  men  oughten 
rather  yeven  credence  to  the  more  stede- 
fast  and  to  the  more  parfit  jugement. 
In  this  maner  strj-vinge  thaune,  we 
that  han  strengthe  of  resoninge  and  of  80 
imagininge  and  of  wit,  that  is  to  seyn, 
by  resoun  and  by  imaginacioun  and  by  wit, 
we  sholde  rather  preyse  the  cause  of 
resoun  ;  as  who  seith,  than  the  cause  of 
icit  and  of  imaginacioun.  85 

Semblable  thing  is  it,  that  the  resoun 
of  mankinde  ne  weneth  nat  that  the 
devyne  intelligence  bi-holdeth  or  know- 
eth thinges  to  comen,  but  right  as  the 
resoun  of  mankinde  kno^weth  hem.  For  90 
thou  arguest  and  seyst  thus  :  that  yif 
it  ne  seme  nat  to  men  that  some  thinges 
han  certein  and  necessarie  bitydinges, 
they  ne  mowen  nat  ben  wist  biforn  cer- 
teinly  to  bityden.  And  thanne  nis  ther  95 
no  prescience  of  thilke  thinges  ;  and  yif 
we  trowe  that  prescience  be  in  thise 
thinges,  thanne  is  ther  no-thing  that  it 
ne  bitydeth  by  neeessitee.  But  certes, 
yif  we  mighten  han  the  jugement  of  the  100 
devyne  thoght,  as  we  ben  parsoneres  of 
resoun,  right  so  as  we  han  demed  that 
it  behoveth  that  imaginacioun  and  wit 
be  binethe  resoun,  right  so  wolde  we 
demen  that  it  were  rightful  thing,  that  105 
mannes  resoun  oughte  to  submitten  it- 
self and  to  ben  binethe  the  divyne 
thoght.  For  which,  yif  that  we  mowen, 
as  who  seith,  that,  yif  that  we  mowen, 
I  counseyle,  that  we  enhanse  us  in-to  the  1 1" 
heighte  of  thilke  sovereyn  intelligence  ; 
for  ther  shal  resoun  wel  seen  that,  that 
it  ne  may  nat  biholden  in  it-self.  And 
certes  that  is  this,  in  what  maner  the 
prescience  of  god  seeth  alle  thinges  cer-  "5 
teins  and  diflfinisshed,  al-thogh  they  ne 
han  no  certein  issvies  or  bitydinges  ;  ne 
this  is  non  opinioun,  but  it  is  rather  the 
simplicitee  of  the  sovereyn  science,  that 
nis  nat  enclosed  nor  y-shet  within  none  120 
boundes. 

3 


^od^iue.    (gooft  V:  QUefte  v. 


Metre  V.     Quam  uariia  terris  animalia 
permeant  Jignris. 

The  beestes  passen  liy  the  erthcs  by  ful 
diverse  figaires.  For  som  of  hem  han  liir 
bodies  straught  and  creiien  in  the  dust, 
and  drawon  after  hem  a  tras  or  a  foruh 
5  y-continued  ;  that  is  to  seyn,  as  nadres  or 
snakes.  And  other  beestes,  by  the  wan- 
dringe  lightnesse  of  hir  winges,  beten  the 
windes,  and  over-swimmen  the  spaces  of 
the  longe  eyr  by  moist  fleeinge.  And  other 
lo  beestes  gladen  hem-self  to  diggen  hir  tras 
or  hir  steppes  in  the  erthe  with  hir  goings 
or  with  hir  feet,  and  to  goon  either  by 
the  grene  feldes,  or  elles  to  walken  under 
the  wodes.  And  al-be-it  so  that  thou 
15  seest  that  they  alle  discorden  by  diverse 
formes,  algates  hir  faces,  enclined,  hevieth 
hir  dulle  wittes.  Only  the  linage  of  man 
heveth  heyeste  his  heye  heved,  and 
stondeth  light  with  his  up-right  body, 
20  and  biholdeth  the  erthes  under  him. 
And,  but-yif  thou,  erthely  man,  wexest 
j-^'el  out  of  thy  wit,  this  figure  amonesteth 
thee,  that  axest  the  hevene  with  thy 
righte  visage,  and  hast  areysed  thy  forc- 
e's heved,  to  beren  up  a-heigh  thy  corage  ; 
so  that  thy  thoght  ne  be  nat  y-hevied  ne 
put  lowe  under  fbte,  sin  that  thy  body  is 
so  heye  areysed. 

Prose  VI.     Quoniam  igitur,  uti  paullo 

ante. 
Therfor   thanne,   as  I  have  shewed  a 
litel   her-biforn,    that    al   thing    that    is 
y-wist   nis   nat   knowen    by    his    nature 
propre,   but  by  the  nature  of  hem  that 
5  comprehenden  it,  lat  us  loke  now,  in  as 
mochel  as  it  is  leveful  to  us,  as  who  seith, 
lat  us  loke  now  as  we  mowen,  which  that 
the  estat  is  of  the  de\'yne  substaunce  ;  so 
that   we   mowen   eek   knowen  what  his 
10  science  is.     The   commiine  jugement  of 
alle  creatures  resonables  thanne  is  this  : 
that   god   is   eterne.     Lat    us    considere 
thanne  what  is  eternitee  ;  for  certes  that 
shal    shewen    us   to-gidere    the    devyne 
15  nature   and   the   de\-j-ne  science.     Eter- 
nitee, thanne,  isparfit  possessiounandal- 


togidere  of  lyf  interminable  ;  and  that 
sheweth  more  cleerly  by  the  comparisoun 
or  the  coUacioun  of  temporel  thinges. 
For  al  thing  that  liveth  in  tyme  it  is 
present,  and  procedeth  fro  preterits  in-to  20 
futures,  t/iat  is  to  seyn,  fro  tyme  passed 
in-to  tyme  cominge  ;  ne  ther  nis  no-thing 
establisshed  in  tyme  that  may  embracen 
to-gider  al  the  space  of  his  lyf.  For 
certes,  j'it  ne  hath  it  taken  the  tyme  of  25 
to-morwe,  and  it  hath  lost  the  tyme  of 
yisterday.     And  certes,  in  the  lyf  of  this 

I  day,  .ve  no  liven  no  more  but  right  as  in 
the   nioevable   and  transitorie  moment. 

j  Thanne  thilko  thing  that  suffreth  tem-  3<' 
porel  condicioun,  al-thogh  that  it  never 

1  bigan  to  be,  ne  thogh  it  never  cese  for  to 

I  be,  as  Aristotle  demed  of  the  world,  and 
al-thogh  that  the  lyf  of  it  be  strecched 
with   infinitee   of  tyme,  yit   algates  nis  35 
it   no   swich   thing  that   men    mighten 
trowen  by  right  that  it  is  eterne.     For 

*  al-thogh   that  it  comprehende  and  em- 

'  brace  the  space  of  lyf  infinit,  yit  algates 
neembraceth  it  nat  the  space  of  the  lyf  4" 
al-togider  ;  for  it  ne  hath  nat  the  futxires 
that  ne  ben  nat  yit,  ne  it  ne  hath  no  lenger 

I  the  preterits  that  hen  y-d^on  or  y-passed. 
But  thilke  thing  thanne,  that  hath  and 
comprehendeth  to-gider  al  the  plentee  of  45 

I  the  lyf  interminable,  to  whom  ther  ne 
faileth  naught  of  the  future,  and  to  whom 

I  ther  nis  naught  of  the  preterit  escaped 
nor  y-passed,  thilke  same  is  y-witnessed 
and  y-proeved  by  right  to  be  eterne     And  5(j 
it    bihoveth    by   necessitee    that    thilke 
thing  be  al-wey  present  to  him-self,  and 
compotent ;  as  icho  seith,  al-wey  present  to 
himself,  and  so  mighty  that  al  he  right  at 
hisplesaunce  ;  and  that  he  haveal  present  55 
the    infinitee     of    the    moevable    tjone 
Wlier-for   som    men   trowen   wrongfully 
that,  whan  they  heren  that  it  semede  to 
Plato  that   this    world   ne   hadde  never 
beginninge   of  tyme,    ne   that   it   never  6c 
shal  han   failinge,    they   wenen   in   this 
maner  that  this  world  be  maked  coeteme 
with  his  maker  ;  as  who  seith,  they  wene 
that  this  world  and  god  ben  maked  togider 
eterne,    and   that   is  a  wrongful  weninge.  65 
For  other  thing  is  it  to  ben  y-lad  by  lyf 


(goef^tuff.    (^006  V:  ^to0e  vi. 


203 


interminable,  as  Plato  gravinted  to  the 
world,  and  other  thing  is  it  to  embrace 
to-gider  al  the  present  of  the  lyf  inter- 

70  minable,  the  -whiche  thing  it  is  cleer  and 
manifest  that  it  is  propre  to  the  devyne 
thoght. 

Ne  it  ne  sholde  nat  semen  to  us,  that  god 
is  elder  thanne  thinges  that  ben  y-maked 

75  by  quantitee  of  tyme,  bnt  rather  by  the 
propretee  of  his  simple  nature.  For  this 
ilke  infinit  moevinge  of  temporal  thinges 
folweth  this  presentarie  estat  of  lyf  un- 
moevable  ;    and   so    as    it    ne    may    nat 

80  countrefeten  it  ne  feyiien  it  ne  be  even- 
lyke  to  it  for  the  inmoevabletee,  that  is  to 
seyn,  that  is  in  the  eternitee  of  god,  it 
faileth  and  falleth  in-to  moevinge  fro  the 
simplicitee  of  the  presence  of  god,  and 

85  disenoreseth  in-to  the  infinit  quantitee  of 
future  and  of  preterit  :  and  so  as  it  ne 
may  nat  han  to-gider  al  the  plentee  of 
the  lyf,  algates  yit,  for  as  moche  as  it  ne 
ceseth  never  for  to  b^  in  som  maner,  it 

90  semeth  som-del  to  us,  that  it  folweth  and 
resembleth  thilke  thing  that  it  ne  may 
nat  atayne  to  ne  fulfiUen,  and  bindeth 
it-self  to  som  maner  presence  of  this  litel 
and  swifte  moment  :  the  which  presence 

95  of  this  litel  and  swifte  moment,  for  that  it 
bereth  a  maner  image  or  lyknesse  of  the 
ay-dwellinge  presence  of  god,  it  graunt- 
eth,  to  swiche  manerthinges  as  itbitydeth 
to,  that  it  semeth  hem  as  thise  thinges 

100  han  y-ben,  and  ben. 

And,  for  that  the  presence  of  sivich  litel 
moment  ne  may  nat  dwelle,  ther-for  it 
ravisshed  and  took  the  infinit  wey  of 
tyme,  that  is  to  seyn,  by  successioun  ;  and 

105  by  this  maner  is  it  y-doon,  for  that  it 
sholde  continue  the  lyf  in  goinge,  of  the 
whiche  lyf  it  ne  mighte  nat  enbrace  the 
plentee  in  dwellinge.  And  for-thy,  yif 
we    woUen     putten    worthy    names     to 

no  thinges,  and  folwen  Plato,  lat  us  seye 
thanne  soothly,  that  god  is  eterne,  and 
the  world  is  perpetuel.  Thanne,  sin  that 
every  jugement  knoweth  and  comprehend- 
eth  by  his  owne  nature  thinges  that  ben 

115  subject  un-to  him,  ther  is  soothly  to  god, 

al-weys,  an  eterne  and  presentarie  estat ; 

and  the  science  of  him,  that  over-passeth 

H 


al  temporel  moevement,  dwelleth  in  the 
simplicitee  of  his  presence,  and  embraceth 
and  considereth  alle  the  infinit  spaces  of  120 
tymes,  preterits  and  futures,  and  loketh, 
in  his  simple  knowinge,  alle  thinges  of 
preterit  right  as  they  weren  y-doon  pre- 
sently right  now.  Yif  thou  wolt  thanne 
thenken  and  avj-se  the  prescience,  by  125 
which  it  knoweth  alle  thinges,  thou  ne 
shal  nat  demen  it  as  prescience  of  thinges 
to  comen,  but  thou  shalt  demen  it  more 
rightfully  that  it  is  science  of  presence  or 
of  instaunce,  that  never  ne  faileth.  For  130 
which  it  nis  nat  y-cleped  "  previdence," 
but  it  sholde  rather  ben  cleped  "  pvir- 
viaunce,"  that  is  establisshed  ftil  fer  fro 
right  lowe  thinges,  and  biholdeth  from 
a-fer  alle  thinges,  right  as  it  were  fro  the  '35 
heye  heighte  of  thinges.  Wliy  axestow 
thanne,  or  why  desputestow  thanne,  that 
thilke  thinges  ben  doon  by  necessitee 
whiche  that  ben  y-seyn  and  knowen  by 
the  devj'ne  sighte,  sin  that,  forsothe,  men  140 
ne  maken  nat  thilke  thinges  necessarie 
which  that  they  seen  ben  y-doon  in  hir 
sighte  ?  For  addeth  thy  biholdinge  any 
necessitee  to  thilke  thinges  that  thou 
biholdest  presente  ?  '         '  Nay,'  quod  I.      i45 

Philosophie.  '  Certes,  thanne,  if  men 
mighte  maken  any  digne  comparisoun  or 
collacioun  of  the  presence  devyne  and  of 
the  presence  of  mankinde,  right  so  as  ye 
seen  some  thinges  in  this  temporel  pre-  150 
sent,  right  so  seeth  god  alle  thinges  by 
his  eterne  present.  Wher-fore  this  de- 
vyne prescience  ne  chaungetli  nat  the 
nature  ne  the  propretee  of  thinges,  but 
biholdeth  swiche  thinges  present  to  him-  15s 
ward  as  they  shullen  bityde  to  yow-ward 
in  tyme  to  comen.  Ne  it  confoundeth 
nat  the  jugement  of  thinges  ;  but  by  o 
sighte  of  his  thought,  he  knowetli  the 
thinges  to  comen,  as  wel  necessarie  as  nat  160 
necessarie.  Right  so  as  whan  ye  seen 
to-gider  a  man  walken  on  the  erthe  and 
the  Sonne  arysen  in  the  hevene,  al-be-it  so 
that  ye  seen  and  biholden  that  oon  and 
that  other  to-gider,  yit  natheles  ye  demen  165 
and  discernen  that  that  oon  is  voluntarie 
and  that  other  necessarie.  Eight  so 
thanne  the  devyne  lookinge,  biholdinge 

5 


204 


(^oef3tu0.    (^ooft  V:  ^voee  vi. 


alle  thingcs  ximler  him,  ne  troubleth  nut 
the  qnalitee  of  thinges  that  ben  certeinly 
present  to  liim-wartl  ;  but,  as  to  the  cou- 
dicionn  of  tyme,  forsothe,  thej'  ben 
future.  For  which  it  folweth,  that  this 
nis  noon  opinioun,  but  ratlier  a  steilefast 
knowinge,  y-strengthed  by  soothnesse, 
that,  whanne  that  god  knowcth  anj-thing 
to  be,  ho  ne  unwot  nat  that  thilke  thing 
wantetli  necessitee  to  be  ;  this  is  to  seyn, 
that,  whan  that  god  kmmcth  any  thin;/  <« 
bilyde,  he  icot  icel  that  it  ne  hath  no  neces- 
sitee to  bityde.  Ami  yif  thou  seyst  heer, 
that  thilke  tiling  that  god  seeth  to 
bityde,  it  ne  may  nat  unbityde  (as  who 
seith,  it  mot  bityde),  and  thilke  tiling  that 
no  may  nat  unbityde  it  mot  bityde  by 
necessitee,  and  that  thou  streyne  me  by 
this  name  of  necessitee  :  certes,  I  wol  wel 
confessen  and  biknowe  a  thing  of  ful  sad 
trouthe,  but  unnethe  shal  ther  any  wight 

i  mowe  seen  it  or  come  ther-to,  but-yif  that 
he  bo  biliolder  of  the  devyne  thoght.  For 
I  wol  answeren  thee  thus :  that  thilke 
thing  that  is  future,  whan  it  is  referred 
to  the  devyne  knowinge,  thaune  is  it 
iiecessarie  ;  but  certes,  whan  it  is  under- 
stonden  in  his  owno  kinde,  men  seen 
it  is  outrely  free,  and  absolut  fro  alle 
necessitee. 

For  certes,   ther  ben  two  maneres  of 

1  necessitee.  That  oon  necessitee  is  simple, 
as  thus  :  that  it  bihoveth  by  necessitee, 
that  alle  men  be  mortal  or  deedly. 
Another  necessitee  is  conditionel,  as  thus  : 
yif  thou  wost  that  a  man  walketh,  it 
bihoveth  by  necessitee  that  he  walke. 
Thilko  thing  thanno  that  any  wight  hath 
y-knowe  to  be,  it  no  may  ben  non  other 
woyes  thanne  he  knoweth  it  to  be.  But 
this  condicioun  ne  draweth  nat  with  hir 
thilke  necessitee  simple.  For  certes,  this 
necessitee  conditionel,  the  jirojire  nature 
of  it  ne  maketh  it  nat,  but  the  adjeccioun 
of  the  condicioun  maketh  it.  For  no  ne- 
cessitee ne  constreyncth  a  man  to  gon, 
that  goth  by  his  propre  wil;  al-be-it  so 
that,  whan  ho  goth,  that  it  is  necessarie 
that  he  goth.  Right  on  this  same  maner 
thanne,  yif  that  the  pur^•iaunco  of  god 
seeth  any  thing  present,  than  mot  thilke 


thing  ben  by  necessitee,  al-thogh  that  it  : 
ne  have  no  necessitee  of  his  owne  nature. 
But  certes,  the  futures  that  bitydon  by  free- 
dom of  arbitre,  god  seeth  hem  alle  to-gider 
present.  Thise  thinges  thanne,  yif  they 
bon  referred  to  the  devyne  sighte,  thanne 
ben  they  maked  necessarie  by  the  con- 
dicioun of  tho  devyne  knowinge.  But 
certes,  yif  thilke  thinges  be  considered  by 
hem-self,  they  ben  absolut  of  necessitee, 
and  ne  ibrleten  nat  ne  cesen  nat  of  the  : 
liberteo  of  hir  owne  nature.  Thanne, 
certes,  with-oute  doute,  alio  the  thinges 
shollen  ben  doon  which  that  god  wot 
biforn  that  they  ben  to  comen.  But  som 
of  hem  comen  and  bityden  of  free  arbitre  ; 
or  of  free  tville,  that,  al-be-it  so  that  they 
bityden,  yit  algates  no  lose  they  nat  hir 
propre  nature  in  beingo ;  by  tho  which 
first,  or  that  they  weren  y-doon,  they 
hadden  power  nat  to  han  bitid.'  lioece.  : 
'What  is  this  to  sej-n  thanne,'  quod  I, 
'  that  thinges  ne  ben  nat  necessarie  by  hir 
propre  nature,  so  as  they  comen  in  alle 
maneres  in  the  lyknesso  of  necessitee  by 
the  condicioun  of  the  devyne  science?' 

'  This  is  the  difference,'  quod  she  ;  '  that 
tho  thinges  that  I  purposedo  thee  a  litel 
heer-biforn,  that  is  U>  seyn,  the  sonnc 
arysinge  and  the  man  walkinge,  that, 
ther-whyles  that  thilke  thinges  been  y-  . 
doon,  they  no  mighte  nat  ben  undoon  ; 
natheles,  that  oon  of  hem,  or  it  was 
y-doon,  it  bihoved  by  necessitee  that  it 
was  y-<loon,  but  nat  that  other.  Right  so 
ia  it  here,  that  the  thinges  that  god  hath 
present,  with-oute  doute  they  shollen 
been.  But  som  of  hem  descendeth  of  the 
nature  of  thinges,  as  the  sonne  ai-ysinge ; 
and  som  descendeth  of  the  ijowor  of  the 
doeres,  as  the  man  tcalkinge.  Thanne 
soldo  I  no  wrong,  that  yif  these  thinges 
ben  referred  to  tho  devjTie  knowinge, 
thanno  ben  they  necessarie  ;  and  yif  they 
ben  considered  by  hem-self,  thanne  ben 
they  absolut  fro  the  bond  of  necessitee.  ■ 
Right  so  as  alio  thinges  that  apereth  or 
sheweth  to  the  wittes,  yif  thou  reforre  it 
to  resoun,  it  is  universel ;  and  yif  thou 
referre  it  or  loke  it  to  it-self,  than  is  it 
singulor.     But  now,  yii  thou  seyst  thus, 


(goe<$ttt0.    (gooft  V:  gjtoee  vi. 


205 


that  yif  it  be  in  my  power  to  chauiige  my 
pui-pos,  than  shal  I  voide  the  inirviaunco 
of  i/od,  whan  that,  peraventure,  I  shal 
han  ohaunged  the  thinges  that  he  know- 
eth  biforn,  tlianne  shal  I  answere  thee 
thns.  Certes,  thou  mayst  wel  chaunge 
thy  pnrpos  ;  but,  for  as  mochel  as  the 
present  soothnesse  of  the  devyne  pur- 
viaunce     biholdeth     that     thou     mayst 

I  chaunge  thy  purpos,  and  whether  thou 
wolt  chaunge  it  or  no,  and  whiderward 
that  thou  torne  it,  thou  ne  mayst  nat 
cschiien  the  devyne  prescience  ;  right  as 
thou  ne  mayst  nat  fleen  the  sighte  of  the 
presente  eye,  al-though  that  thou  torne 
thy-self  by  thy  free  wil  in-to  dyverse 
aeciouns.  But  thou  mayst  seyn  ayein  : 
"  How  shal  it  thanne  be  ?  Shal  nat  the 
devyne  science  be  chaunged  by  my  dis- 

I  posicioun,  whan  that  I  wol  o  thing  now, 
and  now  another  ?  And  thilke  prescience, 
ne  semeth  it  nat  to  entrechavinge  stoundes 
of  knowinge  ;  "  '  as  ivho  seith.  ne  shal  it  nat 
seme  to  us,  that  the  devyne  prescience  entre- 
chaungeth  hise  dyverse  stoundes  of  know- 
inge, 80  that  it  knoice  sum-tyme  o  thing  and 
sum-fyme  the  contrarie  of  that  thing? 
'  No,  Ibrsothe,'  quod  I. 

Philosoiyhie.  Tor  the  devj-ne  sighte 
renneth  to-forn  and  seeth  alle  futures, 
and  clepeth  hem  ayein,  and  retornetli 
hem  to  the  presence  of  his  propre  know- 
inge ;  ne  he  ne  entreohauugeth  nat,  so  as 
thou  wenest,  tlie  stoundes  of  forknow- 
inge,  as  now  tliis,  now  that;  but  he  ay- 
dwellinge  comth  biforn,  and  embraceth 
at  o  strook  alle  thy  mutaciouns.  And  this 
presence  to  comprehenden  and  to  seen 
alle  thinges,  god  ne  hath  nat  taken  it  of 
the  bilydinge  of  thinges  to  come,  but  of  his 


propre  simplicitee.  And  her-by  is  assoiled 
thilke  thing  that  thou  puttest  a  litel 
her-biforn,  tJtat  is  to  seyn,  that  it  is  un- 
worthy thing  to  seyn,  that  our  futures 
yeven  cause  of  the  science  of  god.  For  .515 
certes,  this  strengthe  of  the  devyne 
science,  which  that  embraceth  alle 
thinges  by  his  presentarie  knowinge, 
establissheth  maner  to  alle  thinges,  and 
it  ne  oweth  naught  to  latter  thinges  ;  and  3^0 
sin  that  these  thinges  ben  thus,  that  is  to 
seyn,  sin  that  necessitee  nis  nat  in  thinges  by 
the  devyne  prescience,  than  is  ther  freedom 
of  arbitre,  that  dwelleth  hool  and  un- 
wemmed  to  mortal  men.  Ne  the  lawes  ne  325 
purposen  nat  wikkedly  medes  and  peynes 
to  the  willinges  of  men  that  ben  un- 
bounden  and  quite  of  alle  necessitee.  And 
god,  bill  older  and  for-witer  of  alle  thinges, 
dwelleth  above  ;  and  the  present  eternitee  iy> 
of  his  sighte  renneth  alwey  with  the 
dyverse  qualitee  of  cure  dedes,  dispens- 
inge  and  ordeyninge  medes  to  goode  men, 
and  torments  to  wikked  men.  Ne  in  j'del 
ne  in  veyn  ne  ben  ther  nat  put  in  god  335 
hope  and  jireyeres,  that  ne  mowen  nat 
ben  unspeedful  ne  with-oiite  effect,  whan 
they  ben  rightful.  Withstond  thanne 
and  eschue  thou  \-yces ;  worshipe  and  love 
thou  virtues  ;  areys  thy  corage  to  right-  340 
ful  hopes  ;  yildo  thou  humble  preyeres 
a-heigh.  Gret  necessitee  of  prowesse 
and  vertu  is  encharged  and  commaunded 
to  yow,  yif  ye  nil  nat  dissimulen  ;  sin 
that  ye  worken  and  doon,  that  is  to  seyn,  345 
your  dedes  or  your  loorkes,  biforn  the  eyen 
of  the  juge  that  seeth  and  demeth  alle 
thinges.'  To  u-hoiii  be  glorya  and  worshipe 
by  injinit  tymes.     Amen. 


TROILUS    AND    CRISEYDE. 


BOOK    I. 


1.  The  double  sorwo  of  Troilus  to  tellen, 
That    was    the    king    Priamus   sone    of 

Troyo, 
In  lovinge,  how  his  aventures  fellen 
Fro  wo  to  welo,  ami  lifter  out  of  joyo, 
My  purpos  is,  or  that  I  parte  fro  yo.         5 
Thesiphono,  thou  lielp  mo  for  t'endyto 
Thiso  wofiU  vers,  that  wepen  as  I  wryte  ! 

•2.  To  thee  clepc  I,  thou  godJesse  of  tor- 
ment, 
Tliou  cruel  Furie,  sorwlng  ever  in  peyne  ; 
Help  me,  that  am  the  8or\vful  instrument 
That  helpeth  lovers,  as  I  can,  to  plej-ne  ! 
For  wel  sit  it,  the  sothe  for  to  seyne,  12 
A  woful  wight  to  han  a  drery  fere, 
And,  to  a  sorwful  tale,  a  sory  chere. 

3.  For  I,  that  god  of  Loves  servaunts  serve, 
Ne  dar  to  Love,  for  myn  unlyklinesse,  16 
Preyen    for  speed,  al   sholde    I   therfor 

Sterne, 
So  fer  am  I  fro  his  help  in  derknesse  ; 
But  nathclees,  if  this  may  doon  gladnesse 
To  any  lover,  and  his  cause  avayle,         20 
Have  he  my  thank,  and  mj-n  be  this  tra- 

vayle  ! 

4.  But  ye  loveres,  that  bathen  in  glad- 

nesse. 
If  any  drope  of  pitee  in  yow  be, 
■  Remembreth  yow  on  passed  hevinesse 
That  ye  han  felt,  and  on  the  adversitee  25 
Of  othere  folk,  and  thenketh  how  that  je 
Han  felt  that  Love  dorste  yow  displese  ; 
Or  ye  han  wonne  him  with  to  greet  an  ese. 


5.  And  prcyeth  for  hem  that  l)en  in  the  cas 
Of  Troilus,  as  ye  may  after  hero,  50 
That  love  hem  bringe  in  heveno  to  solas, 
An«l  o<'k  for  me  preyeth  to  gotl  so  dere. 
That    I   have   might   to  shewe,    in    som 

manere, 
Swich  pej-ne  and  wo  as  Loves  folk  endure. 
In  Troilus  unsely  aventuro.  35 

6.  And  biddeth   eek  for  hem  that  been 

despeyred 
in  love,  that  never  nil  recovered  be. 
And  eek  for  hem  that  falsly  been  apeyred 
Thorugh  wikked  tonges,  be  it  he  or  she  ; 
Thus  biddeth  god,  for  his  benignitee,     40 
To  graunte  hem  sone  out  of  this  world  to 

pace. 
That  been  despeyred  ont  of  Loves  grace. 

7.  And  biddeth  eek  for  hem  that  been  at 

ese. 
That  god  hem  graunte  ay  good  perseve- 

raunce. 
And  sende  hem  might  hir  ladies  so  to 

plese,  4.T 

That  it  to  Love  he  worship  and  plesaunce. 
For  so  hope  I  my  soule  best  avaunce. 
To  preye  for  hem  that  Loves  servaunts  be, 
And  wrj-te  hir  wo,  and  live  in  cliaritee. 

8.  And  for  to  have  of  hem  compassionn  50 
As  though  I  were  hir  owene  brother  dere. 
Now  herkeneth  with  a  gode  entencioun. 
For  now  wol  I  gon  streight  to  my  matere. 
In  whiche  ye  may  the  double  sorwes  here 


^rotfue  ftttb  tviei^tt. 


207 


Of  Troiliis,  in  loving  of  Criseyde,  55 

And  how  that  she  forsook  him  er  she 
deyde. 

9.  It  is  wel  wist,  liow  that  the  Grekes 

stronge 
In  armes  with  a  thousand  shippes  wente 
To  Troye-wardes,  and  the  cites  longe 
Assegeden  neigh  ten  yeerer  they  stente,  6^> 
And,  in  diverse  wyse  and  oon  entente. 
The  ravisshing  to  wreken  of  Elej-ne, 
By  Paris  doon,  they   wroughten  al  hir 

peyne. 

10.  Now  fil  it  so,  that  in  the  toun  ther  was 
Dwellings  a  lord  of  greet  anctoritee,       65 
A  gret  devyn  that  cleped  was  Calkas, 
That  in  science  so  expert  was,  that  he 
Knew  wel  that  Troye  sholde  destroyed  be, 
By  answere  of  his  god,  that  highte  thus, 
Daun  Phebus  or  Apollo  Delphicus.  70 

11.  So  whan  this  Calkas  knew  by  calcu- 
linge. 

And  eek  by  answere  of  this  Appollo, 
That  Grekes  sholden  swich  a  peple  bringe, 
Thorugh  which  that  Troye   moste  been 

for-do, 
He  caste  anoon  ovit  of  the  toun  to  go ;     75 
For  wel  wiste  he,  by  sort,  that   Troye 

sholde 
Destroyed  been,  ye,  wolde  who-so  nolde 

12.  For  which,  for  to  departen  softely 
Took  purjios  ful  this  forknowinge  wyse, 
And  to  the  Grekes  ost  ful  prively  80 
He  stal  anoon  ;  and  they,  in  eurteys  wyse, 
Him  deden  bothe  worship  and  servyse, 
In  trust  that  he  hath  conning  hem  to  rede 
In  every  peril  which  that  is  to  drede 

13.  The  noyse  up  roos,  whan  it  was  first 
aspyed,  85 

Thorugh  al  the  toun,  an<l  generally  was 

spoken. 
That  Calkas  traytor  fled  was,  and  allyed 
"With  hem  of  Grece ;  and  casten  to  ben 

wroken 
On  him  that  falsly  hadde  his   feith   so 

broken  ; 
And  seyden,  he  and  al  his  kin  at  ones     90 
Ben  worthy  for  to  brennen,  fel  and  bones. 


14.  Now  hadde  Calkas  left,  in  this  mes- 
chaunce, 

Al  unwist  of  this  false  and  wikked  dede. 
His   doughter,    which   that   was  in  gret 

penaunce. 
For  of  hir  lyf  she  was  ful  sore  in  drede,    95 
As  she  that  niste  what  was  best  to  rede  ; 
For  bothe  a  widowe  was  she,  and  allone 
Of  any  freend,  to  whom  she  dorste  hir 

mone. 

15.  Criseyde  was  this  lady  name  a-right ; 
As  to  my  dome,  in  al  Troyes  citee         i(;o 
Nas  noon  so  fair,  for  passing  every  wight 
So  aungellyk  was  hir  natyf  beautee. 
That  lyk  a  thing  inmortal  semed  she. 
As  doth  an  hevenish  jiarfit  creature, 
That    doun    were    sent   in    scorning    of 

natvire.  105 

16.  This  lady,  which  that  al-day  herde  at 
ere 

Hir   fadres    shame,    his    falsnesse    and 

tresoun, 
Wel  nigh  out  of  hir  wit  for  sorwe  and  fere. 
In  widewes  habit  large  of  samit  broim. 
On  knees  she  fil  biforn  Ector  a-doun  ;     no 
With  pitous  voys,  and  tendrely  wepinge. 
His  mercy  bad,  hir-selven  excusinge. 

17.  Now  was  this  Ector  pitous  of  nature. 
And  saw  that  she  was  sorwfully  bigoon. 
And  that  she  was  so  fair  a  creature  ;     115 
Of  his  goodnesse  he  gladed  hir  anoon, 
And  seyde,  '  lat  your  fadres  treson  goon 
Forth  with  mischaunce,  and  ye  your-self, 

in  joye, 
Dwelleth  with  us,  whyl  you  good  list,  in 
Troye. 

18.  And  al  th'onour  that  men  may  doon 
yow  have,  120 

As  ferfortli  as  your  fader  dwelled  here, 
Ye  shul  ban,  and  your  body  shal  men  save, 
As  fer  as  I  may  ought  enquere  or  here.' 
And  she  him  thonked  with  ful  humble 

chere. 
And  ofter  wolde,  and  it  hadde  ben  his 

wille,  125 

And  took  hir  leve,  and  hoom,  and  held 

hir  stille. 


208 


^totfUe  anb  Crieepi*. 


[Book  I. 


19.  And  in  hir  hous  she  abood  with  swich 
mejTiee 

As  to  hir  honour  nedo  was  to  holde  ; 
And  whyl  she  was  dwellinge  in  that  citee, 
Kepte  hir  estat,  and  bothe  of  yonge  and 

olde  i.^o 

Pul  wel  beloved,  and  wel  men  of  hir  tolde. 
But  whether  that  she  children  haddo  or 

noon, 
I  rede  it  nought ;  thcrforo  I  lete  it  goon. 

20.  The  thinges  fellen,  aa  they  doon  of 

werre, 
Bitwixen    hem    of   Troye    and    Grekes 

ofte ;  155 

For  som  day  boughten  they  of  Troye  it 

derre, 
And  oft  the  Grekes  founden  no  thing  softe 
The  folk  of  Troye  ;  and  thus  fortune  on- 

lofte, 
And  under  eft,  gan  hem  to  wheelen  bothe 
After  hir  cours,  ny  whyl  they  were  wrothe. 

21.  But  how  this  touii  com  to  destruc- 
cioun  141 

Ne  falleth  nought  to  pui^ws  me  to  telle  ; 
For  it  were  here  a  long  disgressioiin 
Fro  my  matere,  and  yow  to  longe  dwelle. 
But  the  Troyane  gestes,  as  they  felle,  145 
In  Omer,  or  in  Dares,  or  in  Dyte, 
Who-so  that  can,  may  rede  hem  as  they 
wryte. 

22.  But  thoiigh  that  Grekes  hem  of  Troye 
shetten. 

And  hir  citee  bisegede  al  a-boute, 
Hir  olde  usage  wolde  they  not  letten,    150 
As  for  to  honoure  hir  goddes  ful  devoute  ; 
But  aldermost  in  honour,  out  of  doute. 
They  hadde  a  rolik  hight  Palladion, 
That  was  hir  trist  a-boven  everichon. 

23.  And  so  bifel,  whan  comen  was  the 

tyme  155 

Of  Aperil,  whan  clothed  is  the  mede 
With  newe  grene,  of  lusty  Yer  the  pryme, 
And  swote  smellen  floures  whyte  and  rede. 
In  sondry  wj-ses  shewed,  as  I  rede. 
The  folk  of  Troye  hir  observaunces  olde, 
Palladiones  feste  for  to  holde,  161 

24.  And  to  the  temple,in  al  hir  beste  wyse. 
In  general,  ther  wente  many  a  wight, 


To  hcrknen  of  Palladion  the  serv-yse  ; 
And  namely,  so  many  a  lusty  knight,   165 
So  many  a  lady  fresh  and  mayden  bright, 
Ful  wel  arayed,  bothe  moste  and  leste. 
Ye,  bothe  for  the  seson  and  the  feste. 

25.  Among  thise  othere  folk  was  Criseyda, 
In  widcwes  habite  blak ;  but  nathelees. 
Right  as  our  firste  lettro  is  now  an  A,  171 
In  beautee  first  so  stood  she,  makelecs  ; 
Hir  godly  looking  gladodo  al  the  prees. 
Nas  never  seyn  thing  to  ben  prej'sed  derre, 
Nor  tinder  cloude  blak  so  bright  a  sterre 

26.  As  was  Criseyde,  as  folic  seyde  everich- 
oon  i;6 

That  hir  bihelden  in  hir  blake  wede  ; 
And  yet  she  stood  ful  lowo  and  stille 

alloon, 
Bihinden  othero  folk,  in  litel  brede, 
And  neigh  the  dore,  ay  under  shames 

drcde,  180 

.Simple  of  a-tyr,  and  debonaire  of  chere, 
With  ful  assured  loking  and  manere. 

27.  This  Troilus,  as  he  was  wont  to  gyde 
His  yonge  knightes,  laddo  hem  up  and 

doun 
In  thilke  large  temple  on  every  syde,    185 
Bilioliling  ay  the  ladyes  of  the  toiin. 
Now  here,  now  there,  for  no  devocioun 
Hadde  he  to  noon,  to  reven  him  his  reste, 
But  gan  to  preyse  and  lakken  whom  him 

leste. 

28.  And  in  his  walk  ful  fast  ho  gan  to 

way  ten  k^o 

If  kniglit  or  squyer  of  his  companye 
Gan  ior  to  syke,  or  lete  his  eyen  bay  ten 
On  any  woman  that  he  coiide  aspye  ; 
Ho  wolde  smyle,  and  holden  it  folyc. 
And  seye  him  thus,  '  god  wot,  she  slepcth 

softe  195 

For  love  of  thee,  whan  thou  tornest  fnl 

ofte  ! 

29.  '  I  have  herd  told,  pardieux,  of  your 
livinge, 

Ye  lovers,  and  your  lewede  observaunces, 

And  which  a  labour  folk  ban  in  winninge 

Of  love,  and,  in  the  keping,  which  doti- 

taunces ;  200 


Book  I.] 


^trotfu0  ant  Cvisej^e. 


209 


And  whan   yonr  preye   is   lost,  wo  and 

penaunces  ; 
O  verrey  foles  !  nyco  and  blinde  be  ye  ; 
Ther  nis  not  oon  can  war  by  other  be.'  ■ 

30.  And  with  that  word  he  gan  cast  up 
the  browe, 

Ascaunces,  '  lo !  is  this  nought  wysly 
spoken  ?  '  205 

At  which  the  god  of  love  gan  loken  rowe 

Kight  for  despyt,  and  shoop  for  to  hen 
wroken  ; 

He  kidde  anoon  his  bowe  nas  n<it  broken  ; 

For  sodeynly  ho,  hit  him  at  the  fullo  ; 

And  yet  as  proud  a  pekok  can  he  pnlle.  210 

31.  0  blinde  world,  O  blinde  entencioun  ! 
How  ofte  faUeth  al  th'effect  contraire 

Of  surquidrye  and  foul  presampcioun  ; 
For  caught  is  proud,  and  caught  is  de- 

bonaire. 
This  Troilus  is  clomben  on  the  staire,  215 
And  litcl  wenetli  that  he  moot  desccnden. 
But    al-day    fayleth     thing    that     foles 

wenden. 

32.  As    proude    Bayard    ginneth    for    to 

skippe 
Out  of  the  wey,  so  priketh  him  his  corn. 
Til  he  a  lash  have  of  the  longe  whippe,  220 
Than  thenketh  he,  '  though  I  praunce  al 

biforn 
First  in  the  trays,  ful  fat  and  newe  shorn, 
Yet  am  I  bv^t  an  hors,  and  horses  lawe 
I  moot  endure,  and  with  my  feres  drawe.' 

33.  So  ferde  it  by  this  fers  and  proude 
knight ;  225 

Though  he  a  worthy  kinges  sone  were. 
And  wende  no-thing  hadde  had  swiche 

might 
Ayens  his  wil  that  sholde  his  herte  stere. 
Yet  with  a  look  his  herte  wex  a-fere, 
That  he,   that  now  was  most  in   pryde 

above,  230 

Wex  sodeynly  most  subgct  tin-to  love. 

34.  For-thy  ensample  taketh  of  this  man, 
Ye  wyse,  proude,  and  worthy  folkes  alle, 
To  scornen  Love,  which  that  so  sone  can 
The  freedom  of  your  hertes  to  him  thralle ; 
For  ever  it  was,  and  ever  it  slial  bifalle, 


That   Love    is   he   that   alle   thing   may 

binde  ; 
For  may  no  man  for-do  the  lawe  of  kinde. 

85.  That  this  be  sooth,  hath  prevcd  and 

doth  yit ;  -■''> 

For  this  trowc  I  ye  knowen,  alle  or  some. 
Men  reden  not  that  folk  han  gretter  wit 
Than  they  that  han  be  most  with  love 

y-nome  ; 
And  strengest  folk  ben  therwith  overc(jme, 
The  worthiest  and  grettest  of  degree;  244 
This  was,  and  is,  and  yet  men  shal  it  see. 

86.  And  trewelich  it  sit  wel  to  be  so  ; 
For  alderwysest  han  tlier-with  benplesed ; 
And  they  that  han  ben  aldermost  in  wo, 
With  love  han  been  conforted  most  and 

esed ;  -49 

And  ofte  it  hath  the  cruel  herte  apesed, 
And  worthy  folk  maad  worthier  of  name, 
And  causetli  most  to  dreden  vyce  and 

shame. 

87.  Now  sith  it  may  not  goodly  be  with- 

stonde. 
And  is  a  thing  so  vertuous  in  kinde, 
Kefuseth  not  to  Love  for  to  be  boude,  255 
Sin,  as  him-selven  list,  he  may  yow  binde. 
The  yerde  is  bet  that  bowen  wole  and 

winde 
Than  that  that  hrest ;  and  therfor  I  yow 

rede 
To  folwen  him  that  so  wel  can  yow  lode. 

38.  But  for  to  tellen  forth  in  special    2(m) 
As  of  this  kinges  sone  of  which  I  tolde. 
And  leten  other  thing  collateral. 

Of  him  thenke  I  my  tale  for  to  holde, 
Bothe  of  his  joye,  and  of  his  cares  colde  ; 
And  al  his  werk,  as  touching  this  matere, 
For  I  it  gan,  I  wil  ther-to  refere.  206 

39.  With-inne  the  temple  he  wente  him 
forth  pleyinge. 

This  TroUus,  of  every  wight  aboute. 
On  this  lady  and  now  on  that  lokinge, 
Wher-so  she  were  of  toune,  or  of  with- 

oute :  -7" 

And  up-on  cas  bifel,  that  thorugh  a  route 
His  eye  perced,  and  so  depe  it  wente. 
Til    on    Criseyde   it   smoot,   and   ther  it 

stente. 


^rotfue  anb  tneepbe. 


[Book  T. 


40.  And     so<leynly    lie    wex     ther-with 
astoned, 

And  gan  liire  bet  biholde  in  thrifty  wyse  : 
'O    mercy,    god!'    thonghte   he,    '  wher 

hastow  woned,  276 

That  art  so  fair  and  goo<lly  to  devyse  ?' 
Ther-with  his  herte  gnn  to  sprede  and 

ryse, 
And  softe  sighed,  lest  men  mighte  him 

here. 
And   caughte  a-yein   his  firste   pleyinge 

chere.  280 

41.  She  nas  not   with   the   leste  of  hir 
stature. 

But  alle  hir  limes  so  wel  answeringe 
Weren  to  womanhodo,  that  creature 
Was  never  lasse  mannish  in  seminge.  2S4 
And  eek  the  pure  wyse  of  hero  meninge 
Shcwede  wel,  that  men  might  in  hir  gesse 
Honour,  estat,  and  wommanly  noblesse. 

42.  To  Troilus  right  wonder  wel  with-allo 
Gan   for  to  lyke  hir  mening  and    hir 

chere, 
Which  somdel  deynons  was,  for  she  leot 

falle  290 

Hir  look  a  lite  a-side,  in  swich  manere, 
Ascannces,    '  what !  may  I  not  stonden 

here  ?' 
And  after  that  hir  loking  gan  she  lighte. 
That  never  thonghte  him  seen  so  good 

a  sightc. 

43.  And  of  hir  look  in  him  ther  gan  to 
quiken  295 

So  greet  desir,  and  swirh  aflfeccionn. 
That  in  his  hertos  lK>tme  gan  to  stiken 
Of  hir  his  fixe  and  depe  impressioun  : 
And   though  he  erst  hadde  poured  up 
and  doun,  299 

He  was  tho  glad  his  homes  in  to  shrinke  ; 
I'nnethes  wiste  he  how  to  loke  or  winke. 

44.  Lo,  he  that  leet  him-selven  so  kon- 
ninge, 

And  scorned  hem  that  loves  peynes  dryen, 
Was  fill    nnwar  that    love    hadde    his 

dwellinge 
With-inne  the  subtile  stremes  of  hirygn ; 
That    sodeynly   Jiim    thonghte   he   felte 

dyen,  306 


Right  with    hir   look,   the  spirit  in   his 

herte ; 
Blessed  be  love,  that  thus  can  folk  con- 

verte  ! 

45.  She,  this  in  blak,  lykingo  to  Troilus, 
Over  alle  thing  he  stood  for  to  biholde  ; 
Ne  his  desir,  ne  wherfor  he  stood  thus. 
He  neither  chere  made,  ne  worde  tolde ; 
But  from  a-fer,  his  maner  for  to  holde, 
On  other  thing  his  look  som-tyme  ho  caste. 
And  eft  on  hir,  whyl  that  servyso  laste.  315 

46.  And   after   this,    not   fullioho   nl   a- 
whapefl. 

Out  of  tho  temple  al  esiliche  he  wente, 
Repentinge  him  that  he  hadde  ever  y- 

japed 
Of  loves  folk,  lest  fully  the  descente 
Of  scorn  fille  on  him-self ;  but,  what  he 
mente,  320 

Lest  it  were  wist  on  any  maner  syde, 
,  His  wo  he  gan  dissimulen  and  hyde. 

47.  Wlian   he  was   fro  the  temple   thus 
depart  e<l, 

H  e  St  reygh  t  anoon  un-to  h  is  paleys  tometh. 
Eight  witli   hir  h)ok  thurgh-shoten  and 

thiirgh-darted,  325 

Al  feynetli  he  in  lust  that  he  sojometh  ; 
And   al   his   chere   and   speche    also    he 

bometh  ; 
And  ay,  of  loves  servants  every  whyle, 
Him-self  to  wrye,  at  hem  he  gan  to  smyle. 

48.  And  seyde,  'lord,  so  ye  live  al  in  lest. 
Ye  loveres  !  for  the  conningest  of  yow,  331 
That  serveth  most  ententiflich  and  best. 
Him  tit  as  often  harm  ther-of  as  prow ; 
Your  byre  is  quit  ayein,  ye,  god  wot  how  ! 
Nought  wel  for  wel,  but  scorn  for  good 

servyse ;  335 

In  feith,  your  ordre  is  ruled  in  good  wyso ! 

49.  In   noun-certeyn   ben   alle   your   ob- 
servaunces. 

But  it  a  sely  fewe  poyntes  be  ; 
Ne  no-thing  asketh  so  grete  attendaunces 
As  doth  your  lay,  and  that  knowe  alle  ye  ; 
But  that  is  not  the  worste,  as  mote  I  thee  ; 
But,  tolde  I  yow  the  worste  poynt,  I  leve, 
Al  seyde  I  sooth,  ye  wolden  at  me  greve  ! 


Book  I.] 


^trotfu0  anb  Ctiet^U. 


50.  But   tak  this,   that   ye  loveres    ofte 
esohuwe, 

Or  elles  doon  of  good  entencioiin,  345 

Ful  ofte  thy  lady  wole  it  misconstrae, 
And  deme  it  harm  in  hir  opiniotin  ; 
And  yet  if  she,  for  other  enchesoun, 
Be  wrooth,  than  shalt  thou  han  a  groyn 

anoon  : 
Lord  !  wel  is  liim  that  may  be  of  yow  oon ! ' 

51.  But  for  al  this,  whan  that  he  say  his 
tyme,  .^5' 

He  held  his  pees,  non  other  bote  him 

gayned ; 
For  love  bigan  his  fetheres  so  to  lyme. 
That  wel  unnethe  un-to  his  folk  he  feyned 
That  othere  besye  nedes  him  destrayned ; 
For  wo  was  him,  that  what  to  doon  he 

niste,  .156 

But  bad  his  folk  to  goon  wher  that  hem 

liste. 

52.  And  whan  that  he  in  chaumbre  was 
allone. 

He  doun  up-on  his  beddes  feet  him  sette, 
And   first   he   gan   to   syke,    and   eft   to 

grone,  ,^60 

And  thoughte  ay  on  hir  so,  with-onten 

lette, 
That,  as  lie  sat  and  wook,  his  spirit  mette 
That  he  hir  saw  a  temple,  and  al  the  wyse 
Right  of  hir  loke,  and  gan  it  newe  avyse. 

53.  Thus  gan  he  make  a  mironr  of  his 

minde,  3^5 

In  which  he  sangh  al  hoolly  hir  figure  ; 
And  that  he  wel  coude  in  his  herte  finde. 
It  was  to  him  a  right  good  aventure 
To  love  swieh  oon,  and  if  he  dide  his  cure 
To    serven   hir,    yet   mighte  he   falle  in 

grace,  37" 

Or  eUes,  for  oon  of  hir  servaunts  pace. 

54.  Imagininge  that  travaUle  nor  grame 
Ne  mighte,  for  so  goodly  oon,  be  lorn 
As  she,  ne  him  for  his  desir  ne  shame, 
Al  were  it  wist,  but  in  prys  and  up-born 
Of  alle  lovers  wel  more  than  bifom  ;     376 
Thus  argumented  he  in  his  ginninge, 
Ful  unavysed  of  his  wo  cominge. 

55.  Thus  took  he  purpos  loves  craft  to 
suwe. 

And  thoughte  he  wolde  werken  prively. 


First,  to  hyden  his  desir  in  muwe  381 

From  every  wight  y-born,  al-outrely, 
B\it  he  mighte  ought  recovered  be  therby ; 
Remembring  him,  that  love  to  wyde  y- 

blowe 
Yelt  bittre  fruyt,  thovigh  swete  seed  be 

sowe.  3^5 

56.  And  over  al  this,  yet  muchel  more  he 
thoughte 

What  for  to  speke,  and  what  to  holdeu 

inne. 
And  what  to  arten  hir  to  love  he  soughte, 
And  on  a  song  anoon-right  to  biginne,  389 
And  gan  loude  on  his  sorwe  forto  winne; 
For  with  good  hope  he  gan  fuUy  assento 
Criseyde  for  to  love,  and  nought  repente. 

57.  And  of  his  song  nought   only  the 
sentence, 

As  writ  myn  autonr  called  Lollius, 
But  plcynly,  save  our  tonges  difference, 
I  dar  wel  sayn,  in  al  that  Troiliis  396 

Seyde  in  his  song  ;  lo  !  every  word  right 

thus 
As  I  shal  seyn  ;  and  who-so  list  it  here, 
Lo  !  next  this  vers,  he  may  it  finden  here. 

Cantus  TroilL 

58.  '  If  no  love  is,  O  god,  what  fele  I  so  ? 
And  if  love  is,  what  thing  and  whiche 

is  he  ?  4<» 

If  love  be  good,  from  whennes  comth  my 

wo? 
If  it  be  wikke,  a  wonder  thinketh  me, 
When  every  torment  and  adversitee 
That  cometh  of  him,  may  to  me  savory 

thinke  ;  4".^ 

For  ay  thurst  I,  the  more  that  I  it  drinke. 

59.  And   if  that   at   myn    owiene   lust  I 
brenne, 

Fro  whennes  cometh  my  wailing  and  my 

pleynte  ? 
If  harme  agree   me,   wher-to    pleyne  I 

thenne  ? 
I  noot,  ne  why  unwery  that  I  feynte.  410 
O  quike  deeth,  o  swete  harm  so  queynte. 
How  may  of  thee  in  me  swich  quantitee, 
Bvit-if  that  I  consente  that  it  be  ? 

60.  And  if  that  I  consente,  I  wrongfully 
Compleyne,  y-wis ;  thus  possed  to  and  fro, 


^rotfue  ant  Criecpie. 


Al  sterelees  with-innc  a  boot  am  I         416 
A-mid  the  see,  by-twixen  wincles  two, 
That  in  oontrarie  stonden  ever-mo. 
Alias  !  what  is  tliis  wonder  maladye  ?  -I19 
For  hete  of  cold,  for  cold  of  hete,  I  dye.' 

61.  And  to  the  god  of  love  thns  se.vde  he 
With  pitous  voys,  '  O  lord,  now  youres  is 
My  spirit,  which  that  onghte  youres  be. 
Yow  thanko  I,  lord,  that  han  mo  brought 

to  this  ; 
But  whether  goddesse  or  womman,  y-wis, 
She  be,   I  noot,    which    that   j-e   do   me 

serve ;  426 

But  as  hir  man  I  wole  ay  live  and  sterve. 

62.  Ye  stonden  in  hire  eyen  mightily, 
As  in  a  place  un-to  your  vertu  digne  ; 
Wherforc,  lord,  if  my  ser\'yse  or  I         430 
May  Ij'ke  yow,  so  both  to  mo  bonigne  ; 
For  myn  estat  royal  here  I  resigne 
In-to  hir  hond,  and  with  ful  humble  chere 
Bicome  hir  man,  as  to  my  lady  dere.'  434 

63.  Jn  him  ne  deyned  sparen  blood  royal 
The  fyr  of  love,  wher-fro  god  me  blesse, 
Ne  him  forbar  in  no  degree,  for  al 

His  vertu  or  his  excellent  prowesse  ; 
But  held  him  as  his  thral  lowe  in  distresse. 
And  brendo  him  so  in  sondry  wyse  ay 
newe,  440 

That  sixty  tj'me  a  day  he  loste  his  hewe. 

64.  So  mnche,   day  by  day,   his  owene 
thought, 

For  lust  to  hir,  gan  qiuken  and  encrese, 
That  every  other  charge  he  sette  at  nought ; 
For-thy  ful  ofte,  his  hote  fyi-  to  cese,  445 
To  seen  hir  goodly  look  he  gan  to  prese  ; 
For  ther-by  to  ben  esed  wel  he  wende, 
And  ay  the  neor  he  was,  the  more  he 
brende. 

65.  For  ay  the  neer  the  fyr,  the  hotter  is. 
This,  trowe  I,  knowetli  al  this  companye. 
But  were  he  fer  or  neer,  I  dar  seye  this. 
By  night  or  day,  for  wysdom  or  folye,  452 
His  herte,  which  that  is  his  brestes  ye. 
Was  ay  on  hir,  that  fairer  was  to  sene 
Than  ever  was  Eleyne  or  Polixene.        455 

(;<).  Eek  of  the  day  ther  passed  nought  an 
houre 


'  Good  goodly,  to  whom  serve  I  and  la- 
bonre,  4158 

As  I  best  can,  now  wolde  god,  Criseyde, 
Ye  wolden  on  mo  rowe  er  that  I  deyde  ! 
My  dere  herte,  alias  !  myn  helo  and  hewe 
And  lyf  is  lost,  but  ye  wole  on  me  rewe.' 

67.  Alle  othore  drcdes  weren  from  him 
fledde, 

Bothe  of  th'assege  and  his  savacioun  ; 
Ne   in   him  desyr    noon   other©    fownes 

bredde  465 

But  arguments  tr)  this  conclusioun, 
That  she  on  him  wolde  han  compassioun. 
And  he  to  bo  hir  man,  whyl  ho  may  dure ; 
L<),  here  his  lyf,  and  from  the  deeth  his 

cure !  469 

68.  The  sharpe shoures fello of  armes  prevo. 
That  Ector  or  his  f)there  bretheren  diden, 
Ne  made  hini  only  ther-fore  ones  meve ; 
And  yet  was  he,  wher-so  men  wente  or 

riden, 
Fonnde  con  the  best,  and  longest  tymc 

abiden  474 

Ther  peril  was,  and  dide  eek  such  travayle 
In  armes,  that  to  thenko  it  was  mervayle. 

69.  But   for   non  hate  he  to  the  Grekes 
haddo, 

Ne  also  for  the  rescous  of  the  toun, 
Ne  made  him  thus  in  armes  for  to  ma<Mc, 
But  only,  lo,  lor  this  conclusioun,         4K0 
To  lyken  hir  the  bet  for  his  renoun  ; 
Fro  day  to  day  in  armes  so  ho  speddc, 
Tliat  alle  the  Grekes  as  the  deeth  him 
dredde. 

70.  And  fro  this  forth  tho  refte  him  love 
his  sleep, 

And  made  his  mete  his  foo  ;  and  eek  his 
sorwe  485 

Gan  multiplye,  that,  who-so  toke  keep, 
It  showed  in  his  hewe,  bothe  eve  and 

morwe  ; 
Tlierfor  a  title  he  gan  him  for  to  borwe 
Of  other  syknesse,  lest  of  him  men  wende 
That  the  hote  fjT  of  love  him  brende.  490 

71.  And  seyde,  he  hadde  a  fever  and  ferde 
amis  ; 


Tliat  to  him-s»df  a  thousand  tymche  seyde,       Bxit  how  it  was,  certayn,  can  I  not  scyc. 


Book  I.] 


'Zvoiiue  mt  Cneep^e. 


213 


If  that  his  lady  i^nderstood  not  this, 
Or  feyiied  hir  she  niste,  oon  of  the  tweye  ; 
But  wel  I  rede  that,  by  no  maner  weye, 
Ne  semed  it  [as]  that  she  of  him  roughte, 
Nor  of  his    peyne,    or    wliat-so-ever    he 
thoughte. 

7-^.  But  than  fel  to  this  Troylus  sucli  wo, 
That  he  was  wel  neigh  wood  ;  for  ay  his 

drede  499 

Was  this,  that  she  som  wight  had  loved  so, 
That  never  of  him  she  wolde  "have  taken 

hede  ; 
For  whiche   him   thonghte  he  felte  his 

lierte  blede. 
Ne  of  his  wo  ne  dorste  he  not  biginne 
To  tellen  it,  for  al  this  world  to  winne. 

79.  Bnt  whanne  he  hadde  a  space  fro  his 

care,  505 

Thus  to  him-self  ful  ofte  he  gan  to  jjleyne ; 
He  sayde,  '  O  fool,  now  art  thou  in  the 

snare, 
That  whilom  japedest  at  loves  peyne  ; 
Kow  artow  hent,  now  gnaw  thyn  owene 

clieyne ; 
Thou  were  ay  wont  eche  lovere  reprehende 
Of  thing  fro  which  thou  canst  thee  nat 

defende.  511 

74.  What  wole  now  every  lover  seyn  of 
thee, 

If  this  be  wist,  but  ever  in  thyn  absence 
Laughon  in  scorn,   and  se.yn,  "  lo,  ther 

gooth  he. 
That  is  the  man  of  so  gi-et  sapience,      515 
That  held  us  loveres  leest  in  reverence  ! 
Now,  thonked  be  god,  he  may  goon  in  the 

daunco 
Of  hem  that  Love  list  febly  for  to  avaunce ! 

75.  But,  O  thou  woful  Troilus,  god  wolde. 
Sin  thow  most  loven  thurgh  thy  destinee. 
That  thow  beset  were  on  swich  oon  that 

sholde  52 1 

Knowe  al  thy  wo,  al  lakkede  hir  pitee  : 
But  al  so  cold  in  love,  towardes  thee. 
Thy  lady  is,  as  frost  in  winter  mone,    524 
And  thou  fordoon,  as  snow  in  fyr  is  sone." 

76.  God  wolde  I  were  aryved  in  the  port 
Of  deeth,  to  which  my  sorwe  wil  me  lede  ! 


A,  lord,  to  me  it  were  a  greet  comfort ; 
Then  were  I  quit  of  languisshing  in  drede. 
For  by  myn  hidde  sorwe  5'-blowe  on  brede 
I  shal  bi-japed  been  a  thousand  tyme  531 
More  than  that  fool  of  whos  fblye  men 
ryme. 

77.  But  now  help  god,  and  ye,  swete,  for 
whom 

I  ple.^aie,   y-caught,  ye,   never  wight   so 

faste  !  534 

O  mercy,  dere  herto,  and  help  me  from 
The  deeth,  for  I,  whyl  that  my  lyf  may 

laste. 
More   than   my-self  wol  love  yow  to  my 

laste. 
And  with  som  freendly  look  gladetli  me, 

swete, 
Though  never  more  thing  ye  me  bi-hete!' 

78.  This  wordes  and  ful  manye  an-other  to 
He  spak,   and   called   ever  in   his   com- 

pleynte  54  > 

Hir  name,  for  to  tellen  hir  his  wo. 
Til  neigh  that  he  in  salte  teres  dreynte. 
Al  was  for  nought,  she  herde  nought  his 

pleynte  ; 
And  whan   that  he  bithoughte  on  that 

folye,  .=;45 

A  thousand  fold  his  wo  gan  multiplye. 

79.  Bi-wayling  in  his  chambre  thiisallone, 
A  freend  of  his,  that  called  was  Pandare, 
Com  ones  in  unwar,  and  herde  him  grone. 
And  sey  his  freend  in  swich  distresse  and 

care  :  550 

'  Alias  ! '  quod  he,   '  who  causeth  al  this 

fare  ? 
O    mercy,    g<>d  !    what   unhap    anay   this 

mene? 
Han   now  thvis  sone   Grekes  maad   yow 

lene  ? 


80.  Or  hastow  som  remors  of  conscience. 
And  art  now  falle  in  som  devocioun,  555 
And   waylest    for    thy   sinne   and    thyn 

offence, 
And  hast  for  ferde  caught  attricioun  ? 
God  save  hem  that  bi-seged  han  ovir  toun. 
And  so  can  leye  our  jolytee  on  presse. 
And  bring  oiir  lusty  folk  to  holinesse!' 


214 


^rotfus  anb  Cviefj^H. 


[Book  I. 


81.  These  wordes  seyde  he  for  the  nones 

alle,  561 

That  witli  swich  things  he  mighte  him 

angry  maken, 
And  with  an  angre  don  his  sorwe  falle, 
As  for  the  tyme,  and  his  corage  awaken  ; 
But  wel  he  wiste,  as  fcr  as  tonges  spaken, 
Ther  nas  a  man  of  gretter  hardinesse  566 
Than  he,  ne  more  desired  worthinesse. 

8a.  '  WTiat  cas,'  quod  Troihis,  '  or  what 

aventure 
Hath  gyded  thee  to  see  my  languisshinge, 
That  am  refus  of  every  creature  ?  570 

But  for  the  love  of  god,  at  my  preyinge, 
Go  henne  a-way,  for  certes,  my  deyinge 
Wol  thee  disese,  and  I  mot  nedes  deye  ; 
Ther-for  go  wej',  ther  is  no  more  to  seye. 

83.  But  if  thou  wene  I  be  thus  syk  for 
drede,  575 

It  is  not  so,  and  ther-for  scome  nought ; 
Ther  is  a-nother  thing  I  take  of  hede 
Wel  more  than  ought  the  Grekes  han 

y-wrought, 
Which  cause  is  of  my  deeth,  for  sorwe 

and  thought. 
But  though  that  I  now  telle  thee  it  ne 

leste,  580 

Be  thou  nought  wrooth,  I  hyde  it  for  the 

beste.' 

84.  This  Pandare,  that  neigh  malt  for  wo 
and  routhe, 

Ful  often  seyde,  '  alias  !  what  may  this  be  ? 
Now  freend,'  quod  he,   '  if  ever  love  or 

trouthe 
Hath  been,  or  is,  bi-twixen  thee  and  me, 
Xe  do  thou  never  swiche  a  crueltee      586 
To  hyde  fro  thy  freend  so  greet  a  care  ; 
Wostow  nought  wel  that  it  am  I,  Pandare  ? 

8.5.  I  wole  parten  with  thee  al  thy  pejoie. 
If  it  be  so  I  do  thee  no  comfort,  5:0 

As  it  is  freendes  right,  sootli  for  to  seyne, 
To  entreparten  wo,  as  glad  desport. 
I  have,  and  shal,  for  trewe  or  fals  report, 
In  wrong  and  right  y-loved  thee  al  my 
ly\'e ;  .S04 

Hyd  not  thy  wo  fro  me,  but  telle  it  blyve.' 

86.  Then  gan  this  sorwful  Troilus  to  syke. 
And  se.yde  him  thus,  '  god  leve  it  be  my 
beste 


To   telle  it  thee ;    for,   sith  it  may  thee 

lyke. 
Yet  wole  I  telle  it,  though  myn  hertc 

breste ;  599 

And  wel  wot  I  thou  mayst  do  me  no  reste. 
But  lest  thow  deme  I  truste  not  to  thee, 
Now  herkne,  freend,  for  thus  it  stant  with 

me. 

87.  Love,   a-yeins  the  which  who-so  de- 
fendeth 

Him-selven  most,  him  alder-lest  avayleth. 
With  desespeir  so  sorwfully  me  olfendeth, 
That  streyght  un-to  the  deeth  myn  herte 
sayleth.  606 

Ther-to  desyr  so  brenningly  me  assaylleth, 
That  to  ben  slayn  it  were  a  gretter  joye 
To  me  than  king  of  Grece  been  and  Troye ! 

88.  Suffiseth  this,  my  fuUe  freend  Pandare, 
That  I  have  seyd,  for  now  wostow  my  wo  ; 
And  for  the  love  of  god,  m,y  colde  care  612 
So  hyd  it  wel,  I  telle  it  never  to  mo  ; 
For  harmes  mighte  folwen,  mo  than  two, 
If  it  were  wist ;  but  be  thou  in  gladnesse, 
And  lat  me  sterve,  unknowe,  of  my  dis- 

616 


89.  '  How    hastow   thus    unkindely   and 
longe 

Hid  this  fro  me,  thou  fool?'  quod  Pan- 

darus ; 
'  Paraunter  thou  might  after  swich  oon 

longe, 
That  myn  avys  anoon  may  helpen  us.'  620 
'  This  were  a  wonder  thing,'  quod  Troilus, 
'  Thou  coudest  never  in  love  thy-selven 

wisse  ; 
Howdevel  maystow  bringen  me  to  blisse?' 

90.  '  Ye,  TroUus,  now  herke,'  quod  Pan- 
dare, 

'  Though  I  be  nyce  ;  it  happeth  ofte  so,  625 
That  oon  that  exces  doth  ful  y\-ele  I'are 
By  good   counseyl  can  kepe  his  freend 

ther-fro. 
I  have  my-self  eek  seyn  a  blind  man  go 
Ther-as  he  fel  that  coude  loke  wyde  ; 
A  fool  may  eek  a  wys  man  ofte  gyde.    630 

91.  A  whetston  is  no  kerving  instrument. 
And  yet  it  maketh  sharpe  kerving-tolis. 


Book  I. 


^totftt0  an^  ttiu^^t. 


215 


And  ther  thow  woost  that  I  have  ought 

miswent, 
Eschewe  thou  that,   for  swich  thing  to 

thee  soole  is  ; 
Thus  ofte  wyse  men  ben  war  by  folis.   635 
If  thou  do  so,  thy  wit  is  wel  biwared  ; 
By  his  contrarie  is  every  thing  declared. 

92.  For  how  might  ever  sweetnesse  have 
be  knowe 

To  him  that  never  tasted  bittemesse  ? 
Ne  no  man  may  be  inly  glad,  I  trowe,    640 
That  never  was  in  sorwe  or  som  distresse  ; 
Eek  whyt  by  blak,  by  shame  eek  worthi- 

nesse, 
Ech  set  by  other,  more  for  other  semeth ; 
As  men  may  see  ;    and  so  the  wyse  it 

demeth. 

93.  Sith  thus  of  two  contraries  is  a  lore, 
I,  that  have  in  love  so  ofte  assayed      646 
Grevaunces,  oughte  conne,  and  wel  the 

more 
Counsayllen  thee  of  that  thou  art  amayed. 
Eek  thee  ne  oughte  nat  ben  yvel  apayed. 
Though  I  desyre  with  thee  for  to  here  650 
Thyn  hevy  charge  ;  it  shal  the  lasse  dere. 

94.  I  woot  wel  that  it  fareth  thus  by  me 
As  to  thy  brother  Parys  an  herdesse, 
Which  that  y-cleped  was  Oenone,          654 
Wroot  in  a  compleynt  of  hir  hevinesse : 
Ye  sey  the  lettre  that  she  wroot,  y  gesse?' 
'  Nay,  never  yet,  y-wis,'  quod  Troilus. 

'  Now,'  quod  Pandare,  '  herkneth  ;  it  was 
thus. — 

95.  "  Phebus,  that  first  fond  art  of  medi- 
cyne," 

Quod  she,  "and  coude  in  every  wightes 
care  660 

Remede  and  reed,  by  herbes  he  knew  fyne, 
Yet  to  him-self  his  conninge  was  ful  bare  ; 
For  love  hadde  him  so  bounden  in  a  snare, 
Al  for  the  doughter  of  the  kinge  Admete, 
That  al  his  craft  ne  coude  his  sorwe 
bete."—  665 

06.  Right  so  fare  I,  unhappily  for  me  ; 
I  love  oon  best,  and  that  me  smerteth  sore ; 
And  yet,  parauntcr,  can  I  rede  thee. 
And  not  my-self ;  repreve  me  no  more.  669 
I  have  no  cause,  I  woot  wel,  for  to  sore 


As    doth   an   hauk    that    listeth    for   to 

pleye. 
But  to  thyn  help  yet  somwhat  can  I  seye. 

97.  And  of  o  thing  right  siker  maystow  be, 
That  certayn,  for  to  deyen  in  the  peyne. 
That  I  shai  never-mo  discoveren  thee  ;  675 
Ne,  by  my  trouthe,  I  kepe  nat  restreyne 
Thee   fro  thy  love,  thogh   that  it   were 

Eleyne, 
That  is  thy  brotheres  wyf,  if  ich  it  wiste ; 
Be  what  she  be,  and  love  hir  as  thee  liste. 

98.  Therfore,    as   freend    fuUich    in    me 
assure,  'J^'* 

And  tel  me  plat  what  is  thyn  enchesoun. 
And  final  cause  of  wo  that  ye  endure  ; 
For  douteth  no-thing,  myn  entencioun 
Nis  nought  to  yow  of  reprehencioun. 
To    speke   as    now,    for   no   wight     may 
bireve  ^85 

A  man  to  love,  til  that  him  list  to  leve. 

99.  And  witeth  wel,  that  botho  two  ben 
vyces, 

Mistrusten  alle,  or  elles  alle  leve  ; 
But  wel  I  woot,  the  mene  of  it  no  vyce  is. 
For  for  to  trusten  sum  wight  is  a  preve  650 
Of  trouthe,  and  for-thy  wolde  I  fayn  re- 

meve 
Thy  wrong   conceyte,    and  do  thee   som 

wight  triste. 
Thy  wo  to  telle  ;  and  tel  me,  if  thee  liste. 

100.  The  wyse  seyth,   "wo  him  that  is 
allone. 

For,  and  he  faUe,  he  hath  noon  help  to 
ryse ;"  695 

And  sith  thou  hast  a  felawe,  tel  thy  mone ; 
For  this  nis  not,  certeyn,  the  nexte  wyse 
To  winnen  love,  as  techen  v\s  the  wyse. 
To  walwe  and  wepe  as  Niobe  the  quene, 
Whos  teres  yet  in  marbel  been  y-sene.  700 

101.  Lat  be  thy  weping  and  thy  drerinesse. 
And  lat  us  lissen  wo  with  other  speche  ; 
So  may  thy  woful  tyme  seme  lesse. 
Delyte  not  in  wo  thy  wo  to  seche,  704 
As  doon  thise  foles  that  hir  sorwes  eche 
With  sorwe,  whan  they  han  misaventure, 
And  listen  nought  to  seche  hem  other 


^roifue  ani  d^rieepie. 


[Book  T. 


102.  Men    seyn,    "  to   wrecche    is   conso- 

lacioiin 
To  have  an-otlicr  felawe  in  his  peyne  ; '' 
That  oughte  wel  hon  onr  opinioun,        710 
For,  bothe  thou  and  I,  of  love  we  pleyne  ; 
So  fnl  of  sorwe  ain  I,  soth  for  to  seyne, 
That  ccrtoynly  no  more  harde  grace 
May   sitte   on   me,    for-why   thcr   is    no 

space. 

10.3.  If  god  wole  thon  art  not  agast  of  me, 
Lest  I  wolde  of  thy  lady  thee  bigyle,  716 
Tliow  west  thy-self  whom  that  I  love, 

pardce, 
As  I  best  can,  gon  sit  hen  longo  whyle. 
And  sith  thon  wost  I  do  it  for  no  wyle,  719 
And  sith  I  am  ho  that  thou  tristest  most, 
Tol  me  sumwhat,  sin  al  my  wo  thou  wost.' 

104.  Yet   Troilus,    for   al   this,   no   word 
seyde, 

But  longo  ho  lay  as  stillo  as  ho  ded  were ; 
And  aftor  tljis  witli  sykinge  ho  abreyde, 
And  to  Pandarus  voys  he  lente  his  ere,  725 
And  up  his  ej-en  oasto  he,  that  in  fere 
Was  Pandarus,  lost  that  in  frenesye 
He  .sholdo  falle,  or  clles  sone  dye  : 

105.  And   cryde    '  a- wake  '   ful   wonderly 
and  shai-pe  ; 

'  \\liat  ?  slombrostow  as  in  a  lytargye  ? 
Or  artow  lyk  an  asse  to  the  haiiie,        731 
That  hereth  soun,  whan  men  the  strenges 

pl.ve, 
But  in  his  minde  of  that  no  melodye 
May  sinken,  him  to  glade,  for  that  he 
So  dul  is  of  his  bestialitee  ?'  735 

106.  And  with  that  Pandare  of  his  wordes 
stente ; 

But  Troilus  yet  him  no  word  answerde, 
For-why  to  telle  nas  not  his  entente 
To  never  no  man,  for  whom  that  he  so 
ferde.  739 

For  it  is  seyd,  '  man  maketh  ofte  a  yerde 
With  which  the  maker  is  him-self  y-beton 
In  sondry  manor,'  as  thise  wyse  treten, 

107.  And  namely,  in  his  counsoyl  tellinge 
That  toucheth  love  that  oughte  be  secree  ; 
For   of  him-self  it  wolde  y-nough   out- 

sjiringe,  745 


But-if  that  it  the  bet  governed  bo. 
Eek  som-tyme  it  is  craft  to  some  flee 
Fro  thing  which  in  effect  men  hunte  faste ; 
Al  this  gan  Troilus  in  his  herte  caste. 

108.  But  nathelees,  whan  he  had  herd 
him  cryo  750 

'  Awake  ! '  he  gan  to  syke  wonder  sore. 
And  seyde,  '  freend,  though  that  I  stille 

lye, 
I  am  not  deef ;  now  pees,  and  cry  no  more; 
For  I  have  herd  thy  wordes  and  th.y  lore ; 
But  suffre  me  my  mischef  to  biwayle,  755 
For  thy  proverbes  may  me  nought  avayle. 

109.  Nor  other  cure  canstow  noon  for  me. 
Eek  I  nil  not  be  cured,  I  wol  deyo  ; 
What  knowe  I  of  tlie  queue  Niobe  ? 

Lat   be  tlijTio   olde   ensaumples,  I  thee 
preye.'  760 

'  No,'  quod  tho  Pandarus,  'therfore  I  seye, 
Swich  is  delyt  of  folcs  to  biwepe 
Hir  wo,  but  seken  bote  they  ne  kepe. 

110.  Now  knowe  I  that  ther  reson  in  thee 
fayleth. 

But  tel  me,  if  I  wiste  what  she  were     765 
For  whom  that  thee  al  this  misaunter 

ayleth  ? 
Dorstestow  that  I  tolde  hir  in  hir  ere 
Thy  wo,  sith  thou  darst  not  thy-self  for 

fere. 
And  hir  bisoughte  on  thee  to  han  som 

routhe?' 
'  Why,  nay,'  quod  ho,  '  by  god  and  by  my 

trouthe  !'  770 

111.  'What?  not  as  bisily,' quod  Pandarus, 
'  As  though  myn  owene  lyf  lay  on  this 

node?' 
'  No,  certes,  brother,'  quod  this  Troilus. 
'  And  why  ? ' — '  For   that  thou   sholdest 

never  spcde.' 
'  Wostow  that  wel  ? ' — '  Ye,  that  is  oat  of 

drede,'  775 

Quod  Troilus,  '  for  al  that  ever  ye  conne, 
She  nil  to  noon  swicli  wrecche  as  I  be 

wonne. ' 

112.  Quod  Pandarus,   'alias!  what   may 
this  be, 

That  thou  despeyred  art  thus  causelees  ? 


Book  L] 


Ztoihe  att^  tviet^li. 


217 


What?  liveth  not  thy  lady?  beiiedicite!  780 
How  wostow  so  that  thou  art  gracelees  ? 
Swich  yvel  is  not  alwey  botelees. 
Why,  put  not  impossible  thus  thy  cure, 
Sin  thing  to  come  is  ofte  in  aventure. 

113.  I  gravmte  wel  that  thou  endurest  wo 
As  sharp  as  doth  he,  Ticius,  in  helle,    786 
Whos  stomak  foules  tyren  ever-mo 
That  highte  volturis,  as  bokes  telle. 
But  I  may  not  endure  that  thou  dwelle 
In  so  unskilful  an  opinioun  790 

That  of  thy  wo  is  no  curacioun. 

Hi.  But    ones    niltow,    for   thy   coward 

herte. 
And  for  thyn  ire  and  folish  wilfulnesse. 
For  wantrust,  tellen  of  thy  sorwes  smerte, 
Ne  to  thyn  owene  help  do  bisinesse  795 
As  muche  as  speke  a  resoun  more  or  lesse. 
But  lyest  as  he  that  list  of  no-thing  recche. 
What    womman     coude     love    swich    a 

wrecche  ? 

115.  What  may  she  demen  other  of  thy 
death, 

If  thou  thus  deye,  and  she  not  why  it  is,  ?oo 
But  that  for  fere  is  yolden  up  thy  breeth. 
For  Grekes  han  biseged  us,  y-wis  ? 
Lord,  which  a  thank  than  shaltowhan  of 

this  ! 
Thus  wol  she  seyn,  and  al  the  toun  at 

ones, 
"  The  wrecche  is  deed,  the  devel  have  his 

bones  ! "  805 

116.  Thou  mayst  allone  here  wepe  and 
crye  and  knele ; 

But,  love  a  woman  that  she  woot  it 
nought. 

And  she  wol  quyte  that  thou  shalt  not 
fele; 

Unknowe,  unkist,  and  lost  that  is  un- 
sought. 

■\Vliat !  many  a  man  hath  love  ful  dere 
y-bought  810 

Twenty  winter  that  his  lady  wiste, 

That  never  yet  his  lady  mouth  he  kiste. 

117.  Wliat?  shulde  he  therfor  fallen  in 
despeyr, 

Or  be  recreaunt  for  his  owene  tene. 


Or  sleen  him-self,  al  be  his  lady  fayr  ?  815 
Nay,  nay,  but  ever  in  oon  be  fresh  and 

grene 
To  serve  and  love  his  dere  hertes  quene. 
And  thenke  it  is  a  giierdoun  hir  to  serve 
A  thousand-fold  more  than  he  can  deserve.' 

118.  And  of  that  word  took  hede  Troilus, 
And  thoughte  anoon  what  folye  he  was 

inne,  82 1 

And  how  that  sooth  him  seyde  Pandarus, 
That  for  to  sleen  him-self  mighte  he  not 

winnc, 
But  bothe  doon  unmanhod  and  a  sinne,  824 
And  of  his  deeth  his  lady  nought  to  wyte ; 
For  of  his  wo,  god  woot,  she  knew  ful  lyte. 

119.  And  with  that  thought  he  gan  ful 
sore  syke, 

And  seyde,  '  alias  !  what  is  me  best  to  do?  ' 
To  whom  Pandare  answerde,  'if  theelyke. 
The  best  is  that  thou  telle  me  thy  wo ;  830 
And  have  my  trouthe,  but  thou  it  iinde  so, 
I  be  thy  bote,  or  that  it  be  ful  longe. 
To  peces  do  me  drawe,  and  sithen  honge !' 

120.  '  Ye,  so  thou  seyst,'  quod  Troilus  tho, 
'  aUas  ! 

But,  god  wot,  it  is  not  the  rather  so  ;   835 
Ful  hard  were  it  to  helpen  in  this  cas. 
For  wel  finde  I  that  Fortune  is  my  fo, 
Ne  alle  the  men  that  ryden  conne  or  go 
May  of  hir  cruel  wheel  the  harm  with- 

stonde  ; 
For,  as  hir  list,  she  pleyeth  with  free  and 

bonde.'  841) 

121.  Quod   Pandarus,    '  than    blamestow 
Fortune 

For  thou  art  wrooth,  ye,  now  at  erst  I  see  ; 
Wostow  nat  wel  that  Fortune  is  commune 
To  every  maner  wight  in  som  degree?  844 
And  yet  thou  hast  this  comfort,  lo,  pardee ! 
That,  as  hir  joyes  moten  over-goon. 
So  mote  hir  sorwes  passen  everichoon. 

122.  For  if  hir  wheel  stinte  any-thing  to 
tome, 

Than  cessed  she  Fortune  anoon  to  be  : 
Now,    sith    hir   wheel    by   no   wey   may 
sojorne,  850 

What  wostow  if  hir  mutabilitee 
Right  as  thy-selven  list,  wol  doon  by  thee, 


^rotfu0  Attb  Cntitjttt. 


[Book  I. 


Or  that  she  be  not  fer  fro  thj-n  hclpinge  ? 
Paraunter,  thoix  hast  cawse  for  to  singe  ! 

123.  And   therfor   wostow   what    I   thee 
hesocho  ?  855 

Lat  be  thy  wo  and  turning  to  the  grounde  ; 
For  who-so  list  liave  helping  of  his  leche, 
To  him  bihovcth  first  nnwrye  his  wovtnde. 
To  Cerberus  in  hello  ay  be  I  iMinndo, 
Were  it  for  my  snster,  nl  thy  sorwe,  860 
By  my  wil,  she  sholdeal  be  thyn  to-morwe. 

1 24.  Loke  up,  I  soye,  and  tel  me  what  she  is 
.Viiooii,  that  I  may  goon  aboute  thy  nede; 
Knowe  ich  hir  ought  ?  i'or  my  love,  tel  me 

this ;  864 

Than  wolde  I  liopen  rather  for  to  spede.' 
Tho  gan  the  ve.v'nc  of  Troilns  to  blede, 
Kor  he  was  hit,  and  wex  al  reed  for  shame ; 
'  A  ha  ! '  quod  Pandare,  '  here  biginneth 

game  ! ' 

125.  And  with  that  word  ho  gan  him  for 
to  shake, 

And  seyde,  '  theef,  thou  sholt  hir  name 
telle.'  870 

But  tho  gan  sely  Troilus  for  to  quake 
As  though  men  sholdc  ban  lad  him  in-to 

hello, 
.\nd  seyde,  '  alias  !  of  al  my  wo  the  welle, 
Than  is  my  swete  fo  called  Criseyde !' 
.\nd  wel  nigh  with  the  word  for  fere  he 
deyde.  875 

126.  And  whan  that  Pandare  herde  hir 
name  nevene, 

Lord,  he  was  glad,  and  seyde,  '  freend  so 

dere, 
Xi  >w  fare  a-right,  for  .Joves  name  in  hevene, 
I/)vo  hath  biset  thee  wel,  be  of  good  chere  ; 
For    of   good    name    and    wysdom    and 

manere  880 

She  hath  y-nough,  and  eek  of  gentilesse  ; 
If  she  be  fayr,  thow  wost  thy-self,  I  gesse. 

127.  Xe  I  never  saw  a  more  bountevous 
Of  hir  estat,  ne  a  gladder,  ne  of  speche 

A  freendlier,  ne  a  more  gracious  8S5 

For  to  do  wel,   ne  lasse  hadde  nede  to 

seche 
What  for  to  doon  ;  and  al  this  bet  to  eche, 
In  honour,  to  as  fer  as  she  may  strecche, 
A  kinges  herte  semeth  by  hires  a  wrecche. 


128.  And   for-thy  loke   of  good   comfort 
thou  be  ;  890 

For  certeinly,  the  firste  poynt  is  this 
Of  noble  corage  and  wel  ordeyn^, 
A  man  to  have  pees  with  him-self,  y-wis  ; 
So  oughtest  thou,  for  nought  but  good  it  is 
To  loven  wel,  and  in  a  worthy  place ;    81)5 
Thee  oughte  not  to  clepe  it  hap,  but  grace. 

129.  And  also  thenk,  and  ther-with  glade 
thee, 

That  sith  thy  lady  vertuons  is  al, 
So  folweth  it  that  ther  is  som  i)itoe 
Amonges  alle  thise  othere  in  general ;  9(k> 
And  for-thy  see  that  thovi,  in  special, 
Eeqitere  nought  that  is  ayein  hir  name  ; 
For   vertue    streccheth  not  him-self  to 
shame. 

130.  But  wel  is  me  that  ever  I  was  born. 
That  thou  biset  art  in  so  good  a  place ;  <)05 
For  by  my  trouthe,  in  love  I  dorste  have 

sworn, 
Thee  sholdo  never  ban  tid  thus  fayr  a 

grace  ; 
And  wostow  why?  for  tlum  wore  wont  to 

chace 
At   love   in   scorn,   and   for   desjiyt   him 

calle 
"  Seynt  Idiot,  lord  of  thise  foles  alle."  910 

131.  How  often  hastow   maail   thy   nyce 
japes. 

And  seyd,  that  loves  ser%'ants  everichone 
Of  nycetee  ben  verray  goddes  apes  ; 
And  some  wolde  monche  hir  mete  alone. 
Ligging  a-bedde,  and  make  hem  for  to 

grone ;  915 

And  som,  thou  seydest,  hadde  a  blaunche 

fevere, 
And  preydest  god  he  sholde  never  kevere ! 

132.  And  some  of  hem  toke  on  hem,  for 
the  colde. 

More  than  y-nough,  so  seydestf)w  ful  ofte : 
And  some  ban  feyned  ofte  tj-me,and  tolde 
How  that  they  wake,  whan  they  slepen 

softe  ;  921 

And  thus  they  wolde  ban  brought  liem- 

self  a-lofte, 
And  nathelees  were  under  at  the  laste  ; 
Thus  seydestow,  and  japedest  ful  faste. 


^rotfue  anb  Crtoepbe. 


215 


133.  Yet  seydestow,   that,   for  the  more 
part,  925 

These  loveres  wolden  speke  in  general. 
And  thonghten  that  it  was  a  siker  art, 
For  fayling,  for  to  assayen  over-al. 
Now  may  I  jape  of  thee,  if  that  I  shal  I 
But  nathelees,  though  that  I  sholde  deye. 
That  thou  art  noon  of  tho,  that  dorste  I 
seye.  931 

134.  Now  heet  tliy  hrest,  and  sey  to  god 
of  love, 

"  Thy  g^ace,  lord  !  for  now  I  me  repente 
If  I  mis  spak,  for  now  my-self  I  love  :" 
Thus  sey  with  al  thyn  herte  in  good  en- 
tente.' 935 
Quod  Troilus,  '  a  !  lord  !  I  me  consente. 
And  pray  to  thee  my  japes  thou  foryive, 
And  I  shal  never-more  whyl  I  live.' 

135.  'Thowseyst  wel,'quodPandare,  'and 
now  I  hope 

That   thou  the  goddes  wratthe    hast   al 

apesed ;  940 

And  sithen  thou  hastwepen  manyadrope, 

And  seyd  swich  thing  wher-with  thy  god 

is  plesed, 
Now  wolde  never  god  but  thou  were  esed  ; 
And  think  wel,  she  of  v  hom  rist  al  thy  wo 
Here-after  may  thy  comfort  been  al-so.  945 

I3G.  For  thilke  ground,  that  bereth  the 

wodes  wikke, 
IJereth  eek  thise  holsom  herbes,  as  ful  ofte 
Next  the  foule  netle,  rough  and  thikke. 
The  rose  waxeth  swote  and  smothe  and 

softe  ; 
And  next  the  valey  is  the  hil  a-lofte  ;  950 
And   next    the   derke   night    the    glade 

morwe  ; 
And  also  joye  is  next  the  fyn  of  sorwe. 

1 37.  Now  loke  that  atempre  be  thy brydel, 
And,  for  the  beste,  ay  suffre  to  the  tyde, 
Or  Giles  al  our  labour  is  on  ydel ;  955 

He  hasteth  wel  that  wysly  can  abyde  ; 
Be  diligent,  and  trewe,  and  ay  wel  hyde. 
Be  lusty,  free,  persevere  in  thy  servyse, 
And  al  is  wel,  if  thou  werke  in  this  wyse. 

134.    But    he   that    parted   is    in    every 

place  960 

Is  uo-wher  hool,  as  writen  clerkes  wyse  ; 


What  wonder  is,  though  swich  oon  have 

no  grace  ? 
Eek  wostow  ho^v  it  fareth  of  som  ser\'yse  ? 
As  plaunte  a  tre  or  herbe,  in  sondry  wyse, 
And  on  the  morwe  pialle  it  up  as  blyve,  965 
No  wonder  is,  thoxigh  it  may  never  thryve. 

139.  And  sith  that  god  of  love  hath  thee 
bistowed 

In  place  digne  un-to  tliy  worthinesse, 
Stond  faste,  i'or  to  good  port  hastow  rowed ; 
And  of  thy-solf,  for  any  hevinesse,        970 
Hope  alwey  wel ;  for,  but-if  drerinesse 
Or  over-haste  oi^r  botho  labour  shende, 
I  hope  of  this  to  maken  a  good  ende. 

140.  And  wostow  why  I  am  tlie  lasse  a- 
forccl 

Of  this  matere  with  my  nece  trete  ?      975 
For  this  have  I  herd  seyd  of  wyse  y-lered, 
"  Was  never  man  ne  woman  yet  bigete 
That  was  unapt  to  suflfren  loves  heto 
Celestial,  or  elles  love  of  kinde  ;"  979 

For-thy  som  grace  I  hope  in  hir  to  finde. 

141.  And  for  to  speke  of  hir  in  special, 
Hir  beautee  to  bithinken  and  hir  youthe, 
It  sit  hir  nought  to  be  celestial 

As  yet,  though  that  hir  liste  bothe  and 
coutho ;  984 

But  trewely,  it  seto  hir  wel  right  nouthe 
A  worthy  knight  to  loven  and  cheryce. 
And  but  she  do,  I  holde  it  for  a  vyce. 

142.  Wherfore  I  am,  and  wol  bo,  ay  redy 
To  peyne  me  to  do  yow  this  servyse  ; 
For  bothe  yow  to  plese  thus  hope  I      990 
Her-afterward  ;  for  .yo  beth  bothe  wyse. 
And  conne  it  covinseyl  kepe  in  swich  a 

wyse. 
That  no  man  shal  the  w;\'ser  of  it  bo  ; 
And  so  we  may  be  gladed  alio  three. 

143.  And,   by  my  trouthe,    I  have  right 
now  of  thee  995 

A  good  conceyt  in  my  wit,  as  I  gesse, 
And  what  it  is,  I  wol  now  that  thou  see. 
I  thenke,  sith  that  love,  of  his  goodnesse. 
Hath  thee  converted  out  of  wikkednesse. 
That  thou  shalt  be  tho  beste  post,  I 
leve,  io()() 

Of  al  his  lay,  and  most  his  f<H>s  to-greve. 


t^roifue  ant  CviBC^lt. 


[Book  T. 


144.  Ensample  why,  sec  now  these  wyse 
clerkes, 

That  erren  aldermost  a-yein  a  lawe, 
And  ben    converted    from    liir    wikked 

werkes 
Thorugh  grace  of  god,  that  list  hem  to 

him  drawe,  1005 

Than  am  they  folk  that  lian  most  god  in 

awe, 
And    strengest-feythed    Ijeen,    I    under- 

stonde, 
And   conne  an   erronr  alder-best  with- 

stonde.' 

145.  Whan   Troilus   had    herd    Pandare 
assented 

To  been  his  help  in  loving  of  Criseyde,  1010 
Wpx  of  his  wo,  as  whosej-th,  nntormented. 
But  hotter wexliis  love,  and  thnsheseyde, 
With  sobre  chere,   al-though  his  herto 

pleyde, 
'  Now  blisful  Venus  helpe,  er  that  I  sterve, 
Of  thee,  Pandare,  I  may  som  thank  de- 
serve. 1015 

146.  But,  dero  frend,  how  shal  myn  wo 
ben  lesse 

Til  this  be  doon  ?  and  goode,  eek  tel  me 

this, 
How  wiltow  seyn  of  me  and  my  destresse  ? 
Lest  she  be  wrooth,  this  drede  I  most, 

y-wis. 
Or  nil  not  here  or  trowen  how  it  is.     1020 
Al  this  drede  I,  and  eek  for  the  manere 
Of  thee,  hir  eem,  she  nil  no  swich  thing 

here.' 

147.  Quod   Pandams,    'thou   hast   a   ful 
gret  care 

Lest  that  the  cherl  may  falle  out  of  the 
mone !  1024 

Why,  lord  !  I  hate  of  thee  thy  nyce  fare  ! 
Why,  entremete  of  that  thou  hast  to  done ! 
For  goddes  love,  I  bidde  thee  a  bone, 
So  lat  me  alone,  and  it  shal  be  thy  beste.' — 
'  Why,  freend,'  quod  he,  '  now  do  right  as 
thee  leste. 

148.  But  herke,   Pandare,  o  word,  for  I 
nolde  1030 

That  thou  in  me  wendest  so  greet  folye, 
That  to  my  lady  I  desiren  sholde 


That  toucheth  harm  or  any  vilenye  ; 
For  dredolees,  me  were  lever  dye         1034 
Than  she  of  me  ought  elles  understode 
But  that,  that  mightc  sounen  in-togode.' 

149.  Tho  lough  this  Pandare,  and  ano<-)n 
answerde, 

'And  I  thy  borw  ?   fy  !   no  wight  dooth 

but  so  ; 
I  roughte  nought  though  that  she  stode 

and  herde  1039 

How  that  thou  seyst ;  but  fare-wel,  I  wol  go. 
A-dieu  !  be  glad  !  god  spede  us  bothe  two! 
Yif  me  this  labour  and  this  besinesse, 
And  of  my  speed  be  thyn  al  that  swetnesse.' 

150.  Tho  Troilus  gan  doun  on  knees  to 
falle,  1044 

And  Pandare  in  his  armes  hente  faste. 
And  seyde,  '  now,  fy  on  the  Grekes  alle ! 
Yet,  pardee,  god  shal  helpe  us  at  the  laste; 
And  dredelees,  if  that  my  Ij-f  may  laste. 
And   god  to-fom,  lo,  som  of  hem  shal 

smerte  ; 
And  yet  me  athinketh  that  this  avaunt 

me  asterte  !  1050 

151.  Now,  Pandare,  I  can  no  more  seye. 
But   thou  wys,    thou  wost,   thou  mayst, 

thou  art  al ! 
My  lyf,  my  deeth,  hool  in  thyn  honde 

I  leye  ; 
Help  now,'  quod  he.  '  Yis,  by  my  trouthe, 

I  shal.' 
'  God    yelde   thee,   freend,    and    this   in 

special,'  i<>5.=i 

Quod  Troilus,  '  that  thou  me  recomaunde 
To    hir    that    to    the    deeth    me    may 

comaunde.' 

152.  This  Pandams  tho,  desiroiis  to  serve 
His  fulle  freend,  than  seyde  in  this  manere, 
'  Far-wel,   and   thenk   I   wol   thy  thank 

deserve ;  1060 

Have   here   my  trouthe,   and  that  thou 

shalt  wel  here.' — • 
And  wente   his   wey,    thenking   on   this 

matere, 
And  how  he  best  mighte  hir  beseche  of 

grace, 
.Ajid  finde  a  tyme  ther-to,  and  a  place. 


Book  II.] 


^roifu6  ari^  Cviet^U. 


153.  For  every  wiglit  that  hath  an  hous 
to  founde  1065 

Ne  renneth  nought  the  werk  for  to  bi- 

ginne 
With   rakel   hond,    but   he   wol   byde    a 

stounde, 
And  seude  his  hertes  lyne  out  fro  with-inne 
Alderfirst  his  purpos  for  to  winne.       1069 
Al  this  Pandare  in  his  herte  thoughte, 
And   caste   his   werk    ful   wysly,    or    he 

WTOUghte. 

154.  But  Troilus  lay  tho  no  lenger  doun, 
But  up  anoon  up-on  his  stede  bay, 

And  in  the  feld  he  pleyde  tho  leoun  ; 
Wo  was  that  Greek  that  with  him  mette 
that  day.  1075 

And  in  the  touii  his  nianer  tlio  forth  ay 
So  goodly  was,  and  gat  him  so  in  grace. 
That  ech  him  lovede  that  lokcd  on  his  face. 


155.  For  he  bioom  the  frendlyeste  wight, 
Thegentileste,  and  eek  the  moste  free,  loSo 
Tlie  thriftieste  and  oon  the  beste  knight, 
That  in  his  tyme  was,  or  mighte  be. 
Dede  were  his  japes  and  his  craeltee, 
His     heighe     port     and     his     manere 

estraunge, 
And  ech  of  tho  gan  for  a  vertu  chaunge. 

156.  Now    lat    i\s    stinte    of    Troilus    a 
stounde,  1086 

Tliat    fareth    lyk   a  man   that    hurt  is 

sore. 
And  is  somdel  of  akinge  of  his  wounde 
Y-lissed  wel,  but  heled  no  del  more  : 
And,  as  an  esy  pacient,  the  lore  1090 

Abit  of  him  that  gooth  aboute  his  cure  ; 
And  thus  he  dryveth  forth  his  aventure. 

Explicit  Liber  Primus. 


BOOK   II. 


Incipit  prohemium  Secundi  Libri. 

1.  Out  of  these  blake  wawos  for  to  sayle, 
O  wind,  O  wind,  the  vveder  ginneth  clere; 
For  in  this  see  the  boot  hath  swich  tra- 

vayle, 
Of  my  conning  that  unnethe  I  it  stere  : 
This  see  clepe  I  the  tempestous  matere   5 
Of  desespeyr  that  Troilus  was  inne : 
But  now  of  hope  the  calendes  biginne. 

2.  O  lady  myn,  that  called  art  Cleo, 
Thou  be  my  speed  fro  this  forth,  and  my 

muse, 
To  ryme  wel  this  book,  til  I  have  do  ;      10 
Me  nedeth  here  noon  otlier  art  to  use. 
For-why  to  every  lovere  I  me  excuse. 
That  of  no  sentement  I  this  endyte. 
But  out  of  Latin  in  my  tonge  it  wryte. 

3.  Wherfore  I  nil  have  neither  thank  ne 

blame  ij 

Of  al  this  werk,  but  pray  yow  mekely, 
Disblameth  me,  if  any  word  be  lame, 
For  as  myn  auctor  seyde,  so  seye  I. 
Eek  though  I  speke  of  love  unfelinglj-, 


No  wonder  is,  for  it  no-thing  of  newe  is ;  20 
A  blind  man  can  nat  juggen  wel  in  hewis. 

4.  Ye  knowe  eek,  that  in  forme  of  speche 

is  chaunge 
Witli-inne  a  thousand  yeer,  and  wordes 

tho 
That  hadden  prys,  now  wonder  nyce  and 

straunge 
Us  thinketh  hem  ;    and  yet  they  spake 

hem  so,  25 

And  si)edde  as  wel  in  love  as  men  now  do ; 
Eek  for  to  winne  love  in  sondry  ages, 
In  sondry  londes,  sondry  been  usages. 

5.  And  for-thy  if  it  happe  in  any  wyse, 
That  here  be  any  lovere  in  this  place     30 
That  herkeneth,  as  the  story  wol  devyse. 
How  Troilus  com  to  his  lady  grace, 
And  thenketh,  so  nolde  I  nat  love  pur- 

chace. 
Or  wondreth  on  his  speche  and  his  doinge, 
I  noot ;  but  it  is  me  no  wonderinge  ;      35 

6.  For  every  wight  which  that  to  Rome 

went. 
Halt  nat  o  patli,  or  alwey  o  manere  ; 


<2^roifu0  anb  Crieepbe. 


[Book  II. 


Kek  in  som  lond  were  al  the  gamen  shent, 
If  that  they  ferde  in  love  as  men  don  here, 
As  thns,  in  open  doing  or  in  chere,  40 
In  visitinge,  in  forme,  or  seydc  hir  sawes  ; 
For-thy  men  seyn,  och  contrce  liath  his 
Lvwes. 

T.  Kek  scarsly  been  ther  in  this  place  three 
That  han  in  love  soyd  lyk  and  dixm  in  al ; 
For  to  thy  imrpos  this  may  lykcn  thee,  45 
And  thee  right  nought,  yet  al  is  seyd  or 

shal ; 
Kek  som  men  grave  in  tree,  som  in  stoon 

wal. 
As  it  bitit  ;  but  sin  I  have  begonne, 
Alyn  auctor  shal  I  folwcn,  if  I  conno. 
Explicit  prohemium  Secundl  Libri. 

Incipit  Liber  Secundus. 

s.  In  May,  that  nic.diT  is  "fiiionthes  glade, 
Tluit  fressho  llouros,  blewc,  and  wliyto, 

and  rede,  51 

Hen  qniko  agayn,  that  winter  dedo  made, 
And  ful  of  bawmo  is  flef  inge  evej-j*  medo  ; 
\Vhan    Phebus   dotli   his   brighte   hemes 

sprcdo 
Right  in  the  whj-te  Bole,  it  so  bitiddo     55 
As  I  shal  singe,  on  Mayes  day  the  thridde, 

'.'.  That  Pandams,  for  al  his  wyso  speche, 
Kolte  eek  his  part  of  loves  shottes  keno. 
That,   coudo  he  never  so  wel  of  loving 

preche, 
It  made  his  hewe  a-day  fnl  ofle  grene  ;  60 
So  shoop  it,  that  him  fil  that  day  a  tene 
In  love,  for  which  in  wo  to  l>edde  he  wonte, 
And  made,  er  it  was  day,  fulmanyawente. 

1 0.  The  s  wal  we  Proigne,  -vdth  a  sorwful  lay. 
Whan   morwe  com,  gan   make  hir  wey- 

mentinge,  65 

\\"hj'  she  forshapen  was  ;  and  ever  lay 
Pandare  a-boddo,  half  in  a  slomeringe. 
Til  she  so  neigh  him  made  hir  chiteringe 
How  Tereus  gan  forth  hir  suster  take. 
That  with  the  noyso  of  hir  he  gan  a- wake ; 

11.  And  gan  to  calle,  and  dresse  him  np 

to  ryse,  71 

Kemembringe  him  his  erand  was  to  done 
From  Troilns,  and  eek  his  greet  empryse ; 


And  caste  and  knew  in  good  plyt  was  the 

mone 
To  doon  viago,  and  took  his  wey  ful  sone 
Un-to  his  neces  paleys  ther  bi-syde  ;       76 
Now  Janus,  god  of  entree,  thou  him  gyde ! 

12.  Wlian  he  was  come  un-to  his  ncces 
place, 

'  Wlier  is  my  lady  ?'  to  hir  folk  seyde  he ; 
And  they  him  tolde  ;  and  he  forth  in  gan 
pace,  80 

And  fond,  two  othero  ladyes  sete  and  she 
With-inne  apaved  parlour ;  and  they  three 
Hcrden  a  mayden  reden  hem  the  geste 
Of  the  Sego  of  Thebes,  whyl  hem  leste.  84 

13.  Quo<l  Pandarus,  'mnilame,godyowsee, 
With  al  your  b<w)k  and  al  the  companye!' 
'  Ey,  uncle  myn,  welcome  j'-wis,'quod  she, 
And  up  she  roos,  and  by  the  hond  in  hyc 
She  t<K>k  him  faste,  and  soyde,  '  this  night 

thrye, 
To  go<xlo  mote  it  turne,  of  yow  I  mette  I ' 
And  with  that  word  she  doun  on  bench 

liim  setto.  91 

14.  '  Ye,  nece,  ye  shal  fare  wel  the  bet. 
If  god  wole,  al  this  yeer,'  quod  Pandarus ; 
'  But  I  am  sory  that  I  have  yow  let  94 
To  herknen  of  your  Ijook  ye  prcyscn  thns; 
For  goddcs  love,  what  seith  it  ?  tel  it  us. 
Is  it  of  love  ?  O,  som  good  ye  me  lere  !' 

'  Uncle,'  quod  she,  'your  maistresse  is  not 
here  I' 

1-5.  With  that  they  gonncu  lauglie,  and 
tho  she  seyde,  99 

'This  romaunce  is  of  Thebes,  that  we  rede; 

And  we  han  herd  how  that  king  Laius 
doyde 

Thurgh  Edippus  his  sone,  and  al  that  dede ; 

Anil  here  we  stenten  at  these  lettres  rede, 

How  the  bisshop,  as  the  book  can  telle, 

Amphiora.\,  fil  thurgh  theground  to  helle.' 

16.  Quod  Pandarus,  '  al  this  knowe  I  my- 
selve,  106 

And  al  th'assege  of  Thebes  and  the  care ; 

Forher-ofbeen  ther  makedhokes  twelve: — 

But  lat  be  this,  and  tel  me  how  ye  fare  ; 

Do  wey  your  barbe,  and  shew  your  face 
bare :  i  »o 


"Zvoiha  anb  Cneepbe. 


'23 


Do  wey  j-onr   book,  r\s  up,  ami  Lit    us 

(launce, 
And  lat  us  don  to  May  som  observaunce.' 

1  ~.   '  A  !  god  forbede  ! '  quod  she,  '  be  ye 

mad  ? 
Is  that  a  widewes  lyf,  so  god  you  save  ? 
By  god,  ye  maken  me  right  sore  a-drad,  1 15 
Ye  ben  so  wilde,  it  semetli  as  ye  rave  ! 
It  sete  me  wol  bet  ay  in  a  cave 
To  bidde,  and  rede  on  holy  seyntes  lyves : 
Lat  maydens  gon  to  daunce,  and  yonge 

wyves.' 

18.  'Aseverthry^^eI,'iiuodtliisPandarus, 
'  Yet  coude  I  telle  a  thing  to  doon  you 

l>leye.'  121 

'  Now  xincle  dere,'  qnod  she,  '  tel  it  us 
For  goddes  love;  is  than  th'assego  aweyc? 
I  am  of  Grekes  so  ferd  that  I  deyc.' 
•  Xay,    nay,'   quod   he,    '  as  ever  mote   I 

thrj-^'c  !  125 

It  is  11  tiling  wi'l  bet  than  swiche  fy\'e.' 

l!J.   •  Ye,  hol.>goil ! '  quod  she,  '  what  thing 

is  that  ? 
A\liat  ?  bet  than  swiche  fyve  ?    ey,  nay, 

y-wis  ! 
For  al  this  world  ne  can  I  reden  what 
It  sholde  been  ;  som  jape,  I  trt>we,  is  this ; 
And  but  your-selven  telle  uswhat  it  is,  131 
My  wit  is  for  to  arede  it  al  to  lene  ; 
As  help  me  god,  I  noot  nat  what  ye  mene.' 

20.  'And   I  your  borow,   no  never  shal, 
for  mo. 

This   thing  bo  told  to  yow,  as   mote  I 

thryve  !'  135 

'  And  why  so,  uncle  myn  ?  why  so  ?'  quod 

she. 
'  By  god,'  quod  he,  '  that  wole  I  telle  as 

blj-A-e  ; 
For  prouder  womman  were  ther  noon  on- 

ly\'0. 
And  ye  it  wiste,  in  al  the  toun  of  Troye  ; 
I  jape  nought,  as  ever  have  I  joye  ! '      140 

21.  Tho  gan  she  wondren  more  than  bi- 
forn 

A  thousand  fold,  and  doun  hir  eyen  caste ; 
For  never,  sith  the  tyme  that  she  was  born, 
To  knowe  thing  desired  she  so  fastc  ;    144 


And  with  a  syk  she  scyde  him  at  the  laste, 
'Now,  ttncle  myn,  I  nil  yow  nought  dis- 

plese. 
Nor  axen  more,  that  may  do  yow  disese. ' 

22.  So  after  this,  with  many  wordes  glade. 
And  freendly  tales,  and  -with  mery  cliere, 
Of  this  and  that  they  plej'de,  and  gunnen 

■wade  150 

In   many   an    nnkouth   glad    and    deep 

matere, 
As   freendes  doon,   whan   tliej-  ben  met 

y-fere  ; 
Til  she  gan  axen  him  how  Ector  ferde, 
That  was  the  tonnes  wal  and  Grekes  yerdo. 

23.  '  Ful  wel,  I  thanko  it  god,'  quod  Pan- 
darus,  155 

'Save  in  his  arm  ho  hath  a  litel  wounde  ; 
And  cek  his  fresshe  brother  Troilus, 
The  wyse  worthy  Ector  the  secounde. 
In  whom  that  every  vertit  list  abounde, 
As  alle  trouthe  and  alle  gentillesse,      Um 
Wysdom,  honour,    fredom,    and   worth  i- 
nesse.' 

24.  '  In  good  feith,  oem,'  quod  she,  '  that 
lyketh  me  ; 

They  faren  wel,  god  save  hem  bothc  two! 
For  trewely  I  holde  it  greet  deynteo 
A  tinges  sone  in  armes  wel  to  do,         165 
And  been  of  good  condiciouns  ther-to  ; 
For  greet  power  and  moral  vertu  here 
Is  selde  y-seye  in  o  persone  y-fere. ' 

25.  'In  good  feith,  that  is  sooth,'  qnod 
Pandarus  ; 

'  But,  by  my  trouthe,  the  king  hath  sones 
tweye,  170 

That  is  to  mene,  Ector  and  Troilus, 
That  certainly,  though  that  I  sholde  deye. 
They  been  as  voyde  of  vyces,  dar  I  seye, 
As  any  men  that  liveth  under  the  sonne, 
Hir   might  is  wyde  y-knowe,  and  what 
they  conne.  175 

26.  Of  Ector  nedeth  it  nought  for  to  telle ; 
In  al  this  world  ther  nis  a  bettre  knight 
Than  he,  that  is  of  worthinesse  welle  ; 
And  he  wel  more  vertu  hath  than  might. 
This  knoweth  many  a  wys  and  worthy 

wight.  jXo 


224 


^roifue  drib  Crieepie. 


[Book  II. 


The  same  prys  of  Troihis  I  seye, 
God  help   nie   so,   I   knowe   not   swiche 
tweye.' 

27.  '  By  god,'  quod  she,  '  of  Ector  that  is 

sooth  ; 
Of  Troihis  the  same  thing  trowe  I ; 
For  dredelees,  men  tellen  that  he  dooth 
In  armes  d.iy  by  day  so  worthily,  iS6 

And  bcroth  him  hero  at  hoom  so  gentilly 
To  every  wight,  that  al  the  prys  hath  he 
Of  hem  that  me  were  levest  preysed  be.' 

2S.  '  Ye  sey  right  sooth,  y-wis,'  quod  Pan- 
darus ;  190 

'  For  yesterday,  who-so  hadde  with  him 
been. 

He  might  have  wondred  ujj-on  Troilns  ; 

For  never  yet  so  thikke  a  swarm  of  been 

Ne  fleigh,  as  Grekes  fro  him  gonne  fleen ; 

And  thorugh  the  feld,  in  every  wightes 
ere,  195 

Ther  nas  no  crj-  but  "Troilus  is  there!" 

29.  Now  here,  now  there,  he  hunted  hem 
so  faste, 

Ther  nas  but  Grekes  blood  ;  and  Troilns, 
Now  hem  he  hurte,  and  hem  alle  doun  he 

caste  ; 
Ay  where  he  wcnte  it  was  arayeil  thus :  200 
He  was  hir  dcfth.  and  sheldandlyf  forus; 
That  as  that  day  ther  dorste  noon  with- 

etonde, 
Wliyl  that  he  held  his  blody  swerd  in 

honde. 

30.  Tlierto  he  is  the  freendlieste  man 
Of  grete  estat,  that  ever  I  saw  my  lyve  ; 
And  wher  liim  list, iK-st  felawshii)e  can  206 
To  suche  as  him  thinketh  able   for  to 

thri-^e.' 
And  with  that  word   tho  Pandarus,    as 

blj-\e. 
He  took  his  leve,  and  seyde,  '  I  wol  go 

henne :' 
'  Nay,  blame  have  I,  mj-n  uncle,'  quod  she 

thenne.  210 

31.  '  Wliat  eyleth  yow  to  be  thus  wery 
sone, 

And  namelich  of  wommen  ?  wol  ye  so  ? 
Nay,  sitteth  down  ;  by  god,  I  have  to  done 


With  .vow,  to  speke  of  wisdom  or  ye  go.' 
And  every  wight  that  was  a-boute  hem 

tho,  215 

That  herde  that,  gan  fer  a-wey  to  stonde, 
Whyl  they  two  hadde  al  that  hem  listo 

in  honde. 

82.  Whan  that  liir  tale  al  brought  was  to 

an  endo 
Of  hire  estat  and  of  hir  governaunce,   219 
Quod  Pandarus,  '  now  is  it  tynic  I  wende ; 
But  j-et,  I  seye,  arj'seth,  lat  us  duunce. 
And   cast  your    widwes    habit    to    mis- 

chaunce : 
Wliat  list  yow  thus  your-self  to  disfigure, 
Sith  yow  is  tid  thus  fair  an  aventure  ?' 

33.  '  A  !  wol  bithought !  for  love  of  god,' 
quod  she,  225 

'  Shal  I  not  witon  what  yo  mene  of  this?' 
'No,  thi.s  thing  axcth  layser,' tho  quod  he, 
'  And  eek  me  wolde  muchu  greve,  y-wis, 
If  I  it  tolde,  and  ye  it  toke  amis. 
Yet  were  it  l)et  my  tonge  for  to  stille  230 
Than  seye  a  sooth  that  were  aj'eins  your 
wille. 

34.  For,  neco,  by  tho  g<xldesse  Miner\'e, 
And  Juppiter,  that  maketh  the  thonder 

ringe. 
And  by  the  blisful  Venus  that  I  serve. 
Ye   been    the    womman    in    this  world 

livinge,  235 

With-outo  paramours,  to  my  witinge, 
That  I  bt'St  love,  and  lothest  am  to  greve, 
And  that  ye  witen  wel  your-self,  I  leve.' 

35.  '  Y-wis,  mj-n  uncle,'  quod  she,  '  grant 
mercy ; 

Your  freendship  have  I  founden  everyit; 
I  am  to  no  man  holden  trewely  241 

So   muche    as    yow,    and    have    so   litel 

quit; 
And,  with  tho  grace  of  god,  emforth  my 

wit. 
As  in  my  gilt  I  shal  you  never  offende  ; 
And  if  I  have  er  this,  I  wol  amende.     245 

36.  But,  for  the  love  of  god,  I  yow  be- 
seche. 

As  ye  ben  he  that  I  most  love  and  triste, 
Lat  be  to  me  your  fremde  maner  speche. 


Crotfu0  anb  tviet^tt. 


225 


And  sey  to  me,  yoiir  nece,  what  yow  liste  : ' 
And  with  that  word  hir  uncle  anoon  hir 
kiste,  250 

And  seyde,  '  gladly,  leve  nece  dere, 
Tak  it  for  good  that  I  shal  seye  yow  here.' 

87.  With  that  she  gan  liir  eyen  donn  to 

caste, 
And  Pandarus  to  coghe  gan  a  lyte,       254 
And  seyde,  '  nece,  alwey,  lo !  to  the  laste, 
Hi)w-so  it  be  that  som  men  hem  delyte 
With  siibtil  art  hir  tales  for  to  endyte, 
Yet  for  al  that,  in  hir  entencioim, 
Hir  tale  is  al  for  som  conclusioun. 

38.  And   sithen    th'ende    is    every  tales 
strengthe,  260 

And  this  matere  is  so  biliovely, 

What  sholde  I  peynte  or  drawen  it  on 

lengthe 
Toyow,  that  been  my  freend  sofeithfully?' 
And  with  that  word  he  gan  right  inwardly 
Biholden  hir,  and  loken  on  hir  face,    265 
And   se.vde,   '  on  suche  a   miroiir  goode 

grace  !' 

39.  Tlian  thoughte  he  thus,  '  if  I  my  tale 
endj-te 

Ought  hard,  or  make  a  proces  any  whyle, 
She  shal  no  savour  ban  ther-in  but  lyte, 
And  trowe  I  wolde  hir  in  my  wil  bigj'le. 
For  tendre  wittes  wenen  al  be  wyle  271 
Ther-as  they  can  nat  pleynly  understonde ; 
For-thy  hir  wit  to  serven  wol  I  fonde  ' — 

40.  And  loked  on  hir  in  a  besy  wyse,    274 
And  she  was  war  that  he  byheld  hir  so. 
And  se.vde,  'lord!  so  faste  ye  me  a\'yse  ! 
Seyye  me  never  er  now?  what  seyye,  no?' 
'Yes,  yes,'  quod  he,  '  and  bet  wole  er  I  go; 
But,   by  my  trouthe,    I   thoiighte    now 

if  ye 
Be  fortunat,  for  now  men  shal  it  see.    280 

41.  For  to  evei-y  wight  som  goodly  aven- 
ture 

Som  tyme  is  shape,  if  lie  it  can  receyven  ; 
Antl  if  that  he  wol  take  of  it  no  cure. 
Whan  that   it   cometh,   but   wilfully  it 

wey^'en, 
1ji^  neither  cas  nor  fortune  him  decejTon, 


But  right  his  verra.vslouthe  and  wrecched- 

nesse  ;  286 

And  swich  a  wight  is  for  to  blame,  I  gesse. 

42.  Good  aventure,  O  bele  nece,  have  ye 
Ful  lightly  founden,  and  ye  conne  it  take; 
And,  for  the  love  of  god,  and  eek  of  me, 
Caoche  it  anoon,  lest  aventure  slake.  291 
TMiat  sholde  I  lenger  proces  of  it  make  ? 
Yif  me  your  hond,  for  in  this  world  is 

noon, 
If  that  you  list,  a  wight  so  wel  begoon.  294 

43.  And  sith  I  speke  of  good  entencioun. 
As  I  to  yow  have  told  wel  here-biforn. 
And  love  as  wel  .your  honour  and  renoun 
As  creatiire  in  al  this  world  y-born  ; 

By  alle  the  othcs  that  I  have  yow  sworn. 
And  ye  he  wrcjoth  therfore,  or  weno  I  lye, 
Ne  shal  I  never  seen  yow  eft  with  yii.    301 

44.  Beth  nought  agast,  ne  quaketh  nat ; 
wher-to  ? 

Ne  chaungeth  nat  for  fere  so  your  hewo ; 
For  hardely,  the  werste  of  this  is  do  ; 
And  though  my  tale  as  now  be  to  yow 

newe,  305 

Yet  trist  alwey,  .ve  shal  me  flnde  trewe  ; 
And  were   it   thing    that  me  thoughte 

unsittinge. 
To  yow  nolde  I  no  swiche  tales  bringe.' 

45.  '  Now,  my  good  eem,  for  goddes  love, 
I  preye,'  309 

Quod  she,  'com  of,  and  tel  me  what  it  is; 
For  bothe  I  am  agast  what  ye  wol  seye, 
And  eek  me  longeth  it  to  wife,  y-wis. 
For  whether  it  be  wel  or  be  amis, 
Sey  on,  lat  me  not  in  this  fere  dwelle/' 
'  So  wol  I  doon,  now  herkneth,   I  shal 
telle:  315 

46.  Now,  nece  myn,  the  kinges  dere  sone, 
The  goode,  wyse,  wortliy,  fresshe,  and  free, 
Which  alwey  for  to  do  wel  is  his  wone. 
The  noble  Troilus,  so  loveth  thee. 

That,  hot  ye  helpe,  it  wol  his  bane  be.  320 
Lo,  here  is  al,  what  sholde  I  more  seye  ? 
Doth  what  yow  list,  to  make  him  live  or 
deye. 

47.  But  if  ye  lete  him  deye,  I  wol  sters'e; 
Have  her  my  troutlip,  noce,  I  nil  not  lyen ; 


226 


^rotfue  aii^  Crtee^be. 


[Book  II. 


Al  sholde  I  with  this  knyf  my  throte 
kerve ' —  325 

With  that  the  teres  braste  otit  of  his  ySn, 

Anil  seyile,  'if  that  ye  doon  lis  bothe 
dyen, 

Thus  giltelees,  than  have  ye  fisshed  faire ; 

What  mende  ye,  thovigh  that  we  bothe 
apeyre  ? 

48.  Alias!  he  which  that  is  my  lord  so 
dere,  3.V> 

That  trewc  man,  that  nol)le  gentil  knight, 
That  nought  desireth  but  your  freendly 

chere, 
I  see  him  deye,  ther  he  goth  uji-right. 
And  hastetli  liim,  with  al  his  fnlle  might, 
For  to  be  slayn,  if  fortune  wol  assente  ;  335 
Alhis !    that  god  yow   swich    a  beautce 

sente ! 

49.  If  it  be  so  that  ye  so  cruel  l>e, 

That  of  liis  deeth  yow  liste  nought  to 

recche. 
That  is  so  trewe  and  wortliy,  as  ye  see, 
No  more  than  of  a  japere  or  a  wrecclie,  ,^40 
If  ye  be  swich,  your  beautee  may  not 

st  recche 
To  make  amendes  of  so  cruel  a  dede  ; 
Avysement  is  good  bifore  the  nede. 

•'iO.  Wo  worth  the  faire  gemme  vertulees ! 
Wo  worth  that  herbe  also  that  dooth  no 

bote  !  345 

Wo  worth  that  lieautee  that  is  routhelees ! 
Wo  worth  tlint  wight  that  tret  ech  under 

fote  ! 
And  ye,  that  been  of  beautee  crop  and 

rot€. 
If  therwith-al  in  you  ther  be  no  routhe, 
Tlian  is  it  harm  ye  liven,  by  my  trouthe ! 

51.  And  also  thenk  wel,  that  this  is  no  ! 

gaude;  ^^t   I 

For  me  were  lever,  thou  and  I  and  he         I 
Were  hanged,  than   I  sholde  been  his  I 

bauiie. 
As  heye,  as  men  mighte  on  us  alle  y-see :  ' 
I  am  thyn  eem,  tlie  shame  were  to  nie,  355 
As  wel  as  thee,  if  that  I  sholde  assente, 
Thomgh  myn  abet,  that  he  thyn  honour 

shento. 


52.  Now  understond,  for  I  yow  nought' 
requere. 

To  hinde  yow  to  him.  thomgh  no  beheste. 
But  only  that  ye  make  him  bettre  chere  360 
Than  ye  han  doon  er  tliis,  and  more  feste, 
So  that  liis  lyf  be  saved,  at  the  leste 
This  al  and  som,  and  playnly  our  entente; 
God  helpe  me  so,  I  never  other  mente.  364 

53.  Lo,  this  request  is  not  but  skile,  y-wis, 
I  Xe  doute  of  rcson,  pardee,  is  ther  noon. 

I  sette  the  worste  that  ye  dredden  this. 

Men  wolden  wondren  seen  him  come  or 
I  goon : 

Ther-ayeins  answere  I  thus  a-noon,  369 
I  That  every  wight,  but  he  be  fool  of  kinde, 

Wol  demo  it  love  of  freendship  in  his 
noinde. 

54.  What?  who  wol  deme,  though  he  see 
a  man 

To  temj)lo  go,  that  lie  the  images  eteth  ? 
Thenk  eek  how  wed  and  wysly  that  he  can 
Gove  me  liim-self,  that  he  no- thing  ior- 

yeteth,  375 

That,  wher  he  cometh,  he  prj's  and  thank 

him  geteth  ; 
And  eek  ther-to,  lie  sluil  come  here  so 

selde, 
%Vhat   fors  were   it  though  al  the  toun 

behelde  ? 

55.  Swich  love  of  freendes  regneth  al  this 
toun  ; 

And  wrye  yow  in  that  mantel  ever-mo  ; 
And,  god  so  wis  be  my  savacioun,  381 

As  I  have  seyd,  your  beste  is  to  do  so. 
But  alwey,  goode  nece,  to  stinte  liis  wo, 
So  lat  your  daunger  sucred  ben  a  lyte. 
That  of  hia  deeth  ye  be  nought  for  to 
wyte.'  385 

56.  Criseyde,  which  that  herde  Iiim  in 
this  wysc, 

Thoughte,  '  I  shal  fele  what  lie  meneth, 

y-wis.' 
'Now,  eem,'  quod  she,  'what  wolde  ye 

de\'yse. 
What  is  your  reed  I  sholde  doon  of  this?' 
•  Tliat   is  wel  spyd,'  quod  he,  '  certayn, 

best  is  390 


^fotfue  drib  Ctist^H. 


227 


That  ye  liim  love  ayein  for  his  lovinge, 
As  love  for  love  is  skilful  gnerdoninge. 

57.  Thenk  eek,  how  elde  wasteth  every 
houre 

In  eche  of  yow  a  party  of  beautee  ; 

And  therfore,  er  that  age  thee  devoure,  395 

Go  love,  for,  olde,  ther  wol  no  wight  of 

thee. 
Lat  this  proverbe  a  lore  un-to  yow  be  ; 
To  late  y-war,  quod  Beautee,  whan  it 

paste ;" 
And  elde  datinteth  daunger  at  the  laste. 

58.  The  kinges  fool  is  woned  to  cryen 
loude,  41x3 

Whan   that   him    thinketh    a   womman 

bereth  hir  hj^e, 
"  So  longe  mote  ye  live,  and  alle  proude, 
Til  Crowes  feet  be  growe  under  your  ytS 
And  sende  yow  thanne  a  mirour  in  to 

prye  40+ 

In  wliiche  ye  may  see  your  face  a-morwe ! " 
Nece,  I  bid  wisshe  yow  no  more  sorwe.' 

59.  With  this  he  stente,  and  caste  adoun 
the  heed, 

And  she  bigan  to  breste  a-wepe  anoon. 
And  soyde,  '  alias,  for  wo !    why  nere  I 

deed  ? 
For  of  this  world  the  leith  is  al  agoon !  410 
Alias !  what  sholden  straunge  to  me  doon, 
AMien   he,  that  for  my  beste  freeud  I 

wende, 
Eet  me  to  love,  and  sholde  it  me  defendc  ? 

60.  Alias  !  I  wolde  ban  trusted,  doutelees. 


That  if  that  I,  thurghmy  disaventure,  415 
Had  loved  other  him  or  Achilles, 
Ector,  or  any  mannes  creature. 
Ye  nolde  han  had  no  mercy  ne  mesure 
On  me,  biit  alwey  had  me  in  repreve  ; 
This  false  world,  alias  !  who  may  it  leve  ? 

61.  What?  is  this  al  the  joye  and  al  the 
feste  ?  421 

Is  this  your  reed,  is  this  my  blisful  cas  ? 
Is  this  the  verray  mede  of  yoitr  beheste  ? 
Is  al  this  iieynted  proces  seyd,  alias  !  424 
Right  for  this  fjii  ?  O  lady  myn,  Pallas  ! 
Thou  in  this  dredful  cas  for  me  piirveye  ; 
For  so  astonied  am  I  that  I  deye  ! ' 


62.  With  that  she  gan  ful  sorwfully  to 

sj-ke  ; 
'  A  !  naay  it  be  no  bet  ? '  qviod  Pandariis ; 
'  By  god,  I  shal  no-more  come  here  this 

wyke,  430 

And  god  to-forn,  that  am  mistrusted  thus  ; 
I  see  ful  wel  that  ye  sette  lyte  of  us, 
Or  of  our  deeth  !  Alias  !  I  woful  wrecche  ! 
Mighte  he  yet  live,  of  me  is  nought  to 

recche. 

63.  O  CTwel  god,  O  dispitoiise  Marte,     435 
O  Furies  three  of  helle,  on  yow  I  crye  ! 
So  lat  me  never  out  of  this  hous  departe, 
If  that  I  mente  harm  or  vilanye  ! 

But  sith  I  see  my  lord  mot  nedes  dye, 
And  I  with  liim,  here  I  me  shryve,  and 
seye  440 

That  wikkedly  ye  doon  us  bothe  deye. 

64.  But   sith   it   lyketh  yow   that    I   be 
deed. 

By  Neptunus,  that  god  is  of  the  see. 
Fro  this  forth  shal  I  never  eten  breed 
Til  I  myn  owene  herte  blood  may  see ;  445 
For  certayn,  I  wole  deye  as  sone  as  he  ' — 
And  lip   he  sterte,  and  on  his  wey  he 

raughte, 
Til  she  agayn  him  by  the  lappe  caughte. 

65.  Criseyde,  which  that  wel  neigh  starf 
for  fere, 

So  as  she  was  the  ferfulleste  wight       450 
That  mighte  be,  and  herde  eek  with  hir 

ere. 
And  saw  the  sorwful  ernest  of  the  knight. 
And  in  his  preyere  eek  saw  noon  imright. 
And  for  the  harm  that  mighte  eek  fallen 

more. 
She  gan  to  rewe,  and  dradde  hir  wonder 

sore  ;  455 

66.  And  thoughte  thus,  '  unhappes  fallen 
thikke 

Alday  for  love,  and  in  swich  maner  cas. 
As  men  ben  cruel  in  hem-self  and  wikkc  ; 
And  if  this  man  slee  here  hina-self,  alias  ! 
In  my  presence,  it  wol  be  no  .solas.        4(>o 
What  men  wolde  of  hit  deme  I  can  nat 

seye  ; 
It  nedeth  me  ful  sleyly  for  to  pleye.' 


228 


^roifu0  anb  ttietjfU. 


[Book  II. 


67.  And  -with  a  sorwtul   syk  she   seyde 
thrye, 

'  A  !  lord  !  what  me  is  tid  a  sor>'  chatince ! 
For  myn  estat  now  Ij-th  in  jupartye,  4.65 
And  eek  m.^-n  ernes  Ij-f  l>-th  in  bahiunce  ; 
But  nathelees,  with  goddes  govemaunce, 
I  shal  so  doon,  mjoi  honour  shal  I  kepe, 
And  eek  his  lyf ;'  and  stinte  for  to  wepe. 

68.  'Of  hannes  two.  the  lesse  is  for  to 
chese ;  47" 

Yet  have  I  lever  maken  him  good  chore 
In  honour,  than  myn  ernes  lyf  to  lese  ; 
Ye  se.vn,  ye  no-thing  elles  me  requere?' 
'  No,  wis,'  quod  he,  '  myn  owene  nece  dere.' 
'  Now  wel,'quod  she.  '  and  I  wol  doon  my 
pe.\'ne ;  475 

I  shal  mjni  herte   ayeins  my  lust   con- 
st re.'i-ne. 

69.  Bnt  that    I  nil   not    h-dden  him  in 
honde, 

Ne  love  a  man,  ne  can  I  not,  ne  may 
Ayeins  my  wil ;  l)ut  elles  wol  I  fonde, 
Myn  honour  sauf,  plese  him  fro  day  to 
day ;  480 

Tlier-to  nolde  I  nought  ones  have  seyd  nay, 
But  that  I  dredde,  as  in  my  fuutasye  ; 
But  cesse  cause,  ay  cesseth  maladye. 

70.  And  here  I  make  a  protestacioun. 
That  in  this  proces  if  ye  depper  go,       485 
That  certa>-nly,  for  no  savacioun 

Of  .vow,  though  that  ye  sterve  bothe  two. 
Though  al  the  world  on  o  day  be  my  fo, 
Ne    shal    I  never    on    him    han    other 

ronthe.' — 
'I  graunte  wel.'  quod  Pandare,  'by  my 

tronthe.  490 

71.  But  mayItrustewelther-to,'quodhe, 
'That,  of  this  thing  that  ye  han  hight  me 

here. 
Ye  wol  it  holden  trewly  un-to  me  ?' 
'Ye,  doutelees,'  quod  she,   'myn  uncle 

dere.' 
'  Ne  that  I  shal  han  cause  in  this  matere,' 
Quod    he,   '  to  pleyne,   or  after  yow  to 

preche?'  496 

'  Why,    no,  pardee  ;    what    nedeth   more 

spec  he  ? ' 


TiJ.  Tho  fillen  they  in  othere  tales  glade, 
Til  at  the  laste,  '  O  good  eem, '  quod  she 

tho, 
'For  love  of  god,  which  that  us  bothe 

made.  500 

Tel  me  how  first  ye  wisten  of  his  wo : 
Wot   noon  of    hit    but  ye?'   He  seyde, 

'no.' 
'Can  he  wel  speke  of  love?'  quod  she, 

'  I  preye, 
Tel  me.  for  I  the  liet  me  shal  pun-eye.' 

73.  Tho  Pandarus  a  litel  gan  to  smyle, 
And  seyde.  '  by  my  trouthe,  I  shal  yow 

telle.  506 

This  other   day.    nought   gon   ful   longe 

whyle. 
In-with  the  paleys-gardyn,  by  a  welle, 
Gan  he  and  I  wel  half  a  day  to  dwelle. 
Right  for  to  speken  of  an  ordenaunce,  510 
How  we  the  Orekes  mighte  disavaunce. 

71  Sone  after  that  bigonne  we  to  lepe, 
And  casten  with  our  dartes  to  and  fro. 
Til  at  the  laste  he  seyde,  he  wolde  slepe, 
And  on  the  gres  a-tloun  he  leyde  him  tho ; 
And  I  after  gan  rome  to  and  fro  516 

Til  that  I  herde,  as  that  I  welk  allone, 
How  he  bigan  ful  wofully  to  grone. 

75.  Tho  gan  I  stalke  him  softely  bihinde. 
And  sikerly,  the  sothe  for  to  seyne,       520 
As  I  can  clepe  ayein  now  to  my  minde, 
Hight  thus  to   Love  he  gan  him  for  to 

pleyne ; 
He  seyde,  "  lord  !  have  routhe  up-on  my 

pe.vne, 
Al  have  I  been  rebel  in  myn  entente  ; 
Now,  vtea  culpa,  lord  !  I  me  repente.     525 

76.  O  god,  that  at  thy  disposicioun 
Ledest  the  fyn,  by  juste  purveyaunce. 
Of  every  wight,  my  lowe  confessioun 
Accepte   in   gree,   and    send    me    swich 

penaunce  529 

As  lyketh  thee,  but  from  desesperaunce, 
That  may  my  goost  departe  awey  fro  thee. 
Thou  be  my  sheld,  for  thy  benignitee. 

77.  For  certes,  lord,  so  sore  hath  she  me 
wounded 

Tliat  stod  in  blak,  with  loking  of  hir  yen, 


Book  IT. 


^trottu6  ani  Cnecp^^. 


229 


That  to  myn  hertes  botme  it  is  y-sounded, 
Tliomgh  which  I  woot  that  I  mot  nedes 

dyen ;  536 

Tliis  is  the  worste,  I  dar  me  not  bi-wryen  ; 
And  wel  the  hotter  been  the  gledes  rede, 
That  men  hem  wryen  with  asshen  pale 

and  dede." 

78.  With  that  he  smoot  his  heed  ad<nin 
anoon,  540 

And  gau  to  motre,  I  noot  what,  trewely. 
And  I  with  that  gan  stille  awey  to  goon, 
And  leet  ther-of  as  no-thing  wist  hadde  I. 
And  come  ayein  anoon  and  stood  him  by, 
And  seyde,  "  a-wake,  ye  slepen  al  to 
longe  ;  .^45 

It  semeth  nat  that  love  dooth  yow  longe, 

79.  That  slepen  so  that  no  man  may  yow 
wake. 

■\\Tio  sey  ever  or  this  so  dul  a  man  ?' 

"  Ye,  freend,"  qnod  he,  "  do  ye  your  hedes 

ake 
For  love,  and  lat  me  liven  as  I  can.''    550 
But  though  that  he  tor  wo  was  pale  and 

wan. 
Yet  made  he  tho  as  fresh  a  contenaunce 
As  though  he  shulde  have  led  the  newe 

daunce. 

80.  Tliis  passed  forth,  til  now,  this  other 
day, 

It  fel  that  I  com  roming  al  allone  555 

Into  his  chaumbre,  and  lond  how  that  he 

lay 
Up-on  his  bed  ;  but  man  so  sore  grone 
Ne  herde  I  never,  and  what  that  was  his 

moue, 
Ne  wiste  I  nought ;  for,  as  I  was  cominge, 
Al  sodeynly  he  lefte  his  compleyninge.  560 

81.  Of  which  I  took  somwhat  siaspecioun, 
Antl  neer  I  com,  and  fond  be  wepte  sore  ; 
And  god  si>  wis  be  my  savacioun, 

As  never  of  thing  hadde  I  no  routhe  more. 
For  neither  with  engyn,  ne  with  no  lore, 
Unethes    mighte    I  fro  the   deeth    him 
kepe ;  566 

That  yet  fele  I  myn  herte  for  him  wepe. 

8'2.  And  god  wot,  never,  sitli  that  I  was 

b<,rn, 
Was  I  so  bi.'^y  no  man  for  to  preche, 


Ne  never  was  to  wight  so  depe  y-sworn, 
Or  he   me  tolde  who  mighte  been   his 
leche.  57' 

But  now  to  yow  rehersen  al  his  speche. 
Or  alle  his  woful  wordes  for  to  soi\ne, 
Ne  bid  me  not,  but  ye  wol  see  me  swowne. 

83.  But  for  to   save   his  lyf,   and    elles 
nought,  575 

And  to  non   harm   of  yow,   thus  am  I 

driven  ; 
And   for  the  love  <>f  god  that  us  hath 

wrought, 
Swich   chere  him  dooth,  that  he  and  T 

may  liven. 
Now  have    I    plat    to    yow   myn    herte 

schriven ;  579 

And  sin  ye  woot  that  myn  entente  is  clene, 
Tak  hede  ther-of,  for  I  non  yvel  mene. 

84.  And  right  good  thrift,  I  pray  to  god, 
have  ye. 

That  han  swich  oon  j--caught  with-oute 

net ; 
And  be  ye  wys,  as  ye  ben  fair  to  see, 
Wel  in  the  ring  than  is  the  ruby  set.  585 
Ther  were  never  two  so  wel  y-met, 
Wnian  ye  ben  his  al  hool,  as  he  is  yourc  : 
Ther  mighty  god  yet  graunte  us  see  that 

houre  ! ' 

85.  '  Nay,  therof  spak  I  not,  a,  ha  ! '  quod 
she, 

'  As  helpe  me  god,  ye  shenden  every  deel ! ' 
'  O  mercy,  dere  nece,'  anoon  quod  he,  591 
'  What-so   I  spak,  I  mente  nought  but 

weel. 
By  Mars  the  god,  that  helmed  is  of  steel ; 
Now  beth  nought  wrooth,  my  blood,  my 

nece  dere.' 
'  Now  wel,'  quod  she,  '  foryeven  be  it  here ! ' 

86.  With  this  he  took  his  leve,  and  hoom 
he  wente  ;  596 

Anil  lord,  how  he  was  glad  and  wel  bi- 

goon  ! 
Criseyde  aroos,  no  lenger  she  ne  stente, 
But  straught  in-to  hir  closet  wente  anoon, 
And  sette  here  doun  as  stille  as  any  stoon, 
And    every  w.rd   gan    up   and    doun   to 

winde,  ^oi 

That  he   luulde   st-yd,   as   it  com   hir  to 

minde : 


23° 


^rotfu0  ant  Crteepbe. 


[Book  II. 


87.  And    wex    somdel    astouied    in    liir 

thought, 
Right  for  the  newe  cas ;  but  whan  that 

she 
Was  fulavyscd,  tho  fond  she  right  nought 
Of  i)eril,  why  she  oughte  afered  be.      606 
For  man  may  love,  of  possibilitee, 
A  womman  .so,  his  licrte  may  tobreste. 
And  she  noiight  love  nyeiu,  but-if  h  ir  leste. 

&S.  But  as  she  sat  uUone  aud  thoughte 
thus,  610 

Th'asco'  ai<x)s  at  skarniish  al  with-onte. 
And  men  crydo  in  the  strete,  '  see,  Troihis 
Hath  right  now  put  to  flight  the  Grekes 

roiite  ! ' 
With  that  gan  al  hir  meyneo  for  to  shout«, 
'  A  !  go  we  see,  caste  up  the  latis  wyde  ; 
For  thnrgh  this  strete  ho  moot  to  palays 
i-yde ;  616 

80.  For  other  wey  is  fro  the  yate  noon 
Of  Dardanus,  ther  open  is  the  cheyne.' 
With  that  com  he  and  al  his  folk  anoon 
An  esy  pas  lydinge,  in  routes  tweyne,  620 
Kight  as  his  happy  day  was,  sooth  toseyne. 
For  which,   men  say,  may  nought   dis- 
turbed be 
That  shal  bityden  of  necessitee. 

90.  This  Troilus  sat  on  his  })aye  stedo, 

Al  armed,  save  his  heed,  ful  richely,     625 
And  wounded  was  his  hors,  and  gan  to 

blede, 
On  whiche  he  rood  a  pas,  ful  softely ; 
But  swich  a  knightly  sighte,  trewely, 
As  was  on  him,  wa«  nought,  with-outen 

taile,  629 

To  loke  on  Mars,  that  god  is  of  batayle. 

91.  Solyk  a  man  of  armes  and  a  knight 
He  was  to  seen,  fulfild  of  heigh  prowesse; 
For  Viothe  he  hadde  a  Ixwly  and  a  might 
To  doon  that  thing,  as  wel  as  hardiuesse ; 
And  eek  to  seen   him  in  his  gere  him 

dresse,  655 

So  fresh,  so  yong,  so  weldy  semed  he. 
It  was  an  heven  up-on  him  for  to  see. 

92.  His  helm  to-hewen  was   in    twenty 
places, 

That  by  a  tissew  heng,  his  bak  bihinde, 


His  sheld  to-dasshed  was  with  swerdes 

and  maces,  640 

In  which  men    mighte   many  an  arwe 

finde 
That  thirled  hadde  horn  aud  nerf  and 

rinde ; 
And  ay  the  peple  cryde,  '  here  cometh  our 

j".ve, 
And,   next   his  brother,  holdere    i\p    of 

Troye  ! ' 

93.  For  which  he  wex  a   litel   reed   for 
shame,  (>4^ 

Wlian   he  the   peple  up-on   him    herde 

crj-en, 
Tliat  to  biholde  it  was  a  noble  game. 
How  sobrcliclie  he  caste  doun  his  yen. 
Crj'seyda  gan  al  his  chere  aspyou, 
And  leet  so  softe  it  in  hir  herte  sinke,  650 
That  to  hir-self  she  seyde,  'who  yaf  me 

drinke?' 

94.  For  of  hir  owono  thought  .she  wex  al 
reed, 

Bemembringe  hir  right  thus,  '  lo,  this  is 

he 
Which  that  myn  uncle  sworeth  he  moot 

be  deed. 
But  I  on  him  have  mercy  and  pitee  ;'  C>^s 
And  with  thatthought,  for  pure  a-shanied, 

she 
Gan  in  liir  heed  to  pulle,  and  that  as 

faste, 
Whyl  he  and  al  the  peple  for-by  paste, 

95.  And  gan  to  caste  and  rollen  up  and 

doun 
With-inne    hir    thought    his    excellent 

prowesse,  0<5o 

And  his  estat,  and  also  his  renoun, 
His  wit,  his  shap,  and  eek  his  gentilesse ; 
But  most  hir  favour  was,  for  his  distresse 
Was  al  for  hir,  and  thoughte  it  was  a 

ronthe 
To  sleeii  swich  oon,   if  that   he  mente 

trouthe.  665 

96.  Now  mighte  som  envyous  jangle  thus, 
'  This  was  a  sode>-n  love,  how  mighte  it  be 
That  she  so  lightly  lovede  Troilus 
Right  for  the  firste  sighte ;  ye,  pardee  ?' 


Book  IL] 


^trotfu0  arib  Cvm^^t. 


231 


Now  wlio-so  seyth    so,   mote    lie    never 
thee !  670 

For  every  thing,  a  ginning  hath  it  nede 
Er  al  be  wrought,  mth-oiiten  any  clrede. 

97.  For  I  sey  nought  that  she  so  sodeynly 
Yaf  him  hir  love,  but  that  she  gan  enclyne 
To  lyke  him  first,  and  I  have  told  yow 
•why;  675 

And  after  that,  his  manhod  and  his  i>yne 
JIade  love  with-inne  hir  for  to  mjnie, 
For  which,  by  proces  and  bygoodser\yse, 
He  gat  hir  love,  and  in  no  sodeyn  wj-se. 

98.  And  also  blisfnl  Venus,  wel  arayed,  680 
Sat  in  hir  seventhe  hous  of  hevene  tho. 
Disposed  wel,  and  with  aspectes  payed, 
To  helpen  sely  Troilus  of  his  wo. 

And,  sooth  to  eeyn,  she  nas  nat  al  a  fo 
To  Troilus  in  his  nativitee  ;  685 

Crod  woot  that  wel  the  soner  spedde  he. 

99.  Now  lat  us  stinte  of  TroUus  a  throwe, 
That  rydeth  forth,  and  lat  us  tourne  faste 
Uii-to  Criseyde,  that  heng  hir  heed  ful 

lowe, 
Tlier-as  she  sat  allone,  and  gan  to  caste  690 
\^Taer-on  she  wolde  apoynte  hir  at  the 

laste, 
If  it  so  were  hir  eem  ne  wolde  cesse, 
For  Troilus,  up-on  hir  for  to  presse. 

100.  And,  lord  !  so  she  gan  in  hir  thought 
argue 

In  this  matere  of  which  I  have  yow 
told,  695 

And  what  to  doon  best  were,  and  what 
eschue, 

Tliat  plyted  she  ful  ofte  in  many  fold. 

>r<  )w  was  hir  herte  warm,  now  was  it  cold. 

And  what  she  thoughte  somwhat  shal  I 
wryte, 

As  to  myn  auctor  listeth  for  to  endyte.  ;<  k> 

101.  She  thoughte  wel,  that  Troilus  per- 
sone 

She  knew  by  sighte  ami  eek  his  gentil- 

lesse, 
And  thus  she  soyde,  '  al  were  it  nought  to 

done, 
T"  graunto  him  love,  yet,  for  his  worthi- 

nesse, 


It  were  honour,  with  pley  and  with  glad- 
nesse,  705 

In  honestee,  with  swich  a  lord  to  dele, 
For  myn  estat,  and  also  for  his  hele. 

102.  Eek,  wel  wot  I  my  kinges  sone  is  he; 
And  sith  he  hath  to  see  me  swich  delyt, 
If  I  wolde  iitterly  his  sighte  flee,  710 
Paraunter  he  mighte  have  me  in  dispyt, 
Thiirgh  which  I  mighte  stonde  in  worse 

pbi;; 
Now  were  I  wys,  me  hate  to  purchace, 
With-outen  nede,  ther  I  may  stonde  in 

grace? 

103.  In  every  thing,  I  woot,   ther  lyth 
mesure.  715 

For  though  a  man  forbede  dronkenesse. 
He  nought  for-bet  that  every  creature 
Be  drinkelees  for  alwey,  as  I  gesse  ; 
Eek  sith  I  woot  for  me  is  his  distresse, 
I  ne  oughte  not  for  that  thing  him  des- 
Pyse,  7j„ 

Sith  it  is  so,  he  meneth  in  good  wyse. 

104.  And  eek    I   knowe,   of  longe    tynie 
agoon, 

His  thewes  goode,  and  that  he  is  not  nyce. 
Ne  avauntour,  seyth  men,  certein,  is  he 

noon; 
To  wys  is  he  to  do  so  gret  a  vyce  ;  725 

Ne  als  I  nel  him  never  so  cheryce, 
That  he  may  make  avaunt,  by  juste  cause; 
He  shal  me  never  binde  in  swiche  a  clause. 

105.  Now  set  a  cas,  the  hardest  is,  y-wis, 
Men  mighten  deme  that  he  loveth  me :  730 
What  dishonour  were  it  un-to  me,  this  ? 
May  I  him  lette  of  that  ?  why  nay,  pardoe  ! 
I  knowe  also,  and  alday  here  and  see, 
Men  loven  wommen  al  this  toun  aboutc  ; 
Be  they  the  wers  ?  why,  nay,  with-outen 


doute. 


735 


106.  I  thenk  eek  how  he  able  is  for  to 

have 
Of  al  this  noble  toun  the  thriftieste. 
To  been  his  love,  so  she  hir  honour  save; 
For  out  and  out  he  is  the  worthieste,    739 
Save  only  Ector,  which  that  is  the  beste. 
And  yet  his  lyf  al  lyth  now  in  my  cure. 
But  swich  is  love,  and  eek  mvn  avcnture. 


232 


^rotfue  ani  Ctteepfec. 


[Book  II. 


107.  Ne  me  to  love,  a  wonder  is  it  nought ; 
For  wel  wot  I  my-self,  so  god  me  spede, 
Al  woldelthat  noon  wiste  of  this  thought, 
I  am.  con  the  fayreste,  out  of  drede,  746 
And  goodlieste,  who-so  taketh  hede ; 
And  so  men  seyn  in  al  the  toun  of  Troye. 
What  wonder  is  it  though  he  of  me  have 

joye  ? 

108.  I  am  myn  owene  woman,  wel  at  ese, 
I  thanke  it  god,  as  after  niyn  estat ;  751 
Bight  yong,  and  stonde  unteyd  in  lusty 

lese, 
With-outen  jalousye  or  swich  debat ; 
Shal  noon  housbonde  seyn  to  me  "chek- 

mat ! " 
For  either  they  ben  ful  of  jalousye,       755 
Or  maisterfnl,  t>r  loven  novclrj-e. 

109.  WTiat  shal  I  doon?  to  what  fj-n  live 
I  thus? 

Shal  I  nat  loven,  in  cas  if  that  me  leste? 
What,  j^r  dietij- !  I  am  nought  religious ! 
And  though  that  I  myn  herte  settc  at 

reste  760 

Upon  this  knight,  that  is  the  worthieste, 
And  kei>e  alwey  myn  honour  and  my 

name. 
By  alle  right,  it  may  do  me  no  shame.' 

110.  But  right  as  whan  the  gonne  shyneth 
brighte. 

In  March,  that  chaungeth  ofte  tyme  his 

face,  765 

And  that  a  cloud  is  put  with   wind  to 

flighte 
Which  over-sprat  the  sonne  as  for  a  space, 
A  cloudy  thought  gan  thorugh  hir  soule 

pace, 
Tliat  over-spnulde  hir  brighte  thoughtes 

aUe, 
So  that  for  fere  almost  she  gan  to  falle.  770 

111.  That  thought  was  this,   'alias!  sin 
I  am  free, 

Sholde  I  now  love,  and  putte  in  jupartye 
My  sikernesse,  and  thrallen  libertee  ? 
Alias!  how  dorste  I  thenken  that  folye? 
May  I  nought  wel  in  other  folk  aspye     775 
Hir  dredful  joye,  hir  constreynt,  and  hir 

pej-ne  ? 
Ther  loveth  noon,  that  she  nath  why  to 

pleyne. 


112.  For  love  is  yet  the  moste  stormy  lyf, 
Eight  of  him-self,  that  ever  was  bigonue  ; 
For  ever  som  mistrust,  or  uyce  stryf,  780 
Ther  is  in  love,  som   cloud  is  over  the 

sonne: 
Ther-to  we  wrecched  wommen  no-thing 

conne. 
Whan  us  is  wo,  but  wepe  and  sitte  and 

thinke; 
Our  wreche   is  this,  our   owene   wo   to 

drinke. 

113.  Also  these   wikked   tonges  been  so 
prest  785 

To  speke  us  haiin,  eek  men  be  so  untrewe, 
That,  right  anoon  as  cessed  is  hir  lest. 
So  cesseth  love,  and  forth  to  love  a  newe: 
But  harm  y-<loon,  is  doon,  who-so  it  rcwe. 
For  though  these  men  for  love  hem  first 
to-rende,  79-> 

Ful  sharp  biginning  breketh  ofte  at  eude. 

1 14.  How  ofte  tyme  hath  it  y-knowen  be, 
The  treson,  that  to  womman  hath  be  do? 
To  what  fyn  is  swich  love,  I  can  nat  see. 
Or  wher  bicomth  it,  whan  it  is  ago ;      795 
Ther  is  no  wiglit  that  woot,  I  trowe  so, 
Wher  it  bycomth;    lo,    no  wight  on  it 

spometh  ; 
That  erst  was  no-thing,  in-to  nought  it 
torneth. 

115.  How  bisy,  if  I  love,  eek  moste  I  be 
To  plesen  hem  that  jangle  of  love,  and 

demen,  800 

And  coye  hem,  that  they  sey  non  harm  of 

me? 
For  though  ther  be  no  cause,  yet  hem 

semen 
Al  be  for  harm  that   folk   hir   freendes 

quemen  ; 
And  who  maystoppen  every  wikked  tonge, 
Or  soun  of  belles  whyl    that    they    be 

Tonge?'  805 

116.  And  after  that,  hir  thought  bigan  to 
clere. 

And    seyde,     'he    which    that    n">tliing 

under-taketh, 
No-thing  ne  achevetli,    be  him  looth  or 

dere.' 


^rotfu0  anb  Crt'ee^ie. 


233 


And   with   an    other   thought    hix-  heite 

quaketh ; 
Than    slepeth    hope,    and     after     dreed 

awaketh;  810 

Now  hoot,  now  cohl;  but  thus,  bi-twixen 

tweye. 
She  rist  hir  uj),  and  went  hir  for  to  pleye. 

117.  Adoun  the   steyre   anoon-right    tho 
she  wente 

In-to  the  gardiu,  with  hir  neces  three, 
And   up   and   doiin   ther   made   many  a 
wente,  815 

Flexippe,  she,  Tharbe,  and  Antigone, 
To  pleyen,  that  it  joye  was  to  see ; 
And  t)there  of  hir  wommen,  a  gret  route, 
Hir  folwede  in  the  gardin  al  aboute. 

118.  This  yerd  was  hirge,  and  rayled  alle 
the  aleyes,  820 

And    sliadwed   wel    witli    blosmy   bowes 

greue, 
And  benched  newe,  and  souded  alle  tlie 

woyes. 
In  wliich  she  walketh  arm   in   arm  bi- 

twene; 
Til  at  the  laste  Antigone  tlie  sliene 
Gan  on  a  Trojan  song  to  singe  clere,      <S.'5 
That  it  au  heven  was  hir  voys  to  here. — 

119.  She  seyde,  'O  love,  to  whom  I  liave 
and  slial 

Ben  liumble  siibgit,  trewe  in  myn  entente, 
As  I  best  can,  to  yow,  lord,  yeve  ich  al 
For  ever-more,  myn  hertes  lust  to  rente.  830 
For  never  yet  thy  grace  no  wight  sente 
So  blisful  cause  as  me,  my  ]yf  to  lede 
In  alle  joye  and  seurtee,  out  of  drede. 

120.  Ye,  blisful  g(jd,  han  me  so  wel  beset 
In  love,  y-wis,  that  al  that  bereth  l.^-f  835 
Imaginen  ne  cowde  how  to  ben  bet  ; 
For,  lord,  with-outen  jalousye  or  stryf, 

I  love  oon  which  that  is  most  ententyf 
To  serven  wel,  unwery  or  unfeyned, 
That  ever  was,  and  leest  witli  harm  dis- 
treyned.  840 

121.  As  he  that  isthe  welleof  worthinesse, 
Of  troutlie  ground,  mirour  of  goodliheed, 
Of  wit  AppoUo,  stoon  of  sikernesse, 

Of  vertu  rote,  of  lust  findere  and  lieed, 


Tliurgli  which  is  alle  sorwefromedeed,  845 
Y-wis,  I  love  him  best,  so  doth  he  me  ; 
Now  go<xl  thrift  have  he,  wher-so  that  he 
be! 

122.  Wliom  sholde  I  tlianke  but  yow,  god 
ofh>ve, 

Of  al  this  lilisse,   in    which    to   batlie  I 

ginne? 
Andtliankedbeye,lord,fortliat  lh>ve!  850 
This  is  the  righte  lyf  that  I  am  inne. 
To  flemen  alle  manere  vyce  and  sinne  : 
This  doth  me  so  to  vertu  for  to  entende. 
That  day  by  day  I  in  my  wil  amende. 

123.  And  who-so  seyth  that  for  to  love  is 
■VTCC,  855 

Or  thraldom,  though  he  fele  in  it  dis- 

tresse, 
He  outlier  is  envyoiis,  or  right  uyce, 
Or  is  unmighty,  for  his  shrewednesse. 
To  loven ;  for  swich  maner  folk,  I  gesse, 
Defamen  love,  as  no-tliing  of  him  Icnowe ; 
They  speken,  but  they  beute  never  his 

bowe.  861 

124.  What  is  the   sonne   wers,  of  kindo 
riglite, 

TlK)Ugh  tliat  a  man,   for  feblesse  of  hi.s 

yen, 
May   nought    endure    on    it    to   see   for 

brighte? 
Or  love  the  wers,  tliough  wrecches  on  it 

cryen  ?  865 

No  wele  is  worth,    that   may    no   sorwo 

dryen. 
And  for-th.^-,  wlio  that  liath  au  lieed  of 

verro. 
Fro  cast  of  stones  war  him  in  tlie  werre  ! 

125.  But  I  with  al  myn  herte  and  al  my 
might,  869 

As  I  have  seyd,  wol  love,  iin-to  my  laste. 
My  dere  herte,  and  al  myn  owene  knight. 
In  which  myn  herte  growen  is  so  faste. 
And  his  in  me,  that  it  shal  ever  laste. 
Al  dredde  I  first  to  love  him  to  biginne. 
Now  woot  I  wel,  ther  is  no  peril  inne.'    875 

126.  And  of  liir  song  right  witli  tliat  word 
she  stente, 

And  therwitli-al,    '11. .w,   nece,'  quod  Cri- 
seyde, 


234 


^totfiie  anb  Cnaepie. 


[Book  II. 


'Who  ma<lfi  this  song  with  so  good  en-  SIic  seyilo,  th.it  to  slepo  wel  hir  lesto. 

tente  ?'  Hir  wommen  siine  til  hir  bed  hir  bnmghte. 

Antigone  answerde  an<ion,  and  seyde,  I  Whanal  was  hust,  tlian  lay  she  stille,  and 

'  Ma  dame,  y-wis,  the  goiKllieste  mayde  880  j           thoughts                                                915 

Of  greet  estat  in  al  the  toun  of  Troye ;  Of  al  this  thing  the  manere  and  the  wyse. 

And  let  hir  lyf  in  most  honour  and  joye.'  j  Keherce  it  nedcth  nought,  for  ye  ben  wyse. 


127.  'Forsothe,  so  it  semeth  by  hir  song,* 
Quod  tho  Criseyde,  and  gan  ther-with  to 

syke. 
And  seyde,   'lord,   is   there  swich  blisse 

among  885 

These  lovers,  as  they  cunnc  faire  endyte?  ' 
'Ye,  wis,'  quod  fresh  Antigone  the  whytp, 
'For  alle  the  folk  that  han  or  been  on  lj-\-e 
Ne  conne  wel  the  blisse  of  love  discryve. 

128.  But  wene    ye    that  evei-y  wrecche 
woot  890 

The  parfit  blisse  of  love?  why,  nay,  y-wis ; 
They  wenen  al  be  love,  if  oon  be  hoot ; 
Do  wey,  do  wey,  they  woot  no-thing  of 

this! 
Men  mosten  axe  at  seyntes  if  it  is 
Aught   fair  in   hevene;    whj-?    for  they 

conne  telle ;  895 

And  axen  fondes,  is  it  foul  in  helle.' 

129.  Criseyde  un-to  that  purpos  nought 
answerde. 

But  seyde,   'y-wis,  it   wol    be    night  as 

faste.' 
But   every  word   which  that  she  of  hir 

herde, 
She  gan  to  prenten  in  hir  herte  faste ;  900 
And  ay  gan  love  hir  lasse  for  to  agaste 
Than  it  tlide  erst,  and  sinken  in  hir  herte, 
That  she  wex  somwhat  able  to  converte. 

130.  Thedayeshonour,  and  thehevenesye, 
The  nightes  fo, althisclepelthesonne,  905 
Gan  westren  faste,  and  dounward  for  to 

wrye. 
As  he  that  hadde  his  dayes  cours  y-ronne ; 
And  whyte   thinges  wexen   dimme  and 

donne 
For  lak  of  light,  and  sterres  for  to  appere, 
That  she  and  al  hir  folk  in  wente  y-fere. 

lai .  So  whan  it  lyked  hir  to  goon  to  reste, 

And   voyded   weren    they   that   voyden 

onghte,  9" 


132.  A  nightingale,  upon  a  cedre  grene, 
Under  tho  chambre-wal  tln-r  as  she  lay, 

!  Ful  loude  sang  ayein  the  nione  shene,  920 
Paraunter,  in  his  briddes  -w^-so,  a  lay 
Of  love,  that  made  hir  herte  fresh  and  gay. 
That  herkncdshesolonge  in  good  entente. 
Til  at  the  laste  the  dede  sleep  hir  heute. 

133.  And,  as  she  sleep,  auoon-right  tho 
hir  mette,  925 

j  How  that  an  egle,  fethered  whyt  as  boon, 
I  Under  hir  brest  his  longe  clawes  sette, 

And  oitt  hir  herte  he  rente,  and  that 

I  a-noon, 

And  dide  his  herte  in-to  hir  brest  to  goon, 

Of  which  she  nought  agroos  ne  no-thing 

smerte,  93" 

And  forth  he  fleigh,  with  herte  left  for 

herte. 

134.  Now  lat  hir  slope,  and  wo  our  tales 
holde 

Of  Troilus,  that  is  to  paleys  riden, 
Fro  the  scarmuch,  of  the  whiche  I  tolde, 
And  in  his  chambre  sit,  and  hath  abiden 
Til  two  or  three  of  his  messages  yeden  936 
For  Pandarus,  and  soughten  him  ful  faste. 
Til  they  him  founde,  and  broughte  him  at 
the  laste. 

135.  Tliis  Pandarus  com  leping  in  at  ones 
And  seide  thus,  'who hath  ben  wel  y-bete 
To-<lay   with   swerdes,   and   with  slinge- 

stones,  941 

But  Troilus,   that  hath   caught  him   an 

hete?' 
And  gan  to  jape,  and  seyde,  '  lord,  so  ye 

swete  ! 
But  rys,  and  lat  us  soupe  and  go  to  reste;' 
And  he  answerde  him,  '  do  we  as  thee 

leste.'  945 

136.  With  al  the  haste  goodly  that  they 
mighte, 

They  spedde  hem  fro  the  souper  un-to 
bedde ; 


Book  II.] 


^rotfue  ani  Cmep^e. 


235 


And  every  wight  out   at  the  dore  him 

dighte, 
And   wher   him   list    laiion    his    wey   he 

spedde  ; 
But    Troilus,    that    thoughte    his    herte 

bledde  950 

For  wo,  til  that  he  herde  som  tydinge, 
He  seyde,   '  freend,  shal  I  now  wepe  or 

singe  ?  ' 

137.  Quod  Pandarus,  'lystille,  and  lat  me 
slepe, 

And  don  thyn  hood,  thy  nedes  spedde  be ; 
And  chese,  if  thou  wolt  singe  or  daunce  or 

lepe ;  955 

At  shorte  wordes,  thow  shalt  trowe  me. — 
Sire,  my  nece  wol  do  wel  by  thee. 
And  love  thee  best,   by  god  and  by  my 

trouthe, 
But  lak  of  pui'suit  make  it  in  thy  sloiTthe. 

138.  For  thus  ferforth  I  have  thy  work 
bigonne,  960 

Fro  day  to  day,  til  this  day,  by  the  morwe, 
Hir  love  of  freendship  have  I  to  thee 

wonue, 
And  also  hath  she  leyd  hir  feyth  to  borwe. 
Algate  a  foot  is  hameled  of  thy  sorwe.' 
What  sholde  I  lenger  sermon  of  it  holde  ? 
As  ye  han  herd  bilore,  :d  he  him  tolde.  966 

139.  But  right  as  floures,  thorugh    the 
colde  of  night 

Y-closed,  stoupeu  on  hir  stalkes  lowe, 
Kedressen  hem  a-yein  the  Sonne  bright, 
And  spreden  on  hir  kinde  cours  by  rowe ; 
Right  so  gan  tho  his  eyen  up  to  throwe  971 
This  Troilus,  and  seyde,  '  O  Venus  dere, 
Tliy  might,  thy  grace,  y-heried  be  it  here  ! ' 

140.  And  to  Pandare  he  held  up  bothe  his 
hondes, 

^^ndseyde,  'lord,  al  thyn  be  that  I  have;  975 
For  I  am  hool,  al  brosten  been  my  bondes ; 
A  thousand  Troians  who  so  that  me  yave, 
Eche  after  other,  god  so  wis  me  save, 
Ne  niighte  nie  so  gladen  ;  lo,  myn  herte. 
It  spredeth  so  for  joye,  it  wol  to-sterte !   980 

141.  But  lord,  how  shal  I  doon,  how  shal 
I  liven  ? 

Milan  shal  I  next  my  dere  herte  see  ? 


How  shal  this  longe  tjTne  a-wey  be  driven, 
Til  that  thou  be  ayein  at  hir  fro  me '? 
ThoiT  ma.yst  answere,  "a-byd,  a-byd,"  but 
he  98s 

That  hangeth  by  the  nekke,  sooth  to  seyne, 
In  grete  disese  abydeth  for  the  peyne.' 

142.  ■  Al  esily,  now,  for  the  love  of  Marte,' 
Quod   Pandarus,    '  for  every  thing   hath 

tyme  ;  989 

So  longe  abyd  til  that  the  night  departe ; 
For  al  so  siker  as  thow  lyst  here  by  me, 
And  god  toforn,  I  wol  be  there  at  prynie. 
And  for  thy  werk  somwhat  as  I  shal  seye, 
Or  on  som  other  wight  this  charge  leye. 

143.  For   pardee,    god    wot,    I   have   ever 
yit  995 

Ben  redy  thee  to  serve,  and  to  this  night 
Have  I  nought  fayned,  but  emforth  my 

wit 
Don   al  thy  lust,  and   shal  witli   al    my 

might. 
Do  now  as  I  shal  seye,  and  fare  a-right ; 
And  if  thou  nilt,  wyte  al  thy-self  thy  care, 
On  me  is  nought  along  thyn  yvel  fare.  looi 

144.  I  woot  wel  thatthow  wyser  art  than  I 
A  thousand  fold,  but  if  I  were  as  thou, 
God  helpe  me  so,  as  I  wolde  outrely. 
Eight  of  myn   owene  hond,    wryte  hir 

right  now  1005 

A  lettre,  in  which  I  wolde  hir  tellen  how 
I  ferde  amis,  and  liir  beseehe  of  routhe  ; 
Now  help  thy-self,  and  leve  it   not  for 

slotithe. 

145.  And  I  my-self  shal  ther-with  to  hir 
goon  ; 

And  whan  thou  wost  that  I  am  with  hir 
there,  loio 

Worth  thou  up-on  a  courser  right  auoon. 
Ye,  hardily,  right  in  thy  beste  gere, 
And  ryd  forth  by  the  place,  as  nought  ne 

were. 
And  thovi  shalt  finde  us,  if  I  may,  sittinge 
At  som  windowe,  in-to  the  strete  lokinge. 

146.  And  if  thee  list,  than  maystow  us 
saluwe,  1016 

And  up-on  me  make  thy  contenaiuice  ; 


236 


^rotfu0  <inb  Cviaz^tt, 


[Book  II. 


But,  by  thy  lyt',  be  war  and  faste  eschuwe 
To  tarieu  ought,  god  shiKle  us  fro  mis- 

chaunce ! 
Ryd  forth  thy  wey,  and  liold  thy  govern- 

aunce  ;  1020 

And  we  shal  speke  of  thee  som-what,  I 

trowe. 
Whan  thou  art  goon,  to  do  thyne  eres 

glowe  ! 

m.  Touching  thy  Icttro.    thou  art   wys 
y-nough,  it>2n 

I  woot  thow  nilt  it  digneliche  endyte  ; 
As  make  it  with  thise  argiinientes  tough  ; 
Ne  scrivenish  or  craftily  thou  it  wryte; 
Beblotte  it  with  thy  teres  eek  a  Ij-te  ; 
And  if  thou  wrj-te  a  goodly  word  al  softe, 
Though  it  be  g<x>d,  reherce  it  not  to  ofte. 

lis.   For  though  the  bostu  harpour  upon 
lyvo  io,<o 

Wolde  on  the  beste  soiuied  joly  harpe 
That  ever  was,  with  alle  his  fingres  fy\e, 
Touchc  ay  o  streng,  or  ay  o  werbul  harpe, 
Were  his  naylcs  pojniteil  never  so  sliarjje. 
It  sliulde  niakeu  everj-  wight  to  duUe,  i().?5 
To  here  liis  glee,  and  of  his  strokes  fulle. 

149.  Xe  jompre  eek  no  discordaunt  thing 
y-fere, 

As  thus,  to  xisen  ternies  of  phisyk  ; 
In  loves  termes,  hold  of  thy  niatore 
The  forme  alwey,   and    do    that    it    be 
lyk ;  1040 

For  if  a  peyiitotir  wolde  peynte  a  pyk 
With  asses  feet,  and  hede  it  as  an  ape, 
It  cordeth  nought ;  so  uere  it  but  a  jape.' 

150.  This  counseyllyked  wel  to  Troilus; 
But,  as  a  ilreeilful  lover,  he  seyde  this  : — 
'  Alias,  my  dere  brother  Pandarus,        1046 
I  am  ashamed  for  to  wr>-te,  y-wis. 

Lest  of  m.vn  innocence  I  seyde  a-mis,  ! 

Or  that  she  nolde  it  for  desp.vt  receyve;       | 
Thanne  were  I  deed,  ther  mighte  it  n<«-  ' 
thing  weyve.'  lo.^o 

151.  To  that  Pandare  answerde,  '  if  thee 
lest,  I 

Do  that  I  seye,  and  lat  me  therwith  goon ;  ; 
For  bv  that  lord  that  formed  est  and  west, 
I  hope  of  it  to  bringe  answere  ancMjn 


Right  of  hir  hond,  and  if  that  thou  nilt 

i  noon,  1055 

Lat  be  ;  and  sory  mote  he  been  his  lyve, 

Ayeins   thy  lust    that    helpeth    thee   to 

thryve.' 

152.  Quod  Troilus,  ^  Di')>ar(lieux,l!\.ssonte; 
Sin  that  thee  list,  I  will  aryse  and  wryte ; 
And    blisful   gotl    preye   ich,    with    good 

entente,  1060 

The  vyage,  and  the  lettre  I  slial  endj-to, 
So  spede  it ;  and  thou,  Minerva,  the  wh.\-te, 
Yif  thou  me  wit  my  lettre  to  devyse  :' 
And  sette  him  doun,  and  wroot  right  in 

this  ^^-j-se. — 

153.  First   he   gan    hir   his    riglite    lady 
calle,  1065 

His  hertes  l.vf,  his  lust,  his  sorwes  leche. 
His  blisse,   and  eek  this  othere  termes 

alle. 
That  in  swich  cas  these  loveres  alle  seche; 
And  in  ful  humble  wyse,  as  in  his  speche, 
_  He  gan  him  recomaunde  un-to  hir  grace; 
To  telle  al  how,  it  axeth  muchel  space.  1071 

154.  And   after  this,   ful    lowl.v    ho    hir 
prayde 

To  1)e  nought  wrooth,  though  he,  of  his 

fol.ve. 
So  hardy  was  to  hir  to  wryte,  and  seyde, 
That  love  it  made,  or  elles  moste  he  dye. 
And  pitousl.v  gan  mercy  for  to  crye  ;  1076 
And  after  that  he  seyde,  and  ley  ful  loude, 
Him-self  was   litel   worth,  and  lesse  he 

coude ; 

155.  And  that  she  sholde  han  his  conning 
excused. 

That  litel  was,  and  eek  he  dredde  hir  so. 
And  his  unworthinesse  he  ay  acused ;  1081 
And  after  that,  than  gan  he  telle  his  wo; 
But  that  was  endeles,  with-outon  ho 
And  seyde,  he  wolde  in  trouthe  alwey  him 

holde  ; — 
And  radde  it  over,   and  gan  the  lettre 

folde.  ui85 

156.  And  with  his  salte  teres  gan  he  bathe 
The  ruby  in  his  signet,  and  it  sette 
Upon  the  wex  delivorliche  and  rathe  ; 
Ther-with  a  thousand  tymes,  er  he  lette. 


Book  II.] 


^rotfu0  anb  Cnee^^e. 


237 


He  kiste  tlio  the  lettre  that  he  shette,  1090 
And  seyde,  '  lettre,  a  blislul  destenee 
Thee  shapen  is,  my  lady  shal  thee  see.' 

157.  This  Pandare  took  the  lettre,  and 

that  by  tyme 
A-morwe,  and  to  his  ueces  paleys  sterte. 
And  faste  he  swoor,  that  it  was  passed 

pryme,  1095 

And  gan  to  jape,  and  seyde,  '  y-wis,  myn 

herte, 
So  fresh  it  is,  al-though  it  sore  smerte, 
I  may  not  slepe  never  a  Mayes  morwe  ; 
I  have  a  joly  wo,  a  lusty  sorwe.' 

l-")8.  Criseyde,   whan  that  she  hir  uncle 
lierile,  1 100 

^Vith  dreadful  herte,  and  desu'ous  to  here 
The  cause  of  his  cominge,  thus  answerde, 
•Xow  by  your  fcyth,  myn  vincle,'  quod 

she,  '  dere. 
What  maner  windes   gydeth  yow   now 
here  ?  1 104 

Tel  us  your  joly  wo  and  your  penaunce. 
How  ferforth  be  ye  put  in  loves  daunce.' 

159.  'By  god,'  qiiod  he,  'I  hoppe  alwey 
bihinde  ! ' 

And  she  to-laugh,  it  thoughte  hir  herte 

breste. 
(^nod  Pandarus,  '  loke  alwey  that  ye  finde 
Game  in  myu  hood,  but  herkneth,  if  yow 

leste ;  11 10 

Ther  is  right  now  come  in-to  toune  a  geste, 
A  Greek  espye,  and  telleth  newe  thinges. 
For  which  come  I  to  telle  yow  tydinges. 

160.  Into  the  gardin  go  we,  and  we  shal 
here, 

Al  prevely,  of  this  a  long  sermoun. '  1 1 15 
AVith  that  they  wenten  arm  in  arm  y-fere 
In-to  the  gardin  from  the  chaumbre  doun. 
And  whan  that  he  so  fer  was  that  the 

soun 
Of  that  he  speke,  no  man  here  mighte. 
He  seyde  hir  thus,   antl   out   the   lettre 

plighte,  1120 

1  til.  '  Lo,  he  that  is  al  hoolly  yoxires  free 
Him  recomaundeth  lowly  to  your  grace, 

And  sent  to  you  this  lettre  here  by  me  ; 
Avyseth  you  on  it,  whan  ye  han  space, 


And  of  som  goodly  answere  yow  pvirchaoe ; 
Or,  helpe  me  god,  so  pleynly  f<->r  to  seyne. 
He  may  not  louge  liven  for  his  pej-ne.' 

162.  Ful  dredfully  tho  gan   she  stonde 
stiUe, 

And  took  it  nought,  but  al  hir  humble 

chere 
Gan  for  to  chaunge,  and  seyde,  '  scrit  ne 

bille,  11,^0 

For  love   of  god,  that  tovicheth   swich 

matere, 
Ne    bring    me    noon;    and    also,   imcle 

dere. 
To  myn  estat  have  more  reward,  I  preye. 
Than  to  his  lust ;   what  sholde  I  more 

seye? 

163.  And  loketh  now   if  this  be  reson- 
able,  1 1 35 

And  letteth  nought,    for  favour  ne  for 

slouthe. 
To  seyn  a  sooth  ;  now  were  it  covenable 
To  myn  estat,  by  god,  and  by  your  trouthe, 
To  taken  it,  or  to  han  of  him  routhe. 
In  harming  <^f  my-self  or  in  rcpreve  ?    1 140 
Ber  it  a-yein,  for  him  that  ye  on  leve  !  ' 

16i.  This  Pandarus  gan   on   hir   for  to 

stare. 
And  seyde,    '  now    is   this    tho    g^retteat 

wonder 
That  ever  I  sey  !  lat  be  this  nyce  fare  ! 
To  deethc  mote  T  smiten  be  with  thonder. 
If,   lor  the  citee  which    that    stondetli 

yonder,  114O 

Wolde  I  a  lettre  un-to  yow  bringe  or  take 
To  harm  of  yow ;  what  list  yow  thus  it 

make  ? 

165.  Biit  thus  ye  faren,  wel  neigh  alle  and 
some,  1 149 

That  he  that  most  desireth  yow  to  serve. 
Of  him  ye  rccche  leest  wher  he  bicome, 
And  whether  that  he  live  or  elles  sterve. 
Btit  for  al  that  that  ever  I  may  deserve, 
Refuse  it  nought,'  quod  he,  and  hente  hir 

faste, 
And   in   hir  bosom  the  lettre  doun  he 
thraste,  11.S5 


238 


^rotfu5  ani  Crteepie. 


[Book  II. 


166.  And  seyde  hir,   '  n.w  cast  it  away 
anoon, 

Tliat   folk   niiiy  seen  and  gauren  on  us 

tweye. ' 
Quod  she,  '  I  can  abyde  til  they  be  goon,' 
And  gan  to  smyle.  and  seyde  him,  '  eem, 

I  preye. 
Swich  auswere  as  vow  list  your-self  pur- 

veye,  ii6o 

For  trewely  I  nil  no  lettre  wryte.' 
'  No  ?  than  wol  I,'  quod  he, '  so  ye  endyte.' 

167.  Thei-with  she  lough,  and  seyde,  '  go 
we  d>-ne.' 

And  he  gan  at  him-self  to  jape  faste,  1 164 
And  seyde,  '  nece,  I  have  so  greet  a  pyae 
For  love,  that  every  other  day  I  taste' — 
And  gan  his  beste  japes  forth  to  caste  ; 
And  made  hir  so  to  laughe  at  his  folye. 
That  she  for  laughter  wende  for  to  dye. 

168.  And  whan  that  she  was  comen  in-to 
halle,  1 1 70 

'  Now,  eem,'  qu<^  she,  '  we  wol  go  dyne 

an<K)n  ; ' 
And  gan  some  of  hir  women  to  hir  c&lle. 
And  streyght  in-to  hir  chaumbre  gan  she 

goon  ; 
But  of  hir  besinesses,  this  was  oon 
A-moi)ges  othere  thinges,  out  of  drede, 
Ful  prively  this  let-tre  for  to  rede  ;       1 176 

169.  Avj'sed  word  by  word  in  every  lyne, 
And  fond  no  lak,  she  thoughte  he  coude 

good  ; 
And  up  it  iiutte.  and  went  hir  in  to  dyne. 
And  Panilarus.  that  in  a  study  stood,   i  i.So 
Er  he   was   war,   she   took   him   by  the 

hood, 
And  seyde,  'ye  were   caught  er  that  ye 

wiste  ; ' 
'I  vouche  sauf, 'quod  he,  'do  what  yow 

liste.' 

170.  Tlio  wesshen  they,  and  sette  hem 
doun  and  ete  ; 

And  after  noon  ful  sleyly  Pandarus    1185 
Gan  drawe  him  to  the  window  next  the 

St  ret  e. 
And  seyde,  '  nece,  who  hath  arayed  thus 
The  vonder  hous,  that  stant  afor-yeyn  us? ' 


'  Wliich  hous  ? '  quod  she,  and  gan  for  to 

biholde. 
And  knew  it  wel,  and  whos  it  was  him 

tolde,  1 190 

171.  And  fiUen  forth  in  speche  of  thinges 
smale, 

And  seten  in  the  window  bothe  tweye. 
Whan  Pandarus  saw  tyme  un-to  his  tale, 
And  saw  wel  that  hir  folk  were    alle 

aweye, 
'  Now,  nece  myn,   tel  on,'   quod  he,  '  I 

seye,  11 05 

How  lyketh  yow  the  lettre  that  ye  woot  ? 
Can  he  ther-on  ?   for,  by  my  trouthe,   I 

noot.' 

172.  Therwith  al  rosy  hewed  tho  wex  she. 
And  gan  to  humme,  and   seyde,   'so  I 

trowe.' 
'  Aquyte  him  wel,  for  goddea  love,'  quod 

he ;  1200 

'  My-self  to  medes  wol  the  lettre  sowe,' 
And   held   his   hondes   up,  and   sat  on 

knowe, 
'  Now,  goode  nece,  be  it  never  so  lyte, 
Yif  me  the  labour,  it  to  sowe  antl  plj-te.' 

I'H.  'Ye,  for  I  can  so  wr\-te,"  (juod  she 
tho  ;  1J05 

'  And  eek  I  noot  wliat  I  sholde  to  him 
seye.' 

'  Nay,  nece,'  quod  Pandare,  '  sey  not  so ; 

Yet  at  tlie  leste  thanketh  him,  I  preye. 

Of  his  good  wil,  and  doth  him  not  to  deye. 

Now  for  the  love  of  me,  my  nece  dere,   1210 

Eefuseth  not  at  this  tyme  my  preyere.' 

174.  '  Depar-dieux,'  quod  she,  '  god  leve  al 
be  wel ! 

God  helpe  me  so,  this  is  the  firste  lettre 
Tliat  ever  I  wroot,  ye,  al  or  any  del.' 
And  in-to  a  cli>set,  for  to  a^•yse  hir  bettre. 
She  wente  allone,  and  gan  hir  herte  un- 
fettre  1216 

Out  of  disdaynes  prison  but  a  lyte ; 
And  sette  hirdonn,andgan  a  lettre  wiyte, 

175.  Of  which  to  telle  in  short  is  myn 
entente  1219 

Th'effect,  ivs  fer  as  I  can  understonde : — 
."^lie  thonked  him  of  al  that  he  wel  mente 


Book  11.] 


V^voiiuff  dn^  Cneepie. 


239 


Tdwardes  hir,  Imt  lioltlen  liim  in  lionde 
She  uolcle   nought,  ue  make  hir-selven 

honde 
Tn  love,  but  as  his  suster,  him  to  plese, 
She  wolde  fayn,  to  doon  his  herte  an  ese. 

176.  She  shette  it,  and  to  Pandarus  gan 
goon,  1226 

Tliere  as  he  sat  and  loked  in-to  strete. 
And  doun  she  sette  hir  by  him  on  a  stoon 
Of  jaspre,  vip-on  a  qiiisshin  gold  y-bete, 
And  seyde,  'as  wisly  helpe  nie  god  tlie 

gre'te,  "30 

I  never  dide  a  thing  with  more  peyne 
Than  wryte  this,  to  which  ye  me  con- 

streyne ; ' 

177.  And  took  it  him  :   he  thonked  hir 
and  seyde, 

'God  woot,  of  thing  ful  ofte  looth  bigonne 
Cometh  ende  good;  and  nece  myn,  Cri- 

seyde,  123S 

That  ye  to  him  of  hard  now  ben  y-wonne 
Oughte  he  be  glad,  by  god  and  yonder 

Sonne ! 
For-why    men    sej'th,    "  impressioun[e]s 

lighte 
Ful  lightly  been  ay  redy  to  the  flighte." 

178.  But  ye  han  pleyed  tyraunt  ueigh  to 
hmge,  •■'4" 

And  hard  was  it  your  herte  for  to  grave  ; 
N.)W  stint,  that  ye  no  hmger  on  it  honge, 
Al  wolde  ye  the  forme  of  daunger  save. 
But  hasteth  yow  to  doon  him  joye  have  ; 
For  trusteth  wel,  to  longe  y-doon  hard- 
nesse  1245 

Causeth  despj-t  ful  often,  for  distresse.' 

179.  And   right   as   they    declamed   this 
matere, 

Lo,  Troilus,  right  at  the  stretes  ende, 
Com  ryding  with  his  tenthe  some  y-fere, 
Al  softely,  and  thiderward  gan  bende  1250 
Ther-as  they  sete,  as  was  his  wey  to  wende 
To  paleys-ward  ;  audPandarehim  aspyde. 
And  seyde,  '  nece,  y-see  who  cometh  here 
ryde  ! 

ISO.  O  flee  not  in,  he  seeth  us,  I  siippose  ; 
Lest  he  may  thinke  that  ye  him  eschuwe.' 


'  Nay,  nay,'  quod  she,  and  wex  as  reed  as 

rose.  1-56 

With  that  he  g^n  liir  humbly  to  saluwe. 

With  dreedful  chere,  and  ofte  his  hewes 

muwe  ; 
And  up  his  look  debonairly  he  caste, 
And  bekked  on  Pandare,  and  forth  he 
paste.  1260 

181.  God  woot  if  he  sat  on  hishorsa-right. 
Or  goodly  was  beseyn,  that  ilke  day  ! 
God    woot   wher    he  was  lyk  a  manly 

knight  ! 
What  sholde  I  drecche,    or  telle  of  his 

aray? 
Criseyde,  which  that  alle  these  thinges 

say,  1265 

To  telle  in  short,  hir  lyked  al  y-fere. 
His  persone,  his  aray,  his  look,  his  chere, 

182.  His  goodly  manere  and  his  gentil- 
lesse. 

So  wel,  that  never,  sith  that  she  was  born, 
Ne  hadde  she  swich  routhe  of  hia  dis- 
tresse ;  1270 
And  how-so  she  hath  hard  ben  her-biforn, 
To  god  hope  I,  she  hath  now  caught  a 

thorn, 
She  shal  not  pulle  it  out  this  nexte  wyke ; 
God  sende  mo  swich  thornes  on  to  pyke  ! 

183.  Pandare,  which  that  stood  hir  faste 
by,  1275 

Felte  iren  hoot,  and  he  bigan  to  smyte, 
And  seyde,  '  nece,  I  pray  yow  hertely, 
Tel  me  that  I  shal  axen  yow  a  lyte. 
A  wommau,  that  were  of  his  deeth  to 

\vyte, 
With-outen  his  gilt,   but  for  hir  lakked 

routhe,  12S0 

Were  it  wel  doon  ?  '     Quod  she,  '  nay,  by 

my  trouthe  ! ' 

184.  '  God  helpe  me  so,'  quod  he,  '  ye  sey 
me  sooth. 

Ye  felen  wel  your-self  that  I  not  lye  ; 
Lo,  yond  he  rit ! '     Quod  she,  '  ye,  so  he 

dooth.' 
'  Wel,'  quod  Pandare,  '  as  I  have  told  yow 

thrye,  '^5 

Lat  be  your  nyce  shame  and  your  folye, 
And  spek  with  him  in  esing  of  his  herte  ; 
Lat  nycetee  not  do  yow  bothe  smerte.' 


240 


^trotfue  anl  ttteepbe. 


[Book  II. 


185.  But  ther-on  was  to  heven   ami    to 
done ; 

Considered  al  thing,  it  may  not  be  ;    1290 
And  why,  for  shame  ;  and  it  were  eek  to 

sone 
To  grannten  him  so  greet  a  libertee. 
'  For  playnlj'  hir  entente,'  as  seyde  she, 
Was  tor  to  love  him  nnwist,  if  she  mighte. 
And  guerdon  him  with  no-thing  but  with 

sighte.'  1295 

186.  But  Pandanis  thonghte,  '  it  shal  not 
be  so. 

If  that  I  may  ;  this  nycc  opinioun 
Shal  not  be  holden  fully  yeres  two.' 
What  sholde  I  make  of  this  a  long  ser- 

moun? 
He  moste  assente  on  that  concltisioun  1300 
As  for  the  tyme ;  and  whan  that  it  was  eve, 
And  al  was  wel,  he  roos  and  took  his  leve. 

187.  And  on  his  wey  ful  faste  homward  he 
spodde. 

And   right   for  joye   he   felte  his  herte 

daunce ; 
And  Troilus  he  fond  alone  a-bedde,  1305 
That   lay   as   dooth    these  loveres,   in  a 

traunce, 
Bitwixen  hope  and  derk  desesperaunce. 
But  Pandaras,  right  at  his  in-cominge. 
He   song,   as  who  seyth,   '  lo !    sumwhat 

I  bringe.' 


who 


in  his  bed  so 


1310 
It  am  I,  freend,'  quod 


188.  And  seyde, 
sone 

Y-buried  thus  ? ' 

he. 
'Who,   Troilus?    nay  helpe  me   so    the 

mone,' 
Quod  Pandarus,  '  thou  shalt  aryse  and  see 
A  charme  tliat  was  sent  right  now  t<}  thee, 
The  which  can   hclon   thee   of  thyn  ac- 

cesse,  1315 

If  thou  do  forth-with  al  thy  besinesse.' 

189.  'Ye.    through    the   might   of  god!' 
quod  Troilus. 

And  Pandarus  gan  him  the  lettre  take, 
And  seyde,  '  pardee,  god  hath  holpen  us  ; 
Have  here  a  light,  and  loke  on  al  this 
1320 


blake.' 


But  ofte  gan  the  herte  glade  and  quake 


Of  Troilus,  whyl  that  he  gan  it  rede, 

So  as  the  wordes  yave  him  hope  or  drede. 

190.  But  fS'nally,  he  took  al  for  the  beste 
That  she  him  wroot,  for  sumwhat  he  bi- 

held  1325 

On  which,  him  thoughte,  he  mighte  his 

herte  reste, 
Al  covered  she  the  wordes  under  sheld. 
Tims  to  the  more  worthy  part  he  held, 
That,  what  for  hope  and   Pandarus  bi- 

heste. 
His  grete  wo  for-yede  he  at  the  leste.   1330 

191.  But  as  we  may  alday  our-selven  see, 
Through  more  wode  or  col,  the  more  fj-r; 
Kight  so  encrees  of  hope,  of  what  it  be, 
Therwith  ful  ofte  encreseth  eek  desyr; 
Or,  as  an  00k  cometh  of  a  litel  spyr,      1335 
So  through   this  lettre,  which  that  she 

him  sente, 
Encresen  gan  desyr,  of  wljieh  he  brente. 

,192.  Wherfore  I  seye  alwey,  that  day  and 

night 
This  Troilus  gan  to  desiren  more 
Than  he  dide  erst,  thurgh  hope,  and  dide 

his  might  1340 

To  pressen  on,  as  by  Pandarus  lore, 
,\nd  wryten  to  hir  of  his  sorwes  sore 
Fro  day  to  day  ;  he  leet  it  not  refreyde, 
That  by  Pandare  he  wroot  somwhat  or 

seyde ; 

193.  And    dide  also    his    othere    oljser- 
vaunces  1345 

That  to  a  lovere  longeth  in  this  cas  ; 
And,  after  that  these  dees  tumede  on 

chaunces. 
So  was  he  outher  glad  or  seyde  '  alias  ! ' 
And  held  after  his  gestes  ay  his  pas  ; 
And  aftir  swiche  answeres  as  he  hadde. 
So  were  his  dayes  sory  oiither  gladde.    135 1 

194.  But  to  Pandare  alwey  was  his  recou  rs, 
And  pitously  gan  ay  til  him  to  plejTie, 
And    liim    bisoughte   of    rede    and    som 

socours ; 
And  Pandarus,  that  sey  his  wode  peyne, 
Wex  wel  neigh  deed  for  rotithe,  sooth  to 

seyne,  1356 


Ztoiim  mt  ^viet^lt. 


241 


And  bisily  with  al  his  lierte  caste 

Som  of  his  wo  to  sleeu,  and  that  as  faste  ; 

195.  And  seyde,  'lord,  and  freend,  and 
brother  dere, 

God  woot  that  thy  disese  doth  me  wo.  i,^(x) 
But  woltow  stinten  al  this  wofol  chere, 
And,  by  my  troutlie,  or  it  be  dayes  two, 
And  god  to-forn,  yet  shal  I  shape  it  so, 
That  thou  shalt  come  in-to    a   cei-tayn 

place, 
Ther-as  thon  mayst  thy-self  hir  preye  of 

grace.  1365 

196.  And  certainly,  I  noot  if  thou  it  wost. 
But  tho  that  been  expert  in  love  it  seye, 
It  is  oon  of  the  thinges  that  furthereth 

most, 
A  man  to  have  a  leyser  for  to  preye. 
And  siker  place  his  wo  for  to  biwreye ;  1370 
For  in   good  herte  it  moot  som  routhe 

impresse. 
To  here  and  see  the  giltles  in  distresse. 

197.  Paraunter  thenkestow :    though   it 
be  so 

That  kinde  wolde  doon  hir  to  biginne 
To  ban  a  maner  routhe  up-on  my  wo,    1375 
Sej^th    Daunger,    "Nay,    thou    shalt   me 

never  winne ; 
So  reuleth  hir  hir  hertes  goost  with-inne. 
That,  though  she  bende,  yet  she  stant  on 

rote ; 
What  in  effect  is  this  un-to  my  bote  '?" 

198.  Tlienk  here-ayeins,  whan  that  the 
sturdy  ook,  1380 

On  which   men  hakketh    olte,    for   the 

nones, 
Receyved  hath  the  happy  falling  strook. 
The  grete  sweigh  doth  it  come  al  at  ones, 
As  doon  these  rokkes  or  these  mihie-stones. 
For  swifter  coiirs  cometh  thing  that  is  of 

wighte,  1385 

Whan  it  descendeth,  than  don  thinges 

lighte. 

199.  And  reed  that  boweth  doiin  for  evei-y 
blast, 

Ful  lightl.^-,  cesse  wind,  it  wol  aryse  ; 
But  so  nil  not  an  ook  whan  it  is  cast ; 
It  nedeth  me  nought  thee  longe  to  forbyse. 


Men  shal  rejoysen  of  a  greet  empryse  1391 
Acheved  wel,  and  stant  with-outeu  doute, 
Al  ban  men  been  the  lenger  ther-aboute. 

200.  But,  Troilus,  yet  tel  me,  if  thee  lest, 
A  thing  now  which  that  I  shal   axen 

thee ;  139S 

Which   is  thy  brother  that  thou  lovest 

best 
As  in  thy  verray  hertes  privetee  ?  ' 
'  Y-wis,  my  brother  Deiphebus,'  quod  he. 
'Now,'  quod  Pandare,  '  er  houres  twyes 

twelve. 
He  shal  thee  ese,  unwist  of  it  him-selve. 

201.  Now  lat  me  allone,  and  werken  as 
I  may,'  1401 

Quod  he ;  and  to  Deiphebus  wente  he  tho 
Which  hadde  his  lord  and  grete  freend 

ben  ay ; 
Save  Troilus,  no  man  he  lovede  so. 
To  telle  in  short,  with-outen  wordes  mo, 
Quod  Pandarus,  '  I  pray  yow  that  ye  be 
Freend  to  a  cause  which  that  toucheth 

me.'  1407 

202.  'Yis,  pardee,'  quod  Deiphebus,  'wel 
thow  wost, 

In  al  that  ever  I  may,  and  god  to-fore, 
Al  nere  it  but  for  man  I  love  most,        1410 
My  brother  Troilus ;  but  sey  wherfore 
It  is ;  for  sith  that  day  that  I  was  bore, 
I  nas,  ne  never-mo  to  been  I  thinke, 
Ayeius  a  thing  that  mighte   thee  for- 
thinke. ' 

203.  Pandare  gan   him   thonke,   and   to 
him  seyde,  14  r  5 

'Lo,  sire,  I  have  a  lady  in  this  toun, 
That  is  my  nece,  and  called  is  Criseyde, 
Which  som  men  woldendoonoppressioun. 
And  wrongfully  have  hir  possessioun  : 
Wherfor  I  of  your  lordship  yow  biseche 
To    been    our    freend,    with-oi\te    more 
speche.'  i4-!i 

204.  Deiphebus  him  answerde,  '  O,  is  not 
this, 

That     thow    spekest     of     to     me     thus 

straungely, 
Criseyda,  my  freend  ?'    He  seyde,  '  Yis.' 
'Than  nedeth,'  quod  Deiphebus  hardely, 


242 


V^voitua  anb  Crteepie. 


[Book  II. 


Na-more  to  speke,  for  trusteth  wel,  that  I 
Wol  be  liir  champioun  with  spore  and 

yenle;  1427 

I  roughte  nought  though  alle  hir  foos  it 

herde 

205.  But  tel  me,  thou  that  woost  al  this 
matere, 

How  I  might  best  avaylen  ?  now  lat  see.' 
Quod  Pandarus,  '  if  .ve,  my  lord  so  dere, 
AVolden  as  now  don  this  honour  to  me, 
To  prayen  hir  to-morwe.  lo,  that  she 
Com  «n-to  yow  hir  jiloyntos  to  de\'yse, 
Hir  adversaries  wolde  of  hit  agr\-se.     1435 

206.  And  if  I  more  dorste  pre.ye  as  now, 
Anil  chargen  yow  to  liave  so  greet  tra- 

vayle, 
To  han  som  of  your  bretheren  here  with 

yow, 
That  mighteii  to  }iir  cause  bet  avayle. 
Than,  woot  I  wel,  she  mighte  ne\-er  fayle 
For  to  be  holi)en,  what  at  your  instaunce, 
AMiat  with  hir  othere  freendes  govern- 

aunce.'  1442 

207.  Deiphebus,  which   that  comen  was, 
of  kinde, 

To  al  honour  and  bountee  to  consente, 
Answerde,  '  it  shal  be  doon  ;  and  I  can 

finde  1445 

Wt  gretter  help  to  this  in  myn  entente. 
^Vl^at  wolt  thow  seyn,  if  I   for  Eleyne 

sento 
To  speke  of  tliis?  I  trow  it  be  the  beste  ; 
For  she  may  leden  Paris  as  hir  leste. 

2n8.  Of  Ector,  which  that  is  my  lord,  my 

brother,  '45'> 

It  nedcth  nought  to  preye  him  freend 

to  be ; 
For  I  have  herd  him,  otyme  and eek other, 
Speke  of  Criseyde  swich  honour,  that  he 
May  seyn  no  bet,  swich  hap  to  him  hath 

she. 
It    nedeth     nought    his    helpes    for    to 

crave:  1455 

He  shal  be  swich,  riglit  as  we  wole  liim 

have. 

2(>9.  Spek  thou  thy-self  also  to  Troilus 
On  my  bihalve,  and  pray  him  with  us 
dvne.' 


1   '  Sire,   al  this  shal  be  doou,'  quod  Pan- 
I  dams ; 

I  And  took  his  leve,   and   never  gan    to 

f>-ne,  146" 

j  But  to  his  neces  hous,  as  streght  as  lyne, 

He  com ;  and  fond  hir  fro  the  mete  aryse  ; 

And  sette  him  doun,  and  spiik   right  in 

this  wyse. 

210.  He  seyde,    '0   vo>ray   god,   so   have 
I ronne ! 

Lo,  nece  myn,  see  ye  nought  how  I  swete? 
I  noot  whether  ye  the  more  thank  me 

conne.  1466 

Be  ye  nought  war  how  that  fals  Poliphete 
Is  now  aboute  eft-sones  for  to  plete, 
And  bringe  on  ymv  advocacyes  newe  ?  ' 
'I?  no,' quod  she,  and  chaunged  al  hir 

hewe.  '470 

211.  'A\ljat    is   he    more   aboute,    me   to 
drecche 

And  doon   me  wrong?    what  shal   I  do, 

alias  ? 
Yet  of  him-self  no-thing  ne  woldelrecche, 
Nere  it  for  Antenor  and  Eneas, 
That  been  his  freendes  in  swich  maner 

cas ;  1475 

But,  for  the  love  of  god,  myn  uncle  dere, 
No  fors  of  that,  lat  him  have  al  y-fere  ; 

212    With-outen  that,  I  have  ynough  for 

us.' 
'  Nay,'  quod   Pandare,   '  it  shal   no-thing 

be  so  1479 

For  I  have  been  right  now  at  Deiphebus, 
And  Ector,  and  m.vne  othere  lordes  mo, 
And  shortly  maked  eche  of  hem  his  fo  ; 
That,  by  my  thrift,  he  shal  it  never  winne 
For  ought  he  can,  whan  that  so  he  bi- 

ginne.' 

213.  And  as  they  casten  what  was  best  to 
done,  '485 

Deiphebus,  of  his  owene  curtasye. 
Com  hir  to  preye,  in  his  propre  persone, 
To  holde  him  on  the  morwe  companye 
At  diner,  which  she  nolde  not  denye, 
But  goodly  gan  to  his  preyere  obeye.  1490 
He  thonked   hir,  and  wente   up-on  his 
weye. 


^rotfue  anb  Cttee^be. 


243 


214.  Whanne  this  was  cloon,  tliis  Pandare 
lip  a-nooii, 

To  telle  ill   short,  and  forth   gan  fur  to 

weiide 
To  Troilus,  as  stille  as  aiij-  stof>n, 
And  al  this  thing  he  tolde  him,  word  and 

ende  ;  14.95 

And  how  that  he  Deiphebiis  gan  to  blende  ; 
Antl  seyde  him,  'now  is  tyme,  if  that  thou 

conne, 
Tt>  bare    thee    wel    to-morwe,   and  al   is 

wonne. 

215.  Now  spek,  now  prey,  now  pitonsly 
compleyne  : 

Lilt  not  for  nyce  shame,  or  drede,  or 
slouthe ;  i^oo 

Som-tyme  a  man  mot  telle  his  owene 
peyne ; 

Bileve  it,  and  she  shal  han  on  thee  routlie ; 

Tlion  shalt  be  saved  hy  thy  feytli,  in 
trouthe. 

But  wel  wot  I,  thou  art  now  in  a  drede  ; 

And  what  it  is,  I  leye,  I  can  arede.       1505 

216.  Thow  thinkest  now,  "  how  sholde 
I  doon  al  this? 

For  by  my  cheres  mosten  folk  aspye. 
That  for  hir  love  is  that  I  fare  a-mis; 
Yet  hadde  I  lever  iinwist  for  sorwe  dye." 
Now  thenk  not   so,  for  thou  dost  greet 
f<dye.  1510 

For  right  now  have  I  foundeu  o  manere 
Of  sleighte,  for  to  coveren  al  thy  chere. 

217.  Thow  shalt  gon  over  night,  and  that 
as  blyve, 

Un-to  Deiphebus  lious,  as  thee  to  pleye, 
Thy  maladye  a-wey  the  bet  to  dry  ve,  15 15 
For-why  thou  semest  syk,  soth  for  to  seye. 
Sone  after  that,  doun  in  thy  bed  thee  leye. 
And  sey,  thow  mayst  no  lenger  up  endure, 
And  lye  right  there,  and  byde  thyn  aven- 
ture. 

218.  Sey  that  thj-  fever  is  wont  thee  for 
to  take  1520 

The  same  tyme,  and  lasten  til  a-morwe ; 
And  lat    see   now  how  wel   thou    canst 

it  make, 
For,  par-dee,  syk  is  he  that  is  in  sorwe. 


Go    now,   farewell    and,   Venus   here   to 

borwe,  ^?'A- 

I  hope,  and  thou  thispurpos  holde  ferme, 

Thy  grace  she  shal  fully  ther  conferme.' 

219.  Quod  Troilus,  '  y-wis,  thou  nedelees 
Counseylest  me,  that  sykliche  I  me  feyne  ! 
For  I  am  syk  in  ernest,  doutelees, 

So  that  wel  neigh  I  sterve  for  the  peyne.' 
Quod   Pandarus,   'thou  shalt  the  bettre 

pleyne,  i53' 

And  hast  the  lasse  nede  to  countrefete ; 
For  him  men  demen  hoot  that  men  seen 

swete. 

220.  Lo,  holde  thee  at  thy  triste  cloos, 
and  I 

Shal  wel  the  deer  un-to  thy  bowe  dryve.' 
Therwith  he  took  his  leve  al  softely,     1536 
And  Troilus  to  pale.vs  wente  blj^-e. 
So  glad  lie  was  he  never  in  al  his  lyve  ; 
And  to  Pandarus  reed  gan  al  assente, 
And  to   Deiphebus    hous    at    night    he 
wente.  i?.iu 

221.  What  iiedeth  yow  to  telleii  al  the 
chere 

That  Deiphebus  un-to  his  brother  made, 
Or  his  accesse,  or  his  syklich  manere, 
How  men  gan  him  with  clothes  for  to 

lade, 
Wlian  he  was  leyd,  and  how  men  wolde 

him  glade  ?  1545 

But  al  for  nought,  he  held  forth  ay  the 

wyse 
That  ye  han  herd  Pandare  er  this  devyse. 

222.  But  certeyn  is,  er  Troilus  him  leyde, 
Deiphebus  had  him  prayed,  over  night. 
To  been  a  freend  and  helping  to  Criseyde. 
God  woot,  that   he   it   grauntede  anon- 
right,  1551 

To  been  hir  fulle  freend  with  al  his  might. 
But   swich   a   nede    was    to    preye   him 

tlienne. 
As  for  to  bidde  a  wood  man  for  to  renne. 

223.  The  morwen  com,  and  neighen  gan 
the  tyme  i.=;55 

Of  meel-tyd,  that  the  faire  queue  Eleyne 
Slioop   hir   to  been,    an  houre  after  the 
pryme. 


244 


^totfu0  anb  Cvitit^H. 


[Book  II. 


AA'ith   Deiphebus,    to   whom   she    nokle 

leyne  ; 
But  as  his  suster,  hoomly,  sooth  to  seyne, 
She  com  to  tliner  in hirplayn  entente.  1560 
But  god  and  Pandare  wiste  al  what  this 

mente. 

221.  Come  eck  Crispyde,  al  innocent  of 

this, 
Antigone,  hir  sister  Tarbe  also  ; 
But  flee  we  now  prolixitee  best  is, 
For  love  of  god,  and  lat  us  faste  go      1565 
Right  to  the  otfcct,  with-oute  tales  mo, 
AVhy  al  this  folk  as.soinMcd  in  this  place  ; 
And  lat  us  of  hir  saluiuges  pace. 

225.  Gret  honour  didc  hem  Deiphebus, 
ccrteyn, 

.\nd  fedde  hem  wel  with  al  that  mighte 
lyke.  1570 

But  ever-more,  '  alias  ! '  was  his  refreyn, 
'  My  goode  brother  Troilus,  the  syke, 
Lyth  yet' — and   therwith-al  he  gan  to 

syke; 
And  after  that,  he  pej-ned  him  to  glade 
Hem  as  he  mighte,  and  chere  good  he 
made.  1575 

226.  Complej-ncd  eek  Eleyne  of  his  syk- 
nosse 

So  feithfuUy,  that  pitee  was  to  here. 
And  every  wight  gan  waxen  for  accesse 
A  leche  anoon,  and  seyde,  '  in  this  manere 
Men  curen  folk  ;  this  charme  I  wol  yow 

lere.'  1580 

But  there  sat  oon,  al  list  hir  nought  to 

teche. 
That  thoughte,  best  coude  I  yet  been  his 

leche. 

227.  After  compleynt,  him  gonnen  they 
to  preyse. 

As  folk  don  yet,  whan  som  wght  hath 

bigonne 
To  jireyse  a  man,  and  ixy)  with  prys  him 

reyse  15^.^ 

A  thousand  fold  j-ct  hyer  than  the  sonne : — 
'He  is,  he  can,  that  fewe  lordes  conne.' 
And  Pandarus,  of  that  they  wolde  afferme, 
He  not  for-gat  hir  preysing  to  conferme. 


228.  Herde  al  this  thing    Criseyde  wel 
y-nough,  1590 

And  every  word  gan  for  to  notifye  ; 

For  which  with   sobre   chere  hir  herte 

lough ; 
For  who  is  that  ne  wolde  hir  glorifye, 
To  m.owen  swich  a  knight  dou  live  or 

dye  2- 
But  al  passe  I,  lest  ye  to  longe  dwelle ;  1595 
For  for  o  fjni  is  al  that  ever  I  telle. 

229.  The  tj-me  com,  fro  diner  for  to  ryse, 
And,  as  hem  oughte,  arisen  everychoon, 
And  gonne  a  whyl  of  this  and  that  devyse. 
But  Pandarus  brak  al  this  sjieche  anoon, 
And  seyde  to  Deiphebus,  '  wolo  ye  goon. 
If  yoiire  wille  be,  as  I  yow  preyde,  i(xu 
To  speke  here  of  the  nodes  of  Criseyde  ? ' 

230.  Eleyne,  which  that  by  the  bond  hir 
held, 

Took  first  the  tale,  and  seyde,   'go   we 
blj-ve;'  i6i)S 

And  goodly  on  Criseyde  she  biheld, 
And  seyde,  '  Joves  lat  him  never  thryve, 
That  dooth  yow  harm,  and  bringe  him 

sone  of  lyve  ! 
And  yeve  me  sorwe,  but  he  shal  it  rewe. 
If  that  I  may,  and  alle  follt  be  trewe.'  1610 

231.  '  Tel  thou  thy  neces  cas,'  quod  Dei- 
phebus 

To   Pandarus,    '  for  thou  canst    best    it 

telle.' - 
'  My  lordes  and  my  ladyes,  it  stant  thus  ; 
■\Vhat  sholde  I  lenger,'  quod  he,  '  do  yow 

dwelle  ? ' 
He  ronghem  out  aproces  lyk  a  belle,    1615 
I'p-on  hir  fo,  that  highte  Poliphete, 
So  heynous,  that  men  mighte  on  it  spete. 

232.  Answerde  of  this  ech  worse  of  hem 
than  other, 

And     Poliphete    they    gonnen    thus    to 

warien, 
'An-honged  be  swich  oon,  were  he  my 

brother ;  1620 

And  so  he  shal,  for  it  ne  may  not  varien.' 
What  sholde  I  lenger  in  this  tale  tarien  ? 
Pleynly,  alle  at  ones,  they  hir  highten, 
To  been  hir  helpe  in  al  that  ever  thoy 

mighten. 


^rotfue  <m^  Cviu^U. 


245 


233.  Spak  than  Eleyiie,  and  seyile,  '  Pan- 
darns,  1625 

Woot  onght  my  lord,   my  brother,   this 

matere, 
I  mene,  Ector  ?  or  woot  it  Troilus  ? ' 
He  seyde,  '  ye,  but  wole  ye  now  me  here  ? 
Me  thinketh  this,  sith  Troihis  is  here. 
It  were  good,  if  that  ye  wolde  assente,  1630 
She  toldehir-self  himal  this,  er  she  wente. 

234.  For  he  wole  have  the  more  hir  grief 
at  herte, 

B.^-  canse,  lo,  that  she  a  lady  is  ; 

And,  by  your    leve,  I  wol  but  right    in 

sterte, 
And    do  yow  wite,  and  that   anoon,   y- 

wis,  1 635 

If  that  he  slepe,  or  wole  ought  here  of 

this.' 
And  in   he  lepte,  and  sejde  him  in  his 

ere, 
'God  have  thy  soule,   y-brought  have  I 

thy  here  ! ' 

235.  To  smylen  of  this  gan  tho  Troilus, 
And  Pandams,  with-oute  rekeninge,   1640 
Out  wente  anoon  t'  Eleyne  and  Deiphebus, 
And  seyde  hem,  'so  there  be  notaryinge, 
Ne  more  pres,  he  wol  v/el  that  ye  bringe 
Criseyda,  my  lady,  that  is  here  ; 

And  as  he  may  enduren,  he  wole  here.   1 6.|  5 

236.  But  wel  ye  woot,   the    chaumbre  is 
but  lyte, 

And  fewe  folk  ma.y  lightly  make  it  warm  ; 
Xow  loketh  ye,  (for  I  wol  have  no  wyte, 
To  bringe  in  prees  that  mighte  doon  him 

harm 
Or  him  disesen,  for  my  bettre  arm),     1650 
"Wher  it  be  bet  she  byde  til  eft-sones  ; 
Now   loketh   ye,    that   knowen  what   to 

doon  is. 

237.  I  sey  for  me,  best  is,  as  I  can  knowe, 
That  no  wight  in  ne  wente  but  ye  tweye, 
But  it  were  I,  for  I  can,  in  a  throwe,  1655 
Eeherce  hir  cas,  unlyk  that  she  can  seye; 
And  after  this,  she  may  him  ones  preye 
To  ben  good  lord,  in  short,  and  take  hir 

leve ; 
This  may  not  muchel  of  his  ese  him  reve. 


238.  And  eek,  for  she  is  straungo,  he  wol 
forbere  i6(x) 

His  ese,  which  that  him  thar  nought  tor 

yow; 
Eek  other  thing,  that   toucheth    not  to 

here, 
He  wol  me  telle,  I  woot  it  wel  right  now. 
That  secret  is,  and  for  the  tonnes  prow.' 
And  they,   that  no-thing  knewe  of  this 

entente,  1665 

With-oute  more,  to  Troilus  in  they  wente. 

239.  Eleyne  in  al  hir  goodlj-  softe  wyse, 
Gan  him  sahiwe,  and  womanly  to  pleye. 
And  sej-de,  '  j-\vis,  ye  moste  alweyes  aryse ! 
Now  fayre  brother,  betli  al  hool,  I  preye  ! ' 
And  gan  hir  arm  right  over  his  sholder 

leye,  1671 

And  him  with  al  hir  wit  to  recomforte  ; 
As  she  best  coude,  she  gan  him  to  dis- 

porte. 

240.  So   after   this    quod   she,   '  we   yow 
biseke, 

My  dere  brother,  Deiphebus,  and  I,  1675 
For  love  of  gfxl,  and  so  doth  Pandare  eke, 
To    been    good   lord    and    freend,    right 

liertely, 
Un-to  Criseyde,  which  that  certeinly 
Eeceyveth  wrong,  as  woot  wel  here  Pan- 
dare, 
That  can  hir  cas  wel  bet  than  I  declare.' 

241.  This  Pandariis  gan  newe  his  tunge 
affyle,  1681 

And  al  hir  cas  reherce,  and  that  anoon  ; 
Whan  it  was  seyd,  sone  after,  in  a  whyle, 
Quod  Troilus,  '  as  sone  as  I  may  goon, 
I  wol  right  fayn  with  al  my  might  ben 

oon,  1685 

Have  god  mj'  trouthe,  hir  cause  to  sustene.' 
'Good  thrift  have  ye,'  quod  Elej-ne  the 

queue. 

242.  Quod  Pandams,  '  and  it  your  wille  be, 
That  she  may  take  hir  leve,  er  that  she 

go?' 
'  Or  elles  god  for-I)ede,'  tho  quod  he,  1690 
'  If  that  she  vouche  sauf  for  to  do  so.' 
And  with  that  word  qviod  Troilus,  'ye  two, 
Deiphebus,  and  my  suster  leef  and  dere, 
To  yow  have  I  to  speke  of  o  matere, 


246 


Crotfue  Anb  Cviet^U. 


[Book  IL 


24:*.  To   been   avysert  l>y  yowr   reed   the 
bettre  ' : —  1695 

And  fond,  as  hap  was,  at  his  heddes  heed, 
The  copie  of  a  tretis  and  a  lettre, 
That  Ector  haddo  him  sent  to  axen  reed. 
If  swich  a  man  was  worthy  to  ben  deed, 
Woot  I  nonght  who  ;  bnt  in  a  grisly  wyse 
He  preyede  hem  anoon  on  it  avyse.     171)1 

244.  Deiphebus  gan  this  lettre  to  nnfolde 
In  emest  greet ;  so  dide  Eleyne  the  quene ; 
And  rominge  oxxtward,  fjist  it  gan  biholde, 
Downward    a    steyre,    in-to    an    herber 

grene.  1705 

This  ilke  thing  they  redden  hem  bi-twene; 
And  largely,  the  mountannce  of  an  houre, 
They  gonne  on  it  to  reden  and  to  poure. 

245.  Now  lat  hem  rede,  and  tume   we 
anoon 

To  Panilarus,  that  gan  ful  faste  prye  1710 
That  al  was  wel,  and  out  he  gan  to  goon 
In-to  the  gret«  chambre,  and  that  in  hye, 
And  seyde,  '  god  save  al  this  compatiye  ! 
Com,  nece  myn  ;  my  la<ly  quene  Ele.vne 
Abydeth  yow,  and  eek  my  lordes  tweyne. 

246.  Rys,  take  with  yow  your  nece  An- 
tigone, 1 716 

Or  whom  yow  list,  or  no  fors,  hardily  ; 
The  lasse  prees,  the  bet ;  com  forth  with 

me, 
And  loke  that  ye  thonke  humblely      1719 
Hem  alle  three,  and,  whan  ye  may  goodly 
Your  t.'STne  y-see,  taketh  of  hem  your  leve, 
Lest  we  to  longe  his  restes  him  bireve.' 

247.  Al  innocent  of  Pandarus  entente, 
Qnod  tho  Criseyde,  '  go  we,  uncle  dere ' ; 
And  arm  in  arm  inward  with  him  she 

wente,  1725 

Avysed  wel  hir  wordes  and  hir  chere  ; 
And  Pandarus,  in  crnestful  manere, 
Seyde.  '  alle  folk,  for  godiles  love,  I  preye, 
Stinteth  right  here,  and  softelyyow  pleye. 


248.  Aviseth    yow   what   folk   ben    here 
with-inne,  i-.;o 

And  in  what  plyt   oon   is,   god   him   a- 

mende  ! 
And  inward  thus  ful  softely  biginne  ; 
Nece,  I  conjure  and  heighly  yow  defende, 
On   his  half,  which  that  sowle  us   alle 

sende, 
And  in  the  vertue  of  corounes  tweyne, 
Slee  nought  this  man,  that  hath  for  yow 

this  peyne  !  1 73^" 

249.  Fy  on  the  devel  !  thenk  which  oon 
he  is, 

And  in  what  plyt  he  lyth  ;  com  of  anoon ; 
Thenk  al  swich  taried  tyd,  but  lost  it  nis! 
That  wol  ye  bothe  seyn,  whan  ye  ben  oon. 
Secoundelich,  ther  yet  devyneth  noon  1741 
Up-on  yow  two;  com  of  ni>w.  if  ye  conne  ; 
Whyl  folk  is  blent,  lo.  al  the  tyme  is 
wonne ! 

250.  In   titering,  and  pursuite,  and  de- 
layes, 

The  folk  devj-ne  at  wagginge  of  a  stree ; 
And  though  ye  wolde  han  after  merye 

dayes,  1746 

Than  dar  ye  nought,  and  why  ?  for  she, 

and  she 
Spak  swich  a  word ;  thus  loked  he,  and  he ; 
Lest  tyme  I  loste,  I  dar  not  with  yow  dele ; 
Comof  therfore,andbringethhimto  hele.' 

251.  But  now  to  yow,  ye  lovers  that  ben 
here,  1751 

Was  Troilus  nought  in  a  caukedort, 
That  lay,  and  mighte  whispringe  of  hem 

here, 
And  thoughte,  'O  lord,  right  now  renneth 

my  sort 
Fully  to  dye,  or  han  anoon  comfort';  1755 
And   was  the  firste  tyme  he  shulde  hir 

preye 
Of  love;  O  mighty  god,  what  shal  he  seye? 

Explicit  Sectmdus  Liber. 


■^tctfue  an^  Cn'eepie. 


247 


BOOK    III. 


Incipit  Prohemium  Tercii  Libri. 

1.  O  BLiSFUL  light,  of  whiche  the  hemes 

clere 
Adorneth  al  the  thridde  hevene  fairc  ! 
O  sonnes  leef,  O  Joves  doughter  dere, 
Plesaunce  of  love,  O  goodly  dehonaire, 
lu  gentil  hertes  ay  redy  to  repaire  !  5 

O  verray  cause  of  hele  and  of  gladnesse, 
Y-heried  be  thy  might  and  thy  goodnesse  ! 

2.  In   hevene   and   helle,   in   erthe   and 

salte  see 
Is  felt  thy  might,  if  that  I  wel  deseerne  ; 
As  man,  brid,  best,  fish,  herbe  and  grene 

tree  10 

Thee  fele  in  tymes  with  vapour  eterne. 
God  loveth,  and  to  lovewol  nought  werne  ; 
And  in  this  world  no  lyves  creature, 
With-outen  love,  is  worth,  or  may  endure. 

3.  Ye  Joves  first  to  thilke  effectes  glade,  15 
Thorugh   which  that  thinges  liven  alle 

and  be, 
Comeveden,  and  amorous  f  him  made 
On  mortal  thing,  and  as  yow  list,  ay  ye 
Yeve  him  in  love-  esc  or  adversitee  ; 
And  in  a  thousand  formes  doim  him  sente 
For  love  in  erthe,  and  whom  yow  liste, 

he  hente.  21 

4.  Ye  fierse  Mars  apeysen  of  his  ire. 
And,  as  yow  list,  ye  maken  hertes  digne  ; 
Algates,  hem  that  ye  wol  sette  a-fyre, 
They  dreden  shame,   and  vices  they  re- 
signs ;  25 

Ye  do  hemcorteys  be,  fresshe  and  benigne. 
And  hye  or  lowe,  after  a  wight  entendeth ; 
The  joyes  that  he  hath,  your  might  him 
sendeth. 

.5.  Ye  holden  regne  and  hous  in  unitee  ; 
Ye  soothfast  cause  of  frendship  been  also  ; 
Ye  knowe  al  thilke  covered  qualitee       31 
Of  thinges.  which  that  folk  on  wondren  so, 


Whan  th  ey  can  not  construe  how  it  may  jo, 
She  loveth  liim,  or  why  he  loveth  here ; 
As  why  this  fish,  and  nought  that,  cometh 
to  were.  35 

6.  Ye  folk  a  lawe  han  set  in  universe. 
And  tliis  knowe  I  by  hem  that  loveres  be. 
That  who-so  stryveth  with  yow  hath  the 

werse : 
Now,  lady  bright,  for  thy  benignitee, 
At  reverence  of  hem  that  serven  thee,     40 
Wlios  clerk  I  am,  so  techeth  me  devyse 
Som  joye  of  that  is  felt  in  thy  servj'se. 

7.  Ye  in  my  naked  herte  sentement 
Inhelde,  and  do  me  shewe  of  thy  swet- 

nesse. — 
Califipe,  thy  vois  be  now  present,  45 

For  now  is  nede ;  sestow  not  my  destresse. 
How  I  mot  telle  anon-right  the  gladnesse 
Of  Troilus,  to  Venus  heryinge '? 
To  which  gladnes,  who  nede  hath,   god 

him  bringe  ! 

Explicit  prohemium  Tercii  Libri. 
Incipit  Liber  Tercius. 

8.  Lat  al  this  mene  whyle  Troilus,         50 
Eecordinge  his  lessoun  in  this  manere, 

'  Ma  fey ! '  thought  he,  '  thus  wole  I  seye 

and  thus ; 
Thus  wole  I  pleyne  un-to  my  lady  dere  ; 
That  word  is  good,  and  this  shaJ  be  my 

chere  ; 
This  nil  I  not  foryeten  in  no  wyse.'         55 
God  leve  him  werken  as  he  gan  devyse. 

9.  And  lord,   so  that  his  herte    gan   to 

quappe, 
Heringe  hir  come,  and  shorte  for  to  syke  ! 
And   Pandariis,   that  ladde   hir  by  the 

lappe. 
Com  neer,  and  gan  in  at  the  curtin  pyke. 
And  seyde,  '  god  do  bote  on  alle  syke !    61 
See,  who  is  here  yow  comen  to  visyte  ; 
Lo,  here  is  she  that  is  your  deeth  to  wj-te.' 


248 


Zvoiiue  cini  Cvm^U. 


[Book  III. 


10.  Ther-with  it  semed  as  he  wepte  al- 
most ; 
'  A  ha,'  quod  Troihis  so  rewfully,  65 

'  Wher  me  bo  wo,  O  mighty  god,   thoii 

WIio  is  al  there  ?  I  see  nought  trewely.' 
'Sire,'iiuod  Criseyde,  'it  is  Pandare  andl.' 
'Ye,  swete  herte?  alias,  I  may  nought  ryse 
To  knele,  and  do  yow  honour  in  som 
wyse.'  70 

11    And  dressede  him  upwanl,  an^l  she 

right  tho 
CSan  bothe  hero  hondes  softo  upon  him 

leyo, 
'  O,  tor  the  love  of  gotl,  do  ye  not  so 
To  me,'  quod  she,   '  ey  !    what  is  this  to 

seyo  ? 
Sire,  come  am.  I  to  yow  for  causes  tweye  ; 
First,  yow  to  thonke,  and  of  your  lord- 

shipe  eke  76 

Continuaunce  I  woldeyow  biseke.' 

12.  Tliis   Troilns,    that    horde    his    lady 
preyo 

Of  lordship   him,    wex   neither  quik  ne 

.leed, 
Ne  mighte  a  word  for  shame  to  it  sej'e,  80 
Al-though  men  sholde  smyten  of  his  heed. 
But  lortl,  so  he  wex  sodeinliche  reed. 
And  sire,  his  lesson,  that  he  wende  conne, 
To  preyen  hir,  is  thurgh  his  wit  y-ronne. 

13.  Criseyde  al  this  aspyede  wel  y-nough, 
For  she  was  wys,  and  lovede  him  never- 

the-lasse,  86 

Al  nere  he  malapert,  or  made  it  tough, 
Or  was  to  bold,  to  singe  a  fool  a  masse. 
But   whan  his   shame  gan   somwhat   to 

passe. 
His  resons,  as  I  may  my  rymes  holde,    90 
I  j"ow  wol  telle,  as  techen  bokes  olde. 

14.  In  chaungeil  vois,  right  for  his  verrey 

drede, 
Wliich  vois  eek  quook,  and   thor-to   his 

manere 
Goodly  abajst,  and  now  his  hewes  rede, 
Now  pale,  vua-to  Criseyde,  his  lady  dere,  95 
With  look  donn  cast  and  humble  yolden 

chere. 


Lo,  th'alderfirste  word  that  him  asterte 
Wa*,  twyes, '  mercy,  mercy,  swete  herte ! ' 

15.  And  stinte  a  whyl,   and   whan  he 
mighte  ont-bringe,  O') 

The  nexte  word  was,  '  god  wot,  for  I  have, 

As  feythfully  as  I  have  had  konninge, 
I  Ben  youres,  also  god  my  sowle  save  ; 

And    shal,    til   that    I,    woful   wight,    be 
grave. 

And   though    I   dar   no    can    un-to   yow 
pleyne, 

Y-wis,  I  snffre  nought  the  lasse  pe.vme.  105 

Itj.  Thus  muclie  as  now,  O  wommanliche 

wyf, 
I  may  out-bringe,  and  if  this  yow  displese, 
I  That  shal  I  wreke  upon  myn  owne  lyf 
Bight  sone,  I  trowe,  and  doon  your  herte 

an  ese,  109 

If  with  my  deeth  your  herte  I  may  apese. 
But  sin  that  ye  han  herd  me  som-wliat 

seye. 
Now  recche  I  never  how  sone  that  I  deye.' 

17   Ther-with  his  manly  sorwe  to  biholde. 
It  mighte  han  maad  an  herte  of  stoon  to 

rewe  ;  114 

And  Pandare  weep  as  he  to  watre  wolde, 
And  poked  ever  his  nece  newe  and  newe. 
And  seyde,  '  wo  bigon  ben  hertes  trewe  ! 
For  love  of  god,  make  of  this  thing  an 

ende, 
Orslee  us  bothe  at  ones,  er  that  ye  wende.' 

IS.    'I  ?  what  V"  quod  she, '  by  god  and  by 
my  trouthe,  120 

I  noot  nought  what  ye  wilne  that  I  seyo.' 

'  I  ?  what  i'  quod  he,  '  that  ye  han  on  him 
routhe, 

Forgoddes  love,  and  doth  liim  nouq^bt  to 
deye.' 

'  Now  thanne  thus,'  quod  she,   '  I  wolde 
i  him  preye 

^  To  telle  me  the  fyn  of  his  entente  ;        125 

Yet  wiste  I  never  wel  what  that  he  mente.' 

19,  '  What  that  I  mene,  O  swete  herte 

dere  ? ' 
Quod  Troilus,  '  O  goodly  fresshe  free  ! 
That,  with  the  stremes  of  yonr  eyen  clere, 
Ye  wolde  som-tjTne  freendly  on  me  see,  130 


Book  III.] 


^totfue  Ml  Cn'eep^e. 


249 


And  thanne  agreen  that  I  may  ben  he, 
With-oute  brannche  of  vyce  in  any  wyse, 
In  trouthe  alwey  to  doon  yow  my  servyse 

20.  As  to  my  lady  right  and  chief  resort, 
With  al  my  wit  and  al  my  diligence,  135 
And  I  to  han,  right  as  yow  list,  comfort, 
Under  your  yerde,  egal  to  myn  offence. 
As  deeth,  if  that  I  breke  your  defence  ; 
And  that  ye  deigne  me  so  muche  honoure, 
Me  to  comaunden  ought  in  any  hoiire.  140 

•21.  And  I  to  been  your  verray  humble 

trewe, 
Secret,  and  in  my  paynes  pacient, 
And  ever-mo  desire  freshly  newe. 
To  serven,  and  been  f  y-lyke  ay  diligent, 
And,   with    good    herte,    al    holly  your 

talent  145 

Receyven  wel,  how  sore  that  me  smerte, 
Lo,  this  mene  I,  myn  owene  swete  herte.' 

22.  Quod   Pandarus,   'lo,   here   an   hard 

request. 
And  resonable,  a  lady  for  to  weme  ! 
Now,  nece  myn,  by  natal  Joves  fest,     150 
Were  I  a  god,  ye  sholde  sterve  as  yerne. 
That  heren  wel,  this  man  wol  no-thing 

yerne 
But  your  honour,  and  seen  him  almost 

sterve, 
And  been  so  looth  to   suffren  him  yow 

serve.' 

23    With  that  she  gan  hir  eyen  on  him 
caste  155 

Ful  esily,  and  ful  debonairly, 
Avysing  hir,  and  hyed  not  to  faste 
With  never  a  word,  bixt  seyde  him  softely, 
'  Myn  honour  sauf,  I  wol  wel  trewely. 
And   iu   swich   forme    as    he    can    now 
dev.vse,  160 

Keceyven  him  fully  to  my  servyse, 

24.  Biseching  him,  for  goddes  love,  that 

he 
Wolde,  in  honour  of  trouthe  and  gentil- 

As  I  wel  mene,  eek  mene  wel  to  me,  164 
And  myn  honour,  with  wit  and  besinesse, 
Ay  kepe  ;  and  if  I  may  don  him  gladnesse, 


From  hennes-forth,  y-wis,  I  nil  not  feyne  : 
Now  beeth  al  hool,  no  lenger  ye  ne  pleyne. 

25.  But  nathelees,  this  warne    I   yow,' 
quod  she, 

'  A  kinges  sone  al-though  ye  be,  y-wis,  170 
Ye  shul  na-more  have  soverainetee 
Of  me  in  love,  than  right  in  that  cas  is  ; 
Ne  I  nil  forbere,  if  that  ye  doon  a-mis. 
To  wrathen  yow  ;  and  whyl  that  ye  me 

serve, 
Cherycen  yow  right  after  ye  deserve.     1 75 

26.  And   shortly,  dere   herte   and  al  my 
knight, 

Beth  glad,  and  draweth  yow  to  lustinesse, 
And  I  shal  trewely,  with  al  my  might, 
Yoiar  bittre  tornen  al  in-to  swetnesse  ;  1 79 
If  I  be  she  that  may  yow  do  gladnesse. 
For  evei-y  wo  ye  shal  reeovere  a  blisse  ' ; 
And   him  in  armes  took,  and  gan  him 

27     Fil  Pandarus  on  knees,  and  up  his 

yen 
To  hevene  threw,  and  held  his  hondes 

hye, 
'  Immortal  god  ! '   quod  he,  '  that  mayst 

nought  dyen,  185 

Cupide  I  mene,  of  this  mayst  glorifye  ; 
And  Venus,  thou  mayst  make  melodye  ; 
With-outen  hond,   me    semeth    that  in 

towne, 
For  this  merveyle,  I  here  ech  belle  sowne. 

28.  But  ho  !   no   more   as   now   of  this 
matere,  19*^ 

For-why  this  folk  wol  comen  vip  anoon, 
That  han  the  lettre  red  :  lo,  I  hem  here. 
But  I  conjtire  thee,  Criseyde,  and  oon, 
And  two,  thou  Troilus,  whan  thow  mayst 

goon, 
That  at  myn  hous  ye  been  at  my  warn- 

iiige,  195 

For  I  fill  wel  shal  shaiie  your  cominge  ; 

29.  And   eseth   ther   your    hertes   right 
y-nough  ; 

And  lat  see  which  of  yow  shal  here  tlie 

belle 
To  speke  of  love  a-right ! '  ther-with  he 

lough. 


250 


^voifue  an^  Cvm^U. 


[Book  III. 


'  For  ther  have  ye  a  layser  for  to  telle.'  2(h) 
Quod  Troilixs,  '  how  longe  shal  I  ilwelle 
Er  this  be  doou  ? '  Quod  he,  '  whan  tlioii 

mayst  ryse, 
This  thing  shal  be  right  as  I  yow  devyse.' 

30.  With  that  Eleyne  and  also  Deiphebus 
The  comen  iipward,  right  at  the  steyres 

ende ;  205 

And  lord,  so  than  gan  grono  Troilus, 
His  brother  and  his  suster  for  to  blende. 
Quod   Pandarus,    '  it    tyme    is    that  we 

wendo ; 
Tak,  nece  myn,  your  leve  at  alle  three. 
And  lat  hem  speke,  and  cometh  forth 

with  me.'  210 

31.  She  took  hir  leve  at  hem  ful  thriftily, 
As  she  wel  coude,  and  they  liir  reverence 
Un-to  the  fuUe  diden  hardely. 

And  speken  wonder  wel,  in  hir  absence. 
Of  hir,  in  prej-sing  of  hir  excellence,     215 
Hir  governaunce,  hir  wit ;  and  hir  man- 

ere 
Commendeden,  it  joye  was  to  here. 

32.  Now  lat  hir  wende  un-to  hir  o\vne 
place, 

And  tome  we  to  Troilus  a-yein,  219 

That  gan  ful  lightly  of  the  lettre  passe 
That  Deiphebus  hadde  in  the  gardin  seyn. 
And  of  Eleyne  and  him  he  wolde  fayn 
Delivered  been,  and  seyde,  that  him  leste 
To  slepe,  and  after  tales  have  reste. 

33.  Eleyne  him  Idste,  and  took  hir  le%'e 
blyve,  225 

Deiphebus  eek,  and  hoom  wente   every 

wight  ; 
And  Pandarus,  as  faste  as  he  may  dryve. 
To  Troilus  tho  com,  as  lyne  right  ; 
And  on  a  paiUet,  al  that  glade  night, 
Bj-  Troilus  he  lay,  with  mery  chere,      230 
To  tale ;    and  wel  was  hem   they  were 

y-fere. 

34.  "UHian   every  wight  was   voided  but 
they  two. 

And  alle  the  dores  were  faste  y-shette. 
To  telle  in  short,  with-oute  wordes  mo. 
This  Pandanis,  with-outen  anj-  lette,  235 
Up  roos,  and  on  his  beddes  syde  him  sette. 


And  gan  to  speken  in  a  sobre  wyse 
To  Troihis,  as  I  shal  yow  de^'J'se. 

35.  '  Myn  alderlevest  lord,  and  brother 
dere, 

God  woot,  and  thou,  that  it  sat  me  so 

sore,  240 

Wlien  I  thee  saw  so  languisshing  to-yere, 

For  love,  of  which  thy  wo  wex   alwey 

more  ; 
That  I,  with  al  my  might  and  al  mj'  lore. 
Hath  ever  sithen  doon  my  bisinesse 
To  bringe  thee  to  joye  out  of  distresse  ; 

36.  And  have  it  brought  to  swich  plyt  as 
thoii  wost,  246 

So  that,  thorugh  me,  thow  stondest  now 

in  weye 
To  fare  wel,  I  seye  it  for  no  host. 
And  wostow  why  ?  for  shame  it  is  to  seye, 
For  thee  have  I  bigonne  a  gamen  pleye 
Which   that  I  never  doon  shal  eft  for 

other,  251 

Al-thoiigh  he  were  a  thousand  fold  my 

brother. 

37.  That  is  to  seye,  for  thee  am  I  bicomen, 
Bitwixen  game  and  ernest,  swich  a  mene 
As  maken  wommen  un-to  men  to  comen  ; 
Al  sey  I  nought,  thou  wost  wel  what  I 

mene.  256 

For  thee  have  I  my  noce,  of  vyces  clene, 
So  fully  maad  thy  gentilesse  triste. 
That  al  shal  been  right  as  thy-selve  liste, 

38.  But  god,  that  al  wot,  take  I  to  wit- 
nesse,  260 

That  never  I  this  for  coveityse  wroughte, 
But  only  ibr  to  abregge  that  distresse. 
For  which  wel  nygh  thou  deydest,  as  me 

thoiighte. 
But  gode  brother,  do  now  as  thee  oughte, 
For   goddes   love,   and   keep   hir  out    of 

blame,  265 

Sin  thou  art  ^vj-s,   and   save   alwey  hir 

name. 

39.  For  wel  thou  wost,  the  name  as  yet 
of  here 

Among  the  peple,  as  who  seyth,  halwed  is ; 
For  that  man  is  unbore,  I  dar  wel  swere, 
That  ever  wiste  that  she  dide  amis.      270 


^toifu0  anb  Crteep^e. 


251 


But  wo  is  me,  that  I,  that  cause  al  this, 
Way  thenkeu  that  she  is  my  nece  dere, 
And  I  hir  eem,  and  traytor  eek  y-fere  ! 

40.  And  were  it  wist  that  I,  through  myn 
engyn, 

Hadde  in  my  nece  y-put  this  fantasye,  275 
To  do  thy  lust,  and  hoolly  to  be  thyn, 
^^liy,  al  the  world  up-on  it  wolde  crye. 
And  seye,  that  I  the  worste  trecherye 
Dide  in  this  cas,  that  ever  was  bigonne. 
And  she  for-lost,  and  thou  right  nought 
y-wonne.  280 

41.  "S\lier-fore.  er  I  wol  ferther  goon  a 

pas, 
Yet  et't  I  thee  biseche  and  fully  seye. 
That  privetee  go  with  us  in  this  cas, 
That  is  to  seye,  that  thou  us  never  wreye ; 
And  be  nought  wrooth,  though  I  thee 
ofte  preye  285 

To  holden  secree  swich  an  lieigli  niatere ; 
For  skilful  is,  thow  wost  wel,  my  preyere. 

42.  And  thenk  what  wo  ther  hath  bitid 
er  this, 

For  makiuge  of  avauntes,  as  men  rede  ; 
And  what  uiischaunce  in  this  world  yet 

ther  is,  290 

Fro  day  to  day,  right  for   that  wikked 

dede ; 
For  which  these  wj'se  clerkes  that  ben 

dede 
Han  ever  yet  proverbed  to  us  yonge. 
That  "  firste  vertu  is  to  kepe  tonge." 

43.  Aiid,    nere   it  that    I   wilne   as   now 
t'abregge  295 

Diffusioun  of  speche,  I  coude  almost 
A  thousand  oWe  stories  thee  alegge 
Of  wommen  lost,  thorugh  fals  and  foles 

host  ; 
Proverbes  canst  thy-self  y-nowe,  and  wost, 
Ayeins  that  vyce,  for  to  been  a  labbe,  300 
Al  seyde  men  sooth  as  often  as  they  gabbe, 

44.  0  tonge,  alias  !  so  often  here-biforn 
Hastow  made  many  a  lady  bright  of  hewe 
Seyd,  "welawey!  thedaythatlwasborn!" 
And  many  a  maydes  sorwes  for  to  newe  ; 
And,  for  the  more  part,  al  is  imtrewe  306 


That  men  of  yelpe,  and  it  were  brought 

to  preve ; 
Of  kinde  non  avauntour  is  to  leva. 

45.  Avauntour  and  a  lyere,  al  is  on  ;    309 
As  thus  :  I  pose,  a  womman  graunte  me 
Hir  love,  and  seyth  that  other  wol  she  non, 
And  I  am  sworn  to  holden  it  secree, 
And  after  I  go  telle  it  two  or  three  ; 
Y-wis,  I  am  avauntour  at  the  leste. 

And  lyere,  for  I  breke  my  biheste.         315 

46.  Now  loke  tlianne,  if  they  be  nought 
to  blame, 

Swieli  maner  folk  ;    what   shal  I  clepe 

hem,  what. 
That  hem  avavinte  of  wommen,  and  by 

name, 
That  never  yet  bihighte  hem  this  ne  that, 
Ne  knewe  hem  more  tlian  myn  olde  hat  ? 
No  wonder  is,  so  god  me  sende  hele,     321 
Though  wommen  drede  with  us  men  to 

dele. 

47.  I  sey  not  this  for  no  mistrust  of  yow, 
Ne  for  no  wys  man,  but  for  foles  nyce. 
And  for  the  harm  that  in  the  world  is 

now,  32- 

As  wel  for  foly  ofte  as  for  malyce  ; 
For  wel  wot  I,  iu  wyse  folk,  that  vyce 
No  womman  drat,  if  she  be  wel  avysed  ; 
For  wyse  ben  by  foles  harm  chastysed. 

48.  But  now  to  j)urpos  ;  leva  brother  dere. 
Have  al  this  thing  that  I  have  seyd  in 

minde,  331 

And  keep  thee  clos,  and  be  now  of  good 

chere. 
For  at  thy  day  thoii  shalt  me  trewe  finde. 
I  shal  thy  proces  sette  in  swich  a  kinde. 
And  god  to-forn,  that  it  shall  thee  suffyse. 
For  it  shal  been  right  as  thoi^  wolt  de- 

vyse.  336 

49.  For  wel  I  woot,   thou  menest  wel, 
parde ; 

Therfore  I  dar  this  fully  undertake. 
Thou  wost   eek  what  thy  lady  graunted 

thee, 
And  day  is  set,  the  chartres  up  to  make. 
Have  now  good  night,  I  may  no  lenger 

wake ;  341 


^trot'fue  anb  Crt'eepie. 


[Book  III. 


And  bid  for  me,  sin  thou  art  now  in  blisse, 
That  god  me  sende  deeth  or  sone  lisse.' 

oO.  Who  mighte  telle  half  the  joye  or  feste 
Which  that  the  sowle  of  Troilus  tho  felte, 
Heringe  th"eftect  of  Paudarus  biheste?  34O 
His  olde  wo,  that  made  his  lierte  swelte, 
Gan  tho  for  joye  wasten  and  to-melte, 
And  al  the  richesse  of  his  sykes  sore 
At  ones  fledde,  he  felte  of  hem  no  more. 

51.  But  right  so  as  these  holtes  and  these 
hayes,  35' 

That  han  in  winter  dede  been  and  dreye, 
Revesten  hem  in  grene,  whan  that  May  is, 
Wlian  every  lusty  lyketh  best  to  pleye : 
Right  in  that  selve  wyse,  sooth  t<>  seye,  355 
Wex  sodeynlicho  his  herte  ful  of  joye, 
Thatgladder  was  ther  never  man  in  Troyo. 

52.  And  gan  his  look  on   Pandarus  up 
caste 

Ful  sobrely,  and  frendly  for  to  see,        359 
And  seyde,  '  freend,  in  Aprille  the  lastc, 
As  wel  thou  wost,  if  it  remembre  thee. 
How  neigh  the  tleeth  for  wo  thou  founde 

me  ; 
And  how  thou  didest  al  thy  bisinesse 
To  knowe  of  me  the  cause  of  my  distresse. 

53.  Thou  wost  how  longe  I  it  for-bar  to 
seye  3f>5 

To  thee,  that  art  the  man  that  I  best 

triste ; 
And  peril  was  it  noon  to  thee  by-wreye. 
That  wiste  I  wel ;  but  tel  me,  if  thee  liste, 
Sith  I  so  looth  was  that  thy-self  it  wiste, 
How  dorste  I  mo  tellen  of  this  matere,  371) 
That  quake  now,  anil  no  wight  may  us 

here? 

54.  But  natheles,  by  that  g<Kl  I  thee  swere. 
That,   as  him  list,    may  al  this  world 

goveme. 
And,  if  I  lye,  Achilles  with  his  spere 
Myn  herte  eleve,  al  were  my  l>-f  eterne, 
As  I  am  mortal,  if  I  late  or  yerne  376 

Wolde  it  biwreye,  or   dorste,   or  sholde 

oonne. 
For  al  the   good   that  god  made  under 

Sonne  ; 


55.  That  rather  deye  I  wolde,  and  de- 
termyne. 

As  thinketh  me,  now  stokked  in  presoun, 
In  wrecchednesse,  in  filthe,  and  in  ver- 

myne,  3S1 

Caytif  to  cruel  king  Agamenoun  ; 
And   this,   in   alle  the  temples  of   this 

toun. 
Upon  the  goddes  alle,  I  wol  thee  swere, 
To-morwe  day,  if  that  thee  lyketh  here.  385 

56.  And  that  thou  hast  so  muche  y-doon 
for  me, 

That  I  ne  may  it  never-more  deserve, 
This  knowe  I  wel,  al  mighte  I  now  for 

thee 
A  thousand  tymes  on  a  morwen  sterve, 
I  can  no  more,  but  that  I  wol  thee  serve 
Right    as    thy    sclave,    whider-so    thou 

wende,  391 

For  ever-more,  un-to  my  ly  ves  ende  ! 

57.  But  here,  with  al  myn  herte,  I  thee 
biseche. 

That  never  in  me  thou  deme  swich  folye 
As  I   shal  seyn ;    me  thoughte,  by  thy 

speche,  395 

That  this,  which  thou  me  dost  for  com- 

panye, 
I  sholde  wene  it  were  a  bauderye  ; 
I  am  nought  wood,  al-if  1  lewed  be ; 
It  is  not  so,  that  woot  I  wel,  pardee. 

58.  But   he   that   goth,    lor   gold   or   lor 
richesse,  400 

On  swich  message,  calle  him  what  thee 

list; 
And  this  that  thou  dost,  calle  it  gentilesse, 
Compassioun,  and  felawship,  and  trist ; 
I»f'parte  it  S",  for  wj-de-where  is  wist 
How  that  there  is  dyversitee  requered  405 
Bitwixen  thinges  lyke,  as  I  liave  lered. 

59.  And,    that    thou    knowe    I    thenke 
nought  ne  wene 

That  this  servyse  a  shame  be  or  jape, 
I  have  my  faire  suster  Poli.vene, 
Cassjvndre,  Eleyne,  or  any  of  the  frape  ; 
Be  she  never  so  laire  or  wel  y-shape,     411 
Tel  me,  which  thou  wilt  of  everichone. 
To  han  for  thyn,  and  lat  me  thanue  allone. 


^votfua  anb  Cvie^^U. 


253 


60.  But  sin  that  thoii  hast  don  me  this 
servyse,  414 

My  Ij-f  to  save,  and  for  noon  hope  of  made, 
So,  for  the  love  of  god,  this  grete  empryse 
Parforme  it  out ;  for  now  is  nioste  nede. 
For  high  and  low,  with-outen  any  drede, 
I  wol  alwey  thyne  hestes  alle  kepe  ; 
Have  now  good  night,  and  lat  ns  bothe 
slepe.'  42" 

61.  Thns  held   him   ech  with   other  wel 
apayed. 

That    al    the  world    ne    mighte    it   bet 

amende ; 
And,   on   the    morwe,   whan  they  were 

arayed, 
Ech  to  his  owene  nedes  gan  entende. 
But  Troilus,  though  as  the  fyr  he  brende 
For  sharp  desyr  of  hope  and  of  plesaunce. 
He  not  for-gat  his  gode  govemaunce.   427 

62.  But   in  him-self  with  manhod    gan 
restrejTie 

Ech  rakel  dede  and  ech  unbrydled  chere, 
That  alle  tho  that  liven,  sooth  to  seyne, 
Ne  sholde  han  wist,  by  word  or  by  mauere, 
"VVliat  that  he  mente,   as  touching  this 
matere.  4.^2 

From  every  wight  as  fer  as  is  the  cloude 
He  was,  so  wel  dissimiden  he  coude. 

63.  And  al  the  whyl  which  that  I  yow 

devyse,  4-?,$ 

This  was  his  lyf ;  with  al  his  fuUe  might, 
By  day  he  was  in  Martes  high  servj'se, 
This  is  to  seyn,  in  armes  as  a  knight ; 
And  for  the  more  part,  the  longe  night 
He  lay,  and  thoughte  how  that  he  mighte 

serve  440 

His  lady  best,  hir  thank  for  to  deser^'e. 

64.  Nil  I  nought  swere,  al-though  he  lay 

softe. 
That   in  his   thought   he   nas   sumwhat 

disesed, 
Ne  that  he  tornede  on  his  pilwes  ofte. 
And  wolde  of  that  him  missed  han  ben 

sesed ;  445 

But  in  swich  cas  man  is  nought  alwey 

plesed. 
For  ought  I  wot,  no  n^ore  than  was  he  ; 
Tliat  can  I  deme  of  possibilitee. 


65.  But  certeyn  is,  to  purpos  for  to  go, 
That    in    this  whyle,    as   writen    is    in 

geste,  450 

He  say  his  lady  som-tyme  ;  and  also 
She  with  him  spak,  whan  that  she  dorste 

or  leste. 
And  by  hir  bothe  avj-s,  as  was  the  beste, 
Apoynteden  ful  warly  in  this  nede. 
So  as  they  dorste,  how  they  wolde  pro- 
cede.  455 

66.  But  it  was  spoken  in  so  short  a  wyse. 
In  swich  awayt  alwey,  and  in  swich  fere. 
Lest  any  wyght  di\'j'nen  or  devj'se 
Wolde  of  hem  two,  or  to  it  leye  an  ere. 
That  al  this  world  so   leef  to  hem  ne 

were  460 

As  that  Cupido  wolde  hem  grace  sende 
To  maken  of  hir  speche  aright  an  ende. 

67.  But  thilke  litel  that  they  speke  or 
wroughte. 

His  wyse  goost  took  ay  of  al  swich  hede, 
It  semed  hir,  he  wiste  that  she  thoughte 
With-outen  word,  so  that  it  was  no  nede 
To  bidde  him  oiight  to  done,  or  ought 

forbede  ;  467 

For  which   slie   thoiighto   that    love,   al 

come  it  late, 
Of  alle  joye  hadde  opned  hir  the  yate, 

68.  And    shortly-   of    this   proces    for   to 
pace,  470 

So  wel  his  werk  and  wordes  he  bisette. 
That  he  so  ful  stood  in  his  lady  grace, 
That  twenty  thousand  tymes,  or  she  lette. 
She   thonked   god    she    ever    with    him 

mette ; 
So  coude  he  him  governe  in  swich  ser- 
vyse, 475 
That  al  the    world    ne   mighte    it    bet 
devyse. 

69.  For- why  she  fond  him  so  discreet  in  al, 
So  secret,  and  of  swich  obeisaunce. 
That  wel  she  felte  he  was  to  hir  a  wal 
Of  steel,   and  sheld  from  every  disple- 

saunce ;  480 

That,  to  ben  in  his  gode  governaunce, 
So  wys  he  was,  she  was  no  more  afered, 
I  mene,  as  fer  as  ouglite  ben  requered. 


!54 


^rotfue  ant  Crieepb^. 


[Book  HI. 


70.  And  Pandarus,  to  qnike  alwey  the  fyr, 
Was  ever  y-lyke  prest  and  diligent ;  4S5 
To  ese  his  frend  was  set  al  his  desjT. 

He  shoot"  ay  on,  he  to  and  fro  was  sent ; 
He  lettres  bar  whan  Troilus  was  absent. 
That  never  man,  as  in  his  freendes  nede, 
Ne  bar    him    bet    than    he,   with-outen 
drede.  4<)o 

71.  But  now,  paraunter,  som  man  wayten 
wolde 

That  every  word,  or  sonde,  or  look,  or 

eh  ere 
Of  Troilus  that  I  rehersen  sholde. 
In  al  this  whyle,  un-to  his  lady  dere  ; 
I  trowe    it  were  a  long    thing    for    to 

here  ;  495 

Or  of  what  wight  that  stant  in  swich  dis- 

joynte, 
His  wordes  alle,  or  every  look,  to  poynte. 

72.  For  sothe,  I  have  not  herd  it  doon  er 
this. 

In  storye  noon,  ne  no  niiui  here,  I  wene  ; 
And  though  I  wolde  I  coude  not,  j'-wis  ; 
For  ther  was  som  epistel  hem  bitwene,  501 
That  wolde,  as  seyth   mjTi  auctor,  wel 

contene 
Neigh  half  this  book,  of  which  him  list 

not  wry  to  : 
How  sholde  I  thanue  a  Ij-ne  of  it  endj-te  ? 

73.  But  to  the  grete  effect :  than  sey  I 
thus,  505 

That  stonding  in  concord  and  in  quiete 
Thise  ilke  two,  Criseyde  and  Troilus, 
As  I  have  told,  and  in  this  tyme  swete. 
Save  only  often  niighte  they  not  mete, 
Ne  layser  have  h  ir  speches  to  fulfelle,    510 
That  it  befel  right  as  I  slial  yow  telle, 

74.  That   Pandarus,   that   ever   dide   liis 
might 

Bight  for  the  fyn   that  I  shal  speke  of 

here, 
As  for  to  bringe  to  his  hous  som  night 
His  faire  nece,  and  Troilus  y-fere,          515 
Wher-as  at  leyser  al  this  heigh  matere. 
Touching  hir  love,  were  at  the  fulle  up- 

bounde, 
Hadde  out  of  doute  a  t jTiie  to  it  founde. 


75.  For  he  with  greet  deliberacioun 
Hadde  every  thing   that   her-to   misjhte 
avayle  520 

Forn-cast,  and  put  in  execucioun, 
And  neither  laft  for  cost  ne  for  travayle ; 

]  Come  if  hem  lest,  hem  sholde  no-thing 

!  fa.vle ; 

And  for  to  been  in  ought  espyed  there. 
That,  wiste  he  wel,  an  inpossible  were. 

1  76.  Dredelees,  it  cleer  was  in  the  wind 
I  Of  every  pye  and  every  lettc-game  ;       527 
i  Now  al  is  wel,  for  al  the  world  is  blind 

In  this  matere,  bothe  fremed  and  tame. 

This  timber  is  al  redy  up  to  frame;       530 

Us  lakketh  nought  but   that  we  witen 
wolde 

A  certein  houre,  in  whiche  she  conien 
I  sholde. 

77.  And  Troilus,  that  al  this  purveyaunce 
Knew  at  the  fulle,  and  waytede  on  it  ay, 
Hadde  here-up-on   eek   made  gret  orde- 
j  naunce,  535 

.  And  founde  his  cause,  and  ther-to  his 
aray, 
If  that  he  were  missed,  night  or  day. 
Ther-whyle  he  was  aboute  this  servyse. 
That  he  was  goon  to  doon  his  sacrifyse, 

'  78.  And  moste  at  swich  a  temple  alone 
wake,  540 

Answered  of  Appollo  for  to  be ; 
And  first,  to  seen  the  holj-  laurer  quake, 
Er  that  Apollo  spak  out  of  the  tree, 
To  telle  him  ne.xt  whan  Grekes  sholden 

flee; 
And  forthy  lotte  him   no  man,  god  for- 
bode,  545 

But  preye  Apollo  helpen  in  this  nede. 

79.  Now  is  ther  litel  more  for  to  done. 
But  Pandare  up,  and  shortly  for  to  seyne, 
Right  sone  upon  the  chaunging  of  the 

mone, 
AVhan   lightles  is  the   world  a  night  or 

tweyne,  550 

And  that  the  welken  shoop  him  for  to 

reyne. 
He   streight    a-niorwe    un-to    his     nece 

wente ; 
Ye  han  wel  herd  the  fj-n  of  his  entente. 


Book  III.l 


^rotfug  anb  Cvm^^i, 


255 


80.  Whan  lie  was  come,  lie  gaii  anooii  to 

pleye 
As  he  was  wont,  and  of  him-self  to  jape  ; 
And  finally, he  swor  and  gau  hir  seye,  556 
By   this   and   that,   she   sholde  him  not 

escape, 
Xe  longer  rtoon  him  after  hir  to  gape  ; 
But  certeynly  she  moste,  hy  hir  leve. 
Come  soupen  in  his  hous  with  him  at 

e^-e-  560 

>il.  At  whicjhe   slie  lough,    and  gau  hir 

taste  excuse, 
And  seyde,  •  it  rayneth  ;  lo,  how  sholde 

I  goon  ? ' 
'  Lat  be,'  quod  he,  •  ne  stond  not  thus  to  ' 

muse ; 
This  moot  he  doon,  ye  shal  be  ther  anoon.' 
So  at  the  laste  her-of  they  felle  at  oon,  565 
Or  elles,  softe  he  swor  hir  in  hir  ere. 
He  nolde  never  come  ther  she  were. 

82,  Sone   after  this,  to  him  she  gau  to  I 

rowne. 
And  asked  him  if  Troilus  were  there  ? 
He  swor  hir,   -nay,   for  he  was  out   of 

to^vne, 
And  seyde,  '  nece,  I  pose  that  he  were, 
Y(jw  fthurfte  never  have  the  more  fe 


57" 


j  And  seyde  him,  '  eem,  sin  I  mot  on  yow 
I  triste, 

Loke  al  be  wel,  and  do  now  as  yow  liste.' 

85.  He  swor  hir,  '  yis,  by  stokkes  and  by 

stones. 
And  by  the  goddes  that  in  hevene  dwelle. 
Or  elles  were  him  lever,  soule  and  bones, 
With  Pluto  king  as  depe  been  in  helle  592 
As  Tantalus  ! '  What  sholde  I  more  telle  ? 
Whan  al  was  wel,  he  roos  and  took  his 

leve. 
And  sli,e  to  souper  com,  whan  it  was  eve, 

86.  With  a  certaynof  hir  owene  men,  596 
And  with  hir  faire  nece  Antigone, 

And  othere  of  hir  wommen  nyne  or  ten  ; 
But  who  was  glad  now,  who,  as  trowe  ye. 
But  Troilus,   that   stood   and   mighte  it 

see  600 

Thurgh-out  a  litel  windowe  in  a  stewe, 
Ther   he   bishet,    sin    midnight,    was    in 

mewe, 

87.  Unwist  of  every  wight  but  of  Pandare? 
Bat  to  the  poynt ;   now  whan  she  was 

y-come 
With  alle  .joye,  and  alle  frendes  fare,     605 
Hir  eem  anoon  in  armes  hath  hir  nome. 


For  rather  than  men  raighte  him  ther     And  alter  to  the  souper,  alle  and  some, 

aspye,  j  Whan  tyme  was,  ful  softe  they  hem  sette  ; 

Me  were  lever  a  thousand-fold  to  dye,'  God  wot,  ther  was  no  deyntee  for  to  fette. 


Sd    Nought    list    myn 

declare 
W^iat  tliut  she  thoughte  whan  he  seyde 

That  Troilus  was  out  of  town  y-fare, 
As  if  he  seyde  ther-of  sooth  or  no  ; 
But  that,  with-outeawayt,  with  him  to  go. 
She  graunted  him,  sith  he  hir  that  bi- 
soughte,  58,, 

And,  as  his  nece,  obeyed  as  hir  oughte 

84.  But  nathelees,  yet  gan  she  him  bi- 

seche, 
Al-though  with  him  to  goon  it  was  no  fere, 
Frir  to  be  war  of  goosish  peples  speche. 
That  dremen  thinges  whiche  that  never 

were,  ^8- 

And  wel  avyse  him  whom  he  broughte 

there  : 


auctor    fully    to  j  88.  And  after    souper    gonnen    they   to 
i-jse,  6io 

At  ese  wel,  with  hertes  fresshe  and  glade. 
And  wel  was  him  that  coude  best  devyse 
To  lyken  hir,  or  that  hir  laughen  made. 
He   song ;  she  pleyde  ;    he  tolde  tale  of 

Wade. 
But  at  the  laste,  as   every  thing  hath 


ende. 


<^'5 


She  took  hir  leve,  and  nedes  wolde  wende. 

89    But  O,  Fortune,  executriee  of  wierdes, 

O  influences  of  thise  hevenes  hye  ! 

Soth   is,    that,    under  god,    ye    ben    our 

hierdes. 
Though    to    us    bestes   been   the   causes 

wrye.  620 

This  mene  I  now,  for  slie  gan  hoomward 

hye. 


^rotfue  anb  Cviu^U. 


[Book  III. 


But  exeetit  was  al  bisyde  hir  levc, 
At  the  goiVles  wil ;  for  which  she  moste 
bleve. 

90.  The  bente  mone  with  hir  homes  pale, 
Saturne,   and    Jove,   in    Cancro   joyned 

were,  ^>^5 

Tliat  swich  a  rayu  from  hevene  gan  avale, 
That  everv  manerwommanthat  was  there 
Hadde  of  that  smoky  reyn  a  verray  fere  ; 
At  which  Pandare  the  lough,  and  seyde 

thenne, 
'  Now  were  it  tyme  a  lady  to  go  henne !  6.^o 

91.  But  goode  nece,  if  I  mighte  ever  plese 
Yow  any-thing,  than  prey  I  yow,'  quod  he, 
'To  doon  myn  herte  as  now  so  greet  an 

ese 
As  fur  to  dwelle  here  al  this  night  with  me, 
For-wliy  this  is  your  owene  hous,  pardee. 
For,  bv  mv  trouthe,  I  sey  it  nought  a- 


game. 


6.16 


To  wende  as  now,  it  were  to  me  a  shame.' 

9'2.  Criseydc,  whiche  that  coude  as  much* 

goo<l 
As  half  a  world,  tok  hede  of  his  preyere  ; 
And  sin  it  ron,  and  al  was  on  a  flood,  640 
She  thoughte,  as  good  chep  may  I  dwellen 

here, 
And  graunte  it  gladly  with  a  freendes 

chere. 
And  have  a  thank,  as  gmcche  and  thanne 

abyde ; 
For  hoom  to  goon   it   may   nought   wel 

bityde. 

93.  'I  wol,'  quod  she,   '  m>-n  uncle  leef 
and  dere,  ('4? 

Sin  that  yow  list,  it  skile  is  to  be  so  ; 
I  am  right  glad  with  yow  to  dwellen  here  ; 
I  seyde  but  a-game,  I  wolde  go.' 
'  Y-wis,   graunt  mercy,   nece  I '    quod  he 
tho  ;  ^>4<> 

'  Were  it  a  game  or  no,  soth  for  to  telle, 
Xow  am  I  glad,  sin  that  yow  list  to  dwelle.' 

94.  Thus  al  is  wel ;  but  tho  bigan  aright 
The  newe  joye,  and  al  the  feste  agayn  ; 
But  Pandarns,  if  goodly  hadde  he  might. 
He  wolde  han  hyed  hir  to  1)edde  fa\^^,  655 
And  seyde,  '  lord,  this  is  an  huge  rayn  ' 


This  were  a  weder  for  to  slepen  inne  ; 
And  that  I  rede  us  sone  to  biginne. 

95.  And  nece,  woot  ye  wher  I  wol  yow 
leye,  659 

For  that  we  sliul  not  liggen  ler  asouder, 
And  for  yo  neither  shuUen,  dar  I  seye, 
Heren  noise  of  rejoies  nor  of  thonder  ? 
By  god,  right  in  my  Ij'te  closet  yonder. 
And  I  wol  in  that  outer  hous  allone 
Be  wardeyn  of  your  wommen  everichone. 

96.  And  in  this  middel  chaumbre  that  ye 
see  666 

Shul  youre  wommen  slepen  wel  and  softe ; 
And  ther  I  seyde  shal  your-selve  be  ; 
And  if  ye  liggen  wel  to-night,  com  ofte. 
And  careth  not  what  weder  is  on-lofte.  670 
The  Av>-n  anon,  and  whan  so  that  yow 

leste. 
So  go  we  slepe,  I  trowe  it  be  the  beste.' 

97.  Ther  nis  no  more,  but  here-after  sone, 
The  \T)yd6  dronke,   and    t  ravers   drawe 

anon, 
Gan  everj-  wight,  that  hadde  nought  to 

done  675 

More  in  that  place,  out  of  the  chaumber 

gon. 
And  ever-mo  so  sternelich  it  ron, 
.\nd  blew  ther-with  so  wonderliche  loude. 
That  wel  neigh  no  manheren  other  coude. 

98.  Tho  Pandarns,  hir  eem,  right  as  him 
oughte.  6H1) 

With  women   swiche  as  were  hir  most 

aboute, 
Ful    glad    un-to    hir     beddes    syde    liir 

broughte, 
And  took  his  leve,  and  gan  ful  lowe  loute. 
And  seyde,  '  here  at  this  closet-dore  with- 

oute. 
Eight  over-thwart,  your  wommen  liggen 

aUe,  685 

■  That,  whom  yow  liste  of  hem,  ye  may 
'       ■    here  calle.' 

99.  So  whan  that  she  was  in  the  closet 
leyd, 

'  .Ajid   alle   hir    wommen  forth  by  orde- 
naunce 
A-bedde  weren,  ther  as  I  have  seyd. 


^totfu0  anb  iCvm^U. 


257 


There  was   no  more   to   skippen   nor  to 
traunce,  690 

But  boden  go  to  bedde,  with  mischaunce, 
If  any  wight  was  steringe  any-where, 
And  late  hem  slepe  that  a-bedde  were. 

100.  But  Pandarus,  that  wel  covide  eche 
a  del 

The  olde  datince,  and  every  poynt  ther- 

inne,  695 

Whan  that  he  sey  that  aUe  thing  was  wel, 

He   thoughte   he   wolde  wp-on  his  werk 

biginne, 
And  gan  the  stewe-dore  al  softe  un-pinne, 
And   stille  as  stotm,  with-outen  lenger 

lette, 
By  Troilus  a-doun  right  he  him  sette.    700 

101.  And,  shortly  to  the  poynt  right  for 
to  gon, 

Of  al  this  werk  he  tolde  him  word  and 

ende, 
And  seyde,  '  make  thee  redy  right  anon. 
For  thou  shalt  in-to  hevene  blisse  wende.' 
'Xow    bUsful    Venus,    thoti     me     grace 

sende, '  705 

Quod  Troilus,  '  for  never  yet  no  nedo 
Hadde  I  er  now,  ne  halvendel  the  drede.' 

102.  Quod  Pandarus,  'ne  drede  thee  never 
a  del. 

For  it  shal  been  right  as  thou  wilt  desyre ; 
So  thryve  I,   this  night  shal  I  make  it 

wel,  710 

Or  casten  al  the  gruwel  in  the  fyre. ' 
'  Yit  blisful  Venus,  this  night  thoii  me 

enspyre,' 
Quod  Troilus,  'as  wis  as  I  thee  serve. 
And  ever  bet  and  bet  shal,  til  I  sterve. 

103.  And   if  I   hadde,    O   Venus    ful    of 
mirthe,  715 

Aspectes  badde  of  Mars  or  of  Satume, 
Or  thou  combust  or  let  were  in  my  birthe, 
Thy  fader  pray  al  thilke  harm  disturne 
Of  grace,   and   that  I  glad  ayein  may 

turne,  ■ 
For  love  of  hinx  thou  lovedest   in   the 

shawe,  720 

I  mene  Adoon,  that  with  the  boor  was 

slawe. 


104.  O   Jove   eek,    for   the   love   of  faire 

Europe, 
The  whiche  in  forme  of  bole  away  thou 

fette ; 
Now  help,  O  Mars,  thou  wth  thy  blody 

cope. 
For  love  of  Cipris,  thoix  me  noiight  ne 


lette : 


725 


O  Phebus,  thenk  whan  Dane  hir-selven 

shette 
Under  the  bark,  and  laurer  wex  for  drede, 
Yet  for  hir  love,  O  help  now  at  this  nede  ! 

105.  Mercnrie,  for  the  love  of  Hiersfe  eke, 
For    which    Pallas    was  with    Aglauros 

wrooth,  730 

Now  help,  and  eek  Diane,  I  thee  biseke, 
That  this  viage  be  not  to  thee  looth. 
O  fatal  sustren,  which,  er  any  clooth 
Me  shapen  was,  my  destene  me  sponne. 
So  helpeth  to  this  werk  that  is  bi-gonne ! ' 

106.  Quod     Pandarus,     '  thou    wrecched 
mouses  herte,  736 

Art  thou  agast  so  that  she  wol  thee  hyte  ? 
TVhy,   don   this  furred  cloke  up-on  thy 

sherte, 
And  folowe  me,  for  I  wol  han  the  wj-te  ; 
But  byd,  and  lafc  me  go  bifore  a  lyte.'    740 
And   with   that   word   he   gan    un-do    a 

trappo. 
And  Troilus  he  broughte  in  by  the  lappe. 

107.  The   steme  wind   so  loude  gan  to 
route 

That  no  wight  other  noyse  mighte  here  ; 
And  they  that  layen  at  the  dore  with- 


oute, 


745 


Ful  sikerly  they  slepten  aUe  y-fere  ; 
And  Pandariis,  with  a  ful  soI)re  chere, 
Goth  to  the  dore  anon  with-outen  lette, 
Ther-as  they  laye,  and  softely  it  shette. 

108.  And  as  he  com  ayeinward  prively, 
His  nece  awook,   and  asked  'who   goth 

there?'  --, 

'  My  dere  nece,'  quod  he,  '  it  am  I ; 
Ne  womlreth  not,  no  have  of  it  no  fere ;  ' 
And  ner  he  com,  and  seyde  hir  in  hir  ere, 
'  No  word,  for  love  of  god  I  yow  biseche  ; 
Lat   no   wight   ryse    and    heren    of   our 

speche.'  756 


258 


^rotfua  ant  Cviet^U. 


[Book  III. 


109.  '  What !   which  wey  bo  ye   comen, 
henedicitef ' 

Quod  she,  '  and  how  thus  unwist  of  hem 

alle?' 
'  Here  at  this  secree  trappe-dore,'  quo<l  he. 
Qaotl  tho  Criseyde,   '  Lit  mo  som  wight 

calle.'  760 

'  Ey  !  god  forbedo  that  it  sholdo  falle,' 
Quod    Pandaras,     '  that    ye    swich    foly 

wrouglite  ! 
They  mighte  deme  thing  they  never  er 

though te ! 

1 10.  It  is  nought  good  a  sleping  hound  to 
wake, 

Ne  yeve  a  wight  a  causo  to  dev>-no  ;  765 
Your  wommon  slepen  alio,  I  imder-tako. 
So  that,  for  hem,  tho  hous  men  mighte 

mjTie  ; 
And  slepen  wolen  til  tho  sonno  shjTio. 
And  whan  my  tale  ol  brought  ia  to  an 

eudo, 
Unwist.  right  as  I  com,  so  wol  I  won<lo. 

111.  Now  nece  mj-n,  yo  shul  wel  nnder- 
stonde,'  771 

Quod  he,  '  so  as  yo  wommen  demon  alio, 
That  for  to  lioldo  in  lovo  a  man  in  liondo, 
And  him  hir  "leef"  and  "dere  herte" 

calle, 
And  maken  him  an  howve  above  a  calle, 
I  mone,  as  lovo  an  other  in  this  whjde,   776 
She  doth  hir-self  a  shame,  and  him  a  gj'lc. 

112.  Now  wherby  tliat  I  telle  yow  al  this  ? 
Ye  woot  your-self,  as  wel  as  any  wight. 
How  that  your  lovo  al  fully  g^annted  is 
To  Troilus,  the  worthieste  knight,         781 
Oon  of  this  world,  and  ther-to  trouthe 

plyght, 
That,  but  it  were  on  him  along,  ye  soldo 
Him  never  falsen,  whyl  ye  liven  sholde. 

113.  Now  stant  it  thus,  that  sith  I  fro 
yow  wento,  785 

This  Troilus,  right  platly  for  to  seyn, 
Is  thurgh  a  goter,  by  a  privfe  wente, 
In-to  my  chaumbre  come  in  al  this  reyn, 
Unwist  of  every  maner  wight,  certeyn, 
Save  of  my-self,  as  wisly  have  I  joye,    790 
And  by  that  feith  I  shal  Pryam  of  Troye  !  | 


114.  And  ho  is  come  in  swich  pej-no  and 
distresse 

That,  but  ho  be  al  fully  wood  by  this. 
He  sodeynly  mot  fallo  in-to  wodnesse, 
But-if  god  hclpe  ;  and  causo  why  this  is, 
He  scyth  hini  told  is,  of  a  froend  of  his. 
How  that  yo  sholde  love  oon  that  hatte 

Horastc,  797 

For  sorwo  of  which  this  night  shalt  been 

his  laste.' 

115.  Criseyde,  which  that  al  thii  wonder 
liordo, 

Gan  sodeynly  abonto  hir  herte  colde,    800 
And  with  a  syk  she  sorwfully  answorde, 
'  Alhis  !  I  wendo,  who-so  tales  tolde. 
My  dore  herte  woldo  mo  not  holdo 
So  lightly  fals  !  alias  !  conceytes  wronge. 
What  harm  they  doon,  for  now  live  I  to 
longe !  805 

1 16.  Horaste  !  alias  !  and  falson  Troilus  ? 
I  knowo  him  not,  god  helpo  mo  so,'  quod 

she  ; 
'Alias !    what   wikked   spirit   toldo   him 

thus  ? 
Now  certes,  eem,  to-morwe,  and  I  him  see, 
I  shal  ther-of  as  ful  excusen  me  810 

As  ever  dido  womman,  if  him  lyko' ; 
And  with  that  word  she  gan  ful  soro  syko. 

117.  'Ogod!'  quod  she,  '  so  worldly  seli- 
nesse, 

Which  clerkes  callen  fals  felicitoe, 
Y-medled  is  with  many  a  bittemesse !  815 
Ful  anguisshous  than  is,  god  woot,'  quod 

she, 
'  Condicioun  of  veyn  prosperitee  ; 
For  either  joyes  comen  nought  y-fere, 
Or  elles  no  wight  hath  hem  alwey  here. 

118.  O  brotel  wele  of  mannes  joye   un- 
stable !  82(j 

With  what  wight  so  thou  be,  or  how  thou 

pleye. 
Either  he  woot  that  thou,  joye,  art  mu- 

able. 
Or  woot  it  not,  it  moot  ben  oon  of  tweye  ; 
Now  if  ho  woot  it  not,  how  may  he  sej'O 
That  he  hath  verray  joye  and  selinesse,  82$ 
That  is  of  ignoraunce  ay  in  derknesse  ? 


Book  III.] 


^rotfu0  an^  Cvie^^H. 


259 


119.  Now  if  he  woot  that  joye  is  transi- 
torie, 

As  every  joye  of  worldly  thing  mot  flee, 
Than  every  tyme  he  that  hath  in  me- 

morie, 
The  drede  of  lesing  maketh  him  that  he 
May  in  no  parfit  seUnesse  be.  831 

And  if  to  lese  his  joye  he  set  a  myte, 
Than  scmeth   it  tliat  joye  is  worth  ful 

Ij^e. 

120.  Wherfore    I    wol    deffyne    in    this 
matere, 

That  trewely,  for  ought  I  can  espye,       835 
Ther  is  no  verray  wele  in  this  world  here. 
But  O,  thou  wikked  serpent  Jalousye, 
Thou  misbeleved  and  envious  folye, 
Why  hastow  Troilus  me  mad  untriste, 
That  never  yet  agilte  him,  that  I  wiste  ?  ' 

121.  Quod  Pandarus,  'thus  fallen  is  this 
cas.'  841 

'  Why,  uncle  myn,'  quod  she,  '  who  toldu 

him  this  ? 
Why  doth  my  dere  hertc  thus,  aUas?' 
'  Ye  woot,  ye  nece  myn,"  quod  he,  '  w  hat  is  ; 
I  hope  nl  shal  be  wel  tliat  is  amis.         845 
For  ye  may  quenche  al  this,  if  that  yow 

leste. 
And  doth   right   so,   for   I  holde  it  the 

beste.' 

122.  '  So  shal  I  do  to-morwo,  y-^vis,'  quod 
she, 

'And  god  to-fom,  so  that  it  shal  sufFyso.' 
'  To-morwe  ?  alias,  that  were  a  fayr,'  quod 

te,  850 

'Nay,    nay,   it    may  not  stonden  in  this 

wyse  ; 
For,  nece  myn,  thus  wryten  clerkes  wyse, 
That  peril  is  with  drecching  in  y-drawe  ; 
Nay,  swich  abodes  been  nought  worth  an 

hawe. 

123.  Nece,   al  thing  hath   tyme,   I    dar 
avowo ;  855 

For  whan  a  chaumber  a-fyr  is,  or  an  halle, 
Wel  more  nede  is,  it  sodeynly  rescowe 
Than  to  dispute,  and  axe  amonges  alle 
How  is  this  candel  in  the  straw  y-falle  ? 
A  !  benedicite  !  for  al  among  that  fare  860 
The  harm  is  doon,  and  fare-wel  feldefare  ! 


124.  And,  nece  myn,  ne  take   it  not  a- 

greef, 
If  that  ye  sufFre  him  al  night  in  this  wo, 
G-od  help  me  so,  ye  hadde  him  never  leef, 
That  dar  I  seyn,  now  there  is  but  we 

two ;  865 

But  wel  I  woot,  that  ye  wol  not  do  so  ; 
Ye  been  to  wys  to  do  so  gret  folye. 
To  putte  his  lyf  al  night  in  jupartye.' 

125.  'Hadde  I  him  never  leef?     By  god. 
I  weno 

Ye  hadde  never  thing  so  leef,'  quod  she. 
'  Now  by  my  thrift,'  quod  he,  '  that  shiil 
be  sene  ;  8;i 

For,  sin  yc  make  this  ensample  of  me, 
If  I  al  night  wolde  him  in  sorwe  see 
For  al  the  tresour  in  the  tovm  of  Troye, 
I  bidde  god,  I  never  mote  have  joye  !      875 

126.  Now  loke  thanne,  if-  ye,  that  been 
his  love, 

Shiil  putte  al  night  his  l.vf  in  jupartye 
For  thing  of  nought !     Now,  by  that  god 

above. 
Nought  only  this  delay  comth  of  folye. 
But  of  malyce,  if  that  I  shal  nought  lye. 
What,  platly,  and  ye  suffre  him  in  dis- 

tresse,  881 

Ye  neither  bountee  doon  ne  gentilesse  ! ' 

127.  Quod  tho  Criseyde,    '  wole   ye    doon 
o  thing. 

And  ye  therwith  shal  stinte  al  his  disese  ; 
Have  here,  and  bereth  him  this  blewe 

ring,  885 

For  ther  is  no-thing  mighte  him  bettre 

plese. 
Save  I  my-self,  ne  more  his  herte  apese  ; 
And  sey  my  dere  herte,  that  his  sorwe 
Is  causeles,  that  shal  be  seen  to-morwe.' 

128.  '  A  ring  ?  '  quod  he,  '  ye,  hasel-wodes 
shaken !  8.)o 

Ye,  nece  myn,  that  ring  moste  han  a  stoon 
That  mighte  dede  men  alyve  maken  ; 
And  swich  a  ring,  trowe  I  that  ye  have 

noon. 
Discrccioun  out  of  your  heed  is  goon  : 
That  felo   I  now,'  quod  he,  'and  that  is 

routhe  ;  895 

O    tyme     y-lost,    wel     maystow     cursen 

slouthe  ! 


26o 


^rotfue  drib  Crtsepie. 


[Book  III. 


129.  Wot  ye  not  wel  that  noble  and  lieigb 

corago 
Ne  sorweth  not,  no  stinteth  eek  for  lyte  ? 
But  if  a  fool  were  in  a  jalons  rage, 
I  nolde  setten  at  his  sorwe  a  mj-te,       900 
But  feffc  him  with  a  fewe  wordes  whyte 
Another  day,   whan  that  I  mighte  him 

finde: 
But  this  thing  stont  al  in  another  kinde. 

180.  This  is  so  gentil  and  so  tcndre  of 

hertc, 
That  with  his  deeth  he  wol   his  sorwes 

wTcke ;  905 

For  trnsteth  wel,   how  sore    that    him 

smerte, 
He  wol  to  yow  no  jalouse  wordes  speke. 
And  for-thy,  nece,  er  that  his  herte  breke, 
.So  spek  your-self  to  him  of  this  matero  ; 
For  with  o  word  ye  may  his  herte  stere. 

131.  Now  have  I  told  what  peril  he  is 
inne,  9" 

And  his  coming  unwist  is  t'  every  wight ; 
Xe,  pardee,  harm  may  ther  be  noon  ne 

sinne; 
I  wol  my-self  be  with  yow  al  this  night. 
Ye  knowe  eek  how  it  is  your  o^vne  knight. 
And  that,  by  right,  ye  moste  upon  him 

triste,  9"6 

And  I  al  prest  to  feeche  him  whan  yow 

liste.' 

132.  This  accident  so  pitons  was  to  here, 
And  eek  so  lyk  a  sooth,  at  prjTne  face. 
And  Troilus  hir  knight  to  hir  so  dere,   920 
His  prive  coming,  and  the  siker  place. 
That,   though    that    she    dide    him    as 

thanne  a  grace, 
Considered  alle  thinges  as  they  stode, 
Xo  wonder  is,  sin  she  dide  al  for  gode. 

133.  Cryseyde  answerde,  '  as  wisly  god  at 
reste  915 

My  sowle  bringe,  as  me  is  for  him  wo  ! 
And  eem,  y-wis,  fayn  wolde  I  doon  the 

beste, 
If  that  I  hadde  grace  to  do  so. 
But  whether  that  ye  dwelle  or  for  him  go, 
I  am,  til  god  me  bettre  minde  sende,    930 
At  dulcaruon,  right  at  my  wittes  ende.' 


13i.  Quod  Pandarus,   'ye,  nece,  wol   ye 
here  ? 

Dulcarnon      called      is     "fleminge     of 
I  wrecches  " ; 

It  semeth  hard,  for  wrecches  wol  not  lere 

j  For    verray    slouthe    or    othere    wilful 

tecches ;  935 

j  This  seyd  by  hem  that  be  not  worth  two 

I  fecches. 

But   ye  ben  wj's,   and  that   wo   han  on 
I  hondo 

'  Nis  neitherhard,  ne  skilful  to  withstonde.' 

135.  'Thanne,  eem,'  quod  she,  'doth  her- 
I           of  as  yow  list  ; 

But  er  he  come  I  wil  up  first  aryso  ;     940 
And,  for  tho  love  of  god,  sin  al  my  trist 
I   Is  on  yow  two,  and  ye  ben  bothe  ^vyse, 
So  wircheth  now  in  so  discreet  a  wyse. 
That  I  honour  may  have,  and  he  plcs- 

anncc ; 
For  I  am  here  al  in  your  governaunce.' 

136.  'That  is  wel  seyd,'  quod  he,  'my 
nece  dere,  94') 

Ther   good  thrift  on   that  w^-se    gentil 

herte ! 
But  liggeth  stille,  and  taketh  him  right 

here, 
It  nedeth  not  no  ferther  for  him  sterte  ; 
And  ech  of  yow  ese  otheres  sorwes  smerte, 
For  love    of   god ;    and,   Venus,   I  thee 

herie ;  951 

For  sone  hope  I  we  shnlle  ben  alle  merie.' 

137.  This  Troilus  fol  sone  on  knees  him 
sette 

Ful  sobrely,  right  by  hir  beddes  heed, 
And  in  his  beste  wyse  his  lady  grette ;  955 
But  lord,  so  she  wex  sodejmliche  reed  ! 
Ne,  though  men  sholden  smyten  of  hir 

heed, 
She  coude  nought  a  word  a-right  out- 

bringe 
So  sodeynly,  for  his  sodeyn  cominge. 

138.  But  Pandams,  that  so  wel  coude  fele 
In  every  thing,  to  pleye  anoon  bigan,  961 
And  seyde,  '  nece,  see  how  this  lord  can 

knele ! 
Now,  for  your  trouthe,  seeth  this  gentil 


Book  III.] 


^rotfu0  ant  tvist^tt. 


261 


And  with  that  word  he  for  a  txuisshen 

ran, 
And  seyde,  '  kneleth  now,  whyl  that  yow 

leste,  965 

Ther   god   yoiir    hertes    bringe    sone    at 

reste ! ' 

139.  Can  I  not  seyn,  for  she  bad  him  not 
ryse, 

If  sorwe  it  pntte  out  of  hir  remembraunce, 
Or  elles  if  she  toke  it  in  the  wyse 
Of  duetee,  as  for  his  observaunce  ;         970 
But    wel    finde    I    she    dide    him     this 

plesaunce, 
That  she  him  kiste,  al-though  she  syked 

sore  ; 
And  bad  him  sitte  a-dounwith-outen  more. 

140.  Quod   Pandarus,    '  now  wol  ye   wel 
biginne  ; 

Now  doth  him  sitto,  gode  nece  dere,  975 
Ujion  yovir  beddes   syde  al   there  with- 

inne, 
That  ech  of  yow  the  bet  may  other  here.' 
And  with  that  word  he  drow  him  to  the 

fere, 
And  took  a  light,  and  fond  his  conten- 

aunc(^ 
As  for  to  loke  up-on  an  old  romaunce.  980 

141.  Criseyde,  that  was  Ti-oilus  lady  right, 
And  cleer  stood  on  a  ground  of  sikernesse, 
Al  thoughte  she,   hir  servaunt  and   hir 

knight 
Ne  sholde  of  right  non  imtrouthe  in  hir 

gesse,  984 

Yet  nathelees,  considered  his  distresse, 
And  that  love  is  in  cause  of  swich  folye, 
Thus  to  him  spak  she  of  his  jelousye  : 

142.  '  Lo,  herte  myn,  as  wolde  the  excel- 
lence 

Of  love,  ayeins  the  which  that  no  man 

may, 
Ne  oughte  eek  goodly  maken  resistence  ; 
And  eek  bycaiise  I  felte  wel  and  say    991 
Your  grete  trouthe,  and  ser\'j'se  every  day ; 
And  that  your  herte  al  myn  was,  sooth  to 

seyne, 
This  droof  me  for  to   rewe   up-on  your 

peyne. 


143.  And  your  goodnesse  have  I  founde 
alwey  yit,  995 

Of  whiohe,   my   dere   herte   and   al    my 

knight, 
I  thonke  it  yow,  as  fer  as  I  have  wit, 
Al  can  I  nought  as  muche  as  it  were  right : 
And.  I,    emforth    my  conninge   and   my 

might. 
Have  and  ay  shal,   how  sore    that   me 

smerte,  locx) 

Ben  to  yow  trewe  and  hool,  with  al  myn 

herte  ; 

144.  And  dredelees,  that  shal  be  founde 
at  preve. — 

But,  herte  myn,  what  al  this  is  to  seyne 
Shal  wel  be  told,  so  that  ye  noght  yow 

greve. 
Though  I  to  yow  right  on  your-self  com- 

pleyne.  1005 

For  ther-with  mene  I  fynally  the  peyne. 
That  halt  your  herte  and  myn  in  hevi- 

nesse. 
Fully  to  sleen,  and  every  wrong  redresse. 

145.  My   goode,   myn,   not   I  for-why  ne 
how 

That  Jalousye,  alias  !  that  wikked  wivere. 
Thus  causelees  is  cropen  in-to  yow  ;  loii 
The  harm  of  which  I  wolde  fayn  delivere  ! 
Alias  !  that  he,  al  hool,  or  of  him  slivere, 
Shuld  have  his  refut  in  so  digne  a  place. 
Tlier  Jove  him  sone  out  of  your  herte 
arace  !  1015 

146.  But  O,  thoii  Jove,  O  auctor  of  nature. 
Is  this  an  honour  to  thy  deitee. 

That  folk  ungiltif  suffren  here  injure, 
And  who  that  giltif  is,  al  quit  goth  he  ? 
O  were  it  leful  for  to  pleyne  on  thee,  1020 
That  undeserved  suffrest  jalousye. 
And  tliat  I  wolde  up-on  thee  jdeyne  and 


147.  Eek  al  my  wo  is  this,  that  folk  now 

usen 
To    seyn    right    thus,    "ye,   Jiilousye    is 

Love!"  1024 

And  wolde  a  busshel  venim  al  exctisen, 
For  that  o  greyn  of  love  is  on  it  shove  ! 
But  that  wot  heighe  god  that  sit  above, 


262 


^rotfu0  anb  Crieepbe. 


[Book  III. 


If  it  be  lyker  love,  or  hate,  or  gramo  ; 
And  after  that,  it  oughte  here  his  name. 

1 4S.  But  certeyn  is,  som  maner  jalousye 
Is  excusable  more  than  som,  y-wis.  103 1 
As  whan  cause  is,  and  som  swich  fantasyo 
With  pieteo  so  wel  repressed  is, 
That  it  unnethe  dooth  or  sej-th  amis, 
But  goodly  drinketh  up  al  his  distresse  ; 
And  that  excuse  I,  for  the  gentilesse.  1036 

1 40.  And  som  so  ful  of  furie  is  and  despyt, 
That  it  sourmounteth  his  repressioun  ; 
But  herte  myn,  ye  bo  not  in  that  plyt, 
That   thanke    I    god,    for  whiche  yonr 
passioun  1040 

I  wol  not  calle  it  but  illosionn. 
Of  haV>undaunco  of  love  and  bisy  care, 
That  dooth  j-our  herte  this  disose  endure. 

150.  Of  which  I  am  right  sorj',  but  not 
wrooth  ;  1044 

But,  for  my  devoir  and  your  hert<'S  reste, 
\\'her-so  yow  list,  by  ordal  or  by  00th, 
By  sort,  or  in  what  wyse  so  yow  leste, 
For  love  of  gwl,  lat  preve  it  for  tlie  lieste! 
And  if  that  I  l>o  giltif,  do  mo  deye,     1049 
.\.lh\s  I  what  mightc  I  more  dix)n  or  sej'o?' 

l.)l.  With  that  a  few©  brighte  teres  newe 
Out  of  hir  eyen  fillo,  and  thus  she  seyde, 
•  Ndw  god,  thou  wost,  in  thought  ne  dede 

untrewe 
To  Troilus  was  never  yet  Criseyde.' 
Witli  that  hir  heed  doun  in  the  bed  she 

leyde,  1055 

And  with  the  shcto  it  wreigb,  and  syghed 

sore. 
And  held  hir  pees ;  not  o  word  spak  she 

more. 

152.  But  now  lielp  god  to  fjuenchen  al 

this  sorwe. 
So  hope  I  that  he  shal,  for  he  best  may ; 
For  I  have  seyn,  of  a  ful  misty  morwe  1060 
Folwen  ful  ofto  a  mery  someres  day ; 
And  after  printer  folweth  g^-eno  May. 
Meia  seen  alday,  and  reden  eek  in  stories, 
That  after  sharpe  shoures  been  victories. 

lyi.  This  Troilus,    whan   he   liir  wordes 
horde.  u>65 

Havo  ye  n'>  care,  him  liste  not  to  slepe  ; 


For  it  thoughte  him  no  strokes  of  a  yerde 
To  here  or  seen  Criseyde  his  lady  wepe  ; 
But  wel  he  felto  alwute  his  herte  crepe, 
For  every  teer  which   that  Criseyde  a- 

sterte,  107(1 

The  crampo  of  deeth,  to  streyne  him  by 

the  herte. 

li)4.  And  in  his  mindo  he  gan  the  tyme 

acurse 
That  ho  cam  there,  and  that  he  was  born ; 
For  now  is  wikke  y-turned  in-to  worse, 
And  al  that  labour  he  hath  doon  biforn. 
He  wendo  it  lost,  he  thoughte  ho  nas  but 

lorn.  1076 

'O  Pandarus,'  thoughte  he,  'alias!    thy 

wyle 
Serveth    of   notight,    so    weylawey    the 

whyle  ! ' 

155.  And  therwithal  ho  hong  a-doun  the 
lieed, 

And  fil  on  knees,  andsorwfully  hesighte; 
\Vhat  mighto  ho  seyn?  ho  felto  he  nas 

but  deed,  loSi 

For  wrofjth  was  slic  that  sliulde  liis  sorwes 

lighte. 
But   nathclees,     whan    that    he    spoken 

mighto, 
Than  sej-de  ho  thus,   '  god  woot,  that  of 

this  gamo, 
Whan  al  is  wist,  than  am  I  not  to  blame !' 

156.  Ther-with   the   sorwe   so   his   horto 
shette,  1086 

That  from  his  ej'on  fil  ther  not  a  tere, 
And  everj'  spirit  his  vigour  in-knette, 
So  they  astoned  and  oppressed  were. 
The  feling  of  his  sorwe,  or  of  his  fere,  1090 
Or  of  ought  dies,  fled  was  out  of  towne  ; 
And  doun  ho  fel  al  sodeynly  a-swowne. 

157.  This  was  no  litel  sorwe  for  to  see  ; 
But  al  was  hust,  and  Pandare  up  as  faste, 
'  O  nece,  pees,  or  we  be  lost,' quod  he,  1095 
'  Beth  nought  agast ; '  but  certeyn,  at  the 

laste, 
For  this  or  that,  he  in-to  bedde  him  caste, 
And  seyde,  '  O  theef,  is  this  a  mannes 

herte?' 
And  of  he  rente  al  to  his  Vtaro  sherte  ; 


^roifu0  anb  tviei^U. 


263 


158.  And  seyde,  '  nece,  biit  yo  lielpe  lis 
now,  1 100 

Alias,  your  owne  Troilus  is  lorn  ! ' 
'  Y-wis,  so  wolde  I,  and  I  wiste  liow, 
Pal  fayn,'  quod  she  ;  '  alias  !  that  I  was 

born  ! ' 
'  Ye,  nece,  wol  ye  pullen  out  the  thorn 
That  stiketh  in  his  herte  ? '  quod  Pandare ; 
'  Sey  "  al  foryeve,"  and  stint  is  al  this 

fare!'  1106 

159.  'Ye,  that  to  me,'  quod  she,  '  ful 
lever  were 

Than  al  the  good  the  sonne  aboute  gooth ' ; 
And  therwith-al  she  swoor  him  in  his  ere, 
'Y-wis,    my   dere    herte,    I    am    nought 

wrooth,  nio 

Have  here  my  troutho  and  many  another 

ooth  ; 
Now  speek  to  me,  for  it  am  I,  Criseyde  ! ' 
But  al  for  nought ;   yet  mighte  he  not 

a-breyde. 

160.  Therwith  his  pous  and  pawmes  of 
his  hondes 

They  gan  to  frote,  and  wetc  his  temples 
tweyne,  1115 

And,  to  deliveren  him  from  bittre  bondes. 

She  ofte  him  kiste  ;  and,  shortly  for  to 
seyne. 

Him  to  revoken  she  dide  al  hir  peync. 

And  at  the  laste,  he  gan  his  breeth  to 
drawe. 

And  of  his  swough  sone  after  that  adawe, 

161.  And  gan  bet  minde  and  reson  to  him 
take,  1 121 

But  wonder  sore  he  was  abayst,  y-wis. 
And  with  a  syk,  whan  he  gan  bet  a-wake, 
He  seyde,  '  O  mercy,  god,  what  thing  is 

this?' 
'  Wliy  do  ye  with  your-selven  thus  amis  ? ' 
Quod   tho   Crisej-de,   '  is  this  a  mannes 

game?  1126 

Wliat,    Troilus !    wol    yc    do    thus,    for 

shame  ? ' 

162.  And  therwith-al  hir  arm  over  him 
she  lejde, 

And  al  foryaf,  and  ofte  tymc  him  keste. 
He  thonked  hir,  and  to  hir   spak,    and 
seyde  1130 


As  fil  to  purpos  for  his  herte  reste. 

And  she   to   that   answerde  him  as  hir 

leste  ; 
And  with  hir  goodly  wordes  him  disporte 
She  gan,  and  ofte  his  sorwes  to  comforte. 

163.  Quod  Pandarus,   '  for   ought  I  can 
espyen,  1135 

This  light  nor  I  ne  serven  here  of  nought ; 
Light  is  not  good  for  syke  folkes  yen. 
But  for  the  love  of  god,  sin  ye  be  brought 
In   thiis  good   plyt,  lat  now  non  hevy 

thought 
Ben    hanginge    in    the    hertes    of   yow 

tweye:'  1140 

And  bar  the  candel  to  the  chimene.ve. 

164.  Sone  after  this,  though  it  no  nede 
were, 

Wlian  she  swich  othes  as  hir  list  devyse 
Hadde  of  him  take,  hir  thoughte  tho  no 

fere, 
Ne  cause  eek  non,  to  bidde  him  thennes 

ryse.  1145 

Yet  lesse  thing  than  othes  may  suflfyse 
In  many  a  cas  ;  for  evei-y  wight,  I  gesse. 
That  loveth  wel  meneth  but  gentilesse. 

165.  But  in  effect  she  wolde  wite  anoon 
Of  what  man,  and  eek  where,  and  also 

why  1 150 

He  jelous  was,  sin  ther  was  cause  noon  ; 
And  eek  the  signe,  that  he  took  it  by, 
She  bad  him  that  to  telle  hir  bisily, 
Or  elles,  certeyn,  she  bar  him  on  honde, 
That  this  was  doon  of  malis,  hir  to  fonde. 

166.  With-outen    more,    shortly    for    to 
seyne,  1156 

He  moste  obeyc  iin-to  his  lady  heste  ; 
And  for  the  lasso  harm,  he  moste  feyiie. 
He  seyde  hir,  whan  she  was  at  swichc 

a  festo 
She  mighte   on  him    ban    loked   at   the 

lesto  ;  1 1 60 

Not  I  Tu>t  what,  al  dere  y-nougli  a  risshe. 
As  he  that  nedes  moste  a  cause  fisshe. 

167.  And  she  answerde,  '  swetc,  al  were 
it  so, 

Wliat  harm    was    that,    sin   I    non   j'vel 
mene? 


264 


^trotfue  anb  Cviet^U. 


[Book  III. 


For,  by  that  god  that  boughte  tis  bothe 
two,  1 165 

In  alle  thinge  is  myn  entente  clene. 

Swich  arguments  ne  been  not  worth  a 
bene  ; 

Wol  ye  the  childish  jalons  contrefete  ? 

Now  were  it  worthy  that  ye  were  y-bete.' 

168.  Tho  Troilus  gan  sorwfuUy  to  syke, 
Lest   she   be  wrooth,  him   thought©  bis 

herte  deyde  ;  1171 

And  se3-de,  '  alias  !  \ipon  my  soi^ves  syke 
Have  mercy,  swete  herte  myn,  Criseyde ! 
And  if  that,  in  tho  wordes  that  I  seyde, 
Be  any  wrong,  I  wol  no  more  trespace  ; 
Do  what  yow  list,  I  am  al  in  your  grace.' 

169.  And  she  answerde,  'of  gilt  miseri- 
corde ! 

That  is  to  seyn,  that  I  foryeve  al  this ; 
And  ever-more  on  this  night  yow  recorde. 
And  beth  wel  war  ye  do  no  more  amis.'i  180 
'  Nay,  derc  herte  m^-n,'  quod  lie,  '  y-wis.' 
'And  now,'  quod  she,    'that   I  have  do 

yow  smerte, 
Forj'eve  it  me,  myn  owene  swete  herte.' 

170.  This  Troilus,  with  blisse  of  that  sup- 
prj-sed,  1 184 

Put  al  in  goddes  hond,  as  he  that  mente 
No-thing  but  wel ;  and,  sodeynly  avysed, 
He  hir  in  armes  faste  to  him  hente. 
And  Pandarns,  with  a  ful  good  entente, 
Leyde  him  to  slepe,  and  seyde,  '  if  ye  ben 

■wyse, 
Swowneth  not  now,  lest  more  folk  aryse.' 

171.  AMiat  mighte  or  maj  the  sely  larke 
seye,  1191 

Whan  that  the  sparhauk  hath  it  in  his 

foot? 
I  can  no  more,  but  of  thise  ilke  tweye, 
To  whom  this  tale  Sucre  be  or  soot, 
Though  that  I  tarie  a  yeer,   som-tyme 

I  moot,  _       1 195 

After  myn  auctor,  tellen  hir  gladnesse, 
As  wel  as  I  have  told  hir  hevinesse. 

172.  Criseyde,  which  that  felte  hir  thus 
y-take, 

As  writen  clerkes  in  hir  bokes  olde. 


Right  as  an  aspes  leef  she  gan  to  quake, 
Whan  she   him   felte  hir   in  his   amies 

folde.  1 201 

But  Troilus,  al  hool  of  cares  colde, 
Gan    thanken    tho    the     V)lisful    goddes 

sevene  ; 
Thus    soudry    jieynes    bringen    folk    to 

hevene. 

173.  This    Troilus    in    armes    gan    hir 
streyne,  1205 

And  seyde,  '  O  swete,  as  ever  mote  I  goon. 
Now  be  ye  caught,  now  is  ther  but  we 

tweyne  ; 
Now  yeldeth  yow,  for  other  boot  is  noon.' 
To  that  Criseyde  answerde  thus  anoon, 
'  Ne  hadde   I   er  now,    my  swete  herte 

dere,  1210 

Ben  yolde,  y-wis,  I  were  now  not  here  ! ' 

174.  O  !  sooth  is  seyd,  that  heled  for  to  be 
As  of  a  fevre  or  otliere  greet  syknesse. 
Men  moste  drinke,  as  men  may  often  see, 
Ful  bittre  drink  ;  and  for  to  lian  glad- 
nesse, 1 2 15 

Men  drinken  often  peyne  and  greet  dis- 

tresse ; 
I  mene  it  here,  as  for  this  aventure. 
That  thourgh  a  pejTie  hath  founden  al 

his  cure. 

175.  And   now   swetnesse    semetli    more 
swete. 

That  bittemesse  assayed  was  biforn  ;  1220 
For  out  of  wo  in  blisse  now  they  flete. 
Non  swich   they   felten,   sith   tliey  were 

born  ; 
Now  is  this  bet,  than  bothe  two  be  lorn  ! 
For  love    of  god,   take   every  womman 

hede 
To  werken  thus,  if  it  comtli  to  the  nede. 

176.  Criseyde,  al  quit  from   cverj-  drede 
and  tene,  1226 

As  she  that  jusle  cause  hadde  liini  to  triste. 
Made  him  swich  feste,  it  j<  lye  was  to  sene, 
WTian  she  his  trouthe  and  clene  entente 
wiste.  1229 

And  as  abonte  a  tree,  with  many  a  twiste, 
Bitrent  and  wryth  the  sote  wode-binde, 
Gan  oche  of  liem  in  armes  other  wnde. 


Book  III.] 


^rotfu0  anil  Ctiet^'im. 


26= 


177.  And  as  the  newe  abaysslied  nightin- 
gale, 

That  stinteth  first  whan  she  biginneth 

singe, 
Whan  that  she  hereth  any  herde  tale,  1235 
Or  in  the  hegges  any  wight  steringe. 
And  after  siker  dooth  hir  voys  out-ringe ; 
Eight  so  Crise.yde,  whan  hir  drede  stente, 
Opnedhir  herte,  and  tolde  him  hir  entente. 

178.  And  right  as  he  that  seeth  his  deeth 
y-shapen,  1240 

And  deye  moot,   in  ought  that  he  may 

gesse. 
And  sodeynly  rescous  doth  him  escapen, 
And  from  his  deeth  is  brought  in  siker- 

nesse, 
For  al  this  world,  in  swich  present  glad- 

nesse  1244 

Was  Troilus,  and  hath  his  lady  swete  ; 
Witli  worse  hap  god  lat  us  never  mete  ! 

179.  Hir  armes  smale,  hir  streyghte  ball 
and  softe, 

Hir    sydes   longe,    fleshly,    smothe,    and 

whyte 
He  gan  to  stroke,  and  good  thrift  bad  fnl 

ofte 
Hir  snowish  throte,  hir  bi-estes  rounde  and 

lyte  ;  1250 

Thus  in  this  hevene  he  gan  him  to  delyte, 
And  ther-with-al  a   thousand   tyme  hir 

kiste  ; 
That,  what  to  done,  for  joye  unnethe  he 

wiste. 

180.  Than  seyde  he  thus,   '  O,   Love,    O, 
Charitee, 

Thy  moder  eek,  Citherea  the  swete,     1255 
After  thy-self  next  heried  be  she, 
Venus  niene  I,  the  wel-wiUy  planete  ; 
And  next  that,  Imeneus,  I  thee  grete  ; 
For  never  man  was  to  yow  goddes  holde 
As   I,   whicli   ye   han  brought  fro   cares 
colde.  i2  5o 

181.  Benigne   Love,    thou   holy   bond   of 
thinges, 

Who-so  wol  grace,  and  list  thee  nought 

honouren, 
Lo,  his  desyr  wol  flee  with-outen  winges. 
K 


For,  noldestow  of  bountee  hem  socouren 
That  serveu  best  and  most  alweylabouren. 
Yet  were  al  lost,   that  dar    I  wel  seyn, 
certes,  1266 

But-if  thy  grace  passed  our  desertes. 

182.  And  for  thou  me,  that  ooude  leest 
deserve 

Of  hem  that   nombred    been    un-to   thy 

grace. 
Hast  holpen,  ther  I  l.ykly  was  to  sterve. 
And  me  bistowed  in  so  heygh  a  place  1271 
That  thilke  boundes  may  no  blisse  pace, 
I  can  no  more,  bvit  laude  and  reverence 
Be  to  thy  bounte  and  thyn  excellence  ! ' 

183.  And  therwith-al  Criseyde  anoon  lie 
kiste,  1275 

Of  which,  certeyn,  she  felto  no  disese. 
And  thiis  seyde  he,   '  now  wolde  god  I 

wiste, 
Myn  herte  swete,  how  I  yow  mighte  plese ! 
What  man,'  quod  he,  '  was  ever  thus  at  ese 
As   I,    on   whiche   the   faireste  and   the 

beste  1280 

Tliat  over  I  say,  deyneth  hir  herte  reste. 

181.    Here    may    men    seen    tliat   mercy 

passeth  right ; 
The  experience  of  that  is  felt  in  nie, 
Tliat  am  unworthy  to  so  swete  a  wight. 
But  herte  myn,  of  your  benignitee,      1285 
So  thenketh,  though  that  I  unworthy  be. 
Yet  mot  I  nede  amenden  in  som  wyse, 
Eight  thourgh  the  vertu  of  your  heyghe 

servyse. 

185.  And  for  the  love    of  god,   my  lady 
dore, 

Sin  god  hath  wrought  me  for  I  shal  yow 
serve,  1290 

As  thus  I  mene,  that  ye  wol  be  my  stere, 
To  do  mo  live,  if  that  yow  liste,  or  sterve. 
So  techeth  me  how  that  I  may  deserve 
Your    thank,    so    that    I,    thurgh    myn 
ignoraunce,  1294 

Ne  do  no-thing  that  yow  be  displesaunce. 

186.  For  certes,  fresshe  wommanliche  wyf. 
This  dar  I  seye,  that  trouthe  and  dili- 
gence, 

That  shal  ye  finden  in  me  al  my  lyf, 

3 


266 


^roifue  an^  Cviet^^t. 


[Book  III. 


Ne  I  wol  not,  certeyn,  breken  your  de- 
fence ; 
And  if  I  do,  present  or  in  absence,      1300 
For  love  of  god,  lat  slee  me  witli  the  dede, 
If  that  it  lyke  un-to  your  womanhede.' 

1S7.  '  Y-wis,'  quod  she,  '  myn  owne  hertes 

list. 
My  ground  of  ese,  and  al  rnj-n  herte  dere, 
Graunt   mercy,   for  on    that    is    ol  my 

trist ;  1505 

But  late  us  falle  awey  fro  this  matere  ; 
For  it  suflfyseth,  this  that  seyd  is  here. 
And  at  o  word,  with-outen  repentaunce, 
Wel-come,    my    knight,    my    pees,    my 

suffisaunce  ! ' 

138.  Of  hir  delj't,  or  joyes  oon  the  leste 
Were  impossible  to  my  wit  to  seye  ;  131 1 
But  juggeth,  ye  that  ban  ben  at  the  feste 
Of  swich  gladnesse,  if  that  hem  listepleyo ! 
I  can  no  more,  but  thus  thise  ilke  tweye 
That  night,  be-twixen  dreed  and  siker- 
nesse,  13 15 

Felten  in  love  the  grete  worthinesse. 

1S9.  O   blisful  night,    of    hem    so   longe 

y-sougbt. 
How  blithe  un-to  hem   bothe  two  thou 

were  ! 
Why  ne  hadde  I  swich  on  with  my  soule 

y-bought. 
Ye,  or  the  leeste  joye  that  was  there  ?  1320 
A-wey,  thou  foule  daunger  and  thou  fere. 
And  lat  hem  in  this  hevene  blisse  dwelle. 
That  is  so  heygh,  that  al  ne  can  I  telle  ! 

190.  But  sooth  is,  though  I  can  not  tellen  al. 
As  can  myn  auctor,  of  bis  excellence,  1325 
Yet  have  I  seyd,  and,  god  to-fom,  I  shal 
In  every  thing  al  hooUj'  his  sentence. 
And  if  that  I,  at  loves  reverence, 

Have  any  word  in  eched  for  the  beste, 
Doth   therwith-al    right  as    j'our-selven 
leste.  1330 

191.  For  myne  wordes,  here   and    every 
part, 

I  speke  hem  alle  under  correccioun 
Of  yow,  that  feling  ban  in  loves  art, 
And  putte  it  al  in  your  discrecioun 
T'  encrese  or  maken  diminucioun         1335 


Of  my  langage,  and  that  I  yowbi-seche  ; 
But  now  to  purpos  of  my  rather  speche. 

192.  Thise  ilke  two,  that  ben  in  armes 
laft. 

So  looth  to  hem  a-sonder  goon  it  were. 
That  ech  from  other  wende  been  biraft, 
Or  dies,  lo,  this  was  hir  moste  fere,     1341 
That  al  this  thing  but  nyce  dremes  were; 
For  which  ful  ofte  ech  of  hem  seyde,  '  O 

swete, 
Clippe  ich  yow  thus,  or  elles  I  it  mete  ? ' 

193.  And,  lord !  so  he  gan  goodly  on  hir 
see,  1345 

That  never  his  look  ne  bleynte  from  hir 

face, 
And  seyde,  '  O  dere  herte,  may  it  be 
That  it  be  sooth,  that  ye  ben  in   this 

place?' 

'  Ye,  herte  mj-n,  god  thank  I  of  his  grace ! ' 

I  Quod  tho  Criseyde,  and  therwith-al  him 

kiste,  1350 

I  That  where  his  spirit  was,  for  joye  he  niste. 

194.  This  Troilus  ful  ofte  hir  eyen  two 
Gan  for  to  kisse,  and  seyde,  'O  eyen  clere, 
It  were  ye  that  wroughte  me  swich  wo. 
Ye  humble  nettes  of  my  lady  dere  !      1355 
Though  ther  be  mercy  writen   in  your 

chere, 
Gk)d  wot,  the  text  ful  hard  is,  sooth,  to 

finde, 
Howcoude  ye  with-outen  bond  me  binde?' 

195.  Tlierwith  he  gan  hir  faste  in  armes 
take,  1359 

And  wel  an  hundred  tymes  gan  he  syke. 
Nought  swichesorwfulsykes  as  men  make 
For  wo,  or  elles  whan  that  folk  ben  syke, 
But  esy  sykes,  swiche  as  been  to  lyke, 
That  shewed  his  afFeccioun  with-inne  ; 
Of  swiche  sykes  coude  he  nought  bilinne. 

196.  Sone  after  this  they  sjjeke  of  sondry 
thinges,  1366 

As  fil  to  purpos  of  this  aventure. 
And  pleyinge  entrecbaungeden  hir  ringes. 
Of  which  I  can  noxight  tellen  noscripture ; 
But  wel  I  woot  a  broche,  gold  and  asure. 
In  whiche  a  ruby  set  was  lyk  an  herte,  1371 
Criseyde  him  yaf,  and  stak .  it  on  his 
sherte. 


Book  111. 


^rotfue  anb  Ctiaepte. 


267 


197.  Lord !  troweye,  acoveitous,  a  wrecche, 
That  blameth  love  and  holt  of  it  despyt, 
That,  of  tlio  pens  that  he  can  mokre  and 

kecche,  i375 

Was  ever  yet  y-yeve  him  swich  delyt, 
As  is  in  love,  in  00  poynt,  in  som  plyt  ? 
Nay,  doutelees,  for  also  god  me  save, 
So  parfit  joye  may  no  nigard  have  ! 

198.  They    wol    sey    'yis,'  but  lord!     so 
that  they  lye,  13S0 

Tho  Lisy  wrecches,  ful  of  wo  and  drede  ! 
They  callen  love  a  woodnesse  or  folye, 
Bnt  it  shal  falle  hem  as  I  shal  yow  rede  ; 
They  shul  forgo  the  whj^e  and  eke  the 

rede. 
And  live  in  wo,  ther  god  yeve  hem  mis- 

chaunce,  1385 

And  every  lover  in  his  tronthe  avaunce  ! 

199.  As  wolde   god,  tho   wrecches,   that 
dispyse 

Servyse  of  love,  hadde  eres  al-so  longe 

As  hadde  Myda,  ful  of  coveityse  ; 

And  ther-to  dronken  hadde  as  hoot  and 

stronge  1390 

As  Crassus  dide  for  his  aifectis  wronge, 
To  techen  hem  that  they  ben  in  the  vyce. 
And  loveres  nought,  al-though  theyholde 

hem  nyce  ! 

200.  Tliise  ilke  two,  of  whom  that  I  yow 
soye,  1394 

Wlian  that  hir  hertes  wel  assured  were, 
Tho  gonne  they  to  siieken  and  to  pleye. 
And  eek  rehercen  how,  and  whanne,  and 

where, 
They  knewe  hem  first,  and  every  wo  and 

fere 
That  passed  was  ;  but  al  swich  hevinesse, 
I  thanke  it  god,  was  tourned  to  gladnesse. 

201.  And  over-mo,  whan  that  hem  fel  to 
.sjieke  1401 

Of  any  thing  of  swich  a  tymc  agoon. 
With  kissing  al  that  tale  sholde  brake. 
And  fallen  in  a  newe  joye  anoon. 
And  diden  al  hir  might,  sin  they  were 
oon,  1405 

For  to  recoveren  blisse  and  been  at  ese. 
And  passed  wo  with  joye  countrepeyse. 

K 


202.  Keson  wil  not  that  I  speke  of  sleep, 
For  it  aocordeth  nought  to  my  matere  ; 
God  woot,  they  toke  of  that  ful  litel  keep, 
But  lest  this  night,  that  was  to  hem  so 

dere,  14' i 

Ne  sholde  in  veyn  escape  in  no  manere, 
It  was  biset  in  joye  and  bisinesse 
Of  al  that  souneth  in-to  gentilnesse.    14 14 

203.  But  whan  the  cok,  comune  astrologer, 
Gan  on  his  brest  to  bete,  and  after  crowe. 
And  Lucifer,  the  dayes  messager, 

Gan    for  to  ryse,   and    out    hir    hemes 

throwe  ; 
And  estward  roos,  to  liim  that  cou.de  it 

knowe,  1419 

Fortuna  maior,  fthan  anoon  Criseyde, 
With  herte  sore,  to  Troilus  thus  seyde : — 

204.  '  Myn"  hertes  lyf,   my  trist  and  my 
plesaunce, 

That  I  was  born,  alias  !  what  me  is  wo, 
That  day  of  us  mot  make  desseveraunce  ! 
For  tyme  it  is  to  ryse,  and  hennes  go,  1425 
Or  elles  I  am  lost  for  evermo  ! 
O  night,  alias  !  why  niltow  over  us  hove. 
As  longe  as  whanne  Ahnena  lay  by  Jove? 

20.5.  O  blake  night,  as  folk  in  bokes  rede, 
That  shapen  art  by  god   this  world  to 

hyde  1430 

At  certeyn  tymes  with  thy  derkc  wede. 
That  under  that   men   mighte   in   reste 

abyde, 
Wel  oughte  bestes  pleyne,  and  iblk  thee 

chyde. 
That  there-as  day  with  labour  wolde  us 


That    thou   thus   fleest,   and   deynest   us 
nought  reste!  i43,S 

206.  Thovi   dost,    alias  !    to  shortly  thyn 

offyce, 
Tliou  rakel  night,   ther  god,   makere  of 

kinde. 
Thee,  for  thyn  hast  and  thyn  unkinde 

vyce. 
So  faste  ay  to  our  hemi-spere  binde. 
That  never-more  under  the  ground  thou 

winde !  '44'^ 

For  now,  for  thou  so  hyest  out  of  Troye, 
Have  I  forgon  thus  hastily  my  joye  ! ' 


268 


Crotfu5  ani)  Crieepbe. 


[Book  III. 


207.  This  Troilus,  that  with  tho  wordcs 

felte, 
As  thoughte  him  tho,  for  pigtous  distresse, 
The  blody  teres  from  his  herte  melte,  1445 
As  he  that  never  yet  swich  hevinesse 
Assaj'ed  hadde,  out  of  so  greet  gladnesse, 
Gan  therwith-al  Criseydo  his  lady  dere 
In   armes    streyne,    and    seydc    in   this 

manere : — 

•208.  '  O  cruel  daj%  accusour  of  the  joye 
Tliat  night  and  love  han  stole  and  faste 

y-wryen,  1451 

A-cursed  be  thy  coming  in-to  Troye, 
For  every  bore  hath  oon  of  thy  bright  yen  ! 
Envyous  day,  what  list  thee  so  to  spyen  ? 
What   hastow   lost,    why   sekestow   this 

place,  1455 

Ther  god  thy  lyght  so  quenqhe,  for  liis 

grace? 

209.  Alias  !  what  han  thise  loveres  theo 
agUt, 

Dispitous  day?  thyn  bo  the  pyne  of  helle  ! 
For   many  a  lovero   hastow   shent,    and 

wilt  ; 
Thy   pouring  in  wol  no-wlier  lete  hem 

dwelle.  t^fxi 

Wliat  proferestow  thy  light  here  for  to 

sello  ? 
do  selle  it  hem  that  smale  selcs  graven, 
AVe  wol  thee  nought,  lis  nedeth  no  day 

haven.' 

210.  And  eck  the  sonno  Tytan  gan  ho 
chyde. 

And  seyde,  '  O  fool,  wel  may  men  thee 
dispyse,  1465 

That  hast  the  Dawing  al  night  by  thy 
syde, 

And  sufitest  hir  so  sone  up  fro  thee  i-yse,  j 

For  to  disesen  loveres  in  this  ^^-yse. 

\Miat !  hold  your  bed  ther,  thou,  and  eek 
thy  Morwe  ! 

I  bidde  god,  so  yeve  yow  bothe  sorwe  ! ' 

211.  Therwith  ful  sore  he  siglite,  and 
thus  he  seyde,  1471 

'  My  lady  right,  and  of  my  wele  or  wo 
The  welle  and  rote,  O  goodly  mj-n,Criseyde, 
And  shal  I  ryse,  alias  !  and  shal  I  go  ? 
Now  fele  I  that  myn  herte  moot  a-tvvo  !  1475 


For  how  sliolde  I  my  lyf  an  houre  save, 
Sin  that  with  yow  is  al  tlie  lyf  1  have  ? 

212.  What  shal  I  d..on,  for  certes,  I  not 
how, 

Ne  whanne,  alias  !  I  shal  the  tyme  sec, 
That  in  this  plyt  I  may  bo  ell  with  j-ow  ; 
And  of  my  lyf,  god  woot  how  tliat  shal 

be,  1481 

Sin  that  desyr  right  now  so  byteth  me, 
That  I  am  deed  auoon,  but  I  retourne. 
How  sholde  I  longe,  alias  !  fro  yow  so- 

journe  ? 

213.  But    nathelees,    m3-n    owcnc    lad.\- 
bright,  1485 

Yit  were  it  so  that  I  wiste  outrely. 
That  I,  your  humble  servaunt  and  your 

knight. 
Were  in  your  herte  set  so  fermely 
As  j-e  in  mjoi,  the  which  thing,  trewely, 
Me  lever  were  than  thise  worldes  tweyne, 
Yet  sholde  I  bet  enduren  al  my  peyne.' 

C14.    To   that    Criseyde   auswerde    right 
anoon,  1492 

And  with  a  syk  she  seyde,  '  O  herte  dere. 
The  game,  y-wis,  so  ferforth  now  is  goon. 
That  first  shal  Phebus  falle  fro  his  spere. 
And  every  egle  been  the  dowves  fere,  149') 
And  every  roche  out  of  his  place  sterte, 
Er  Troilus  out  of  Criseydes  herte  ! 

215.  Ye  be  so  depe    in-with    myn  herte 
grave, 

That,  though  I  wolde  it  turne  out  of  m.\- 
thought,  150:) 

As  wisly  verray  god  my  soule  save. 
To  dyen  in  the  peyne,  I  coude  nought  ! 
And,    for  the  love  of  god  that  us  hatli 

wrought, 
Lat  in  your  brayn  non  other  fantasyc 
So  crepe,  that  it  cause  me  to  dye !         1505 

216.  And  that  ye  me  wolde  han  as  faste 
in  minde 

As  I  have  yow,  that  wolde  I  yow  bi-seche  ; 
And,  if  I  wiste  soothly  that  to  finde, 
God  mighte  not  a  poynt  my  joyes  eche  ! 
But,  herte  myn,  with-oute  more  speche, 
Beth  to  me  trewe,  or  elles  were  it  routhe ; 
For  I  am  thyn,  by  g<jd  and  by  my  trouthe  ! 


^rotfue  anb  Cviesp^e. 


269 


217.  Beth  glad  for-thy,  and  live  in  siker- 

nesse  ; 
Thns   seyde  I   never  er  this,  ne  shal  to 

mo  ;  1514 

And  if  to  yow  it  were  a  gret  gladnesse 
To  tnrne  ayein,  soone  after  that  ye  go, 
As  fayn  wolde  I  as  ye,  it  were  so. 
As  wisly  god  myn  herte  bringe  at  reste  ! ' 
And  him  in  armes  took,  and  ofte  keste. 

21*^.  Agayns  his  wil,  sin  it  mot)  nodes  be, 
This    TroUus    up    roos,    and    faste   him 

cledde,  1521 

And  in  his  armes  took  his  lady  free 
An  hundred  tyme,  and  on  his  wey  him 

spedde. 
And    with    swich    wordes   as    his    herte 

bledde, 
He  seyde,  '  farewel,  my  dere  herte  swete, 
Ther  god  us  graunte  sounde  and  sone  to 

mete  !'  1526 

219.  To   ■which   no   word    for   sorwe  she 
answerde. 

So  sore  gan  his  parting  hir  destreyne ; 
And  Troilns  un-to  his  palaj-s  ferde, 
As  woo  bigon  as  she  was,  sooth  to  seyne  ; 
So  hard  him  wrong  of  sharp  desyr  the 

pe.yne  1531 

For  to  ben  eft  there  he  was  in  plesaunce. 
That   it   may   never   out   of  liis  remem- 

braunce. 

220.  Retorned  to  his  real  palais,  sone  1534 
He  softe  in-to  his  bed  gan  for  to  slinke. 
To  slepe  longe,  as  he  was  wont  to  done, 
But  al  for  novight ;   he  may  wel  ligge  and 

winke. 
But    sleep   ne    may    ther   in     his    herte 

sinke  ; 
Thenkinge  how  she,  for  whom  desyr  him 

brende, 
A  thousand-fold  was  worth  more  than  he 

wende.  1540 

221.  And  in  his  thought  gan  up  and  doun 
to  winde 

Hir  wordes  alle,  and  every  contenaunce. 
And  fermely  impressen  in  his  minde 
The  leste  poynt  that  to  him  was  plesaunce ; 
And  verrayliche,of  thilkeremembraunce, 


Desyr  al  newe  him  brende,  and  lust  to 
brede  1546 

Gan  more  than  erst,  and  yet  took  he  non 
hede. 

222.  Criseyde  also,  right  in  the  same  wvse. 
Of  Troilus  gan  in  hir  herte  shette  i54<( 
His  worthinesse,  his  lust,  his  dedes  wyse. 
His  gentilesse,   and  how  she   with   him 

mette, 
Thonkinge  love  he  so  wel  hir  bisette  ; 
Desyring  eft  to  have  hir  herte  dere 
In   swich   a  plj-t,   she   dorste  make  him 

chere. 

223.  Pandare,  a-morwe  which  that  comen 
was  1555 

Un-to  his  nece,  and  gan  hir  fayre  grete, 
Seyde,  '  al  this  night  so  reyned  it,  alias  ! 
That  al  my  drede  is  that  ye,  nece  swete, 
Han  litel  layser  had  to  slepe  and  mete  ; 
Al  night,'  quod  he,  '  hath  reyn  so  do  me 
wake,  1560 

That  som  of  us,  I  trowo,  hir  hedes  ake.' 

224.  And  ner  he  com,  and  seyde,  '  how 
stont  it  now 

This  mery  morwe,  nece,  how  can  ye  fare  ? ' 
Criseyde  answerde,  'never  the  bet  for  yow. 
Fox  that  ye  been,  god  yeve  your  herte 

care !  ,565 

God  helpe  me  so,  ye  caused  al  this  fare. 
Trow  I,'  quod  she,  '  for  alle  your  wordes 

whyte  ; 
O  !  who-so   seeth  yow  knoweth  yow  fill 

Ij-te  !' 

225.  With  that  she  gan  hir  face  for  t<. 
wrye 

With  the  shete,  and  wex  for  shame  al 
reed ;  1570 

And  Pandarus  gan  under  for  to  prye. 
And  seyde,  '  nece,  if  that  I  shal  ben  deed. 
Have  here  a  swerd,  and  smyteth  of  myn 

heed.' 
With  that  his  arm  al  sodeynly  he  thriste 
Under  hir  nekke,   and  at  the  laste   hir 


kiste. 


1575 


226.    I    passe    al    that    which    chargeth 

nought  to  seye, 
'What !    God  foryaf  his   deeth,  and  she 

al-so 


2^o 


ttrottue  ani  Cmep^e. 


[Book  III. 


Foryaf,  and  with  hir  uncle  gan  to  pleye, 
For  other  cause  was  ther  noon  than  so. 
But  of  this  thing  right  to  the  effect  to  go, 
Whan  tyme  was,  horn  til  hir  hous  she 
wente,  15S1 

And  Pandarus  hath  fully  his  entente. 

227.  Now  tome  we  ayein  to  Troilus, 
That  restelees  ful  longe  a-bedde  lay, 
And  prevely  sente  after  Pandarus,      1585 
To  him  to  come  in  al  the  haste  he  may. 
He   com  anoon,   nouglit  ones  seydo  he 

'  nay,' 
And  Troilus  ful  sohrely  he  grctte, 
And  doun   upon  Ms  beddes    syde    him 

sette.  15S9 

228.  This  Troilus,  with  al  the  affeccioun 
Of  frendes  love  that  herte  may  devyse. 
To  Pandarus  on  knees  fil  adoun, 

And  er  that  he  woldo  of  the  place  aryse. 
He  gan  him  thonken  in  his  beste  wyse  ; 
A  hondred  sythe  he  gan  the  tyme  blesse. 
That   he   was  born    to   bringe    him    fro 
distresse.  1596 

229.  He  seyde,  '  O  frend,  of  frendes  th' 
alderbeste 

That  ever  was,  the  sothe  for  to  telle. 
Thou  hast  in  hevene  y-brought  my  sotolo 

at  reste 
Fro  Flegiton,  the  fery  flood  of  helle  ;  :6oo 
That,  thovigh  I  mighte  a  thousand  tymes 

selle, 
Upon  a  day,  my  lyf  in  thy  servyse, 
It  mighte  nought  a  mote  in  that  sufiyse. 

2.30.  The  Sonne,  which  that  al  the  world 

may  see, 
Saw  never  yet,  my  lyf,  that  dar  I  leye. 
So  inly  fair  and  goodly  as  is  she,  1606 

Whos  I  am  al,  and  shal,  til  that  I  deye  ; 
And,  that  I  thus  am  hires,  dar  I  seye. 
That  thanked  be  the  heighe  worthinesse 
Of  lore,  and  eek  thy  kinde  bisinesse.  1610 

231.  Thus  hastow  me  no  litel  thing  y-yive, 

Fo  which  to  thee  obliged  be  for  ay 

My  lyf,  and  why  ?  for  thorugh  thyn  help 

I  live  ; 
For  elles  deed  hadde  I  be  many  a  daj-." 


And  with  that  word  doun  in  his  bed  he 
lay,  161.:; 

And  Pandarus  ful  sobrely  him  herde 
Til   al   was   sej-d,    and   thanno    he    him 
answerde : 

232.  '  My  dere  frend,  if  I  have  doon  for 
thee 

In  any  cas,  god  wot,  it  is  mo  Icef ; 
And  am  as  glad  as  man  may  of  it  be,  1620 
God  help  me  so  ;  but  tak  now  not  a-greef 
That  I  shal  seyn,  be  war  of  thismyscheef, 
That,  there-as  thou  now  brought  art  in-to 

blisse. 
That  thou  thy-self  ne  cause  it  nought  to 

misse. 

233.  For  of  fortunes  sharp  adversitee  1625 
The  worst  kinde  of  infortune  is  this, 

A  man  to  have  ben  in  prosperitec. 
And  it  remembren,  whan  it  passed  is. 
Thou  art  wys  y-nough,  for-thy  do  nought 

amis ; 
Be    not    to    rakel,    though    thou    sitto 
•       warme,  1630 

For   if  thou    be,    certejai,    it    wol    thee 

harme. 

234.  Thou  art  at  eso,  ami  liold  thee  wel 
ther-inne. 

For  also  seur  as  reed  is  every  fyr, 
As  greet  a  craft  is  kope  wel  as  winne  ; 
Brydle  alwey  wel   thy  speche   and   thy 
desyr.  1635 

For  worldly  joye  halt  not  but  by  a  wyr  ; 
That  preveth  wel,  it  brest  alday  so  ofte  ; 
For-thy  nede  is  to  werke  vnth  it  softe.' 

285.  Quod  Troilus,  '  I  hope,  and  god  to- 

fom. 
My  dere  frend,  that  I  shal  so  me  here. 
That  in  my  gilt  ther  shal  no  thing  be 

lorn,  I 64 I 

N'  I  nil  not  rakle  as  for  to  greven  here  ; 
It  nedeth  not  this  matere  ofte  tere  ; 
For  wistestow  myn  herte  wel,  Pandare, 
God  woot,  of  this  thou  woldest  litel  care.' 

236.  Tho  gan  he  teUe  him  of  his  glade 
night.  1646 

And  wher-of  first  his  herte  dredde,  and 
how. 


'ZvoiiuB  ant  Cttaepbe. 


271 


And  seyde,  'freend,  as  I  am  tre we  knight, 
And  by  that  feyth  I  shal  to  god  and  yow, 
I  hadde  it  never  half  so  hote  as  now ;  1650 
And  ay  the  more  that  desyr  me  byteth 
To  love  hir  best,  the  more  it  me  delyteth. 

237.  I  noot  my-self  not  wisly  what  it  is  ; 
But  now  I  fele  a  newe  qnalitee, 

Ye,  al  another  than  I  dide  er  this.'      1655 
Pandare  answerde,  and  seyde  thus,  that  he 
That  ones  may  in  hevene  blisse  be. 
He  feleth  other  weyes,  dar  I  leye. 
Than  thilke  tyme  he  first  horde  of  it  seye. 

238.  This  is  o  word  for  al ;  this  Troilus 
Was  never  ful,  to  speke  of  this  matere, 
And  for  to  preysen  un-to  Pandarus     1662 
The  bonntee  of  his  righte  lady  dere, 
And    Pandarus   to  thanke   and   maken 

chere. 
This  tale  ay  was  span-newe  to  biginne  1665 
Til  that  the  night  departed  hem  a-twinne. 

239.  Sone  after  this,  for  that  fortune  it 
wolde, 

I-comen  was  the  blisful  tyme  swete, 
That  Troilus  was  warned  that  he  sholde, 
Ther    he   was    erst,    Criseyde    his    lady 

mete  ;  1670 

For  which    he    felto    his  herte   in  joye 

flete; 
And  feythfully  gan  alle  the  goddes  herie ; 
And  lat  see  now  if  that  he  can  be  merie. 

240.  And  holden  was  the  forme  and  al 
the  wyse, 

Of  hir  cominge,  and  eek  of  his  also,     1675 
As    it    was    erst,    which   nedeth  nought 

devyse. 
But  playnly  to  the  effect  right  for  to  go. 
In  joye  and  seurte  Pandarus  hem  two 
A-bedde  broughte,  whan  hem  bothe  leste. 
And  thus   they   ben    in    quiete  and  in 

reste.  1680 

241.  Nought  nedeth  it  to  yow,  sin  they 
ben  met, 

To  aske  at  me  if  that  they  blythe  were  ; 
For  if  it  erst  was  wel,  tho  was  it  bet 
A  thousand-fold,  this  nedeth  not  enquere. 
A-gon  was  every  sorwe  and  every  iere  ; 


And  bothe,   y-wis,    they  hadde,    and   so 

they  wende,  16S6 

As  muche  joye  as  herte  may  comprende. 

242.  This  is  no  litel  thing  of  for  to  seye. 
This  passeth  every  wit  for  to  devyse  ;  1689 
For  eche  of  hem  gan  otheres  lust  obeye  ; 
Felicitee,  which  that  thise  clerkes  wyse 
Commenden  so,  ne  may  not  here  sviffyse. 
Tliis  joye  may  not  writen  been  with  inke. 
This  passeth  al  that  herte  may  bithinke. 

243.  But    cruel    day,    so  wel-awey    the 
stounde  !  1605 

Gan  for  to  aproche,  as  they  by  signes 

knewe, 
For  whiche  hem  thoughte  felen   dethes 

wounde ; 
So  -wo  was  hem,  that  changen  gan  hir 

hewe,  1698 

And  day  they  gonnen  to  dispyse  al  newe. 
Calling  it  traytour,  envyoiis,  and  worse, 
And  bitterly  the  dayes  light  they  curse. 

244.  Quod  Troilus,  '  alias  !  now  am  I  war 
That  Pirous  and  tho  swifte  stedes  three, 
Whiche   that   drawen   forth   the  sonnes 

char, 
Han  goon  som  by-path  in  despyt  of  me  ; 
That  maketh  it  so  sono  day  to  be  ;        1 706 
And,  for  the  sonne  him  hasteth  thus  to 

ryse, 
Ne  shal  I  never  doon  him  sacrifyse  !' 

245.  But  nedes  day  departe  moste   hem 
sone. 

And  whanne  hir  speche  doon  was  and  hir 

chere,  1710 

They  twinne  anoon  as  they  were  wont  to 

done, 
And  setten  tyme  of  meting  eft  y-fere  ; 
And  many  a  night  they  wroughte  in  this 

manere. 
And  thus  Fortune  a  tyme  ladde  in  joye 
Criseyde,   and   eek  this   kinges   sone    of 

Troye.  171 5 

246.  In  suffisaunce,  in  blisse,  and  in  sing- 
inges, 

This  Troilus  gan  al  his  lyf  to  lede  ; 
He  spendeth,  justeth,   maketh  ffestey- 
inges  ; 


^roifue  ant  Cneepie. 


[Book  III. 


He   yeveth    frely    ofte,    and    cliaiingetli 
wede,  1719 

And  held  aboute  him  alwey,  out  of  drede, 
A  world  of  folk,  as  cam  him  wel  of  kinde, 
The  fressheste   and   the  beste  ho  coude 
finde; 

247.  That  swich  a  voys  was  of  him  and 
a  stevene 

Thorugh-out  the  world,   of  lionour  and 
largesse,  1 724 

That  it  up  roiig  tin-to  the  yate  of  hevene. 
And,  as  in  love,  he  was  in  swich  gladnosse. 
That  in  his  herte  he  dcmede,  as  I  gesse. 
That  there  nis  lovere  in  this  world  at  ese 
So  wel  as  he,  and  thus  gan  love  him 
plese. 

248.  The  godlihede  or  beautee  wliich  that 
kinde  1730 

In  any  other  lady  hadde  y-set 

Can  not  the  mountaunce  of  a  knot  un- 

binde, 
A-boute  his  herte,  of  al  Criseydes  net. 
He  was  so  narwe  y-masked  and  y-knet, 
That  it  undoon  on  any  manere  syde,  1735 
That  nil  not  been,  for  ought  that  may 

betyde. 

249.  And  by  the  bond  ful  ofte  ho  woldo 
take 

This  Pandarus,  and  in-to  gardin  lede. 
And  swich  a  feste  and  swich  a  proces 

make  1739 

Him  of  Criseyde,  and  of  hir  womanhede. 
And  of  hir  beautee,  that,  with-outen  drede. 
It  was  an  hevene  his  wordes  for  to  here  ; 
And    thanne    lie    wolde    singe    in    this 

manere 

250.  '  Love,  that  of  erthe  and  see  hath 
governaunce. 

Love,  that  his  hestes  hath  in  hevene  hye. 
Love,  that  with  an  holsom  alliaunce  1746 
Halt  peples  joyned,  as  him  list  hem  gye, 
Love,  that  knetteth  la  we  of  companye. 
And  couples  doth  in  vertu  for  to  dwelle, 
Bind  this   acord,  that  I  have  told  and 
teUe ;  1750 

251.  That    that    the    world   with   feyth, 
which  that  is  stable, 

Dyverseth  so  his  stoxindes  concordinge, 


That  elements  that  been  so  discordable 
Holden  a  bond  perpetuely  dviringe, 
That   Phebiis   mote   his   rosy  day   forth 

bringe,  1755 

And  that  the   mone  hath  lordship  over 

the  nightes, 
Al    this   doth    Love ;    ay   hcricd   be   his 

mightes"! 

252.  That  that  the  see,  that  gredy  is  to 
flowen, 

ConstrejTieth  to  a  certeyn  cnde  so  1759 
His  flodes,  that  so  fcrsly  they  ne  growen 
To  drcnchen  erthe  and  al  for  over-mo  ; 
And  if  that  Love  ought  leto  his  brydol  go, 
Al  that  now  loveth  a-sonder  sholde  lope. 
And  lost  were  al,  that  Love  halt  now  to- 
hepe. 

253.  So   wolde    god,    that    auctor    is    of 
kinde,  1765 

That,  with  his  bond,  Love  of  his  vertu 

liste  ■ 
To  cerclen  hertes  alio,  and  faste  binde, 
That  from  his  bond  no  wight  the  wey  out 

wiste. 
And  hertes  colde,  hem  wolde  I  that  he 

twiste 
To  make  hem  love,  and  that  hem  lesto  ay 

rewe  1770 

On  hertes  sore,  and  kepe  hem  that  ben 

trewe. ' 

254.  In  alle  nedes,  for  the  tounes  werre. 
He  was,  and  ay  the  firste  in  armes  dight ; 
And  certeynly,  bnt-if  that  bokes  erre,  1774 
Save  Ector,  most  y-drad  of  any  wight ; 
And  this  encrees  of  hardinesse  and  might 
Cam   him   of  love,   his   ladies  thank   to 

winne, 
That  altered  his  spirit  so  with-inne. 

255.  In  tyme  of  trewe,  ou  haukinge  woldo 
he  ryde. 

Or  elles  hunten  boor,  here,  or  lyoun ;  1780 
The  smale  bestes  leet  he  gon  bi-syde. 
And   whan    that   he  com   rydingc   in-to 

toun, 
Ful  ofte  his  lady,  from  hir  window  doun. 
As  fresh  as  faucon  comen  out  of  muwe, 
Ful  redy  was,  him  goodly  to  saluwe.   17.S5 


Croifue  arib  Crteepbe. 


273 


256.  And  most  of  love  and  vertii  was  his 
speche, 

And  in  despyt  liadde  alle  wrecchednesse ; 
And  doutelees,  no  nede  was  him  biseche 
To   honouren    hem    that   hadde   worthi- 
nesse,  17S9 

And  esen  hem  that  weren  in  distresse. 
And  glad  was  he  if  any  wight  wel  fferde, 
That  lover  was,  whan  he  it  wiste  or  herde. 

257.  For  sooth  to  seyn,  he  lost  held  every 
wight 

Bnt-if  he  were  in  loves  heigh  servyse, 
I  mene  folk  that  oughte  it  been  of  right. 
And   over   al  this,   so  wel  coude  he  de- 

\-yse  1796 

Of  sentement,  and  in  so  tinkouth  wyse 
Al  his  array,  that  every  lover  thoughte. 
That   al   was   wel,  what-so   he  seyde  or 

wroughte. 

258.  And  though   that  he   be   come  of 
blood  royal,  1800 

Him  liste  of  pryde  at  no   wight  for  to 

chase  ; 
Bcnigne  he  was  to  ech  m  general. 


For  which  he  gat  him  thank  in   every 

place. 
Thus  wolde  Love,  y-heried  be  his  grace, 
That  Pryde,  Envye,  Ire,  and  Avai'yce  1805 
He  gan  to  flee,  and  every  other  vyce. 

259.  Thou  lady  bright,  the  doughter  to 
Dione, 

Thy  blinde  and  winged  sone  eek,   daun 

Cupyde ; 
Ye  sixstren  nyne  eek,  that  by  Elicone 
In  hil  Parnaso  listen  for  to  abyde,       1810 
That  ye  thus  fer  han  deyned  me  to  gyde, 
I  can  no  more,  but  sin  that  ye  wol  wende. 
Ye  heried  been  for  ay,  with-outen  ende  ! 

260.  Thourgh  yow  have  I  seyd  fully  in 
my  song 

Th'effect  and  joye  of  Troilus  servyse,    1815 
Al  be  that  ther  was  som  disese  among. 
As  to  myn  auctor  listeth  to  devyse. 
My  thridde  book  now  ende  ich  in  this 

wyse; 
And  Troilus  in  histo  and  in  quiete      1819 
Is  with  Criseyde,  his  owne  herto  swete. 
Explicit  Liber  Tercius. 


BOOK   IV. 


[Prohemium.] 

1.  But  al  to  litel,  weylawey  the  whyle, 
Lasteth  swich  joye,   y-thonked  be    For- 
tune ! 

That    semeth    trewest,    whan    she    wol 

And  can  to  foles  so  hir  song  entune, 
That  she  hem  hent  and  blent,  traytour 

oomune  ;  5 

And  whan  a  wight   is  from   hir   wheel 

y-throwe, 
Tlian  laugheth  she,  and  maketh  him  the 

mowe. 

2.  From  Troiliis  she  gan  hir  brighte  face 
Awey  to  wrythe,  and  took  of  him  non 

hetle, 


But  caste  him  clene  oute  of  his  ladj- 
grace,  10 

And  on  hir  wheel  she  sette  up  Diomede  ; 

For  which  right  now  myn  herte  giuneth 
blede, 

And  now  my  penne,  alias  !  with  which 
I  wryte, 

Quaketh  for  drede  of  that  I  moot  endyte. 

3.  For  how  Criseyde  Troilus  forsook,      15 
Or  at  the  leste,  how  that  she  was  un- 

kinde, 
Mot    hennes-forth     beii    matero    of  my 

book, 
As  wryten  folk  thorugh  which   it  is  in 

minde. 
Alias  !    that     they     shtikle     ever     cause 

finde 


274 


'Zvoiiue  anb  CviBiffU. 


[Book  IV. 


To  speke  hir  harm  ;  and  if  they  on  hir 
lye,  20 

Y-wis,  hem-self  sholde  han  the  vilanye. 

i.  O  ye  Herines,  Xightes  doughtren  three, 
That  endelees  compleynen  ever  in  pyno, 
Megera,  Alete,  and  eek  Thesiphone  ; 
Thon  cruel  Mars  eek,  fader  to  Quiryne,  25 
This  ilke  ferthe  book  me  helpeth  fyne. 
So  that  the  los  of  lyf  and  love  y-fere 
Of  Troilns  be  fully  shewed  here. 

Explicit  t  prohemium.    Incipit  (Juartus 
Liber. 

0.  LiooiN-oE  in  ost,  as  I  have  seyd  er  this, 
The  Grekes  stronge,aboute  Troj^e  toun,  30 
Bifel  that,  whan  that  Phebus  shyning  is 
Up-on  the  brest  of  Hercules  Lyoun, 
That  Ector,  with  ful  many  a  bold  baroun. 
Caste  on  a  day  with  Grekes  for  to  fighte. 
As  he  was  wont  to  grevo  hem  what  he 
mighto.  35 

6.  Not  I  how  longe   or  short  it  was  bi- 

twene 
This   purpos   and   that    day   they  fighte 

mente  ; 
But   on   a   day   wel    armed,    bright   and 

shene, 
Ector,    and   many   .a   worthy   -wight   out 

wente. 
With  spere   in   liond    and   bigge   bowes 

bente ;  40 

And  in  the  herd,  with-oute  lenger  lette, 
Hir  fomen  in  the  feld  anoon  hem  mette. 

7.  The   longe   daj',   with   speres   sharpe 

j'-grounde. 
With  arwes,  dartes,  swerdes,  maces  felle. 
They  fighte  and  bringen  hors  and  man 

to  grounde,  45 

And  with  hir  axes  out  the  braynes  quelle. 
But  in  the  laste  shour,  sooth  for  to  telle, 
The  folk   of  Troye   hem  selven   so   mis- 

ledden, 
That  with  the  worse  at  night  homward 

they  fledden. 

8.  At  whiche  day  was  taken  Antenor,   50 
Maugre  Polydamas  or  Monesteo, 
Santippe,  Sarpedon,  PoljTiestor, 


Polyte,  or  eek  the  Trojan  daun  Ripheo, 
And  othere  lasse  folk,  as  Phebuseo. 
So  that,  for  harm,  that  day  the  folk  of 
Troye  55 

Dredden  to  leso  a  greet  part  of  hir  joye. 

9.  Of  Pryamus   was   yeve,   at  Greek  re- 

queste, 

A  tyme  of  trewc,  and  tho  they  gonnen 
trete, 

Hir  prisoneres  to  chaungen,  nioste  and 
leste,  59 

And  for  the  surplus  yeveu  sommes  grete. 

This  thing  anoon  was  couth  in  every 
strete, 

Bothe  in  th'assege,  in  toune,  and  every- 
where. 

And  with  the  firste  it  cam  to  Calkas  ere. 

10.  Whan  Calkas  knew  this  tretis  sholde 
holde. 

In  consistorie,  among  the  Grekes,  sone  65 
Ho  gan  in  thringe  forth,  with  lordes  olde, 
And  sette  him  there-as  he  was  wont  to 

done  ; 
And   with  a  chaunged  face  hem  bad   a 

bone. 
For  love  of  god,  to  don  that  reverence, 
To  stinte  noyse,  and  yeve  him  avidience. 

11.  Thanne  seyde  he  thus,  '  lo  !  lordes 
myne,  I  was  71 

Trojan,  as  it  is  knowen  out  of  drede  ; 
And  if  that  yow  remembre,  I  am  Calkas, 
That  alderfirst  yaf  comfort  to  yoiir  nede, 
And  tolde  wel  how  that  ye  sholden  spede. 
For  dredelees,  thorugh  yow,    shal,   in   a 

stounde,  76 

Ben  Troye  y-brend,  and  beteu   doun  to 

grounde. 

12.  And  in  what  forme,  or  in  what  maner 
■wyse 

This  town  to  shende,  and  al  your  lust  to 

acheve. 
Ye  han  er  this  wel  herd  it  me  devyse ;  80 
This  knowe  ye,  my  lordes,  as  I  leve. 
And  for  the  Grekes  weren  me  so  leve, 
I  com  my-self  in  my  propre  persone. 
To  teche  in  this  how  yow  was  best  to 

done  ; 


Book  IV.] 


Zvoi(ue  attb  (J^me^be. 


275 


13.  Havinge  un-to  my  tresour  ne  my 
rente  85 

Eight  no  resport,  to  respect  of  your  ese. 

Thus  al  my  good  I  loste  and  to  yow 
wente, 

Wening  in  tliis  you,  lordes,  for  to  plese. 

But  al  that  los  ne  doth  me  no  disese. 

I  votiche-sauf,  as  wisly  have  I  joye,        90 

For  you  to  lose  al  that  I  have  in  Troye, 

11.  Save  of  a  doughter,  that  I  lafte,  alias ! 
Slepinge  at  hoom,  whanne  out  of  Troye 

I  sterte. 
O  Sterne,  O  cruel  fader  that  I  was  ! 
How  mighte  I  have  in  that  so  hard  an 


herte  ? 


95 


Alias  !    I  ne  hadde  y-brought  hir  in  hir 

sherte  ! 
For   sorwe  of  which   I  wol  not    live  to 

morwe, 
But-if  ye  lordes  rewe  iip-on  my 


15.  For,  liy  that  cause  I  say  no  tyme  er 

now 
Hir  to  delivere,  I  holden  have  my  pees  ; 
But  now  or  never,  if  that  it  lyke  yow,  loi 
I  may  hir  have  right  soue,  doutelees. 
O  help  and  grace  !  amonges  al  this  prees, 
Eewe  on  this  olde  caitif  in  destresse, 
Sin  I  tlirough  yow  have  al  this 


16.  Ye  have  now  caught  and  fetered  in 
prisoun  106 

Trojans  y-nowe  ;  and  if  your  wiUes  be, 
My  child  with  oon  may  have  redempcioun. 
J^ow  for  the  love  of  god  and  of  bountee, 
Oon  of  so  fele,  alias  !  so  yeve  him  me.  1 10 
Wliat  nede   were  it  this  preyere  for  to 

werne, 
Sin  ye  shul  bothe  ban  folk  and  toun  as 

yerne  ? 

17.  On  peril  of  my  lyf,  I  shal  not  lye, 
AppoUo  hath  me  told  it  feithfully  ; 

I  have  eek  fbunde  it  by  astronomye,     115 
By  sort,  and  by  augurie  eek  trewely. 
And  dar  wel  seye,  the  tyme  is  faste  by, 
That  fyr  and  flaumbe  on  al  the  toun  shal 

sprede  ; 
And   thus  shal   Troye   turne   in    asshen 

dede. 


18.  For   certeyn,   Phebus  and  Ncptuniis 
bothe,  i.'o 

That  makeden  the  walles  of  the  toun, 
Ben   with   the   folk    of    Troye   alwey   so 

wrothe. 
That  thei  wol  bringe  it  to  confnsioun, 
Eight  in  despyt  of  king  Lameadoun.    124. 
By-cause  he  nolde  payen  hem  hir  byre, 
The  toun  of  Troye  shal  ben  set  on-fyre.' 

19.  Telling  his  tale  alwey,  this  olde  greye. 
Humble  in  speclie,  and  in  his  lokinge  eke. 
The  salte  teres  from  his  eyen  twe.ye      129 
Ful  faste  ronnen  dovin  by  eyther  cheke. 
So  longe  he  gan  of  socour  hem  by-seke 
That,  for  to  hele  him  of  his  sorwes  sore, 
They  yave  him  Antenor,  with-oute  more. 

20.  But  who  was  glad  y-nough  but  Calkas 
tho? 

And    of   this   thing   ful   sone   his   nedes 
leyde  ,35 

On  hem  that  sholden  for  the  tretis  go, 
And  hem  for  Antenor  ful  ofte  preyde 
To  bringeu  hoom  king  Teas  and  Criseyde  ; 
And  whan  Pryam  his  save-garde  sente, 
Th'embassadours  to  Troye  streyght  they 
wente.  140 

21.  Tho  cause  y-told  of  liir  cominge,  tho 
olde 

Pryam  the  king  ful  sone  in  general 
Let  here-upou  his  parlement  to  holde, 
Of  which  the  eifect  rehersen  yow  I  shal. 
Th'embassadours  ben  answered  for  fynal, 
Th'eschaunge   of  prisoners   and   al    this 
nede  140 

Hem  lyketh  wel,  and  forth  in  they  pre- 
cede. 

22.  This  Troilus  was  present  in  the  place, 
Wlian  axed  was  for  Antenor  Criseyde, 
For  which  ful  sone  chaungen  gan  his  face. 
As  he  that  with  tho  wordes  wel  neigh 

deyde.  151 

But  nathelees,  lie  no  word  to  it  seyde. 
Lest  men  sholde  his  affeccioun  espye  ; 
With  mannes   herte  he  gan  his  sorwes 

drye. 

23.  And   ful    of  anguish   and    of    grisly 

dredo  11;:; 

Abood  wliat  lordes  wolde  un-to  it  seye  ; 


276 


^rotfue  anb  Cnee^le. 


[Book  IV. 


And  if  thej-  woldo  grawnte,   as  frod  tor- 

bede, 
Th'eschaungo  of  liir,  than  thoughte   he 

thinges  tweye, 
First,  how  to  save  hir  honour,  and  what 

weye 
He  miglite  best  th'eschaunge  of  hir  with- 

stonde  ;  160 

Fill   fastc  he  caste   how  al  tliis  mighte 

stonde. 

24.  Love  him  made  al  prost  to  doon  hir 

byde, 
And  rather  dye  than  she  shokle  go ; 


For  infortune  it  woldp,  for  the  nones,   185 

They  sholden  hir  confusioun  desyre. 

'  Ect<)r, '  quod  they,  '  what  goost  may  yow 

enspyre. 
This  womman  thns  to  shilde  and  doon  us 

lese 
Daun   Antenor?— a  wrong   wey  now  yo 

chese — 

28.  That  is  so  wj's,  and  eek  so  bold  baroun. 
And  we  han  nede  of  folk,  as  men  may 
see ;  191 

He  is  eek  oon,  the  grettest  of  this  toun  ; 
O  Ector,  lat  tho  fantasytis  be  ! 


But  resoun  seyde  him,  on  that  other  syde,      O  king  Pryam,' quod  they,  'thus  seggen 


•  Witli-oute  assent  of  hir  ne  do  not  so,   165 
Lest  for  thy  werk  she  wol'e  be  thy  fo, 
.\nd  seyn,  that  thorugh  thy  medling  is 

y-blowe 
Your  bother  love,  there  it  was  erst  un- 

knowe.' 


That  al  our  voys  is  to  for-gon  Criseyde ; 
And  to  deliveren  Antenor  they  preyde. 


29.  O   Juvenal,  lord  !    trewe  is  thy  sen- 
tence. 
That  litel  witen  folk  what  is  to  yerne 
25.  For  which  he  gan  deliberen,  for  the  i>  That  they  ne  finde  in  hir  desyr  oifence ; 


beste. 


j  For  cloud  of  errour  lat  hem  not  descerne 


That  though  the  lordes  wolde  that  she      What  best  is  ;  and  lo,  here  ensami^le  as 

wente,  1 70 

He  wolde  late  hem   graunte   what  hem 

leste. 


And  telle  his  hidy  first  what  that  they 

mente. 
And   whan   that  she  had  seyd   him  hir 

entente, 
Ther-after  wolde  he  werken  also  blyve. 
Though   al    the   world    ayein    it    wolde  I  O  nyce  world,  lo,  thy  discrecioun  ! 

strwe.  175      Criseyde,   which   that    never   dide    hem 

skathe, 
26.    Ector,    which    that   wel   the    Grekes  1  Shal  now  no  lenger  in  hir  blisse  bathe  ; 


yerne.  201 

This  folk  desiren  now  deliveraunce 
Of  Antenor,  that  broughte  hem  to  mis- 

chaunce ! 

30.  For  he  was  after  traytour  to  the  toun 

Of  Troye  ;  alias  !  they  qviitte  him  out  to 

rathe ;  205 


herde, 


But  Antenor,  he  shal  com  hoom  to  toune. 


For  Antenor  how   they  wolde  han  Cri-      And  she  shal  out  •  thus  seyden  here  and 
I  howne.  210 


seyde, 
Gan    it    withstonde,     and    sobrely    an- 

swerde  : — 
'  Sires,  she  nis  no  prisoner,'  he  seyde  ; 
'  I  noot  on   yow  who  that  this   charge  \  For  Antenor  to  yelden  up  Criseyde, 

Igy^e  180  '  ■'^^'^  i*  pronounced  by  the  president. 

But,  on  my  part,   ye  may  eft-sone  him  \  Al-theigh    that     Ector     '  nay '    ful    ofte 


31.  For  which   delibercd  was    bj'  parlc- 
ment. 


preyde. 
And   fynaly,    what    wight    that  it   with- 
seyde,  215 

27.  The  noyse  of  peple  up-stirte  thanne      It  was  for  nought  ;    it  mcsto  been,   and 


telle, 
We  usen  here  no  w 


len  for  to  selle.' 


at  ones. 


sholde  ; 


As  breme  as  blase  of  straw  y-set  on  fyre  ;      For  substaunce  of  the  parlement  it  wolde. 


Book  IV.] 


^trotfu0  ant  Ctieepbe. 


277 


32.  Departed  oiit  of  parlement  echone, 
This  Troilus,  witli-oute  wordes  mo, 
Un-to   his  -chaumbre   spedde   him    faste 

allone,  220 

Bnt-if  it  were  a  man  of  his  or  two, 
The  whiche  he  bad  out  faste  for  to  go, 
By-eanse  he  wolde  slepen,  as  he  seyde. 
And  hastely  up-on  his  bed  him  leyde. 

33.  And  as  in  winter  leves  been  biraft,  225 
Eche  after  other,  til  the  tree  be  bare. 

So  that  ther  nis  but  bark  and  brannche 

y-laft, 
Lyth  Troilus,  biraft  of  ech  wel-fare, 
Y-boiinden  in  the  hlake  bark  of  care. 
Disposed  wood  out  of  his  wit  to  breyde. 
So  sore  him  sat  the  chaunginge  of  Cri- 

seyde.  ^3' 

34.  Ho  rist  him  up,  and  every  dore  he 
sliette 

And  windowe  eek,  and  tho  this  sorweful 

nian 
Up-on  his  beddes  syde  a-doun  him  settc. 
Fill  Ij'k  a  deed  image  pale  and  wan  ;     235 
And  in  his  brest  the  liepod  wo  bigan 
Out-breste,   and   he  to  werken   in    this 

wyse 
In  his  woodnesse,  as  I  shal  yow  devyse. 

3.5.    Eight   as   the   wilde   bole   biginneth 

springe 
Now  here,   now  there,   y-darted  to  the 

herte,  ^4^ 

And  of  his  deeth  roreth  in  compleyninge, 
Eight  so  gan  he  aboxite  the  chaumbre 

sterte, 
Smyting    his    brest    ay    with    his    festes 

smerte  ; 
His  heed   to   the  wal,    his   body  to  the 

grounde 
Fill  ofto  he  swapte,  him-selven  to  con- 

founde.  245 

36.  His  eyen  two,  for  pitee  of  his  herte. 
Out  stremeden  as  swifte  welles  tweye  ; 
The  heighe  sobbes  of  his  sorwes  smerte 
His  speche  him  rafte,  unnethes  mighte 
he  seye,  249 

'  O  deeth,  alias  !  why  niltow  do  me  deye? 
A-cursed  be  the  day  which  that  nature 
Shoop  me  to  ben  a  ly\-es  oreat\ire  ! ' 


37.  But   after,   whan  the  furie   and  the 
rage 

Wliich   that  his  herte   twiste  and  faste 
threste,  254 

By  lengthe  of  tyme  somwhat  gan  asswage, 
Up-on  his  bed  he  leyde  him  doun  to  reste  ; 
But  tho  bigonne  his  teres  more  out-breste. 
That  wonder  is,  the  body  may  suffyso 
To  half  this  wo,  which  that  I  yow  devyse. 

38.  Than  seyde  he  thus,  '  Fortune  !  alias 
the  whylo  !  -'f«) 

Wliat   have   I   doon,   what  have  I   thus 

a-gilt  ? 
How  mightestow  for  reuthe  mo  bigyle  ? 
Is  ther  no  grace,  and  shal  I  thus  bo  spilt  ? 
Shal  thus  Criseyde  awey,  for  that  thou 

wilt?  264 

AUas  !  how  maystow  in  thyn  herte  finde 
To  been  to  me  thus  cruel  and  unkinde? 

39.  Have  I  thee  nought  honoured  al  m,%- 

Ij-V'O, 

As  thou  wel  wost,  above  the  goddes  alio  V 
"Wliy  wiltow  me  fro  joye  thus  depry^-e  ? 
O  Troilus,  what  may  men  now  thee  callc 
But  wrecche  of  wrecches,  out  of  honour 

faUe  271 

In-to  miserie,  in  which  I  wol  biwayle 
Criseyde,   alias  !    til  that  the  breeth  me 

fayle  ? 

40.  Alias,  Fortune  !  if  that  my  lyf  in  joye 
Displesed  hadde  un-to  thy  foi\le  envye. 
Why  ne   haddestow  my  fader,    king   of 

Troye,  276 

By-raft  the  lyf,  or  doon  my  bretheren  dye, 
Or  slayn   my-self,  that  thus  compleyne 

and  crye, 
I,   combre-world,  that  may  of  no-thing 

serve, 
But  ever  dye,  and  never  fully  sterve?  280 

41.  If  that  Criseyde  allone  were  me  laft, 
Nought  roughte  I  whider  thou  woldest 

me  stere  ; 
And  hir,  alias  !  than  hastow  me  biraft. 
But  ever-more,  lo  !  this  is  thy  manerc, 
To  reve  a  wight  that  most  is  to  him  dere, 
To  preve  in  that  thy  gerful  violence.    286 
Thus  am  I  lost,  ther  helpeth  no  defence. 


278 


^trotfue  ant  Ctieepbe. 


[Book  IV. 


42.  O  verray  lord  of  love,  O  god,  alias  ! 
That  knowest  best  myn  herte  and  al  my 

thought. 
What  shal  my  sorwful  l.yf  don  in  this  cas 
If  I  for-go  that  I  so  dere  have  bought?  291 
Sin  ye  Cryseyde  and  me  han  fully  brought 
In-to  your  grace,  and  bothe  our  hertes 

seled. 
How  may  ye  suffre,  alias  !  it  be  repeled? 

43.  What  I  may  doon,  I  shal,  whyl  I  may 

dure  29s 

On  lyve  in  torment  and  in  cruel  peyne. 
This  infortune  or  tliis  disaventure, 
AUone  as  I  was  born,  y-\vis,  complejoie  ; 
Ne  never  wil  I  seen  it  shyne  or  reyne  ; 
But  ende  I  wil,  as  Edippe,  in  derknesse 
My  sorwful  lyf,  and  dyen  in  distresse.  301 

44.  O  wery  goost,  that  errest  to  and  fro, 
AVhy  niltow  fleen  out  of  the  wofuUeste 
Body,  that  ever  mighte  on  grounde  go  ? 

O  soule,  lurkinge  in  this  wo,  unneste,  305 
Flee  forth  out  of  myn  herte,  and  lat  it 

breste, 
And  folwe  alwey  Criseyde,  thy  lady  dere ; 
Thy  righte  place  is  now  no  lenger  here  ! 

45.  O  wofulle  eyen  two,  sin  your  disport 
Was  al  to  seen  Criseydes  eyen  brighte, 
What  shal  ye  doon  but,  for  my  discom- 
fort, 3'" 

Stonden  for  nought,  and  wcpen  out  your 

sighte? 
Sin  she  is  quejTit,  that  wont  was  yow  to 

lighte. 
In  vejTi  fro-this-forth  have  I  eyen  tweye 
Y-formed,  sin  your  vertue  is  a-weye.     315 

46.  O  my  Criseyde,  O  lady  sovereyne 
Of  thilke  woful  soule  that  thus  cryeth, 
Wlio  shal  nowyeven  comfort  to  my  peyne? 
Alias,  no  wight ;    but  when  myn  herte 

dyeth. 
My  spirit,  which  that  so  un-to  yow  hyeth, 
Recey%'e  in  gree,  for  that  shal   ay  yow 

serve ;  32' 

For-thy  no  fors  is,  though  the  body  sterve. 

47.  O  ye  loveres,  that  heighe  upon  the 
wheel 

Ben  set  of  Fortune,  in  good  aventure. 


God  leve  tliat  ye  flnde  ay  love  of  steel,  325 
And  longe  mot  your  lyf  in  joye  endure  ! 
But  whan  ye  comen  by  my  sepulture, 
Remembreth   that    your   felawe    restcth 

there ; 
For   I   lovede   eek,    though    I   ixnworthy 

were.  3^9 

48.  O  olde  unholsom  and  misly^'ed  man, 
Calkas  I  mene,  aUas  !  what  eyleth  thee 
To  been    a  Greek,   sin    thou    art    born 

Trojan  ? 
O  Calkas,  which  that  wilt  my  bane  be. 
In  cursed  tymo  was  thou  born  for  me  ! 
As  wolde  blisful  Jove,  for  his  joye,        335 
That   I  thee  hadde,  where  I  wolde,  in 

Troye  ! ' 

49.  A  thousand  sykes,  hottere  than  the 
glede. 

Out  of  his  brest  ech  after  other  wente, 
Medled  with  ple3Tites  newe,  his  wo  to 
fcde,  339 

For  which  his  woful  teres  never  stente  ; 
And  shortly,  so  his  peynes  him  to-rente. 
And  wex  so  mat,  that  joye  nor  penaunce 
He  feleth  noon,  but  lyth  forth  in  atraunce. 

60.  Pandare,  which  that  in  the  parlement 
Hadde  herd  what  every  lord  and  burgeys 

seyde,  .345 

And  how  ful  graunted  was,  by  oon  assent. 
For  Antenor  to  yelden  so  Criseyde, 
Gan  wel  neigh  wood  out  of  his  wit  to 

breyde, 
So  that,  for  wo,  he  niste  what  he  mente  ; 
But  in  a  rees  to  Troilus  he  wente.         350 

61.  A  certeyn  knight,  that  for  the  tyme 
kepte 

The  chaumbre-dore,  itn-dide  it  him  anoon ; 
And  Pandare,  that  ful  tendreliche  wepte, 
In-to  the   derke  chaumbre,  as  stille  as 

stoon. 
Toward  the  bed  gan  softely  to  goon,     355 
So  confus,  that  he  niste  what  to  seye  ; 
For  verray  wo  his  wit  was  neigh  aweye. 

52.  And  with   his   chere   and   loking  al 

to-torn, 
For  sorwe  of  this,  and  with   his  armes 

folden, 


Book  IV.] 


^toifue  anb  Cvm^tU. 


279 


He  stood  this  woful  Troilus  biforn,       360 
And  on  his  jjitous  face  he  gan  biholden ; 
But  lord,  so  often  gan  his  herte  colden, 
Seing  his  freend  in  wo,  whos  hevinesse 
His  herte  slow,  as  thouglite  him,  for  dis- 
tresse. 

53.  This  woful  wight,  this  Troilus,  that 

felte  365 

His  freend  Pandare  y-comen  him  to  see, 
Gan  as  the  snow  ayein  the  sonne  melte, 
For  which  this  sorwful  Pandare,  of  pitee, 
Gan  for  to  wepe  as  tendreliche  as  he  ; 
And  specheles  thus  been  thise  ilke  tweye. 
That  neyther  mighte  o  word  for  sorwe 

seye.  37i 

B4.  But  at  the  laste  this  woful  Troilus, 
Ney  deed  for  smart,  gan  bresten  out  to 

rore. 
And  with  a  sorwful  noyse  he  seyde  thus. 
Among  his  sobbes  and  his  sykes  sore,   375 
'  Lo !    Pandare,    I   am    deed,    with-outen 

naore. 
Hastow  nought  herd  at  parlement,'  he 

seyde, 
'  For  Antenor  how  lost  is  my  Criseyde  ? ' 

55.  This  Pandarus,  ful  deed  and  pale  of 
hewe, 

Ful  pitously  answerde  and  seyde,  '  yis  ! 
As  wisly  were  it  fals  as  it  is  trewe,        381 
That  I  have  herd,  and  wot  al  how  it  is. 
O  mercy,  god,  who  wolde  have  trowed 

this  ? 
Who  wolde  have  wend  that,  in  so  litel 

a  throwe,  384 

Fortune  our  joye  wolde  han  over-throwe? 

56.  For  in  this  world  ther  is  no  creature, 
As  to  my  doom,  that  ever  saw  ruyne 
Straungere   than    this,    thorugh    cas    or 

aventure. 
Bi^t  who  may  al  eschewe  or  al  devyne  ? 
Swich  is  this  world  ;   for-thy  I  thus  de- 

fyne,  390 

fNe  truste  no  wight  finden  in  Fortune 
Ay  propretee  ;  hir  yeftes  been  comune. 

57.  But  tel  me  this,  why  thou  art  now  so 
mad 

To   sorwen   thus?     Why  lystow  in  this 
wyse, 


Sin  thy  desyr  al  holly  hastow  had,        395 
So  that,  by  right,  it  oughte  y-now  suffyse  ? 
But  I,  that  never  felte  in  my  servyse 
A  frendly  chere  or  loking  of  an  ye, 
Lat  me  thus  wepe  and  wayle,  til  I  dye. 

58.  And  over  al  this,  as  thovi  wol  wost 
thy-selve,  4t><^ 

This  town  is  tul  of  ladies  al  aboute  ; 
And,    to   my  doom,   fairer   than   swiche 

twelve 
As   ever  she   was,  shal   I  finde,   in   som 

route. 
Ye,  oon  or  two,  with-oi\ten  any  doute.  404 
For-thy  be  glad,  myn  owene  dere  brother, 
If  she  be  lost,  we  shul  recovere  another. 

59.  What,  god  for-bede  alwey  that  ech 
plesaunce 

In  o  thing  were,  and  in  non  other  wight ! 
If  oon  can  singe,  another  can  wel  davmce ; 
If  this  be  goodly,  she  is  glad  and  light  ; 
And   this   is   I'ayr,    and    that    can   good 
a-right.  4 '  ■ 

Ech  for  his  vertu  holden  is  for  dere, 
Bothe  heroner  and  faucon  for  rivere. 

60.  And  eek,  as  writ  Zanzis,  that  was  ful 
wys, 

"  The  newe  love  out  chaceth  ofte  the 
olde;"  415 

And  up-on  newe  cas  lyth  newe  avys. 

Thenk  eek,  thy-self  to  saven  artow  holde ; 

Swich  fyr,  by  proces,  shal  of  kinde  colde. 

For  sin  it  is  but  casuel  plesaiince, 

Som  cas  shal  putte  it  out  of  remem- 
braunce.  4-" 

61.  For  al-so  seur  as  day  comcth  after 
night. 

The  newe  love,  labour  or  other  wo. 
Or  eUes  selde  seinge  of  a  wight, 
Don  olde  affecciouns  alle  over-go. 
And,  for  thy  part,  thou  shalt  have  oon  of 
the  4^5 

To  abrigge  with  thy  bittre  peynes  smerte ; 
Absence  of  hir  shal  dryve  hir  out  of  herte.' 

62.  Thise  wordes  seyde  he  for  the  nones 

alle. 
To   helpe   his   freend,  lest  he  for   sorwe 
deyde. 


28o 


Z-voiiue  ari^  Crtee^bc. 


[Book  IV. 


For  doutelees,  to  cloon  his  wo  to  falle,  430 
He  rouglite  not  what  unthrilt  that  he 

seyde. 
But  Troilus,  that  neigh  for  sorwe  deyde, 
Tok  litcl  hcdo  of  al  that  ever  he  mente  ; 
Oon  ere  it  herde,   at  the  other  out  it 

wente:  — 

G3.  But  at  the  lastc  answordo  and  seyde, 
'  frecnd,  435 

This  lechorraft,  or  holed  thus  to  be, 

Were  wel  sitting,  if  that  I  were  a  feend, 

To  traysen  hir  that  trowe  is  tmto  me  ! 

I  pray  god,  lat  this  consayl  never  y-thee  ; 

But  do  me  rather  sterve  anon-right 
here  440 

Er  I  thus  do  as  thou  me  woldest  lere. 

64.  She  that  I  serve,  y-wis,  what  so  thou 
seye. 

To  whom  mj-n  herte  enhabit  is  by  right, 
Shal  han  me  holly  hires  til  that  I  deye. 
For,  Pandarus,  sin   I  have  trouthe  hir 
li'glit,  445 

I  wol  not  been  untrewe  for  no  wight ; 
But  as  hir  man  I  wol  ay  live  and  sterve. 
And  never  other  creature  serve. 

65.  And  ther  thou  seyst,  thou  shalt  as 
fairo  finde 

As  she,  lat  be,  make  no  comparisoun  450 
To  creature  y-formod  here  by  kinde. 

0  leve  Pandare,  in  conclusioun, 

1  wol  not  be  of  thyn  opinioun. 
Touching  al  this  ;  for  whiche  I  thee  bi- 

seche. 
So  hold  thy  pees  ;  thou  sleest  me  with 
thy  specho.  455 

66.  Thow  biddest  me  I  sholde  love  an- 
other 

Al  freshly  newe,  and  lat  Criseydo  go  ! 
It  lyth  not  in  my  power,  leve  brother. 
And  though  I  mighte,  I  wolde  not  do  so. 
But  canstow  pleyen  raket,  to  and  fro,  460 
Isetle  in,  dokke  out,  now  this,  now  that, 

Pandare  ? 
Now  foule  falle  hir,  for  thy  wo  that  care  ! 

67.  Thow  farest  eek  by  me,  thou  Pan- 
darus, 

As  he,  that  whan  a  wight  is  wo  bi-goon. 


Ho  Cometh  to  him  a  pas,  and  seyth  right 
thus,  465 

"Thenk  not  on  snicrt,  and  thoti  shalt  felo 
noon." 

Thou  most  me  first  transmuwen  in  a 
stoon, 

And  rove  mo  my  passiounos  alio, 

Er  thou  so  lightly  do  my  wo  to  lallo. 

68.  The  deeth  may  wel  out  of  my  brest 
departe  470 

The  lyf,  so  longc  may  this  sorwe  myne  ; 
But  fro  my  soule  shal  Criseydes  darte 
Out  never-mo ;  but  doun  with  Proserpync, 
Wlian  I  am  deed,  I  wol  go  wone  in  pyne ; 
And  ther  I  wol  eternally  compleyne  475 
Mj'  wo,  and  how  that  twinned  bo  wo 
twoyno. 

69.  Thow  hast  here  maad  an  argument, 
for  f^-n. 

How  that  it  sholde  lasse  peyne  be 
Criseydo  to  for-goon,  for  she  was  myn, 
And  live  in  ese  and  in  felicitee.  480 

Why  gabbestow,  that  seydest  thus  to  me 
That   "  him  is  wors  that  is  fro  wele  j-- 

throwe, 
Than  ho  hadde   orst   non  of  that  wcle 

y-knowe?" 

70.  But  tel  me  now,  sin  that  thee  thinketh 

so  light 
To  chaungen  so  in  love,  ay  to  and  fro,  485 
Why  hastow  not  don  bisily  thy  might 
To  chaungen  hir  that  doth  thee  al  thy  wo? 
Wliy  niltow  leto  hir  fro  thyn  herte  go? 
Wliy  niltow  love  an-other  lady  swete, 
That  may  thyn  herte  setten  in  quiete  ? 

71.  If  thou  hast  had  in  love  ay  yet  mis- 
chaunce,  491 

And  canst  it  not  out  of  thyn  herte  drjrve, 
I,  that  livedo  in  lust  and  in  plosamace 
With  hir  as  muche  as  creature  on-lyve, 
How  sholde  I  that  foryete,  and  that  so 
blj-\-e  ?  495 

O  where  hastow  ben  hid  so  longe  in  muwe, 
That  canst  so  wel  and  formely  arguwe  ? 

72.  Nay,  nay,  god  wot,  nought  worth  is  al 
thy  reed, 

For  which,  for  what  that  ever  may  bifalle, 


Book  IV.] 


Ctotfu0  anb  ^neepbe. 


281 


Witli-outen  wordes  mo,  I  wol  be  deed.  500 
O  deeth,  that  endere  art  of  sorwes  alle, 
Com  now,  sin  I  so  ofte  after  thee  calle ; 
For  sely  is  that  deeth,  soth  for  to  seyne. 
That,  ofte  y-cleped,  cometh  and  endeth 
peyne. 

73.  Wei  wot  I,  wnyl  my  lyf  was  in  quiete, 
Er  thou  me  slowe,  I  wolde  have  yeven 

hyre ;  506 

But  now  thy  commge  is  to  me  so  swete, 
That  in  this  world  I  no-thing  so  desyre. 
O  deeth,  sin  with  this  sorwe  I  am  a-fyre, 
Thovi  oiither  domeanoon  in  teres  drenche. 
Or    with    thy    colde    strook    myn    hete 

cxnenche  !  511 

74.  Sin  that  thou  sleest  so  fele  in  soudry 
wyse 

Ayens  hir  wU,  tinprej'ed,  day  and  night, 
Do  me,  at  my  reqneste,  this  servyse, 
Delivere  now  the  world,  so  dostow  right. 
Of  me,  that  am  the  wofulleste  wight  516 
That  ever  was ;  for  tyme  is  that  I  sterve, 
Sin  in  this  world  of  right  nought  may 
I  serve.' 

75.  Tliis  Troilus  in  teres  gan  distille. 

As  licoiir  out  of  alambyk  ful  faste  ;  520 
And  Pandarus  gan  holde  his  tunge  stille, 
And  to  the  ground  his   eyen  doun   he 

caste. 
But  nathelees,  thus  thoughte  he  at  the 

laste, 
'  Wliat,   parde,   rather  than   my   felawe 

deye. 
Yet  shal  I  som-what  more  un-to  him.  seye : ' 

76.  And  seyde,    '  freend,  sin  thou  hast 
swich  distresse,  526 

And  sin  thee  list  myn  arguments  to  blame, 
Why  nilt  thy-selven  helpen  doon  redresse. 
And   with   thy  manhod    letten    al   this 

grame  ? 
Go  ravisshe  hir  ne  canstow  not  for  shame ! 
And  outlier  lat  hir  out  of  toune  fare,    531 
Or  liold  hir  stille,  and  leve  thy  nyce  fare. 

77.  Artow  in  Troye,  and  hast  non  hardi- 

ment 
To  take  a  womman  which  that  loveth 
thee, 


And  wolde  hir-selven  been  of  thyn  i 
Now  is  not  this  a  nyce  vanitee  ?  536 

Rys  up  anoon,  and  lat  this  weping  be. 
And  kyth  thou  art  a  man,   for  in  this 

houre 
I  wil  be  deed,  or  she  shal  bleven  cure.' 

78.  To   this  answerde   him   Troilus    ful 
softe,  54" 

And  seyde,  '  parde,  leve  brother  dere, 
Al  this  have  I  my-self  yet  thought  ful  ofte, 
And  more  thing  than  thou  devj'sest  here. 
But  why  this  thing  is  laft,  thou  shalt  wel 
here ;  544 

And  whan  thou  me  hast  yeve  an  audience, 
Ther-after  mayst  thou  telle  al  thy  sen- 
tence. 

79.  First,  sin  thou  wost  this  toun  hath  al 
this  werre 

For  ravisshing  of  wommen  so  by  might. 
It  sholde  not  be  suffred  me  to  erre,       541) 
As  it  slant  now,  ne  doon  so  gret  unright. 
I  sholde  han  also  blame  of  every  wight. 
My  fadres  graunt  if  that  I  so  withstode. 
Sin  she  is  chaunged  for  the  tounes  goode. 

80.  I  have  eek  thought,   so  it  wfere  hir 
assent, 

To  aske  hir  at  my  fader,  of  his  grace  ;  555 
Than  thenke  I,  this  were  hir  accusemeiit. 
Sin  wel  I  woot  I  may  hir  not  purchace. 
For  sin  my  fader,  in  so  heigh  a  place 
Asparlement,hathhir  eschaungo  enseled. 
He  nil  for  me  his  lettre  be  reiieled.       560 

81.  Yet   drede  I  most  hir  lierte  to  jier- 
tourbe 

With  violence,  if  I  do  swich  a  game  ; 
For  if  I  wolde  it  openly  distourbe. 
It  moste  been  disolaundre  to  hir  name. 
And  me  were  lever  deed  than  hir  defame, 
As  nolde  god  but-if  I  sholde  have  566 

Hir  honour  lever  than  my  lyf  to  save  ! 

82.  Thus  am  I  lost,  for  ought  that  I  can 
see  ; 

For  certeyn  is,  sin  that  I  am  hir  knight, 
I  moste  hir  honour  lever  han  than  me 
In  every  cas,  as  lovers  oughte  of  right.  571 
Thus  am  I  with  desyr  and  reson  twight ; 


282 


^rotfu6  anb  £:ri0ep^e. 


[Book  IV. 


Desyr  for  to  distonrben  hir  me  redeth, 
And  reson  nil  not,  so  myn  herte  dredeth.' 

83.  Thus  wepinge  that  he  coude  never 
cesse,  575 

He  seyde,  '  alias  !  how  shal  I,  wrecche, 
fare? 

For  wel  fele  I  alwey  my  love  encresse, 

And  hope  is  lasse  and  lasse  alwey,  Pan- 
dare  ! 

Encressen  eek  the  catises  of  my  care  ; 

So  wel-a-wey,  why  nil  mj-n  herte  breste? 

For,  as  in  love,  ther  is  but  litel  reste.'  581 

84.  Pandare  answerde,  '  freend,  thou 
mayst,  for  me, 

Don  as  tliee  list  ;  but  hadde  ich  it  so  hote. 
And  thj-n  estat,  she  sholdo  go  with  me  ; 
Though  al  this  toun  cryede  on  this  thing 

by  note,  .sSs 

I  nolde  sette  at  al  that  noyse  a  grote. 
For  when  men  han  wel  cryed,  than  wol 

they  roune ; 
A  wonder  last  but  nyne  night  never  in 

toune. 

So.  Devyne  not  in  reson  ay  so  depe 
Ne  curteysly,  but  helpthy-self  anoon  ;  590 
Bet  is  that  othere  than  thy-selven  wepe, 
And  namely,  sin  ye  two  been  al  oon. 
Rys  up,  for  by  myn  heed,  she  shal  not 

goon  ; 
And  rather  be  in  blame  a  lyte  y-founde 
Than  sterve  here  as  a  gnat,   with-oute 

wounde.  595 

66.  It  is  no  shame  un-to  yow,  ne  no  vyce 
Hir  to  with-holden,  that  ye  loveth  most. 
Paraunter,   she  mighto  holden  thee  for 

nyce  . 
To  lete  hir  go  thus  to  the  Grekes  ost. 
Thenk   eek   Fortune,    as   wel   thy-selven 

wost,  600 

Helpeth  hardy  man  to  his  empryse. 
And  weyveth  wrecches,  for  hir  cowardyse. 

87.  And  though  thy  lady  wolde  a  litel  hir 

greve. 
Thou  shalt  thy  pees   ful   wel  here-after 

make. 
But  as  for  me,  certayn,  I  can  not  leva  605 
That  she  wolde  it  as  now  for  yvel  take. 


Wliy  sholde  than   for  ferd  thyn   lierte 

quake  ? 
Thenk  eek  how  Paris  hath,  that  is  thy 

brother, 
A    love  ;    and    why    shaltow    not    have 

another  ? 

88.  And    Troilus,    o    thing    I    dar    thee 

swere,  610 

That  if  Criseyde,  whiche  that  is  thy  leef, 
Now  loveth  thee  as  wel  as  thou  dost  here, 
God  lielpe  me  so,  she  nil  not  take  a-greef, 
Though    thou    do    bote    a-noon   in   tliis 

mischeef 
And  if  she  wilneth  fro  thee  for  to  passe, 
Thanne  is  she  fals  ;  so  love  hir  wel  the 

lasse.  616 

89.  For-thy  tak  herte,  and  thenk,  right  as 
a  knight, 

Thourgh  love  is  broken  alday  every  lawe. 
Kyth  now  sumwhat  thy  corago  and  thy 

might, 
Have  mercy  on  thy-self,  for  any  awe.    620 
Lat   not  this  wrccched   wo    thin    herte 

gnawe. 
But   manly  set   the   world   on   sixo  and 

seveno  ; 
And,  if  thou  deye  a  martir,  go  to  heveno. 

90.  I  wol   my-self  be  with  thee   at  this 
dede. 

Though    ich    and    al    my   kin,    up-on   ji 
stounde,  625 

ShuUe  in  a  strete  as  dogges  liggen  dede, 
Thourgh-girt  with  many  a  wyd  and  blody 

wounde . 
In  every  cas  I  wol  a  freend  be  founde. 
And  if  thee  list  here  ster*-en  as  a  wrecche, 
A-dieu,    the    devel    spede    him    that    it 
recche  ! '  630 

91.  This   Troilus   gan   with    tho    wordes 

quiken, 
And   seyde,    'freend,    graunt  mercy,  ich 


But   certaynly   thou   mayst    not    mo    so 

priken, 
Ne  peyne  noon  ne  may  mo  so  tormente, 
That,  for  no  cas,  it  is  not  myn  entente. 
At  shortc  wordes,  though  I  dyen  sholde, 
To  ravisshehir,but-ifhir-self  it  wolde.'  637 


Book  IV. 


^rotfue  anl  Ctiei^pU. 


283 


92.  '  Why,  so  mene  I,'  qnod  Pandaras,  'al 
this  day. 

But  tel  me  than,  hastow  hir  wel  assayed, 
That  sorwest  thus?'     And  he  answerde, 

'  nay.'  •  640 

'Wher-of  artow,'   quod   Paudare,    'than 

a-mayed, 
That   nost   not   that   she   wol    ben    j-vel 

apayed 
To   ravisshe   hir,  sin  thou  hast  not  ben 

there, 
But-if  that  Jove  tolde  it  in  thyn  ere  ? 

93.  For-thy  rys  up,   as  nought  ne  were, 
anoon,  ^M5 

And  wash  thy  face,  and  to  the  king  thou 

wende. 
Or  he  may  wondren  whider  thou  art  goon. 
Thou  most  with  wisdom  him  and  othere 

blende  ; 
Or,  up-on  cas,  he  may  after  thee  sende 
Er   thou   be   war;    and   shortly,   brother 

dere,  ^^5" 

Be  glad,  and  lat  me  werke  in  this  matere. 

94.  For  I  shal  shape  it  so,  that  sikerly 
Thou  shalt  this  night  som  tyme,  in  som 

manere, 
Com  speko  with  thy  lady  prevely, 
And  by  hir  wordes  eek,  and  by  hir  chere, 
Thou  shalt  ful  sone  aparceyve  and  wel 

here  656 

Al  hir  entente,  and  in  this  cas  the  liesto  ; 
And  fare  now  wol,   for  in  this  point   I 

reste.' 

95.  The  swifte  Fame,   whiche  that  false 

thinges 
Egal  reporteth  lyk  the  thinges  trewe,  660 
Was  thorugh-out  Troye  y-fled  with  preste 

winges 
Fro  man  to  man,  and  made  this  talc  al 

newe. 
How  Calkas  doughter,  with  hir  brighte 

hewe, 
At  parlement,  with-oute  wordes  more, 
I-graunted  was  in  chaunge  of  Antenore.  665 

96.  The  whiche  tale  anoon-right  as  Cri- 

seyde 
Had  herd,  she  which    that    of  hir  fiuler 
roughte, 


As  in  this  cas,  right  nought,  ne  whanne 

he  deyde, 
Ful  bisily  to  Juppiter  bisoughtc 
Yeve   him   mischaunce   that   this    tretis 

broughte.  6;o 

But  shortly,  lest  thise  tales  sothe  were. 
She  dorste  at  no  wight  asken  it,  for  fere  ; 

97.  As  she  that  hadde  hir  herte  and  al  hir 
minde 

On  Troilus  y-set  so  wonder  faste. 

That   al   this   world  ne  mighte  hir  love 

unbinde,  6y^ 

Ne  Troilus  out  of  hir  herte  caste  ; 
She  wol  ben  his,  whyl  that  hir  lyf  may 

laste. 
And  thus  she  brenncth  bothe  in  love  and 

drede, 
So  that  she  niste  what  was  best  to  rede. 

98.  But    as  men    seen   in   t<nTne,    and  al 

aboute,  ^So 

That  wommen  usen  frendes  to  visyte, 
So  to  Criseyde  of  wommen  com  a  route 
For  pitous  joye,  and  wenden  hir  delyte  ; 
And  with  hir  tales,  dere  y-nough  a  myte. 
These  wommen,  whiche  that  in  the  cite 

dwelle,  '^'^o 

They  sette  hem  doun,  and  seyde  as  I  shnl 

telle. 

99.  Quod    first    that    oon,    'I    am    glad, 
trewely, 

By-cause  of  yow,  that  shal  your  fader  see.' 
A-nothor  seyde,  '  y-wis,  so  nam  not  I  ; 
For  al  to  litel  hath  she  with  us  be.'      690 
Quod    tho   the    thridde,    'I  hope,   y-wis, 

that  she 
Shal  bringen  us  tho  poes  on  every  sydc. 
That,  whan  she  gooth,  almighty  god  hir 

gyde ! ' 

100.  Tho  wordes  and  tho  wommannisshe 
thinges. 

She    herde    hem    right    as    though    she 

thennos  were  ;  (^95 

For,  god  it  wot,  hir  herte  on  other  thing 

Although  the  body  sat  among  hem  there. 
Hir  advertence  is  alwey  elles-where  ; 
For  Troilus  ful  faste  hir  soule  soughte  ; 
With-outen   word,    alwey    on    him    she 
thoughte.  z"^" 


28. 


^rotfue  anb  Cvrnf^li. 


[Book  IV. 


101.  Thise  wommcn,   that   thus  wenden 
liir  to  i)lese, 

Aboute     nought     gonne    alle    hir    tales 

spende  ; 
Swich  vanitee  ne  can  don  hir  non  ese, 
As  she  that,  al  this  nieno  whyle,  brende 
Of  other  passioun  thau  that  they  wende, 
So  that  she  f'elto  almost  hir  hcrte  dyo  706 
For  wo,  and  wery  of'that  companye. 

102.  For  which   no  lenger    mighte    she 
restreyno 

Hir  teres,  so  they  gonnen  up  to  welle, 
That  yeven  signes  of  the  bitter  peyne  710 
In  whiche    hir    spirit    was,  and  moste 

dwelle  ; 
Uemembriiig  liir,  fro  lieven  unto  wliich 

helle 
She    fallen    was,    sith    she   forgoth   the 

siglite 
Of  TroUus,  and  sorowfully  she  sighte.  714 

103.  And  thilke  foles  sittinge  hir  aboute 
Wenden,  that  she  wejite  and  syked  sore 
Bj--causo  that  she  sholde  out  of  that  route 
Depai-te,  and  never  pleye  with  hem  more. 
And  they  that  haddey-knowenhir  of  yore 
Sej-e  hir  so  wepe,  and  thoughte  it  kinde- 

nesse,  720 

And  eche  of  hem  wepte  eek  for  hir  dis- 
tresse  ; 

1 04.  And  bisily  they  gonnen  h  ir  conforten 
Of  thing,  god  wot,   on  which  she  litel 

thoughte ; 
And  with  hir  tales  wenden  hir  disporten, 
And  to  be  glad  they  often  hir  bisoughte. 
But    swich    an    ese  ther-with  they  hir 

wrought  e  726 

Eight  as  a  man  is  esed  for  to  fele. 
For  ache  of  heed,  to  clawen  him  on  his 

hele! 

105.  But  after  al  this  nyce  vanitee 
They  took  hir  leve,  and  hoom  they  wenten 

alle.  730 

Criseyde,  ful  of  sor«'efal  pitee, 
In-to  hir  chaumbre  tip  wente  out  of  the 

halle, 
And  on  hir  bed  she  gan  for  deed  to  falle. 
In  purpos  never  thennes  for  to  ryse  ; 
And  thus   she   wroughte,   as  I  shal  yow 

devyse.  735 


106.  Hir  ounded  hcer,  that  sonnish  was 
of  hewe, 

She  rente,  and  eek  hir  fingres  loiige  and 

smalo 
She  wrong  ful  ofte,  and  bad  god  on  hir 

rewe, 
And  with  the  deetli  to  doon  bote  on  hir 

bale. 
Hir  hewe,  whyloni  bright,  that  tho  was 

pale,  740 

Bar  witnes  of  liir  wo  and  hir  constreynte  ; 
And  thus  she  spak,  sobbinge,  in  hir  com- 

pleynte  : 

107.  '  Alas  ! '     quod    she,    '  out    of    this 
regioun 

I,  woful  wrecche  and  infortuned  wight, 
And  born  in  corsed  constellacioun,       745 
Mot  goon,   and  thus  departen    fro    my 

knight ; 
Wo  worth,  alias  !  that  ilke  dayes  light 
^On  which   I  saw  him   first   with    eyen 

tweyne, 
That    causeth  me,   and  I  him,   al    this 

peyne ! ' 

108.  Therwith   the   teres  from  hir  eyen 
two  750 

Doun  fiUe,  as  shour  in  Aperill,  ful  swythe; 
Hir  wliyte  brest  she  bet,  and  for  the  wo 
After  the  deeth  she  cryed  a  thousand 

sythe, 
Sin  he  that  wont  hir  wo  was  for  to  lythe, 
She  mot  for-goon  ;  for  which  disaventure 
She  held  hir-self  a  forlost  creature.       756 

109.  She  seyde,  '  how  shal  he  doon,  and 
I  also  ? 

How  sholde  I  live,  if  that  I  from  him 

twinne? 
O  dere  herte  eek,  that  I  love  so. 
Who  shal  that  sorwe  sleen  that  ye  ben 

inne  ?  760 

O  Calkas,  fader,  thyn  be  al  this  sinne ! 
O  moder  myn,  that  cleped  were  Argyve, 
Wo  worth  that  day  that  thou  me  here  on 

lyve! 

110.  To  what  fyn  sholde  I  live  and  sorwen 
thus  ? 

How  sholde  a  fish  with-oute  water  dure? 
■UTiat  is  Criseyde  worth,  from  Troilus?  766 


Book  IV.] 


^trotPue  anb  Ctteep^e. 


285 


How  sLolde  a  plaunte  or  lyves  creature 
Live,  witli-oute  his  kinde  noriture  ? 
Tor  which  fill  oft  a  by-word  here  I  seye, 
That,  "  rotelees,  mot  grene  sone  deye."  770 

111.  I  shal  don  thus,  sin  neither  swerd  ne 
darte 

Dar  I  Bon  handle,  for  the  crueltee, 
That  ilke  day  that  I  from  yow  departe. 
If  sorwe  of  that  nil  not  my  bane  be, 
Than   shal  no  mete  or  drinke  come  in 
me  775 

Til  I  my  sonle  out  of  my  breste  unshethe  ; 
And  thus  my-selven  wol  I  do  to  dethe. 

112.  And,  Troilus,  my  clothes  everichoon 
Shul    blake    been,   in    tokeninge,    herte 

swete. 
That  I  am  as  out  of  this  world  agoon,  780 
That  wont  was  yow  to  setten  in  quiete ; 
And  of  myn  ordre,  ay  til  deeth  me  mete, 
Tlie  observaunce  ever,  in  your  absence, 
Shal  sorwe  been,  compleynte,  and  absti- 
nence. 

11.°).  Myn  herto  and  eek  the  woful  goost 
ther-inne  785 

Biquethe  I,  with  yov.r  spirit  to  compleyne 
Eternally,  for  they  shul  never  twinne. 
For   though    in    erthe   y-twinned   be  we 

tweyne, 
Yet  in  the  fekl  of  pitee,  out  of  pejTie, 
That  higlit  Elysos,  shul  we  been  y-fere,  790 
As  Orpheus  and  Erudice  his  fere, 

114.  Thus  herte  myn,  for  Antenoi-,  alias  ! 
I  sone  shal  be  chaunged,  as  I  wene. 

But   how   shul   ye    don    in  this   sorwful 

cas, 
How  shal  your  tendre  herte  this  sustene? 
But   herte   myn,  for-yet  tliis  sorwe  and 

tene,  79^ 

And  me  also  ;  for,  soothly  for  to  seye. 
So  ye  wel  fare,  I  recche  not  to  deye.' 

115.  How   mighte  it    ever   y-red   ben    or 
y-songe. 

The   pleynte  tliat   she   made  in  hir  dis- 
tresse  ?  800 

I  noot ;  but,  as  for  me,  my  litel  tonge. 
If  I  discreven  wolde  hir  hevinesse. 
It  sholde  make  hir  sorwe  seme  lesse 


Tlian  that  it  was,  and  childishly  deface 
Hir  heigh  compleynte,  and  therfore  I  it 
pace.  805 

116.  Pandare,    which    that     sent     from 
Troilus 

Was  to  Criscyde,  as  ye  ban  herd  devyse, 
Tliat  for  the  beste  it  was  accorded  thus, 
And  he  ful  glad  to  doon  him  that  servyse, 
Un-to  Criseyde,  in  a  ful  secree  wyse,      810 
Ther-as  she  lay  in  torment  and  in  rage, 
Com  hir  to  telle  al  hooUy  his  message. 

117.  And  fond  that  she  hir-selven  gan  to 
trete 

Ful  pitously  ;  for  with  hir  salte  teres 
Hir   brest,   hir    face    y-bathed    was    ful 

wete ;  815 

Tlie  mighty  tresses  of  hir  sonnisli  heres, 
Unbroyden,  hangen  al  aboute  hir  eres  ; 
Which  yaf  him  verray  signal  of  martyre 
Of    deeth,    wliich    that    hir    herte    gan 

desyre. 

118.  Whan  she  hun  saw,  she  gan  for  sorwe 
anoon  820 

Hir  tery  face  a-twixe  hir  armes  hyde. 
For  which  this  Pandare  is  so  wo  bi-goon, 
That   in   the   hous   he    mighte   unnethe 

abyde. 
As  he  that  pitee  felte  on  every  syde. 
For  if  Criseyde  hadde  erst  compleyned 

sore,  825 

Tho   gan    she  pleyne  a  tliousand  tymes 

niore. 

119.  And  in  hir  aspre  pleynte  than  she 
seyde, 

'  Pandare  first  of  joyes  mo  than  two 
Was  cause  causinge  un-to  me,  Criseyde, 
That    now    transmuwed    been    in   cruel 

wo.  830 

Wher  shal  I  seye  to  yow  "  wel  come  "  or 

no, 
That  alderflrst  me  broughte  in-to  servyse 
Of  love,  alias  !  that  endeth  in  swich  wyse? 

120.  Endeth  than  love  in  wo  ?  Ye,  or  men 
lyeth  !  834 

And  aUe  worldly  blisse,  as  thinketh  me, 
The  ende  of  blisse  ay  sorwe  it  occupyeth  ; 
And  who-so  troweth  not  that  it  so  be, 


!86 


Ctotfue  ani  Cviet^li. 


[Book  IV. 


Lat  liim  upon  me,  woful  wrecche,  y-see, 
That   my-self  hate,    and    ay   my   births 

acorse, 
Felinge  alwey,  fro  wikke  I  go  to  worse. 

121.  Who-so  me  sectli,  he  seoth  sorwe  al 
at  ones,  841 

Peyne,  torment,  plcynte,  wo,  distresse. 
Out  of  my  woful  body  liarm  ther  noon  is, 
As  anguish,  langour,  cruel  bittemesse, 
A-noy,  smert,  drede,  fury,   and   eek  sik- 
nesse.  845 

I  trowe,  y-wis,  from  hevene  teres  reyne, 
For  pitee  of  myn  aspre  and  cruel  peyne  ! ' 

122.  'And  thou,  my  suster,   ful  of  dis- 
comfort,' 848 

Quod  Pandarus,  '  what  thenkestowto  do? 
■UTiy  ne  hastow  to  thy-selveu  som  resport, 
Why  woltow  thus  thy-solve,  alias,  for-do  ? 
Leef  al  this  werk  and  tak  now  hede  to 
That  I  shal  seyn,   and  herkne,  of  good 

entente. 
This,    which   by    mc    tliy    Troilus    thco 

sente.' 

]2.'5.  Torned    hir     tlio     Criseyde,     a    wo 

makinge  855 

So  greet  that  it  a  deetii  was  for  to  see  : — 

'  Alias  ! '  quod  she,  '  what  wordes  may  ye 

bringe  ? 
^Vliat  wol  my  dere  herte  seyn  to  me. 
Which  that  I  drede  never-mo  to  see?   S59 
Wol  he  have  pleynte  or  teres,  er  I  wende  ? 
I  have  y-nowe,  if  he  ther-after  sende  ! ' 

124.  She  was  right  swich  to  seen  in  hir 

visage 
As  is  that  wight  that  men  on  here  binde  ; 
Hir  face,  lyk  of  Paradys  the  image. 
Was  al  y-chaunged  in  another  kinde.  865 
The  pleye,  the  laughtre  men  was  wont  to 

finde 
In  hir,  and  eek  hir  joyes  everychone, 
Ben    fled,   and   thus  lyth   now   Criseyde 

aUone. 

12.5.  Aboute  hir  eyen  two  a  purpre  ring 
Bi-trent,    in    sothfast    tokninge    of    hir 
peyne,  870 

That  to  biholde  it  was  a  dedly  thing. 
For  which  Pandare  niighte  not  restreyne  j 


The  teres  from  his  eyen  for  to  reyne. 
But  natheloes,  as  he  best  mighte,  he  seydo 
From  Troilus  thise  wordes  to  Criseyde.  875 

126.  'Lo,   necc,  I  trowe  yo  han  herd  al 
how 

The   king,    with   othero   lordos,  for    the 

beste. 
Hath   mad   eschaunge   of   Antenor   and 

.vow. 
That    cause    is   of  this    sorwe   and   this 

unreste. 
But  how  this  cas  doth  Troilus  molestc,  8S0 
That   may   non    crthely   mannes    tonge 

seye  ; 
For  verray  wo  his  wit  is  al  aweyc. 

127.  For  which    we   han    so   sorwed,   he 
and  I, 

That  in-to  litel  bothe  it  hadde  us  slawe  ; 
But  thurgh  my  conseil  this  day,  fynally, 
He  somwhat   is   fro   weping  now   with- 
!  •        drawe.  886 

And  semeth  me  that  he  desyreth  fawo 
With  yow  to  been  al  night,  for  to  devyso 
Remede  in  this,  if  ther  were  any  wyse. 

128.  This,  short  and  pleyne,  th'effect  of 
my  message,  890 

As  ferforth  as  my  wit  can  comprehende. 
Forye,  that  been  of  torment  in  swich  rage, 
May  to  no  long  prologe  as  now  entende ; 
And  her-upon  ye  may  answere  him  sende. 
And,  for  the  love  of  god,  my  neoe  dere. 
So  leef  this  wo  er  Troilus  be  here.'         896 

129.  '  Gret  is  my  wo,'  quod  she,  and  sighte 
sore. 

As  she  that  feleth  dedly  sharp  distresse  ; 
'  But  yet  to  me  his  sorwe  is  muchol  more, 
That   love    him    bet    than   he   him-self, 
I  gesse.  900 

Alias  !  for  me  hath  he  swich  hevinesse  ? 
Can  he  for  me  so  pitously  compleync  ? 
Y-->vis,  this  sorwe  doubleth  al  my  peyne. 

130.  Grevous   to   me,   god  wot,  is  for  to 
twinne,' 

Quod  she,  '  but  yet  it  hardere  is  to  me  905 
To  seen  that  sorwe  which  that  he  is  inne ; 
For  wel  wot  I,  it  wol  my  bane  be  ; 
And  deye  I  wol  in  certayn,'  tho  quod  she ; 


Book  IV.] 


^rotfu©  anil  €rteepie. 


287 


'  But  bidde  liim  come,  er  deeth,  that  thus 

me  threteth, 
Dry\'e  out  that  goost,  which  in  myn  herte 

heteth.'  910 

131.  Thise  wordes  seyd,  she  on  hir  armes 
two 

Fil  gruf,  and  gan  to  wepe  pitously. 
Quod  Pandarus,  '  alias  !  why  do  ye  so, 
.Syn  wel  ye  wot  the  tyme  is  faste  by. 
That  he  shal  come  ?   Arys  up  hastely,    915 
That  he  yow  nat  biwoiien  thus  ne  finde, 
Bvit  ye   wol   han   him  wood   out  of  his 
minde ! 

132.  For  wiste  he  that  ye  ferde  in  this 
manere. 

He  wolde  him-selve  slee  ;  and  if  I  wende 
To   han   this   fare,    he   sholde   not  come 
here  920 

For  al  the  good  that  Pryam  may  despende. 
For  to  what  fyn  ho  wolde  anoon  pretende, 
That  knowe  I  wel ;  and  for-thy  yet  I  seye, 
So  leef  this  sorwe,  or  platly  he  wol  deye. 

133.  And  shapeth  yow  his  sorwe  for  to 
abreggo,  925 

And  nought  encresse.  leve  nece  swete  ; 
Beth  rather  to  him  caiise   of  flat  than 

egge. 
And  with  som  wysdom  ye  his  sorwes  bete. 
Wliat  helpeth  it  to  wepen  ful  a  strete. 
Or  though  ye  bothe  in  salte  teres  dreynte  ? 
Bet  is  a  tymeof  cure  ay  thanof  pleynte.  931 

134.  I  mene  thus  ;    whan   I  him  hider 
bringe, 

Sin  ye  ben  wyse,  and  bothe  of  oon  assent, 
So  shapeth  how  distourbe  your  goinge, 
Or  come  ayen,  sone  after  ye  be  went.    935 
Wommen  ben  wyse  in  short  avysement ; 
And   lat   sen   how  your   wit    shal    now 

avayle  ; 
And  what  that  I  may  helpe,  it  shal  not 

fayle. ' 

135.  '  Go,'   qviod    Criseyde,     '  and    uncle, 
trewely, 

I  shal  don  al  my  might,  me  to  restreyne 
From  weping  in  his  sight,  and  bisily,  941 
Him  for  to  glade,  I  shal  don  al  my  peyne. 
And  in  myn  herte  seken  every  veyne  ; 


If  to  this  soor  ther  may  be  founden  salve. 

It    shal    not    lakken,    certain,    on    myn 

halve.'  945 

136.  Goth     Pandarus,    and     Troilus     he 
soughte. 

Til  in  a  temple  he  fond  him  allone, 
As  he  that  of  his  lyf  no  lenger  roughte  ; 
But  to  the  pitouse  goddes  everichone 
Ful   tendrely   he  preyde,   and  made  his 

mone,  950 

To  doon  him   sone  out  of  this  world  to 

pace  ; 
For  wel  he  thoughto  ther  was  non  other 

grace. 

137.  And  shortly,  al  the  sothe  for  to  seye. 
He  was  so  fallen  in  despeyr  that  day. 
That  outrely  he  shoop  him  for  to  deye.  955 
For  right  thus  was  his  argument  alwey  : 
He  seyde,  he  nas  but  loren,  waylawey  ! 

'  For  al  that  comth,  comth  by  necessitee ; 
Thus  to  be  lorn,  it  is  my  destinee. 

138.  For  eertaynly,  this   wot  I  wel,'  he 
seyde,  960 

'  That  for-sight  of  divyne  purveyannce 
Hath  seyn  alwey  me  to  for-gon  Criseyde, 
Sin  god  seeth  every  thing,  out  of  dont- 

aunce. 
And  hem  desponeth,  thourgh  his  orde- 

naiince, 
In  hir  merytes  sothly  for  to  be,  965 

As  they  shul  comen  by  predestinee. 

189.  Bvit  nathelees,  alias !  whom  shal  I 

leve? 
For  ther  ben  grete  clerkes  many  oon. 
That  destinee  thorugh  argumentes  preve  ; 
And  som  men  se3Ti  that  nedely  ther  is 

noon  ;  970 

But  that  free  chois  isyeven  us  everichoon, 
O,  welaway !  so  sleye  am  clerkes  olde. 
That  I  not  whos  opinion  I  may  holde. 

140    For   som  men  seyn,  if  god  seth  al 

biforn, 
Ne  god  may  not  deoeyved  ben,  pardee,  975 
Than  moot  it  fallen,  though  men  hadde  it 

sworn. 
That  pnrveyaunce  hath  seyn  bifore  to  be. 
Wherfor  I  seye,  that  from  eterne  if  he 


^rotfue  ant  Ctiet^^H. 


[Book  I  v. 


Hath  wist  bifom  our  tlionglit  eek  as  our 

dede, 
We  have  no  free  chois,  as  these  clerkes 

rede.  980 

Ul.  For  other  thought  nor  other  dede 

also 
M  ight  never  be,  but  swich  as  pnrveyaunce, 
AVhioh  may  not  ben  dece>•^■ed  never-mo, 
Hath  feled  biforn,  with-outen  ignoraunce. 
For  if  ther  mighte  been  a  variaunce     985 
To  \\Tythcn  out  fro  goddes  purveyinge, 
Ther  nere  no  prescience  of  thing  cominge ; 

142.  But  it  were  rather  an  opinioun 
Uncerteyn,  and  no  stedfast  forseinge  ; 
And  certes,  that  were  an  abusioun,       990 
That  god  shuld  han  no  parfit  cleer  witingc 
More  than  we  men  that  han    doutous 

weninge. 
But  swich  an  errour  np-on  god  to  gesse 
^Ve^e  fals  and  foul,  and  wikked  corsed- 

ncsse. 

1 4:?.  Eek  this  is  an  opinioun  of  somme  995 
That  han  hir  top  ful  heighe  and  smothe 

y-shore ; 
Tliey  spyn  right  thus,  that  thing  is  not  to 

come 
For  that  the  prescience  hath  seyn  bifore 
That  it  shal  come;  but  they  seyn,  that 

therfore 
That  it  shal  come,  therfore  the  purvey- 

axmce  >«Jo 

Wot  it  biforn  with-outen  ignoraunce  ; 

144.  And  in  this  manere  this  necessitee 
Eetorneth  in  liis  part  contrarie  agayn. 
For  needfully  bihoveth  it  not  to  be 
That  thilke  thinges  fallen  in  certayn  1005 
That  ben  purveyed ;  but  nedely,  as  they 

seyn, 
Bihoveth  it   that   thinges,   whiche   that 

falle, 
That  they  in  certayn  ben  purveyed  alle. 

145.  I  mene  as  though  I  laboured  me  in 
this. 

To  enqueren  which  thing  cause  of  which 
thing  be  ;  loio 

As  whether  that  the  prescience  of  god  is 
The  certayn  cause  of  the  necessitee 


Of  thinges  that  to  comen  been,  pardee  ; 

Or  if  necessitee  of  thing  cominge 

Be  cause  certeyn  of  the  purveyinge.    1015 

146.  But  now  ne  enforce  I  me   nat   in 
shewinge 

How  the  ordre  of  causes  stant ;  but  wel 

wot  I, 
Tliat  it  bihoveth  that  the  bifallinge 
Of  thinges  wist  biforen  certeynly 
Be  necessarie,  al  seme  it  not  ther-by  1020 
That  prescience  put  falling  necessaire 
To  thing  to  come,  al   fallo   it  foule  or 

faire. 

147.  For  if  ther  sit  a  man  yond  on  a  see, 
Than  by  necessitee  liihoveth  it 

That,  certes,  thyn  opinioun  soth  be,     1025 
That  wenest  or  conjeetest  that  he  sit  ; 
And  ferther-over  now  aj'enward  yit, 
Lo,  right  so  it  is  of  the  part  contrarie, 
As  thus  ;    (now  herkne,  for  I  wol   not 
tarie) : 

148.  I  seye,  that  if  the  opinioun  of  thee 
Be  sooth,  for  that  he  sit,  than  seye  I 

this,  1031 

That  he  mot  sitten  by  necessitee  ; 
And  thus  necessitee  in  either  is. 
For  in  him  nede  of  sitting  is,  y-wis, 
And  in  thee  nede  of  sooth  ;  and  thus,  for- 

sothe,  1035 

Ther  moot  necessitee  ben  in  yow  bothe. 

149.  But  thou  mayst  sejm,  the  man  sit 
not  therfore. 

That  thyn  opinion  of  sitting  soth  is  ; 
But  rather,  for  the  man  sit  ther  bifore, 
Therfore  is  thyn  opinion  sooth,  y-wis.  1040 
And  I  seye,  though  the  cause  of  sooth  of 

this 
Comth  of  his  sitting,  yet  necessitee 
Is  entrechaunged,  bothe  in  him  and  thee. 

1.50.  Thus    on    this    same   wyse,    out   of 

doutaunoe, 
I  may  wel  maken,  as  it  semeth  me,     1045 
My  resoninge  of  goddes  piirveyaunce, 
And  of  the  thinges  that  to  comen  be  ; 
By  whiche  reson  men  may  wel  y-see. 
That  thUke  thinges  that  in  erthe  falle. 
That  by  necessitee  they  comen  alle.    1050 


;IV.] 


^rot'fue  an^  Crieejle. 


289 


151.  For  al-thoTigh  that,  for  thing  shal 
come,  y-wis, 

Therfore  is  it  purveyed,  certaynly, 
Nat  that  it  comth  for  it  purveyed  is  : 
Yet  nathelees,  bihoveth  it  nedfully, 
That  thing  to  come  be  purveyed,  trewely ; 
Or  elles,  thinges  that  purveyed  be,      1056 
That  tliey  bityden  by  necessitee. 

152.  And  this  suffyseth  right  y-now, 
certeyn, 

For  to  destroye  our  free  chois  every  del. — 
But  now  is  this  abusion  to  seyn,  1060 

That  fallinge  of  the  thinges  temporel 
Is  cause  of  goddes  prescience  eternel. 
Now  trewely,  that  is  a  fals  sentence. 
That  thing  to  come   sholde    cause    his 
prescience. 

153.  What  mighte  I  wene,  and  I  hadde 
swich  a  thought,  io<>5 

But  that  god  purveyth  tiling  that  is  to 

come 
For  that  it  is  to  come,  and  elles  nought  ? 
So  miglite  I  wene  that  thinges  alle  and 

some, 
Tliat  whylom  been  bifalle  and  over-come, 
Ben   cause    of   thilke  sovereyn  purvey- 

annce,  1070 

That  for-wot  al  with-outen  ignoraunce, 

154.  And  over  al  this,  yet  seye  I  more 
herto. 

That   right   as   whan    I  woot   ther   is   a 

thing, 
Y-wis,  that  thing  mot  nedefully  be  so  ; 
Eek    right    so,    whan   I    woot  a   thing 

coming,  1075 

So  mot  it  come  ;  and  tlius  the  blfalling 
Of  thinges  that  ben  wist  bifore  the  tyde, 
Tlicy  mowe  not   been   eschewed  on  no 

syde.' 

155.  Than  seyde  lie  thus,  '  almighty  Jove 
in  trone, 

That  wost  of  al  tliis  thing  tlie  soothfast- 
nesse,  1080 

Rewe  on  my  sorwe,  or  do  me  deye  sone. 

Or  bring  Criseyde  and  me  fro  this  dis- 
tresse.' 

And  whyl  he  was  in  al  tliis  lievinesse. 


Disputinge  witli  him-self  in  this  matere, 

Com  Pandare  in,  and  seyde  as  ye  may 

here.  1085 

156.  '  O  mighty  god,'  quod  Pandarus,  '  in 
trone, 

Ey  !  who  seigh  ever  a  wys  man  fareu  so  ? 
Why,  TroHus,  what  thenkestow  to  done  ? 
Hastow  swich  lust  to  been  thyn  owene  fo  ? 
What,  parde,  yet  is  not  Criseyde  a-go  !  ioqo 
Why  lust  thee  so  thy-self  for-doon  for 

drede. 
That  in  thyn  heed  thyn  eyen  semen  dede  ? 

157.  Hastow  not  lived  many  a  yeer  bi- 
forn 

With-outen  hir,  and  ferd  ful  wel  at  ese  ? 
Artow  for  hir  and  for  non  other  born  ? 
Hath  kind  thee  wroughte  al-only  hir  to 

plese  ?  1096 

Lat  be,  and  thenk  right  thus  in  thy  disese  : 
That,  in   the  dees  right  as  ther  fallen 

chaunces, 
Bight  so   in  love,  ther  come  and  goon 

plesaunoes. 

158.  And  yet  this  is  a  wonder  most  of  alle. 
Why  thou  thus  sorwest,  sin  thou  nost 

not  yit,  iioi 

Touching  hir  goinge,  how  that  it  shal 

falle, 
Ne  if  she  can  hir-self  distorben  it. 
Thou  hast  not  yet  assayed  al  hir  wit. 
A  man  may  al  by  tyme  his  nekke  bede  1 105 
Whan  it  shal  of,  and  sorwen  at  the  nede. 

159.  For-thy  take  hede  of  that  that  I  shal 
seye  ; 

I  have  with  hir  y-spoke  and  longe  y-be, 
So  as  accorded  was  bitwLxe  vis  tweye. 
And  ever-mo  me  thinketh  thus,  that  she 
Hath  som-what  in  hir  hertes  prevetee, 
Wher-with  she  can,  if  I  shal  right  arede, 
Distorbe   al   this,   of  which  thou  art  in 
dredo.  1 1 13 

160.  For  which  my  counseil  is,  whan  it  is 
night. 

Thou   to   hir   go,   and   make   of  this  an 

ende ; 
And    blisful    Juuo,    thourgh    hir    grate 

mighte,  11 16 


290 


^roifu6  rtni  Cviec^U. 


[Book  IV. 


Shal,  as  I  hope,  hir  grace  un-to  us  sende. 
Myn  herte  seyth,  "  certeyn,  she  shal  not 

wende ; " 
And  for-thy  put  thyn  herte  a  whyle  in 

reste;  "119 

And  hold  this  pitrpos,  for  it  is  the  beste.' 

IGl.  This  Troilus  answerde,  and   sighte 

sore, 
'  Thou  seyst  right  wel,  and  I  wil  do  right 

so ;' 
And  what  him  liste,  he  seyde  un-to  it 

more. 
And  whan  that  it  was  tyme  for  to  go, 
Ful  prevely  him-self,  with-outen  mo,  1 125 
Un-to  hir  com,  as  he  was  wont  to  done  ; 
And  how  they  wrouglite,  I  shal  yow  telle 

sone. 

162.  Soth  is,  that  whan  they  gonnc  first 
to  mete,  iiiS 

So  gan  the  peyne  hir  hertes  for  to  twiste, 
Tliat  neither  of  hem  other  mighte  grete, 
But  hem  in  armes  toke  and  after  kiste. 
The  lasse  wofulle  of  hem  bothe  niste 
Wher  that  he  was,  nc  mighte  o  word 

out-bringe. 
As  I  seyde  erst,  for  wo  and  for  sobbinge. 

163.  Tho  woful   teres    that    they   leten 
falle  1 1 35 

As  bittre  weren,  out  of  teres  kinde. 
For  peyne,  as  is  ligne-aloes  or  galle. 
So  bittre  teres  weep  novight,  as  I  finde, 
The  woful  Myrra  through  the  bark  and 

rinde. 
That  in  this  world  ther  nis  so  hard  an 

herte,  1140 

That  nolde  han   rewed  on   hir    peynes 

smerte. 

164.  But   whan   hir  woful   wery  gostes 
tweyne 

Eetorned  been  ther-as  hem  oughte  dwelle, 
And  that  som-what  to  wayken  gan  the 

peyne 
By  lengthe  of  pleynte,  and  ebben  gan  the 

welle  1 145 

Of  hire  teres,  and  the  herte  unswelle, 
With  broken  voys,  al  hoors  for-shright, 

Criseyde 
To  Troilus  thise  ilke  wordes  seyde : 


165.  '  O  Jove,  I  deye,  and  mercj'  I  be- 
seche  ! 

Help,  Troilus ! '  and  ther-with-al  Iiir  face 
Upon    his    brest    she    leyde,    and    loste 

speche ;  1151 

Hir  woful  spirit  from  his  propre  place. 
Right  with  the  word,  alwoy  up  poynt  to 

pace. 
And  thus  she  lyth  with  hewes  pale  and 

grene. 
That   whylom   fresh    and  fairest  was  to 

seue.  1  '55 

166.  This  Troilus,  that  on  hir  gan  biholde, 
Clepinge  hir  name,  (and  she  lay  as  for 

deed, 
Witli-oute  answere,  and   felto  hir  limes 

colde, 
Hir  eyen  throwen  upward  to  hir  heed). 
This  sorwful  man  can  now  noon  other 

reed,  1160 

But  ofte  tyme  hir  colde  mouth  he  kiste  ; 
Wlier  him  was  wo,  god  and  him-self  it 

wiste  ! 

167.  He  rist  him  up,  and  long  streiglit  he 
hir  leyde  ; 

For  signe  of  lyf,  for  ought  he  can  or 
may. 

Can  he  noon  finde  in  no-tliing  on  Cri- 
seyde, ii<J5 

For  which  his  song  ful  ofte  is  '  weylaway ! ' 

But  whan  he  saugh  that  spechelcs  she 
lay, 

With  sorwful  voys,  and  herte  of  blisse  al 
bare. 

He  seyde  how  she  was  fro  this  world 
y-fare ! 

168.  So  after  that  he  longe  hadde  hir 
compleyned,  1170 

His  hondes  wrong,  and  seyde  that  was  to 

seye, 
And  with   his   teres    salte  hir  brest   bi- 

reyned. 
He  gan  tho  teres  wj'pen  of  ful  dreye, 
And  pitously  gan  for  the  soule  preye, 
And  seyde,  '  0  lord,  that  set  art  in  thy 

trone,  1175 

Rewe   eek  on  me,   for  I  shal   folwe   hir 

sone  ! ' 


Book  IV.] 


^rotfue  an'^  Cviot^U. 


29] 


169.  She  cold  was  and  with-outen  sente- 
meiit, 

For  aiiglit  he  woot,  for  breeth  ne  felte  he 

And  this  was  him  a  preignant  argument 
That   she   was   forth   out   of  this   workl 

agoon ;  1180 

And  whan  he  seigh  ther  was  non  other 

woon, 
He  gan  hir  limes  dresse  in  swich  manere 
As  men  don  hem  that  shul  be  leyd  on  here. 

170.  And  after  this,  with  steme  and  cruel 
herte, 

His  swerd  a-noon  out  of  his  shethe  he 

twighte,  i'f'5 

Him-self  to   sleen,    how   sore    that    him 


So  that  his  sowle  hir  sowle  folwen  mighte, 
Ther-as  the  doom  of  Mynos  wolde  it  dighte ; 
Sin  love  and  cruel  Fortune  it  ne  wolde, 
That  in  this  world  he  lenger  liven  sholde. 

171.  Thanne  seyde  he   thus,   fulfild   of 
heigh  desdayn,  1191 

'  O  cruel  .Tove,  and  thou.  Fortune  adverse. 
This  al  and  som,   that  falsly  have    ye 

slayn 
Criseyde,  and  sin  ye  may  do  me  no  werse, 
Fy  on  yovir  might  and  werkes  so  di- 
verse!  I  "95 
Thus  cowardly  ye  shul  me  never  winne  ; 
Ther  shal  no  deeth  me  fro  my  lady  twinne. 

172.  For  I  this  world,  sin  ye  han  slayn  hir 
thus, 

Wol  lete,  and  folowe  hir  spirit  lowe or  hye; 
Shal  never  lover  seyn  that  Troilus       uuo 
Dar  not,  for  fere,  with  his  lady  dye  ; 
For  certeyn,  I  wol  here  hir  companye. 
But  sin  ye  wol  not  suflfre  us  liven  here. 
Yet  suffreth  that  our  soules  ben  y-fere. 

173.  And  thou,  citee,  whiche  that  I  leve 
in  wo,  1205 

And  thou,  Pryam,  and  bretheren  al  y-fere, 
And  thou,  my  moder,  farewel  !  for  I  go  ; 
And  Attropos,  make  redy  thou  my  here  ! 
And  thou,  Criseyde,  o  swete  herte  dere, 
Receyve  now  my  spirit !'  wolde  he  seye, 
With  swerd  at  herte,  al  redy  for  to  deye. 


174.  But  as  god  wolde,  of  swough  ther- 
with  she  abreyde,  1212 

And  gan  to  syke,  and  '  Troilus '  she  cryde ; 
And  he  answerde,  '  Lady  myn  Criseyde, 
Live  ye  yet  ? '  and  leet  his  swerd  doun 
glyde.  1 2 15 

'  Ye,  herte  myn,  that  thanked  be  Cupyde !' 
Quod  she,  and  ther-with-al  she  sore  sighte ; 
And  he  bigan  to  glade  hir  as  he  mighte  ; 

175.  Took  hir  in  amies  two,  and  kiste  hir 
ofte. 

And  hir  to  glade  he  dide  al  his  entente  ; 
For  which  hir  goost,   that    flikered  ay 
on-lofte,  1221 

In-to  hir  woful  herte  ayein  it  wente. 
But  at  the  laste,  as  that  hir  eyen  glente 
A-syde,  anoon  she  gan  his  swerd  aspye, 
As  it  lay  bare,  and  gan  for  fere  crye,   1225 

176.  And  asked  him,  why  he  it  hadde 
out-drawe  ? 

And  Troilus  anoon  the  cause  hir  tolde, 
And   how    himself    ther-with   he   wolde 

have  slawe. 
For  which  Criseyde  vip-on  him  gan  bi- 

holde, 
And  gan  him  in  hir  armes  faste  folde,  1230 
And  seyde,  '  0  mercy,  god,  lo,  which  a 

dede  ! 
Alias  !  how  neigh  we  were  bothe  dede  ! 

177.  Thanne   if  I  ne  hadde  spoken,  as 
grace  was. 

Ye  wolde  han  slayn  youi--self  anoon?' 

quod  she. 
'  Ye,  douteless ; '  and  she  answerde,  '  alias ! 
For,  by  that  ilke  lord  that  made  me,  1236 
I  nolde  a  forlong  wey  on-lyve  han  be. 
After  your  deeth,  to  han  be  crowned  quene 
Of  al  the  lond  the  sonne  on  shyneth  shene. 

178.  But  with  this  selve  swerd,  which 
that  here  is,  1240 

My-selve  I  wolde  have  slayn  ! ' — quod  she 

tho; 
'  But  ho,  for  we  han  right  y-now  of  this, 
And  late  us  ryse  and  streight  to  bedde  go. 
And  there  lat  vs  speken  of  our  wo. 
For,   by  the  morter  which    that  I  see 

brenne,  1245 

Knowe  I  lul  wel  that  day  is  not  fer  henne.' 


292 


^rotfu0  mt  Crteepie. 


[Book  IV. 


179.  Wlian  they  were  in  liir  bedde,  in 
armes  f'olde, 

Nought  was  it  lyk  tho  nightes  here-bifom ; 
For  pitously  ech  other  gan  bihohle,  1249 
As  thoy  that  hadden  al  hir  blisse  y-lorn, 
Biwaylinge  ay  the  day  that  they  were  born. 
Til  at  tho  last  this  sorwfal  wight  Criseyde 
To  Troilvis  these  ilke  wordes  seydo  : — 

180.  '  Lo,  herte  mj-n,  wel  wot  ye  this,' 
quod  she,  1 254 

'  That  if  a  wight  alwey  his  wo  compleyne. 
And  seketli  nought  how  holpen  for  to  be. 
It  nis  hut  folye  and  encrees  of  pej-ne  ; 
And  sin  that  here  assembled  bo  we  tweyne 
To  finde  bote  of  wo  that  we  ben  inne, 
It  were  al  tyme  sone  to  biginno.  1260 

181.  I  am  a  wotmnan,  as  ful  wel  ye  woot, 
And  as  I  am  avysod  s<xleynly, 

So  wol  I  telle  yow,  whyl  it  is  hoot. 
Me  thinketh  thus,  that  neither  ye  nor  I 
Oughte  half  this  wo  to  make  skilfully.  1265 
For  there  is  art  y-now  for  to  redresse 
That  yet  is  mis,  and  sleen  this  hevinesse. 

182.  Sooth  is,  tho  wo,  the  whiche  that  we 
ben  inne, 

For  ought  I  woot,  for  no-thing  elles  is 
But  for  the  cause  that  we  sholden  twinne. 
Considered  al,  ther  nis  no-more  amis.  1271 
But  what  is  thanno  a  remede  un-to  this. 
But  that  we  shape  us  sone  for  to  mete  ? 
This  al  and  som,  my  dere  herte  swete. 

183.  Now   that    I   shal   wel    bringen   it 
aboute  1275 

To  come  ayein,  sone  after  that  I  go, 
Ther-of  am  I  no  maner  thing  in  doute. 
For  dredeles,  with-inne  a  wouke  or  two, 
I  shal  ben  here  ;  and,  that  it  may  be  so 
By  alle  right,  and  in  a  wordes  fewe,    1280 
I  shal  yow  wel  an  heep  of  weyes  shewe. 

184.  For  which   I  wol  not  make  long 
sermoun, 

For  tyme  y-lost  may  not  recovered  be  ; 
But  I  wol  gon  to  my  conclusioun,         1284 
And  to  the  beste,  in  ought  that  I  can  see. 
And,  for  the  love  of  god,  for-yeve  it  me 
If  I  speke  ought  ayein  your  hertes  reste  ; 
For  trewelj-,  I  speke  it  for  the  beste  ; 


185.  Makinge  alwey  a  protestacioun, 
That  now  these  wordes,  whiche  that  I  shal 

seye,  1290 

Nis  but  to  shewe  yow  my  mociovin. 
To  Undo  un-to  our  helpe  the  beste  weye  ; 
And  taketh  it  non  other  wyse,  I  preye. 
For  in  effect  what-so  ye  me  comaunde, 
That  wol  I  doon,  for  that  is  no  demaunde. 

186.  Now  herkeneth  this,   ye  han  wel 
understonde,  1296 

My  going  grauntcd  is  by  parlement 
So  ferforth,  that  it  may  n(jt  be  with-stonde 
For  al  this  world,  as  by  my  jugemont. 
And  sin  therhelpeth  noon  a\-j-sement  1300 
To  letten  it,  lat  it  passe  out  of  minde  ; 
And  lat  us  shape  a  bettre  wey  to  finde. 

187.  The  sothe  is,  that  the  twinninge  of 
us  twej-ne 

Wol  us  diseso  and  cruelliche  anoye. 
But  him  bihoveth  som-tyme  han  a  peyne, 
That  serveth  love,  if  that  he  wol  have 
joye.  1306 

And  sin  I  shal  no  ferthere  out  of  Troye 
Than  I  may  ryde  ayein  on  half  a  morw% 
It  oughte  lasse  causen  us  to  sorwe; 

188.  So  as  I  shal  not  so  ben  hid  in  inawe, 
That  day  by  day,  myn  owene  herte  dere, 
Sin  wel  ye  woot  that  it  is  now  a  truwe. 
Ye  shul  ful  wel  al  myn  estat  y-here.  1313 
And  er  that  truwe  is  doon,  I  shal  ben  here, 
And  thanne  have  ye  bothe  Antenor  y- 

wonne 
And  me  also  ;  beth  glad  now,  if  ye  conne ; 

189.  And  thenk  right  thus,  "  Criseyde  is 
now  agoon,  1317 

But  what !  she  shal  come  hastely  ayeyn ; " 
And   whanne,   alias?    by   god,    lo,   right 

anoon, 
Er  dayes  ten,  this  dar  I  saufly  seyn.    1320 
And  thanne  at  erste  shul  we  been  so  fayn. 
So  as  we  shulle  to-gederes  ever  dwelle, 
That  al  this  world  ne  mighte  our  blisse 

telle. 

190.  I  see  that  ofte,  ther-as  we  ben  now, 
That  for  the  beste,  our  conseil  for  to  hyde, 
Ye  speke  not  -with  me,  nor  I  with  j-ow  1326 
In  fourtenight ;  ne  see  yow  go  ne  rj-de. 


^trotfue  anb  Cneep^e. 


293 


May  ye  not  ten  dayes  thanne  abyde, 
For  myn  honour,  in  swich  an  aventnre  ? 
Y-wis,  ye  mowen  elles  lyte  endure  !     1330 

191.  Ye  knowe  eek  how  that  al  my  kin  is 
here, 

But-if  that  onliche  it  my  fader  he  ; 
And  eek  myn  othere  thinges  alle  y-fere, 
And  nameliohe,  my  dere  herte,  ye, 
Whom  that  I  nolde  leven  for  to  see     1335 
For  al  this  world,  as  wyd  as  it  hath  space ; 
Or  elles,  see  ich  never  Joves  face  ! 

192.  "Why  trowe  ye  my  fader  in  this  wyse 
Coveiteth  so  to  see  me,  but  for  drede  1339 
Lest  in  this  toun  that  folkes  me  dispyse 
By-cause  of  him,  for  his  unhappy  dede? 
What  woot  my  fader  what  lyf  that  I  lede? 
For  if  he  wiste  in  Troye  how  wel  I  fare, 
Us  neded  for  my  wending  nought  to  care. 

193.  Ye  seen  that  every  day  eek,  more 
and  more,  1345 

Men  trete  of  pees  ;  and  it  supposed  is, 
That  men  the  qnene  Eleyne  shal  restore, 
And  Grekes  us  restore  that  is  mis. 
So  though  ther  nere  comfort  noon  but 
this,  1349 

That  men  pnrposen  pees  on  every  syde, 
Ye  may  the  bettre  at  ese  of  herte  abyde. 

194.  For  if  that  it  be  pees,   myn  herte 
dere. 

The  nature  of  the  pees  mot  nedes  drj-\'e 
That  men  moste  entrecomunen  y-fere, 
And  to  and  fro  eek  ryde  and  gon  as  blyve 
Alday  as  thikke  as  been  flen  from  an 
hj-v-e ;  1356 

And  every  wight  han  libertee  to  bleve 
Wher-as  him  list  the  bet,  with-outen  leve. 

195.  And  though  so  be  that  pees  ther  may 
be  noon, 

Yet   hider,   though  ther  never  pees  ne 
were,  1360 

I  moste  come  ;   for  whider  sholde  I  goon, 
Or  how  mischaunce  sholde  I  dwelle  there 
Among  tho  men  of  armes  ever  in  fere  ? 
For  which,  as  wisly  god  my  soule  rede, 
I  can  not  seen  wher-of  ye  sholden  drede. 

196.  Have  here  another  wey,  if  it  so  be 
That  al  this  thing  ne  may  yow  not  suffyse. 


My  fader,  as  ye  knowen  wel,  pardee. 

Is  old,  and  elde  is  ful  of  coveityse. 

And   I  right  now  have  founden  al  the 

gyse,  1370 

With-oute  net,   wher-with    I    shal  him 

hente  ; 
And    herkeneth    how,    if   that    ye    wole 


197.  Lo,  Troilus,  men  seyn  that  hard  it  is 
The  wolf  ful,  and  the  wether  hool  to  have ; 
This  is  to  seyn,  that  men  ful  ofte,  y-wis. 
Mot  spenden  part,  the  remenaunt  for  to 

save.  1376 

For  ay  with  gold  men   may  the  herte 

grave 
Of  him  that  set  is  up-on  coveityse  ; 
And  how  I  mene,  I  shal  it  yow  devyse. 

198.  The  moeble  which  that  I  have   in 
this  toun  1380 

Un-to  my  fader  shal  I  take,  and  seye. 
That  right  for  trust  and  for  savacioun 
It  sent  is  from  a  freend  of  his  or  tweye, 
The  whiche  freendes  ferventliche    him 

preye 
To  senden  after  more,  and  that  in  hj'e, 
Whyl  that  this  toun  stant  thus  in  ju- 

partye.  13  86 

199.  And    that    shal    been     an    liugo 
quantitee, 

Thus  shal  I  seyn,  but,  lest  it  folk  aspyde, 
Tliis  may  be  sent  by  no  wight  but  by  me ; 
I  shal  eek  shewen  him,  if  pees  bityde,  1390 
What  frendes  that  ich  have  on  every  syde 
Toward   the  court,   to   doon  the  wrathe 

pace 
Of  Priamus,    and    doon    him    stonde   in 

grace. 

200.  So,  what  for  o  thing  and  for  other, 
swete, 

I  shal  him  so  enchaunten  with  my  sawes, 
That  right  in  hevene  his  sowle  is,  shal  he 

mete !  1396 

For  al  Appollo,  or  his  clerkes  lawes. 
Or    calcnlinge    avayleth    nought    three 

hawes  ; 
Desyr  of  gold  shal  so  his  sowle  blende, 
That,    as   me   lyst,   I  shal  wel  make  an 

ende.  1400 


294 


^rotfu0  ant  Cnacpbe. 


[Book  IV. 


201.  And  if  he  wolde  ought  by  his  sort  it 
preve 

If  that  I  lye,  in  certayn  I  shal  fonde 
Distorben  him,  and  plukke  him  by  the 

sieve, 
Makinge   his  sort,   and  beren    him    on 

honde, 
He  hath  not  wel  the  goddes  tmderstonde. 
For  goddes  speken  in  amphilx>log>'es,  1406 
And,  for  a  sooth,  they  tcllen  twenty  lyes. 

202.  Eek  dredo  fond  first  gotldes,  I  sup- 
pose, 

Tlius  shal  I  seyn,   and  tliat  his  coward 

herte 
Made  him  amis  the  goddes  text  to  glosc. 
Whan  he  for  ferde  out  of  his  Delphos 

sterte.  141 1 

And  but  I  make  him  sone  to  converte, 
And  doon  my  reed  with-inne  a  day  or 

tweye, 
I  wol  to  yow  oblige  me  to  deye.' 

203.  And  treweliche,  as  writen  wel  I  findc, 
Tliat  al  this  thing  was  seyd  of  good  en- 
tente ;  1416 

And  that  hir  herte  trewe  was  and  kinde 
Towardes   liim,   and  spak   right  as  she 

mente. 
And  that  she  starf  for  wo  neigh,  whan 

she  wente. 
And  was  in  purpos  ever  to  l>e  trewe  ;  1420 
Thus  writen   they   tlmt    of    hir   werkes 

knewe. 

204.  This  Troilus,  with  herte  and  eres 
spradde, 

Herde  al  this  thing  devysen  to  and  fro  ; 
And  verraylich  him  semed  that  he  hadde 
The  selvo  wt ;  but  yet  to  lete  hir  go   1425 
His  herte  misforyaf  him  ever-mo. 
But  fynally,  he  gan  his  herte  wreste 
To  trusten  hir,  and  took  it  for  the  beste. 

205.  For  which  the  grete  furie  of  his 
penaunce 

Was  quej-nt  with  hope,  and  ther-with 
hem  bitwene  1430 

Bigan  for  joye  the  amorouse  daunce. 

And  as  the  briddes,  whan  the  sonne  is 
shene, 

Delyten  in  hir  song  in  leves  grene, 


Right   so   the   wordes    that    they   spake 

.V-fere 
Del.yted  liem,  and  made  hir  hertes  clere. 

206.   But    natheles,   the  wending  of  Cri- 

soyde,  1436 

For  al  this  world,  ma.y  nought  oiit  of  his 

minde  ; 
For  which  ful  ofte  he  pitously  hir  preydo, 
That   of  hir  heste  he  might  hir  trewe 

finde.  1439 

And  seyde  hir,  '  certes,  if  ye  be  nnkinde, 
And  but  ye  come  at  day  set  in-to  Troye, 
Ne  shal  I  never  have  hele,  honour,  ne 

joye. 


.Sonne  up-rist  on 


207.  For  al-so  sootli 
morwe. 

And,    god  !     so    wisly   thou    me,    woful 
wrccche,  1444 

To  reste  bringe  out  of  this  cruel  sorwe, 
I  wol  niy-selvcn  slee  if  that  ye  drecche. 
But  of  my  deeth  though  litel  be  to  recche, 
Yet,  er  that  ye  me  cause  so  to  smerte, 
Dwel  rather  here,  myn  owene  swete  herte ! 

208.  For  trewely,  myn  owene  lady  dere, 
Tho  sleightes  yet  that  I  have  herd  yow 

store  1451 

Ful  shapl.v  V)cen  to  fallen  alle  y-fere. 
For  thus  men  seyn,  "  that  oon  thenketh 

the  here. 
But  al  another  thenketh  his  ledere." 
Your  sire  is  wj-s,  and  seyd  is,  out  of  drede, 
"  Men  may  the  wyse  at-renne,  and  not  at- 

redo."  1456 

209.  It  is  ful  hard  to  halten  unespyed 
Bifore  a  crepul,  for  he  can  the  craft ; 
Your  fader  is  in  sleighte  as  Argus  yed  ; 
For  al  be  that  his  moeble  is  him  biraft, 
His  olde  sleighte  is  yet  so  with  him  laft, 
Ye  shal  not  blende  him  for  your  woman- 

liede,  1462 

Ne  feyne  a-right,  and  that  is  al  my  drede. 

210.  I  noot  if  pees  shal  ever-mo  bityde  ; 
But,  pees  or  no,  for  emest  ne  for  game, 
I  woot,  sin  Calkas  on  the  Grekes  syde 
Hath   ones   been,    and   lost   so  foule  his 

name,  1467 


Book  IV.] 


^votfue  ani  tvm^U. 


295 


He  dar   no   more   come   here   ayein   for 

shame ; 
For  which  that  wej-e,   for  ought  I  can 

espye, 
To  trusten  on,  nis  bnt  a  fantasye.         14"" 

211.  Ye  shal  eek  seen,  your  fader  shal 
yow  glose 

To  been  a  wyf,  and  as  he  can  wel  preche, 
He   shal  som  Greek   so  preyse  and  wel 

alose, 
That   ravisshen   he   shal   yow   with    his 

speche,  '474 

Or  do  yow  doon  by  force  as  he  shal  teche. 
And  Troilus,  of  whom  ye  nil  han  routhe, 
Shal  causeles  so  sterven  in  his  trouthe  ! 

212.  And  over  al  this,  your  fader  shal 
desp.yse 

Us  aUe,  and  seyn  this  citee  nis  but  lorn  ; 
And  that  th'assege  never  shal  aryse,  1480 
For-why  the  Grekes  han  it  alle  sworn 
Til  we  be  slayn,  and  doun  our  walles  torn. 
And  thus  he  shal  you  with  his  wordes 

fere, 
That  ay  drede  I,  that  yo  wol  bleve  there. 

213.  Yo   shul   eek  seen  so  many  a  lusty 
knight  148s 

A-mong  the  Grekes,  ful  of  worthinesse, 
And  eche  of  hem  with  herte,  wit,  and 

might 
To  plesen  yow  don  al  his  besinesse, 
Tliat  ye  shul  duUen  of  the  rudenesse 
Of  VIS  sely  Trojanes,  but-if  routhe         1450 
Eemorde  yow,  or  vertuc  of  your  trouthe. 

214.  And   this   to   me  so   grevous   is  to 
thinke. 

That  fro  my  brcst  it  wol  my  soule  rende ; 
Ne  dredeles,  in  me  ther  may  not  sinke 
A  good  opinioun,  if  that  ye  wende  ;    1495 
For-why  your  faderes    sleighte  wol    us 

shende. 
And  if  ye  goon,  as  I  have  told  yow  yore. 
So  thenk  I  nam  but  deed,  with-oute  more. 

215.  For  which,  with  luimble,  trewe,  and 
pitous  herte,  i4',;9 

A  thousand  tymes  mercy  I  .yow  preye  ; 
So  reweth  on  myn  aspre  peynes  smerte. 


And  doth  somwhat,  as  that  I  shal  yow 

se.ye. 
And  lat  us  stele  away  bitwixe  us  tweye  ; 
And  thenk  that  folye  is,  whan  man  may 

ehese,  '-''°4 

For  accident  his  substaunce  ay  to  lese. 

216.  I  mene  this,  that  sin  we  mowe  er 
day 

Wel  stele  away,  and  been  to-gider  so. 
What  wit  were  it  to  putten  in  assay. 
In  cas  ye  sholden  to  your  fader  go. 
If  that  ye  mighte  come  ayein  or  no  ?  1510 
Thus  mene  I,  that  it  were  a  gret  folye 
To  putte  that  sikemesse  in  jupartye. 

217.  And  vulgarly  to  spekenof  substatmce 
Of  tresour,  may  we  bothe  with  us  lede 
Y-nough  to  live  in  honour  and  plesaunce. 
Til  in-to  tymc  that  we  shul  ben  dedo  ; 
And    thus    we    may    eschewen    al    this 

drede. 
For  everich  other  wey  ye  can  recorde, 
Myn    herte,    y-wis,    may   not    ther-with 

acorde.  '5'9 

218.  And  hardily,  ne  drcdeth  no  poverte, 
For  I  have  kin  and  freendes  elles-where 
That,  though  we  comen  in  our  bare  sherte, 
Us  sholde  neither  lakke  gold  ne  gere. 
But  been  honoured  whyl    we    dwelten 

tliere.  '5^4 

And  go  we  anoon,  for,  as  in  myn  entente, 
This  is  the  beste,  if  that  ye  wolo  assente.' 

219.  Criseyde,  with  a  syk,  right  in  this 
wyse  ^^^~ 

Answorde,  '  y-wis,  my  dere  herte  trewe, 
Wo  may  wel  stele  away,  as  ye  devyse. 
And  fin'de  swiche  unthrifty  weyes  ngwe ; 
But  afterward,  ful  sore  it  wol  us  rewe. 
And  help  me  god  so  at  my  moste  nede 
As  causeles  ye  suifren  al  this  drede ! 

220.  For  thilke  day  that  I  for  cherisshinge 
Or  drede  of  iader,  or  of  other  wight,  1535 
Or  for  estat,  delyt,  or  for  weddingo 

Be  fals  to  yow,  my  Troilus,  my  knight.  ^ 
Saturnes   doughter,    Juno,    thorugh   hir 

might. 
As  wood  as  Athamante  do  mo  dwells 
Etcrnaly  in  Stix,  the  put  of  helle  !      1540 


>96 


^rotfue  avib  Cviet^^t. 


221.  And  this  on  overj'  g"'!  celestial 

I  swere  it  yow,  and  eek  on  eche  goddesse, 
On  every  Nyniphe  and  deite  infernal, 
On  Satirj'  and  Fanny  more  and  lesse, 
That  lialve  goddes  l)een  of  wildemcsse  ; 
And  Attropos  my  threed  of  lyf  to-breste 
If  I  be  fals  ;  now  trowe  me  if  thow  leste  ! 

222.  And  thou,  Simoys,  that  as  an  arwe 
clere  1548 

Thomgh  Troye  rennest  aj*  downward  to 

the  see, 
Ber  witnesse  of  this  word  that  seyd  is 

here,  1550 

That  thilke  day  that  ich  untrewe  be 
To  Troilus,  myn  owene  herte  free. 
That  thou  retome  bakwarde  to  thy  welle, 
And  I  with  body  and  soule  sinke  in  helle ! 

223.  But  that   ye   speke,  awey  thus   for 
to  go  '5.';5 

And  leten   alle  your  freendes,  god  for- 

bede, 
For  any  womman,  that  ye  sholden  so. 
And  namely,  sin  Troye  hath  now  swich 

nede 
Of  help  ;  and  eek  of  o  thing  taketh  hede, 
If  this  were  wist,  my  lif  laye  in  balaunce, 
And  your  honour  ;  god  shilde  us  fro  mis- 

chaunce !  1561 

224.  And  if  so  be  that  pees  her-after  take. 
As  alday  happeth,  after  anger,  game. 
Why,  lord  !  the  sorwe  and  wo  ye  wolden 

make,  1564 

That  ye  ne  dorste  come  ayein  for  shame  ! 
And  er  that  ye  juparten  so  your  name, 
Beth  nought  to  hasty  in  this  bote  fare  ; 
For  hasty  man  ne  wanteth  never  care. 

22.5.   What  trowe  ye  the  peple  eek  al 

aboute  1569 

Wolde  of  it  seye  ?   It  is  ful  light  to  arede. 
They  wolden  seye,  and  swere  it,  out  of 

doute. 
That  love  ne  droof  yow  nought  to  doon 

this  dede. 
But  lust  voluptuous  and  coward  drede. 
Thus  were  al  lost,  y-wis,  myn  herte  dere. 
Your  honour,  which  that  now  shyneth  so 

clere.  1575 


22G.  And  also  thenketh  on  myn  honestee. 
That  flonreth  yet,  how  foule  I  sholde  it 

shende. 
And  with  wliat  filthe  it  spotted  sholde  be, 
If  in  this  forme  I  sholde  with  yow  wende. 
Ne  though   I   livede   un-to   the   worldes 

ende,  1580 

My    name    sholde    I    never    n.veinward 

winne ; 
Thus  were  I  lost,  and  that  were  routhe 

and  siune. 

227.  And  for-thy  slee  with  reson  al  this 
bete; 

Men  seyn,  "the  suflFraunt  overcometh," 

pardeo ; 
Eek  "  wlio-so  wol  han  leef,  he  leef  mot 

lete ;  "  1585 

Thus  makcth  vertue  of  necessitee 
By  pacience,  and  thenk  that  lord  is  he 
Of  I'ortune  ay,  that  nought  wol  of  hir 

recche ; 
And  she  ne  dannteth   no  wight  but  a 

wrecche. 

228.  And  tmsteth  this,  that  certcs,  herte 
swete,  1590 

Er  Phebus  suster,  Lucina  the  shene, 
The  Leoun  passe  out  of  this  Ariete, 
I  wol  ben  here,  with-outen  any  wene. 
I  mene,  as  helpe  me  .Juno,  hevenes  queue. 
The  tenthe  day,   but-if  that   deeth   me 
assay  le,  1595 

I  wol  yow  seen,  with-outen  any  fayle.' 

229.  '  And  now,  so  this  be  sooth,'  quod 
Troilus, 

'  I  shal  wel  sufFre  un-to  the  tenthe  day. 
Sin  that  I  see  that  nede  it  moot  be  thus. 
But,  for  the  love  of  god,  if  it  be  may,  1600 
So  lat  us  stele  prively  away  ; 
For  ever  in  oon,  as  for  to  live  in  reste, 
Myn  herte  seyth  that  it  wol  been  the 
beste.' 

230.  'O  mercy,  god,  what  lyf  is  this?' 
quod  she  ;  1604 

'  Alias,  ye  slee  me  thus  for  verray  tene  ! 
I  see  wel  now  that  ye  mistrusten  rae  ; 
For  by  your  wordes  it  is  wel  y-sene. 
Xow,  for  the  love  of  Cj-nthia  the  shene. 


'ZvQi(uti  ant  tviez^H. 


297 


Mistrust  me  not  thus  causeles,  for  routhe ; 

Sin  to  be  trewe  I  have  yow  plight  my 

trouthe.  1610 

231.  And  thenketh  wel,  that  som  tyme  it 
is  wit 

To  spende  a  tyme,  a  tyme  for  to  winne  ; 
Ne,  pardee,  lorn  am  I  nought  fro  yow  yit, 
Though    that    we    been    a    day   or   two 

a-twinne. 
Dryf  out  the  fantasyesyowwith-inne;  1615 
And  trusteth  me,  and   leveth  eek  your 

sorwe, 
Or  here  my  trouthe,  I  wol  not  live  til 

morwe. 

232.  For  if  ye  wiste  how  sore  it  doth  me 
smerte. 

Ye  wolde  cesse   of  this  ;  for  god,    thou 

wost, 
The  pure  spirit  wepeth  in  mynherte,  1620 
To  see  yow  wepen  that  I  love  most, 
And  that  I  moot  gon  to  the  Grekes  ost. 
Ye,  nere  it  that  I  wiste  remedye 
To  come  ayein,  right  here  I  wolde  d.ye  ! 

238.  But  certes,  I  am  not  so  nyce  a  wight 
That  I  ne  can  imaginen  a  way  1626 

To  come  ayein  that  day  that  I  have  high t. 
For  who  may  holde  thing  that  wol  a-way  ? 
My  fader  nought,  for  al  his  queynte  play. 
And  by  my  thrift,  my  wending  out  of 
Troye  1630 

Another  day  shal  tome  us  alle  to  joye. 

234.  For-thy,  with  al  myn  herte  I  yow 
beseke. 

If  that  yow  list  don  ought  for  my  preyere. 
And  for  the  love  which  that  I  love  yow 

eke, 
That  er  that  I  departe  fro  yow  here,    1635 
That  of  so  good  a  comfort  and  a  chere 
I  may  you  seen,  that  ye  may  bringe  at 

reste 
Myn  herte,   which  that   is  at  point  to 

breste. 

235.  And  over  al  this,  I  pray  yow,'  quod 
she  tho,  1639 

'  Myn  owene  hertes  soothfast  suffisannce. 
Sin  I  am  thyn  al  hool,  with-outen  mo. 
That  whyl  that  I  am  absent,  no  plesaunce 
L 


Of  othere  do  me  fro  your  remembraunce. 
For  I  am  ever  a-gast,  for-why  men  rede, 
That  "  love  is  thing  ay  fill  of  bisy  drede." 

236.  For  in  this  world  ther  liveth  lady 
noon,  1646 

If  that  j-e  were  untrewe,  as  god  defende  ! 
That  so  bitraysed  were  or  wo  bigoon 
As  I,  that  alle  trouthe  in  yow  entende. 
And  douteles,  if  that  ich  other  wende, 
I  nere  but  deed  ;  and  er  ye  catiso  finde. 
For   goddes   love,    so    beth    me   not    un- 
kinde.' 

237.  To  this  answerde  Troilus  and  seyde, 
'  Now   god,   to  whom   ther  nis  no  cause 

y-wrye,  1654 

Me  glade,  as  wis  I  never  un-to  Crise.yde, 
Sin  thilke  day  I  saw  hir  first  with  .ye. 
Was  fals,  ne  never  shal  til  that  I  dye. 
At  shorte  wordes,  wcl  ye  may  me  leve  ; 
I  can  no  more,  it  shal  be  founde  at  preve.' 

238.  '  Graunt  mercy,  goode  myn,  y-wis,' 
quod  she,  1660 

'  And  blisful  Venus  lat  me  never  sterve 
Er  I  may  stonde  of  plesaunce  in  degree 
To  quyte  him  wel,  that  so  wel  can  deserve ; 
And  whyl  that  god  my  wit  wol  me  con- 
serve, 
I   shal   so   doon,    so    trewe    I    have   yow 
founde,  1665 

That  ay  honour  to  me-ward  shal  rebounde. 

239.  For  trusteth  wel,   that  your  estat 
royal 

Ne  veyn  delyt,  nor  only  worthinesse 
Of  yow  in  werre,  or  torney  marcial,  1669 
Ne  pompe,  array,  nobley,  or  eek  richesse, 
Ne  made  me  to  rewe  on  your  distresse  ; 
But  moral  vertue,  grounded  upon  trouthe, 
That  was  the  cause  I  first  hadde  on  yow 
routhe  ! 

240.  Eek  gentil  herte  and  manhod  that  ye 
hadde. 

And  that  ye  hadde,  as  me  thoughte,  in 
despyt  1675 

Every  thing  that  souned  in-to  badde, 
As  rudenesse  and  poeplish  appetyt ; 
And  that  your  reson  brydled  your  delyt, 

3 


298 


^totfue  ani  ttiet^^t. 


[Book  V. 


Tliis  made,  aboven  every  creature, 
That  I  was  your,  and  shal,  whyl  I  may 
dure.  16.S0 

241.  Aiid  this  may  lengthe  of  yeres  not 
for-do, 

Ne  remuable  fortune  deface  ; 
But  Juppiter,  that  of  his  might  may  do 
The  sorwliil  to  be  glad,  so  yeve  us  grace, 
Er  nightes  ten,  to  meten  in  this  place, 
So  that  it  may  your  herte  and  myn  suf- 

fyse ;  1686 

And  fareth  now  wel,  for  tyme  is  that  ye 

ryse.' 

242.  And  after  that  they  longe  y-pleyned 
hadde, 

And  ofte  y-kist  and  streite  in  armes  folde, 

The    day    gan    ryse,    and    Troilus    him 

cladde,  1690 


And  rewfnlliche  his  lady  gan  biholde. 
As  he  that  felte  dethes  cares  colde. 
And  to  hir  grace  he  gan  him  recomaunde ; 
Wher  liim  was  wo,  this  holde  I  no  do- 
maunde.  1694 

243.  For  mannes  hoed  imaginen  ne  can, 
Ne     entendement    considere,    ne     tonge 

telle 
The  cruel  peynes  of  this  sorwful  man, 
That    passen    every    torment    doun    in 

helle.  i6y8 

For  whan  he  saugh  that  she  ne  mighte 

dwelle, 
Wliich   that   his   soule  out  of  his  herte 

rente, 
With-outen  more,  out  of  the  chaumbro 

he  wente.  1701 

Explicit  Liber  Quartus. 


BOOK  V. 


Incipit  Liber  Quinttis. 

1.  Aprochen  gan  tlio  fatal  dcstinee 
That  Joves  hath  in  disposicioun. 

And  to  yow,  angry  Parcas,  sustren  three, 
Committeth,  to  don  execucioun  ; 
For  which  Criseyde  mosto  out    of   the 
toun,  5 

And  Troilus  shal  dweUe  forth  in  pyne 
Til  Lachesis  his  threed  no  lenger  twyne. — 

2.  The  golden-tressed  Phebu.-?  heighe  on- 

lofte 
Thryes  hadde  alle  with  his  hemes  shene 
The  snowes  molte,  and  Zephims  as  ofte  10 
Y-brought  ayein  the  tendre  leves  grene, 
Sin  that  the  sone  of  Ecuba  the  quene 
Bigan  to  love  hir  first,  for  whom  his  sorwe 
AVas  al,  that  she  departe  sholde  a-morwe. 

3.  Ful  redy  was  at  pryme  Dyomede,        15 
Criseyde  un-to  the  Grekes  ost  to  lede, 
For  sorwe  of  which   she    felte  hir  herte 

blede. 
As  she  that  niste  what  was  best  to  rede. 
And  trewely,  as  men  in  bokes  rede, 


Men  wiste  never  womman  han  the  care,  20 
Ne  was  so  looth  out  of  a  toun  to  fare. 

4.  This  Troilus,  with-outen  reed  or  lore. 
As  man  tliat  hath  his  joyes  eek  forlore, 
Was  waj-tinge  on  his  lady  ever-more 

As  she  that  was  the  soothfast  crop  and 
more  25 

Of  al  his  lust,  or  joyes  here-tofore. 

But  Troilus,  now  farewel  al  thy  joye, 

For  shaltow  never  seen  hir  eft  in 
Troye! 

5.  Soth   is,    that   whyl   he   boo.I    in   this 

manere. 
He  gan  his  wo  ful  manly  for  to  hj-de,     30 
That   wel   unnethe   it  seen   was   in    his 

chere  ; 
But  at  the  yate  ther  she   sholde  oute 

ryde 
With  certeyn  folk,  he  hoved  hir  t'abyde, 
So  wo  bigoon,  al  wolde  he  nought  him 

pleyne. 
That  on  his  hors  unnethe  he  sat    for 

peyne.  35 


^votfue  an^  ^tiu^U. 


299 


6.  For   ire  he  quook,  so  gan  liis  herte 

gnawe, 
Wlian  Diomede  on  horse  gan  him  dresse, 
And  seyde  \in-to  him-self  this  ilke  sawe, 
'  Alias,'  quod  he,  '  thus  foul  a  wrecched- 

nesse 
Why  suifre   ich   it,    why   nU   ich   it   re- 

dresse  ?  41^ 

Were  it  not  bet  at  ones  for  to  dye 
Than  ever-more  in  langour  thus  to  drye  ? 

7.  Why  nil  I  make   at  ones  riche  and 

pore 
To  have  y-nough  to  done,  er  that  she  go  ? 
Why  nil  I  bringe  al  Troye  upon  a  roreV  45 
Why  nil  I  sleen  this  Diomede  also  ? 
Why  nil  I  rather  with  a  man  or  two 
Stele  hir  a- way  ?    Wliy  wol  I  this  endure  ? 
Why  nil  I  helpen  to  myn  owene  cure  ?  ' 

8.  But  why  he  nolde  doon  so  fel  a  dede. 
That  shal  I  seyn,  and  why  him  liste  it 

spare :  51 

He  hadde  in  herte  alwey  a  maner  drede, 
Lest  that  Criseyde,  in  rumour  of  this  fare, 
Sholde  han  ben  slayn  ;  lo,  this  was  al  his 

care. 
And  elles,  certeyn,  as  I  seyde  yore,         55 
He  hadde    it    doon.,   with-outen  wordes 

more. 

9.  Criseyde,  whan  she  redy  was  to  ryde, 
Pul    sorwfully    she    sighte,    and    seyde 

'  alias  ! ' 
But  forth  she  moot,  for  ought  that  may 

bityde, 
And  forth  she  rit  ful  sorwfully  a  pas.    61) 
Ther  nis  non  other  remedie  in  this  cas. 
What  wonder   is   though   that  hir   sore 

smerte. 
Whan  she  forgoth  hir  owene  swete  herte  ? 

10.  This  Troilus,  in  wyse  of  curteisye. 
With  hauke  on  bond,  and  with  an  huge 

route  65. 

Of  knightes,  rood  and  dide  hir  companye, 
Passinge  al  the  valey  fer  with-ou^te. 
And  ferther    wolde    han   riden,   out   of 

doiite, 
Ful   fayn,   and  wo  was  him  to  goon  so 

sone ; 
But  torne  he  moste,   and  it  was  eek  to 

done.  70 


11.  And    right   with   that   was   Antenor 
y-come 

Out  of  the  Grekes  ost,  and  every  wight 
Was  of  it  glad,  and  seyde  he  was  wel- 
come. 
And  Troilus,  al  nere  his  herte  light. 
He  peyned  him  with  al  his  fuUe  might  75 
Him  to  with-holde  of  wepinge   at   the 

leste, 
And  Antenor  he  kiste,  and  made  feste. 

12.  And  ther-with-al  he  moste  his  leve 
take, 

And  caste  his  eye  upon  hir  pitously. 
And  neer  he  rood,  his  cause  for  to  make, 
To  take  hir  by  the  honde  al  sobrel.^'.        81 
And  lord  !  so  she  gan  wepen  tendrely ! 
And  he  ful  softe  and   sleighly   gan  hir 

seyp, 
'  Now  hold  your  day,  and  dooth  me  not  to 

deye.' 

13.  With   that    his    coiirser    torned    he 

a-boute  85 

With  face  pale,  and  un-to  Diomede 
No  word  he  spak,  ne  noon  of  al  his  route  ; 
Of  which  the  sone  of  Tydeus  took  hede. 
As  he  that  coude  more  than  the  crede 
In  swich  a  craft,  and  by  the  reyne  hir 

hente ;  90 

And  TroUus  to  Troye  homwarde  he  wente. 

14.  This  Diomede,  that  ladde  hir  by  the 
brydel. 

Whan   that   he   saw   the    folk   of  Troye 

aweye, 
Thoughte,  'al  my  labour  shal  not  been 

on  ydel. 
If  that  I  may,  for  somwhat  shal  I  seye.  95 
For  at  the  worste  it  may  yet  shorte  our 

weye. 
I  have  herd  seyd,  eek  tymes  twyes  twelve, 
"He    is    a   fool   that   wol   for-yete   him- 

selve."  ' 

15.  Bvit  natheles  this  thoughte   he  wel 
ynough, 

'That  certaynly  I  am  aboute  nought     :oo 
If  that  I  speke  of  love,  or  make  it  tough ; 
For  douteles,  if  she  have  in  hir  thought 
Him    that    I    gesse,    he    may  not  been 
y-brought 

5 


300 


^rotfue  ant  i^riet^U. 


[Book  V. 


So  sone  awey  ;  but  I  shal  finde  a  mene, 
That  she  not   wite  as  yet  shal  what  I 
mene.'  105 

16.  This  Diomede,  as  he  that  coude  his 
good, 

Whan  this  was  doon,  gan  fallen  forth  in 

speche 
Of  this   and   that,    and   asked   why   she 

stood 
In  swich  disese,  and  gan  liir  eek  biseche. 
That  if  that  he  encrese  mighte  or  eche  1 10 
With  any  thing  hir  ese,  that  she  sholde 
Comaunde  it  him,  and  seyde  he  doon  it 

wolde. 

17.  For  trewely  he  swoor  liir,  as  a  knight, 
That    ther    nas    thing    with   whiche    he 

mighte  hir  plese. 
That  he  nolde  doon  his  peyne  and  al  his 

might  115 

To  doon  it,  for  to  doon  hir  herte  an  ese. 
And  preyede  hir,   she  wolde  hir  sorwe 

apese. 
And  seyde,  'j'-wis,  wo  Grckes  con  have 

To  honouren  yow,  as  wel  as  folk  of  Troye.' 

18.  He  seyde    eek    thus,    'I    woot,   yow 
thinketh  straunge,  120 

No  wonder  is,  for  it  is  to  yow  newe, 
Th'aqueintaunce    of    these    Trojanes    to 

chaunge. 
For  folk  of  Grece,  that  ye  never  knewe. 
But  wolde  never  god  but-if  as  trewe 
A  Greek  ye  shulde  among  tis  alle  finde  125 
As  any  Trojan  is,  and  eek  as  kinde. 

19.  And  by  the  cause  I  swoor  yow  right, 
lo,  now, 

To  been  your  freend,  and  helply,  to  my 

might. 
And  for  that  more  acqueintaunce  eek  of 

yow 
Have   ich   had   than   another   strannger 

wight,  130 

So  fro  this  forth   I  pray  yow,   day  and 

night, 
Comanndeth  me,  how  sore  that  me  smerte, 
To   doon   al   that  may   lyke   un-to   your 

herte  : 


20.  And  that  ye  me  wolde  as  yotir  brother 
trete. 

And  taketh  not  my  frendship  in  despyt ; 
And  though  your  sorwes  be  for  thinges 

grete,  136 

Noot  I  not  why,  but  out  of  more  respyt, 
Myn  herte  hath  for  to  amende  it  greet 

delyt. 
And  if  I  may  your  harmes  not  redresse, 
I  am  right  sory  for  your  hevinesse.       140 

21.  And    though    ye    Trojans    with    ns 

Grekes  wrothe 
Han  many  a  day  be,  alwey  yet,  pardee, 

0  god  of  love  in  sooth  we  serven  bothe. 
And,  for  the  love  of  god,  my  lady  free, 
Whom  so  ye  hate,  as  beth  not  wroth  with 

me.  145 

For  trewely,   ther    can    no  wight    yow 

serve, 
Tliat  half  so  lootli  your  ^vraththe  wolde 

deserve. 

22.  And  nere  it  that  we  been  so  neigh  the 
tente 

Of  Calkas,   whicli    that    seen    us   bothe 
may, 

1  wolde  of  this  yow  telle  al  myn  entente ; 
But  this  enseled  til  another  day.  151 
Yeve  me  your  hond,  I  am,  and  shal  ben 

ay> 

God  help  me  so,  whyl  that  my  lyf  may 

dure, 
Yoor  owene  aboven  every  creature. 

23.  Thus  seyde  I  never  er  now  to  womman 
bom  ;  155 

For  god  myn  herte  as  wisly  glade  so, 
I  lovede  never  womman  here-biforn 
As  paramours,  ne  never  shal  no  mo. 
And,  for  the  love  of  god,  beth  not  my  to  ; 
Al  can  I  not  to  yow,  my  lady  dere,        160 
Complej-ne  aright,  for  I  am  yet  to  lere. 

24.  And  wondreth  not,  myn  owene  lady 
bright. 

Though  that  I  speke  of  love  to  you  thus 

blyve  ; 
For  I  have  herd  or  this  of  many  a  wight, 
Hath   loved    thing   he   never    saugh   his 

lyve.  165 

Eek  I  am  not  of  power  for  to  stryve 


Book  7.] 


^totfu0  an^  €:n0epie. 


301 


Ayens  the  god  of  love,  but  him  obeye 
I  wol  alwey,  and  mercy  I  yow  preye. 

25.  Ther  been  so  worthy  knightes  in  this 
place,  '^9 

And  ye  so  fair,  that  everich  of  hem  alle 
Wol  peynen  him  to  stonden  in  your  grace. 
But  mighte  me  so  fair  a  grace  falle. 
That  ye  me  for  your  servaunt  wolde  caUe, 
So  lowly  ne  so  trewely  you  serve 
Nil  noon  of  hem,  as  I  shal,  til  I  sterve.'  175 

26.  Criseide  im-to  that   purpos  lyte  an- 
swerde, 

As  she  that  was  with  sorwe  oppressed  so 
That,  in  effect,  she  nought  his  tales  herde. 
But  here  and  there,  now  here  a  word  or 

two. 
Hir   thoiighte   hir    sorwful    herte    brast 

a-two.  180 

For  whan  she  gan  hir  fader  fer  aspye, 
Wei  neigh  doun  of  hir  hors  she  gan  to 

sye. 

27.  But  natheles  she  thonked  Diomede 
Of  al  his  travaile,  and  his  goode  chere. 
And  that  him  liste  his  friendship  hir  to 

bede;  '85 

And  she  accepteth  it  in  good  manere. 
And  wolde  do  fayn  that  is  him  leef  and 

dere; 
And  trusten  him  she  wolde,  and  wel  she 

mighte, 
As  seyde   she,    and    from    hir   hors   she 

alighte, 

28.  Hir  fader  hath  hir  in  his  armes  nome. 
And  tweynty  tyme  he  kiste  his  doughter 

swete,  '9' 

And  seyde,  '  O  dere  doughter  myn,  wel- 
come ! ' 
She  seyde  eek,  she  was  fayn  with  him  to 

mete, 
And  stood  iorth  mewet,  milde,  and  man- 

suete. 
But  here  I  leve  hir  with  hir  fader  dwelle, 
And  forth  I  wol  of  Troilus  yow  telle.     196 

29.  To  Troye  is  come  this  woful  Troilus, 
In  sorwe  aboven  alle  sorwes  smerte. 
With  felon  look,  and  face  dispitous. 


Tho    sodeinly    doun    from    his   hors   he 

sterte,  ^o^ 

And  thorugh  his  ,paleys,  with  a  swollen 

herte, 
To  chambre  he  wente  ;  of  no-thing  took 

he  hede, 
Ne  noon  to  him  dar  speke  a   word  for 

drede. 

30.  And  there  his  sorwes  that  he  spared 

hadde 
He  yaf  an  issue  large,  and  '  deeth  ! '  he 

cryde  ;  ^<>5 

And  in  his  throwes  frenetyk  and  madde 
He  cursed  Jove,  AppoUo,  and  eek  Cupyde, 
He  cursed  Ceres,  Bacus,  and  Cipryde, 
His  burthe,  him-self,  his  fate,  and  eek 

nature. 
And,  save  his  lady,  every  creatiire.        si') 

31.  To  bedde  he  goth,  and  weyleth  tliere 
and  tometh 

In  furie,  as  dooth  he,  Ixion,  in  helle ; 
And  in  this  wyse  he  neigh  til  day  so- 

jorneth. 
But  tlio  bigan  his  herte  a  lyte  unswelle 
Thorugh  teres  which  that  gonnen  up  to 

welle  ;  -^'5 

And  pitously  he  cryde  up-on  Criseyde, 
And  to  him-self  right  thus  he  spak,  and 

seyde  : — 

32.  '  Wher  is  myn  owene  lady  lief  and 
dere, 

Wher    is    hir   whyto    brest,    wher    is    it, 

where  ? 
Wher  been  hir  armcs  and  hir  eyen  clerc, 
That    yesternight    this    tyme    with    me 

were?  ^-'i 

Now  may  I  wepe  allone  many  a  tere, 
And   graspe   aboute   I  may,   but  in  this 

place. 
Save  a  pilowe,  I  finde  nought  t'enbrace. 

33.  How  shal  I  do  ?     Whan  shal  she  com 
ayeyn  ?  ^^5 

I  noot,  alias  !  why  leet  ich  hir  to  go  ? 
As  wolde  god,  icli  hadde  as  tho  be  sleyn  ! 
O  herte  myn,  Criseyde,  O  swete  fo  ! 
O  lady  myn,  that  I  love  and  no  mo  !     ^.'9 
To  wliom  for  ever-mo  myn  herte  I  dowe  ; 
See  laow  I  deye,  ye  nil  me  not  rescowe  ! 


302 


^rot'fue  anb  Cme^be. 


[Book  V. 


34.  Who  seetli  yow  now,  my  righte  lode- 
sterre  ? 

Who  sit  right  now   or    stant    in    your 

presence  ? 
WTio   can    conforton     now    3-our    hertes 

werre  ? 
Now  I  am  gon,  whom  yeve  ye  audience  ? 
Who  spekoth  for  me  right  now  in  myn 

absence  ?  236 

Alias,  no  wight ;  and  that  is  al  my  care  ; 
For  wel  wot  I,  as  yvel  as  I  ye  fare. 

35.  How  shulde    I    thus    ten   dayes  ful 
endure. 

Whan  I  the  flrste    night    have  al  this 

tene  ?  240 

How  shal  she  doon  eek,  sorwful  creature? 
For  tendemesse,  how  shal  slie  this  sus- 

tene, 
Swch  wo  for  mo  ?     O  pitoiis,  pale,  and 

grene 
Shal  been  your  fresshe  wommanliche  face 
For    langotir,    er    ye    tome    un-to    tliis 

place.'  245 

36.  And  whan  ho  fil  in  any  slomcringes, 
Anoon  biginne  he  sholdo  for  to  grone. 
And  dremen  of  the  dreilfulleste  thinges 
That  mighte  been ;    as,   mete    he    were 

allone 
In  place  horrible,  makinge  ay  his  mone, 
Or  meten  that  he  was  amonges  alle       251 
His  enemys,  and  in  hir  hondes  falle. 

37.  And    ther-with-al    his    body    sholde 
sterte, 

And  with  the  stert  al  sodeinliche  awake, 
And  swich   a   tremour   fele    aboute    his 

herte,  255 

That  of  the  feer  his  body  sholde  quake  ; 
And    there-with-al    he    sholde    a   noyse 

make. 
And  seme  as  though  he  sholde  falle  depe 
From  heighe  a^lofte  ;  and  than  he  wolde 

wepe, 

88.  And  rewen  on  him-self  so  pitously,  260 
That  wonder  was  to  here  his  fantasye. 
Another  tyme  he  sholde  mightily 
Conforte  him-self,  and  seyn  it  was  folye. 
So  causeles  swich  drede  for  to  drye. 


And  eft  biginne  his  aspre  sorwes  newe, 
That  every  man  mighte  on  his  sorwes 
rewe.  266 

39.  Who   coude   telle   aright   or  ful  dis- 
cry\-e 

His  wo,  his  pleynte,  his  langour,  and  his 

pyne  ? 
Nought  al  the  men  that  han  or  been  on- 

Ij've. 
Thou,    redere,    mayst    thy-self    ful    wel 

dev\Tie  270 

That  swich  a  wo  my  wit  can  not  defyne. 
On  ydol  for  to  wryte  it  sholde  I  swinke, 
Whan  that  my  wit  is  wery  it  to  thinke. 

40.  On  hevene  yet  the  sterres  were  sene, 
Al-though    ful    pale    y-waxen    was    the 

mone ;  275 

And  whyten  gan  the  orisonte  shene 
Al  estward,  as  it  woned  is  to  done. 
And  Phobus  with  his  rosy  carte  sone 
Gan  after  that  to  dresse  him  up  to  fare, 
Whan  TroUus  hath  sent  after  Pandare. 

41.  This  Pandare,   that  of   al    the    day 
bifom  281 

Ne  mighte  have  comcn  Troilus  to  see, 
Al-thougli  he  on  liisheed  it  haddo  y-swom, 
For  with  the  king  Prj^am  alday  was  he, 
So  that  it  lay  not  in  his  libertee  285 

No-wher  to  gon,  but  on  the  morwe  he 

wente 
To  Troilus,  whan  that  he  for  him  sente. 

42.  For  in  his  herte  he  conde  wel  devyne, 
That  Troilus  al  night  for  sorwe  wook  ; 
And  that  he  wolde  telle  him  of  his  pyne. 
This  knew  he   wel    y-nough,   with-oute 

book.  2QI 

For  which  to  chaumbre  streight  the  wey 

he  took. 
And  TroUns  tho  sobreliche  he  grette. 
And  on  the  bed  ful  sone  he  gan  him  sette. 

43.  '  My   Pandams,'   quod    Troilus,    '  the 
sorwe  295 

^\Tiich   that   I   drye,    I   may   not    longe 

endure. 
I  trowe  I  shal  not  Uven  til  to-morwe  ; 
For  whiche  I  wolde  alwey,  on  aventure, 
To  thee  devysen  of  my  sepulture 


Book  v.] 


'Zvoihs  Anb  Cme^be. 


303 


The  forme,  and  of  my  moeble  thou  dis- 
j)one  3CXD 

Eight  as  thee  semeth  best  is  for  to  done. 

44.  But  of  the  fyr  and  flaumbe  funeral 
In  whiche  my  body  brenneshal  to  glede, 
And  of  the  festo  and  pleyes  palestral  304 
At  my  vigile,  I  pray  thee  take  good  hede 
That  al  be  wel ;  and  offre  Mars  my  stede, 
My  swerd,   myn  helm,  and,  leve  brother 

dere, 
My   shcld    to    Pallas  yef,    that   shyneth 
clere. 

45.  The   poudre  in  which   myn  herte  y- 
brend  shal  tome, 

That  preye  I  thee  thou  take  and  it  con- 
serve 310 
In  a  vessel,  that  men  clepeth  an  ume, 
Of  gold,  and  to  my  lady  that  I  serve, 
For  love  of  -whom  thus  pitously  I  sterve. 
So  yeve  it  hir,  and  do  mo  this  plesaunco, 
To  preye  hir  kepe  it  for  a  remembraunce. 

46.  For  wel  I  fele,  by  my  maladye,         316 
And  by  my  dremes  now  and  yore  ago, 

Al  certeinly,  that  I  mot  nedes  dye. 

The  owle  eek,  which  that  bight  Ascaphilo, 

Hath  after  mo  shright  alle  thise  nightes 

two.  320 

And,   god   Mercurie !   of  me   now,   woful 

wrecche. 
The  soule  gyde,  ami,  whan  thee  list,  it 

fecche  ! ' 

4  7.  Pandare  answerde,  and  seyde, '  Troilus, 
My  dere  freend,  as  I  have  told  thee  yore, 
That  it  is  folye  for  to  sorwen  thus,         325 
And  causeles,  for  whiche  I  can  no-more. 
But  who-so  wol  not  trowen  reed  ne  lore, 
I  can  not  seen  in  him  no  remedye. 
But  lete  him  worthen  with  his  fantasye. 

48.  But  Troilus,  I  pray  thee  tel  me  now. 
If  that    thou  trowe,   er  this,   that  any 

wight  331 

Hath  loved  paramours  as  wel  as  thou? 
Ye,    god   wot,    and  fro  many   a  worthy 

knight 
Hath  his  lady  goon  a  fourtenight, 
And   he    not    yet    made    halvendel   the 

fare.  335 

What  nede  is  thee  to  maken  al  this  care  ? 


49.  Sin  day  by  day  thou  mayst  thy-selven 
see 

That  from  his  love,  or  elles  from  his  'wyf, 
A  man  mot  twinnen  of  necessitee, 
Ye,  though  helove  hir  as  his  owene  lyf ;  340 
Yet  nil  ho  with  him-self   thus   maken 

stryf. 
For  wel  thow  wost,  my  leve  brother  dere. 
That    alwey  freendes   may  nought   been 

y-fere. 

50.  How  doon  this  folk  that  seen  hir  loves 
wedded 

By  freendes  might,  as  it  bi-tit  ful  olte,  345 
And  seen  hem  in  hir  spouses  bed  y-bedded  ? 
God  woot,  they  take  it  wysly,  faire  and 

softe. 
For-why  good  hope  halt  up  hir  herte  on- 

lofte, 
And  for  they  can  a  tyine  of  sorwe  endure  ; 
As  tyme  hem  hurt,   a  tyme  doth   hem 

cure.  35" 

51.  So  sholdestow  endure,  and  late  slyde 
The  tyme,  and  fonde   to   ben    glad   and 

light. 
Ten  dayes  nis  so  long  not  t'  abyde. 
And  sin  she  thee  to  comen  hath  bihight. 
She  nil  hir  hestes  breken  for  no  wight.  355 
For  dred  thee  not  that  she  nil  finden  weye 
To  come  ayein,  my  lyf  that  dorsto  I  leye. 

52.  Thy  swevenes  eek  and  al  swich  fan- 

tasye 
Dryf  out,    and   lat   hem   faren    to    mis- 

chaunce  ; 
For  they  procede  of  thy  malencolye,     360 
That  doth  thee  fele  in  sleep  al  this  pen- 

aunoe. 
A  straw  for  alle  swevenes  signifiaunce  ! 
God  lielpe  me  so,  I  counte  hem  not  a 

bene, 
Ther  woot  no  man  aright  what  dremes 

mene. 

53.  For  prestes  of  the  temple  tellen  this, 
That  dremes  been  the  revelaciouns        366 
Of  goddes,  and  as  wel  they  telle,  y-wis, 
That  they  ben  infernals  illusiouns  ; 
And  leches  seyn,  that  of  complexiouns 
Proceden  they,  or  fast,  or  glotonye.       370 
Who    woot    in    sooth    thus    what    they 

signifye  ? 


304 


^rotfue  atit  Crtecpie. 


[Book  V. 


54.  Eek  othere  seyn  that  thorugh  im- 
pressiouns, 

As  it'  a  wight  liath  faste  athing  in  minde, 
That  ther-of  cometh  swiche  avisiouns  ; 
And  othere  seyn,  as  they  in  bokes  tinde. 
That,  after  tymes  of  the  yeor  by  kinde, 
Men  dreme,  and  that  th'eflfect  goth  by  the 

mono  ;  377 

But  leve  no  dreem,  for  it  is  nought  to 

done. 

55.  Wei  worth  of  dremes  ay  thise  olde 
wyves, 

And  treweliche  eek  ang^rie  of  thise 
foules ;  380 

For  fere  of  which  men  wenen  lese  her 
lyves, 

As  ravenes  qualm,  or  shryking  of  thise 
oules. 

To  trowen  on  it  bothe  fals  and  foul  is. 

Alias,  alias,  so  noble  a  creature 

As  is  a  man,  shal  drede  swich  ordure!  385 

56.  For  which  with  al  mj-n  herte  I  thee 
beseche, 

Un-to  thy-self  that  al  this  thou  forj-ive  ; 
And  rj-8  up  now  with-<>ute  more  speche. 
And  lat  us  caste  how  forth  may  best  be 

drive 
This  tyme,  and  eek  how  freshly  we  may 

live  390 

Whan  that  she  cometh,  the  which  shal 

be  right  sone  ; 
God  holp  me  so,  the  beste  is  thus  to  done. 

57.  Rys,  lat  us  speke  of  lustj-  lyf  in  Troye 
That  we  ban  lad,  and  forth  the  tyme 

drj-ve ; 
And  eek  of  tyme  cominge  us  rejoye,      395 
That  bringen  shal  our  blisse  now  so  blyve ; 
And  langour  of  these  twyes  dayes  fyve 
We  shal  ther-with  so  foryete  or  oppresse. 
That  wel  unnethe  it  doon  shal  us  duresse. 

58.  This  toun  is  ful  of  lordes  al  aboute, 
And  trewes  lasten  al  this  mene  whyle. 
Go  we  pleye  us  in  som  lusty  route         402 
To  Sarpedon,  not  henncs  but  a  myle. 
And  thus  thou  shalt  the  tyme  wel  bigyle. 
And    dryre   it   foxth   un-to   that   blisful 

morwe,  405 

That  thou  hir  see,  that  cause  is  of  thy 
sorwe. 


69.  Now  rys,  my  dere  brother  Troilus  ; 
For  certes,  it  noon  honour  is  to  thee 
Tt>  wope,  and  in  thy  bed  to  jouken  thus. 
For  trewely,  of  o  thing  trust  to  me,      411) 
If  thou  thus  ligge  a  day,  or  two,  or  three. 
The    folk    wol    wene    that    thou,     lor 

cowardyse. 
Thee  feynest  syk,   and   that  thou    darst 

not  ryse.' 

60.    This   Troilus  answerde,    '  O  brother 

dere. 
This   knowen    folk    that    ban    y-suffred 

peyne,  4' 5 

That  though  he  wepe  and  make  sorwful 

chere, 
That  feleth   harm   ami    smert    in    every 

vejTie, 
No  wonder  is  ;  and  though  I  ever  pleyne. 
Or  alwcy  wepe,  1  am  no-thing  to  blame. 
Sin  I  have  lost  the  cause  of  al  my  game. 

'61.  But  sin  of  fyne  force  T  moot  aryse, 
I  shal  aryse,  as  sone  as  ever  I  may  ;      422 
And  god,  to  whom  myn  herte  I  sacrityse, 
So  sende  us  hastely  the  tenthe  day  ! 
For  was  ther  never  fowl  so  fayn  of  May, 
As  I  shal  been,  whan  that  she  cometh  in 
Troye,  4^6 

That  cause  is  of  my  torment  and  my  joya 

62.  But  whider  is  thy  reed,'  quod  Troilus 

'  That  we  may  pleye  us  best  in  al  this 

toun  ? ' 
'  By  god,  my  conseil  is,'  quod  Pandarus, 
'  To  ryde  and  pleye  us  with  king  Sarpe- 

doun.'  43' 

So  longe  of  this  they  speken  up  and  doun, 
Til  Troilus  gan  at  the  laste  assente 
To  ryse,   and  forth   to  Sarpedoun   they 

wente. 

63.  This  Sarpedoun,  as  he  that  honourable 
Was   ever   his   Ij^'e,    and    ful    of    heigh 

prowesse,  436 

With   al  that  mighte  y-scrved  been   on 

table. 
That    deyntee    was,    al    costc    it    greet 

richesse, 
He   fedde  hem   day  by  day,  that  swich 

noblesse, 


Book  V.] 


^rotfu0  ant  Cviet^U. 


305 


As  seyden  bothe  the  moste  and  eek  the 

leste,  440 

Was  never  er  that  day  wist  at  any  feste. 

64.  Nor  in  this  world  ther  is  non  instru- 
ment 

Delicious,   through  wind,  or  touche,   or 

corde, 
As  fer  as  any  wight  hath  ever  y-went, 
That  tonge  telle  or  herte  may  recorde,  445 
That  at  that  feste  it  nas  wel  herd  acorde ; 
Ne  of  ladies  eek  so  fayr  a  companye 
On  daunce,  er  tho,  was  never  y-seyn  with 

ye. 

65.  But  what  avayleth  this  to  Troilus, 
That  for  his  sorwc  no-thing  of  it  roughte? 
For  ever  in  oon  his  herte  pietous  451 
Ful  bisQy  Criseyde  his  lady  songhte. 

On  hir  was  ever  al  that  liis  herte  thoughte. 
Now  this,  now  that,  so  faste  imagininge, 
That  glade,  y-wis,  can  him  no  fcsteyinge. 

66.  These   ladies   eek   that   at  this  feste 
been,  456 

Sin  that  he  saw  his  lady  was  a-weye. 
It  was  his  sorwe  upon  hem  for  to  seen. 
Or  for  to  here  on  instrumentz  so  pleye. 
For  she,  that  of  his  herte  berth  the  keye, 
Was  absent,  lo,  this  was  his  fantasye,  461 
That  no  wight  sholde  make  melodye. 

67.  Nor  ther  nas  houre  in  al  the  day  or 

night, 
WTian  he  was  ther-as  no  wight  mighte 

him  here, 
That  he  ne  seyde,  '  O  lufsom  lady  bright, 
How   have   j'e   iaren,    sin   that   ye  were 

here?  466 

Wel-come,  y-wis,  myn  owene  lady  dere.' 
But  welaway,  al  this  nas  but  a  mase  ; 
Fortune  his  howve  entended  bet  to  glase. 

68.  The  lettres  eek,  that  she  of  olde  tyme 
Hadde  him  y-sent,  he  wolde  allone  rede, 
An  hundred  sythe,  a-twLxen   noon  and 

pryme ;  472 

Refiguringe  hir  shap,  hir  womanhede, 
With-inne  his  herte,  and  every  word  and 

dede 
That  passed  was,  and  thus  he  droof  to  an 


ende 


475 


The   ferthe   day,    and    seyde,    he   wolde 
wende. 


69.  And  seyde,  '  leve  brother  Pandarus, 
Intendestow  that  we  shul  here  bleve 
Til  Sarpedoun  wol  forth  congeyen  vis  ? 
Yet  were  it  fairer  that  we  toke  our  leve. 
For  goddes  love,  lat  us  now  sone  at  eve 
Our  leve  take,  and  homward  lat  us  torne; 
For  trewely,  I  nil  not  thus  sojorne.'     483 

70.  Pandare    answerde,    '  be   we   comeu 
hider 

To  fecchen  fyr,  and  rennen  hoom  ayeyn? 
God  helpe  me  so,  I  can  not  tellen  whider 
We  mighten  goon,  if  I  shal  sootlily  seyn, 
Ther  any  wight  is  of  us  more  fayn 
Than  Sarpedoun  ;  and  if  we  hennes  hye 
Thus  sodeinly,  I  holde  it  vilanye,         490 

71.  Sin   that  we  seyden  that  we  wolde 
bleve 

With    him    a    wouke ;    and    now,    thus 

sodeinly. 
The  ferthe  day  to  take  of  him  our  leve. 
He  wolde  wondren  on  it,  trewely  !        494 
Lat  us  holde  forth  our  purpos  fermely ; 
And  sin  that  ye  bihighten  him  to  byde. 
Hold  forward  now,  and  after  lat  us  ryde.' 

72.  Thus  Pandarus,  with  alle  peyne  and 

wo, 
Made  him  to  dwelle  ;  and  at  the  woukes 

ende, 
Of  Sarpedoun  they  toke  hir  leve  tho,    ,son 
And   on  hir  wey  they  spedden  hem   to 

wende. 
Quod  Troilus,  '  now  god  me  grace  sende, 
That  I  may  finden,  at  myn  hom-cominge. 
Criseyde  comen  ! '  and  ther- with  gan  he 

singe. 

73.  '  Ye,  hasel-wode  ! '  thoughte  this  Pan- 
dare,  505 

And  to  him-self  ful  softely  he  seyde, 
'  God  woot,  refreyden  may  this  bote  fare 
Er  Calkas  sende  Troilus  Criseyde  !' 
But  natheles,  he  japed  thus,  and  seyde. 
And   swor,    y-wis,    his    herte    him    wel 

bihighte,  510 

She   wolde   come    as    sone   as    ever    she 

mighte. 

74.  Whan   they   tin-to    the   jialej-s  were 
y-comen 

Of  Troilus,  they  doun  of  hors  alighte, 


3o6 


^totfue  anb  CviBt^tt. 


[Book  V. 


And  to  the  chambre  bir  wey  than  ban 

they  nomen. 
And  in-to  tyme  tlmt  it  gan  to  nighte,   515 
They  spaken  of  CrisSyde  the  brighte. 
And  after   this,    wban  that   hem   botlie 

leste, 
They  spedde  hem  fro    the  soper  un-to 

reste. 

75.  On  morwe,  as  sone  as  day  bigan  to 
clcre, 

This  Troilus  gan  of  his  sleep  fabrcyde,  5J0 
And  to  Pandare,  his  owene  brother  dere, 
'  For  love  of  god,'  fnl  pitoasly  be  seyde, 
'  As  go  we  scon  the  paleys  of  Criseydo  ; 
For  sin  we  yet  may  have  numore  feste, 
So  lat  US  seen  bir  paleys  at  the  leste.'  525 

76.  And  tber-with-al,  his  mcj'nee  for  t<i 
blonde, 

A  cause  he  fond  in  toune  for  to  go, 
And  to  Criseydes  hous  they  gonnen  wende. 
But  lord  !  this  sely  Troilus  was  wo  ! 
Him  tbougbte  bis  sorweful  berte  braste 

a-two.  530 

For  wban  be  sangb  bir  dores  sperred  alle, 
Wei  neigh  for  sorwo  a-donn  be  gan  to 

fsille. 

77    Tberwitb  whan  be  was  war  and  gan 

biholdo 
How  shet  was  every  windowe  of  the  place, 
As  frost,  him  tbougbte,  bis  herte  gan  to 

colde ;  535 

For  which  with  cbannged  deedlich  pale 

face, 
Witb-outen  word,  be  forth  bigan  to  pace  ; 
And,  as  god  wolde,  be  gan  so  faste  ryde. 
That  no  wigbt  of  his  contenaunce  aspyde. 

78.  Tlian  seyde  he  thus,  '  O  paleys  desolat, 
O  hoiis,  of  houses  wbylom  best  y-hight, 

O  palej-s  empty  and  disconsolat,  542 

O  thou  lanterne,  of  which  queynt  is  the 

light, 
O  palej-s,  wbylom  day,  that  now  art  night, 
Wei  oughtestow  to  falle,  and  I  to  dye,  545 
Sin  she  is  went  that  wont  was  us  to  gye  ! 

79.  O  pale.vs,  whylom  croune  of  houses  alle, 
Ealuiiiined  with  Sonne  of  alle  blisse  ! 


O  ring,  fro  which  the  ruby  is  out-falle, 
O  cause  of  wo,  that  cause  hast  been  of 

lisse !  550 

Yet,  sin  I  may  no  bet,  fayn  wolde  I  kisso 
Thy  colde  dores,  dorstc  1  for  tliis  route ; 
And  fare-wel  sbryno,  of  which  the  seynt 

is  oute  !' 

80.  Tlier-with  he  caste  on  Pandarus  his  y6 
With  chaunged  face,  and  pitous  to  biholdo; 
And  wban  be  mighte  his  tyme  aright 

nspye,  556 

Ay  as  be  rood,  to  Pandarus  he  tolde 
His  nowe  sorwe,  and  eek  his  joyes  olde, 
So  pitously  and  with  so  dede  an  hewe. 
That  every  wight  mighte  on  his  sorwe  rewe. 

81.  Fro   tbennesfortb  be  rydetli  up  and 

donn,  561 

And  every  thing  com   bim  to   remem- 

braunce 
As  he  rood  forth  by  places  of  the  toun 
In  wbicbe  he  wbylom  badde  al  bis  ples- 

aunce.  564 

'  Lo,  yond  saugb  I  mj-n  owene  lady  daunce ; 
And  in  that  temple,  with  bir  eyen  clere, 
Me  caughte  first  my  rigbte  lady  dere. 

82.  And  yonder  have  I  herd  ful  lustily 
My  dere  berte  laugbe,  and  j-onder  pleyo 
Saugh  I  bir  ones  eek  ful  blisfuUy.  570 
And  yonder  ones  to  me  gan  she  seye, 

"  Now  goode  swete,  love  me  wel,  I  pre3'e." 
And  yond  so  goo<lIy  gan  she" me  biholde, 
That  to  the  deeth  myn  herte  is  to  hir  bolde. 

83.  And  at  that  comer,  in  the  yonder  hous, 
Horde  I  myn  alderlevest  lady  dere        576 
So  wommanly,  with  voys  melodious, 
Singen  so  wel,  so  goodly,  and  so  clere, 
Tliat  in  my  soule  yet  me  thinketh  I  here 
The  blisful  soun ;   and,  in  that  yonder 

place,  580 

My  lady  first  me  took  un-to  bir  grace.' 

84.  Tbanne  tbougbte  bo  thus,  '  O  blisful 
lord  Cupyde, 

^\^lanne  I  the  proces  have  in  mj'memorie, 
How  thou  me  liast  werreyed  on  every  syde, 
Men  mighte  a  book  mstke  of  it,  lyk  a  storie. 
What  nede  is  thee  to  soke  on  me  victorie, 


Book  V.] 


^rotfu0  anb  (t^vin^U. 


307 


Sin  I  am  thyn,  and  lioolly  at  thy  wille  ? 
What  joye   hastow  thjTi  owene   folk   to 
spille  ?  588 

85.  Wei  hastow,  lord,  y-'\vroke  on  me  thyn 
ire. 

Thou  mighty  god,  and  dredful  for  to  greve ! 
Now  mercy,  lord,  thou  wost  wel  I  desire 
Thy  grace  most,  of  alle  lustes  leve.         592 
And  live  and  deye  I  wol  in  thy  bileve  ; 
For  which  I  n'axe  in  guerdon  but  a  bone, 
That  thou  Criseyde  ayein  me  sende  sone. 

86.  Distreyne  hir  herte  as  faste  to  retome 
As  thou  dost  myn  to  longen  hir  to  see  ; 
Than  woot  I  wel,  that  she  nil  not  sojorne. 
Now,  blisful  lord,  so  cruel  thou  no  be 
Un-to  the  blood  of  Troye,  I  preye  thee,  600 
As  Juno  was  un-to  the  blood  Thebane, 
For  which  the  folk  of  Thebes  caughte  hir 

bane.' 

87.  And  after  this  he  to  the  yates  wente 
Ther-as  Criseyde  out-rood  a  ful  good  paas. 
And  vip  and  doun  ther  made  he  many 

a  wente,  605 

And  to  him-self  ful  ofte  he  seyde  'alias  ! 
From  hennes  rood  ray  blisse  and  my  solas ! 
As  wolde  blisful  god  now,  for  his  joye, 
I  mighte  hir  seen  ayein  come  in-to  Troye. 

88.  And  to  the  yonder  hille  I  gan  hir  gyde, 
Alias  !  and  there  I  took  of  hir  my  leve  ! 
And  yond  I  saugh  hir  to  hir  fader  ryde, 
For  sorwe  of  which  myn  herte  shal  to- 

cleve.  613 

And  hider  hoom  I  coni  whan  it  was  eve  ; 
And  here  I  dwelle  out-cast  froni  alle  joye. 
And  shal,  til  I  may  seen  hir  eft  in  Troye.' 

89.  And  of  him-self  imagined  he  ofte 
To  ben  defet,  and  pale,  and  waxen  lesse 
Than  he  was  wont,  and  that  men  seyde 

softe, 
'  Wliat   may  it   be  ?   who  can  the  sothe 

gesse  620 

Why  Troilus  hath  al  this  hevinesse  ? ' 
And  al  this  nas  but  his  malencolye. 
That  he  hadde  of  him-self  swich  fantasye. 

90.  Another  tyme  imaginen  he  wolde 
That  every  wight  that  wente  by  the  weye 


Had  of  him  routhe,  and  that  they  seyen 
sholde,  626 

'  I  am  right  sory  Troilus  wol  deye.' 
And  thtis  he  droof  a  day  yet  foi-th  or  tweye. 
As  ye  have  herd,  swich  Ij'f  right  gan  he  lede. 
As  he  that  stood  bitwixen  hope  and  drede. 

91.  For  which  him  Ij-ked  in  his  songes 
shewe  631 

Th'encheson  of  his  wo,  as  he  best  mighte, 
And  make  a  song  of  wordes  but  a  fewe, 
Somwhat  his  woful  herte  for  to  lighte. 
And  whan   he   was  from  every  mannes 
sighte,  635 

With  sotte  ^■oys  he,  of  his  lady  dere. 
That  was  absent,  gan  singe  as  ye  may  here. 

92.  '  O  sterre,  of  which  I  lost*  have  al  the 
light, 

With  herte  soor  wel  ouglite  I  to  bewayle. 
That  ever  derk  in  torment,  night  by  night, 
Toward  my  deeth  with  wind  in  stere  I 
sayle  ;  641 

For  which  the  tenthe  night  if  that  I  fayle 
The  gyding  of  thy  hemes  brighte  an  houre. 
My  ship  and  me  Caribdis  wol  devoure.' 

93.  This  song  when  he  thus  songen  hadde, 
sone  645 

He  fil  ayein  in-to  his  sykes  olde  ; 
And  every  night,  as  was  his  wone  to  done, 
He  stood  the  brighte  mone  to  beholde. 
And  al  his  sorwe  he  to  the  mone  tolde  ; 
And  seyde,  '  y-wis,  whan  thou  art  horned 
newe,  650 

I  shal  be  glad,  if  al  the  world  be  trewe  ! 

94.  I  saugh  thyn  homes  olde  eek  by  the 
morwe. 

Whan  hennes  rood  my  righte  lady  dere, 
That  cause  is  of  my  torment  and  my  sorwe ; 
For  whiche,  O  brighte  Lucina  the  dere,  655 
For  love  of  god,  ren  fasto  aboiite  thyspere ! 
For  whan  thyn  homes  newe  ginne  springe. 
Than  shal  she  come,  that  may  my  blisse 
bringe  ! ' 

95.  The  day  is  more,  and   lenger  every 
night, 

Than  they  be  wont  to  be,  him  thoughte 
tho ;  660 


3o8 


^rotfue  arit  Crtaepbe. 


[Book  V. 


And   that   the   Sonne   wente   his    course 

unright 
By  lenger  wey  than  it  was  wont  to  go  ; 
And  seyde,  '  y-wis,  me  dredeth  ever-mo, 
The  sonnes  sone,  Pheton,  be  on-lyve, 
And  that  his  fadres  cart  amis  he  dryve.'  665 

96.  Upon  the  walles  faste  eek  wolde  he 
walke, 

And  on  the  Grekes  ost  he  wolde  see, 
And  to  him-self  right  thus  he  wolde  talko, 
'  Lo,  yonder  is  myn  owene  lady  free, 
Or  elles  yonder,  ther  tho  tentes  be  !      670 
And  thennes  comth  this  eyr,  that  is  so 

sote, 
That  in  my  soule  I  fele  it  doth  me  bote. 

97.  And  hardely  this  wind,  that  more  and 
more 

Thus  stoundemele  encreseth  in  my  face. 
Is  of  my  ladyes  dope  sykes  sore.  675 

I  preve  it  thus,  for  in  non  othere  place 
Of  al  this  toun,  save  onliche  in  this  space, 
Fele  1  no  wind  that  souneth  so  lyk  peyne ; 
It   seyth,   "  alias  !    why   twinned   be   we 
tweyne  ? " ' 

98.  This  longe  tyme  he  dryveth  forth  right 
thus,  680 

TU  fully  passed  was  the  nynthe  night ; 
And  ay  bi-syde  him  was  this  Pandarus, 
That  bisily  dide  alle  his  fuUe  might 
Him  to  comforte,  and  makehisherte  light; 
Yevinge  him  hope  alwey,  the  tenthe  morwe 
That  she  shal  come,  and  stinten  al  his 
sorwe.  686 

99.  Up-on  that  other  syde  eek  was  Cri- 
seyde, 

With  wommen  fewe,  among  the  Grekes 

stronge ; 
For  which  fiU  ofte  a  day '  alias ! '  she  seyde, 
'  That  I  was  bom  !    Wei  may  myn  herte 

longe  690 

After  my  deeth ;  for  now  live  I  to  longe  ! 
Alias  !  and  I  ne  may  it  not  amende  ; 
For  now  is  wors  than  ever  yet  I  wende. 

100.  My  fader  nil  for  no-thing  do  me  grace 
To   goon  ayein,  for   nought  I  can  him 

queme ;  695 

And  if  so  be  that  I  my  terme  passe. 


My  Troilus  shal  in  his  herte  deme         697 
That  I  am  fals,  and  so  it  may  wel  seme. 
ThiTS  shal  I  have  tinthank  on  every  syde ; 
That  I  was  born,  so  weylawey  the  tyde  ! 

101.  And  if  that  I  me  putte  in  jupartye, 
To  stele  awey  by  nighte,  and  it  bifalle 
That  I  be  caught,  I  shal  be  holde  a  spye  ; 
Or  elles,  lo,  this  drede  I  most  of  alle, 

If  in  the  hondes  of  som  wrecche  I  falle, 
I  am  but  lost,  al  be  myn  herte  trewe  ;  71)6 
Now  mighty  god,  thou  on  my  sorwe  rewe  !' 

102.  Ful  pale  y- waxen  was  hir  brighte  faeo, 
Hir  limes  lene,  as  she  that  al  the  day 
Stood  whan  she  dorste,  and  loked  on  the 

place  710 

Ther  she  was  bom,  and  ther  she  dwelt 

hadde  ay. 
And  al  the  night  wepinge,  alias  !  she  lay. 
And  thus  despeired,  out  of  alle  cure. 
She  ladde  hir  lyf,  this  woful  creature. 

103.  Ful  ofte  a  day  she  sighte   eek  lor 
destresse,  715 

And  in  hir-self  she  wente  ay  portrayinge 
Of  Troilus  the  grete  worthinesse. 
And  alle  his  goodly  wordes  recordinge 
Sin  first  that  day  hir  love  bigan  to  springe. 
And  thus  she  sette  hir  woful  herte  a-fyre 
Thorugh  remembraunce  of  that  she  gan 
desyre.  7J1 

104.  In  al  this  world  ther  nis  so  cmel 
herte 

That  hir  hadde  herd  compleynen  in  hir 

sorwe, 
That   nolde   han   wopen   for   hir   peyncs 

smerte. 
So  tendrely  she  weep,  botlie  eve  and  morwe. 
Hir  nedede  no  teres  for  to  borwe.  726 

And  this  was  yet  the  worste  of  alhir  peyne, 
Ther  was  no  wight  to  whom  she  dorste  liir 

pleyne. 

105.  Ful  rewfully  she  loked  up-on  Troye, 
BUield  the  toures  heighe  and   eek  the 

halles ;  730 

'  Alias  ! '  quod  she,  'the  plesaunce  and  the 

joye 
The  whiche  that  now    al    tomed  in-to 

galle  is, 


^trotfu0  <inb  tviu^^t. 


309 


Have  I  had  ofte  with-inne  yonder  walles ! 
O  Troilus,  what  dostow  now,'  she  seyde  ; 
'  Lord  !  whether  yet  thou  thenke  up-on 
Criseyde  ?  735 

106.  Alias!  Inehadde  trowed  on  your  lore, 
And  wentwith  yow,  as  ye  me  radde  er  this ! 
Thanne  hadde  I  nownot  syked  half  so  sore. 
Who  mighte  have  seyd,  that  I  had  doon 

a-mis 
To  stele  awey  with  swich  on  as  he  is  ?  740 
But  al  to  late  cometh  the  letuarie, 
Whan  men  the  cors  un-to  the  grave  carie. 

107.  To  late  is  now  to  speke  of  this  matere ; 
Prudence,  alias  !  oon  of  thyn  eyen  three 
Me  lakked  alwey,  er  that  I  cam  here  ;  745 
On  tyme  y-passed,  wel  remembred  me  ; 
And  present  tyme  eek  coude  I  wel  y-see. 
But  futur  tyme,  er  I  was  in  the  snare, 
Coude  I  not  seen  ;  that  causeth  now  my 

care.  749 

108.  But  natheles,  hityde  what  hityde, 

I  shal  to-morwe  at  night,  by  est  or  waste. 
Out  of  this  ost  stele  on  som  maner  syde, 
And  go  with  Troilus  wher-as  him  leste. 
This  imrpos  wol  I  holde,  and  this  is  beste. 
No  fors  of  wikked  tonges  janglerye,       755 
For  ever  on  love  han  wrecches  had  envye. 

109.  For  who-so  wole  of  every  word  take 
hede. 

Or  rewlen  him  by  every  wightes  wit, 
Ne  shal  he  never  thryven,  out  of  drede. 
For  that  that  som  men  blamen  ever  yit, 
Lo,  otlier  maner  folk  commenden  it.     761 
And  as  for  me,  for  al  swich  variavince, 
Felicitee  clepe  I  my  suffisaunce. 

110.  For  which,  with-outen  any  wordes  mo. 
To  Troye  I  wol,  as  for  conclusioun.'       765 
But  god  it  wot,  er  fully  monthes  two, 
She  was  fnl  fer  fro  that  entencioun. 

For  bothe  Troilus  and  Troye  toun 

Shal    knotteles    through-out    hir    lierte 

slyde ; 
For  she  wol  take  a  purpos  for  t'abyde.  770 

111.  This  Diomede,   of  whom  yow  telle 
I  gan, 

Goth  now,  with-inne  him-self  ay  arguinge 


With  al  the  sleiglite  and  al  that  ever  he 

can, 
How  he  may  best,  with  shortest  taryinge, 
In-to  his  net  Criseydes  herte  bringe.     775 
To  this  entente  he  coude  never  fyne  ; 
To  fisshen  hir,  he  leyde  out  hook  and  lyne. 

112.  But   natheles,   wel  in  his   herte  ho 
thoughte, 

That  she  nas  nat  with-oute  a  love  in  Troye. 
For  never,  sithen  ho  hir  thennes  broughte, 
Ne  coude  he   seen  her  laughe  or  make 

joye.  781 

He  niste  how  best  hir  herte  for  t'acoye. 
'  But   for  t'assaye,'  ho  seyde,  '■  it  nought 

ne  greveth  ; 
For   he  that  nought  n'assayeth,  nought 

n'aoheveth.' 

113.  Yet  seide  he  to  him-self  upon  a  night, 
'  Now  am  I  not  a  fool,  that  woot  wel  how 
Hir  wo  for  love  is  of  another  wight. 
And  here-up-on  to  goon  assaye  hir  now  ? 
I  may  wel  wite,  it  nil  not  been  my  prow. 
For  wj'se  folk  in  bokes  it  express©,  790 
"  Menshalnotwowe  a  wight  in  hevinesse." 

114.  But   who-so   mighte   winnen    swich 
a  flour 

From  him,  for  whom  she  morneth  night 

and  day. 
He  mighte  seyn,  he  were  a  conquerour.' 
And  right  anoon,  as  he  that  bold  was  ay, 
Thoughte  in  his  herte,  '  happe,  how  happe 

may,  796 

Al  sholde  I  deye,  I  wole  hir  herte  seche  ; 
I  shal  no  more  lesen  but  my  speche.' 

115.  This  Diomede,  as  bokes  us  declare. 
Was  in  his  nodes  prest  and  corageous  ; 
With  sterne  voysand  mighty  limes  square, 
Hardy,  testif,  strong,  and  chevalrous 

Of  dedes,  lyk  his  fader  Tideus. 

And  som  men  seyn,  he  was  of  tunge  large ; 

And  heir  he  was  of  Calidoine  and  Arge.  805 

116.  Criseyde  mene  was  of  hir  stature, 
Ther-to  of  shap,  of  face,  and  eok  of  chore, 
Ther  mighte  been  no  fairer  creature. 
And  ofte  tyme  this  was  hir  manore. 

To  gon  y-tressed  with  hir  heres  clere    810 


310 


^trotfu0  ani  Cvief^lt. 


[Book  V. 


Do\an  liy  hir  coler  at  hir  bak  bihinde, 
AVhicli  with  a  threde  of  gold  she  wolde 
hinde. 

117.  And,  save  hir  browes  joyneden  y-fere, 
Ther  nas  no  lak,  in  ought  I  can  espyen  ; 
But  for  to  speken  of  hir  eyen  clere,       815 
Lo,  trewol.v,  they  vriten  tliat  liir  syen, 
Tliat  Paradys  stood  formed  in  hir  y<in. 
And  with  hir  riche  beautee  ever-more 
Strof  love  in  hir,  ay  which  of  hem  was 

more. 

118.  She  sobre  was,  eek  simple,  and  wys 
with-al,  8ji) 

The  beste  y-norisshed  eek  that  mightebe, 
And  goodlj'  of  hir  speche  in  general, 
Charitable,  estatliche,  lusty,  and  free  ; 
Ne  never-mo  no  lukkede  hir  pitee  ; 
Tendre-hcrted,  slydinge  of  corage  ;        825 
But  trewely,  I  can  not  telle  hir  age. 

119.  And  Troilus  wel  waxen  was  in  highte, 
And  complet  formed  by  proporcioun 

So  wel,  that  kinde  it  not  amenden  mighte  ; 
Yong,  fresshe,  st  rong,  and  hardy  as  lyoiui ; 
Trewe  as  steel  in  cch  condicioun  ;  831 

On  of  the  beste  enteched  creature, 
That  is,  or  shal,  whyl  that  the  world  may 
dure, 

120.  And  certainly  in  storie  it  isy-founde. 
That  Troilus  was  never  un-to  no  ^vight,  835 
As  in  his  tyme,  in  no  degree  secounde 

In  durring  don  that  longeth  to  a  knight. 
Al  mighte  a  geaunt  passen  him  of  might, 
His  herte  ay  with  the  firste  and  with  the 
beste  839 

Stod  paregal,  to  durre  don  that  him  leste. 

121.  But  for  to  tellen  forth  of  Diomede  :— 
It  fil  that  after,  on  the  tenthe  day. 

Sin  that  Criseyde  out  of  the  citee  yede, 
This  Diomede,  as  fresshe  as  braunche  in 

May, 
Com  to  the  tente  ther-as  Calkas  lay,     845 
And  fe.vned  him  with  Calkas  lian  to  done ; 
But  what  he  mente,  I  shal  yow  telle  sone. 

122.  Criseyde,  at  shorte  wordes  for  to  telle, 
Welcomed  him,  and  doun  by  hir  him  sette ; 
And  he  was  ethe  y-nough  to  maken  dwelle. 


And  after  this,  with-outen  longe  lette,  851 
The  spyces  and  the  wyn  men  forth  hem 

fette  ; 
And  forth  they  sx^eke  of  this  and  that 

y-fere. 
As  freendes  doon,  of  which  som  shal  ye 

here. 

123.  He  gan  first  fallen  of  the  werre  in 
speche  855 

Bitwixe  hem  and  the  folk  of  Troye  toun  ; 
And  of  th'assege  he  gan  hir  eek  byseche, 
To  telle  bim  what  was  hir  opinioun. 
Fro  that  demaunde  he  so  descendeth  doun 
To  asken  hir,  if  that  hir  straunge  thoughte 
The  Grekes  gyse,  and  werkes  that  they 
wroughte  ?  86 1 

124.  And  why  hir  fader  tarieth  so  longe 
To  wedden  hir  un-to  som  worthy  wight  ? 
Criseyde,  that  was  in  hir  peynes  stronge 
For  love  of  Troilus,  hir  owene  knight,  865 

'As   fer-forth  as  she  conning   hadde   or 

might, 
Answerde  him  tho  ;  but,  as  of  his  entente, 
It  semed  not  she  wiste  what  he  mente, 

125.  But  natheles,  this  ilke  Diomede 
Gan  in  him-self  assure,  and  thus  he  seyde, 
'  If  ich  aright  have  taken  of  yow  hede,  871 
Me  thinketh  thus,  0  ladymyn,  Criseyde, 
That   sin    I   iirst   hond   on   your    brydel 

leyde, 
Wlian  .ye  out  come  of  Troye  by  the  morwe, 
Ne  coude  I  never  seen  yow  but  in  sorwe. 

126.  Can  I  not  seyn  what  may  the  cause 
be  876 

But-if  for  love  of  som  Troyan  it  were. 
The  which  right  sore  wolde  athinken  me 
That  ye,   for  any  wight  that    dwelleth 

there, 
Sholden  spiUe  a  quarter  of  a  tere,         880 
Or  pitously  your-selven  so  bigyle  ; 
For  dredelees,   it   is   nought  worth   the 

whyle. 

127.  The  folk  of  Troye,  as  who  seyth,  alle 
and  some 

In  preson  been,  as  ye  your-selven  see  ; 
For  thennes  shal  not  oon  on-lyve  come  885 


Book  V.] 


Zvoihti  an^  fiviet^^U. 


311 


For  al  the  gold  'bitwixen  sonne  and  see. 
Trusteth  wel,  and  understondeth  me, 
Tlier  slial  not  oon  to  mercy  goon  on-lyve, 
Al  were  he  lord  of  worldes  twyes  fyve  ! 

128.  Swich  wreche  on  hem,  for  fecching 
of  Eleyne,  890 

Ther  shal  he  take,   er  that  we  hennes 

wende, 
Tliat  Manes,  which   that  goddes  hen  of 

pejTie, 
Shal  been  agast  that  Grekes  wol  hem 

shende. 
And  men  sliul  drede,  un-to  the  worldes 

ende,  894 

From  hennes-forth  to  ravisshe  any  quene. 
So  cruel  shal  our  wreche  on  hem  be  sene. 

129.  And  but-if  Calkas  lede  us  with  am- 
bages, 

That  is  to  seyn,  with  double  wordes  slye, 
Swich  as  men  clepe  a  "word  with  two 

\'isages," 
Ye  shul  wel  knowen  that  I  nought  ne 

lye,  9W 

And  al  this  thing  right  seen  it  with  your 

ye, 

And  that  anoon  ;  ye  nil  not  trowe  how 

sone  ; 
Now  taketh  heed,  for  it  is  for  to  done. 

130.  "V\Tiat    wene    ye    your    wyse   fader 
wolde 

Han  yeven  Antenor  for  yow  anoon,      905 
If  he  ne  wiste  that  the  citee  sholde 
Destroyed    been?    Why,    nay,   so    mote 

I  goon ! 
He  knew  ful  wel  ther  shal  not  scapenoon 
That  Troyan  is  ;  and  for  the  grete  fere. 
He  dorste  not,  ye  dwelte  longer  there.  910 

131.  What  wole    ye  more,   lufsom  lady 
dere? 

Lat   Troye   and   Troyan   fro   your    herte 

pace  ! 
Dryf  out  that  bittre  hope,  and  make  good 

chere, 
And  clepe  ayein  the  beautee  of  your  face. 
That  ye  with  salte  teres  so  deface.          915 
For  Troye  is  brought  in  swich  a  jupartye, 
That,  it  to  save,  is  now  no  remedye. 


182.  And  thenketh  wel,  ye  shal  in  Grekes 

finde 
A  more  parfit  love,  er  it  be  night, 
Than  any  Troyan  is,  and  more  kinde,  920 
And    bet   to   serven    yow    wol   doon   his 

might. 
And  if  ye  vouche  sauf,  my  lady  bright, 
I  wol  ben  he  to  serven  yow  my-selve, 
Ye,  lever  than  be  lord  of  Greoes  twelve  I ' 

138.  And  with  that  word  he  gan  to  waxen 
reed,  9-5 

And  in  his  speche  a  litel  wight  he  quook. 
And  caste  a-syde  a  litel  wight  his  heed, 
And  stinte  a  whyle ;  and  afterward  awook. 
And  sobreliche  on  hir  he  threw  his  look, 
And  seyde,  '  I  am,  al  be  it  yow  no  joye, 
As  gentil  man  as  any  wight  in  Troye.    931 

184.  For  if  my  fader  Tydeus,'  he  seyde, 
'  Y-lived  hadde,  I  hadde  been,  er  this, 
Of  Calidoine  and  Arge  a  king,  Criseyde  ! 
And  so  hope  I  that  I  shal  yet,  y-wis.     935 
But  he  was  slayn,  alias  !  the  more  harm 

is. 
Unhappily  at  Thebes  al  to  rathe, 
Polymites  and  many  a  man  to  scathe. 

133.  But  herte  myn,  sin  that  I  am  your 

man, 
And  been  the  ferste   of  whom   I  seche 

grace,  94^> 

To  serven  you  as  hertely  as  I  can. 
And  ever  shal,  whyl  I  to  live  have  space, 
So,  er  that  I  departe  out  of  this  place. 
Ye  wol  me  graunte,  that  I  mayto-morwe. 
At  bettre  leyser,  telle  yow  my  sorwe.'  945 

136.  What  shold  I  telle  his  wordes  that  he 
seyde  ? 

He  spak  y-now,  for  o  day  at  the  meste  ; 
It  preveth  wel,  he  spak  so  that  Criseyde 
Graiinted,  on  the  morwe,  at  his  reqiieste. 
For  to  speken  with  him  at  the  leste,       950 
So  that  he  nolde  speke  of  swich  matere  : 
And  thus  to  him  she  seyde,  as  ye  may 
here  : 

137.  As   she  that   hadde    hir    herte    on 
Troilus 

So  faste,  that  ther  may  it  noon  arace  ; 
And  straungely  she  spak,  and  seyde  thus  : 


312 


^rotfu0  ant  Cvist^U. 


[Book  V. 


'O  Diomede,  I  love  that  ilke  place         956 
Ther   I    was    born ;    and   Joves,   for  his 

grace, 
Delivere  it  sone  of  al  that  doth  it  care  ! 
God,  for  thy  might,  so  leve  it  wel  to  fare  ! 

138.  That  Grekes  wolde  Ixir  wraththe  on 
Troj-e  wreke,  960 

If  that   they   niighte,    I   knowe    it    wel, 

y-wis. 
But  it  shal  not  bifallen  as  ye  speke  ; 
And  god  to-fom,  and  ferther  over  this, 
I  wot  my  fader  wj's  and  redy  is  ; 
And  that  he  me  hath  bought,  as  ye  me 

tolde,  965 

So  dere,  I  am  the  more  un-to  him  holde. 

139.  That   Grekes    been    of   heigh    con- 
dicioun, 

I  woot  eek  wel  ;   but  certein,  men  shal 

finde 
As  worthy  folk  with-inne  Troye  toiin. 
As  conning,  and  as  parfit  and  as  kinde. 
As  been  bitwixen  Orcados  and  Inde.      971 
And  that  ye  coudo  wel  your  lady  serve, 
I  trowe  eek  wel,  hir  thank  for  to  deserve. 

140.  But  as  to  speke  of  love,  y-wis, '  she 
seyde, 

'  I  hadde  a  lord,  to  whom  I  wedded  was. 
The  whos  myn  herte  til  was,  til  that  he 

deyde ;  976 

And  other  love,  as  helpe  me  now  Pallas, 
Ther  in  myn  herto  nis,  ne  never  was. 
And  that  ye  been  of  noble  and  heigh 

kinrede, 
I  have  wel  herd  it  tellen,  out  of  drede.  980 

141.  And  that  doth  me  to  han  so  gret  a 
wonder, 

That  ye  wol  soomen  anj'  womman  so. 
Eek,  god  wot,  love  and  I  be  fer  a-sonder ; 
I  am  disposed  bet,  so  mote  I  go, 
Un-to  my  deeth,  to  pleyne  and  maken 
wo.  985 

What  I  shal  after  doon,  I  can  not  seye  ; 
But  trewely,  as  yet  me  list  not  pleye. 

142.  Myn  herte  is  now  in  tribulacioun. 
And  ye  in  armes  bisj-,  day  by  day. 
Here-after,    whan  ye   wonnen    han    the 

toun,  990 


Paraunter,  thanne  so  it  happen  may. 
That  whan  I  see  that  I  never  er  say, 
Than  wole  I  werke  that  I  never  wroughte ! 
This    word    to    yow    y-nough    suffysen 
oughte. 

143.  To-morwe  eek  wol  I  speke  with  yow 
fayn,  995 

So  that  ye  touchen  nought  of  this  matere. 
And  whan  yow  list,  ye  may  come  here 

ayeyn  ; 
And,  er  ye  gon,  thus  niuche  I  seye  yow 

here  : 
As  helpe  me  Pallas  with  hir  heres  clere. 
If  that  I  sholde  of  any  Greek  han  routhe, 
It  sholde  be  your-selven,  by  my  trouthe  ! 

144.  I  sey  not  therfore  that  I  wol  yow 
love,  1002 

Ne  I  sey  not  nay,  but  in  conclusioun, 
I  mene  wel,  by  god  that  sit  above  : ' — 
And    ther-with-al    she    caste    hir    eyen 

doun, 
And  gan  to  syke,  and  seyde,   '  O  Troye 

toun,  1006 

Yet  bidde  I  god,  in  quiete  and  in  reste 
I  may  yow  seen,  or  do  myn  herte  breste.' 

145.  But  in  effect,  and  shortly  for  to  seye, 
This  Diomede  al  freshly  newe  ayeyn  loio 
Gan  pressen    on,    and   faste   hir   mercy 

preye  ;  101 1 

And  after  this,  the  sothc  for  to  seyn, 
Hir  glove  he  took,  of  which  ho  was  ful 

fayn. 
And  fyually,  whaii  it  was  waxen  eve, 
And   al   was  wel,   he  roos  and  took  his 

leve.  1015 

146.  The  brighte  Venus  folwede  and  ay 
taughte 

The  wey,  ther  brode  Phebus  doun  alighte  ; 
And  Cynthea  hir  char-hors  over-raughte 
To  whirle  out  of  the  Lyon,  if  she  mighte ; 
And  Signifer  his  candeles  shewed  brighte. 
Whan  that  Criseyde  un-to  hir  bedde 
wente  102 1 

In-with  hir  fadres  faire  brighte  tente. 

147.  Ketoming  in  hir  soule  ay  up  and 
doun 

The  wordes  of  this  sodein  Diomede, 


^rotfua  anb  Crieepie. 


313 


His  greet  cstat,  and  peril  of  the  toun,  1025 
And  that  she  was  allone  and  hadde  nede 
Of  freendes    help;    and  thus   bigan    to 

brede 
The  cause  why,  the  sothe  for  to  telle, 
That  she  tok  fully  purpos  for  to  dwelle. 

148.  The  morwe  com,  and  goostly  for  to 
speke,  1030 

This  Diomede  is  come  un-to  Criseyde, 
And  shortly,  lest  that  ye  my  tale  breke, 
So  wel  he  for  him-selve  spak  and  seyde. 
That  alle  hir  sykes  sore  adoun  he  leyde. 
And  f^-nally,  the  sothe  for  to  seyne,     1035 
He  refte  hir  of  the  grete  of  al  hir  peyne. 

149.  And  after  this  the  story  telleth  us, 
That  she  him  yaf  the  faire  baye  stede, 
The  which  he  ones  wan  of  Troilus  ; 
And  eek  a  broche  (and  that  was  litel 

nede)  1040 

That  Troilus  was,  she  yaf  this  Diomede. 
And   eek,   the   bet   from,   sorwe    him   to 

releve, 
She  made  him  were  a  pencel  of  hir  sieve. 

150.  I  finde  eek  in  the  stories  elles-where, 
\Vhan  through  the  body  hurt  was  Dio- 
mede 1045 

Of  Troilus,  tho  weep  she  many  a  tere, 
Whan  that  she  saugh  his  wyde  woundes 

blede  ; 
And   that  she  took  to  kepen  him  good 

hede. 
And  for  to  hele  him  of  his  sorwes  smerte. 
Men  seyn,  I   not,  that  she  yaf  him  hir 

herte.  1050 

151.  But  trewely,  the  story  telleth  us, 
Ther  made  never  womman  more  wo 
Than  she,  whan  that  she  falsed  Troilus. 
She  seyde,  '  alias  !  for  now  is  olene  a-go 
My  name  of  trouthe  in  love,  for  ever-mo  ! 
For  I  have  falsed  oon,  the  gentileste 
That  ever  was,  and  oon  the  worthieste  ! 

152.  Alias,  of  me,  un-to  the  worldes  ende, 
Shal  neither  been  y-writen  nor  y-songe 
No  good  word,   for  thise  bokes  wol  me 

shende,  1060 

O,  rolled  shal  I  been  on  many  a  tonge  ! 


Through-out  the  world  my  belle  shal  be 

ronge ; 
And  wommen  most  wol  hate  me  of  alle. 
Alias,  that  swich  a  cas  me  sholde  falle  ! 

153.  They  wol  seyn,  in  as  muche  as  in 
me  is,  1065 

I  have  hem  doon  dishonour,  weylawey  ! 
Al  be  I  not  the  firste  that  dide  amis, 
What  helpeth  that  to  do  my  blame  awey  ? 
But  sin  I  see  there  is  no  bettre  way. 
And  that  to  late  is  now  for  me  to  rewe, 
To  Diomede  algate  I  wol  be  trewe.       1071 

154.  But  Troilus,  sin  I  no  better  may. 
And  sin  that  thus  departen  ye  and  I, 
Yet  preye  I  god,  so  yeve  yow  right  good 

day 
As  for  the  gentileste,  trewely,  1075 

That  ever  I  say,  to  serven  feithfuUy, 
And  best  can  ay  his  lady  honour  kepe  :' — 
And  with  that  word  she  brast  anon  to 

wepe. 

155.  '  And  certes,  yow  ne  haten  shal  I 
never. 

And  freendes  love,  that  shal  ye  Iian  of 
me,  lOcSo 

And  my  good  word,  al  mighte  I  liven  ever. 

And,  trewely,  I  wolde  sory  be 

For  to  seen  yow  in  adversitee. 

And  giltelees,  I  woot  wel,  I  yow  leve  ; 

Bvit  al  shal  passe  ;  and  thus  take  I  my 
leve.'  1085 

156.  But  trewely,  how  longe  it  was  bi- 
twene. 

That  she  for-sook  him  for  this  Diomede, 
Ther  is  non  auctor  telleth  it,  I  wene. 
Take  every  man  now  to  his  bokes  hede  ; 
He  shal  no  terme  finden,  out  of  drede. 
For  though  that  he  bigan  to  wowe  hir 
sone,  1091 

Er  he  hir  wan,  yet  was  ther  more  to  done. 

157.  Ne  me  ne  list  this  sely  womman 
chyde 

Ferther  than  the  story  wol  devyse. 
Hir  name,  alias  !  is  publisshed  so  wyde, 
That  for  hir  gilt  it  oughte  j'-now  suffyse. 
And  if  I  mighte  excuse  hir  any  wyse, 


314 


^roi(ii0  anb  Cviet^^t. 


[Book  V. 


For  she  so  sory  was  for  hir  untroiithe, 
Y-wis,  I  wolde  excuse  hir  yet  for  routhe. 

1")8.  This  TroQus,  as  I  biforn  have  told, 
Thus  dr^-veth  forth,  as  wel  as  he  hath 

might.  I  loi 

But  often  was  his  herte  hoot  and  cold, 
And  namely,  tliat  ilko  nynthe  night, 
Wliich   on   the    morwe   she    hadde   him 

hyhight 
To  como  ayein  :  go<l  wot,  ful  litel  reste 
Hadde  ho  that  night  ;   no-thing  to  slope 

him  leste.  i  io6 

159.  The  laorer-crouned  Phebns,  with  his 
hete, 

Gan,  in  his  course  ay  upward  as  he  wente. 

To  warmen  of  -j-th'  est  see  the  wawes  wete  ; 

And  Xisus  donghter  song  with  fresh  en- 
tente, I  IK) 

Wlian  Troilus  his  Pandare  after  sente  ; 

And  on  tlie  walles  of  the  toun  they 
ployde, 

Ti>  loko  if  they  can  seenonglitof  Criseyde. 

H!0.  Til  it  was  noon,  they  stoden  for  to 

see 
Who  that  thcr  come;  and  every  maner 

wight,  1 1 15 

That  cam  fro  fer,  they  seyden  it  was  she. 
Til  that  they  condo  knowen  him  a-right, 
Xow  was  his  herte  dnl,  now  was  it  light ; 
And  thus  by -japed  stonden  for  to  stare 
Aboute  nought,  this  Troilus  and  Pandare. 

161.  To  Pandarus  this  Troilus  tho  seyde, 
'For  ought  I  wot,  bi-for  noon,  sikerly, 
In-to   this   toun  no  comth  nought  here 

Criseyde. 
She  hath  y-now  to  done,  hardily,  1 124 

To  winnen  from  hir  fader,  so  trowe  I ; 
Hir  olde  fader  wol  yet  make  hir  dyne 
Er  that  she  go ;  god  yeve  his  herte  pyne ! ' 

1<52.  Pandare  answerde,  '  it  may  wel  be, 

certeyn  ; 
And  for-thy  lat  us  dj-ne,  I  thee  biseche  ; 
-And  after  noon  than  mayst  thou  come 

ayeyn.'  1,30 

And     hoom    they    go,    with-onte    more 

speche  ; 


And  comen  ayein,  but  longe  may  they 

soeho 
Er  that  they  finde  that  they  after  cape  ; 
Fortune  hem  bothe  thenketh  for  to  jape. 

163.  Quod  Troilus,  '  I  see  wel  now,  that 
she  1 135 

Is  taried  with  hir  olde  fader  so. 
That  er  she  come,  it  wol  neigli  even  be. 
Com  forth,  I  wol  un-to  tho  yate  go. 
Tliiso  portoursboon  unkonninge  ever-mo; 
.\nd  I  wol  doon  liem  holden  up  the  yate 
As  nought  ne  were,  al-though  she  como 
late.'  1 14 1 

164.  The  day  goth  faste,  and  after  that 
comth  pve, 

And  yet  com  nought  to  Troilus  Criseyde. 
He   loketh    forth   by  hegge,   by  tree,  by 

greve. 
And  fer  his  heed  over  the  wal  ho  leyde. 
And   at   the   laste   he   torned   him,   and 

seyde,  1146 

'  By  god,  I  woot  hirmcning  now,  Pandare! 
Al-most,  y-wis,  al  newo  was  my  care. 

165.  Now  douteles,    this    lady    can    hir 
good  ; 

I  woot,  slie  meneth  rj-den  prively.        1150 
I  comcnde  hir  wysdom,  by  myn  hood  ! 
Slie  wol  not  makcn  peple  nycely 
Oaure   on    hir,    whan    she    comth  ;    but 

.softely 
By  nighte   in-to  the  toun  she  thenketh 

ryde. 
And,   dere   brother,  thenk    not   longe  f 

abydo.  1155 

166.  We  ban   nought  elles  for  to  doon, 
y-wis. 

And  Pandams,  now  woltow  trowen  me  ? 
Have  here  my  trouthe,  I  see  hir !  yond 

she  is. 
Heve  up  thyn  eyen,  man  !  maystow  not 

see  ? ' 
Pandare  answerde,  'nay,  so  mote  I  thee  ! 
Al  wrong,  by  god  ;  what  seystow,  man, 

wherart?  1161 

That  I  see  yond  nis  but  a  fare-cart.' 

167.  '  Alias,  thou  seist  right  sooth,'  quod 
Troilus  ; 

'  But  hardely,  it  is  not  al  for  nought   1164 


Book  V.] 


^rotfu0  an^  Cviet^U. 


315 


That  in  myn  herte  I  now  rejoyse  thus. 
It  is  ayein  som  good  I  have  a  thought. 
Noot    I   not   how,    but    sin    that    I   was 

wroiight, 
Ne  felte  I  swich  a  confort,  dar  I  seye  ; 
She  comth  to-night,  my  lyf,  that  dorste 

I  leye ! ' 

168.  Pandare  answerde,  '  it  may  be  wel, 
y-noiigh  '  ;  ii-o 

And  held  with  him  of  al  that  ever  he 

seyde ; 
But  in  his  herte  lie  thoughte,  and  softe 

lough, 
And  to  him-self  ful  sobrely  he  seyde  : 
'  From  hasel-wode,  ther  Joly  Robin  pleyde, 
Shal   come    al    that   that   thou   abydest 

here;  ii;5 

Ye,  fare-wel  al  the  snow  of  feme  yere  ! ' 

169.  The  wardein  of  the  .vates  gan  to  calle 
The  folk  which  that  with-oute  the  yates 

were. 
And  bad  hem  dryven  in  hir  bestes  alle, 
Or  al  the  night  they  moste  bleven  there. 
And  fer  with-in  the  night,  with  many 

atere,  ,,8i 

This  Troilus  gan  hoomward  for  to  ryde  ; 
For  wel  he  seeth  it  helpeth  nought  t'a- 

byde. 

170    But  natht'les,  he  gladded  him  in  this ; 
He  thoughte  he  misacounted  hadde  his 

day,  ,,85 

And  seyde,  '  I  understonde  have  al  a-mis. 
For  thilke  night  I  last  Criseyde  say. 
She  seyde,  "  I  shal  ben  here,  if  that  I 

may, 
Er  that  the  mone,  O  dere  herte  swete  ! 
The  Lyon  passe,  out  of  this  Ariete."    1 190 

171.  For  which  she  may  yet  holde  al  hir 

biheste.' 
And  on  the   morwe   un-to   the   yate   he 

wente, 
And  up  and  down,  by  west  and  eek  by 

este, 
Up-on  the  walles  made  he  many  a  wente. 
But  al  for  nought ;  his  liope  alwey  him 

blente  :  ,  ,,,£. 


For  which  at  night,  in  sorwe  and  sykes 

sore 
He    wente    him    boom,    with-outen   any 

more. 

172.  This  hope  al  clene  out  of  his  herte 
fledde. 

He  nath  wher-on  now  lenger  for  to  honge  ; 
But  for  the  peyne  him  thoughte  his  herte 

bledde,  ,,(„, 

So  were  liis  throwes  sharpe  and  wonder 

stronge. 
For   when    he   saugh   that  she  abood  so 

longe. 
He  niste  what  he  juggen  of  it  niiglito, 
Sin   she  hath   broken  that  she  him  bi- 

highte. 

173.  Tlie  thridde,  ferthe,  fifte,  sixte  day 
After  tho  dayes  ten,  of  which  I  tolde, 
Bitwi.xen  hope  and  drede  his  herte  lay, 
Yet  som-what  trtistinge  on  hirhestesolde. 
But  whan  he  saugh  she  nolde  hir  terme 

holde. 
He  can  now  seen  non  other  remedyo,  i2i<i 
But  for  to  shape  him  sone  for  to  dye. 

174.  Tlier-with  the  wikked  spirit,  god  us 
blesse, 

Wliich  that  men  clepeth  wode  jalousye, 
Gan  in  him  crepe,  in  al  this  hevinesse  ; 
For  which,  by-cause  he  wolde  sone  dye. 
He  ne  eet  ne  dronk,  for  his  malencolvo, 
And  eek  from  every  companye  he  fledde  ; 
This  was  the  lyf  that  al  tho  tyme  he 
ledde. 

175.  He  so  defet  was,  that  no  maner  man 
Unnethe   mighte   him    knowe    ther    he 

wente;  ,„o 

So  was  he  lene,  and  ther-to  pale  and  wan. 
And  feble,  that  he  walketh  by  potente  ; 
And  with  his  ire  he    thus    him-selven 

shente. 
And  who-so  axed  him  wher-of  him  smerte, 
He  seyde,   his  harm  was  al  aboute  his 

herte.  ,2^- 

176.  Pryam  ful  ofte,  and  eek  his  moder 
dere. 

His  bretheren  and  his  sustren  gonne  him 
freyne 


3i6 


^votfu0  anb  Crteepbe. 


[Book  V. 


Why  he  so  sorwful  was  in  ill  his  chere, 
And  what  thing  was  the  cause  of  al  his 

peyne? 
But  al  for  nought ;  he  nolde  his  cause 

pleyne,  1230 

But  seyde,  he  felte  a  grevous  mnladye 
A-boute  his  herte,  and  fayn  he  woldo  dye. 

177    So  on  a  day  he  leyde  him  donn  to 

slepe, 
And    so    bifel    that    in    liis    sleep  him 

thoughte, 
That  in  a  forest  faste  ho  welk  to  wepe   1235 
For  love  of  hir  that  him  these  peynes 

wrouglito  ; 
And  up  anil  donn  as  he  the  forest  soughte, 
Ho  motto  he  saagli  a  boor  with  tuskes 

grete, 
That  sleep  ayein  the  bright  sonnes  hete. 

178.  And  by  this  boor,  faste  in  his  armes 
folde,  1240 

Lay  kissing  ay  his  lady  bright  Criseyde: 
For  sorwo  of  which,   whan   he    it    gan 

biholde, 
Anil  for  despj-t,  out  of  his  slepe  hebreyde, 
And  loude  he   crj-de  on   Pandarus,  and. 

soy  do, 
'  O   Tandarus,   now   knowo    I   crop   and 

rote  !  I  .'45 

I  nam  but  deed,  ther  nis  non  other  bote  ! 

179.  My  lady  bright  Criseydo  hath  me 
bitrayetl. 

In  whom  I  trusted  most  of  any  wight, 
She    cllos-whero     hath     now    hir    herte 

apayed ; 
The   blisful    goddes,    through    liir   grete 

might,  1250 

Han  in  my  dreem  y-shewed  it  fnl  right. 
Thus  in    my    dreem    Criseyde    I    have 

biholdo  '— 
And  al  this  thing  to  Pandarus  he  tolde. 

ISO.  '  O  my  Criseyde,  alias !  what  subtil- 
tee, 

AVhat  nowe  lust,  what  beautee,  what 
science,  1255 

Wlmt  wratthe  of  juste  cause  have  ye  to 
me  ? 

ANTiat  gilt  of  me,  what  fel  experience 

Hath  fro  me  raft,  alius !  thj-n  advertence? 


0  trust,  0  feyth,  O  dope  asijuraunce. 
Who  hath  me  reft  Criseyde,  al  my  ple- 

saunce?  1260 

181.  Alias !  why  loot  I  you  from  hennes 
go. 

For  which   wcl   neigh   out   of  my  wit  I 

breyde  ? 
WTio  shal  now  trowe  on  any  othes  mo? 
God  wot  I  wondo,  O  lady  bright,  Criseyde, 
That  every  word  was  gospel  that  ye  seyde ! 
But  who  maybetbigylen,  if  him  liste,  1266 
Than  he  on  whom  men  weneth  best  to 

triste  ? 

182.  ^^^lat   shal   I  doon,   my  Pandarus, 
alias  ! 

1  fele  now  so  sharpe  a  newe  peync. 
Sin  that  ther  is  no  remedie  in  this  cas, 
That  bet  were  it   I  with    myn   hondes 

tweyne  1271 

My-sol  ven  slow,  than  alwey  thus  to  ployne. 
For  tlirough  my  deoth  my  wo  sholde  ban 

an  ende, 
Ther  every  day  with  lyf  my-self  I  shende.' 

183.  Pandare  answerde  and  seyde,  'alios 
the  wliyle  1275 

That  I  was  bom  ;  have  I  not  seyd  er  this. 
That  dromes  many  a  manor  man  bigyle? 
And  why?  for  folk  o.xixmnden hem  a-mis. 
How  darstow  soyn  that  fals  thy  lady  is, 
For   any   dreem,   right   for   thyn    owene 

drede?  1280 

Lat  be  this  th.ought,  thou  canst  no  dromes 

rede. 

184.  Parauntor,  ther  thou  dremest  of  this 
boor. 

It  may  so  bo  that  it  may  signifye 
Hir  fador,  which  that  old  is  and  eek  hoor, 
Aycin  the  sonno  Ij^th,  on  poynttodye,  1285 
And  she  for  sorwe  ginneth  wepe  and  crye. 
And  kisscth  him,   ther  he  lyth  on  the 

grounde ; 
Thus  shuldestow  thy  dreem  a-right  ex- 

pounde.' 

IS.5.  '  How   miglite  I  thanne   do  ? '   quo<l 

Troilus, 
'  To  knowo  of  this,  ye,  were  it  never  so 

Ij-te?'  1290 


Book  V.] 


^rotfu0  anl  Cviet^it, 


317 


'  Now  seystowwysly,'  qi^od  this Pandartis, 
'  My  reed  is  this,    sin   thou  canst  wel 

endyte, 
That  hastely  a  lettre  thou  hir  wryte, 
Thorugh  which  thou  shalt  wel  bringen  it 

aboute, 
To   knowe   a   sooth   of  that  thou  art  in 


doute 


1295 


ISO.  And  see  now  why;  for  this  I  dar  wel 

sej-n, 
That  if  so  is  that  she  untrewe  be, 
I  can  not  trowe  that  she  wol  wryte  ayej-n. 
And  if  she  wryte,  thou  shalt  ful  sone  see. 
As  whether  she  hath  any  libertee        1300 
To  come  ayein,  or  elles  in  som  clause, 
If  she  be  let,  she  wol  assigne  a  cause. 

187.  Thou  hast  not  writen  hir  sin  that 
she  wente. 

Nor  she  to  thee,  and  this  I  dorste  leye, 
Ther  may  swich  cause  been  in  hir  en- 
tente, ,305 
That  hardely  thou  wolt  thy-selven  seye. 
That  hir  a-bood  the  beste  is  for  yow  tweye. 
Now  wryte  hir  thanne,  and  thou  shalt 

fele  sone 
A  sothe  of  al;  ther  is  no  more  to  done.' 

188.  Acorded  been  to  this  conclusioun,  1310 
And  that  anoon,  these  ilke  lordes  two  ; 
And  hastely  sit  Troih.is  adoun. 

And  rolleth  in  his  heite  to  and  fro, 
How  he  may  best  discrj-ven  hir  his  wo. 
And  to  Criseyde,  his  owenelady  dere,  13 15 
He  wroot  right  thus,  and  seyde  as  ye  may 
here. 

189.  'Eight  fresshe   flour,    whos  I  have 
been  and  shal, 

With-outen  part  of  elles-where  servj'se, 
With  herte,  body,  lyf,  lust,  thought,  and 

al; 
I,  woful  wight,  in  every  humble  wyse  1320 
That  tonge  telle  or  herte  may  devyse. 
As  ofte  as  matere  occupyeth  place. 
Me  recomaunde  un-to  your  noble  grace. 

190.  Lyketh  it  yow  to  witen,  swete  herte, 
As  ye  wel  knowe  how  longe  tyme  agoon 
That  ye  me  lafte  in  aspre  peynes  smerte, 


Whan  that  ye  wente,  of  which  yet  bote 
noon  1327 

Have  I  non  had,  but  ever  wers  bigoon 
Fro  day  to  day  am  I,  and  so  mot  dwelle. 
While  it  yow  list,   of  wele  and  wo   my 
welle !  ,3,0 

191.  For  which    to    yow,    with    dredful 
herte  trewe, 

I  wryte,  as  he  that  sorwe  dryfth  to  ^vTyte, 
My  wo,  that  every  houre  encreseth  newe, 
Compleyninge  as  I  dar  or  can  endyte. 
And  that  defaced  is,  that  may  ye  wyte  1335 
The  teres,  which  that  fro  mjm  eyen  reyne. 
That  wolde  speke,  if  that  they  coude,  and 
pleyno. 

192.  Yow  first  biseche  I,  that  your  eyon 
clere 

To  look  on  this  defouled  ye  not  holde  ; 
And  over  al  this,  that  .ye,  my  lady  dere, 
Wol  vouche-sauf  this  lettre  to  biholde.  1341 
And  by  the  cause  eek  of  m,v  cares  colde, 
That  sleeth  my  wit,  if  ought  amis  me 

asterte, 
For-yeve  it  me,  myn  owene  swete  herte. 

193.  If  any  servant  dorste  or  oughte  of 
right  1345 

Up-on  his  lady  pitously  compleyne, 
Than  wene  I,  that  ich  oughte  be  that 

wight. 
Considered  this,  that  ye  these  montlies 

tweyne 
Han  taried,   ther    ye    seyden,   sooth   to 

seyne. 
But  dayes  ten  ye  nolde  in  ost  sojourne,  1350 
But  in  two  monthes  yet  ye  not  retourna 

194.  But  for-as-muche  as  me  mot  nedes 
lyke 

Al  that  yow  list,  I  dar  not  pleyne  more, 
But  humblely  with  sorwful  sykes  syke  ; 
Yow  wryte  ich  myn  unresty  sorwes  sore, 
Fro  day  to  day  des.yring  ever-more      1356 
To  knowen  fully,  if  your  wil  it  were. 
How  ye  ban  ferd  and  doon,  whyl  ye  bo 
there. 

195.  The  whos  wel-faro  and  helo  eek  god 
encresse  jj^tj 

In  honour  swich,  that  upward  in  degree 


3i8 


^roifu0  ani  triaejbe. 


[Book  V. 


It  growe  alwcy,  so  tliat  it  never  cesse  ; 
Ilight  as  yonr  herte  ay  can,  my  lady  free, 
Devyse,  I  prey  to  god  so  mote  it  be. 
And  graunte  it  that  ye  sone  up-on  me 

rewo 
As  wisly  as  in  al  I  am  yow  trewe.         1365 

196.  And  if  yow  lyketh  knowen  of  the  fare 
Of  me,  whos  wo  ther  may  no  wight  dis- 

cr>'ve, 
T  can  no  more  but,  cheste  of  every  care, 
At  wrj-tinge  of  this  lettre  I  was  on-lj-ve, 
Al  redy  out  my  wofnl  gost  to  dryve;   1370 
Which   I  delaye,  and  holdo  him  yet  in 

lionde, 
I'pon  the  sight  of  matere  of  your  sonde. 

197.  i[yn  oyen  two,  in  voj-n  with  which 
I  see, 

Of  sorwefnl  teres  saltc  am  waxen  welles  ; 
My  song,  in  plej-nto  of  myn  adversitee  ; 
My  giMxl   in   harm  ;  niyn  eso  cek  waxen 

helle  is.  1376 

My  joyc,   in  wo  ;  I  tan  scy  yow  nought 

cllos. 
Rut  turned  is,  for  which  my  Ij-f  I  warie, 
Everich  joye  or  esc  in  liis  contrarie. 

198.  ^Vllich   with  yoTxr    cominge    hoom 
ayoin  to  Troye  1380 

Ye  may  redrcsse,  and,  more  a  thousand 

sythe 
Than  ever  ich  hadde,  cncrescn  in  me  joye. 
Fur  was  ther  never  herte  yet  so  blythe 
To  lian  his  lyf,  as  I  shnl  been  as  swythe 
.■\.s   I   yow   see  ;    and,   though  no  maner 

routhe  1385 

Commeve    yow.   yet    thinketh    on    jour 

trouthe. 

109.  And   if  so  be  my  gilt   hath  deeth 

deserved, 
Or  if  you  list  no  more  up-on  me  see, 
In  guerdon  yet  of  that  I  have  you  served, 
Bisoche  I  yow,  myn  hert€S  lady  free,  1390 
Tliat  here-upon  ye  wolden  wrj'te  me, 
For  love  of  gotl,  my  righte  lode-sterro, 
Ther  deeth  may  make  an  ende  of  al  my 

werre. 

200.  If  other  cause  anglit  doth  yow  for  to 

dwelle,  1394 

That  with  your  lettre  ye  me  recomfortc  ; 


For  though  to  me  your  absence  is  an  helle, 
With  pacience  I  wol  my  wo  o.omporte. 
And   with    your    lettre   of   hope   I  wol 

desporte. 
Now  wryteth,  swete,  and  lat  me  thus  not 

pleyne  ; 
With  hope,  or  deeth,  delivereth  me  fro 

peyne.  j^iy.> 

201.  Y-wis,  myn  owene  dere  herte  trewe, 
I  woot  that,  whan  ye  next  up-on  me  see, 
Solostliave  I  mj-n  hele  and  eek  myn  hewe, 
Criseyde  shal  nought  conno  knowe  me  ! 
\'-wis,  mjni  hertes  day,  my  lady  free,  1405 
So  thursteth  ay  mjni  herte  to  biholdo 
Y'ourbeautee,  that  my  Ij-f  unnethe  I  holde. 

202.  I  sey  no  more,  al  have  I  for  to  scj-e 
To  you  wel  more  than  I  telle  may  ;  1409 
But  whether  that  ye  do  mo  live  or  deye. 
Yet  pray  I  god,  so  yeve  yow  right  good  day. 
And  fareth  wel,  goodly  fayre  fresshe  may, 
As  ye  that  lyf  or  deeth  me  maycomaunde; 
And  to  your  trouthe  ay  I  me  recomaunde 

203.  With  hele  swich  that,  but  ye  yeven 
mo  1415 

The  same  hele,  I  shal  noon  hele  have. 
In  you  lyth,  whan  yow  list  that  it  so  be, 
Tlie  day  in  which  me  clothen  shal  my 

grave. 
In  j'ow  my  lyf,  in  yow  might  for  to  save 
Mc  from  disese  of  alle  peynes  smerte  ;  1420 
And  fare  now  wel,  myn  owene  swctc  herte ! 
Le  vostre  T.' 

204.  This  lettre   forth   was  sent    un-to 
Criseyde, 

Of  which  hir  answcro  in  effect  was  this ; 
Fill  pitously  she  wroot  aycin,  and  seyde, 
Tliat  al-so  sone  as  that  she  might,  y-wis, 
She  wolde  come,  and  mende  al  that  was 

mis.  1426 

And  fj-nally  she  wroot   and  seyde   him 

thanne, 
She  wolde  come,  ye,  but  she  niste  whanne. 

205.  But  in  hir  lettre  made  she  swich 
festes. 

That  wonder  was,  and  swereth  she  loveth 

him  best,  1430 

Of  which  he  fond  but  botmclces  bihestes. 


Book  V.] 


^totfue  ari^  Cvietj^lt. 


319 


But  Troilus,  thou  mayst  now,  est  or  west, 
PjTse  in  an  i\->-  leef,  if  that  thee  lest ; 
Thus  gooth  the  world  ;  god  shilde  us  fro 

mischaunce. 
And  every  wight   that  meneth  trouthe 

avaunce !  i43S 

206.  Encresen  gan  the  wo  fro  day  to  night 
Of  Troilus,  for  taryinge  of  Criseyde  ; 
And   lessen   gan   his   hope   and   eek   his 

might. 
For  wliich  al  doun  he  in   his  hed  him 

leyde  ; 
He  ne  eet,  ne  dronk,  ne  sleep,  ne  word  he 

seyde,  1440 

Imagininge  ay  that  she  was  unkinde  ; 
For  which  wel  neigh  he  wex  out  of  his 

minde. 

207.  This  dreem,  of  which  I  told  have  eek 
hiforn. 

May  never  come  out  of  his  remembraunce ; 
He  t  hough te  ay  wel  he  hadde  his  lady 

lorn,  1445 

And  that  Joves,  of  his  purveyaunce, 
Him  shewed  hadde  in  sleep  the  signifi- 

aunce 
Of  hir  untrouthe  and  his  disaventure, 
And  that  the  boor  was  shewed  him  in 

figure. 

208.  For  which  he  for  Sibille  his  suster 
sente,  1450 

That  called  was  Cassandre  eek  al  aboute  ; 
And  al  his  dreem  he  tolde  hir  er  he  stonte, 
And  hir  hisoughte  assoilen  him  the  doutc 
Of  the  stronge  boor,  with  tuskes  stoute  ; 
And  fynally,  with-inne  a  litel  stounde, 
Cassandre  him  gan  right  thus  his  dreem 
expounde.  1456 

209.  She  gan  first  smyle,  and  seyde,  '  O 
brother  dere. 

If  thou  a  sooth  of  this  desyrest  knowe, 
Thou  most  a  fewe  of  olde  stories  here. 
To  purpos,  how  that  fortune  over-throwe 
Hath  lordes  olde  ;  through  which,  with- 
inne  a  throwe,  1461 
Thou  wel  this  boor  shalt  knowe,  and  of 

what  kinde 
He  comen  is,  as  men  in  bokes  finde. 


210.  Diane,  which  that  wrooth  was  and  in 
ire 

For  Grekes  nolde  doon  hir  sacrifyse,   1465 
Ne  encens  up-on  hir  auter  sette  a-fyre, 
She,  for  that  Grekes  gonne  hir  so  dispyse, 
Wrak  hir  in  a  wonder  cruel  wyse. 
For  with  a  boor  as  greet  as  oxe  in  stalle 
She  made  up  frete  hir  corn  and  vj-nes  alle. 

211.  To  slee  this  boor  was  al  the  contree 
reysed,  14;: 

A-monges  which  ther  com,  this  boor  to  see, 
A  mayde,   oon   of  this  world  the    best 

y-preysed ; 
And  Meleagre,  lord  of  that  contree, 
He  lovede  so  this  fresshe  mayden  free  1475 
That  with  his  manhod,  er  he  wolde  stente. 
This  boor  he  slow,  and  hir  the  heed  he 


212.  Of  which,  as  olde  bokes  tellen  ixs, 
Ther  roos  a  contek  and  a  greet  envj-e  ; 
And  of  this  lord  descended  Tydeus      1481) 
By  ligne,  or  elles  olde  bokes  lye  ; 
But  how  this  Meleagre  gan  to  dye 
Thorugli  his  moder,  wol  I  yow  not  telle, 
For  al  to  long  it  were  for  to  dwelle.' 


[Arginnent  of  the  12  Books  o/Statius' 
Thebais.] 

Associat  profugum  Tideo  primus  Polimi- 

tem  ; 
Tidea  legatum  docet  insidiasque  secundus ; 
Tercius  Hemoniden   canit  et  vates  lati- 

tantes  ; 
Quartiis  habet  reges  ineuntes  prelia  sep- 

tem ;  4 

Mox  furie  Lenne  quinto  narratur  et  anguis ; 
Archimori  bustum  sexto  ludique  leguntur; 
Dat    Graios    Thebes  et  vatem    septimua 

vmbris ; 
Octauo  cecidit  Tideus,  spes,  vita  Pelasgis  ; 
Ypomedon    nono    moritur    cum   Partho- 

nopeo ;  9 

Fulmine     percussus,     decimo     Capaneus 

snperatur ; 
Vndecimo    sese    perimunt    per    vulnera 

fratres  ; 
Axgiuam    flentem    narrat     duodcnus    et 

ignem,  12 


320 


^rotfue  (^n^  Criecgfec. 


[Book  V. 


:il3.  She  tolde  eck  how  Tydeus,  er  she 
stente,  '485 

Un-to  the  stronge  citee  of  Thebes, 
To  cleyme  kingdom  of  the  citee,  wente. 
For  liis  felawe,  daun  Polymites, 
Of  which  the  brother,  diiun  Ethyocles, 
Kul    wrongfully    of    Thebes    held    the 
strengthe ;  149" 

This  tolde  she  by  proces,  al  by  lengthe. 

•214.  She  tolde  eek  how  Hemonides  asterte, 
Whan  Tydeus  slough  fifty  knightes  stouto. 
She  tolde  eek  al  the  prophesyes  by  herto, 
And  how  that  sevene  kinges,  with  hir 
route,  1495 

Bisegeden  the  citee  al  aboute  ; 
And  of  the  holy  serpent,  and  the  welle, 
And  of  the  furies,  al  she  gan  him  telle. 

•215.  Of    -Aj-chimoris    buryinge    and    the 

pl(\ves, 
And    how   Amijhiorax    fil    through    the 

grounde,  I5tx> 

How  Tydeus  was  slayn,  lord  of  Argeyes, 
And  how  YjMjmedoun  in  litel  stoundo 
Was    dreynt,   and    deed    Parthonope  of 

wounde ; 
And  also  how  Cappangus  the  proude 
With  thonder-dint  was  slayn,  that  cryde 

loude,  1505 

216.    She  gan   eek  telle   him  how  that 

either  brother, 
Ethyocles  and  Polimj-te  also, 
At  a  scarmyche,  eche  of  hem  slough  other. 
And  of  Argj-\-es  wepinge  and  hir  wo  ; 
And  how  the  town  was  brent  she  tolde 

eek  tho.  1510 

And  so  descendeth  doun  from  gestes  olde 
To  Diomede,  and  thus  she  spak  and  tolde. 

•217.   '  This  ilke  boor  bitokneth  Diomede, 
Tydeus  sone,  that  doun  descended  is 
Fro   Meleagre,    that   made   the    boor    to 

blede.  1515 

And  thy  lady,  wher-so  she  be,  y-wis. 
This  Diomede  hir  herte  hath,  and  she  his. 
Weep  if  thou  wolt,  or  leef ;   for,  out  of 

doute. 
This  Diomede  is  inne,  and  thou  art  cute' 


'218.     'Thou   seyst  nat   sooth,'   quod   he, 

'  thou  soroeresso. 
With  althy  false  goost  of  prophesye!  1521 
Thou  wencst  been  a  greet  devyneresse  ; 
Now  seestow  not  this  fool  of  fantasye 
Peyneth  hir  on  ladyes  for  to  lye? 
Awey,'  quod  he,   '  ther  Joves  yeve  thee 

sorwe !  1^25 

Thou  shalt   be  fals,   paraunter,   yet  to- 

morwe  ! 

219.  As  wel  thou  mightest  lyen  on  Alceste, 
That  was  of  creatures,  but  men  lyo, 
That  ever  weren,  kindest  and  the  beste. 
For  whannc   liir  housbonde  was  in  ju- 

partye  1530 

To  dye  him-self,  but-if  she  wolde  dye. 
She    chees   for  him  to    dyo  and   go  to 

helle, 
And  starf  anoon,  as  us  the  bokcs  telle.' 

2"20.  Cassandre  goth,  and  he  with  cruel 
herte  1534 

For-yat  his  wo,  for  angre  of  hir  speche  ; 

And  from  his  bed  al  sodeinly  he  sterte. 

As  thoitgh  al  hool  him  hadde  y-mad  a 
leche.  1537 

And  day  by  day  he  gan  enquere  and  seche 

A  sooth  of  this,  with  al  his  fulle  cure  ; 

And  thus  he  dryeth  forth  his  aventure. 

221.  Fortune,  whiche  that  permutacioun 
Of  thinges  hath,  as  it  is  hir  committed 
Through  purveyaunce  and  disposicioun 
Of  heighe  Jove,  as  regnes  shal  ben  flitted 
Fro  folk  in  folk,  or  whan  they  shal  ben 

smitted,  1545 

Gan  puUe  awey  the  fetheres  brighte  of 

Troye 
Fro  day  to  day,  til  they  ben  bare  of  joye. 

222.  Among  al  this,  the  fyn  of  the  parodie 
Of  Ector  gan  ai)prochen  wonder  blyve  ; 
The  fate  wolde  his  soule  sholde  unljodie. 
And  shapen  hadde  a  mene  it  out  to  dryve  ; 
Ayeins  which  fate   him  helpeth  not  to 

stryve ;  1552 

But  on  a  day  to  fighten  gan  he  wende. 
At   which,   alias !    he  caughte  his  lyves 

ende. 


Book  V.] 


^rotfue  an&  Cviet^^t. 


321 


223.  For  which  me  thinketh  everj'  maner 
^glit  1555 

That  haunteth  armes  oughte  to  biwayle 
Tlie   deeth   of   him  that   was    so    noble 

a  knight ; 
For  as  he  drough  a  Icing  hy  th'aventayle, 
Unwar  of  this,  Achilles  through  the  mayle 
And  through   the   body  gan  him  for  to 

ryye ;  156(1 

And  thus  this  worthy  knight  was  brought 

of  lyve. 

224.  For  whom,  as  olde  bokes  tellen  «s. 
Was  maad  s\vich  wo.  that  tonge  it  may 

not  telle  ; 
And  namelj-,  the  sorwe  of  Troilus,       1564 
Tliat  next  him  was  of  worthinesse  welle. 
And  in  this  wo  gan  Troilns  to  dwelle, 
That,  what  for  sorwe.  and  love,  and  for 

nnreste. 
Fill  ofte  a  day  he  bad  his  herte  breste. 

22.5.  But  natheles,  though  he  gan  him 
dispeyre,  1569 

And  dradde  ay  that  his  lady  was  iintrewe, 

Yet  ay  on  hir  his  herte  gan  repejTe. 

And  as  tliese  loveres  doon,  he  songhte  ay 
newe 

To  gete  ayein  Crisej-de,  briglit  of  liewe. 

And  in  his  herte  he  wente  hir  excusinge, 

That  Calkas  causede  al  hir  taryinge.    1575 

226.  And  ofte  tyraf  he  was  in  i5uri)os 
grete 

Him-selven  lyk  a  pilgrim  to  disgyse,  ! 

To  seen  hir  ;  but  he  may  not  contrefete 
To  been   unknowen  of  folk  that  weren 
wyse,  1579 

Ne  finde  excuse  aright  that  may  suifyse, 
If  he  among  the  Grekes  knowen  were  ; 
For  which  he  weep  ful  ofte  many  a  tere. 

227.  To  hir  he  wroot  yet  ofte  tjTne  al 
newe 

Ful  pitously,  he  lefte  it  nought  for  slouthe, 
Biseching  hir  that,  sin  that  he  was  trewe, 
fShe  wolde   come   ayein  and   holde    hir 

trouthe.  i^gg 

For  which    Criseyde    up-on    a   day,   for 

routhe, 
I  take  it  so,  touchinge  al  this  matere, 
Wrot   him  ayein,  and  seyde  as  ye  may 

here. 


228.  •  Cupydes  sone,  ensample  of  goodli- 
liede,  jg^ 

0  swerd  of  knighthod,  sours  of  gentilesse ! 
How  mighte  a  wight  in  torment  and  in 

drede 
And  lielelees,  yow  sende  as  yet  gladnesse? 

1  hertelees,  I  syke,  I  in  distresse  ;  1594 
Sin  ye  with  me,  nor  I  with  yow  may  dele, 
Yow  neither  sende  ich  herte  may  nor  hele. 

229.  Your   lettres    ful,    tlu-    papir    al   y- 
pleynted, 

Consey\-ed  hath  myn  hertes  pietee  ; 
I  have  eek  seyn  with  teres  al  depej-nted 
Your  lettre,  and  how  that  ye  requeren  me 
To  come  ayein,  which  yet  ne  may  not  be. 
But  why,  lest  that  this  lettre  founden 


were, 


No  mencioun  ne  make  I  now,  for  fere 


[602 


230.  Grevous  to  me,   god  woot,  is  your 

iinreste. 
Your  haste,   and   that,   the    goddes    or- 

denannce,  1605 

It  semeth  not  ye  take  it  for  the  beste. 
Nor    other   thing   nis   in   your   remem- 

l>raunce, 
As  thinketh  me,  but  only  yoiir  plesaunce. 
But  beth   not  wrooth,  and  that  I  yow 

biseche  ;  160;, 

For  that  I  tarie,  is  al  for  wikked  speche. 

281.  For  I  have  herd  wel  more  than  I 

wende, 
Touchinge   us  two,  how  thinges  han  y- 

stonde  ; 
Which  I  shal  with  dissimulinge  amende. 
And    beth    nought   wrooth,    I   have    eek 

understonde,  1614 

How  ye  ne  doon  but  liolden  me  in  honde. 
But  now  no  fors,  I  can  not  in  yow  gesse 
But  alle  trouthe  and  alle  gentilesse. 

232.  Comen  I  wol,  but  yet  in  swich  dis- 

joynte 
I  stonde  as  now,  that  what  .veer  or  what 

day 
That  this  shal  be,  that  can  I  not  apoynte. 
But  in  effect,  I  prey  yow,  as  I  may,     1621 
Of  your  good  word  and  of  your  frendsliip 


tjrotfu0  ani  Cneepfee. 


[Book  V. 


For  trewel}-,  whyl  tliat  my  Ij-f  may  ilure, 
As  for  a  freend.  ye  may  in  me  assure. 

233.  Yet  preye  I  yow  on  yvei  ye  ne  take, 
Tliat   it   is   short  which   that   I   to   yow 

wrj-to  ;  1626 

I  (liir  not,  ther  I  am,  wel  lettres  make. 
Xe  never  yet  ne  coude  I  wel  endj-te. 
Eek  greet  effect  men  wryte  in  place  Ij-te. 
Th'entente  is  al,  and  nought  the  lettres 

space  ;  '6^0 

Anil  I'areth  now  wel,  god  liave  you  in  his 

grace  ! 

La  vostre  C 

•2;U.  This  Troihis  this  Icttro  thoughte  al 

straunge, 
Wlian    he   it   saugh,   and    sorwetnlly  he 

sighte  ; 
Him     thoughte    it    lyk    a    kalendes    of 

cliaunge  ; 
IJut  fj-nally,  he  ful  ne  trowen  mighte  i6.vi 
That  she  ne  wolde  him  holden  that  she 

highte  ; 
For  with  ful  y\el  wil  list  him  to  leve 
Tliat  loveth   wel.   in  swich  cas,   though 

him  greve. 

235.  But  natheles,  men  seyn  that,  at  the 
Inste,  1639 

For  any  thing,  men  shal  the  sothe  see  ; 
.\nd  swich  a  cas  liitidile,  ami  that  as  faste, 
That  Troihis  wel  understiMid  that  she 
Xas  not  so  kinde  as  that  hir  oughte  he. 
And  fynally,  he  woot  now,  out  of  doute. 
That  al  is  lost  that  he  hath  heen  aboute. 

236.  .Stood  on  athiy  in  his  malencolye  1646 
Tliis  Troilus.  and  in  suspecioun 

Of  hir  for  whom  he  wende  for  to  dye. 
And  so  l)iiel,  that  through-out  Troye  toun. 
As  was  the  gyse,  y-lx)re  was  up  and  doun 
A  maner  cote-amiure,  as  seyth  the  storie, 
Bitbrn  Deiphebe,  in  signe  of  his  victorie, 

2.37.  The  whiche  cote,  as  telleth  Lollius, 
Deiphebe  it  hadde  y-rent  from  Diomede 
Tlie  same  day  ;  and  whan  this  Troilus  1655  j 
It  saugh,  he  gan  to  taken  of  it  hede, 
Avysing  of  the  lengthe  and  of  the  brede,     1 
And  al  the  werk  ;  but  as  he  gan  biholde, 
Fill  s.xleinly  his  herte  gan  to  colde.  | 


23S. 


lie  that  on  the  coler  fond  with- 
inne  1660 

A  broche,  that  he  Criseyde  yaf  that  morwe 
That  she  from  Troye  moste  nedes  twinne, 
In  remembraunce  of  him  and  of  his  sorwe ; 
And  she  him  leyde  ayein  hir  feyth  to 
borwe  1664 

To  kepe  it  ay ;  but  now,  ful  wel  he  wiste, 
His  lady  nas  no  lenger  on  to  triste. 

239.  He  gooth  him   lioom,   and    gan   ful 
sone  sende 

For  Pandarus  ;  and  al  this  newe  chaunce. 
And  of  this  broche,  he  tolde  him  word 

and  ende,  i(>bg 

Compleyninge  of  hir  hertes  variaunce. 
His  longe  love,  his  trouthe,  and  his  pen- 

aunce ; 
And  after  deeth,  with-outen  wordes  more, 
Ful  faste  he  cryde,  his  reste  him  to  restore. 

240.  Tlian   spak   he  thu.s,   'O  lady  myn 
Criseyde, 

Wher   is   your  feyth,   and  wlur  is  your 

biheste?  i();5 

Wher  is  your  love,  wlu-r  is  your  trouthe '.' ' 

he  seyde  ; 
'  Of  Diomede  have  ye  now  al  this  feste  ! 
Alias,  I  wolde  have  trowed  at  the  leste, 
Tliat,  sin  ye  nolde  in  trouthe  to  me  stonde. 
That  ye  thus  nolde  han  holden  me  in 
honde  !  1680 

241.  Who  shal  now  trowe   r>ii  any  othes 
mo? 

Alias,  I  never  wolde  han  wend,  er  this. 
That  ye,  Criseyde,  coude  han  chaunged  so ; 
Xe,  but  I  hadde  a^gilt  and  doon  amis,  16X4 
So  cruel  wende  I  not  your  herte,  y-wis. 
To  slee  me  thus ;    alias,  your  name  of 

trouthe 
Is  now  for-doon,  and  that  is  al  my  ronthe. 

242.  Was  ther  non  other  broche  yow  liste 
lete 

To  feffewith  your  newe  love,'quo<l  he,  1689 
'  But  thilke  broche  that  I,  with  teres  wete, 
Yow  yaf,  as  for  a  rememliraunce  of  me  ? 
Non  other  cause,  alias,  ne  hadde  ye 
But  for  despyt,  and  eek  for  that  ye  mente 
Al-outrely  to  shewen  your  entente  ! 


Book  V.] 


^rotfu0  an^  Cviez^it. 


323 


rt  oftc 


up-  I 

1710 

thy-selve,  if  tliat  thfo 


243.  Through  which  I  see  that  clene  out 
of  yoiii- niinde  1695 

Ye  han  me  cast,  and  I  ne  can  uor  may, 
For  al  this  workl,  with-in  myn  herte  finile 
T'  \anloven  yow  a  quarter  of  a  daj' ! 
In  cursed  tyme  I  born  was,  weylaway  ! 
That  ye,  tliat  doon  me  al  this  wo  endure. 
Yet  love  I  best  of  any  creature.  1 701 

•244.  Now  god,'  quod  he,  '  me  senile  .yet 

the  grace 
That  I  may  meten  with  this  Diomede  ! 
And  trewely,  if  I  have  might  and  sjiace, 
Yet  shal  I  make,  I  hojie,  his  sydes  blede. 

0  god,'  quod  he, '  that  oughtest  taken  hede 
To  fortheren    trouthe,  and  wronges  to 

punyce,  1707 

Why  niltow  iloon  a  vengeaunce  on  this 
vyce  y 

245.   O    Pandare,    that  iii  drenies   for  to 

triste 
Me  blamed  hast,  ami  w 

breyde, 
Now  maysto' 

liste, 
How  trewe  is  now  thy 

seyde  ! 
In  sondry  formes,  god  it  wnot,'  he  seyde, 
*  The  goddes  shewen  Ijothe  joye  and  tene 
In  slepe,  and  by  my  dreme  it  is  now  sene. 

24C.    Anil     certaynly,     with-oute    more 
speche,  1716 

From  hennes-forth,  as  ferforth  as  I  may, 
Myn  owene  deeth  in  armes  wol  I  seche  ; 

1  recche  not  how  sone  be  the  day  ! 

Bvit  trewely,  Criseyde,  swete  may,        1 7J0 
Whom  I  have  ay  with   al  my  might  y- 

served. 
That   ye   thus    doon,    I    have    it    nouglit 

deserved.' 

247.  ThisPandarus,  that  alle  these  thinges 

herde. 
And  wisto  wel  he  seyde  a  sooth  of  tliis, 
He  nought  a  word  ayein  to  him  answerde  ; 
For  sory  of  his  frendes  sorwe  he  is,  1 7.2(') 
And  shameil,  for  his  nece  hath  doon  a-mis ; 
And  stant,  astoned  of  these  causes  tweyo. 
As  stille  as  stoon  ;  a  word  ne  coudc  ho 

seye. 

M 


bright  Cri- 


248.  But  at  the  laste  thus  he  spak,  and 
seyde,  1730 

'  My  brother  dere,  I  may  thee  do  no-more. 
What    shulilc    I    seyu  ?    I   hate,    y-wis, 

Criseyde  ! 
And  god  wot,  I  wol  liate  hir  evermore  ! 
And   that  thou  mc   bisoughtest  doou  of 

y'>re,  1734 

Havinge  un-to  myn  honour  ne  my  reste 
Eight  no  reward,  I  dide  al  that  thee  leste. 

249.  If  I  dide  ouglit  that  mighte  lyken 
thee, 

It  is  me  leef ;  and  of  this  treson  now, 
God  woot,  that  it  a  sorwe  is  un-to  me  ! 
Anil  dredelees,  for  hertes  ese  of  yow,  1740 
Right  fayn  wolde  I  amende  it,  wiste  I  how. 
And  fro  this  world,  almightj'  g<jil  I  preye, 
Delivere  hir  sone  ;  I  can  no-more  seye.' 

2.")0.   Gret  was  the   sorwe   and  pleynt   of 

Troilus  ; 
But   forth  hir  cours  fortune   a.\'  gan   to 

holde.  1745 

Criseyde  loveth  the  sone  of  Tydeus, 
And  TroUus  mot  wepe  in  cares  coldo. 
Swich  is  this  world  ;    who-so  it  can  1)i- 

holde. 
In  eche  estat  is  litel  hertes  reste  ;        174  ) 
God  leve  us  for  to  take  it  for  the  beste  ! 

251.  In  many  cnxel  batayle,  out  of  drcdc. 
Of  Troilus,  this  ilke  noble  knight. 
As  men  may  in  these  olde  bokes  rede, 
Was  sene  his  knightliod  and  his  grete 

might. 
And  dredelees,  his  ire,  day  and  night,  1755 
Ful  cruelly  the  Grekes  ay  aboughte ; 
And  alwey  most  this  Diomede  he  soughte. 

2r)2.  And    iifte    tymo,    1    Unde  that  they 
mcttt-  1758 

With  liloily  strokes  and  with  woriles  grete, 
Assayinge  how  hir  speres  weren  whette  ; 
And  goil  it  woot,  with  many  a  cruel  heto 
Gan  Troilus  upon  his  helnx  to-bete. 
But  nathcles,  fortune  it  nought  ne  wolde, 
Ofotheres  bond  that  either  deyensholde. — 

258.  And  if  I  hadde  y-taken  for  to  wryte 
Tiie  armes  of  this  iUie  worthy  man,     1 766 


324 


^rotfu0  anb  Ctteep^e. 


[Book  V. 


Than  woUle  I  of  his  l>atailles  eiul.rte. 
But  for  that  I  to  wTyte  first  hiaran 
Of  his  love,  I  have  seyd  as  that  I  can.  1769 
His  -worthy  dedes,  who-so  list  hem  here, 
Keed  Dares,  he  can  telle  hem  alle  y-fere. 

254.  Bisechinge  every  lady  hright  of  hewe, 
And  every  pentil  womman,  what  she  be. 
That  al  be  that  Criseyde  vi'as  nntrewe. 
That  for  that  gilt  she  be  not  wrooth  with 

me.  1775 

Ye  may  hir  gilt  in  othere  l)okes  see  ; 
And  gladlier  I  wol  wryten,  if  yow  leste, 
Penelopees  tronthe  and  good  Alceste. 

255.  Ne  I  sey  not  this  al-only  for  these 
men, 

But  most  for  wommen  that  bitraysed  be 
Through  false  folk  ;  god  yeve  hem  sorwe, 

amen  !  1781 

That  with  hir  grete  wit  and  subtiltee 
Bitrayse  j-ow  !  and  this  comnievetli  me 
To  speke,  ami  in  effect  yow  alle  I  preye, 
Beth  war  of  men,  and  herkeneth  what 

I  seye  ! —  1785 

2.56.  Go,  litel  book,  go  litel  myu  tregedie,  • 
Tlier  god  thy  maker  yet,  er  that  he  dye. 
So  sende  might  to  make  in  som  corned  ie  ! 
But  litel  book,  no  naaking  thou  n'en^-ye, 
But  suV)git  be  to  alle  poesye  ;  1790 

And  kis  the  steppes,  wher-as  thou  seest 

pace 
Virgile,  Ovyde,  Omer,  Lucan,  and  Stace. 

257.  And  for  ther  is  so  greet  diversitee 
In  English  and  in  wryting  of  our  tonge, 
So  preye  I  god  that  noon  miswryte  thee, 
Ne  thee  mismetre  for  defaitte  of  tonge.  1796 
And  red  wher-so  thou  be,  or  elles  souge. 
That  thou  be  iinderstonde  I  god  beseche  ! 
But  yet  to  purpos  of  my  rather  speche. — 

258.  The  wraththe,  as  I  began  yow  for  to 
seye,  i8oa 

Of  Troiliis,  the  Grekes  boughten  dere  ; 
For  thousandes  his  hondes  maden  deye, 
As  he  that  was  with-outen  any  pere. 
Save  Ector,  in  his  tyme,  as  I  can  here. 
Bnt  weylaway,  save  onlygoddeswille,  :So5 
Bispitously  him  slougli  the  tier.?  Aehille. 


259.  And  whan  tliat  he  was  slayn  in  this 
manere. 

His  lights  goost  ful  bUsfuUy  is  went 
Up  to  the  holownesse  of  the  seventh  spere, 
In  convers  letinge  every  clement ;       1810 
And  ther  he  saugh,  with  ful  avysement. 
The  erratik  sterres,  herkeninge  armonye 
With  sownes  fuUe  of  hevenish  melodye. 

260.  And  doun  from  thennes  faste  he  gan 
a%-yse  1814 

This  litel  spot  of  erthe,  that  with  the  see 
Enbraced  is,  and  fully  gan  despyse 
This  wrecched  world,  and  held  al  vanitee 
To  respect  of  the  pleyn  felicitee 
That  is  in  hevene  above  ;  and  at  the  laste, 
Ther  he  was  slayn,  his  loking  doun  he 
caste ;  1820 

I  261.  And  in  him-self  he  lough  right  at 

the  wo 

Of  hem  that  wepten  f.>r  liis  deeth  so  fasto  ; 

,  And  dampned  al  r>ur  wcrk  that  folweth  so 

Tlie  blinde  lust,  tlie  which  that  may  not 

laste,  1824 

And  sholden  al  our  herte  on  hevene  caste. 

And  forth  he  wente,  shortly  for  to  telle, 

Ther  as  Mercuric  sorted  him  to  dwelle. — 

262.  Swicli  fj-n  hath,  lo,  this  Troilus  for 
love, 

Swich  fyn  hath  al  his  grete  worthinesse  ; 
Swich  fj-n  hath  his  estat  real  above,  1850 
Swich  fyn  his  lust,  swich  fyn  liath  his 

noblesse ; 
Swich  fjTi  hath  false  worldes  brotelnesse. 
Andthus  bigan  his  lovinge  of  Criseyde, 
As  I  haVe  told,  and  in  this  wyse  he  de.yde! 

263.  O  yonge  fresshe  folkes,  he  or  she,  1835 
In  which  that  love  up  groweth  with  your 

age, 
Repeyreth  hoom  from  worldly  vanitee, 
And  of  your  herte  up-casteth  the  visage 
To  thilke  god  that  after  his  image 
Yow    made,    and    thinketh    al    nis    but. 

a  fayre  1840 

This  world,  that  passeth  sone  as  floures 

fayre. 

264.  And   loveth   him,    the    which    that 
right  for  love 

Upon  a  cros,  our  soules  for  to  beye. 


Book  V.] 


^voifue  ant  Crteepbe. 


325 


First  start',  and  roos,  and  sit  in  hevene 

a-bove  ; 
For  lie  nil  falsen  no  wight,  dar  I  seye,  1845 
That  wol  his  lierte  al  hooUy  on  him  leye. 
And  sin  he  best  to  love  is,  and  most  nieke, 
"What  nedeth  feyned  loves  for  to  seke  ? 

265.  Lo  here,  of  Payens  eorsed  olde  rytes, 
Lo  here,  what  alle  hir  goddes  may  availle ; 
Lo  here,  these  wrecched  worldes  appe- 

tytes ;  1851 

Lo  here,  the  fyn  and  guerdon  for  travaille 
Of   Jove,    Appollo,    of   Mars,    of   swich 

raseaille  ! 
Lo  here,  the  forme  of  olde  clerkes  speche 
In  poetrye,  if  ye  hir  bokes  seche. —      1855 

266.  O  moral  Gower,  this  book  I  direete 
To  thee,  and  to  the  philosophical  Strode, 
To  vouchen  sauf,  ther  nede  is,  to  corecte. 


Of  your  benignitees  and  zeles  gode. 
And  to  that  sothfast  Crist,  that  starf  on 

rode,  1S60 

With  al  myn  herte  of  mercy  ever  I  preye  ; 
And  to  the  lord  right  thus  I  speke  and 

seye  : 

267.  Thou  oon,  and  two,  and  three,  eterne 

on-lyve, 
That  regnest  ay  in  three  and  two  and 

oon, 
Uncircumscript,   and   al  mayst  circuni- 

scryve,  1865 

Us  from  visible  and  invisible  f<x)n 
Defende  ;  and  to  thy  mercy,  everychoon, 
So  make  us,  Jesus,  for  thy  grace,  digne. 
For  love   of    mayde    and    moder    thyn 

benigne  !    Amen. 

Explicit  Liber  Troili  et  Criseydis. 


THE    HOUS    OF    FAME, 


BOOK  I. 


God  tnvne  ns  every  dreem  to  gode  ! 

For  liit  is  wonder,  by  the  rode, 

To  my  wit,  what  causeth  swevenes 

Either  on  morwes,  or  on  evenes  ; 

And  why  th'effect  folweth  of  somme. 

And  of  somme  hit  shal  never  come  ; 

AVhy  lliat  is  an  avisioun. 

And  "jthis  a  revelacionu  : 

"\\'hy  this  a  dreem,  why  that  a  sweven, 

And  nat  to  every  man  liclie  even  ; 

Why  this  a  fantom,  fthese  oracles. 

I  noot ;  but  who-so  of  these  miracles 

The  causes  knoweth  liet  than  I. 

De-s->aae  he  ;  for  I  certeinly 

Ne  can  hem  noght,  ne  never  thinke 

To  besUy  my  wit  to  swinke, 

To  kuowe  of  hir  signifiaunoe 

The  gendres,  neither  the  distaunce 

Of  tymes  of  hem,  ne  the  causes 

For-why  this  f  more  than  that  cavise  is ; 

As  if  folkes  complexiouns 

Make  hem  dreme  of  reflexinuns  ; 

Or  elles  thus,  as  f>ther  sayn. 

For  to  greet  feblenesse  of  i  bra^n, 

By  abstinence,  or  by  seeknesse, 

Prison,  stewe,  or  greet  distresse  ; 

Or  elles  by  disordinaunce 

Of  naturel  aciistomaiince. 

That  som  man  is  to  curious 

In  stxidie,  or  melancolious, 

Or  thus,  so  inly  ful  of  drede. 


That  no  man  may  him  bote  bede  : 

Or  elles,  that  devocioun 

Of  somme,  and  contemplacioun 

Caixseth  swiche  dremes  ofte  ;  35 

Or  that  the  cruel  lyf  unsofte 

Which  these  ilke  lovers  leden 

That  hopen  over  muche  or  dreden, 

That  purely  hir  impressiouns 

Causeth  hem  avisiouns ;  40 

Or  if  that  spirits  have  the  might 

To  make  folk  to  dreme  a-night  ; 

Or  if  the  soiile,  of  propre  kinde. 

Be  so  parfit,  as  men  finde, 

That  hit  forwot  that  is  to  come,  45 

And  that  hit  warneth  alle  and  somme 

Of  everiche  of  hir  aventures 

By  avisiouns,  or  by  figures, 

But  that  our  flesh  ne  hath  no  might 

To  ixnderstonden  hit  aright,  50 

For  hit  is  warned  to  derkly : — 

But  why  the  cause  is,  noght  wot  I. 

Wei  worthe,  of  this  thing,  grete  clerkes. 

That  trete  of  this  and  other  werkes  ; 

For  I  of  noon  opinioun  55 

Nil  as  now  make  mencioun. 

But  only  that  the  holy  rode 

Tume  us  every  dreem  to  gode  ! 

For  never,  sith  that  I  was  bom, 

Ne  no  man  elles,  me  biforn,  60 

Mette,  I  trowe  stedfastly. 

So  wonderful  a  dreem  as  I 


tH  ^ou0  of  ^cimi. 


327 


The  tentlie  day  [dide]  of  Decembre, 
Tlie  ■which,  as  I  can  now  remembre, 
I  wol  yow  tellen  every  del.  65 

The  Invocation. 
But  at  my  ginning,  trusteth  wel, 
I  wol  make  invocacioun, 
With  special  devocioun, 
Unto  the  god  of  slepe  auoon, 
That  dwelleth  in  a  cave  of  stoon  70 

Upon  a  streem  that  comth  fro  Lete, 
Tliat  is  a  flood  of  helle  unswete  ; 
Besyde  a  folk  men  clepe  Cimerie, 
Ther  slepeth  ay  this  god  tinmeiie 
■\A'ith  his  slepy  thousand  sones  75 

That  alway  for  to  slepe  hir  wone  is — 
And  to  this  god,  that  I  of  rede, 
Preye  I,  that  he  wol  me  spede 
My  sweven  for  to  telle  aright, 
If  every  dreem  stonde  in  his  might.        80 
And  he,  that  mover  is  of  al 
That  is  and  was,  and  ever  shal. 
So  yive  hem  joye  that  hit  here 
Of  alle  that  they  dreme  to-yere, 
And  for  to  stonden  alle  in  grace  iS5 

Of  hir  loves,  or  in  what  place 
That  hem  wer  levest  for  to  stonde, 
And  shelde  hem  fro  f  jjovert  and  shonde. 
And  fro  \inhappe  and  ecli  disese, 
And  sende  hem  al  that  may  hem  plese,     90 
That  take  hit  wel,  and  scorne  h  it  noght, 
Ne  hit  misdemen  in  her  thoght 
Throiigh  malicious  entencionn. 
And  who-so,  throngh  presumpcionn. 
Or  hate  or  scorne,  or  through  en\'ye,      <;>$ 
Dispyt,  or  jape,  or  vilanye, 
Misdeme  hit,  preye  I  Jesus  god 
That  (dreme  he  bai-foot,  dreme  he  shod), 
That  everj'  harm  that  any  man 
Hath  had,  sith  [that]  the  world  began,   i(x> 
Befalle  him  therof,  or  he  sterve. 
And  graunte  he  mote  hit  ful  deserve, 
Lo  !  with  swich  a  conclusioun 
As  had  of  his  avisioun 
Cresus,  that  was  king  of  Lyde,  105 

That  high  iipon  a  gebet  dyde  ! 
This  prayer  shal  he  have  of  me ; 
I  am  no  bet  in  charite  ! 

Now  herkneth,  as  I  have  you  seyd, 
AVliat  that  T  mette,  or  I  ahreyd.  uo 


The  Dream. 
Of  Decembre  the  tentlie  day. 
Whan  hit  was  night,  to  slepe  I  lay 
Eight  ther  as  I  was  wont  to  done. 
And  fil  on  slepe  wonder  sone, 
As  he  that  wery  was  for-go 
On  pilgrimage  myles  two 
To  the  corseynt  Leonard, 
To  make  lythe  of  that  was  hard. 

But  jvs  I  -f  sleep,  me  mette  I  was 
Within  a  temple  y-mad  of  glas  ; 
In  whiche  ther  were  mo  images 
Of  gold,  stondinge  in  sondi-y  stages. 
And  mo  riche  tabernacles. 
And  with  perree  mo  pinacles, 
And  mo  curious  portreytures. 
And  queynte  maner  of  figures 
Of  olde  werke,  then  I  saw  ever. 
For  certeynly,  I  niste  never 
Wlxer  that  I  was,  but  wel  wiste  I, 
Hit  was  of  Venus  redely,  i 

The  temjjle  ;  for,  in  portreyture, 
I  saw  anoon-right  hir  figure 
Naked  fletinge  in  a  see. 
And  also  on  hir  heed,  pardee, 
Hir  rose-garlond  wh.tt  and  reed. 
And  hir  comb  to  kembe  hir  heed, 
Hir  dowves,  and  daun  Cupido, 
Hir  blinde  sone,  and  Vvilcano, 
That  in  his  face  was  ful  broun. 

But  as  I  romed  up  and  doun,  i 

I  fond  that  on  a  wal  ther  was 
Thus  writen,  on  a  table  of  bras  : 
'  I  wol  now  singe,  if  that  I  can, 
The  amies,  and  al-so  the  man, 
That  first  cam,  through  his  destinee,    ; 
Fugitif  of  Troye  contree. 
In  Itaile,  with  ful  moche  p.yne. 
Unto  the  strondes  of  Lavyne.' 
And  tho  began  the  story  anoon. 
As  I  shal  telle  yow  eclioon. 

First  saw  I  the  destruccioun 
Of  Troj-e,  through  the  Greek  Sinoun, 
[That]  with  his  false  forsweringe, 
And  his  chere  and  his  lesinge 
Made  the  hors  broght  into  Troye, 
Tliorgh  which  Troyens  loste  al  hir  joyt 
And  after  this  was  grave,  alias  ! 
How  Ilioun  assailed  was 
And  wonne,  and  king  Priam  v-slavii, 


328 


ZH  ^ou6  of  ^ami. 


[Book  I, 


And  Polites  his  sone,  certayu,  lOo 

Dispitouslj-,  of  dan  Pimis. 

And  next  that  saw  I  liow  Venus, 
Whan  that  she  saw  the  castel  brende, 
Doun  fro  the  hevene  gau  descende, 
And  bad  liir  sone  Eneas  flee  ;  165 

And  how  he  fledde,  and  how  that  he 
Escaped  was  from  al  the  pres, 
And  took  his  fader,  Anchises, 
And  bar  him  on  his  bakke  away, 
Cryinge,  'Alias,  and  wclaway  !'  170 

The  whiche  Anchises  in  his  honde 
Bar  the  giMldes  of  the  londe, 
Thilke  tliat  iinbrendo  were. 

-Vnd  I  saw  next,  in  alle  this  fere, 
How  Creusa,  dann  Eneas  w>'f,  175 

Which  that  he  lovede  as  his  lyf, 
And  hir  yonge  sono  IiUo, 
And  eek  Ascanins  also, 
Fledden  eok  with  drery  chere, 
Tliat  hit  was  pitee  for  to  here ;  180 

And  in  a  forest,  as  they  wente. 
At  a  tuminge  of  a  wente. 
How  Crensa  was  y-lost,  alias  ! 
Tliat  deetl,  [but]  noot  I  how,  she  was  ; 
How  he  hir  soughte,  and  how  hir  gost  185 
Bad  him  to  flee  the  Grokes  ost. 
And  seyde,  he  moste  unto  Itaile, 
As  was  his  destinee,  sauns  fiulle ; 
That  hit  was  pitee  for  to  here, 
^Vhan  hir  siiirit  gan  appere,  190 

The  wordes  that  she  to  him  seyde. 
And  for  to  kope  liir  sone  him  iireyde. 
Ther  saw  I  graven  eek  how  he. 
His  fader  eek,  and  his  mej-nee. 
With  his  shippes  gan  to  sayle  195 

Toward  the  contree  of  Itaile, 
As  streight  as  that  they  mighte  go. 

Ther  saw  I  thee,  cruel  Juno, 
That  art  daun  Jux)itere3  wj-f, 
That  hast  y-hated,  al  thy  Ij-f,  200 

Al  the  Troyaiiisshe  blood, 
Keune  and  crj-e,  as  thou  were  wood, 
On  Eolus,  the  gml  of  windes, 
To  blowen  out,  of  alle  kindes, 
So  loude,  that  he  shulde  drenche  205 

Lord  and  lady,  grome  and  wenche 
Of  al  the  Troyan  nacioun, 
Withoute  any  savacioun. 

Ther  saw  I  swich  tempeste  aryse. 
That  every  herte  mighte  agryse,  210 


To  see  hit  peynted  on  the  walle. 
Ther  saw  I  graven  eek  withalle, 

Venus,  how  ye,  my  lady  dere, 

Wepinge  with  ful  woful  chere, 

Prayen  Jupiter  an  hye  215 

To  save  and  kepe  that  na\'j'e 

Of  the  Troyan  Eneas, 

Sith  that  he  hir  sone  was. 
Ther  saw  I  Joves  Venus  kisse, 

And  graunted  of  the  tempest  lisse.        220 

Ther  saw  I  how  the  tempest  stente, 

And  how  with  alle  pyne  he  wente. 

And  prevely  took  arrivage 

In  the  contree  of  Cartage  ; 

And  on  the  morwe,  how  that  he  225 

And  a  knight,  liight  Achatee, 

Metten  with  Venus  that  day, 

Goinge  in  a  quc•J^lt  array. 

As  she  had  ben  an  liunteresse, 

With  wind  blowinge  upon  hir  tresse;  j.^o 

How  Eneas  gan  him  to  plejTie, 

Wliau  that  he  knew  hir,  of  his  peyne  ; 

An<l  how  his  shippes  dreynte  were. 

Or  elles  lost,  he  niste  where  ; 

How  she  gan  him  comforte  tho,  235 

And  bad  him  to  Cartage  go. 

And  ther  he  shulde  his  folk  fimle. 

That  in  the  see  were  left  behinde. 
And,  shortly  of  this  thing  to  pace. 

She  made  Eneas  so  in  grace  240 

Of  Dido,  quene  of  tlxat  contree. 

That,  shortly  for  to  tellen,  she 

Becam  his  love,  and  leet  him  do 
I  That  that  weddmg  longeth  to. 

What  shulde  I  speke  more  queynte,     245 
I  Or  pe^Tie  me  my  wordes  peynte, 
!  To  speke  of  love  ?  hit  wol  not  be  ; 

I  can  not  of  that  facultee. 

And  eek  to  telle  the  manere 

How  they  aqueynteden  in-fere,  250 

Hit  were  a  long  proces  to  telle. 

And  over  long  for  yow  to  dwelle. 
Ther  saw  I  grave,  how  Euea8 

Tolde  Dido  every  cas, 

That  him  was  ti<l  ui)on  the  see,  255 

And  after  grave  was,  how  she 

Made  of  him,  shortly,  at  00  word, 

Hir  lyf,  hir  love,  hir  lust,  hir  lord  : 
I  And  dide  him  al  the  reverence. 

And  leyde  on  him  al  the  dispence.        260 

That  any  wi^man  mighte  do, 


^0e  "^oue  of  ^Amt. 


329 


Weninge  hit  had  al  be  so, 

As  he  hir  swoor ;  and  her-by  < 

That  he  was  good,  for  he  swich  seined. 

Alias  !  what  harm  doth  apparence,       265 

Whan  hit  is  fals  in  existence  ! 

For  he  to  hir  a  traitour  was ; 

TNTierfor  she  slow  hir-self,  alias  ! 

Lo,  how  a  woman  doth  amis, 
To  love  him  that  unknowen  is  !  270 

For,  by  Crist,  lo  !  thus  hit  fareth  ; 
'  Hit  is  not  al  gold,  that  glareth.' 
For,  al-so  brouke  I  wel  myn  heed, 
Ther  may  be  under  goodliheed 
Kevered  many  a  shrewed  vyce  ;  275 

Therfor  be  no  wight  so  nyce. 
To  take  a  love  only  for  chere, 
For  speche,  or  for  freudly  manere ; 
Ff>r  this  shal  every  woman  finde 
That  som  man,  of  his  pure  kinde,  280 

Wol  shewen  outward  the  faireste. 
Til  he  have  caught  that  what  him  leste ; 
And  thanne  wol  he  caiises  finde. 
And  swere  how  that  she  is  xinkinde, 
Or  fals,  or  prevy,  or  double  was.  285 

Al  this  seye  I  by  Eneas 
And  Dido,  and  hir  nyce  lest. 
That  lovede  al  to  sone  a  gest ; 
Therfor  I  wol  seye  a  proverbe. 
That  '  he  that  fully  knoweth  th'erbe    290 
May  saufly  leye  hit  to  his  ye  ' ; 
"Withoute  dreed,  this  is  no  lye. 

But  let  us  speke  of  Eneas, 
How  he  betrayed  hir,  alias  ! 
And  lefte  hir  ful  unkindely.  295 

So  whan  she  saw  al-utterly. 
That  he  wolde  hir  of  trouthe  faUe, 
And  wende  fro  hir  to  Itaile, 
She  gan  to  wrLnge  hir  hondes  two. 

'Alias  !'  quod  she,  '  what  me  is  wo !  3C» 
Alias  !  is  every  man  thus  trewe. 
That  every  yere  wolde  have  a  newe, 
If  hit  so  longe  tyme  dure. 
Or  elles  three,  peraventure  ? 
As  thus  :  of  oon  he  wolde  have  far 
In  magnifying  of  his  name  ; 
Another  for  frendship,  seith  he  ; 
And  yet  ther  shal  the  thridde  be, 
That  shal  be  taken  for  delyt, 
Lo,  or  for  singular  i^rofyt.' 

In  swiche  wordes  gan  to  ple\-ne 
Dido  of  hir  grete  peyne, 


305 


.^'o 


As  me  mette  redely; 

Non  other  auctoi^r  alegge  I. 

'  Alias  ! '  quod  she,  '  my  swete  herte,      ^^15 

Have  pitee  on  my  sorwes  smerte. 

And  slee  me  not !  go  noght  awaj- ! 

O  woful  Dido,  wel  away  ! ' 

Quod  she  to  hir-selve  tho. 

'  O  Eneas  !  what  wil  ye  do  ?  320 

O,  that  your  love,  ne  yoxir  bonde. 

That  ye  han  sworn  with  your  right  honde, 

Ne  my  cruel  deeth,'  quod  she, 

'  May  holde  yow  still  heer  with  me  ! 

O,  haveth  of  my  deeth  pitee  !  325 

Y-wis,  my  dere  herte,  ye 

Knowen  ful  wel  that  never  yit. 

As  fer-forth  as  I  hadde  wit, 

Agilte  [I]  yow  in  thoght  ne  deed. 

O,  have  ye  men  swich  goodliheed  330 

In  speche,  and  never  a  deel  of  trouthe? 

Alias,  that  ever  hadde  routhe 

Any  woman  on  any  man  ! 

Now  see  I  wel,  and  telle  can. 

We  wrecched  wimmen  conne  nou  art ;  3^5 

For  certeyn,  for  the  more  part, 

Thus  we  be  served  everichone. 

How  sore  that  ye  men  conne  grone, 

Anoon,  as  we  have  yow  receyv-ed, 

Certeinly  we  ben  decoy ved  ;  340 

For,  though  your  love  laste  a  sesoun, 

Waj'te  upon  the  conclusioun. 

And  eek  how  that  ye  dotermynen. 

And  for  the  more  part  diffynen. 

'  O,  welawey  that  I  was  born  !  345 

For  through  yow  is  my  name  lorn, 
And  alle  myn  actes  red  and  songe 
Over  al  this  lond,  on  every  tonge. 
O  wikke  Fame  !  for  ther  nis 
Nothing  so  swift,  lo,  as  she  is  !  350 

O,  sooth  is,  every  thing  is  wist. 
Though  hit  be  kevered  with  the  mist. 
Eek,  thogh  I  mighte  duren  ever. 
That  I  have  doon,  rekever  I  never, 
That  I  ne  shal  bo  seyd,  alias,  355 

Y-shamed  be  through  Eneas, 
And  that  I  shal  thus  juged  be — 
"  Lo,  right  as  she  hath  doon,  now  she 
Wol  do  eftsones,  hardily  ;  " 
Thus  seyth  the  peiilo  prevely.' —  360 

But  that  is  doon,  nis  not  to  done  ; 
fAl  hir  compleynt  ne  al  hir  mone, 
Certeyn,  availeth  hir  not  a  stree. 


M 


33° 


Z(,t  1pou0  of  §amz. 


And  wliaii  she  wiste  sothly  he 
Was  forth  unto  his  shippes  goon,  365 

She  fin  hir  chanibre  wente  anoon, 
And  called  on  hir  suster  Anne, 
And  gan  hir  to  compleyne  thanne ; 
And  sej'de,  that  she  cause  was 
That  she  first  lovede  fEneaa,  370 

And  thus  counseilled  hir  thertn. 
But  what !  when  this  was  seyd  and  do, 
She  roof  hir-selve  to  the  herte. 
And  dej-de  through  the  wounde  smerte. 
But  al  the  manor  how  she  deyde,  375 

And  al  the  wordes  that  she  seyde, 
Wlio-so  to  knowe  hit  hath  purpos. 
Reed  Virgile  in  Eneidos 
Or  the  Epistle  of  0\-yde, 
"Wliat  that  she  wroot  or  that  she  dydo :  380 
And  nerc  hit  to  long  to  endj'te. 
By  god,  I  woldij  hit  hero  wrytc. 

But,  welaway  !  the  liarm,  the  routhe, 
That  hath  betid  for  swich  untrouthe, 
As  men  may  ofte  in  bokes  rede,  385 

And  al  day  seen  hit  yet  in  dede. 
That  for  to  thenkcu  hit,  a  tene  is. 

Lo.  Demophon,  duk  of  Athenia, 
How  ho  forswor  liiiii  ful  falsly 
And  trayed  Phillis  wikkedly,  390 

The  kingos  doghter  was  of  Trace, 
And  falsly  gan  his  termo  pace ; 
And  when  she  wiste  that  he  was  fals, 
She  hong  hir-self  right  l)y  the  hals, 
For  he  had  do  hir  swich  untrouthe ;      395 
Lo  !  was  not  this  a  wo  and  routhe  ? 

Eek  lo  !  how  fals  and  reccheles 
Was  to  Briseida  Achilles, 
And  Paris  to  f  Oenone  ; 
And  Jason  to  Isiphile  ;  400 

And  eft  Jason  to  Modea  ; 
And  Ercnles  to  Dyanira ; 
For  he  lefte  hir  for  liile, 
Tliat  made  him  cacche  his  deeth,  pardee. 

How  fals  eek  was  he,  Theseus  ;  405 

That,  as  the  story  telleth  us. 
How  he  betrayed  Adriane  ; 
The  devel  be  his  soules  bane  ! 
For  had  he  laughed,  had  he  loured. 
He  moste  have  be  al  devoured,  410 

If  Ailriane  ne  had  y-be  ! 
And.  for  she  had  of  him  pitee, 
."^he  made  him  fro  the  dethe  escape, 
M\d  he  made  hir  a  fnl  fals  jape  ; 


For  after  this,  within  a  whyle  415 

He  lefte  hir  slepinge  in  an  j'le. 

Desertc  alone,  right  in  the  see, 

And  stal  away,  and  leet  hir  be  ; 

And  took  hir  suster  Phedra  tho 

With  him,  and  gan  to  shippe  go.  420 

And  j-et  he  had  y-swom  to  here. 

On  al  that  ever  he  mighte  swere. 

That,  so  she  saved  him  his  lyf. 

He  wolde  have  take  hir  to  his  viyi'; 

For  she  ilesirod  nothing  elles,  425 

In  certein,  as  the  lx)ok  us  telles. 
But  to  c-xcusen  Enoas 

Fullicho  of  al  his  greet  trespas, 

Tlic  IxKik  scyth.  Mercuric,  sauna  faile, 

Batl  him  go  into  Itaile,  430 

And  leve  Auffi-j-kes  regioun. 

And  Dido  and  hir  fairo  toun. 
Tho  saw  I  grave,  how  to  Itaile 

Daun  Eneas  is  go  to  saile  ; 
t  And  liow  tho  tempest  al  began,  435 

And  how  he  loste  his  steresman, 

Wliich  that  the  store,  or  he  took  keep, 

Smot  over-lx>rd,  lo  !  as  he  sleep. 
And  also  saw  I  how  Sibyle 

And  Enoas,  l)esyde  an  yle,  440 

,  To  holle  wente,  for  to  see 

His  fader,  Anchiscs  the  free. 
'   How  he  ther  fond  Palinurus, 

And  Dido,  and  eek  Deiphebus  ; 

And  every-  tourment  eek  in  helle  445 

Saw  ho,  which  is  long  to  telle. 
I  ^Vllich  who-so  willeth  for  to  knowe. 

He  moste  rede  many  a  rowe 

On  Virgile  or  on  Claudian, 

Or  Daunte,  that  hit  telle  can.  450 

Tho  saw  I  grave  al  th'arivaile 

That  Eneas  had  in  Itaile  ; 

And  with  king  Latine  his  tretee. 

And  alio  the  batailles  that  he 

Was  at  him-self,  and  eek  his  knightes,  455 

Or  he  had  al  y-wonne  his  rightes  ; 

And  how  he  Turnus  refte  his  lyf, 

And  wan  La^•J•na  to  his  •wyt ; 

And  al  the  mervelous  signals 

Of  the  goddes  celestials  ;  460 

How,  maugre  Juno,  Eneas, 

For  al  hir  sleighte  and  hir  compas, 

.\cheved  alhis  aventure; 

For  Jupiter  took  of  him  cure 

At  the  prayere  of  Venus  465 


Book  II.] 


C0e  ^ou6  of  5<^itte. 


331 


The  -whiche  I  preye  alvvay  save  us, 
And  lis  ay  of  our  sorwes  liglite  ! 

Whan  I  had  seyen  al  this  sighte 
In  this  noble  temple  thus, 
'A,  Lord  ! '  though te  I,  'that  madest  us, 
Yet  saw  I  never  swich  noblesse  471 

Of  images,  ne  swich  richesse, 
As  I  saw  graven  in  this  chirche  ; 
But  not  woot  I  who  dide  hem  wirche, 
Ne  wher  I  am,  ne  in  what  contree.       475 
But  now  wol  I  go  ovit  and  see, 
Eight  at  the  wiket,  if  I  can 
See  o-wher  stering  any  man. 
That  may  me  telle  wher  I  am.' 

When  I  out  at  the  dores  cam,  480 

I  faste  aboute  me  beheld. 
Then  saw  I  but  a  large  feld, 
As  fer  as  tliat  I  mighte  see, 
Withouten  toun,  or  hous,  or  tree, 
Or  bush,  or  gras,  or  ered  lond  ;  485 

For  al  the  leld  nas  but  of  sond 
As  smal  as  man  may  see  yet  lye 


In  the  <iesert  of  Li  bye  ; 

Ne  I  no  maner  creature, 

That  is  y-formed  by  nature,  490 

Ne  saw,  me  [for]  to  rede  or  wisse. 

'  O  Crist,'  thoughte  I,  '  that  art  in  blisse. 

Fro  fantom  and  iUttsioun 

Me  save  ! '  and  with  devocioun 

Myn  yen  to  the  heven  I  caste.  495 

Tho  was  I  war,  lo  !  at  the  laste, 
That  faste  by  the  sonne,  as  hye. 
As  konne  mighte  I  with  myn  ye. 
Me  thoughte  I  saw  an  egle  soro. 
But  that  hit  semed  moehe  more  500 

Then  I  had  anj-  egle  seyn. 
But  tliis  as  sooth  as  deeth,  certeyn. 
Hit  was  of  golde,  and  shoon  so  brighte. 
That  never  saw  men  such  a  sighte, 
But-if  the  heven  hadde  y-wonne  505 

Al  newe  of  golde  another  sonne  ; 
So  shoon  the  egles  fethres  brighte. 
And  somwhat  donnward  gan  liit  lighte. 
Explicit  liber  primus. 


BOOK   11. 


Incipit  liber  secundus. 
Proem. 

Now  herkneth,  every  maner  man 
That  English  understonde  can,  510 

And  listeth  oi'  my  dreeni  to  lere  ; 
For  now  at  erste  shul  ye  here 
So  fselly  an  avisioun, 
That  Isaye,  ne  Scipioun, 
Ne  Iving  Nabugodonosor,  515 

Pharo,  Turnus,  ne  Eleanor, 
Ne  mette  swich  a  dreem  as  this  ! 
Now  faire  blisful,  O  Cipris,  (10) 

So  be  my  favour  at  this  tyme  ! 
And  ye,  me  to  endyte  and  rjone  520 

Helpeth,  that  on  Parnaso  dwelle 
By  Elicon  the  elere  welle. 

O  Thought,  that  wroot  al  that  I  mette. 
And  in  the  tresorie  hit  shette 
Of  my  brayn  !  now  shal  men  see  525 

If  any  vertu  in  thee  be, 
To  tellen  al  my  dreem  aright ; 
Now  kythe  thyn  engyn  anil  might  !      (20) 


The  Dream. 
This  egle,  of  which  I  have  yow  told, 
That  shoon  with  fethres  as  of  gold,       530 
Which  that  so  hye  gan  to  sore, 
I  gan  beholde  more  and  more, 
To  see  hir  l^eautee  and  the  wonder  ; 
But  never  was  ther  dint  of  thcmder, 
Ne  that  thing  that  men  calle  foudre,    535 
That  smoot  somtyme  a  tour  to  poudre, 
And  in  his  swifte  coming  brende. 
That  so  swythe  gan  descende,  (30) 

As  this  foul,  whan  hit  behelde 
That  I  a-roume  was  in  tlie  fekle  ;  540 

And  with  his  grimme  pawes  stronge, 
Within  his  sharpe  nayles  longe, 
Me,  fleinge,  at  a  swappe  he  heute. 
And  with  his  sours  agayn  uji  wente. 
Me  caryinge  in  his  clawes  Starke  545 

As  lightly  as  I  were  a  larke. 
How  high,  I  caji  not  telle  yow, 
For  I  cam  up,  I  niste  how.  (40) 

For  so  astonied  and  a^sweved 


332 


Z\)C  ^ou6  of  5amc. 


IBOOK  II. 


■Was  ovor>-  vertu  in  my  ln-veil.  550 

Wlmt  with  his  sours  uixl  with  my  tlreilu. 
That  al  n«y  f.-liiiR  gj\u  t.>  (itnli-  :  [ 

For-why  hit  was  to  grcot  attray.  j 

Thus  I  loiigi*  in  his  chiwos  hiy,  | 

Til  at  tlio  histo  ho  to  mo  simk  555  | 

In  manui's  vois,  ami  soyilo.  '  Awak  I  i 

Ami  1>'^  not  i so  a-|^(st,  tor  shamo  I' 
Anil  calltMl  mo  tho  hy  my  namo.  ^50) 

An.l,  for  r  shol.le  the  N't  ahrey.le— 
Me  mottc — '  Awak,'  to  mo  l>o  soytle,      560 
liiffht  in  tho  samo  vois  ami  stovone 
That  nscth  <M.n  I  conile  novono  ; 
Antl  with  that  vois,  soth  for  to  wiyu, 
My  iniuilo  cam  to  me  ii|Fn>ii  : 
For  hit  was  kikmIIv  soyil  to  m<',  565 

So  luis  liit  novor  wont  to  l>o. 

And  liorwithal  I  ^tn  to  store, 
Anil  ho  mo  in  his  foot  to  Wro,  (^10) 

Til  that  he  folto  that  I  ha<l  hoto, 
Ami  folto  00k  tho  myn  horto  iM'to.  57»> 

And  tho  (fan  ho  mo  to  <lis|Hirti-, 
And  with  wonlos  to  t-omforto. 
And  saydo  twyi'-s,  '  Seynto  Mario! 
Thou  art  noyous  for  to  carlo, 
And  nothing  nodoth  hit,  i>ardo«  !  575 

For  al-so  wis  jfxl  holiK>  nie 
As  thou  non  harm  shalt  havo  of  this  ; 
And  this  cfts,  that  l>etid  thoo  in,  {yti) 

Is  for  thy  loro  and  for  thy  j.row  ;-- 
I.i«'t  R«>o!  darst  thou  yet  loko  now?        5K0 
Be  ful  a«suro.l,  Ixddoly, 
I  am  thy  froml.'     And  thorwith  I 
Oan  for  to  womlron  in  my  niinilc. 
'O  pxl,"  thoURlito  I,  'that  madest  kinde, 
Shal  I  non  other  woyos  dyo  ?  fHi; 

Whor  .Tovos  wol  mo  stollifye, 
Or  what  thing  may  this  sigMifyo? 
1  neither  am  Enok.  no  Elyu.  (80) 

No  Romulus,  ne  Ganyme<lo 
That  was  y-lx.ro  ni>.  as  men  redo,  59(1 

To  hovene  with  dan  .Injiiter, 
And  maail  the  giMldes  Ixitoler." 

Iri) !  this  was  tho  my  fantasye  '. 
But  he  that  l>ar  me  gan  esi>yo 
That  I  so  thoghte.  and  seyde  this:-  -    595 
'  Thou  demest  of  thy-self  amis  ; 
For  Joves  is  not  ther-al>onte — 
I  dar  wel  jintte  thee  out  of  doute —      (c)«)) 
To  make  of  thee  as  yet  a  steiTe. 
But  or  I  bore  thee  moche  ferre,  600 


I  wol  thee  telle  what  I  am, 

And  whider  thou  shalt,  and  why  I  cam 

To  tdono  this,  so  that  thou  take 

OiKxl  horte,  and  not  for  fere  iiuake.' 

'  Ohidly,'  quod  I.     '  Now  wol,"  ijuod  he  : — 

'  First  I,  that  in  my  feet  havo  thee,      606 

Of  which  thou  hast  a  feernnd  wonder, 

Am  dwelling  with  the  go<l  of  thonder, 

Wliirh  that  men  callen  .lupiter,  (loi) 

That  d.Hith  mo  flee  ful  ofto  for  61.. 

To  do  al  his  comaun<lement. 

And  for  this  cause  he  hath  mo  scut 

To  thoo  :  now  fherkne,  )iy  thy  troutho  ! 

Cortoyn,  ho  hath  of  thee  routho, 

That  thou  so  longo  trewely  015 

Hast  served  so  cntentifly 

His  Idimlc  novew  Cupido, 

And  fair  Venus  [gcxldossoj  also,  (iid) 

Withouto  gnonloun  over  yit. 

And  novertholes  hast  set  thy  wit    -       Tuo 

Although  that  in  thy  hodo  ful  i  lyto  is  — 

To  make  iHikos,  songes,  ilyteos. 

In  rjnne,  or  olios  in  cadence. 

As  thou  l>e8t  canst,  in  reverence 

Of  I»ve,  and  of  his  servants  eke,  0^5 

That  havo  his  8cr\-iso  soght,  and  soke  ; 

And  i>eynost  thee  to  jiroyso  liis  art, 

Althogh  thou  haddest  never  i>art  ;      (120) 

Whorfor,  al-so  gtxl  me  blesse, 

Joves  halt  hit  greet  humblesse  6.W 

And  vertu  eek,  that  thou  wolt  make 

A-night  ful  ofte  tlijai  heed  to  ake. 

In  thy  studio  8<i  thou  wr>-test. 

Anil  ever-mo  of  love  endj-tost, 

In  honour  of  him  and  preysinges,  6.«5 

And  in  his  folkes  furtheringeg, 

And  in  hir  materc  al  ile>->-sest,  ^129; 

And  noght  him  nor  his  folk  <lespj-sest, 

Although  thou  mnyst  go  in  the  daunce 

Of  hem  that  him  list  not  avauncc.        640 

'  \\'herfor,  as  I  seyde,  y-wis, 
Jupiter  considereth  this. 
And  also,  lieau  sir,  other  thinges  ; 
That  is,  that  thou  hast  no  tydinges 
Of  Loves  f->lk,  if  they  l>e  glade,  645 

Xe  of  noght  elles  that  go<l  made  ; 
And  noght  only  fro  for  contree 
That  ther  no  tyding  comth  to  thee,    1 14«>; 
But  of  thy  verray  neyghebores. 
Tliat  dwellen  almost  at  thy  dores.         650 
Thou  herest  neither  that  ne  this  ; 


Book  II.  J 


Z^c  1bou0  of  ^amt. 


^53 


For  whau  thy  labour  doon  al  is, 
And  hast  y-maad  thy  rekeuinges, 
In  stede  of  reste  and  newe  thingos, 
Tliou  gost  hooni  to  thy  hous  anoon  ;     655 
And,  also  domb  as  any  stoou, 
Thou  sittest  at  another  boke, 
Til  fully  daswed  is  thy  loke,  '150) 

And  livest  thus  as  an  hermj-te. 
Although  thyn  abstinence  is  lyte.         66<> 
•  And  therfor  Joves,  througli  his  grace, 
Wol  that  I  here  thee  to  a  place, 
Which  that  hight  riiK  Hous  ok  Famk, 
To  do  tliee  soni  disport  ami  game, 
In  som  recompensaciotm  (165 

Of  labour  and  dcvi>cioun 
That  tliou  hast  had,  lo  !  causeles, 
To  Cupido,  the  reccheles  !  (i'x>^ 

And  tlius  this  god,  thorgh  liis  meryte, 
W'ol  with  soni  juaner  thing  thee  •luj'te. 
So  that  thou  wolt  be  of  good  chere.       671 
For  truste  wel,  that  thou  shalt  here, 
Wlien  we  be  conien  ther  I  seye. 
Mo  wonder  thinges,  dar  I  leye, 
r)i'  Loves  folke  mo  tydiiiges,  675 

Bothe  soth-sawes  and  lesinges ; 
And  mo  loves  newe  begonno, 
And  longe  y-served  loves  wi  nne,  fr7o; 

And  mo  h>ves  casuelly 
That  been  betid,  no  man  wot  why,        i>tk) 
But  as  a  blind  man  stert  lui  hare  ; 
And  more  jolj-tee  ami  fare, 
Whyl  that  thoy  finde  lf>ve  of  stele. 
As  thinketh  hem,  and  ovcr-al  wele ; 
Mo  discords,  antl  mo  jelousyes,  0X5 

Mo  murmurs,  and  mo  novelryes. 
And  mo  dissimulaciouns. 
Ami  feyned  reparaciouns  ;  (180) 

And  mo  berdes  in  two  houres 
Witlioute  rasour  or  sisoures  690 

V-miufd,  then  greynes  be  of  sondes; 
Ami  eke  mo  hoUlinge  in  hon<les, 
And  also  mo  renovelaunces 
Of  olde  forleten  aqtieyntannces  ; 
Mo  love-<layes  and  acordes  ('m;5 

Then  on  instruments  ben  conies  ; 
And  eke  of  loves  mo  eschauuges 
Than  ever  comes  were  in  graunges  ;  (191)) 
I'nethe  maistow  trowen  this?' —  699 

iiniHl  he.  '  Xo,  helpe  me  gotl  so  wis  !' — 
(^lod  I.  'No?  why?'  (juod  lie.  '  For  liit 
Were  impossilile.  to  my  wit. 


Thoxigh  that  Fame  hadde  al  the  pyes 
In  al  a  realme,  and  al  the  spyes, 
Ht)w  that  yet  she  shulde  here  al  this,   705 
Or  they  espye  hit.'     '  O  yis,  yis  !' 
(iuod  he  to  me,  '  that  can  I  preve 
By  resoun,  worthy  for  toleve,  (Joo) 

So  that  thou  yeve  thyn  advertence 
To  understonde  my  sentence.  710 

'  First  shalt  thou  heren  wher  she  dwell- 
eth, 
And  so  thyn  owne  bo4(k  hit  telleth  ; 
Hir  paleys  stant,  as  I  shal  seye, 
Right  even  in  middes  of  the  weye 
Betwixen  hevene,  erthe,  and  see  ;  715 

That,  what-so-ever  in  al  these  tliree 
Is  spoken,  in  privee  or  afiei-te, 
Tlie  wey  therto  is  so  overte,  jio) 

And  stant  eek  in  s<>  juste  a  i>laco, 
That  every  soun  mot  to  hit  pace,  yjo 

Or  what  so  comth  I'm  any  tonge, 
Be  liit  nmneil,  red,  or  souge. 
Or  si)oke  in  seurtee  or  drcde, 
Certeiu,  hit  moste  tliider  nedo. 

'  Now  herkne  wel  ;  for-wliy  I  wille    7-'5 
Tellen  thee  a  propre  skile. 
And  fworthy  domon.straciouu 
In  myn  imagynacionn. 

'  Geffrey,  thou  wost  right  wel  this, 
That  every  kindly  thing  that  is, 
Hath  a  kindly  stede  thor  ho 
May  best  in  hit  conserved  be  ; 
Unto  which  place  every  thing, 
Through  his  kindly  eacljaiing, 
Moveth  for  to  come  to, 
Whan  that  liit  is  awey  therfro  ; 
As  thus  ;  lo,  tliou  mayst  al  day  see 
That  any  thing  that  hevy  be, 
As  stoon  or  Iced,  or  thing  of  wightc. 
And  ber  hit  never  so  hye  on  liighte,      740 
Lat  go  thyn  han<l,  hit  falleth  doun. 

'        '  Kight  so  sc.ve  I  by  fyre  or  soun, 
Or  smoke,  or  other  thinges  lighte, 
Alwey  they  seke  upward  on  hightc  ; 
Whyl  ech  of  hem  is  at  his  large,  745 

j  Light  thing  up,  and  dounwanl  (diarge. 
'  And  ior  this  cause  mayst  thou  sec. 
That  ever>'  river  to  the  see  '-'4'>) 

I  Enel.vned  is  to  go,  by  kinrlc. 

I  And  l)y  these  skilles,  as  I  linde,  750 

Hath  fish  dwellinge  in  floode  and  see, 
And  trees  eek  in  erthe  be. 


(-'-■«>) 


30 


3") 


334 


ZU  ^ou6  of  §ami. 


[Book  II. 


Thus  every  thing,  by  this  resoun, 

Hath  his  propre  niansioiin, 

To  which  hit  seketh  to  repaire,  y?^ 

As  ther  hit  shiilde  not  apaire. 

Lo,  this  sentence  is  knowen  couthe 

Of  every  philosophres  mouthe,  (250) 

As  Aristotle  and  dan  Platon, 

And  other  clerkes  many  oon  ;  760 

And  to  coniirme  my  resoun, 

Thou  wost  wel  this,  that  speehe  is  soiui, 

Or  elles  no  man  mighte  hit  here  ; 

Now  fherkne  what  I  wol  thee  lere. 

'  Soun  is  noght  biit  air  y-broken,       765 
And  every  speehe  that  is  spoken, 
Loud  or  privee,  foul  or  fair, 
In  his  substauuee  is  but  air  ;  (260) 

For  as  fiiuunbe  is  but  lighted  smoke, 
Eight  so  soun  is  air  y-broke.  770 

But  this  maj-  be  in  many  wj'se, 
Of  which  I  wil  thee  two  de\-j'se, 
As  soun  that  comth  of  pj-pe  or  harpe. 
For  whan  a  pj-pe  is  blowen  sharpe. 
The  air  is  twist  with  violence.  775 

And  rent ;  lo,  this  is  my  sentence  ; 
Eek,  whan  men  hari>e-stringes  smj-te, 
Wliether  hit  bo  moche  or  Ij^te,  (270) 

Lo,  with  the  strook  the  air  to-breketh ;  779 
Eight  so  hit  breketh  whan  men  speketh. 
Thus  wost  thou  wel  what  thing  is  speehe. 

'  Now  hennesforth  I  wol  thee  teche. 
How  every  speehe,  or  noise,  or  sovin. 
Through  his  multiplicacioim, 
Thogh  hit  were  pyped  of  a  mouse,         785 
Moot  nede  come  to  Fames  House. 
I  preve  hit  thus — tak  hede  now — 
By  experience  ;  for  if  that  thou  (280) 

Throwe  on  water  now  a  stoon, 
Wel  wost  thou,  hit  wol  make  anoon     790 
A  litel  roundel  as  a  cercle, 
Paraventure  brood  as  a  covercle  ; 
And  right  auoon  thou  shalt  see  weel, 
That  wheel  wol  cause  another  wheel. 
And    that    the    thridde,   and   so    forth, 
brother,  795 

Everj-  cercle  causing  other. 
Wyder  than  himselve  was  ; 
And  thus,  fro  roundel  to  compas.        (290) 
Ech  aboute  other  goinge, 
Caused  of  otheres  sterLnge,  800 

Aiid  multiplying  ever-mo, 
Til  that  hit  be  so  fer  y-go 


Tliat  hit  at  bothe  briukes  Ije. 

Al-thogh  thou  mowe  hit  not  y-see 

Above,  hit  goth  yet  alway  under,  805 

Although  thou  thenke  hit  a  gret  wonder. 

And  who-so  seith  of  trouthe  I  varie, 

Bid  him  proven  the  contrarie.  (300) 

And  right  thus  every  word,  y-wis, 

That  loude  or  privee  sjioken  is,  810 

Moveth  first  an  air  aboute, 

And  of  this  moving,  out  of  doute, 

Au«»ther  air  anoon  is  meved. 

As  I  have  of  the  water  preved, 

Tliat  every  cercle  canseth  other.  815 

Eight  so  of  air,  my  leve  brother  ; 

Everieh  air  in  other  steroth  (309) 

More  and  more,  and  speehe  up  bereth. 

Or  vois,  or  noise,  or  word,  or  soun, 

Ay  through  multiplicacioun,  820 

Til  hit  be  atte  House  of  Fame  ; — 

Tak  hit  in  ernest  or  in  game. 

'  Now  have  I  told,  if  thou  have  minde, 
How  speehe  or  soun,  of  pure  kinde, 
Enclynod  is  ujjward  to  meve  ;  825 

This,  mayst  thou  fele,  wel  I  jjreve. 
And  that  fthe  mansioun,  y-wis. 
That  every  thing  encl.vned  to  is,  (320) 

.Hath  his  kindeliche  stede  : 
i'Than  sheweth  hit,  withouten  drede,  830 
That  kindely  the  mansioun 
Of  every  speehe,  of  every  soitn. 
Be  hit  either  foul  or  fair, 
Hath  his  kinde  place  in  air. 
And  siu  that  every  thing,  that  is  835 

Out  of  his  kinde  place,  y-wis, 
Moveth  thider  for  to  go 
If  hit  a-weye  be  therfro,  (330) 

As  I  before  have  preved  thee, 
Hit  seweth,  everj-  soun,  pardee,  840  . 

Moveth  kindely  to  pace 
Al  up  into  his  kindely  place. 
And  this  place  of  which  I  telle, 
Ther  as  Fame  list  to  dwelle. 
Is  set  amiddes  of  these  three,  845 

Heven,  erthe,  and  eek  the  see, 
As  most  conser\-atif  the  soun. 
Than  is  this  the  conclusiouu,  (340) 

That  evei-y  speehe  of  every  man 
As  I  thee  telle  first  began,  850 

Moveth  up  on  high  to  pace 
Kindely  to  Fames  place. 

'  Telle  me  this  feithfully, 


C6e  ^ou0  of  ^amn. 


335 


Ha^■e  I  uot  preved  tlms  simply, 

Withoiiten  any  subtiltee  855 

Of  speclie,  or  gret  prolixitee 

Of  termes  of  ijliilosophye, 

Of  figures  of  poetrye,  (350) 

Or  colours  of  retlioryke ? 

Pardee,  hit  oghte  thee  to  lyke  ;  860 

For  hard  langage  and  hard  matere 

Is  enconibrous  for  to  here 

At  ones  ;  wost  thou  not  wel  this  ?  ' 

And  I  answerde,  and  seyde,  '  Yis.' 

'  A  ha  ! '  (jiiod  he,  '  lo,  so  I  can  S65 

Lewedlj'  to  a  lewed  man 
Speke,  and  shewe  him  swiche  skiles. 
That  he  naay  shake  hem  by  the  biles,  (360) 
So  palpable  they  shulden  be. 
But  tel  me  this,  now  pray  I  thee,  870 

How  thinkth  thee  my  conclusioun  ? ' 
[Quod  he].     '  A  good  persuasioun,'' 
Quod  I,  '  hit  is  ;  and  lyk  to  be 
Eight  so  as  thou  hast  preved  me.' 
'  By  god,'  quod  he,  '  and  as  I  leve,         875 
Thou  shalt  have  yit,  or  hit  be  eve. 
Of  every  word  of  this  sentence 
A  preve,  by  expex-ieuce  ;  (370) 

And  with  thyn  eres  heren  wel 
Top  and  tail,  and  everj-del,  880 

That  everj-  word  that  spoken  is 
Comth  into  Fames  Hous,  y-wis, 
As  I  have  seyd  ;  what  wilt  thou  more  ? ' 
And  with  this  word  upper  to  sore 
He  gan,  and  seyde,  '  By  Seynt  Jame  !  885 
Now  wil  we  speken  al  of  game.' — 

'  How  farest  thoii  ? '  quod  he  to  me. 
'  Wel,'  quod  I.     '  Now  see,'  quod  he,  (380) 
'  By  thy  trouthe,  yond  adoun, 
Wher  that  thou  knowest  any  toun,      890 
Or  hous,  or  any  other  thing. 
And  whan  thou  hast  of  ought  knowing, 
Loke  that  thou  warne  me, 
And  I  anoon  shal  telle  thee 
How  fer  that  thou  art  now  therfro.'      895 

And  I  adoun  fgan  loken  tho, 
And  beheld  feldos  and  plaines,  (389) 

And  now  hilles,  and  now  mountaines. 
Now  valej's,  and  now  forestes, 
And  now,  iinethes,  grete  bestes  ;  900 

Now  riveres,  now  citees. 
Now  toiines,  and  now  grete  trees, 
Now  shippes  sailinge  in  the  see. 

But  thus  sone  in  a  whvle  he 


905 


"Was  flowen  I'ro  the  grounde  so  hy- 

That  al  the  world,  as  to  mya  ye, 

No  more  semed  than  a  jirikke  ; 

Or  elles  was  the  air  so  thikke  i-i-fo) 

That  I  ne  niighte  not  discerne. 

With  that  he  spak  to  me  as  yerne,        910 

And  seyde  :  '  Seestow  any  toun 

Or  ought  thou  knowest  yonder  doun  ? ' 

I  seyde,  '  Nay.'     '  No  wonder  nis,' 
Quod  he,  '  for  half  so  high  as  this 
Nas  Alexander  Macedo  ;  91:; 

Ne  the  king,  dan  Scipio, 
That  saw  in  dreme,  at  jjoint  devys, 
Helle  and  erthe,  and  paradys  ;  (410) 

Ne  eek  the  wrecche  Dedalus, 
Ne  his  child,  nyce  Icarus,  920 

That  fleigh  so  highe  that  the  hete 
His  winges  malt,  and  he  fel  wete 
In-mid  the  see,  and  ther  he  dreynte, 
For  whom  was  maked  moch  compleynte. 

'  Now  turn  upward,'  quod  he,  '  thy  face. 
And  behold  this  large  place,  926 

Tills  air  ;  but  loke  thou  ne  be 
Adrad  of  hem  that  thou  shalt  see  ;     (420) 
For  in  this  i-egioun,  certein, 
Dwelleth  many  a  citezeiu,  930 

Of  which  that  speketh  dan  Plato. 
These  ben  the  eyrish  bestes,  lo  ! ' 
And  so  saw  I  al  that  meynee 
Bothe  goon  and  also  flee. 
•  Now,'  quod  he  tho,  '  cast  up  thyn  ye;  935 
See  yonder,  lo,  the  Galaxye, 
Wliich  men  clepeth  the  Milky  Wej-, 
Forhitiswhyt  :  and  somme,  parfey,  (430) 
Callen  hit  Watlinge  Strete  : 
That  ones  was  y-brent  with  hete,  940 

■Whan  the  sonnes  sone,  the  rede, 
That  highte  Pheton,  wolde  lede 
Algate  his  fader  cart,  and  gye. 
The  cart-hors  gonne  wel  espye 
That  he  ne  coude  no  governaunce,        945 
And  gonne  for  to  lepe  and  laiiuce, 
And  beren  him  now  up,  now  dou.n, 
Til  that  he  saw  the  Scorpioun,  (440) 

Which  that  in  heven  a  signe  is  yit. 
And  he,  for  ferde,  loste  his  wit,  950 

Of  that,  and  leet  the  reynes  goon 
Of  his  hors  ;  and  they  anoon 
Gonne  tip  to  mounte,  and  doun  desoende 
Til  Ijothe  the  eyr  and  erthe  brende  ; 
Til  .Tupiter,  lo,  atte  laste,  955 


336 


tU  ^oue  of  ^amt. 


[Book  II. 


Him  slow,  and  fro  tne  carte  caste. 

Lo,  is  it  not  a  greet  mischaunce, 

To  lete  a  fole  han  governavince  (450) 

Of  tiling  that  he  can  not  lienieine  ?  ' 

And  with  this  word,  soth  for  to  seyne, 
He  gan  alway  upper  to  sore,  961 

And  gladded  nie  ay  more  and  more, 
•So  feithfully  to  me  spak  he. 

Tho  gan  I  loken  nnder  me, 
And  beheld  the  eyrish  bestes,  965 

Cloudes,  mistes,  and  tempestes, 
Snowes,  hailes,  reines,  windes, 
And  th'engendring  in  hir  kindes,       (460) 
And  al  the  wey  through  whiche  I  cam  ; 
'  0  god,'  quod  I,  '  that  made  Adam,      970  , 
Moche  is  thy  might  and  thy  noblesse  ! '        , 

And  tho  thoughte  I  upon  Botce,  | 

That  writ,  '  a  thought  may  flee  so  liye, 
With  fothores  of  Philosophye,  1 

To  passcn  everich  element ;  975  | 

And  whan  he  hath  so  fer  y-went,  [ 

Than  may  be  seen,  behind  his  bak,  i 

rloud,  and  al  that  I  of  spak.'  U/o)  ' 

Tho  gan  I  wexen  in  a  were, 
And  seyde,  '  I  woot  wel  I  am  here  ;       980 
But  wher  in  body  or  in  gost 
I  noot,  y-wis  ;  but  god,  thon  west !' 
For  more  cleer  entendement 
Nadde  he  me  never  yit  y-sent. 
And  than  thoughte  I  on  Marcian,         985 
.\nd  eek  on  Anteclnudian, 
That  sooth  was  hir  descripcioun 
Of  al  the  hevenes  regionn,  (480) 

As  fer  as  that  I  saw  the  preve  ; 
Tlierfor  I  can  hem  now  beleve.  990 

With  that  this  egle  gan  to  crye : 
'  Lat  be,'  quod  he,  '  thy  fantasye  ; 
Wilt  thon  lere  of  sterres  aught  ? ' 
'  Nay,  oerteinly,'  quod  I,  'right  naught ; 
And  why  ?  for  I  am  now  to  old.'  995 

*  EUes  I  wolde  thee  have  told,' 
Quod  he,  '  the  sterres  names,  lo, 
And  al  the  hevenes  signes  to,  (490) 

And  which  they  been.'    '  No  fors,'  quod  I. 
'  Yis,  Pardee.'  quod  he ;  '  w^ostowwhy ?  1000 
For  whan  thou  redest  poetrye. 
How  goddes  gonne  stelUfye 
Brid,  fish,  beste,  or  him  or  here. 
As  the  Raven,  or  either  Bere, 
Or  Ariones  harpe  fjTi,  1005 

€astor,  Pollux,  or  Delphyn. 


Or  fAtlantes  donglitres  seveno. 

How  alle  these  am  set  in  hevene ;       (500) 

For  though  thou  have  hem  ofte  on  honde, 

Yet  nostow  not  wher  that  they  stonde.' 

'  No  fors,'  quod  I,  '  hit  is  no  nede  :       loii 

I  leve  as  wel,  so  god  me  spede. 

Hem  that  wryte  of  this  matere. 

As  though  I  knew  hir  places  here  ; 

And  eek  they  shynen  here  so  brighte, 

Hit  shulde  shenden  al  mj-  sighte,         1016 

To  loke  on  hem.'    '  That  may  wel  be,' 

Quod  he.    And  so  forth  bar  he  uie       (510) 

A  whyl,  and  than  he  gan  to  crye, 

That  never  herde  I  thing  so  hye,  lojo 

'  Now  up  the  heed  ;  for  al  is  wel ; 

Seynt  Julyan,  lo,  lx>n  hostel  ! 

See  here  the  House  of  Fame,  lo  ! 

Maistow  not  heren  that  I  do"?' 

'  What  ? '  quod  I.     •  The  grete  soun,'    1025 

Quod  he,  '  that  rumbleth  up  and  donn 

In  Fames  Hous,  ful  of  tydinges, 

Bothe  of  fair  speche  and  chydinges,    ^520) 

And  of  fals  and  soth  compouncd. 

Herkne  wel ;  hit  is  not  rouned.  1030 

Herestow  not  the  grete  swogh  ? ' 

'  Yis,  pardee,'  quod  I,  '  wel  y-nogli.' 

'  And  what  soun  is  it  lyk  ? '  quod  he. 

'  Peter  !  lyk  beting  of  the  see,' 

Quod  I,  '  again  the  roches  holowe,        u\^5 

Wlian  tempest  doth  the  shippes  swalowe; 

And  lat  a  man  stonde,  out  of  doute, 

A  myle  thens,  and  here  hit  roxxte ;      (530) 

Or  elles  lyk  the  last  humblinge 

After  the  clappe  of  a  thundringe,         IU40 

When  Joves  hath  the  air  y-bete  ; 

But  hit  doth  me  for  fere  swete.' 

'  Nay,  dred  thee  not  therof,'  quod  he, 

'  Hit  is  nothing  wil  byten  thee  ; 

Thou  shalt  non  harm  have,  trewely.'  1045 

And  with  this  word  bothe  he  and  I 
As  nigh  the  place  arryvetl  were 
As  men  may  easten  with  a  sjyere.        C';4") 
I  niste  how,  but  in  a  stretc 
He  sette  me  faire  on  my  fete,  1050 

And  seyde,  '  Walke  forth  a  pas, 
And  tak  thyn  aventure  or  cas, 
Tliat  thou  shalt  finde  in  Fames  place.' 

'  Now,'  quod  I,  ■  whji  we  han  space 
To  speke,  or  that  I  go  fro  thee,  1055 

For  the  love  of  god,  tel  me. 
In  sooth  that  wil  I  of  thee  lere. 


Book  III.l 


tU  ^ou0  of  Savxt. 


337 


If  this  noise  tliat  I  here 

Be,  as  I  have  herd  thee  tellen, 

Of  folk  that  doun  in  erthe  dwellen, 

And  comth  here  in  the  same  wyse 

As  I  thee  herde  or  this  devyse  ; 

And  that  ther  lyves  body  nis 

In  al  that  hous  that  yonder  is, 

Tliat  maketh  al  this  loude  fare  ?' 

'  No,'  quod  he,  '  by  Seynte  Clare, 

And  also  wis  god  rede  me  ! 

But  o  thinge  I  wil  wame  thee 

Of  the  which  thou  wolt  have  wonder. 

Lo,  to  the  Hovise  of  Fame  yonder 

Thoii  wost  how  Cometh  every  speche, 

Hit  nedetli  noght  thee  eft  to  teche. 

But  imderstond  now  right  wel  this  ; 

Wlian  any  speche  y-comen  is 


1060 


>75 


Up  to  the  paleys,  anon-right 
Hit  wexeth  lyk  the  same  wight 
Wliich  that  the  word  in  erthe  spak, 
Be  hit  clothed  reed  or  blak  ;  (570) 

And  hath  so  verray  his  lyknesse 
That  spak  the  word,  that  thovi  wilt  gesso 
That  hit  the  same  body  be,  loSi 

Man  or  woman,  he  or  she. 
I  And  is  not  this  a  wonder  thing  ?  ' 
I   '  Yis,'  quod  I  tho,  '  by  hevene  king  ! ' 
And  with  this  worde,  '  Parwel,'  qudd  he, 
'  And  here  I  wol  abyden  thee  ;  loSi) 

And  god  of  hevene  sende  thee  grace, 
Som  gootl  to  lernen  in  this  place."       <5^o) 
And  I  of  him  took  leve  anoon. 
And  gan  forth  to  the  paleys  goon.        1090 
Explicit  liber  secundus. 


BOOK   III. 


Incipit  liber  tardus. 
Inrocntiiin. 
O  go<l  of  science  and  of  light, 
Apollo,  throiagh  thy  grete  might, 
This  litel  laste  book  thou  gye  ! 
Xat  that  I  wilne,  for  maistrj-e, 
Here  art  poetical  be  shewed  ;  1095 

But,  for  the  rym  is  light  and  lewed, 
Yit  make  hit  sumwhat  agreable, 
Though  som  vers  faile  in  a  sillalde ; 
Antl  that  I  do  no  diligence 
To  sh ewe  craft,  but  o  sentence.      (10)  hoc 
And  if,  divj'ne  vertu,  thou 
Wilt  helpe  me  to  shewe  now 
That  in  myn  hede  y-marked  is — 
Lo,  that  is  for  to  menen  this, 
The  Hous  of  Fame  to  descrj've —  1 10,' 

Thou  shalt  see  me  go,  as  blj've. 
Unto  the  nexte  laiire  I  see. 
And  kisse  hit,  for  hit  is  thy  tree  ; 
Now  entreth  in  my  breste  anoon  ! — 

'JTie  Dream. 
Whan  I  was  fro  this  egle  goon,     (20)  1 1  ii 
I  gan  beholde  upon  this  place. 


And  certein,  or  I  ferther  pace, 
I  wol  yow  al  the  shap  devj-se 
Of  hous  and  fsite  ;  and  al  the  wyse 
How  I  gan  to  this  place  aproche  11 15 

That  stood  iipon  so  high  a  roche, 
Hyer  stant  ther  noon  in  Spaine. 
I   But  up  I  clomb  with  alle  paine, 
j  And  though  to  climbe  hit  greved  me, 
Yit  I  ententif  was  to  see,  f^o)  lu'o 

And  for  to  pouren  wonder  lowe. 
If  I  coude  any  weyes  knowe 
]   What  maner  stoon  this  roche  was  ; 
For  hit  was  lyk  a  thing  of  glas, 
Bvit  that  hit  shoon  ful  more  clere  ;       1 1.'5 
But  of  what  congeled  matere 
Hit  was,  I  niste  redely. 

But  at  the  laste  espyed  I, 
And  fovind  that  hit  was,  ever^'  deel, 
A  roche  of  yse,  and  not  of  steel.    (40)  i  i.^o 
Thoughte  I,  '  By  Seynt  Thomas  of  Kent ! 
This  were  a  feble  foundement 
To  bilden  on  a  place  hye  ; 
He  oughte  him  litel  glorifye 
That  her-on  hilt,  god  so  me  save  ! '        1 135 

Tho  saw  I  al  the  half  y-grave 
With  famous  folkes  names  fele, 
That  had  y-been  in  mochel  wrde, 


338 


tr^e  15ou0  of  ^(xmi. 


[Book  III. 


And  hir  fames  wytle  y-blowe. 

But  wel  uuethes  coude  I  knowe    (50)  1 140 

Any  lettres  for  to  rede 

Hir  name's  by  ;  for,  out  of  drede, 

They  were  almost  of-thowed  so. 

That  of  the  lettres  oon  or  two 

"Was  molte  away  of  every  name,  1 145 

So  xinfamoiis  was  wexe  hir  fame  ; 

But  men  sejoi,  '  \Miat  may  ever  laste  ?  ' 

Tho  gan  I  in  myn  herte  caste, 
Tliat  they  were  molte  awey  with  hete, 
And  not  awey  with  stormes  bete.  (60)  1 150 
For  on  that  other  syde  I  sey 
Of  this  hille,  that  northward  lay, 
How  hit  was  writen  ful  of  names 
Of  folk  that  hadden  srete  fames 
Of  olde  tyme,  and  yit  they  were  1 155 

As  iresshe    as    men    h;»d    writeu    hem 

there 
The  selve  day  right,  or  that  houre 
That  I  upcjn  hem  gan  to  poure. 
But  wel  I  wiste  what  hit  matle  ; 
Hit  was  conserved  with  the  shade —    (70) 
Al  this  wi-j-tinge  that  I  sy —  ii6i 

Of  a  castel,  that  stooil  on  h.v. 
And  stood  eek  on  so  cold  a  place, 
Tliat  hete  might e  hit  not  deface. 

Tho  gan  I  up  tlie  hille  to  g.x)n,  1165 

And  fond  upon  tlio  coppe  a  woon, 
That  alle  the  men  that  l>en  on  lJ-^•e 
Ne  han  the  cunning  to  descrj-ve 
The  beautee  of  that  ilke  place, 
Ne  coude  casten  no  compace  (80)1170 

Swich  another  for  to  make. 
That  mighte  of  beautee  be  his  make, 
Ne  [be]  so  wonderliche  y-wrought  ; 
That  hit  astonieth  yit  my  thought, 
And  makcth  al  my  wit  to  swinke         1175 
On  this  castel  to  bethinke. 
So  that  the  grete  fcraft,  beautee. 
The  cast,  the  ciiriositee 
Ne  can  I  not  to  yow  de^•J•se. 
My  wit  ne  may  me  not  suffjse.      (90)  1180 

But  natheles  al  the  substance 
I  have  yit  in  my  remembrance  ; 
For-why  me  thoughte,  by  SejTit  Gyle  ! 
Al  was  of  stone  of  berjde. 
Bothe  castel  and  the  tour,  1185 

And  eek  the  halle,  and  everj-  hour, 
Withouten  peces  or  joininges. 
But  many  subtil  compassinges. 


fBaljewinnes  and  pinacles, 

Imiigeries  and  tabernacles.  (loc;)  1190 

I  saw  ;  and  ful  eek  of  windowes. 

As  flakes  falle  in  grcto  snowes. 

And  eek  in  ech  of  the  pinacles 

Weren  sondry  habitacles, 

In  whiche  stotien,  al  withoute —  1195 

Ful  tlie  castel,  al  aboute — 

Of  alle  maner  of  minstrales. 

And  gestiours,  that  telleu  tales 

Bothe  of  weping  and  of  game. 

Of  al  that  longeth  iinto  Fame.     (110)  1200 

Ther  herde  I  pleyen  on  an  harpe 
That  souned  bothe  wel  and  sharpe, 
On'heus  ful  craftely. 
And  on  his  syde,  faste  by. 
Sat  tlie  harper  Orion,  1205 

And  Eacides  Oiirou, 
Anil  other  harpers  miuiy  oon, 
Auil  the  Bret  Glascurion  ; 
And  smale  harriers  with  her  glees 
fSeten  under  hem  in  sei-s,  (120)  1210 

And  gonno  on  hem  upward  to  gape, 
And  count  rcfete  hem  as  an  ape. 
Or  as  craft  countrefeteth  kinde. 

Tho  saugh  I  stonden  hem  behinde, 
A-fer  fro  hem,  al  by  hemselve,  1215 

Many  thousand  tjines  twelve. 
That  maden  loude  nienstralcyes 
In  cornemuse,  and  shalmyes. 
And  many  other  maner  p.^l^e, 
That  craftely  begunne  pype  (1.10)  1220 

Bothe  in  doucet  and  in  rede. 
That  ben  at  festes  with  the  brede  ; 
And  many  floute  and  lilting-horne. 
And  pji'es  made  of  grene  come. 
As  han  thise*  litel  herde-gromes,  1225 

That  kepen  bestes  in  the  bromes. 

Ther  saugh  I  than  Atiteris, 
And  of  Athenes  dan  Pseustis. 
And  Marcia  that  lost  her  skin, 
Bothe  in  face,  body,  and  chin,     (140)  i2J|o 
For  that  she  wolde  en^'yen,  lo  ! 
To  pyi)en  bet  then  Apollo. 
Ther  saugh  I  famous,  olde  aud  j'ouge, 
Pyjiers  of  the  Duche  tonge. 
To  lerne  love-daunces,  springes,  1235 

Eeyes,  and  these  straunge  thinges. 

Tho  saugh  I  in  another  place 
Stonden  in  a  large  space. 
Of  hem  that  maken  blody  soun 


ZU  ®ow«  of  S^^^' 


339 


In  trumpe,  beme,  and  olarioun  ;  (150)  1240 
For  in  fight  and  blood-shedinge 
Is  used  gladly  clarioninge. 

Ther  lierde  I  trumpen  Messenus, 
Of  whom  that  speketh  Virgilius. 
Ther  herde  1  Joab  trumpe  also,  1245 

Theodomas,  and  other  mo  ; 
And  alle  that  used  clarion 
In  Cataloigne  and  Aragon, 
That  in  hir  tyme  tamous  were 
To  lerne,  saugh  I  trumpe  there.  (160)  1250 

Ther  saugh  I  sitte  in  other  sees, 
Pleyinge  ujiou  sondry  glees, 
Whiche  that  I  cannot  uevene. 
Mo  then  sterres  been  in  hevene. 
Of  whiche  I  nil  as  now  not  ryme,         1255 
F(  )r  ese  of  yow,  and  losse  of  tyme  : 
For  tyme  y-lost,  this  knowen  ye, 
By  no  way  may  recovered  be. 

Ther  saugh  I  fpleyen  jogelours, 
Magicieus  and  tregetours,  (170;  1260 

And  phitonesses,  charmeresses, 
Olde  wicches,  sorceresses, 
That  use  exorsisaciouns 
And  eek  thise  fumigaciouns  ; 
And  clerkes  eek,  which  conne  wel       1265 
Al  this  niagyke  natui-el. 
That  craftelj'  don  hir  ententes, 
T(i  make,  in  certeyn  ascendeutes, 
Images,  lo,  through  which  magyk 
To  make  a  man  ben  hool  or  syk.  (180)  1270 
Ther  saugh  I  fthee,  queen  Medea, 
And  Cii'ces  eke,  and  Oalipsa  ; 
Ther  saugh  I  Hermes  Balleuus, 
Lj-mote,  and  eek  Simon  Magus.  1274 

Ther  saugh  I,  and  knew  hem  by  name. 
That  by  such  art  don  men  han  fame. 
Ther  saugh  I  Colle  tregetour 
Upon  a  table  of  sicamour 
Pleye  an  uncouthe  thing  to  telle  ; 
I  saugh  him  carien  a  wind-melle  (190)  1280 
Under  a  walsh-note  shale. 

\Vhat  shuld  I  make  lenger  tale 
Of  al  the  peple  that  I  say, 
Fro  hennes  in-to  df_>mesday  ? 

^^^lan  I  had  al  this  folk  l)eholde,     1285 
And  fond  me  lous,  and  noght  y-holde, 
And  eft  y-mused  longe  whyle 
Upon  these  walles  of  beryle. 
That  shoon  fnl  lighter  than  a  glas. 
And  made  wel  more  than  hit  was        (200) 


To  semen,  every  thing,  y-wis,  1 291 

As  kinde  thing  of  fames  is  ; 
I  gan  forth  romen  til  I  fond 
The  castel-yate  on  my  right  hond, 
■\^Tiich  that  so  wel  oorvou  was  1 295 

That  never  swich  another  uas  ; 
And  yit  hit  was  by  aventure 
Y-wrought,  as  often  as  by  cure. 

Hit  nedeth  noght  yow  for  to  tellen, 
To  make  yow  to  longe  dwellen,   (210)  1300 
Of  this  yates  florisshiuges, 
Ne  of  compasses,  ne  of  kerviuges, 
Ne  how  they  +hatte  in  masoneries, 
As,  corbets  fulle  of  imageries. 
Biit,  lord  !  so  fair  hit  was  to  shewe,    1305 
For  hit  was  al  with  gold  behewe. 
But  in  I  wente,  and  that  anoon  ; 
Ther  mette  I  cr^-ing  many  oon, — 
'  A  larges,  larges,  hold  up  wel ! 
God  save  the  lady  of  this  pel,      (220)  1310 
Our  owne  gentil  lady  Fame, 
And  hem  that  wilnen  to  have  name 
Of  us  ! '    Thus  herde  I  cryen  alle. 
And  faste  comen  out  of  halle. 
And  shoken  nobles  and  sterlinges.       1315 
And  somme  crouned  were  as  kinges. 
With  crounes  wroght  ful  of  losenges  ; 
And  many  riban,  and  many  frenges 
Were  on  hir  clothes  trewely. 

Tho  atte  laste  aspyed  I  (230)  1320 

That  pursevauntes  and  heraudes, 
That  cryen  riohe  folkes  laudes. 
Hit  weren  alle  ;  and  every  naan 
Of  hem,  as  I  yow  tellen  can. 
Had  on  him  throwen  a  vesture,  1325 

Which  that  men  clepe  a  cote-armure, 
Enbrowded  wonderliche  riche, 
Al-though  they  nere  nought  y-liche. 
But  noght  nil  I,  so  mote  I  thryve. 
Been  aboute  to  discrj'v-e  (240)  1330 

Al  these  amies  that  ther  weren, 
That  they  thus  on  hir  cotes  beren. 
For  hit  to  me  were  impossible  ; 
Men  mighte  make  of  hem  a  bible 
Twenty  foot  thikke,  as  I  trowe.  1335 

For  certeyn,  who-s(>  coude  y-knowe 
Mighte  ther  alle  the  armes  seen 
Of  famous  folk  that  han  y-been 
In  Auffrike,  Europe,  and  Asye, 
Sith  first  began  the  chevalrye.     (250;  1340 

Lo  !  how  shulde  I  now  telle  al  this  ? 


340 


ZH  ^OU0  of  5*wc. 


[Book  ni. 


Xe  of  tlie  hallc  eek  what  iiede  is 

To  tellen  yow,  that  eveiy  wal 

Of  hit,  and  floor,  and  roof  and  al 

Was  plated  half  a  fote  thikke  1345 

Of  gold,  and  that  nas  no-thing  wikke, 

But,  for  to  prove  in  alle  wyse, 

As  fyn  as  dncat  in  Venyse, 

Of  whiche  to  lyte  al  in  my  pouche  is  ? 

And  they  wer  set  as  thikke  of  noiichis  (260) 

F\ille  of  the  fynest  stones  faire,  1351 

That  men  rede  in  the  Lapidaire, 

As  greses  gi-owen  in  a  mede  ; 

But  hit  were  nl  to  longe  to  rede 

The  names  ;  and  thortbre  I  pace.  1355 

But  in  this  riche  lusty  place, 
That  Fames  halle  called  was, 
Ful  moche  prees  of  folk  ther  nas, 
Ne  crouding,  for  to  mochil  prees. 
But  al  on  hyc,  aljove  a  dees,         ^270)  1360 
•^Sitte  in  a  see  imperial, 
That  maad  was  of  a  rubee  al, 
Which  that  a  carbuncle  is  y-culled, 
I  saugh,  peiiietually  y-stalled, 
A  feminj-ne  creatnro  ;  1365 

That  never  formed  by  nature 
Xas  swich  another  thing  y-seye. 
For  altherfirst,  soth  for  to  seye. 
Me  thoughte  tliat  she  was  so  lyte, 
That  the  lengthe  of  a  cnbj-te        (280)  1370 
Was  lenger  than  she  semed  be  ; 
But  thus  sonc,  in  a  whyle,  she 
Hir  tho  so  -I  wonderliclie  streifjhte. 
That  with  hir  feet  she  th'eitho  reighte, 
And  with  liir  heed  she  touched  hevene, 
Ther  as  shynen  sterres  sevene.  1376 

And  ther-to  eek,  as  to  my  wit, 
I  saugh  agretter  wonder  yit. 
Upon  hir  ej-en  to  beholde  ; 
But  cei-teyn  I  hem  never  toldc  ;  (290)  1380 
For  as  fele  eyen  hadde  she 
As  fetheres  upon  foules  be, 
Or  weren  on  the  bestes  foure. 
That  goddes  trone  giuine  honoure. 
As  John  writ  in  th'apocalips.  1385 

Hir  heer,  that  oundy  was  and  crips, 
As  biu-ned  gold  hit  shoon  to  see. 
And  sooth  to  tellen,  also  she 
Had  also  fele  up-stonding  eres 
And  tonges,  as  on  bestes  heres  ;  (300)  1390 
And  on  hir  feet  wexen  saugh  I 
Partriehes  winges  redely 


But,  lord  !  the  perrie  and  the  richesse 
I  saugh  sitting  on  this  goddesse  ! 
And,  lord  !  the  hevenish  melodye         1395 
Of  songes,  ful  of  armonye, 
I  herde  aboute  her  trone  y-songe, 
That  al  the  paleys-walles  ronge  ! 
So  song  the  mighty  Muse,  she 
That  cleped  is  Caliopee,  (310)  1400 

And  hir  eighte  sustren  eke. 
That  in  hir  face  semen  meke ; 
And  evermo,  eternallj-. 
They  songe  of  Fame,  as  tho  herde  I : — 
'  Heried  be  thou  and  thy  name,  1405 

Goddesse  of  renoun  an<l  of  fame  !' 

Tho  was  I  war,  lo,  atte  laste. 
As  I  myn  eyen  gan  iip  caste. 
That  this  ilke  noble  queue 
On  hir  shuldres  gan  sustene         (320)  1410 
Bothe  th'armes  and  the  name 
Of  tho  that  hadile  large  fame  ; 
Alexander,  and  Hercules 
That  with  a  slierte  his  lyf  lees  ! 
fThus  fond  I  sitting  this  goddesse,      1415 
In  nobley,  honour,  and  richesse  : 
Of  which  I  stinte  a  whyle  now, 
Other  tiling  to  tellen  yow. 

Tho  saugh  I  stonde  on  cither  sytle, 
Streight  doun  to  tlie  doies  wyde,  (330;  1420 
Fro  the  dees,  many  a  pileer  * 

Of  metal,  that  shoon  not  ful  cleer  ; 
But  though  they  nere  of  no  richesse, 
Yet  they  were  maad  for  greet  noblesse, 
And  in  hem  greet  [and  hy]  sentence  ;  1425 
And  folk  of  digne  reverence, 
Of  whiche  I  wol  yow  telle  fonde. 
Upon  the  piler  saugh  I  stonde. 

Alderfirst,  lo,  ther  I  sigh. 
Upon  a  piler  stonde  on  high,        (340)  1430 
That  was  of  lede  and  yren  fyn. 
Him  of  secte  Saturnyn, 
Th'  Ebrayk  Josephus,  the  olde. 
That  of  Jewes  gestes  tolde  ; 
And  bar  upon  his  shuldres  hye  1435 

The  fame  up  of  the  .Tewerye. 
And  by  him  stoden  other  sevene, 
Wyse  and  worthy  for  to  nevene. 
To  helpen  him  here  up  the  charge, 
Hit  was  so  he^•y  and  so  large.      (350)  1440 
And  for  they  -wTiten  of  batailes. 
As  wel  as  other  olde  mervailes, 
Therfor  was,  lo,  this  pileer, 


Book  III.] 


ZH  '^oue  of  ^amt. 


341 


Of  which  that  I  j'ow  telle  heer, 

Of  lede  and  yren  bothe,  y-wis.  1445 

For  yreu  Martes  metal  is, 

Which  that  god  is  of  liataile  ; 

And  the  leed,  withouteu  faile, 

Is,  lo,  the  metal  of  Saturne, 

That  hath  fv\l  large  wheel  to  turne.    (360) 

Tho  stoden  forth,  on  every  rowe,  1451 

Of  hem  which  that  I  coiide  knowe, 

Thogh  I  hem  noght  by  ordre  telle, 

To  make  .^-ow  to  long  to  dwelle. 

These,  of  whiche  I  ginne  rede,  1455 

Ther  saiigh  I  stonden,  out  of  tlrede  : 
Upon  an  yren  piler  strong, 
That  peynted  was,  al  eudelong, 
With  tygres  blode  in  everj-  place. 
The  Tholosan  that  highte  Stace,  (370)  1460 
That  bar  of  Thebes  np  the  fame 
Upon  his  shuldres,  and  the  name 
Also  of  cruel  Achilles. 
And  by  him  stood,  withouten  lees, 
Ful  wonder  liye  on  a  j^iileer  1465 

Of  yren,  he,  the  gret  Omeer  ; 
And  with  him  Dares  and  Tytus 
Before,  and  eek  he,  Lollius, 
And  Guido  eek  de  Columpnis, 
And  English  Gaufride  eek,  y-wis ;  (380)  1470 
And  ech  of  these,  as  have  I  joye, 
Was  besy  for  to  bere  iip  Troye. 
So  he^-y  ther-of  was  the  fame. 
That  for  to  bere  hit  was  no  game. 
But  yit  I  gan  ful  wel  espye,  1475 

Betwix  hem  was  a  litel  envye. 
Oon  seyde,  Omere  niade  lyes, 
Feyninge  in  his  poetrj'es. 
And  was  to  Grekes  favorable  ; 
Therfor  held  he  hit  but  fable.      (390;  1480 

Tho  saugh  I  stonde  on  a  pileer, 
That  was  of  tinned  yren  cleer. 
That  Latin  poete,  [dan]  Virg^-le, 
That  bore  hath  up  a  longe  whyle 
The  fame  of  Pius  Eneas.  1485 

And  next  him  on  a  piler  was. 
Of  coper,  Venus  clerk,  Ovyde, 
That  hath  y-sowen  wonder  wyde 
The  grete  god  of  Loves  name. 
And  ther  he  bar  up  wel  his  fame,       (4<x)) 
Upon  this  piler,  also  hje  1491 

As  I  might  see  hit  with  mj'n  ye  : 
For-wliy  this  halle,  of  whiche  I  rede 
Was  woxe  on  fhighte,  lengthe  and  brede. 


Wel  more,  by  a  thousand  del,  1405 

Than  hit  was  erst,  that  saugh  I  wel. 

Tho  saugh  I,  on  a  piler  ))y, 
Of  yren  wroght  ful  sternely. 
The  grete  poete,  daun  Lvican, 
And  on  his  shuldres  bar  up  than,       (410) 
As  highe  as  that  I  mighte  see,  1501 

The  fame  of  JiUius  and  Pompee. 
And  by  him  stoden  alle  these  clerkes, 
That  writen  of  Eomes  mighty  werkes, 
That,  if  I  wolde  hir  names  telle,  1505 

Al  to  longe  moste  I  dwelle. 

And  next  him  on  a  piler  stood 
Of  soulfre,  lyk  as  he  were  wood, 
Dan  Claudian,  the  soth  to  telle, 
That  bar  iip  al  the  fame  of  helle,  (420)  1510 
Of  Pluto,  and  of  Proseri^vue, 
That  queue  is  of  the  derke  pyne. 

What  sluilde  I  more  telle  of  this  ? 
The  halle  was  al  ful,  y-wis. 
Of  hem  that  writen  olde  gestes,  1515 

As  ben  on  trees  rokes  uestes  ; 
But  hit  a  ful  confus  matere 
M'ere  al  the  gestes  for  to  here. 
That     they    of    write,     anil     how    they 

highte. 
But  whyl  that  I  l)eheld  this  sighte,    (430) 
I  lierde  a  noise  aprochen  blyve,  1:^21 

That  ferde  as  been  don  in  an  hyve, 
Agen  her  tjone  of  out-fleyinge  ; 
Eight  swiche  a  maner  murmuringe. 
For  al  the  world,  hit  semed  me.  1^25 

Tho  gan  I  loke  aboute  and  see. 
That  ther  com  entring  fin  the  halle 
A  right  gret  company  with-alle, 
And  that  of  sondry  regiouns, 
Of  alleskinnes  condiciouus,  (440)  i^  ?o 

That  dwelle  in  erthe  under  the  mone, 
Pore  and  ryche.     And  also  sone 
As  they  were  come  into  the  halle. 
They  gonne  doiin  on  knees  falle 
Before  this  ilke  noble  queue,  1535 

And  seyde,  '  Graunte  us,  lady  shene, 
Ech  of  us,  of  thy  grace,  a  bone  ! ' 
And     somme     of    heni     she     graunted 

sone. 
And  somme  she  werned  wel  and  faire ; 
And  somme  she  graunted  the  contraire 
Of  hir  axing  utterly.  (451)  1541 

But  thus  I  seye  yow  trewely. 
What  hir  cause  was,  I  niste. 


342 


ZU  Ipoue  of  ^ami. 


[Book  HI. 


For  this  tnlk,  I'nl  wel  I  wiste, 
They  hailde  good  fame  ech  deserved,   1545 
-AJtliogh  they  were  diversly  ser\'ed  ; 
Right  as  hir  snster,  dame  Fortune, 
Is  wont  to  serven  in  comune. 

Now  herltne  bow  she  gan  to  paye 
That  gonne  hir  of  hir  grace  praye  ;     (460) 
And  yit,  lo,  al  this  companye  1551 

Seyden  sooth,  and  noght  a  lye. 

'  Madame,'  sej-ilen  thej',  '  we  be 
Folk  that  beer  besechen  thee. 
That  thou  graunte  us  now  good  fame,  1555 
And  lete  our  werkes  ban  that  name  ; 
In  ful  recompensacioun 
Of  good  werk,  give  vis  good  renoun.' 
'  I  weme  yow  bit,'  quod  she  anoon, 
'  Ye  gete  of  me  good  fame  noon,  (470)  1560 
Bj-  god  !  and  therfor  go  your  wey.' 

'  Alas,'  quod  they,  '  and  welaway  ! 
Telle  us,  what  may  j-our  cause  be  ?' 

'For  me  list  bit  noght,'  quo<l  she  ; 
'  Xo  wight  sbal  speke  of  .yow,  y-wis,     1565 
Good  ue  barm,  ne  that  ne  this.' 
And  with  that  word  she  gan  to  calle 
Hir  niessanger,  that  was  in  halle, 
Ancl  had  that  he  sbulde  I'aste  goon, 
fl-'p  pej-ne  to  be  blind  anoon,      (480)  1570 
For  Eolus,  the  god  of  winde  ; — 
'  In  Trace  ther  ye  sbnl  him  finde, 
And  bid  bim  bringe  his  clarioun. 
That  is  ful  dyvers  of  his  soun, 
And  hit  is  cleped  Clere  Laude,  1575 

With  which  be  wont  is  to  heraude 
Hem  that  me  list  y-preised  be  : 
And  also  bid  him  how  that  he 
Bringe  his  other  clarioun. 
That  bigbte  Sclaundre  in  every  toun,  (490) 
With  which  be  wont  is  to  diifame      1581 
Hem  that  me  list,  and  do  hem  shame.' 

This  messanger  gan  faste  goon. 
And  found  wber,  in  a  cave  of  stoon. 
In  a  contree  that  bigbte  Trace,  1585 

This  Eolus,  -wuth  harde  grace, 
Held  the  windes  in  distresse. 
And  gan  hem  untler  bim  to  presse. 
That  they  gonne  as  beres  rore, 
He  bond  and  pressed  hem  so  sore.      (500) 

This  messanger  gan  faste  crj-e,         1591 
'  Rys  up,'  quod  he,  '  and  faste  bye. 
Til  that  thou  at  my  lady  be  ; 
And  tak  thy  clarions  eek  with  thee. 


And  speed  thee  forth.'    And  he  anon  1595 

Took  to  a  man,  that  bight  Triton, 

His  elariouns  to  here  tho. 

And  leet  a  certeyn  wind  to  go, 

That  blew  so  bidously  and  bye. 

That  hit  ne  lefte  not  a  skyo         (510)  1600 

In  al  the  welken  longe  and  brood. 

This  Eolus  no-wher  abood 
Til  he  was  come  at  Fames  feet, 
And  eck  the  man  that  Triton  beet ; 
And  ther  be  stood,  as  still  as  stoon.    1605 
And  her-withal  ther  com  anoon 
Another  huge  companye 
Of  gode  folk,  and  gunne  crye, 
'  Lady,  graunte  us  now  good  fame. 
And  lat  our  werkes  ban  tliat  name    (520) 
Now,  in  honour  of  gentilesse,  1611 

And  also  god  your  soule  blesse  ! 
For  wo  ban  wel  deserved  hit, 
Therfor  is  right  that  we  ben  quit.' 

'As    tbrj-\'e    I,'    quod    she,    'ye    sbal 
faile. 
Good  werkes  sbal  yow  noght  availe    1616 
To  have  of  me  good  fame  as  now. 
But  wite  ye  what  ?     I  graunte  yow, 
That  ye  sbal  have  a  shrewed  fame       1619 
And  wikked  loos,  and  worse  name,    (530) 
Though  ye  good  loos  have  wel  deserved. 
Now  go  your  wey,  I'or  ye  be  served  ; 
And  thou,  dan  Eolus,  let  see  ! 
Tak  forth  thy  trumpe  anon,'  quod  she, 
'  That  is  y-cleped  Sclaunder  light,        1625 
And  blow  hir  loos,  that  every  wight 
Speke  of  hem  barm  and  shrewednesse. 
In  stede  of  good  and  wortbinesse. 
For  thou  shalt  trumpe  al  the  contraire 
Of  that  they  ban  don  wel  or  faire.'      1630 

'  Alas,'  thougbte  I,  '  what  aventures 
Han  these  sory  creatures  !  (542) 

For  the}-,  amonges  al  the  pres, 
Sbul  thus  be  shamed  gilteles ! 
But  what !  hit  moste  nedes  be.'  1635 

What  did  this  Eolus,  but  be 
Tok  out  bis  blakke  trumpe  of  bras, 
That  fouler  than  the  devil  was, 
And  gan  this  trumpe  for  to  blowe. 
As  al  the  world  sbulde  overtbrowe  ;    (550) 
That  through-out  every  regioun  1641 

Wente  this  foule  trumpes  soun, 
As  swift  as  pelet  out  of  gonne. 
Whan  fjT  is  in  the  poudre  ronne. 


Z^t  15ou0  of  ^amc. 


343 


And  swiche  a  smoke  giin  out-wende    1645 

Out  of  liis  foiile  tinimpes  ende, 

Bliik,  bio,  grenish,  swartish  reed, 

As  doth  wher  that  men  melte  leed, 

Lo,  al  on  high  fro  the  ttiel  ! 

And  therto  00  thing  saugh  I  wel,  (560)  1650 

Tliat,  the  ferther  that  hit  ran, 

Tlie  gretter  wexen  hit  began, 

As  doth  the  river  from  a  welle, 

And  hit  stank  as  the  pit  of  helle. 

Alas,  thus  was  hir  shame  y-ronge,       1655 

And  giltelees,  on  every  tonge. 

The  com  the  thridde  companye. 
And  gvinne  wp  to  the  dees  to  hye, 
And  doun  on  knees  they  fille  anon, 
And  seyde, '  We  ben  everichon      (570)  1660 
Folk  that  han  ful  trewely 
Deserved  fame  rightfully, 
And  praye  yow,  hit  mot  be  knowe, 
Eight  as  hit  is,  and  forth  y-blowe.' 
'  I  graiinte,'  quod  she,  '  for  me  list       1665 
That  now  yovu-  gode  fwerk  be  wist ; 
And  yit  ye  shul  han  better  loos. 
Eight  in  dispyt  of  alle  your  foos. 
Than  worthy  is ;  and  that  anoon  : 
Lat  now,'  quod  she,  '  thj'  trumpe  goon,  (580) 
Thou  Eolus,  that  is  so  blak  ;  1671 

And  out  thjTi  other  trumpe  tak 
That  highte  Laude,  and  blow  hit  so 
That  through  the  world  hir  fame  go 
Al  esely,  and  not  to  faste,  1675 

Tliat  hit  be  knowen  atte  laste.' 

'  Ful  gladly,  lady  rnyn,'  he  seyde  ; 
And  out  his  trumpe  of  golde  he  brayde 
Anon,  and  sette  hit  to  his  mouthe, 
And  blew  hit  est,  and  west,  and8outhe,(59o) 
And  north,  as  londe  as  any  thunder,  1681 
That  every  wight  hadde  of  hit  wonder, 
So  brode  hit  ran,  or  than  hit  stente. 
And,  certes,  al  the  breeth  that  wente 
Out  of  his  trumpes  mouthe  smelde      1685 
As  men  a  pot-ful  f  bawme  helde 
Among  a  basket  ful  of  roses  ; 
This  favour  dide  he  til  hir  loses. 

And  right  with  this  I  gan  aspye, 
Ther  com  the  ferthe  companye —  (600)  1690 
But  certeyn  they  were  wonder  fewe — 
And  gonne  stonden  in  a  rewe. 
And  seyden,  '  Certes,  lady  brighte, 
We  han  don  wel  with  al  our  mighte ; 
But  we  ne  kepen  have  no  fame.  1695 


Hyd  our  werkes  and  our  name. 

For  goddes  love  !  for  certes  we 

Han  certeyn  doon  hit  for  bountee. 

And  for  no  maner  other  thing.' 

'  I  graunte  yow  al  your  asking,'     (610)  1 700 

Quod  she  ;  '  let  your  fwerk  be  deed.' 

With  that  abonte  I  clew  myn  heed, 
And  saugh  anoon  the  fifte  rente 
That  to  this  lady  gonne  loute, 
And  doiin  on  knees  anoon  to  falle  ;      1705 
And  to  hir  tho  besoughten  alle 
To  hyde  hir  gode  werkes  eek, 
And  seyde,  they  yeven  noght  a  leek 
For  fame,  ne  for  swich  renoun  ; 
For  they,  for  contemplaciotin       (620)  1710 
And  goddes  love,  hadde  y-wronght  ; 
Ne  of  fame  wolde  they  nought. 

•  ^Vhat  ?  '  quod  she,  '  and  be  ye  wood  ? 
And  wene  ye  for  to  do  good. 
And  for  to  have  of  that  no  fame  ?  17 15 

Have  ye  dispyt  to  have  my  name  ? 
Nay,  ye  shul  liven  everichoon  ! 
Blow  thy  trumpe  and  that  anoon,' 
Qnod  she,  '  thou  Eolus,  I  hote, 
And  ring  this  folkes  fwerk  by  note,   (630) 
That  al  the  world  may  of  hit  here.'      1721 
And  he  gan  blowe  hir  loos  so  clere 
In  his  golden  clarionn. 
That  through  the  world  wente  the  soun, 
f  So  kenely,  and  eek  so  softe  ;  1725 

But  atte  laste  hit  was  on-lofte. 

Thoo  com  the  sexte  companye, 
And  gonne  faste  on  Fame  crye. 
Right  verraily,  in  this  manere 
They  seyden  : '  Mercy,  lady  dere  !  (640)  1730 
To  telle  certein,  as  hit  is. 
We  han  don  neither  that  ne  this. 
But  ydel  al  our  lyf  .y-be. 
But,  natheles,  yit  preye  we, 
That  we  mowe  han  so  good  a  fame,       1735 
And  greet  renoun  and  knowen  name. 
As  they  that  han  don  noble  gestes. 
And  acheved  alle  hir  lestes. 
As  wel  of  love  as  other  thing  ; 
Al  was  us  never  broche  ne  ring,  (650)  1740 
Ne  elles  nought,  from  wimmen  sent, 
Ne  ones  in  hir  herte  y-ment 
To  make  us  only  frendly  chere. 
But  mighte  temen  us  on  here  ; 
Yit  lat  us  to  the  peple  seme  1 745 

Swiche  as  the  world  may  of  ns  deme. 


344 


ZU  ^oue  of  ^<xvxt. 


[Book  III. 


That  wimmen  loven  us  for  wood. 

Hit  shal  don  vis  as  moche  good, 

And  to  our  herte  as  moche  availe 

To  countrepeisc  ese  and  travaile,  (660)  1750 

As  we  had  wonne  hit  with  labour ; 

For  that  is  dere  boght  honoiir 

At  regard  of  our  grete  ese. 

And  yit  thou  most  us  more  plese  ; 

Let  us  lie  hohlen  eek,  therto,  1755 

Worthy,  wyse,  and  gode  also. 

And  riche,  and  happy  unto  love. 

For  goddes  love,  that  sit  above, 

Though  we  may  not  the  lx>dy  have 

Of  wimmen, yet, so  god  yow  save !  (670)  17CX) 

Let  men  glewe  on  us  the  name ; 

Suffyceth  that  we  han  the  fame.' 

'  I  graunte,'  quod  she,  '  by  my  trouthe  ! 
N<)w,  Eolus,  with-onten  slouthe, 
Tak  out  thy  trumpe  of  gold,  flet  see,  1765 
And  blow  as  they  han  axed  me. 
That  every  man  wene  hem  at  ese. 
Though  they  gon  in  ful  badde  lese.' 
This  Eolus  gan  hit  so  blowe,         (679)  1769 
That    through    the    world     hit    was    y- 
knowe. 
Tho  com  the  seventh  route  anoon, 
And  fol  on  knees  everichoon. 
And  seyde,  '  Lady,  graunte  us  sone 
The  same  thing,  the  same  bone. 
That  [ye]  this  nexte  folk  han  doon.'      1775 
'  Fj-  on  yow,'  quod  she,  '  everichoon  ! 
Ye  masty  swj-n,  ye  .ydel  wrecches, 
Ful  of  roten  slowe  tecches  ! 
AVhat  ?  false  theves  !  wher  ye  wolde 
Be  famous  good,  and  no-thing  nolde    (690) 
Deserve  why,  ne  never  roughte?  1781 

Men  rather  yow  to-hangen  oughte  ! 
For  ye  bo  lyk  the  swe.vnte  cat. 
That  wolde  have  fish  ;  but  wostow  what  ? 
He  wolde  no-thing  wete  his  clowes.      1785 
Yvel  thrift  come  on  j-our  jowes. 
And  eek  on  myn,  if  I  hit  graunte. 
Or  do  yow  favour,  j-ow  to  avaunte  ! 
Thou  Eolus,  thou  king  of  Trace  ! 
Go,  blow  this  folk  a  sory  grace,'  (700)  1790 
Quod  she,  '  aniX)n  ;  and  wostow  how  ? 
As  I  shal  telle  thee  right  now ; 
Sey  :  "  These  ben  the.v  that  wolde  honour 
Have,  and  do  noskinnes  labour, 
Ne  do  no  good,  and  yit  han  laude  ;       1 795 
And  that  men  wende  that  bele  Isaude 


Ne  coude  hem  noght  of  love  werne  ; 

And  yit  she  that  grint  at  a  querne 

Is  al  ti>  good  to  ese  hir  herte.'" ' 

This  Eolus  anon  up  sterte,         (710)  1800 

And  with  his  blakke  clarioivn 

He  gan  to  blasen  out  a  soun, 

As  loude  as  belweth  wind  in  helle. 

And  eek  therwith,  [the]  sooth  to  telle. 

This  soun  was  [al]  so  ful  of  japes,  icSo5 

As  ever  mowes  were  in  apes. 

And  that  wente  al  tho  world  aboute, 

That  every  wight  gan  f)n  hem  shoute. 

And  for  to  laughe  as  they  were  wode  ; 

Such  game  fonde  they  in  hir  hode.      (720) 
Tho  com  another  companye,  181  r 

That  had  .v-doon  the  traiterye. 

The  harm,  the  f  gretest  wikkednesse 

That  any  herte  couthe  gesse  ; 

And  preyed  hir  to  han  good  fame,        18 15 

And    that    she    nolde    hem     doon    no 
shame, 

But  yeve  hem  loos  and  good  renoun, 

And  do  hit  blowe  in  clarioun. 

'  Nay,    wis ! '    quod    she,    '  hit    were    a 

vyce  ; 
Al  be  ther  in  me  no  justyce,  (730)  1820 

Me  listeth  not  to  do  hit  now, 
Ne  this  nil  I  not  graunte  you.' 

Tho  come  ther  lepinge  in  a  route, 
And  gonne  choppen  al  aboute 
Every  man  upon  the  croune,  1825 

That  al  the  halle  gan  to  soune, 
Anil  seyden  :  'Lady,  lefe  and  dere, 
We  ben  swich  folk  as  ye  mowe  here. 
To  tellen  al  the  tale  aright, 
We  ben  shrowcs,  every  wight,      (740)  1830 
And  han  delyt  in  wikkednesse. 
As  go<le  folk  han  in  goodnesse  ; 
And  joj-e  to  be  knowen  shrewes. 
And  fulle  of  vyce  and  wikked  thewes  ; 
Wherfor  we  preyen  yow,  a-rowe,  1835 

That  our  fame  swich  l>e  knowe 
In  alio  thing  right  as  hit  is.' 

'  I  g^raunte  hit  yow,'  quod  she,  '  y-wis. 
But  what  art  thou  that  seyst  this  tale. 
That  werest  on  thy  hose  a  pale,  (750)  184.0 
And  on  thy  tipet  swiche  a  belle  !  ' 
'  Madame,'  quod  he,  '  sooth  to  telle. 
I  am  that  ilke  shrewe,  y-wis. 
That  brende  the  temple  of  Isidis 
In  Athenes,  lo,  that  citee.'  1845 


Book  III.] 


ZU  l^oue  of  SavM. 


345 


'And    wherfor     didest     tliovi    so?'    cxuod 

she. 
'  By  my  thrift,"  quod  he,  '  madame, 
I  wolde  fayn  han  had  a  fame. 
As  other  folk  hadde  in  the  touii, 
Al-thogh  they  were  of  greet  renoun    (760) 
For  hit  vertn  and  for  hir  thewes  ;         1851 
Thoughte  I,  as  greet  a  fame  han  shrewes, 
Thogh  liit  be  +bat  for  shreweduesse, 
As  gode  folk  han  for  goodnesse  ; 
And  sith  I  may  not  have  that  oon,       1855 
That  other  nil  I  noght  fbr-goon. 
And  for  to  gette  of  Fames  hyre, 
The  temple  sette  I  al  a-fyre. 
Now  do  our  loos  be  blowen  swj'lhe, 
As  wisly  be  thou  ever  blythe.'      (770)  i860 
'  Gladly,'  quod  she  ;   '  thoii  Eolus, 
Herestow  not  what  they  preyen  us?" 
'Madame,  yis,  ful  wel,'  quod  he, 
'  And  I  wil  trumpen  hit,  parde  ! ' 
And  tok  his  blakke  trumpe  faste,         1865 
And  gan  to  puffen  and  to  blaste. 
Til  hit  was  at  the  worldes  ende. 

With  that  I  gan  aboute  wende ; 
For  oon  that  stood  right  at  my  bak, 
Me  thouglite,  gootUy  to  me  spak,  (7S0)  1870 
And  seyde  :  '  Frend,  what  is  thy  name  ? 
Artow  come  hider  to  han  fame  ?  ' 
'  Nay,  for-sothe,  irend  ! '  quc)d  I ; 
'  I  cam  noght  hider,  graunt  naercy ! 
For  no  swich  cause,  by  xny  heed !  1875 

Suffyceth  me,  as  I  were  deed. 
That     no    wight     have     my     name     in 

houde. 
I  woot  my-self  best  how  I  stonde  ; 
For  what  I  drye  or  what  I  thinke, 
I  wol  my-selven  al  hit  drinke,      (790)  1880 
Certeyn,  for  the  more  part. 
As  ferforth  as  I  can  myn  art.' 
'  But  what  dost  thou  here  than  ?'  quod  he. 
Quod  I,  '  that  wol  I  tellen  thee. 
The  cause  why  I  stonde  here  : —  1885 

Som  newe  tydings  for  to  lere: — 
Som  newe  -|-thinges,  I  not  what, 
Tydinges,  other  this  or  that. 
Of  love,  or  swiche  thinges  glade. 
For  certeynly,  he  that  me  made    (800)  1890 
To  comen  hider,  seyde  me, 
I  shulde  bothe  here  and  see. 
In  this  place,  wonder  thinges  ; 
Biit  these  be  no  swiche  tydinges 


As  I  mene  of.'     '  No  '?'  quod  he.  1895 

And  I  answerde,  '  No,  pardee  ! 

For  wel  I  f  wiste,  ever  yit, 

.Sith  that  first  I  hadde  wit. 

That  som  folk  han  desyred  fame 

Dyversly,  and  loos,  and  name  ;    (810)  1900 

But  certeynl}^,  I  niste  how 

Ne  wher  that  Fame  -fdwelte,  er  now  ; 

Ne  eek  of  hir  descripcioun, 

Ne  also  hir  condicioiin, 

Ne  the  ordre  of  hir  dome,  1905 

Unto  the  tyme  I  hider  come.' 

'  f  "Wliiche  be,  lo,  these  tydinges, 

That  thou  now  [thus]  hider  bringes. 

That  thou  hast  herd  ?  '  quod  he  to  me  ; 

'  But  now,  no  fors  ;  for  wel  I  see  (820)  1910 

What  thou  desyrest  for  to  here. 

Com  forth,  and  stond  no  longer  here. 

And  I  wol  thee,  with-outen  drede. 

In  swicli  another  place  lede, 

Ther  thou  shalt  here  many  oon.'  1915 

Tho  gan  I  forth  with  him  to  goon 
Out  of  the  castel,  soth  to  seye. 
Tho  saugh  I  stonde  in  a  valeye. 
Under  the  castel,  faste  by. 
An  hous.  that  domiis  Deduli,         (830)  1920 
That  Labufinttts  cleped  is, 
Nas  maad  so  wonderliehe,  y-wis, 
Ne  half  so  queynteliche  y- wrought. 
And  evermo,  so  swift  as  thought, 
This  queyute  hous  aboute  wente,  1925 

That  never-mo  hit  stille  steute. 
And  ther-out  com  so  greet  a  noise, 
That,  had  liit  stonden  upon  Oise, 
Men  mighte  hit  han  herd  esely 
To  Home,  I  trowe  sikerly.  (840)  1930 

And  the  noyse  which  that  I  herde. 
For  al  the  world  right  so  hit  ferde, 
As  doth  the  routing  of  the  stoou 
Tliat  from  th'engyn  is  leten  goon. 

And  al  this  ho\is,  of  whiche  I  rede,  1935 
Was  naade  of  twigges,  f'alwe,  rede, 
And  grene  eek,  and  som  weren  whyte, 
Swiche  as  men  to  these  cages  thwyte, 
Or  maken  of  these  j'aniers, 
Or  elles  fhottes  or  dossers  ;  (850)  1940 

That,    for     the     swough    and     for     the 

twigges. 
This  hous  was  also  ful  of  gigges. 
And  also  ful  eek  of  chirkinges, 
And  of  many  other  werkinges  ; 


346 


ZU  %o\k6  of  5*we. 


[Book  III, 


And  eek  this  lions  hath  of  entrees        1945 

As  fele  as  leves  Ijeen  on  trees 

In  somer,  whan  they  grene  been  ; 

And  on  the  roof  men  may  yit  seen 

A  thousand  lioles,  and  wel  mo, 

To  leten  wel  the  sonn  out  go.       (860)  1950 

And  hy  day,  in  overj'  tyde. 
Bon  al  the  dores  open  wyde. 
And  by  night,  echoon,  iinshotte  ; 
Ne  porter  thor  is  non  to  lotto 
No  manor  tydings  in  to  pace  ;  1955 

Ne  never  reste  is  in  that  place. 
That  hit  nis  fild  ful  of  tydinges, 
Other  loude,  or  of  whispringes  : 
And,  over  alle  the  houses  angles, 
Isfulof  rouninges  and  of  janglos  (870)  1961) 
Of  fwerro,  of  pees,  of  mariages, 
Of  f  reste,  of  labour  of  \'iages, 
Of  ahood,  of  deeth,  of  lyfe. 
Of  love,  of  hate,  acorde,  of  stryfe, 
Of  loos,  of  lore,  and  of  winninges,        1965 
Of  hole,  of  sokenosse,  of  bildinges, 
Of  fairo  windes,  fof  tempest es, 
Of  qualme  of  folk,  and  eek  of  l)estes ; 
Of  djTors  transmutaciouns 
Of  estats,  and  eek  of  regiouns;     (880)  1970 
Of  trust,  of  drede,  of  jelousye, 
Of  wit,  of  winninge,  of  folye  ; 
Of  plentee,  and  of  greet  famyne, 
Of  chepe,  of  derth,  and  of  myne  ; 
Of  good  or  +mis  governement,  1975 

Of  fyr,  of  dyvers  accident. 

And  lo,  this  hous,  of  whiche  I  wryte, 
Siker  be  ye,  hit  nas  not  lyte  ; 
For  hit  was  sixty  myle  of  lengthe  ; 
Al  was  the  timber  of  no  strengthe,     (890) 
Yet  hit  is  founded  to  endure  1981 

Whyl  that  it  list  to  Aventure, 
That  is  the  moder  of  tydinges. 
As  the  see  of  welles  and  springes, — 
And  hit  was  shapon  lyk  a  cage.  1985 

'  Certes,'  quod  I,  '  in  al  mj-n  age, 
Ne  saugh  I  swich  a  hous  as  this.' 
And  as  I  wondred  me,  y-wis. 
Upon  this  hous,  tho  war  was  I 
How  that  myu  egle,  faste  by,       (goo)  1990 
Was  perched  hye  upon  a  stoon  ; 
And  I  gan  streighte  to  him  goon 
And  seyde  thus  :  '  I  preye  thee 
That  thou  a  whyl  abyde  me 
For  goddes  love,  and  let  me  seen         1095 


What  wondres  in  this  place  been ; 
For  yit,  paraventure,  I  may  lore 
Som  good  ther-on,  or  sumwhat  here 
That  leef  me  were,  or  that  I  wente.' 

'  Peter !  that  is  myn  entente,'    (910)  2000 
Quod  he  to  me  ;  '  therfor  I  dwelle  ; 
But  certein,  oon  thing  I  thee  telle, 
That,  but  I  bringe  thee  ther-inne, 
No  shalt  thou  never  cunno  ginne 
To  come  in-to  hit,  out  of  doute,  2005 

So  fivste  hit  whirleth,  lo,  aboute. 
But  sith  that  .loves,  of  his  grace, 
As  I  liave  seyd,  wol  thee  solace 
Fynally  with  fswiche  thinges, 
Uncouthe  sightes  and  tydinges,  (920)  2010 
To  passe  with  thyn  hevinesse  ; 
Suche  routhe  hath  he  of  thy  distresse, 
That  thou  suifrest  debonairly — 
And  wost  thy-selvcn  utterly 
Disosperat  of  alle  blis.  2015 

Sith  that  Fortune  hath  maad  a-mis 
Tlio  ffruit  of  al  thyn  hertes  reste 
Lungiiisshe  and  eek  in  point  to  breste — 
That  he,  through  his  mighty  mer\-te, 
^Vol  do  thee  ese,  al  be  hit  lyte,     UjiO)  2020 
And  +yaf  expres  commaundement, 
To  whiche  I  am  obedient, 
To  furthre  thee  with  al  my  might. 
And  wisse  and  teche  thee  aright 
Wher  thou  maist  most  tydinges  licre  ;  2025 
Shaltow  f  anoon  heer  many  oon  lere.' 

With  this  worde  he,  right  anoon, 
Hente  me  up  bitwene  his  toon, 
And  at  a  window©  in  me  l)roghte,        2029 
That  in  thishouswas,asmethoghte — (940) 
And  ther-withal,  me  thoghte  hit  stentS; 
And  no-thing  hit  aboute  wente — 
And  me  sette  in  the  flore  adoun. 
But  which  a  congregacioun 
Of  folk,  as  I  saugh  romo  alx>uto,  2035 

Some  witliin  and  some  withoute, 
Nas  never  seen,  ne  shal  ben  eft ; 
That,  certes,  in  the  world  nis  left 
So  many  formed  by  Nature, 
Ne  deed  so  many  a  creature  ;        (950)  2040 
That  wel  unethe,  in  that  place, 
Hadde  I  oon  foot-brede  of  space  ; 
And  every  wight  that  I  saugh  there 
Eouned  ech  in  othores  ere 
A  newe  tyding  prevely.  2045 

Or  elles  tolde  al  openly 


Book  IH] 


ZU  ^owe  of  5*^^- 


347 


Eight     thus,     and     seyde  :    '  Xost     not 

thou 
That  is  betid,  lo,  late  or  now?  ' 

'  No,'  quod  f  the  other,  'tel  me  what  ;'— 
And  than  he  tolde  him  this  and  that,  (960) 
And  swoor  ther-to  that  hit  was  sooth — 
'Thus   hath    he    seyd '— and    'Thus    he 

dooth  ■—  2052 

'fThus    shal    hit    be'— 'fThus    herde    I 

seye ' — 
'That    shal     be    foimd' — 'That   dar    I 

leye  : ' — 
That  al  the  folk  that  is  a-l.\-^-e  2055 

Ne  han  the  cunning  to  discryve 
The  thinges  that  I  herde  there. 
What  aloude,  and  what  in  ere. 
But  al  the  wonder-most  was  this  :— 
Whan  oon  had  herd  a  thing,  y-wis,     (97(1) 
He  com  fforth  to  another  wight,         2061 
And  gan  him  tellcn,  anoon-right, 
The  same  that  to  him  was  told, 
Or  hit  a  furlong-way  was  old. 
But  gan  somwhat  for  to  eche  2065 

To  this  tyding  in  this  speche 
More  than  hit  ever  was. 
And  nat  so  sone  departed  nas 
That  he  fro  him,  that  he  ne  mette 
With  the  thjridde ;  and,  or  he  lette     (980; 
Any  stounde,  he  tolde  him  als  ;  2071 

Were  the  tyding  sooth  or  fals, 
Yit  wolde  he  telle  hit  nathelees. 
And  evermo  with  more  encrees 
Than   hit    was    erst.      Thus    north    and 

southe  2075 

Went  every  fword  fro  moutli  to  mouthe, 
And  that  encresing  ever-mo, 
As  fyr  is  wont  to  quikke  and  go 
From  a  sparke  spronge  amis, 
Til  al  a  citee  brent  up  is.  (990)  2080 

And,  whan  that  was  ful  y-spronge. 
And  woxen  more  on  everj-  tonge 
Than  ever  hit  was,  fhit  wente  anoon 
Up  to  a  windowe,  out  to  goon  ; 
Or,  but  hit  mighte  out  ther  pace,  2085 

Hit  gan  out  crei^e  at  som  crevace, 
And  fleigh  forth  faste  for  the  nones. 
And  somtyme  saiigli  I  tbo,  at  ones, 
A  lesing  and  a  sad  soth-sawe. 
That  gonne  of  aventure  drawe  (iixxj)  2(k;() 
Out  at  a  windowe  for  to  pace  ; 
And,  when  they  metteai  in  that  place, 


They  were  a-chekked  Viothe  two. 

And  neither  of  hem  moste  out  go  ; 

For  other  so  they  gonne  croude,  2095 

Til  eche  of  hem  gan  cryen  loude, 

'  Lat  me  go  first ! '     '  Nay,  but  lat  me  ! 

And  here  I  wol  ensuren  thee 

With  the  nones  that  thou  wolt  do  so. 

That  I  shal  never  fro  thee  go,     (loio)  2100 

But  be  thj-n  owne  sworen  brother  ! 

We  wil  medle  us  ech  with  other. 

That  no  man,  be  he  never  so  wrothe, 

Shal  han  f  that  oon  of  two,  but  bothe 

At  ones,  al  beside  his  leve,  2105 

Come  we  a-morwe  or  on  eve. 

Be  we  cryed  or  stille  y-rouned.' 

Thus     saugh     I    fals     and     sootli     com- 

pouned 
Togeder  flee  for  00  tydinge. 

Thus  out  at  holes  gonne  wringe     (1020) 
Every  tyding  streight  to  Fame  ;  21  ii 

And  she  gan  yeven  eche  his  name. 
After  liir  disposicioun, 
And  yaf  hem  eek  duracioun, 
Some  to  wexe  and  wane  s(me,  ->i  15 

As  dooth  the  faire  whj'te  mone. 
And    leet     hem    gon.      Ther     mighte    I 

seen 
Wenged  wondres  faste  fleen. 
Twenty  thousand  in  a  route, 
As  Eolus  hem  blew  aboute.  (1030;  2120 

And,  lord  !  this  hous,  in  alle  tymes. 
Was  ful  of  shipmen  and  jiilgrymes. 
With  scrippes  l)ret-ful  of  lesinges, 
Entremedled  with  tydinges, 
And  eek  alone  by  hem-selve.  2125 

O,  many  a  thousand  tymes  twelve 
Saugh  I  eek  of  these  pard(meres, 
Currours,  and  eek  messangeres, 
With  boistes  crammed  ful  of  lyes 
As  ever  vessel  was  witli  lyes.       (1040)  2130 
And  as  I  alther-fastest  wente 
Aboute,  and  dide  al  myn  entente 
Me  for  to  pleye  and  for  to  lere. 
And  eek  a  tyiling  for  to  here, 
That  I  had  herd  of  som  contree  2135 

That  shal  not  now  be  told  lor  me  ; — 
For  hit  no  nede  is,  redely ; 
Folk  can  singe  hit  bet  than  I ; 
For  al  mot  out,  other  late  or  rathe, 
Alle  the  sheves  in  the  lathe  ; —  (1050;  2140 
I  herde  a  grot  noise  withalle 


348 


ZU  ^ou0  of  ^^'^me. 


In  a  corner  of  the  halle, 

Ther  men  of  love  tydings  tolde, 

And  I  gan  thiderward  Vieholde  ; 

For  I  saugh  reuninge  every  wight,      2145 

As  faste  as  that  they  hadden  might ; 

.Vnd    evorich     crj'ed,    '  AVhat    thing    is 

that  ?' 
And  som  seyde  I  not  never  what. 
And  whan  they  were  alle  on  an  hepe, 
Th>>  lifliinde  gonne  wp  lepe,        (1060)  2150 


And  clamben  up  on  othere  faste, 
And  up  the  f  nose  on  hye  caste, 
And  troden  faste  on  othere  heles 
And  stampe,  as  men  don  after  eles. 

Atte  laste  I  saugh  a  man,  2155 

Which  that  I  [nevene]  naught  ne  can  : 
But  he  semed  for  to  be 
A  man  of  greet  auctoritee  .  .  .     (106S)  2158 

(Un/inUhed.) 


THE  LEGEND  OF  GOOD  WOMEN. 


Text  A  {Earlier  Version). 
Tlie  prologe  of  .i.r.  c/oode  Wimmen. 

A  THOUSAND    s.\-tlies   liave   I  herd  men 

telle, 
That  ther  is  joye  in  haven,  and  peyne  in 

helle  ; 
And  I  acorde  wel  that  hit  he  so  ; 
But  natheles,  this  wot  I  wel  also. 
That  ther  nis  noon  that  dwelleth  in  this 

contree,  5 

That  either  hath  in  helle  or  heven  y-be, 
Ne  may  of  hit  non  other  weyes  witen, 
Bnt  as  he  hath  herd  seyd,  or  fbunde  hit 

writen  ; 
For  by  assay  ther  may  no  man  hit  preve. 
But  goddes  forbode,  ln\t  men  shulde  leve 
Wel  more  thing  then  men  han  seen  with 

ye !  II 

Men  shal  nat  wenen  every-thing  a  lye 
For  that  he  seigh  it  nat  of  yore  ago. 
God  wot,  a  thing  is  never  the  lesse  so 


Tliogh  every  wight  ne  may  hit  nat  y-see. 
Bernard  the  monk  ne  saugh  nat  al,  parde ! 

Tlian  mote  we  to  bokes  that  we  finde. 
Through  which  that  olde  thinges  been  in 

minde. 
And  to  the  doctrine  of  these  olde  wyse, 
Yeven  credence,  in  every  skilful  wyse,  20 
And  trowen  on  these  olde  aproved  stories 
Of  holinesse,  of  regnes,  of  victories, 
Of  love,  of  hate,  of  other  sundry  thinges. 
Of  whiche  I  may  not  maken  rehersinges. 
And  if  that  olde  bokes  were  a^weye,       25 
Y-loren  were  of  remembraiince  the  keye. 
Wel  oglite  Its  than  on  olde  bokes  leve, 


Text  B  (Lafer  Version). 
Tlie  prologe  of  .i.r.   r/ixnh'    Winuiien. 

A  THOUSAsn   tj-mes   have   T  herd   men 

telle, 
That  ther  is  joye  in  heven,  and  peyne  in 

heUe; 
And  I  acorde  wel  that  hit  is  so  ; 
But  natheles,  yit  wot  I  wel  also. 
That  ther    nis  noon    dwelling    in    this 

contree,  5 

That  either  hath  in  heven  or  helle  y-be, 
Ke  may  of  hit  non  other  weyes  witen, 
B\it  as  he  hath  herd  seyd,  or  founde  hit 

writen  ; 
For  by  assay  ther  may  no  man  hit  preve. 
But  god  forbede  Init  naen  shulde  leve     10 
Wel  more  thing  then  men  hau  seen  with 
.      ye! 

Men  shal  nat  wenen  every-thing  a  Ij'e 
But-if  him-self  hit  seeth,  or  elles  dooth  ; 
For,    god  wot,  thing  is  never  the.  lasse 

sooth,  14 

Thogh  every  wight  ne  may  hit  nat  y-see. 
Bernard  the  monk  ne  saugh  nat  al,  parde ! 

Than  mote  we  to  bokes  that  we  finde. 
Through  which  that  olde  thinges  lieen  in 

minde. 
And  to  the  doctrine  of  these  olde  wyse, 
Yeve  credence,  in  every  skilful  wyse,     20 
That  tellen  of  these  olde  approved  stories, 
Of  holinesse,  of  regnes,  of  victories. 
Of  love,  of  hate,  of  other  sundry  thinges. 
Of  whiche  I  may  not  maken  rehersinges. 
And  if  that  olde  bokes  were  a-weye,        25 
Y-loren  were  of  remembraunce  the  keye. 
Wel  oghte  us  than  honoiiren  and  beleve 


350 


Z^t  ^egenfe  of  (Booi  (p6)otnen. 


Tlier-as  ther  is  non  other  assjiy  by  preve. 

And,  as  for  me.  though  that  my  wit  be 

Ij-te, 

On  bokes  for  to  redei,!  me  delj-te,  30 

And  in  mjTi  hert«  have  hem  in  reverence ; 

And  to  hem  yeve  swich  hist  and  swich 

credence, 
That  tlier  is  wel  unethe  game  noon 
Tliat  from  my  bokes  make  me  to  gfoon, 
But  liit  be  other  np-ou  the  haly-day,      35 
Or  elles  in  the  joly  tymc  <>f  May  ; 


Whan  that  I  )i< 


luU^s  singe. 


And  tliat  the  flouresginne  for  to  springe, 
Farwel  my  studie,  as  lasting  that  sesoun  ! 
Now  have  I  tlierto  this  condicioun     40 
That,  of  alle  the  floures  in  the  mcde. 
Than  love  I  most  these  floures  whyte  an<l 

rede, 
Swiche  as  men  callen  daysies  in  our  toun. 
To  hem  have  I  so  greet  affeccioun,  44 

As  I  seyde  erst,  whan  comen  is  the  May, 
That  in  my  bo<l  ther  ihvweth  me  no  day 
That  I  nam  up,  and  walking  in  the  mede 
To   seen    these   floures    agein  the    sonne* 

sprede, 
Whan  it  up-riseth  by  the  morwe  shene,  49 
The  longo  day,  thus  walking  in  the  grene. 
And  whan  the  Sonne  ginneth  for  to  weste. 
Than  closeth  hit,  and  draweth  hit  to  reste. 
So  sore  hit  is  afered  of  the  night. 
Til  on  the  morwe,  that  hit  is  dayes  light. 
This  dayesye,  of  alle  floures  flour,  55 

Fulfild  of  vertu  and  of  alle  honour, 
And  ever  y-lyke  fair  and  fresh  of  hewe, 
As  wel  in  winter  as  in  somer  newe. 


LCf.  U.  51-3,  abovc.j 


These  bokes,  ther  we  han  non  other  preve. 
And  as  for  me,  thogli  that  I  can  but 

iyt«, 

On  bokes  for  to  rede  I  nie  ilelyte,  30 

And    to    hem    yeve    I    feyth    and    ful 

credence, 
And  in  myn  herte  have  hem  in  reverence 

So  hertely,  that  ther  is  game  noon 
That  fro  my  bokes  maketh  me  to  goon, 
But  hit  be  seldom,  on  the  holyday  ;         35 
Save,  certeynly,  whan  that  the  month  of 
May 

I  Is   comen,    and    tliat    I    licre    the    foules 

,  singe. 

Anil  that  the  floures  ginnen  for  to  springe, 
Farwel  my  bof)k  and  my  doviwioun  ! 

Xow  have  I  than  swich  a  condicioun, 
That,  of  ivUo  tlie  floures  in  the  mede,     41 
Than  love  I  most  these  floures  whyte  and 

rede, 
Swi<die  as  men  callon  daysies  in  our  toun. 

!  To  hem  have  I  so  greet  aflfeccioun,  44 

As  I  seyde  ei-st,  wlian  comen  is  the  May, 
That  in  my  bed  ther  daweth  me  no  day 
Tliat  I  nam  up,  and  walking  in  the  medo 

!  To  seen  this  flour  agein  the  Sonne  spredo, 

Wlian  hit  upryseth  erly  by  the  morwe  ; 
I  That  Ijlisfnl  sighte  softneth  al  my  sorwe, 
I  So  glad  am  I  whan  tliat  I  have  presence 
'  Of  hit,  t-o  doon  al  maner  reverence,         52 

I 
As  she,  that  is  of  alle  floures  flour, 

I  Fulfilled  of  al  vertu  ami  honour,  54 

And  ever  y-lyke  fair,  and  fresh  of  hewe  ; 
And  I  love  hit,  and  ever  y-lyke  newe, 
And  ever  shal,  til  that  myn  herte  dye  ; 
Al  swere  I  nat,  of  this  I  wol  nat  lye, 
Ther  loved  no  wight  hotter  in  his  lyve. 
And    whan    that   hit   is   eve,    I  renne 
bl>-ve,  60 

As  sone  as  ever  the  Sonne  ginneth  weste. 
To  seen  this  floxir,  how  it  wol  go  to  reste. 
For  fere  of  night,  so  hateth  she  derknesse! 
Hir  chere  is  plejnily  si)rad  in  the  bright- 

Of  the  Sonne,  for  ther  hit  wol  unclose.  65 
Alias !  that  I  ne  had  English,  ryme  or 
prose, 


^rofogue.    \^wo  (Peretone.) 


351 


Fain  wolde  I  preiseu,  if  I  comle  aright ;  59 
But  wo  is  me,  hit  lyth  nat  in  my  might ! 


Fid-  wel  I  wot,  that  folk  han  liei-beforn 
Of  making  ropen,  and  lad  a-wey  the  corn ; 
And    I    come    alter,    glening    here    and 

there, 
And  am  ful  glad  if  I  may  linde  an  ere 
Of  any  goodly  word  that  they  han  left.  65 
And,  if  hit  happe  me  rehersen  eft 
That  they  han  in  her  fresshe  songes  sayd, 
I  hope  that  they  wil  nat  ben  evel  apayd, 
Sith  hit  is  seid  in  forthering  and  honour 
Of  hem  that  either  serven  leef  or  flour.  70 


[Cf.  p.  354,  col.  2,  11.  188-190.] 
For  trusteth  wel,  I  ne  have  nat  under- 
take 
As  of  the  leef,  ageyn  the  flour,  to  make  ; 
Ne  of  the  flour  to  make,  ageyn  the  leef. 
No   more    than    of  the    corn    ageyn  the 

sheef. 
For.  as  to  me,  is  leefer  noon  ne  lother ;  75 
I  am  with-holde  yit  with  never  nother. 
I  not  who  serveth  leef,  ne  who  the  flour ; 
That  nis  nothing  the  entent  of  my  labour. 
For  this  werk  is  al  of  another  tiinne,      79 
Of  olde  story,  er  swich  stryf  was  begiinne. 
But  wherfbr  that  I  spak,  to  yeve  cre- 
dence 
To  bokes  olde  and  doon  hem  reverence, 
Is  for  men  shulde  autoritees  beleve, 
Ther   as  ther   Ij'th   non    (jther  assay  V)y 

preve. 
For  myn  entent  is,  or  I  fro  yow  fare,      85 
The  naked  text  in  English  to  declare 
Of  many  a  story,  or  elles  of  many  a  geste. 
As  autoiirs  seyn  ;  leveth  hem  if  yow  leste  ! 


Suffisant  this  flour  to  preyse  aright ! 
But  helpeth,   ye  that  han  conning  and 

might, 
Ye  lovers,  that  can  make  of  sentement ; 
In  this  cas  oghte  j'e  be  diligent  70 

To  forthren  me  somwhat  in  my  labour. 
Whether  ye  ben  with  the  leef  or  with  the 

flour. 
For  wel  I  wot,  that  ye  han  her-biforn 
Of  making  ropen,  and  lad  awey  the  corn  ; 
And   I    come    after,   glening    here    and 

there,  75 

And  am  ful  glad  if  I  may  finde  an  ere 
Of  any  goodly  word  that  ye  han  left. 
And  thogh  it  happen  me  rehercen  eft 
That  ye  han  in  your  fresshe  songes  sayd, 
For-bereth  me,  and  beth  nat  evel  apayd, 
Sin  that  ye  see  I  do  hit  in  the  honour   81 
Of  love,  and  eek  in  service  of  the  flour, 
Whom   that   I   serve  as   I  have  wit  or 

might. 
She  is  the  clernesse  and  the  verray  light, 
That  in  this  derke  worlde  me  wjTit  and 

ledeth,  85 

The  herte  in-with  my  soi'owful  brest  yow 

dredeth, 
And  loveth  so  sore,  that  ye  ben  verrayly 
The  maistresse  of  my  wit,  and  nothing  I. 
Mj'  word,   my  werk,   is  knit  so  in  your 

bonde, 
That,  as  an  harpe  obeyeth  to  the  honde  90 
And  maketh  hit  soune  after  his  finger- 

inge, 
Kight   so   mowe   ye    out   of    myn    herte 

bringe 
Swich  vols,  right  as  yow  list,  to  laughe 

or  pleyne. 
Be  ye  my  gj'de  and  lady  sovereyne  ; 
As  to  myn  erthly  god,  to  yow  I  calle,     ()•; 
Bothe  in  this  werke  and  in  my  sorwes 

alle. 
But  wherfor  that  I  spak,  to  give  cre- 
dence 
To  olde  stories,  and  doon  hem  reverence, 
And  that  men  mosten  more  thing  beleve 
Then  men  may  seen  at  eye  or  elles  preve  ? 

That  shal  I  seyn,  whan  that  I  see  my 
tyme  ;  loi 

I  may  not  al  at  ones  speke  in  ryme. 
My  besy  gost,  that  thrusteth  alwey  newe 


352 


Z^t  Eegeni  of  <5oo&  (H)otnen. 


Wliau  passod  was  almost  the  month  of 

May, 
And  I  had  romed,  al  the  someres  day,  90 
The  ^rone  raedew,  of  which  that  I  yow 

tolde, 
Upon  the  fresshe  daysy  to  beholde, 
And  that  the  Sonne  out  of  the  south  gan 

•weste. 
And   closed  was  the  flour  and  goon    to 

reste 
lor  derknesse  of  the  night,  of  which  she 

dredde,  95 

Hoom   to   niyn    lions    fill   swiftly   I    me 

spedde ; 
And,  in  a  litel  erber  that  I  have, 
Y-l>enched  newe  with  t«r\-es  fresshe  y- 

grave, 
I  bad  men  shulde  me  my  conche  make  ; 
For  dej-ntee  of  the  newe  someres  sake,  100 
I  bad  hem  strowe  floiires  on  my  bed. 
AVlian  I  was  Inyd.  and  had  myu  eyen  bed, 
I  fel  a-slepe  with-in  an  houre  or  two. 
Me  mettc  how  I  was  in  the  medew  tho, 
And  that  I  romed  in  that  same  g.vse,    105 
To  seen  that  flour,  as  ye  ban  herd  de^'j'se. 
Pair  was  this  medew,  as  thoughte  me 

overnl ; 
With  floures  swote  enbrowded  was  it  al ; 

iVs   for  to  speko   of  gomme,  or  erbe,   or 

tree. 
Comparisoun  may  noon  y-maked  be.     110 
For  hit  surmounted  pleynly  alle  odoures, 
And  eek  of  riehe  beaute  alle  floures. 
Forgeten  had  the  erthe  his  pore  estat 
Of  winter,  that  him  naked  made  and  mat. 
And  -with  his  swerd  of  cold  so  sore  had 

greved.  115 

ITow  had  the  atempre  sonne  al.that  re- 

leved. 
And  clothed  him  in  grene  al  newe  agjayn. 
The  smale  foules,  of  the  seson  faj-n. 
That  from  the  panter  and  the  net  ben 

scaped,  1 19 

I'pou  the  fouler,  that  hem  made  a-whaped 
In  winter,  and  distroyed  had  hir  brood. 


To  seen  thus  flour  so  yong,  so  fresh  of 

hewe, 
Constreyned  me  with  so  gledy  desyr,    105 
That  in  my  herte  I  fele  yit  the  fyr. 
That  made  me  to  ryse  er  hit  wer  day— 
And   this  was  now  the  firste  morwe  of 

May— 
With  dredful  horte  and  glad  devocioun, 
For  to  ben  at  the  resureccionn  1 10 

Of  this  flour,  whan  that  it  shuld  unclose 
Agayn   the  Sonne,  that  roos  as  rede  as 

rose, 
Tliat  in  the  brest  was  of  the  beste  that 

day. 
That  Agenores  doghter  ladde  aw:i,\-.      114 
[Cf.  p.  354,  col.  2,  11.  197-210.] 


And  doun  on  knees  anon-right  I  me  sette, 
And,  as  I  eoude,  this  fresshe  flour  I  grette ; 
Kneling  alwey,  til  hit  unclosed  was, 
Upon  the  smale  softe  swote  gras. 
That  was  with  floures  swote  enbrouded  al, 

Of  swich    swetnesse    and    swich    odour 

over-al,  i^o 

That,  for  tospeke  of  fromme,  or  herbe,  or 

tree, 
Comparisoun  may  noon  y-maked  be  ; 
For  hit  surmounteth  ple.\nily  alle  odoures. 
And  eek  of  richo  beautee  alle  floures. 
Forgeten  had  the  erthe  his  pore  estat  125 
Of  winter,  that  him  naked  made  and  mat, 
And  with  his  swerd  of  cold  so  sore  greved  ; 

Now  hath  the  atempre  sonne  al  that  re- 

leved 
That  naked  was,  and  clad  hit  new  agayn. 
Tlie  smale  foules,  of  the  seson  fayn,       130 
That  from  the  panter  and  the  net  ben 

scaped, 
Upon  the  fouler,  that  hem  made  a-whaped 
In  winter,  and  distroved  had  hir  brood. 


(proPogue.    {Zvoo  (^tveiontf.) 


353 


In  his  despyt,  hem  thoughte  hit  did  hem 

good 
To  singe  of  him,  and  in  hir  song  despyse 
The  foule  oherl  that,  for  his  covetyse,  124 
Had  hem  betrayed  with  his  sophistrye. 
This  was  hir  song — '  the  fouler  we  defye ! ' 
Somme  songen  [layes]  on  the  braunches 

clere 
Of  love  and  [May],  that  joye  hit  was  to 

here, 
In  worship  and  in  preysing  of  hir  make, 
And  of  the  newe  blisful  someres  sake,  130 


That  songen,  '  blissed  be  seynt  Valentyn  ! 
[For]  at  his  day  I  chees  yow  to  be  myn, 
With-oute  repenting,  myn  herte  swete  !' 
And  therwith-al  hir  bekes  gonnen  mete. 
fThey  dide  honour  and  humble  obei- 
saunces,  135 

And  after  diden  other  observaunces 

Right  [plesing]  un-to  love  and  to  nature  ; 
So  ech  of  hem  [doth  wel]  to  creature. 
This    song    to    herkne    I    dide    al   myn 
entente,  139 

For-why  I  mette  I  wiste  what  they  mente. 


In  his  despyt,  hem  thoughte  hit  did  hem 
good  134 

To  singe  of  him,  and  in  hir  song  despyse 
The  foule  oherl  that,  for  his  covetyse. 
Had  hem  betrayed  with  his  sophistrye. 
This  was  hir  song — '  the  fouler  we  defye. 
And  al  his  craft ! '    And  somme  songen 
clere  139 

Layes  of  love,  that  joye  hit  was  to  here, 

In  worshipinge  and  preisinge  of  hir  make. 
And,  for  the  newe  blisftil  somers  sake. 
Upon  the  braunches  ftil  of  blosmes  softe. 
In  hir  delyt,  they  turned  hem  ful  ofte,  144 
And  songen,  '  blessed  be  seynt  Valentyn  ! 
For  on  his  day  I  chees  yow  to  be  niyn, 
Withouten  repenting,  myn  herte  swete  ! ' 
And  therwith-al  hir  bekes  gonnen  mete, 
Yelding  honour  and  humble  obeisaunces 

To    love,    and    diden    hir    other    obser- 
vaunces 150 
That  longeth  unto  love  and  to  nature  ; 
Construeth  that  as  yow  list,  I  do  no  cure. 
And   tho   that   hadde    doou    unkinde- 


As  dooth  the  tydif,  for  new-: 

Besoghte  mercy  of  hir  tresiJassinge,      155 

And  Inimblely  songen  hir  repentinge. 

And  sworen  on  the  blosmes  to  be  trewe. 

So  that  hir  makes  wolde  upon  hem  rewe, 

And  at  tho  laste  maden  hir  acord. 

Al  founde  they  Daunger  for   a   tyme  a 

lord,  160 

Yet   Pitee,    through   his   stronge    gentil 

might, 
Forgaf,  and  made  Mercy  passen  Right, 
Through  innocence  and  ruled  curtesye. 
But  I  ne  clepe  nat  innocence  i'olye, 
Ne  fals  pitee,  for  '  vertu  is  tho  mene,'    165 
As  Etik  saith,  in  swioh  manere  I  mene. 
And  thus  thisc  foules,  voide  of  al  malyce, 
Acordeden  to  love,  and  laften  vyce 
Of  hate,  and  songen  alle  of  oon  acord, 
'Welcome,    somer,    our    governour    and 

lord  ! '  170 

And  Zephirus  and  Flora  gentilly 
Yaf  to  the  floures,  softe  and  tenderly, 
Hir  swote  breth,  and  made  hem  for  to 

sprede. 
As  god  and  goddesse  of  the  floury  mede  ; 


354 


Z^t  Bt^tnb  of  <5ooi  (pDonie«. 


I  Of.  ]\  .^51,  col.  I,  11.  ;i-8<).] 


[Cf.  p.  352,  col.  I,  U.  93-106.] 


Til  at  the  laste  a  laike  song  above  :  141 
'  I  see,'  qnod  she,  '  the  mighty  god  of  love ! 
Jjo  !   yond  he  cometh,  I  see  his  winges 

sprede  ! ' 
Tho  gan  I  loken  endelong  the  mede, 


In  which  nie  thoghte  I  mighte,  day  by 

A^y,  175 

Bwellen  alwey,  the  joly  month  of  May, 
Withouten     sleep,    withouten    mete    or 

drinke. 
A-doun  ful  softely  I  gan  to  sinke  ; 
And,   leninge  on  myn   elbowe  and  my 
syde,  179 

The  longe  day  I  shoop  me  for  to  abyde 
For  nothing  elles,  and  I  shal  nat  lye, 
But  for  to  loke  upon  the  dayesye. 
That  wel  by  reson  men  hit  calle  may 
The  '  dayesye  '  or  elles  the  'ye  of  day,' 
The  emperice  and  flour  of  floures  alle.  185 
I  pray  to  god  that  fairo  mot  she  falle. 
And  alle  that  loven  floures,  for  hir  sake  ! 
But  natheles,  ne  wene  nat  that  I  make 
In  preysing  of  the  flour  agayn  the  leef, 
No  more  tlian  of  the   corn   aga3ni  the 
sheef :  190 

For,  as  to  me,  nis  lever  noon  ne  lother ; 
I  nam  with-holden  yit  with  never  nother. 
Ne  I  not  who  serveth  leef,  ne  who  the 

flour; 
Wel  brouken  they  hir  service  or  lal)our  ; 
For  this  thing  is  al  of  another  tonne,    195 
Of  olde   story,  er   swich   thing   was   be- 
gonne. 
Whan  that  the  sonne  out  of  the  south 
gan  weste. 
And  that  this  flour  gan  close  and  goon  to 

reste 
For  derknesse  of  the  night,  the  which  she 

dredde, 
Hoom   to   myn   hous    ful    swiftly   I   me 
speddo  200 

•To  goon  to  reste,  and  erly  for  to  ryse. 
To  seen  this  flour  to  sprede,  as  I  devyse. 
And,  in  a  litel  herber  that  I  have. 
That  benched  was  on  turves  fresshe  y- 
grave,  204 

I  bad  men  sholde  mo  my  couche  make  ; 
For  deyntee  of  the  newe  someres  sake, 
I  bad  hem  strawen  floures  on  my  bed. 
Whan   I  was  leyd,  and  had  myn  eyen 

bed, 
I  fel  on  slepe  in-with  an  houre  or  two  ; 
Me  mette  how  Hay  in  the  medewtho,  210 
To  seen  this  flour  that  I  so  love  and  drede. 

And  from  a^fer  com  walking  in  the  mede 


d^vofo^ue.    {Zwo  (Peretone.) 


355 


And  saw  him  come,  and  in  his  hond  a 
quene,  145 

Clothed  in  ryal  abite  al  of  grene. 
A  fret  of  gold  she  hadde  next  hir  heer, 
And  up-on  that  a  whyt  coroun  she  beer 
With  many  floures,  and  I  shal  nat  lye  ; 
For  al  the  world,  right  as  the  dayesye  150 
I-coroned  is  with  whyte  leves  lyte, 
Swich   were   the   floiires   of    liir   coroun 

whyte. 
For  of  o  perle  fyn  and  oriental 
Hir  whyte  coroun  was  y-maked  al ; 
For  which  the  wh3rte  coroun,  above  the 

Made  hir  lyk  a  daysie  for  to  sene. 
Considered  eek  the  fret  of  gold  above. 

Y-clothed  was  this  mighty  god  of  love 
Of  silk,  y-brouded  ful  of  grene  greves  ; 
A  garlond  on  his  heed  of  rose-leves      160 
Steked  al  with  lilie  iioures  newe  ; 
But  of  his  face  I  can  nat  seyn  the  liewe. 


For  sekirly  his  face  shoon  so  brighte, 

That  with  the  gleem  a-stoned  was  the 
sight  e  ;  164 

A  furlong-wey  I  mighte  him  nat  beholde. 

But  at  the  laste  in  hande  I  saw  him 
holde 

Two  fyry  dartes,  as  the  gledes  rede  ; 

And  aungellich  his  wenges  gan  he  sprede. 

And  al  be  that  men  se3Ti  that  blind  is  he, 
Al-gate  me  thoughte  he  mighte  wel  y-see  ; 
For  sternely  on  me  he  gan  biholde,  171 
So  that  his  loking  doth  myn  herte  colde. 
And   by   the   hande   he   held   the   noble 

quene, 
Corouned  with  whyte,  and  clothed  al  in 

grene. 
So  womanly,  so  benigne,  and  so  meke,    1 75 
That  in  this  world,  thogh  that  men  wolde 

seke. 
Half  hir  beautee  shulde  men  nat  finde 
In  creature  that  formed  is  by  kinde, 
Hir  name  was  Alceste  the  debonayre  ; 
I  prey  to  god  that  ever  falle  she  fayre !    180 
For  ne  hadde  confort   been   of  hir  iire- 

sence, 
I  had  be  deed,  withouten  any  defence. 


The   god    of  love,    and   in   his    liande    a 

quene ; 
And  she  was  clad  in  real  habit  grene. 
A  fret  of  gold  she  hadde  next  hir  heer,  215 
And  upon  that  a  whyt  coroun  she  beer 
With  fiorouns  smale,  and  I  shal  nat  lye  ; 
For  al  the  world,  ryght  as  a  dayesye 
Y-corouned  is  with  whj'te  leves  lyte,     210 
So    were    the    florouns    of    hir    coroun 

whyte. 
For  of  o  perle  fyne,  oriental, 
Hir  whyte  coroun  was  y-maked  al  ; 
For  which  the  whyte  coroun,  abcjve  tlie 

grene. 
Made  hir  lyk  a  daysie  for  to  sene. 
Considered  eek  hir  fret  of  gold  above.  225 

Y-clothed  was  this  mighty  god  of  love 
In  silke,  eubrovaded  ful  of  grene  greves, 
In-with  a  fret  of  rede  rose-leves, 
The   fresshest    sin   the    world    was    lirst 

bigonne.  22Q 

His  gilte  heer  was  corouned  with  a  Sonne, 
In-stede  of  gold,  for  hevinesse  and  wighte ; 
Therwith  me  thoughte  his  face  shoon  so 

brighte 


That  wel  unnethes  mighte  I  him  beholde  : 
And  in  his  hande  me  thoughte  I  savigh 

him  holde 
Two  fyry  dartes,  as  the  gledes  rede  ;      235 
And    aungellyke    his    winges    saugli     I 

sprede. 
And  al  be  that  men  seyn  that  blind  is  lie, 
Al-gate  me  thoughte  that  he  mighte  see ; 
For  sternely  on  me  he  gan  biholde. 
So  that  his  loking  doth  myn  herte  colde. 
And   by  the   hande   he   held  this   noble 

quene,  241 

Corouned  with  whyte,  and  clothed  al  in 

grene, 
So  womanly,  so  benigne,  and  so  meke, 
That  in  this  world,  thogh  that  men  wolde 

sekc. 
Half  hir  beautee  shulde  men  nat  finde  245 
In  creature  that  formed  is  by  kinde. 
[Cf.  p.  357,  col.  2,  11.  276-9.] 


356 


ZU  iSegevt^  cf  <5oob  (^otnen. 


For  drede  of  Loves  wordes  nud  his  cliero, 

As,  whan  tyme  is,  her-after  ye  shal  hero. 

Byhindthis  god  of  love,  up-on  thisgrene, 

I  saw  cominge  of  hidyOs  nj-nteno  186 

In  ryal  abite,  a  ful  esy  pas, 

And  after  hem  com  of  wemen  swicli  a  tras 

Tliat,  sin  that  god  Adam  made  of  erthe, 

The  thredde  part  of  wemen,  no  the  ferthe, 

Xe  wende  I  nat  by  possibiliteo  191 

Hadden  ever  in  this  world  y-bo  ; 

And  trewo  of  love    thise    wemen   were 

echoon. 
Now  whether  was  that  a  wonder  thing 

or  noon, 
That,   right  anoon  as  that  they  gonne 

espyo  19s 

This  flour,  which  that  I  clepe  the  dayesye, 
Ful  sodeinly  they  stinten  alia  at-ones. 
And   kneled  adoan,  as  it  were  for  the 

nones. 
And  after  that  they  wenten  in  compas, 
Daunsinge  altontc  this  floor  an  esy  pas,  ioo 
And  songon,  as  it  were  in  carole-wyse, 
This  balade,  which  that  I  shal  yow  de\'y8e. 


Balade. 

Hyd,  Absolon,  thy  gilte  tresses  clere  ; 
Ester,  ley  thou  thy  meknesse  al  a-doun  ; 
Hyd,  Jonatlias,  al  thy  frendly  manere ;  205 
Penalopee,  and  Marcia  Catoun, 
Mak  of  your  wyf  hoil  no  comparisoun  ; 
Hyde  j-e  yoxxT  beautes,  Isoude  and  Eleyne, 
Alceste  is  here,  that  al  that  may  desteyne. 


Thy  faire  bodye,  lat  hit  nat  appere,       210 
Lavjaie ;    and  thou,   Lacresse  of   Rome 

toun, 
And  Polixene,  that  boghte  love  so  dere, 
Eek  Cloopatre,  with  al  thy  passioun, 
Hj-de  ye  yonr  trouthe  in  love  and  your 

renoun  ; 
And  thou,  Tisbe,  that  hast  for  love  swich 

peyne  :  215 

Alcesto  is  here,  that  al  that  may  desteyne. 


Herro,  Dido,  Laudomia,  alle  in-fere, 
Eek  Phyllis,  hanging  for  thy  Demophoun, 
Ami  Canace,  espyed  by  thy  chere, 
Ysiphile,  betrayed  with  Jasoun,  220 


[Cf.  p.  357,  coL  2,  11.  280-196.] 


And  therfor  may  I  seyn,  as  thinketh  me, 
This  song,  in  preysing  of  this  lady  fre. 


Balade. 

Hj-d,  Absolon,  thy  gilte  tresses  clere  ;  249 
Ester,  ley  thou  thy  meknesso  al  a-doun ; 
Hyd,  Jonathas,  al  thy  frendly  manere  ; 
Penalopee,  and  Marcia  Catoun, 
Mak  of  j-our  wyfliod  no  comparisoun  ; 
Hyde  ye  your  beautes,  Isoude  and  Eleyne, 
My  lady  cometh,  that  al  this  may  dis- 
teyne.  255 

Thy  faire  body,  lat  hit  nat  appere, 
Lavyne ;    and  thou,   Lucresse   of   Borne 

toun. 
And  Polixene,  that  boghten  love  so  dere, 
And  Cleopatre,  with  al  thy  passioun, 
Hyde  ye  your  trouthe  of  love  and  your 

renoun ;  260 

And  thou,  Tisbe,  that  hast  of  love  swich 

peyne ; 
My  lady  cometh,  that  al  tliis  may  dis- 

teyne. 

Herro,  Dido,  Laudomia,  alle  y-fere. 
And  Phyllis,  hanging  for  thy  Demophoun, 
And  Canace,  espyed  by  thy  chere,          265 
Ysiphile,  betraysed  with  Jasoun, 


(profo^ue.    i'Zwo  (Peret'ono.) 


357 


Mak  of  yotrr  trovitlie  in  love  no  bost  ne 

soun  ; 
Nor  Ypermistre  or  Adriane,  ne  pleyne  ; 
Alceste  is  here,  that  al  that  may  desteyne. 


Whan  that  this  balade  al  y-songen  was, 


[Cf.  pp.  355-6,  col.  1,  11.  179-198.] 


Upon  the  softe  and  swote  grene  gras,    225 
They  setten  hem  f'ul  softely  adonn. 
By  ordre  alle  in  compas,  alle  enveroun. 
First  sat  the  god  of  love,  and  than  this 

qtiene 
With  the  whyte  coroim,  clad  in  grene  ; 
And  sithen  al  the  remenant  by  and  by. 
As  they  were  of  degree,  ful  curteisly ;     231 


Maketh  of  your  trouthe  neyther  boost  ne 

soun ; 
Nor  Ypermistre  or  Adriane,  ye  twejaie  ; 
My  lady  cometh,  that  al  this  may  dis- 


This  balade  may  fulwel  y-songen  be,  270 
As  I  have  seyd  erst,  by  my  lady  free  ; 
For  certeynly,  alle  these  mow  nat  siiffyse 
To  apperen  with  my  lady  in  no  wyse. 
For  as  the  sonne  wol  the  fyr  disteyne, 
So  passeth  al  my  lady  sovereyne,  275 

That  is  so  good,  so  fair,  so  debonaire ; 
I  prey  to  god  that  ever  falle  hir  faire  ! 
For,  nadde  comfort  been  of  hir  presence, 
I  had  ben  deed,  withouten  any  defence, 
For  drede  of  Loves  wordes  and  his  chere; 
As,  when  tyrae  is,  her-after  ye  shal  here. 
Behind  this  god  of  love,  upon  the  grene. 
I  saugh  cominge  of  ladyes  nyntene 
In  real  habit,  a  ful  esy  paas  ; 
And  after  hem  com  of  women  swich  a 

traas,  285 

That,  sin  that  god  Adam  had  maad  of 

erthe. 
The    thridde   part   of  mankynd,   or   the 

fertile, 
Ne  wende  I  nat  by  possibilitee. 
Had  ever  in  this  wyde  worlde  y-be  ; 
And   trewe   of  love    thise   women   were 

echoon.  290 

Now  whether  was  that  a  wonder  thing 

or  noon. 
That,  right  anoon   as  that   they  gonne 

espye 
This  flour,  which  that  I  clepe  the  dayesye, 
Ful  sodeinly  they  stinten  alle  at  ones, 
And  kneled   doun,   as   it    were   for   the 

nones,  295 

And  songen  with  o  vois,  '  Hele  and  honour 
To  trouthe  of  womanhede,  and  to  this  flour 
That  berth  our  alder  prys  in  figuringe  ! 
Hir  whyte  coroun  berth  the  witnessinge ! ' 
And    with    that    word,    a-compas    en- 

viroun,  31x1 

They  setten  hem  ful  softely  adoun. 
First  sat  the  god  of  love,  and  sith  his 

quene 
With  the  whyte  coroun,  clad  in  grene  ; 
And  sithen  al  the  remenant  by  and  by. 
As  they  were  of  estaat,  ful  curteisly ;     305 


358 


ZU  Bi^tni  of  (Boob  (BOotnett. 


Ne  nat  a  word  was  spoken  in  the  place 
The  mountance  of  a  furlong-woy  of  space. 

I,  lening  faste  by  \inder  a  bente, 
Abood,  to  knowen  what  this  peple  mente, 
As  stillo  as  any  stoon  ;  til  at  the  laste,    236 
The  god  of  love  on  me  his  eye  caste, 
And  seyde,    '  who    resteth    ther  ? '  and  I 

answerde 
Un-to  his  axing,  whan  that  I  him  herde, 
An<l  seyde,  '  sir,  hit  am  I  ';  and  cam  him 

neer,  240 

And  salued  him.     Quod  he,  '  what  dostow 

heer 
In  my  presence,  and  that  so  boldely  ? 
For  it  were  better  worthy,  trewoly, 
A   werm   to  comen    in    my  sight   than 

thou.' 
'And   why,    sir,'  iinod   I,    'and   hit  lyke 

yow  ? '  245 

'  For  thou,'  quoil  ho,  '  art  ther-to  nothing 

able. 
My  servaunts  been  alio  wyso  and  honour- 
able. 
Thou  art  my  mortal  fo,  and  me  warreyest, 

And  of  myne  oldo  servaunts  thou  mis- 

seyest. 
And  hinderest  hom,  with  thy  translacioun, 
And  lette.st  folk  to  han  devocioun  251 

To  serven  me,  and  haldest  hit  folye 
To  trosto   on   me.     Thou  mayst  hit  nat 

denyo ; 
For  in   pleyn  text,   hit    nedeth    nat    to 

glose. 
Thou  hast  translated  the  Eomnuns  of  the 

Rose,  255 

That  is  an  heresye  agej-ns  my  lawe. 
And  makest  wyse  folk  fro  me  withdrawe. 
And  thinkest  in  thy  wit,  that  is  ful  cool, 
That  ho  nis  but  a  verraj-  propre  fool 
That    loveth    paramours,   to  harde  and 

hotc.  260 

Wei  wot  I  ther-by  thou  beginnest  dote 
As  olde  foles,  whan  hir  spirit  fayleth  ; 
Than  blame  they  folk,  and  wite  nat  what 

hem  ayleth. 
Hast  thou  nat  mad  in   English  eek  the 

l>ook 
How  that  Crisseyde  Troilus  forsook,      265 
In  shewinge  how  that  wemcn  han  don 

mis  ? 


Ne  nat  a  word  was  spoken  in  the  place 
The  mountance  of  a  I'urlong-wey  of  space. 
I  kneling  by  this  flour,  in  good  entente 
Abood,  to  knowen  what  this  peple  mente. 
As  stillo  as  any  stix)n  ;  til  at  the  laste,  310 
This  god  of  love  on  mo  his  cyen  caste, 
And  seyde,  '  who  kneleth   ther  ? '  and  I 

answerde 
Unto  his  asking,  whan  that  I  hit  herde, 
And  seyde,  'sir,  hit  am  I ';  and  com  him 

neer, 
And  salued  him.     Qnod  he,  '  what  dostow 

heer  315 

So  nigh  myn  owne  flour,  so  boldely  ? 
For  it  were  better  worthy,  trewely, 
A  worm  to  neghcn   neer  my  flour  tliau 

thou.' 
'And  why,   sir,'   quod   I,    'and    hit    lyko 

yow? ' 
'  For  thou,'  quod  he,  '  art  ther-to  nothing 

able.  320 

Hit  is  my  relik,  digne  and  delytablfe. 

And  thou  my  fo,  and   al   my  folk  wor- 

reyest. 
And  of  myn    olde   servaunts   thou   mis- 

seyest. 
And  hindrest  hem,  with  thy  translacioun. 
And  lettest  folk  from  hir  devocioun        325 
To  serve  me,  and  luddest  hit  folye 
To  serve  Love.   Thou  mayst  hit  nat  denye ; 

For  in   plejTi   text,  with-outen  nede  of 

glose. 
Thou  hast  translated  the   Romaunce  of 

the  Rose, 
That  is  an  heresye  ageyns  my  lawe,      330 
And  makest  wyse  folk  fro  nie  withdrawe. 


And  of  Criseyde  thou  hast  seyd  as  theo 

liste. 
That  maketh  men  to  wommen  lasse  triste, 
That  ben  as  trewe  as  ever  was  any  steel. 


^rofogue.    {Zwo  (Peteione.) 


359 


But  natheles,  answere  me  now  to  this, 
■\^1iy  noklest  tlioii  as  wel  han  seyd  good- 

nesse 
Of  wemen,  as  thou  hast  seyd  wikkednesse  ? 
Was  ther  no  good  matere  in  thy  niinde, 
Ne  in  alle  thy  bokes  coudest  thou   nat 

findo  271 

Sum  story  of  wemen  that  were  goode  and 

trewe  ? 
Yis  !  god  wot,  sixty  bokes  olde  and  newe 
Hast  thon  thy-self,    alio   fulle  of  stories 

grete. 
That    bothe    Remains    and    eek    Grekes 

trete  275 

Of  sundry   wemen,  which  lyf  that  they 

laddo. 
And  ever   an  hundred   gode   age3Ti  oon 

baddo. 
This  knoweth  god,  and  alle  clerkes  eke, 
That  usen  swiche  materes  for  to  seke.  279 
What  seith  Valerie,  Titus,  or  Claudian  ? 
\Vhat  seith  Jerome  ageyns  Jovinian  ? 
How    clene    maydens,    and    how    trewe 

wyves,  282 

How  stedfast  widwes  during  al  hir  lyves, 
Telleth  Jerome  ;  and  that  nat  of  afewo. 
But,  I  dar  seyn,  an  hundred  oil  a  rewe  ; 
That  hit  is  pitee  for  to  rede,  and  routho, 
The  wo  that  they  enduren  for  hir  trouthe. 
For  to  hir  love  were  they  so  trewe. 
That,    rather    than  they  woldo  take  a 

newe, 
They  chosen  to  bo  dede  in  sundry  wyse, 
And  deyden,  as  the  story  wol  devyse ;    291 
And  some  were  brend,  and  some  were  cvit 

the  hals. 
And  some  dreynt,  for  they  woldcn  nat  be 

fals. 
For  alle  keped  they  hir  niaydenhed, 
Or  elles  wedlok,  or  hir  widwehed.  295 

And  this  thing  was   nat  kept  for  holi- 

nesse, 
Biit  al  for  verray  vertu  and  clennesse. 
And  for  men  shulde  sette  on  hera  no  lak ; 
And  yit  they  weren  hethen,  al  the  pak. 
That  were  so  sore  adrad  of  alle  shame.  300 
These  olde  wemen  kepte  so  hir  name. 
That  in  this  world  I  trow  men  shal  nat 

finde 
A  man  that  coudo  be  so  trewe  and  kinde. 
As  was  the  leste  woman  in  that  tyde. 


Of  thyn  answere  avyse  thee  right  weel ; 


36o 


tU  Begen^  of  (Boob  (P£)omen. 


What  seith  also  the  epistels  of  0\-:v-de   305 
Of  trewe  wyves,  and  of  hir  laboiir  ? 
Wliat  Vincent,  in  his  Storial  Mironr  ? 
Eek   al   the   world   of  autours   maystow 

here, 
Cristen  and  hethen,  trete  of  swich  matere  ; 
It  nedeth  nat  alday  thus  for  t'endyte.  310 
But  yit  I  sey,  what  eyleth  thee  to  wryte 
The  draf  of  stories,  and  forgo  the  corn  ? 
By  seint  Venus,  of  whom  that  I  was  born. 
Although  [that]  thou  reneyed  hast  my 

lay, 
As  othere  olde  foles  many  a  day,  315 


Tliou  shalt  repente  hit,  that  hit  shal  be 

sene  ! ' 
Than    spak    Alceste,     the    worthieste 

queue. 
And  seyde,  '  god,  right  of  your  curtesye, 
Ye  moten  herknen  if  he  can  replye 
Ageyns  these  points  that  ye  han  to  him 

meved ;  320 

A  god  ne  sholde  nat  be  thus  agreved, 
But  of  his  deitee  he  shal  be  stable, 
And  therto  rightful  and  oek  merciable. 
He  shal  nat  rightfully  his  j-re  wreke    324 
Or  he  have  lierd  the  tother  party  speke. 
AI  ne  is  nat  gospel  that  is  to  yow  plej-ned  ; 
The    god    of   love    herth    many    a  tale 

y-feyned. 
For  in  your  court  is  many  a  losengeour. 
And  many  a  queynte  totelere  accusour, 
That  tabouren  in  your  eres  many  a  thing 
For  hate,  or  for  jelous  imagining,  331 

And  for  to  han  with  yow  som  daliaunce. 
Envye  (I  prey  to  god  yeve  hir  mischaunce !) 

Is  lavender  in  the  grete  court  alway. 
For  she  ne  parteth,  neither  night  ne  day, 
Out   of  the   hous   of  Cesar ;    thus  seith 

Dante  ;  336 

Who-so  that  goth,  alwey  she  moot  [nat] 

wante. 
This   man   to   yow    may    wrongly    been 

accused, 
Ther  as  by  right  him  oghte  been  excused. 
Or  elles,  sir,  for  that  this  man  is  nyce,  340 
He  may  translate  a  thing  in  no  malyce, 
Bnt  for  he  useth  bokes  for  to  make. 


For,  thogh  that  thou  reneyed  hast  my 
lay,  336 

As  other  wrecches  han  doon  many  a  day, 
By  seynt  Venus,  that  my  moder  is. 
If  that  thou  live,    thou   shalt  repenten 

this 
So  cruelly,  that  hit  shal  welbe  sene  !'  340 

Tho  spak  this  lady,  clothed  al  in  grene, 

And  seyde,  '  god,  right  of  your  curtesye, 
Ye  moten  herknen  if  he  can  replye 
Agayns    al    this   that  ye    han    to    liim 

meved ; 
A  god  ne  sholde  nat  he  thus  agreved,  345 
But  of  his  deitee  he  shal  be  stable, 
.And  therto  gracious  and  merciable. 
And  if  ye  nere  a  god,  that  knowen  al. 
Than  mighte  hit  be,  as  I  yowtellen  shal ; 
Til  is   man   to   you   may   falsly   been    ac- 
cused, 350 
Ther  as  by  right  him  oghte  been  excused. 
For  in  your  court  is  many  a  losengeour. 
And  many  a  queynte  totelere  accusour, 
That  tabouren  in  yoiir  eres  many  a  soun, 
Eight  after  hir  imaginacioun,  355 
To  have  your  daliance,  and  for  envye  ; 
These  been  the  causes,  and  I  shall  nat 

lye. 
Envye  is  lavender  of  the  court  alway  ; 
For  she  ne  parteth,  neither  night  ne  day, 
Out   of  the   hous    of  Cesar ;    thus   seith 
Dante ;  360 

Who-so   that   goth,    algate   she   wol   nat 
wante. 

[Cf.  11.  350-1  above.] 


And  eek,  paraunter,  for  this  man  is  nyce, 
He  mighte  doon  hit,  gessing  no  malyce, 
But  for  he  useth  thinges  for  to  make  ; 


(Ptofogue.    {Zwo  (Peretone.) 


361 


And  taktli  nou  heed  of  what  matere  he 

take  ; 
Therfor    he    wroot    the    Rose    and    eek 

Crisseyde 
Of  innocence,  and  niste  what  he  seyde  ; 
Or  him  was  boden  make  thilke  tweye    346 
Of  som  persone,  and  durste  hit  nat  with- 

seye  ; 
For  he  hath  writen  many  a  book  er  this. 
He  ne  hath  nat  doon  so  grevously  amis 
To  translaten  tliat  olde  clerkes  wiyten,  350 
As  thogh  that  he  of  malice  wolde  endyten 
Despyt   of  love,    and   hadde   him-self  y- 

wroght. 
This  shulde  a  rightwys  lord  han  in  his 

thoght, 
And  nat  be  lyk  tiraunts  of  Lumbardye, 
That  usen  wilfulhed  and  tirannye,        355 
For  he  that  king  or  lord  is  naturel, 
Him  oghte  nat  be  tiraunt  ne  cruel. 
As  is  a  fermour,  to  doon  the  harm  he  can. 
He  moste  thinke  hit  is  his  lige  man, 
And  that  him  oweth,  of  verray  duetee,  360 
Shewen  his  jieple  pleyn  benignitee, 
And  wel  to  here  hir  excusaciouns. 
And  hir  compleyntes  and  peticiouns. 
In  duewe  tjane,  whan  they  shal  hit  profre. 
This  is  the  sentence  of  the  philosophre  : 
A  king  to  kepe  his  liges  in  justyce  ;          366 
With-o.uten  doute,  that  is  his  offyce. 
And  therto  is  a  king  ful  depe  y-sworu, 
Ful  many  an  hundred  winter  heer-biforn  ; 
And  for  to  kepe  his  lordes  hir  degree,    370 
As  hit  is  right  and  skilful  that  they  be 
Enhaunced    and     honoured,    and    most 

dere — 
For  they  ben  half-goddes  in  this  world 

here — 
This   shal   he   doon,  bothe  to  pore  [and] 

riche, 
Al  be  that  her  estat  be  nat  a-liche,        375 
And  han  of  pore  folk  compassioun. 
For  lo,  the  gentil  kind  of  the  lioun  ! 
For  whan  a  flyc  offendeth  him  or  byteth. 
He  with  his  ta3'l  awey  the  flye  smyteth 
Al  esily ;  for,  of  his  genterye,  380 

Him  deyneth  nat  to  wreke  him  on  a  flye, 
As  doth  a  curre  or  ellos  another  beste. 
In  noble  corage  oghte  been  areste, 
And  weyen  every  thing  by  equitee. 
And  ever  han  reward  to  his  owen  degree. 


Him  rekketh  noght  of  what  matere  he 
take ;  365 


Or  him  was  boden  maken  thilke  tweye 
Of  som  persone,  and  durste  hit  nat  with- 

seye; 
Or  him  repenteth  utterly  of  this. 
He  ne  hath  nat  doon  so  grevously  amis 
To  translaten  that  olde  clerkes  wryteu,  370 
As  thogh  that  he  of  malice  wolde  endyten 
Despyt   of  love,    and    had    him-self   hit 

wroght. 
This  shulde  a  rightwys  lord  have  in  his 

thoght. 
And  nat  be  lyk  tiraunts  of  Lumbardye, 
Than  han  no  reward  but  at  tirannye.     375 
For  he  that  king  or  lord  is  naturel, 
Him  oghte  nat  be  tiraunt  ne  cruel, 
As  is  a  fermour,  to  doon  the  harm  he  can. 
He  moste  thinke  hit  is  his  lige  man. 


And  is  his  tresour,  and  his  gold  in  cofre. 
This  is  thesentence  of  the  philosophre :  381 
A  king  to  kepe  his  liges  in  justyce ; 
With-outen  doute,  that  is  his  ofifyoe. 


Al  wol  he  kepe  his  lordes  hir  degree, 

As  hit  is  right  and  skilful  that  they  be  385 

Enhaunced    and     honoured,    and    most 

derc — 
For  they  ben  half-goddes  in  this  world 

here — 
Yit  mot  he  doon  bothe  right,  to  pore  and 

riche, 
Al  be  tliat  hir  estat  be  nat  y-liche. 
And  han  of  pore  folli  compassioi^n.       390 
For  lo,  the  gentil  kynd  of  the  leoun  ! 
For  whan  a  flye  oifendeth  him  or  byteth, 
He  with  his  tayl  awey  the  flye  smyteth 
Al  esily  ;  for,  of  his  genterye,  394 

Him  deyneth  nat  to  wreke  him  on  a  flye, 
As  doth  a  cu.rre  or  elles  another  beste. 
In  noble  corage  oghte  been  areste. 
And  weyen  every  thing  by  equitee, 
And  ever  han  reward  to  his  owen  degree. 

3 


362 


ZH  Begenb  of  (Boob  (JDomen. 


For,  sir,  hit  is  no  maystrie  for  a  lord    3S6 
To  dampne  a  man  with-oute  answers  or 

•word  ; 
And,  for  a  lord,  that  is  ful  foul  to  use. 
And  if  so  be  he  may  him  nat  excuse, 
[But]  axeth  mercy  with  a  sorweful  herte. 
And    profreth    him,   right    in    his   bare 

sherte,  391 

To  been  right  at  your  owne  jugement. 
Than  oghte  a  god,  by  short  avysement, 
Considre  his  owne  honour  and  his  trespas. 
For  sith   no  cause  of  deeth  lyth  in  this 

cas,  395 

Yow  oghte  been  the  lighter  merciable  ; 
Leteth    your    yre,    and    beth    somwhat 

tretable  ! 
The  man  hath  served  yow  of  his  conning, 
And  forthered  your  lawe  with  his  making. 
Whyl  he  was  yong,  he  kepte  your  estat; 
I  not  wher  he  be  now  a  renegat.  401 

But  wel  I  wot,  with  that  he  can  endj-te. 
He  hath  maked  lewed  folk  delyte 
To  serve  you,  in  preysing  of  your  name. 
He  made  the  book  that  hight  the  Hous  of 

Fame,  405 

And    eck    the    Deeth    of   Blaunche   the 

Duchesse, 
And  the  Parlemcnt  of  Foules,  as  I  gesse. 
And  al  the  love  f>f  Palamon  and  Arcyte 
Of  Thebes,  thogh  the  storj'is  knowen  lyte ; 
And  many  an  ympne  for  your  halydaj'es. 
That  highten  Balades,   Eoundels,  Vire- 

layos;  411 

And  for  to  speke  of  other  besinesse. 
He  hath  in  prose  translated  Boece  ; 
And  of  the  Wreched  Engendring  of  Man- 

kinde. 
As  man  may  in  pope  Innocent  y-finde ;  415 
And  mad  the  Lyf  also  of  seynt  Cecyle ; 
He  made  also,  goon  sithen  a  greet  whyl, 
Origenes  upon  the  Maudeleyne  ; 
Him  oghte  now  to  have  the  lesse  peyne  ; 
He  hath  mad  many  a  lay  and  many  a 

thing.  420 

l^ow  as  ye  been  a  god,  and  eek  a  king, 
I,  your  Alceste,  whylom  queue  of  Trace, 
I  axe  yow  this  man,  right  of  j-our  grace. 
That  ye  him  never  hurte  in  al  his  lyve  ; 
And  he  shal  sweren   yow,   and  that   as 

bly^-e,  425 

He  shal  no  more  agilteu  in  this  wj-se  ; 


For,  sir,  hit  is  no  maystrie  for  a  lord    400 
To  dampne  a  man  with-oute  answers  of 

word ; 
And,  for  a  lord,  that  is  ful  foul  to  use. 
And  if  so  be  he  may  him  nat  excuse, 
But  asketh  mercy  with  a  dredful  herte, 
And   profreth    him,    right    in    his    bare 
sherte,  405 

To  been  right  at  your  owne  jugement. 
Than  oghte  a  god,  by  short  avysement, 
Considre  his  o\vne  honour  and  his  trespas. 
For  sith  no  cause  of  deeth  lyth  in  this 

cas, 
Yow  oghte  been  the  lighter  merciable ;  410 
Leteth  your  yre,  and  beth  somwhat  tret- 
able ! 
The  man  hath  served  yow  of  his  conning, 
And  forthred  wel  your  lawe  in  his  making. 


Al  bo  hit  that  he  can  nat  wel  endji:e. 
Yet  hath  he  maked  lewed  folk  delyte  415 
To  serve  you,  in  preysing  of  your  name. 
He  made  the  book  that  hight  the  Hous  of 

Fame, 
And    eek    the    Deeth    of    Blaunolie    the 

Duchesse, 
And  the  Parlement  of  Foules,  as  I  gesse, 
And  al  the  love  of  Palamon  and  Arcyte  420 
Of  Thebes,  thogh  the  story  is  knowen  lyte ; 
And  many  an  jTnpne  for  your  halydayes, 
That  highten  Balades,   Eoundels,  Vire- 

layes ; 
And,  for  to  speke  of  other  holynesse, 
He  hath  in  prose  translated  Boece,       425 


And  mad  the  Lyf  also  of  seynt  Cocyle  ; 
He  made  also,  goon  sithen  a  greet  whyl, 
Origenes  upon  the  Maudeleyne  ; 
Him  oghte  now  to  have  the  lesse  peyne; 
He   hath    mad    many   a   lay   and   many 

a  thing.  430 

'  Now  as  ye  been  a  god,  and  eek  a  king, 
I,  your  Alceste,  whylom  quene  of  Trace, 
I  aske  yow  this  man,  right  of  your  grace, 
Tliat  ye  him  never  hurte  in  al  his  lyve  ; 
And  he  shal  sweren  yow,  and  that  as 

l^lyve,  435 

He  shal  no  more  agilten  in  this  wyse  ; 


(ptrofogue.    (^voo  (Peteton0.) 


363 


But  he  slial  maken,  as  ye  wil  de\-yse, 
Of  wemen  trewe  in  lovinge  al  liir  lyve, 
Wher-so  ye  wil,  of  maiden  or  of  wyve, 
And  forthren  j'ow,  as  muche  as  he  mis- 
seyde  43° 

Or  in  the  Rose  or  elles  in  Criseyde.' 
The   god  of   love    answerde    hir  thus 
anoon, 
'  Madame,'  quod  he,  '  hit  is  so  long  agoon 
That  I  yow  knew  so  charitable  and  trewe, 
That  never  yit,  sith  that  the  world  was 
newe,  43S 

To  me  ne  fond  I  better  noon  than  ye. 
That,  if  that  I  wol  save  my  degree, 
I  may  ne  wol  nat  warne  your  requeste  ; 
Al  lyth  in  yow,  doth  with  him  what  yow 
leste,  439 

And  al  foryeve,  with-o\iten  lenger  space  ; 
For  who-so  yeveth  a  yift,  or  doth  a  grace, 
Po   hit   by  tjone,    his   thank  is  wel  the 

more  ; 
And  demeth  ye  what  he  shal  do  therfore. 
Go  thanke  now  my  lady  heer,'  quod  he. 
I   roos,   and   doun   I  sette  me  on   my 
knee,  445 

And  seyde  thus  :  '  Madame,  the  god  above 
Foryelde  yow,  that  ye  the  god  of  love 
Han  maked  me  his  wrathe  to  foryive  ; 
And  yeve  me  grace  so  long  for  to  live, 
That  I  may  knowe  soothly  what  ye  be,  450 
That  han  me  holpen,  and  piit  in  swich 

degree. 
But  trewely  I  wendc,  as  in  this  cas. 
Naught    have    agilt,    ne     doon    to    love 

trespas. 
Porwhy  a  trewe  man,  with-outen  drede. 
Hath  nat  to  parten  with  a  theves  dede  ; 
Ke  a  trewe  lover  oghte  me  nat  blame,  456 
Thogh  that  I  speke  a  fals  lover  som  shame. 
They  oghte  rather  with  me  for  to  holde. 
For  that  I  of  Creseyde  wroot  or  tolde. 
Or  of  the  Rose;    what-so  myn   auctour 
mente,  460 

Algate,  god  wot,  hit  was  myn  entente 
To   forthren   trouthe    in    love    and    hit 

cheryce ; 

And  to  be  war  fro  falsnesse  and  fro  vyce 

By  swich  ensample  ;  this  was  my  men- 

inge.' 

And  she  answerde,  '  lat  be  thyn  argu- 

inge ;  4^5 


But  he  shal  maken,  as  ye  wil  devyse. 
Of  wommen  trewe  in  lovinge  al  hir  lyve, 
Wher-so  ye  wil,  of  maiden  or  of  wyve, 
And  forthren  yow,  as  muche  as  he  mis- 
seyde  440 

Or  in  the  Rose  or  elles  in  Creseyde.' 
The   god   of    love   answerde    hir    thus 
anoon, 
'  Madame,'  quod  he,  '  hit  is  so  long  agoon 
That  I  yow  knew  so  charitable  and  trewe, 
That  never  yit,  sith  that  the  world  was 
newe,  445 

To  me  ne  fond  I  better  noon  than  ye. 
If  that  I  wolde  save  my  degree, 
I  may  ne  wol  nat  werne  your  requeste  ; 
Al  lyth  in  yow,  doth  with  him  as  yow 

leste. 
I  al  foryeve,  with-outen  lenger  space  ;  450 
For  who-so  yeveth  a  yift,  or  doth  a  grace, 
Do  hit  by  tyme,  his  thank  is  wel  the 

more ; 
And  demeth  ye  what  he  shal  do  therfore. 
Go  thanke  now  my  lady  heer,'  quod  he. 
I   roos,   and   doun  I  sette   me  on  my 
knee,  455 

And  seyde  thus  :  '  Madame,  the  god  above 
Foryelde  yow,  that  ye  the  god  of  love 
Han  maked  me  his  wrathe  to  foryive  ; 
And  yeve  me  grace  so  long  for  to  live, 
That  I  may  knowe  soothly  what  ye  be,  460 
Tliat   han   me   holpe    and    put    in    this 

degree. 
But  trewely  I  wende,  as  in  this  cas. 
Naught    have    agilt,    ne    doon    to    love 

trespas. 
Forwhy  a  trewe  man,  with-outen  drede. 
Hath  nat  to  parten  with  a  theves  dede  ; 
Ne  a  trewe  lover  oghte  me  nat  blame, 
Thogh  that  I  speke  a  fals  lover  som  shame. 
They  oghte  rather  with  me  for  to  holde. 
For  that  I  of  Creseyde  wroot  or  tolde, 
Or  of  the  Rose  ;    what-so  myn    auctour 
mente,  470 

Algate,  god  wot,  hit  was  myn  entente 
To   forthren    trouthe    in    love   and    hit 

cheryce ; 

And  to  be  war  fro  falsnesse  and  fro  ^yce 

By  swich  ensample  ;  this  was  my  men- 

inge.' 

And  she  answerde,  'lat  be  thyn  argu- 

inge ;  475 

5 


564 


ZU  Bt^int  of  (Booi  (JOowen. 


For  Lovo  ne  wol  nat  coimtrepleted  bo 
In  right  ne  wrong  ;  and  leme  this  at  me ! 
Thou  hast  thy  grace,  and  hold  thee  right 

ther-to. 
Now  wol  I  sejai  what  penance  thoii  shalt 

do 
For  thy  trespas,  and  understond  hit  here  : 
Thou  shalt,  whyl  that  thou  livest,  yeer  by 

yere,  47  > 

The  moste  party  of  thy  lyvo  spendo 
In  making  of  a  glorious  Legendo 
Of  GodoWemen,  maidenesand  wyves,  4,-4 
That  were  trewe  in  lovingc  al  hir  lyves  ; 
And  telle  of  false  men  that  liem  bitraj-en. 
That  al  hir  lyf  ne  doon  nat  but  assayeu 
How  many   wemen    they  may   doon    a 

shame ; 
For  in  your  world  that  is  now  holdcn 

game. 
And  thogh  thee  lesteth  nat  a  lover  be,  480 
Spek   wel    of   love ;    this  penance  yeve 

I  thee. 
And  to  the  go<l  of  love  I  shal  so  preye, 
That  ho  slxal  charge  his  servants,  by  any 

weyo, 
To   forthren    thee,    and    wcl   thy  labour 

quyte  ; 
Go  now  thy  wey,  thy  penance  is  but  Ij-te.' 


The  god  of  love  gan  sniyle,  and  than  he 

seyde,  486 

'  Wostow,'  quod  he,  '  wher  this  bo  wyf  or 

maj'de. 
Or  queue,  or  count«sse,  or  of  what  degree. 
That  hath  so  litel  penance  yeven  thee, 
Tliat  hast  deserved  sorer  for  to  smerte  ? 
But  pitee  renneth  sone  in  gentil  herte  ; 
That  may«t  thou  seen,  she  kytheth  what 

slie  is.' 
And  I  answerde,  '  nay,  sir,  so  have  I  blis. 
No  more  but  that  I  see  wel  she  is  good.' 

'  That  is  a  trewe  tale,  by  myn  hood,'  495 
Quod  Love,  '  and  that  thou  knowest  wel, 

pardee. 
If  hit  bo  so  that  thou  avyse  thee. 
Hastow  nat  in  a  book,  lyth  in  thy  cheste. 
The  gret  goodnesse  of  the  queno  Alceste, 
That  turned  was  into  a  dayesye  :  5ix> 

She  that  for  hir  husbonde  chees  to  dve, 


For  Lovo  no  wol  nat  coxtntrepleted  bo 
In  right  ne  wrong  ;  and  leme  that  of  me ! 
Thou  hast  thy  grace,  and  hold  thee  right 

ther-to. 
Now  wol  I  seyn  what  penance  tliou  shalt 

do 
For  thy  trespas,  and  understond  hit  here: 
Thou  shalt,  whyl  that  thou  livest,  yeer 

by  yere,  48 1 

The  moste  party  of  thy  tyme  spendo 
In  making  of  a  glorious  Legendo 
Of  Godo  Wommon,  maidcnes  and  wyves. 
That  weren  trewe  in  lovingo  al  hir  lyves; 
And  telle  of  false  men  that  hem  bitrayen, 
That  al  hir  lyf  ne  doon  nut  but  assayen 
How  many  wommen  they  maj'  doon  a 

shame ; 
For  in  your  world  that  is  now  holde  a 

game. 
And  thogh  thee  lyke  nat  a  lover  be,     490 
Spek   wel  of  lovo  ;   this  penance  yivo  I 

thee. 
And  to  the  god  of  lovo  I  shal  so  preye, 
That  he  shal  charge  his  servants,  by  any 

weyo, 
To   forthren   thee,    and   wel   thy   lal)Our 

quyte  ; 
G  o  now  thy  wey,  this  penance  is  but  lyte. 
And  whan  this  book  is  maad,  yive  hit  the 

queno  496 

On  my  behalfe,  at  Eltham,  or  at  Shene.' 

The  god  of  love  gan  smylo,  and  than  ho 

seyde, 
'  Wostow,'  quod  he,  '  wher  this  bo  wyf  or 

mayde. 
Or  queue,  or  countesse,  or  of  what  degree. 
That  hath  so  litel  penance  yiven  thee,  501 
Tliat  hast  deserved  sorer  for  to  smerte  ? 
But  pitee  renneth  sone  in  gentil  herte  ; 
That  maystow  seen,   she  kytheth  what 

she  is.'  504 

And  I  answerde,  '  nay,  sir,  so  have  I  blis. 
No  more  but  that  I  see  wel  she  is  good.' 

'  That  is  a  trewe  tale,  by  myn  hood,' 
Quod  Love,  '  and  that  thou  knowest  wel, 

pardee, 
If  hit  be  so  that  thou  avyse  thee.  509 

Hastow  nat  in  a  book,  lyth  in  thy  cheste. 
The  grete  goodnesse  of  the  queue  Alceste, 
That  turned  was  into  a  dayesye  : 
She  that  for  hir  husbonde  chees  to  dye, 


(Ptofogue.    (^wo  (^tvexQne.) 


365 


And  eek  to  goon  to  helle,  rather  than  he, 
And  Ercules  rescued  liir,  pardee, 
And  broghte  hir  out   of  helle  agayn   to 
blis  ? '  504 

And  I  answerde  ageyn,  and  seyde,  'yis, 
Now   knowe   I   hir !    And   is   this    good 

Alceste, 
The  dayesye,  and  myn  owne  hertes  reste  ? 
Now  fele  I  wel  the  goodnesse  of  this  wyf, 
That  bothe  after  hir  deeth,  and  in  hir  lyf, 
Hir  grete  bountee  doubleth  hir  renoun  ! 
Wel  hath  she  quit  me  myn  affecciovin 
That  I  have  to  hir  flour,  the  dayesye  ! 
No  wonder  is  thogh  Jove  hir  stellifyo, 
As  telleth  Agaton,  for  hir  goodnesse  ! 
Hir  wlij-te  coroun  berth  of  hit  witnesse  ; 
For  also  many  vertvies  hadde  she,  516 

As  smale  floures  in  hir  coroun  be. 
In  remembraunce  of  hir  and  in  honoiir, 
Cibella  made  the  dayesyand  the  flour  519 
Y-coroned  al  with  whyt,  as  men  m.ay  see ; 
And  Mars  yaf  to  hir  coroun  reed,  pardee, 
In  stede  of  rubies,  set  among  the  whyte.' 
Therwith  this  quene  wex  reed  for  shame 
a  lyte,  523 

Whan  she  was  preysed  so  in  hir  presence. 
Than  seyde  Love,  '  a  ful  gret  negligence 
Was  hit  to  thee,  to  write  vinstedfastnesse 
Of  women,  sith  thou  knowest  hir  good- 
nesse 
By  preef,  and  cek  by  stories  heer-bifom  ; 
Let  be  the  chaf,  and  wryt  wel  of  the  corn. 
Wliy  noldest  thou  han  writen  of  Alceste, 
Ajid  leten  Criseide  been  a-slepe  and 
reste?  531 

For  of  Alceste  shulde  thy  wryting  be. 
Sin  that  thou  wost  that  kalender  is  she 
Of    goodnesse,    for    she    taughte    of  fyn 

lovinge, 
And  namely  of  wyf  hood  the  livinge,     535 
And  alle  the  boundes  that  she  oghte  kepe  ; 
Tliy  litel  wit  was  thilke  tyme  a-slepe. 
But  now  I  charge  thee,  ujion  thy  lyf, 
That  in  thy  Legend  thou  make  of  this 

■vvyf. 
Whan  thovi  hast  othere  smale  maad  be- 
fore ;  540 
And  fare  now  wel,  I  charge  thee  no  more. 


And  cek  to  goon  to  helle,  rather  than  he, 
And  Ercules  rescowed  hir,  pardee,  515 
And  broghte  hir  out  of  helle  agayn  to 

blis?' 
And  I  answerde  ageyn,  and  sey<le,  'yis, 
Now    knowe    I   hir !     And    is    this   good 

Alceste,  51S 

The  daj-esye,  and  myn  owne  hertes  reste  ? 
Now  fele  I  wel  the  goodnesse  of  this  wyf. 
That  bothe  after  hir  deeth,  and  in  hir  lyf, 
Hir  grete  bountee  doubleth  hir  renoun  ! 
Wel  hath  she  quit  me  myn  affeccioun 
That  I  have  to  hir  flour,  the  dayesye  ! 
No  wonder  is  thogh  Jove  hir  stellifye,  525 
As  telleth  Agaton,  for  hir  goodnesse  ! 
Hir  whyte  coroun  berth  of  hit  witnesse  ; 
For  also  many  vertues  hadde  she. 
As  smale  floi^res  in  hir  coroun  be.         529 
In  remembraunce  of  hir  and  in  honour, 
Cibella  made  the  dayesy  and  the  flour 
Y-coroned  al  with  whyt,  as  men  may  see ; 
And  Mars  yaf  to  hir  coroun  reed,  i^ardee. 
In  stede  of  rubies,  set  among  the  whyte.' 
Therwith  this  quene  wex  reed  for  shame 

a  lyte,  535 

Whan  she  was  preysed  so  in  hir  presence. 
Than  seyde  Love,  '  a  ful  gret  negligence 
Was   hit  to  thee,    that   ilko   tyme   thou 

made  538 

"  Hyd,  Absolon,  thy  tresses,"  in  balade. 
That  thou  forgete  hir  in  thj^  song  to  sette, 
Sin  that  thou  art  so  gretly  in  hir  dette. 


And  wost  so  wel,  that  kalender  is  she 

To  any  woman  that  wol  lover  be 

For    she    taughte    al    the    craft    of   i'yn 

lovinge, 
And  namely  of  wyf  hood  the  livinge,    545 
And  alle  the  boundes  that  she  oghte  kepe ; 
Thy  litel  wit  was  thilke  tyme  a-slepe. 
But  now  I  charge  thee,  upon  thy  lyf. 
That   in  thy  Legend  thou  make  of  this 

wyf, 
"Wlian  thou  hast  other  smale  y-maad  be- 

fore  ;  '  55., 

And  fare  now  wel,  I  charge  thee  no  more. 

But   er  I  go,  thus  muche  I  wol  thee 

telle, 
No  shal  no  trewe  lover  come  in  helle. 


366 


ZU  JlegcnJ)  of  6oob  (^owett. 


At  Cleoputre  I  wol  that  thou  Ijeginne; 
And  so  forth  ;  and  my  love  so  shalt  thou 
winne.'  543 


And  with  that  word  of  sleep  I  gun  a-awake, 
And  right  thus  on  my  Legend  gan  I  make. 


Thise  other  ladies  sittingc  here  arowe 
Ben  in   thy  balade,  if  thou  canst  hem 

knowe,  555 

And  in  thy  bokes  alle  thou  shalt  hem 

finde; 
Have   hem  now  in  thy  Legend    alle   in 

minde, 
I  mene  of  hem  that  been  in  thy  knowinge. 
For  heer  ben  twenty  thousand  mo  sittinge 
Than    thou    knowest,    that    been    good 

wommen  alle  560 

And  trewe  of  love,  for  aught  that  may 

befalle  ; 
Make  the  metres  of  hem  as  the  leste. 
I  mot  gon  hoom,  the  sonne  draweth  weste, 
To  Paradys,  with  al  this  companye  ; 
And  serve  alwoy  the  fressho  tiayesye.   565 
At  Clcopatre  I  wol  that  thou  beginne  ; 
And  so  forth  ;  and  my  love  so  shalt  thou 

winne. 
For  lat  see  now  what  man  that  lover  be, 
Wol  doon  so  strong  a  peyno  for  love  as 

she. 
I  wot  wel  that  thou  mayst   nat   al  hit 

ryme,  570 

That  swiche  lovers  diden  in  hir  tymo  ; 
,It  were  to  long  to  reden  and  to  here  ; 
SufTyceth  me,  thou  make  in  this  manere, 
That  thou  reherce  of  al  hir  lyf  the  grete, 
After  thise  olde  auctours  listen  to  trete. 
For  who-so  shal  so  many  a  storie  telle,  576 
Sey  shortly,  or  he  shal  to  longe  dwelle.' 
And  with  that  word  my  bokes  gan  I  take. 
And  right  thus  on  my  Legend  gan  I  make. 


Explicit  prohenUum. 


I.    THE  LEGEND  OF  CLEOPATRA. 


Incipit  Leycnda  Cleopatrie,  MartiiHs, 
Egipti  regine. 

After  the  deeth  of  Tholomee  the  king,  580 
That  al  Egipte  hadde  in  his  governing, 
Eegned  his  quene  Cleopataras  ; 
Til  on  a  tyme  befel  ther  swiche  a  cas. 
That  out  of  Rome  was  sent  a  senatour. 
For  to  conqueren  regnes  and  honour    585 
Unto  the  toun  of  Rome,  as  was  usaunce, 
To  have  the  world  unto  her  obeisaonce  : 


And,   sooth   to  sej^e,   Antonius   was  his 

name. 
So   fil    hit,    as    Fortune    him    oghte    a 

shame  (10) 

WTian  he  was  fallen  in  prosperitee,       590 
Rebel  unto  the  toun  of  Rome  is  he. 
And  over  al  this,  the  suster  of  Cesar, 
He  lafte  hir  falsly,  er  that  she  was  war, 
And  wolde  algates  han  another  wyf ; 
For  whiche  he  took  with  Rome  and  Cesar 

stryf.  595 


ZH  Bt^tnt  of  tkoipAtva, 


367 


Natheles,  for-sooth,  this  ilke  senatour 
Was  a  ful  worthy  gentil  werreyour, 
And  of  his  deeth  hit  was  ful  greet  damage. 
But  love  had  broght  this  man  in  swiche 
a  rage,  (20) 

And  him  so  narwe  bounden  in  his  las, 
Al  for  the  love  of  Cleopataras,  601 

That  al  the  world  he  sette  at  no  value. 
Him  thoughte,  nas  to  him  no  thing  so 

due 
As  Cleopatras  for  to  love  and  serve  ;     604 
Him  roghte  nat  in  armes  for  to  starve 
In  the  defence  of  hir,  and  uf  hir  right. 
This   noble   queue  eek   lovede  so  this 
knight, 
Through  his  desert,  and  for  his  chivalrye ; 
As  certeinly,  but-if  that  bokes  lye,        (30) 
He  was,  of  persone  and  of  gentilesse,   610 
And  of  discrecioun  and  hardinesse, 
Worthy  to  any  wight  that  liven  may. 
And  she  was  fair  as  is  the  rose  in  May. 
And,  for  to  maken  shortly  is  the  beste. 
She  wex  his  wyf,  and  hadde  him  as  hir 
leste.  615 

The  wedding  and  the  feste  to  devyse. 
To  me,  that  have  y-take  swiche  empryse 
Of  so  many  a  storie  for  to  make,  (39) 

Hit  were  to  long,  lest  that  I  sholde  slake 
Of  thing  that  bereth  more  effect  and 
charge  ;  620 

For  men  may  overlade  a  ship  or  barge  ; 
And  forthy  to  th'effect  than  wol  I  skippe. 
And  al  the   remenant,   I  wol    lete   hit 
slippe. 
Octovian,  that  wood  was  of  this  dede, 
Shoop  him  an  ost  on  Antony  to  lede     625 
Al-outerly  for  his  destruccioun, 
With  stoute  Romains,  cruel  as  leoun  ; 
To  ship  they  wente,  and  thus  I  let  hem 
saile. 
Antonius  was  war,  and  wol  nat  faile  (50) 
To  meten    with    thise    Eomains,  if   he 
may ;  (>io 

Took    eek    his    reed,    and    bothe,    upon 

a  day. 
His  wyf  and  he,   and   al  his   ost,   forth 

wente 

To  shippe  anoon,  no  lenger  they  ne  stente ; 

And  in  the  see  hit  happed  hem  to  mete — 

Up  goth  the  trompe — and  for  to  shoute 

and  shete,  635 


And  peynen  hem  to  sette  on  with  the 

Sonne. 
With   grisly   soun    out   goth    the    grete 

gonne, 
And  heterly  they  hurtlen  al  at  ones. 
And  fro  the  top  doun  cometh  the  grete 
stones.  (60) 

In  goth  the  grapenel  so  ful  of  crokes    640 
Among  the  ropes,  and  the  shering-hokes. 
In  with  the  polax  presseth  he  and  he  ; 
Behind  the  mast  beginneth  he  to  flee. 
And  out  agayn,  and  dryveth  him  over- 
borde ;  644 

He  stingeth  him  upon  his  speres  orde  ; 
He  rent  the  sail  with  hokes  lyke  a  sythe  ; 
He  bringeth  the  cuppe,  and  biddeth  hem 

be  blythe  ; 
He  poureth  pesen  upon  the  hacches  slider ; 
With   pottes   ful   of  lym   they  goon   to- 
gider ;  (70) 

And   thus  the   longe  day  in   fight  they 
spende  650 

Til,  at  the  laste,  as  every  thing  hath  ende, 
Antony  is  shent,   and  put   him  to  the 

flighte, 

And  al  his  folk  to-go,  that  best  go  mighte. 

Fleeth   eek    the    queen,   with    al  her 

pvirpre  sail. 

For  strokes,  which  that  wente  as  thikke 

as  hail ;  655 

No  wonder  was,  she  mighte  hit  nat  endure. 

And  whan  that  Antony  saw  that  aven- 

ture, 
'  Alias  ! '    quod  he,  '  the  day  that  I  was 

born  ! 
My  worshipe  in   this  day  thus  have   I 
lorn  ! '  (80) 

And  for  dispeyr  ovit  of  his  witte  he  sterte, 
And  roof  him-self  anoon  through-out  the 
herte  661 

Er   that   he  ferther  wente    out    of    the 

place. 
His  wyf,  that  coude  of  Cesar  have  no 

grace. 
To  Egipte  is  fled,  for  drede  and  for  dis- 

tresse  ; 

But  herkneth,  ye  that  speke   of  kinde- 

nesse.  665 

Ye  men,  that  falsly  swerenmanyan  00th 

That  ye  wol  dye,  if  that  your  love  be 

wrooth, 


368 


ZU  ^egenb  of  (Boob  (Botnen. 


Heer  may  j-e  seen  of  women  wliiche  a 

trouthe  ! 
Tliis   wofiil    Cleojiatre    liatli    mad   swich 

routlie  (90) 

That  ther  nis  tonge  noon  that  may  hit 

telle.  670 

But  on  the   morvve  she  wol   no  lenger 

ilwelle, 
But   made   hir   subtil  werknion  make  a 

shryne 
Of  alle  the  rubies  and  the  stones  fyne 
In  al  Egipte  that  she  coudo  espj'e  ; 
And  putte  ful  the  shryne  of  spycerye,  675 
And  leet  the  cors  cmbaume ;  and  forth 

she  fette 
This   dede  cors,    and   in  the  shryne  hit 

shette. 
And  next  the  shryne  a  pit  tlian  doth  she  1 

grave  ;  | 

And  alle  the  serpents  that  she    mighte 

liave,  ( Kxi) 

She  putte  hem  in  that  grave,  and  thus 


she  seyde  ; 
'  Now  love,  to  whom  my  sorweful  herte 

obeyde 
So  ferforthly  that,  fro  that  blisful  houre 
That  I  j-ow  swor  to  been  al  frely  youre, 
I  mene  yow,  Antonius  my  knight !        684 
That  never  waking,  in  the  day  or  night. 


Ye  nere  out  of  myn  hertes  remembraunce 
For  wele  or  wo,  for  carole  or  for  daunce  ; 
And  in  my-self  this    covenant  made  I 

tho,  (109) 

That,  right  swich  as  ye  felten,  wele  or  wo, 
As  ferforth  as  hit  in  my  power  lay,      69a 
Unrcprovable  unto  my  wyfhood  ay, 
The  same  woldo  I  felen,  lyf  or  deeth. 
And  thilke  covenant,  whyl  me  lasteth 

breeth, 
I  wol  fulfillc,  and  that  shal  wcl  be  sene ; 
Was  never  unto  liir  love  a  trower  quene.' 
And    with   that   word,    naked,    with    ful 

good  herte,  696 

Among  the  serpents  in  the  pit  she  sterte, 
And  ther  she  chees  to  han  hir  buryinge. 
Anoon   tho    neddres   gonne   hir    for    to 

stinge,  (120) 

And  she  hir  deeth  receyveth,  with  good 

chere,  700 

For  love  of  Antony,  that  was  hir  so  dere: — 
And  this  is  stori.ol  sooth,  hit  is  no  fable. 
Now,  er  I  finde  a  man  thus  trewe  and 

stable. 
And  wol  for  love   his    deeth    so  freely 

take, 
I  pray  god  lat  our  hedes  never  nkc  !      705 

Explicit  Legenda  Cleopatrie.  Martirie. 


II.    THE  LEGEND  OF  THISBE  OF  BABYLON. 


Jncijnt  Legenda  Tenbe  Habilonie,  3Iartiri3. 

At  Babiloine  whylom  fil  it  thus. 
The  whiche  toun  the  queen  Semiramus 
Leet  dichen  al  aliout,  and  walles  make 
Ful  hye,  of  harde  tyles  wel  y-bake. 
Ther  weren  dwollinge  in  this  noble  toun 
Two  lordes,   which   that   were  of  greet 
renoun,  71 1 

And  woneden  so  nigh,  upon  a  grene. 
That   ther  nas  but  a  stoon-wal  hem  bi- 

As  ofte  in  grete  tonnes  is  the  wone. 
And  sooth   to  seyn,  that  o  man  hadde 
a  sone,  715 

Of  al  that  londe  oon  of  the  lustieste.     (11) 
That  other  hadde  a  doghter,  the  faireste, 


That  estward  in  the  world  was  tho  dwel- 

linge. 
The  name  of  everich  gan  toother  springe 
By    wommen,     that    were    neighebores 

aboute.  720 

For  in  that  contree  yit,  withouten  doute. 
Maidens  been  y-kept,  for  jelosye, 
Ful  streite,  lest  they  didon  som  folye. 

This  yonge  man  was  doped  Piramus, 
And   Tisbe   hight   the  maid,   Naso  seith 

thus ;  725 

And  thus  by  report  was  hir  name  y-shove 
That,   as    they  wexe    in    age,   wex    hir 

love ;  (22) 

And  certeLn,  as  by  reson  of  hir  age, 
Ther    mighte    have    been    bitwix    hem 

mariage,  729 


ZH  Be^enb  of  Z^ieU. 


)6g 


But  that  hir  faclres  nolde  liit  nat  assente ; 
And  bothe  in  love  y-lyke  sore  they  brente, 
That  noon  of  alle  hir  frendes  mighte  hit 

lette 
But  prively  somtyme  yit  they  mette 
By  sleighte,  and  speken  som  of  hir  desyr  ; 
As,  wry  the  gleed,  and  hotter  is  the  fyr  ; 
Forbede  a  love,  and  it  is  ten  so  wood.  736 
This  wal,  which  that  bitwix  hem  bothe 

stood,  (32) 

Was   cloven  a-two,   right   fro  the   toppe 

adoun, 
Of  olde  tyme  of  his  fundacioim  ; 
But   yit   this    clifte   was    so   narwe   and 

lyte,  740 

It  nas  nat  sene,  dere  y-nogh  a  myte. 
But  what  is  that,  that  love  can  nat  espye? 
Ye  lovers  two,  if  that  I  shal  nat  lye. 
Ye  founden  first  this  litel  narwe  clifte  ; 
And,  with  a  soun  as  softo  as  any  shrifte. 
They  leto  hir  wordes  through  the  clifte 

race,  (4,)  746 

And  tolden,  whyl  that  they  stode  in  the 

place, 
Al  hir  compleynt  of  love,  and  al  hir  wo, 
At  every  tyme  whan  they  dorste  so. 

Upon  that  o  syde  of  the  wal  stood  he, 
And  on  that  other  syde  stood  Tisbe,      751 
The  swote  soun  of  other  to  receyve, 
And  thus  hir  wardeins  wolde   they  de- 

ceyve. 
And  every  day  this  wf.l  they  wolde  threte, 
And  wisshe  to  god,  that   it  were    doun 

y-bete.  (5,,)  755 

Thus    wolde     they    sejai — '  alias  !     thou 

wikked  wal, 
Through  thyn  envye  thou  us  lettest  al ! 
Wliy  nilt  thou  cleve,  or  fallen  al  a-two  ? 
Or,  at  the  leste,  but  thou  woldest  so, 
Yit  woldestow  but  ones  lete  us  mete,    760 
Or  ones  that  we  mighte  kissen  swete, 
Than  were  we  covered  of  our  cares  colde. 
But  natheles,  yit  be  we  to  thee  holde 
In  as  mnche  as  tliou  suffrest  for  to  goon 
Our  wordes  through  thy  lyme  and  eek 

thy  stoon.  (60)  765 

Yit  oghte  we  with  thee  ben  wel  apayd.' 

And  whan  thise  ydel  wordes  weren  sayd. 
The  colde  wal  they  wolden  kisse  of  stoon. 
And  take  hir  leve,  and  forth  they  wolden 

goou. 


And  this  was  gladly  in  the  even-tyde    770 
Or  wonder  erly,  lest  men  hit  espyde ; 
And  longe  tyme  they  wroghte  in  this 

manere 
Til  on  a  day,  whan  Phebus  gan  to  olere, 
Aurora  with  the  stremes  of  hir  hete 
Had  dryed  up  the  dew  of  herbes  wete;  775 
Unto  this  clifte,  as  it  was  wont  to  be,  (71) 
Com  Pyramus,  and  after  com  Tisbe, 
And  plighten  trouthe  fully  in  hir  fey 
That  ilke  same  night  to  stele  awey. 
And  to  begyle  hir  wardeins  everichoon,  780 
And  forth  out  of  the  citee  for  to  goon  ; 
And,  for  the  feldes  been  so  brode  and 

wyde, 
For  to  mete  in  o  place  at  o  tyde. 
They  sette  mark  hir  meting  sholde  he 
Ther  king  Ninus  was   graven,   under   a 

tree  ;  (80)  785 

For  olde  payens  that  ydoles  heried 
Useden  tho  in  feldes  to  ben  beried  ; 
And  faste  by  this  grave  was  a  welle. 
And,  shortly  of  this  tale  for  to  telle. 
This     covenant    was     affermed    wonder 


faste  : 


7QO 


And  longe  hem  thoughte  that  tho  sonne 

lasto. 
That  hit  nere  goon  under  the  see  adoun. 

Til  is  Tisbe  hath  so  greet  affeccioun 
And  so  greet  lyking  Piramus  to  see. 
That,  whan  she  seigh  her  tyme  mighte 

be,  (90)  795 

At  night  she  stal  awey  ful  prively 
With  her  face  y-wimi)lcd  subtilly  ; 
For  alle   her   frendes — for    to    save   her 

trouthe — ■ 
She   hath   for-sake ;    alias !    and    that    is 

routhe 
That  ever  woman  wolde  be  so  trewe    8o<5 
To   trusten  man,    but   she   the   bet   him 

knewe ! 
And  to  the  tree  she  goth  a  ful  good  pas, 
For  love  made  her  so  hardy  in  this  cas  ; 
And   by   the   welle   adoun   she   gan    her 

dresse.  804 

Alias  !  than  comth  a  wilde  leonesse   (100) 
Out  of  the  wode,  withouten  more  areste. 
With   blody  mouthe,   of  strangling  of  a 

beste. 
To  drinken  of  the  welle,  ther  as  she  sat ; 
And,  whan  that  Tisbe  liad  espyed  that, 


37° 


ZH  Be^eni  of  (Booi  (H>ojnen. 


She  list  her  nji,  with  a  fill  dreryherte,  Sio 
And  in  a  cave  with  dredful  foot  she  sterte, 
For  hy  the  mone  she  seigh  hit  wel  wth- 

alle.  812 

And,  as  she  ran,  her  wimpel  leet  she  falle, 
And  took  noon  heed,  so  sore  she  was 

a-whaped.  ('09) 

And  eek  so  ghvd  of  that  she  was  escaped  ; 
And  thus  she  sit,  and  darketh  wonder 

stille.  816 

AMian  that  this  leonesse  hath  dronke  her 

fiUe, 
Abouto  the  welle  gan  she  for  to  winde. 
And  right  anoon  the  wimpel  gan  she 

finde, 
And  with   her  blody  mouth   hit  al  to- 

rente.  820 

Whan  this  was  doon,  no  lenger  she  ne 

stente. 
But  to  the  wode  her  wey  than  hath  she 

nome. 
And,  at  the  laste,  this  Piramus  is  come, 
But  al  to  longe,  alias  !  at  lioom  was  he. 
The  mone  shoon,  men  mighte  wel  y-see,  825 
And   in   his  weye,  as  that  he  com   ful 

faste,  (121) 

His  eyen  to  the  grounde  adoun  he  caste, 
And  in  the  sonde,  as  he  beheld  adoun, 
He  seigh  the  steppes  brode  of  a  leoun, 
And  in  his  herte  he  sodeinly  agroos,    830 
And    pale    he   wex,   therwith  his    heer 

aroos. 
And  neer  he  com,  and  fond  the  wimijel 

torn. 
•  Alias  ! '  quod  he,    '  the   day  that  I  was 

born  ! 
This  o  night  wol  us  lovers  bothe  slee  ! 
How  sholde  I  axen  mercy  of  Tisbe         835 
"Whan  I  am  he  that  have  yow  slain,  alias  ! 
My  bidding  hath  yow  slain,  as  in  this 

cas.  (132) 

Alias  !  to  bidde  a  woman  goon  by  nighte 
In  place  ther  as  peril  fallen  mighte. 
And  I  so  slow  !  alias,  I  ne  hadde  be      840 
Here  in  this  place  a  furlong-wey  or  ye  ! 
Xow  what  leoun  that  be  in  this  foreste. 
My  body  mote  he  f  renden,  or  what  beste 
That  wilde  is,  gnawen  mote  he  now  myn 

herte  ! ' 
And  with  that  worde  he  to  the  wimpel 

sterte,  .  (140)  845 


And  kisto  hit  ofto,  ami  weep  on  hit  ful 

sore, 
And  seide,   '  wimpel,   alias  !    tlior  nis  no 

more 
But   thou   shalt   fele  as  wel  the  blood 

of  me 
As  thou  hast  felt  the  bleding  of  Tisbe  ! ' 
And  with  that  worde  he  smoot  him  to  the 

herte.  850 

The   blood  out   of  the  wounde  as  brode 

sterte 
As  water,  whan  the  conduit  broken  is. 
Now  Tisbe,   which  that  wisto  nat  of 

this. 
But  sitting  in  her  drede,  she  thoghte  thus, 
'  If  hit  so  falle  that  my  Piramus  855 

Be  comen  hider,  and  may  me  nat  y-finde, 
He  may  me  holden  fals  and  eek  unkinde.* 
And  out  she  comth,  and  after  him  gan 

espyen  (153) 

Bothe  with  her  herte  and  with  her  yen, 
And  thoghte,   '  I  wol  him  tellen  of  my 

drede  860 

Bothe  of  the  leonesse  and  al  my  dede.' 
And  at  the  laste  her  love  than  hath  she 

founde 
Beting  with  his  heles  on  the  grounde, 
Al  blody,  and  therwith-al  a^bak  she  sterte, 
And  lyke    the  wawes  quappo    gan  her 

herte,  (i6())  865 

And  pale  as  box  she  wex,  and  in  a  throwe 
Avysed  her,  and  gan  him  wel  to  knowe, 
That  liit  was  Piramus,  her  herte  dere. 
Who  coude  wrj-te  whiche  a  deedly  chere 
Hath  Tisbe  now,  and  how  her  heer  she 

rente,  870 

And  how  she  gan  her-selve  to  turmente. 
And  how  she  lyth  and  swowneth  on  the 

grounde. 
And  how  she  weep  of  teres  ful  his  wounde. 
How  medeleth  she  his  blood   wth  her 

conndeynte. 
And  with  his  blood  her-selven  gan  she 

peynte;  (17")  ^^75 

How  clippeth  she  the  dede  cors,  alias  ! 
How  doth  this  wofiil Tisbe  in  this  cas! 
How  kisseth  she  his  frosty  mouth  so  cold! 
'  Who    hath    doon    this,   and   who   hath 
I  been  so  bold  879 

To  sleen  my  leef  ?     O  spek,  my  Piramus  ! 
I  I  am  thy  Tisbe,  that  thee  calleth  thus ! ' 


ZU  Begeni  of  ®ibo. 


371 


And  therwith-al  she  liftetli  np  liis  heed. 
This   woful   man,    that   was  nat   fiUly 

deed, 
Whan  that  he  herde  the  name  of  Tisbe 

cryen. 
On  her  he  caste  his  hevy  deadly  yen     885 
And   doun   again,    and   yeldeth    up    the 

gost.  (181) 

Tisbe  rist  np,  withoixten  noise  or  host, 
And  seigh  her  wimpel  and  his  empty 

shetlie. 
And  eek  his  swerd,  that  him  hath  doon 

to  dethe  ; 
Than  spak  she  thiis  :  '  My  wofnl  hand,' 

quod  she,  890 

'Is  strong  y-nogh  in  swiche  a  werk  to 

me; 
For  love  shal    yive    me    strengthe  and 

hardinesse 
To  make  my  wounde  large  y-nogh,  I  gesse. 
I  wol  thee  folwen  deed,  and  I  wol  be 
Felawe  and  cause  eek  of  thy  deeth,'  quod 

she.  (190)  895 

'  And  thogh  that  nothing  save  the  deeth 

only 
Mighte  thee  fro  me  departe  trewely, 
Thou    shalt   no   more    departe    now   fro 

me 
Than  fro  the  deeth,   for  I  wol.  go  with 

thee  ! 


'And  now,  ye  wrecched  jelous  fadres 

oure,  9<x) 

We,  that  weren  whylom  children  youre, 
We  prayen  yow,  withouten  more  envye, 
That  in  o  grave  y-fere  we  moten  lye. 
Sin  love  hath  brought  us  to  this  pitous 

ende !  (199) 

And  right  wis  god  to  every  lover  sende,  905 
That  loveth  trewely,  more  prosperitee 
Than  ever  hadde  Piramus  and  Tisbe  ! 
And  lat  no  gentil  woman  her  assu.ro 
To  putten  her  in  swiche  an  aventure. 
But  god  forbede  but  a  woman  can         910 
Been  as  trewe  and  loving  as  a  man  ! 
And,  for  my  part,  I  shal  anoon  it  kjrthe  ! ' 
And,  with  that  worde,  his  swerd  she  took 

as  swythe, 
That  warm  was  of  her  loves  blood  and 

hoot,  (209) 

And  to  the  herteshe  her-selven  smoot.  915 

And  thus  ar  Tisbe  and  Piramus  ago. 
Of  trewe  men  I  finde  but  fewe  mo 
In  alle  my  bokes,  save  this  Piramus, 
And  therfor  have  I  sixiken  of  him  thus. 
For  hit  is  deyntee  to  us  men  to  finde   920 
A  man  that  can  in  love  be  trewe  and 

kinde. 
Heer  may  ye  seen,  what  lover  so  he  be, 
A  woman  dar  and  can  as  wel  as  he. 
Explicit  legenda  Tesbe. 


III.  THE  LEGEND  OF  DIDO,  QUEEN  OF  CARTHAGE. 


Incipit  Legenda  Didonis  Martiris, 
Cartaginis  regine. 
Glory  and  honour,  Virgil  Mantuan, 
Be  to  thy  name !  and  I  shal,  as  I  can,  925 
Folow  thy  lantern,  as  thou  gost  biforn. 
How  Eneas  to  Dido  was  forsworn. 
In  thyn  Eneid  and  Naso  wol  I  take 
The     tenour,    and     the    grete     effectes 

make. 
Wlian  Troye  broght   was   to   destruc- 

cioun  930 

By    Grekes    sleighte,    and     namely    by 

Sinoun, 
Feyning  the  hors  y-offred  to  Minerve, 
Through    which    that    many   a    Troyan 

moste  sterve ;  (10) 


And  Ector  had,  after  his  deeth,  appered. 
And    fyr  so   wood,    it    mighte   nat    bo 

stered,  935 

In  al  the  noble  tour  of  Ilioun, 
That  of  the  citee  was  the  cheef  dungeoun ; 
And  al  the  contree  was  so  lowe  y-broght. 
And    Priamus    the    king    fordoon     and 

noght ; 
And  Eneas  was  charged  by  Venus         940 
To  fleen  awey,  he  took  Asoanius, 
That  was  his  sone,  in  his  right  hand,  and 

fledde  ; 
And  on  his  bakke  he  bar  and  with  him 

ledde  (20) 

His  olde  fader,  cleped  Anchises, 
And    by  the    weyo    his  wyf  Creusa   he 

lees.  945 


372 


th  Bt^tnb  of  (Booi  (^Oomen. 


And  mochel  sorwe  hatlJe  he  in  his  minde 
Er  that  he  coude  his  felawshippe  finde. 
But,  at  the  laste,   whan    he    had   hem 

founde,  948 

He  made  him  redy  in  a  certein  stounde, 
And  to  the  see  ful  faste  he  gan  him  liye, 
And  sailoth  forth  with  al  his  companye 
Toward  Itaile,  as  wolde  destinee. 
But  of  his  aventures  in  the  see  (30) 

Nis  nat  to  purpos  for  to  speke  of  here, 
For  liit  acordeth  nat  to  my  matere.       955 
But,  as  I  seide,  of  him  and  of  Dido 
Shal  be  my  tale,  til  that  I  have  do. 

So  longe  he  siiiled  in  the  salte  see 
Til  in  Libye  unuethe  aryved  he. 
With  shippes  seven  and  with  no  more 

navye  ;  960 

And  glad  was  he  to  londe  for  to  hye, 
So  was  he  with  the  tempest  al  to-shake. 
And   whan  that  he  the  haven  had  y- 

take,  (40) 

He  had  a  knight,  was  called  Achates ;  964 
And  him  of  nl  his  felawshippe  he  chees 
To  goon  with  him,  the  contre  for  tespye  ; 
He  took  with  him  no  more  companye. 
But  forth  they  goon,  and  lafto  his  shippes 

ryde. 
His  fere  and  he,  with-outon  any  gyde.   969 
So  longe  he  walkcth  in  this  wildernesse 
Til,  at  the  laste,  he  mctto  an  hunteresse. 
A  bowe  in  honde  and  arwes  hadde  she, 
Her  clothes  cutted  were  unto  the  knee ;  (50) 
But  she  was  yit  the  fairest  creature 
That  ever  was  y-formed  by  nature  ;       975 
And  Eneas  and  Achates  she  grette. 
And  thus  she  to  hem  spak,  whan  she  hem 

niette. 
'  Sawe  ye,'  quod  she,  '  as  ye  ban  walked 

wyde. 
Any  of  my  sustren  walke  .vow  besyde, 
With  any  wilde  boor  or  other  besto      980 
That  they  ban  hunted  to,  in  this  foreste, 
Y-tnkked  up.  with  arwes  in  her  cas  ? '  (59) 

'Nay,  soothly,  lady,'  quod  this  Eneas; 
'  But,  by  thy  beaute,  as  bit  thinketh  me, 
Tlion  mightest  never  ertbely  womman  be. 
But  Phebus  suster  artow,  as  I  gesse.     9S6 
And,  if  so  be  that  thon  l>e  a  goddesse. 
Have  mercy  on  our  labour  and  our  wo.' 
'  I  nam  no  goddes,  soothly,'  quod  she 

tho; 


'  For  maidens  walken  in  this  contree  here, 
With    ar^ves    and    with    bowe,    in    this 

manere.  991 

This  is  the  regne  of  Libie,  ther  ye  been, 
Of  which  that  Dido  lady  is  and  queen' — 
And  shortly  tolde  him  al  the  occasioun  (71) 
AMiy  Dido  com  into  that  regioun,  995 
Of  which  as  now  me  lusteth  nat  toryme  ; 
Hit  nedeth  nat ;  hit  nere  but  los  of  tyme. 
For  this  is  al  and  som,  it  was  Venus, 
His  owne  m<xler,  that  spak  with  him  thus ; 
And  to  Cartage  she  bad  he  sholde  him 

dighte,  1000 

And  vanished  anoon  out  of  his  sighte. 
I  coude  folwe,  word  for  word,  Virgyle, 
But  it  wolde  lasten  al  to  longe  a  whyle.  (80) 
This  noble  queen,  that  cleped  was  Dido, 
That  whylom  was  the  wyf  of  Sitheo,   1005 
That  fairer  was  then  is  the  brighto  Sonne, 
This  noble  toun  of  Cartage  hath  begonne ; 
In  which  she  regneth  in  so  greet  honour, 
That  she  was  holde  of  alle  queues  flour. 
Of  gentilcsse,  of  freedom,  of  beautco  ;  loio 
That  wel  was  him  that  mighte  her  ones 

see; 
Of  kinges  and  of  lordes  so  desyred,       (89) 
That  al  the  world  her  beaute  hadde  y- 

fj-red  ; 
She  stootl  so  wel  in  every  wightes  grace. 
Whan  Eneas    was    come    un-to    that 

place,  1015 

Unto  the  maister-temple  of  al  the  tovin 
Ther  Dido  was  in  her  devocioun, 
Ful  prively  his  wey  than  hath  he  nome. 
Whan  he  was  in  the  large  temple  come, 
I  can  nat  se.vn  if  that  hit  be  possible,  1020 
But  Venus  hadde  him  maked  invisible — 
Thus  seith  the  book,  with-outen  any  lees. 
And  whan  this  Eneas  and  Achates     (100) 
Hadden  in  this  temple  been  over-al, 
Than  founde  they,  depejTited  on  a  wal. 
How  Troye  and  al  the  lond  destroyed  was. 
'Alias  !  that  I  was  Iwm,'  quod  Eneas,  1027 
'  Through-out  the  world  our  shame  is  kid 

so  wyde. 
Now  it  is  peynted  upon  every  syde  ! 
We,  that  weren  in  prosperitee,  1030 

Be  now  disslaundred,  and  in  swich  degree, 
No  lenger  for  to  liven  I  ne  kepe  ! ' 
And,  with  that  worde,  he  brast  out  for  to 

wepe  (no) 


Zh  Be^en^  of  ©t^o. 


373 


So    tendrely,     that    routhe    hit   was    to 

sene. 
This  fresshe  lady,  of  the  citee  quene,  1035 
Stood  in  the  temple,  in  her  estat  royal, 
So  richely,  and  eelt  so  fair  with-al, 
So  yong,  so  histy,  with  her  eyeu  glade. 
That,  if  that  god,  that  heven  and  erthe 

niade, 
Wolde  han  a  love,  for  beaute  and  good- 

nesse,  1040 

And  womanhod,  and  trouthe,  and  seenili- 

nesse, 
WTiom   slioldo   he   loven   hut    this    lady 

swete '? 
There   nis   no   womman   to   him  half  so 

mete.  (120) 

Fortune,  that  hath  the  world  in  govern- 

aunce. 
Hath    sodeinly    broght     in     so    newe    a 

chaunce,  1045 

Tliat  never  was  ther  yit  so  fremd  a  cas. 
For  al  the  companye  of  Eneas, 
Which  that  he  wende  han  loren  in  the 

see, 
Aryved  is,  nat  fer  fro  that  citee  ; 
For  which,  the  grettest  of  his  lordessome 
By  aventiire  ben  to  the  citee  come,       1051 
Unto  that  same  temple,  for  to  seko 
The  quene,  and  of  her  sooour  her  beseko  ; 
Swicli  renoun  was  ther   spronge  of  her 

goodnesse.  (131) 

And,  whan  they  hadden  told  al  hir  dis- 

tresse,  1055 

And  al  hir  tempest  and  hir  harde  cas. 
Unto  the  quene  appercd  Eneas, 
And  openly  beknew  that  hit  was  he. 
Who  hadde  joye  than  but  his  meynee. 
That  hadden  founde  hir  lord,  hir  gover- 

nour  ?  1060 

The   quene   saw  they  dide  him  swich 

honour. 
And  had  herd  ofte  of  Eneas,  er  tho. 
And  in  her  herte  she  hadde  routhe  and 

wo  (140) 

That  ever  swich  a  noble  man  as  he 
Shal  been  disherited  in  swich  degree ;  1065 
And   saw   the   man,  that  ho  was  lyk  a 

knight, 
And  suffisaunt  of  persone  and  of  might. 
And  lyk  to  been  a  veray  gentil  man  ; 
And  wel  his  wordes  he  besette  can. 


And  had  a  noble  visage  for  the  nones,  1071) 
And  formed  wel  of  bravmes  and  of  bones. 
For,  after  Venus,  hadde  he  swich  fair- 

nesse. 
That   no   man   might   be   half  so  fair,  I 

gesse.  (150) 

And  wel  a  lord  he  semed  for  to  be. 
And,    for  he  was  a  straunger,  somwhat 

she  1075 

Lyked  him  the  bet,  as,  god  do  bote. 
To  som  folk  ofte  newe  thing  is  swote. 
Anoon  her  herte  hath  pitee  of  his  wo. 
And,  with  that  pitee,  love  com  in  also  ; 
And  thus,  for  pitee  and  for  gentilesse,  1080 
Refresshed  moste  he  been  of  his  distresse. 
She  seide,  certes,  that  she  sory  was 
That  he  hath  had  swich  peril  and  swich 

cas ;  (160) 

And,  in  her  frendly  speche,  in  this  manere 
She  to  him  spak,  and  seide  as  ye  may 

here.  10S5 

'  Be  ye  nat  Venus  sone  and  Anchises  ? 

In  go<id  feith,  al  the  worship  and  encrees 

That  I  may  goodly   doon   yow,   ye   shul 

have. 
Your  sliippes   and  your   meynee   shal  I 

save ; ' 
And  many  a  gentil  word  she  spak  him  to  ; 
And  comaunded  her  messageres  go      1091 
The  same  day,  with-onten  any  faile. 
His  shippes  for  to  seke,  and  heni  vitaile. 
She  many  abeste  to  the  shippes  sente,  (171) 
And  with  tho  wyn  she  gan  hem  to  pre- 

sente ;  1095 

And  to  her  royal  paleys  she  her  spedde. 
And  Eneas  alwey  with  her  she  ledde. 
AVhat  nedeth  yow  the  festo  to  descry  ve  ? 
He  never  beter  at  ese  was  his  lyve. 
Ful  was  the  feste  of  deyntees  and  rich- 

esse,  I 100 

Of  instruments,  of  song,  and  of  gladnesse, 

And  many  an  amorous  loldng  and  devys. 

This  Eneas  is  come  to  Paradys         (180) 

Out  of  the  swolow  of  helle,  and  thus  in 

joye  1 1 04 

Eemembreth  him  of  his  estat  in  Troye. 
To  dauncing-ohambres  ful  of  parements. 
Of  riche  beddes,  and  of  ornaments, 
This  Eneas  is  lad,  after  the  mete. 
And  with  the  quene  whan  that  he  had 

sete. 


ZU  Bt^inb  of  (Boob  QSomen. 


And  spyces  parted,  niid  the  wyn  agoon. 
Unto  his  chambres  was  he  lad  anoon     1 1 1 1 
To  take  his  ese  and  for  to  have  his  reste, 
With  al  his  folk,  to  doon  what  so  hem 

leste.  (190) 

Ther  nas  courser©  wel  y-brydled  noon, 
Ne  stede,  for  the  justing  wel  to  goon,   1 1 15 
Ne  large  palfrey,  esy  for  the  nones, 
Ne  juwel,  fretted  ful  of  riche  stones, 
Ke  sakkes  ful  of  gold,  of  large  wighte, 
Ne  ruby  nfK>n,  that  shynede  by  nighte, 
Ne  gentil  hautein  faucon  heronere,      1120 
Ne  hound,  for  hert  or  wilde    boor    or 

dere, 
Ne  coupe  of  gold,  with  florins  newe  y-bete, 
That  in  the  lond  of  Libie  may  be  gete. 
That  Dido  ne  hath  hit  Eneas  y-sent;  (201) 
And  al  is  payed,  what  that  he  hath  spent. 
Thus  can  this  f  noble  queno  her  gestes 

calle,  1126 

As  she  that  can  in  freedom  passen  alle. 

Eneas  sothly  cek,  with-outen  lees. 
Hath  sent  un-to  his  sliippe,  by  Achates, 
After  his  sone,  and  after  richo  thinges. 
Both  ceptre,  clothes,  broches,  and   eek 

ringes,  1131 

Som  for  to  were,  and  som  for  to  presente 
To  her,  that  all  thise  noble  thinges  him 

sente  ;  (210) 

And   bad  his  sone,  how  that  he  sholde 

make 
Tlie  presenting,   and  to  the   quene   hit 


"35 


1140 


take. 
Repaired  is  this  Achates  again, 
And  Eneas  ful  blisful  is  and  fain 
To  seen  his  yonge  sone  Ascanius. 
But  nathelcs,  our  autour  telleth  us. 
That  Cupido,  that  is  the  god  of  love. 
At  preyere  of  his  moder,  hye  above, 
Hadde  the  lyknes  of  the  child  y-take. 
This  noble  queue  enamoured  to  make  (220) 
On  Eneas  ;  but,  as  of  that  scripture. 
Be  as  be  maj-,  I  make  of  hit  no  cure.    1145 
But  sooth  is  this,  the  quene  hath  mad 

swich  chere 
L'n-to  this  chUd,  that  wonder  is  to  here  ; 
And  of  the  present  that  his  fader  sente 
She  thanked  him  ful  ofte.  in  good  entente. 
Thus  is  this  quene  in  plesaunce  and  in 

joye,  1 150 

"With  al  this  newe  lusty  folk  of  Troye. 


And   of  the    dodos   hnth    she    more   en- 

quered 
Of  Eneas,  and  al  the  story  lered  (230) 

Of  Troye ;    and  al  the  longe  day  they 

tweye 
Entendeden  to  speken  and  to  pleye  ;     1 155 
Of  which  ther  gan  to  breden  swich  a  fyr, 
That  sely  Dido  hatli  now  swich  desyr 
With  Eneas,  her  newe  gest,  to  dele. 
That  she  hath  lost  her  hewe,  and  eek  her 

hele. 
Now  to  th'effect,  now  to  the  fruit  of  al,  1 160 
Why  I  have  told  this  story,  and  tellen 

shal. 
Thus  I  beginne  ;  hit  fil,  upon  a  night. 
When  that  the  mone  up-reysed  had  her 

light,  (240) 

Tliis  noble  quene  un-to  her  reste  wente  ; 
She  syketh  sore,  and  gan  her-self  tur- 

mente.  1165 

She  waketh,   walweth,   maketh  many  a 

brayd. 
As  doon  thise  loveres,as  I  have  herd  sayd. 
And  at  the  laste,  iinto  her  suster  Anne 
She  made  her  moon,  and  right  thus  spak 

she  thanne. 
'  Now,  dere  suster  myn,  what  may  hit 

be  1170 

That  me  agastcth  in  my  dreme?'  quod 

she. 
'  This  ilke  Troyan  is  so  in  my  thoght, 
For    that    me    thinketh    he    is    so    wel 

y-wroght,  (250; 

And  eek  so  lykly  for  to  be  a  man. 
And  therwithal  so  mikel  good  he  can,  1175 
That  al  my  love  and  Ij-f  lyth  in  his  cure. 
Have  ye  not  herd  him  telle  hisaventure? 
Now  certcs,  Anne,  if  that  ye  rede  hit  me, 
I  wolde  fain  to  him  y- wedded  be  ;  11 79 
This  is  th'effect ;  what  sholde  I  more  seye? 
In  him  lyth  al,  to  do  me  live  or  deye.' 
Her  suster  Anne,  as  she  that  coude  her 

good, 
Seide  as  her  thoughte,  and  somdel  hit 

with-stood.  (260) 

But  her-of  was  so  long  a  sermoning. 
Hit  were  to  long  to  make  rehersing;    1185 
But  fynally,   hit    may  not    been    with- 

stonde ; 
Love   wol  love — for    no  wight  wol    hit 

wonde. 


Z^t  Begenb  of  ©t^o. 


375 


The  dawening  up-rist  out  of  the  see  ; 
This  amorous  quene  chargeth  her  meynee 
The  nettes  dresse,  and  speres  brode  and 
kene;  "9° 

An  hunting  wol  this  lusty  fresshe  quene  ; 
So  priketh  her  this  newe  joly  wo. 
To  hors  is  al  her  lusty  folk  y-go  ;         (270) 
rn-to  the  court  the  houndesbeen  y-broght, 
And  up-on  coursers,  swift  as  any  thoght, 
Her  yonge  knightes  hoven  al  aboute,    1 196 
And  of  her  wommen  eek  an  huge  route. 
Up-on  a  thikke  palfrey,  paper-whyt. 
With  sadel  rede,  enbrouded  with  delyt, 
Of  gold  the  barres  up-enbossed  hye,     1200 
Sit  Dido,  al  in  gold  and  perre  wrye ; 
And  she  is  foir,  as  is  the  brighte  morwe. 
That  heleth  seke  folk  of  nightes  sorwe.  (2S0) 

Up-on  a  courser,  startling  as  the  I'yr, 
Men  mighte  turne  him  with  a  litel  wyr, 
Sit  Eneas,  lyk  Phebus  to  devyse ;         1206 
So  was  he  fresshe  arayed  in  his  wyse. 
The  fomy  brydel  with  the  bit  of  gold 
Governcth  he,   right    as    him-self  hath 

wold. 
And   forth   this   noble  quene  thus  lat  I 
ryde  12 10 

An  hunting,  with  this  Troyan  by  her  syde. 

The  herd  of  hertes  founden  is  anoon. 
With  '  hey  !  go  bet !  prik  thou  !  lat  goon, 
lat  goon  !  (290) 

Why  nil  the  leoun  comen  or  the  here. 
That  I  mighte  ones  mete  him  with  this 
spere?'  i^'S 

Thus  sejTi  thise  yonge  folk,  and  up  they 

kiUe 
These  f  hertes  wilde,  and  han  hem  at  hir 
wille. 
Among    al    this    to-romblen    gan    the 
heven. 
The  thunder  Tored  with  a  grisly  steven  ; 
T>onn  com  the  rain,  with  hail  and  sleet 
so  faste,  1220 

With  hevenes  fyr,  that  hit  so  sore  agaste 
This  noble  qviene,  and  also  her  meynee. 
That  ech  of  hem  was  glad  a-wey  to  flee.  (300) 
And  shortly,  fro  the  tempest  her  to  save. 
She  fledde  her-self  into  a  litel  cave,     1225 
And  with  her  wente  this  Eneas  al-so  ; 
I  noot,  with  hem  if  ther  wente  any  mo  ; 
The  autour  maketh  of  hit  no  mencioun. 
And  heer  began  the  dope  affecciovm 


BetwLs   hem   two ;    this   was    the   firste 

morwe  '  230 

Of  her   gladnesse,    and   ginning    of  her 

sorwe. 
For  ther  hath  Eneas  y-kneled  so,        (309) 
And  told  her  al  his  herte,  and  al  his  wo. 
And  sworn  so  depe,  to  her  to  be  trewe. 
For  wele  or  wo,    and  chaunge    for   no 
newe,  1235 

And  as  a  fals  lover  so  wel  can  pleyne. 
That  sely  Dido  rawed  on  his  peyne, 
And  took  him  for  husband,  fto  been  his 

wyf 
For  ever-mo,  whyl  that  hem  laste  lyf. 
And  after  this,  whan  that  the  tempest 
stente,  1240 

With   mirth  out   as   they  comen,  boom 
they  wente. 
The  wikked  fame  up  roos,   and  that 
anon,  (319) 

How  Eneas  hath  with  the  quene  y-gon 
In-to  the  cave  ;  and  denied  as  hem  liste  ; 
And  whan  the  king,  that  Yarbas  hight, 
hit  wiste,  124S 

As  he  that  had  her  loved  ever  his  lyf. 
And  wowed  her,  to  have  her  to  his  wj'f, 
Swich  sorwe  as  he  hath  maked,  and  swich 

chere, 
Hit  is  a  routhe  and  pitee  for  to  here. 
But,  as  in  love,  al-day  hit  happeth  so,   1250 
That  oon  shal  laughen  at  anothers  wo  ; 
Now  laugheth  Eneas,  and  is  in  joye 
And  more  richesse  than  ever  he  was  in 
Troye.  (33o) 

O  sely  womman,  ful  of  innocence,    1254 
Ful  of  pitee,  of  trouthe,  and  conscience. 
What  maked  yow  to  men  to  trusten  so  ? 
Have  ye  swich  routhe  upon  hir  feined  wo. 
And    han    swich    olde    ensamples     yow 

beforn  ? 

See  ye  nat  alle,  how  they  been  for-sworn  ? 

Wher  see  ye  oon,  that  he  ne  hath  laft  his 

leaf,  1260 

Or  been  unkinde,  or  doon  hir  som  mis- 

clieef. 
Or  pilled  her,  or  hosted  of  his  dede  ?  (339) 
Ye  may  as  wel  hit  seen,  as  ye  may  rede  ; 
Tak  heed  now  of  this  grete  gentil-man. 
This  Troyan,  that  so  wel  her  plesen  can, 
That  feineth  him  so  trewe  and  obeising, 
So  gentil  and  so  privy  of  his  doing,      1267 


3/6 


^3^  Bt^trib  of  <5oofe  (^omen. 


And  can  sowel  doon  ,iTle  his  obeisaunces, 
And  waiten  lier  at  lestes  and  at  daunces, 
And  when  she  goth  to  temple  and  hoom 

ageyn,  1270 

And  fasten  til  he  hath  his  lady  seyn, 
And  here  in  his  de%'yses,  for  her  sake, 
Noot  I  nat  what;  and  songes  wolde  he 

make,  (35") 

Justen,  and  doon  of  armes  many  thinges, 
Sende  her  lettres,  tokens,  broches,  ringes — 
Now  herkneth,   how   he  shal  liia   lady 

serve  !  1276 

Ther-as  he  was  in  peril  for  to  sterve 
For  hunger,    and  for  mischeef    in  the 

see, 
And  desolat,  and  fled  from  his  contree. 
And  al  his  folk  with  tempest  alto-driven. 
She  hath  her  body  and  eek  her  reame 

yiven  1 281 

lu-to  his  hond,  ther-as  she  mighte  have 

been 
Of  other  lond  than  of  Cartage  a  queen. 
And  lived  in  joye  y-nogh  ;  what  wolde  ye 

more?  (361) 

This  Eneas,  that  hath  so  depe  y-swore. 
Is  wery  of  his  craft  witli-in  athrowe;  1286 
The  hote  ernest  is  nl  over-blowe. 
And  prively  he  doth  his  shippcs  dighte. 
And  sliapeth  him  to  stele  a-wey  by  nighte. 
This  Dido  hath  suspocioun  of  this,  1290 
And  thoughte  wel,  that  hit  was  al  a-mis; 
For  in  his  bcddo  he   lyth  a-night  and 

syketh  ; 
She  asketh  him  anoon,  what  him  mis- 

lyketh—  (370) 

'  My  dere  herte,  which  that  I  love  most?' 

'  Certes,'  quod  he,  '  this  night  my  fadres 

gost  1295 

Hath  in  my  sleep  so  sore  me  tormented. 
And  eek  Mercurle  his  message  hath  pre- 
sented, 
That  nedes  to  the  conquest  of  Itaile 
My  destinee  is  sone  for  to  saile  ; 
For  which,  me  thinketh,  brosten  is  myn 

herte  ! '  1300 

Ther-with  his  false  teres  out  they  sterte ; 
And  taketh  her  with-in  his  armes  two. 
'  Is  that  in  ernest,'  quod  she  ;  '  wil  ye 

so?  (380) 

Have  ye  nat  sworn  to  wyve  me  to  take, 
Alas  !  what  womman  wil  ve  of  me  make  ? 


I  am  a  gentil-woman  and  a  queen,  i^oO 
Ye  wil  nat  fro  your  wyf  thus  foule  fleen  ? 
That  I  was  born  !  alias  !  what  shal  I  do? ' 
To  telle  in  short,  this  noble  queen  Dido, 
She  seketh  halwes,  and  doth  sacrifyse ; 
She  kneleth,  cryeth,  that  routhe  is  to 
devyse  ;  13 11 

Conjureth  him,  and  profreth  him  to  be 
His  thral,  his  servant  in  the  leste  gree  ; 
She  falleth  him  to  fote,  and  swowneth 
there  (391) 

Dischevele,  with  her  brighto  gilte  here, 
And  seith,    '  have  mercy !   let  me  with 
yow  rydo  !  13 16 

Thise  lordes,  which  that  wonen  me  hesyde 
Wil  me  destroyen  only  for  your  sake. 
And,  so  ye  wil  me  now  to  wyve  take. 
As  ye  han  sworn,   than  wol  I  yive  yow 
leve  1320 

To  sleen  me  with  your  swerd  now  sone  at 

eve! 
For  than  yit  shal  I  dyen  as  your  wyf. 
I  am  with  childe,  and  yive  my  child  liis 
lyf.  (400) 

Mercy,  lord  !  have  pite  in  your  thoght ! ' 
But  al  tliis  thing  availeth  her  right  noght; 
For  on  a  night,  slcpinge,  ho  let  her  lye. 
And  stal  a-wey  un-to  his  companye,    1327 
And,  as  a  traitour,  forth  he  gan  to  saUo 
Toward  the  large  contree  of  Itailc. 
Thus  hath  he  laft  Dido  in  wo  and  pyne  ; 
And  wedded  ther  a  lady  hight  Lavyne. 
A  cloth  he  lafte,  and  cok  his  swerd 
stonding,  (409)  1332 

Whan  he  fro  Dido  stal  in  her  sleping, 
Eight  at  her  beddes  heed,  so  gan  he  hye 
Whan  tliat  ho  stal  a-wey  to  his  navye  ; 
Which  cloth,  whan  sely  Dido  gan  awake, 
She  hath  hit  kist  ful  ofte  for  his  sake ; 
And  seide,    '  O   cloth,  whyl  Jupiter  hit 

leste, 

Tak   now  my  soule,  unbind  me  of  this 

unreste !  1339 

I  have  fulfild  of  fortune  al  the  cours.' 

And  thus,  alias  !  with-outen  his  socours, 

Twenty  tymey-swowned  hath  she  thanne. 

And,   whan   that   she   un-to  her  suster 

Anne  (420) 

Compleyned    had,    of  which    I  may  nat 

wrjte —  1344 

So  greet  a  routhe  I  have  hit  for  t'endyte — 


ZU  Begen^  of  l^pjjet^jpfe  anb  (niebea. 


377 


And  bad  lier  norice  and  her  snster  goon 
To  fecchen  fyr  and  other  thing  anoon, 
And  seide,  that  she  wolde  sacrifye. 
And,   whan  she  niighte    her  tyme  wel 

espye, 
Up-on  the  fyr  of  sacrifys  she  sterte,     1350 
And  with  his  swerd  she  roof  her  to  the 
herte. 
But,  as  mjTi  autour  seith,  right  thus 
she  seyde ;  (429) 

Or  she  was  hurt,  before  that  she  deyde, 
She  wroot  a  lettre  anoon,  that  thus  be- 
gan :— 
'  Right  so,'  quod  she,  '  as  that  the  whyte 
swan  135s 

Ayeins  his  deeth  beginneth  for  to  singe. 
Right  so  to  yow  malie  I  my  compleyninge. 


Nat  that  I  trowe  to  geten  yow  again. 
For  wel  I  woot  that  it  is  al  in  vain. 
Sin  that  the  goddes  been  contraire  to  me. 
But  sin  my  name  is  lost  through  yow,' 

quod  she,  1361 

'  I  may  wel  lese  a  word  on  yow,  or  letter, 
Al-be-it  that  I  shal  be  never  the  better  ; 
For  thilke   wind    that   blew   your    ship 

a-wey,  (44') 

The  same  wind  hath  blowe  a-wey  yoiir 

fey.' —  1365 

But   who    wol    al  this   letter  have  in 

minde, 
Rede  Ovide,  and  in  him  he  shal  hit  finde. 

Explicit  Legenda  Didonis  Martiris, 
CaHaginis  regine. 


TV.    THE  LEGEKD  OF  HYPSIPYLE  AND  MEDEA. 


Incipit  Legenda  I'siphile  ct  Medee, 

Martiriim. 

Part  I.  The  Legend  of  Hypsipyle. 

Tiiou  rote  of  false  lovers,  duk  Jasoun  ! 
Tliou  sly  devourer  and  confusioun 
Of  gentil-wommen,  tender  creatures,  1370 
Thoii   madest   thy   reclaiming   and    thy 

lures 
To  ladies  of  thy  statly  apparaunce. 
And  of  thy  wordes,  farced  with  plesaunce. 
And    of   thy    feyned   trouthe    and    tliy 

manere, 
With  thyn  obeisaunce  and  thy  humble 

chere,  (8)  137S 

And  with  thy  counterfeted  peyne  and  wo. 
Ther  other  falsen  oon,  thou  falsest  two  ! 
O  !  ofte  swore  thou  that  thou  woldest  dye 
For  love,  whan  thou  ne  feltest  maladye 
Save  foul  delyt,  which  that  thou  caUest 

love !  13^*0 

If  that  I  live,  thy  name  shal  be  shove 
In    English,    that   thy   sleighte   shal    be 

Ttnowe ! 
Have  at  thee,  Jasoun  !  now  thyn  horn  is 

blowe  ! 
But  certes,  hit  is  bothe  routhe  and  wo 
That  love  with  false  loveres  werketh  so  : 


For  they  shul  have  wel  better  love  and 
chere  '3-6 

Than  he  that  hath  aboght  his  love  ful 
dere,  (20) 

Or  had  in  armes  many  a  blody  box. 

For  ever  as  tendre  a  capoun  et  the  fox, 

Thogh  he  be  fals  and  hath  the  foul  be- 
trayed, 1390 

As  shal  the  good-man  that  ther-for  hath 


Al  have   he   to  the   capoun    skille  and 

right, 
The  false  fox  wol  have  his  part  at  night. 
On  Jasoun  this  ensample  is  wel  y-sene 
By  Isiphile  and  Medea  the  queue.        1395 

In  Tessalye,  as  Guido  telleth  us, 
Ther  was  a  king  that  highte  Pelleus,   (30) 
That  had  a  brother,  which  that  highte 

Eson  ; 
And,  whan  for  age  he  mighte  unnethes 

He  yaf  to  Pelleus  the  governing  1400 

Of  al  his  regne,  and  made  him  lord  and 

king. 
Of  which  Eson  this  Jasoun  geten  was. 
That,  in  his  tjine,  in  al  that  lond,  ther  nas 
Nat  swich  a  famous  knight  of  gentilesse, 
Of  freedom,  and  of  strengthe  and  lusti- 

nesse.  1405 


378 


^^e  Bi^tni>  of  (Boob  (^owen. 


After  his  fader  death,  he  l>ar  liim  so     (39) 
That  thcr  nas  noon  that  listc  been  his  fo, 
But  dide  him  al  honour  and  companye  ; 
Of  which  this  Pelleus  hath  greet  envye, 
Imagining  that  Jasoun  miglite  be        1410 
Enhaunseil  so,  and  put  in  swich  degree 
With  love  of  hordes  of  his  regioun, 
That  from  his  regno  he  may  be  put  adoun. 
And  in  his  wit,  a-night,  compassed  he 
How  Jasoun  mighte  best  destroyed  be  1415 
Witliouto  slaunder  of  his  compasment. 
And  at  the  laste  he  took  avisement      (50) 
To  senden  him  in-to  som  fer  contree 
Tlier  as  this  Jasoun  may  destroyed  be. 
This  was  his  wit ;  al  made  ho  to  Jasoun 
Gret  chere  of  love  and  of  affeccioun,   14^1 
Por  drede  lest  his  lordes  hit  espyde. 
So  fil  hit  so,  as  fame  renneth  wyde, 
Ther  was  swich  tyding  over-al  and  swich 

los, 
That  in  an  yle  that  called  was  Colcos,  1425 
Beyonde  Troye,  estward  in  the  see, 
That  ther-in  was  a  ram,  tliat  men  migbte 

see,  (60) 

That  had  a  flees  of  gold,  that  shoon  so 

brighte, 
That  no-wher  was  ther  swich  an-other 

sighte ;  ,429 

But  hit  was  kept  alway  with  a  dragoun. 
And  many  othere  moi-veils,  up  and  douii. 
And  with  two  boles,  maked  al  of  bras. 
That  spitten  fyr,  and  moche  thing  ther 

was. 
But  this  was  eek  the  tale,  nathelees, 
That  who-so  wolde  winne  thilke  flees,  1435 
He  moste  bothe,  or  he  hit  winne  mighte, 
Witli  the  boles  and  the  dragoun  fighte  ; 
And  king  Oi-tes  lord  was  of  that  yle.    (71) 
Tliis  Pelleus  bethoghte  upon  this  wyle  ; 
That  ho  his  nevew  Jasoun  wolde  enhorte 
To  sailcn  to  that  lond,  him  to  disporte, 
And  seide,  '  Nevew,  if  hit  mighte  be 
That  swich  a  worship  mighte  fallen  thee. 
That  thou  this  famous  tresor  mightest 

winne,  1444 

And  bringeu  hit  my  regioun  with-inne. 
Hit  were  to  me  gret  plesaunce  and  honour ; 
Than  were  I  holde  to  quyte  thy  labour.  (80) 
And  al  the  cost  I  wol  my-selven  make  ; 
And  chees  what  folk  that  thou  wilt  with 


Lat  see  now,  darstow  taken  this  viage  ? ' 
Jasoun  was  yong,  and  lusty  of  corage, 
And  under-took  to   doon  this  ilke  em- 
pryse. 
Anoon  Argus  his  shippos  gan  devyse  ; 
With  Jasoun  wente  the  strcjngo  Ercnles, 
And   many  an-other  that  ho  with   him 


:hees. 


145s 


But  who-so  axeth  who  is  with  hmi  gon, 
Lat  him  go  reden  Argonauticon,  (90) 

For  ho  wol  telle  a  talo  long  y-now. 
Philotetcs  anoon  the  sjiil  up-drow. 
Whan  that  the  wind  was  good,  and  gan 
him  hye  1460 

Out  of  his  contree  called  Tessalye, 
So  long  he  sailed  in  tho  salto  see 
Til  in  the  yle  f  Lemnoun  aryved  he — 
Al  be  this  nat  rehcrsed  of  Guido, 
Yet  seith  Ovydo  in  his  Epistles  so —   1465 
And  of  this  yle  lady  was  and  queno 
The  faire  yonge  Isiphilee,  the  shene,  (100) 
That  whylom  Thoas    doghter  was,   the 
king. 
Isiphilee  was  goon  in  her  playing ;  1469 
And,  roming  on  the  clyves  by  the  see, 
Under  a  banko  anoon  espyed  .'-ho 
Wher  that  the  ship  of  Jasoun  gan  aryvc. 
Of  her  goodnesse  adoun  she  seiidoth  blyvo 
To  witen  yif  that  any  strauugo  wight  1474 
With  tempest  thiderwerey-blowo  a-night. 
To  doon  him  socour ;  as  was  her  usaunce 
To  forthren  every  wight,  and  doon  ple- 
saunce •  (no) 
Of  veray  bonntee  and  of  curtesye. 

This  mossagere  adoun  him  gan  to  hye. 
And  fond  Jasoun,  and  Erculcs  also,    148*1 
That  in  a  cogge  to  londe  were  y-go 
Hem  to  refresshen  and  to  take  the  eyr. 
The  morwening  atempre  was  and  fair  ; 
And  in  his  wey  tho  messagere  hem  mette. 
Ful  cunningly  thiso  lordes  two  he  grette. 
And  dide  his  message,  axing  hem  anoon 
Yif  they  were  broken,  or  oght  wo  begoon, 
Or  hadde  node  of  lodesmen  or  vitaile ;  (121) 
For  of  socour  they  shulde  no-thing  faile, 
For  hit  was  utterly  the  queues  wille.  1490 

Jasoun  answerde,  mekely  and  stiUe, 
'  My  lady,'  quod  he,  '  thanko  I  hertely 
Of  hir  goodnesse  ;  us  nedeth,  trewelj^. 
No-thing  as  now,  but  that  wo  wery  be. 
And  come  for  to  pleye,  out  of  the  see,  1495 


^^e  Begen^  of  ^ppetppfe  anb  (ttlzita. 


379 


Til  that  the  wind  he  hetter  in  our  weye.' 
This  lady  romethhy  the  clif  to  pleye,  (130) 
With  her  meynee,  endelong  the  strondo, 
And   fynt   this   Jaso\in   and   this    other 
stonde,  i499 

In  spekinge  of  this  thing,  as  I  yow  tolde. 

This  Ercules  and  Jasoun  gau  beholde 
How  that  the  quene  hit  was,  and  faire 

her  grette 
Anon-right  as  they  with  this  lady  mette  ; 
And  she  took   heed,   and    knew,   by  hir 

manere, 
By  hir  aray,  by  wordes  and  bychere,  1505 
That  hit  were  gentil-men,  of  greet  degree. 
And  to  the  castel  with  her  ledeth  she 
Thise  straunge  folk,  and  doth  hem  greet 

honour,  ('4') 

And  axeth  hem  of  travail  and  labour 
That  they  ban  suffred  in  the  salte  see ;  1510 
So  that,  within  a  day,  or  two,  or  throe, 
She  knew,  by  folk  that  in  his  shippes  be, 
That  hit  was  Jasoun,  ful  of  renomee, 
And  Erciiles,  that  had  the  grete  los,   1514 
That  soghten  the  aventures  of  Colcos  ; 
And  dide  hem  honour  more  then  before. 
And   with   hem   deled   ever  lenger    the 

more,  ('5") 

For  they  ben  worthy  folk,  with-outen  lees. 
And  namely,  most  she  spak  with  Ercules ; 
To  him  her  herto  bar,  he  sholde  be      1520 
Sad,  wys,  and  trewe,  of  wordes  avisee, 
With-outen  any  other  affeccioun 
Of  love,  or  evil  imaguiacioun. 

This  Ercules  hath  so  this  Jasoun  preysed. 
That   to    the    sonne    he    hath    him    up 

areysed,  1525 

That  half  so  trewe  a  man  ther  nas  of  love 
Under  the  cope  of  heven  that  is  above  ; 
And   he   was   wys,    hardy,    secree,    and 

riche. —  (161) 

Of  thise  three  pointes  ther  nas  noon  him 

liche  ; 
Of  freedom  passed  he,  and  lustihede,  1530 
Alle  tho  that  liven  or  ben  dede  ; 
Ther-to  so  greet  a  gentil-man  was  he. 
And  of  Tessalie  lykly  king  to  be. 
Ther  nas  no  lak,  but  that  he  was  agast 
To  love,  and  for  to  speke  shamefast.    1535 
He  hadde  lever  him-self  to  mordre,  and 

dye  (169) 

Than  that  men  shulde  a  lover  him  espye : — 


'  As  wolde  almighty  god  that  I  had  yive 
My  blood  and  flesh,  so  that  I  mighte  live, 
With  the  nones  that  he  hadde   o-wher 
a  wyf  1540 

For  his  estat ;  for  swich  a  lusty  lyf 
She  sholde  lede  with  this  lusty  knight ! ' 
And    al   this   was    compassed   on    the 
night 
BetwLxo  him  Jasoun  and  this  Ercviles. 
Of  thise  two  beer  was  mad  a  shrewed  lees 
To  come  to  hous  upon  an  innocent ;     1546 
For  to  be-dote  this  queen  was  hir  assent. 
And  Jasoun  is  as  coy  as  is  a  maide,     (181) 
He  loketh  pitously,  but  noght  he  saide, 
But  frely  yaf  he  to  her  conseileres       1550 
Yiftes  grete,  and  to  her  offlceres. 
As  wolde  god  I  leiser  hadde,  and  tyme. 
By  prooes  al  his  wowing  for  to  ryme. 
But  in  this  hoxas  if  any  fals  lover  be. 
Right  as  him-self  now  doth,  right  so  dide 
he,  1555 

With  feyning  and  with  every  sotil  dede. 
Ye  gete  no  more  of  me,  but  ye  wil  rede 
Th'original,  that  telleth  al  the  cas.     (191) 
The  somme  is  this,  that  Jasoun  wedded 
was 
Unto  this  quene,  and  took  of  her  sub- 
staunce  156" 

Wliat-so  him  hste,  unto  his  purveyaunce ; 
And  upon  her  begat  he  children  two, 
And  drow  his  sail,  and  saw  her  never-mo. 

A  lettre  sente  she  to  him  certein, 
Which  were  to  long  to   wrytcn  and  to 
sein,  1565 

And  him  repreveth  of  his  grete  untrou the. 
And  preyeth  him  on  her  to    have   som 
routhe.  (2(X)) 

And  of  his  children  two,  she  seide  him 

this, 
That  they  be  lyke,  of  alle  thing,  y-wis, 
To  Jasoun,  save  they  coude  nat  begyle  ; 
And  preyed  god,  or  hit  were  longe  whyle. 
That  she,  that  had  his  herte  y-raft  her  fro, 
Moste  finden  him  to  her  untrewe  al-so. 
And  that  she  moste  bothe  her  children 
spille,  1574 

And  alle  tho  that  sufFreth  him  his  wille. 
And  trew  to  Jasoun  was  sho  al  her  lyf. 
And  ever  kepte  her  chast,  as  for  his  wyf ; 
Ne  never  had  she  joye  at  her  herte,    (211) 
But  dyed,  for  his  love,  of  sorwes  smerte. 


38o 


ZH  Be^enb  of  6ooi  (^omin. 


Part  II.      The  Li 


OF  Mkdea. 


To  Colcos  comen  is  this  duk  Jasoun, 
That  is  of  love  devourcr  and  dragoun.  1581 
As  matere  appetj-teth  forme  al-wey, 
And  from  forme  in-to  forme  hit  passen 

may, 
Or  as  a  welle  that  were  botomlees, 
Right  so  can  fals  Jasoun  have  no  pees. 
For,  to  desyren,  through  his  appetyt,  1586 
To  doon  with  gentil  wommen  his  delyt. 
This  is  his  hist  and  liis  felicitee.  (221) 

Jasoun  is  romed  forth  to  the  citee. 
That  whylom  cleped  was  Jaconitos,     1590 
Tliat  was  the  maister-toun  of  al  Colcos, 
And  hath  y-told  the  cause  of  his  coming 
Un-to  Oetes,  of  that  contre  king, 
Preying    him    that  he   moste   doon  his 
assay  1594 

To  gete  the  flees  of  gold,  if  that  he  may; 
Of  which  the  king  assenteth  to  his  bone, 
And  doth  him  honour,  as  hit  is  to  done, 
So  ferforth,  that  his  doghter  and  his  eyr, 
Medea,  which  that  was  so  wys  and  fair 
Tliat  fairer  saw  thcr  never  man  with  y6. 
He  made  her  doon  to  .Jasoun  companye 
At  mete,  and  sitte  by  him  in  the  halle. 
Now  was  Jasoun  a  semely  man  with- 
alle,  (236) 

And  lyk  a  lord,  and  had  a  greet  renoun, 
And  of  his  loke  as  real  as  leoun,  1605 

And  goodly  of  his  speche,  and  famulere, 
And  coude  of  love  al  craft  and  art  plenere 
With-oute  boke,  ^vith  everich  observaunce. 
And,  as  fortune  her  oghte  a  foul  mes- 

chaunce. 
She  wex  enamoured  upon  this  man.    1610 
'  Jasoun,'  quod  she,  '  for  ouglit  I  see  or 
can. 
As  of  this  thing  the  which  ye  been  aboute, 
Ye  han  your-self  y-put  in  moche  doute. 
For,  who-so  wol  this  aventure  acheve, 
He  may  nat  wel  asterten,  as  I  leve,     1615 
With-outen  deeth,  but  I  his  helpe  be.  (249) 
But  natheles,  hit  is  my  ^ville,'  quod  she, 
'  To  forthren  yow,  so  that  ye  shal  nat  dye. 
But  tumen,  sound,  hoom  to  your  Tessalye.' 
'  My  righte  lady,'  quod  this  Jasoun  tho, 
'  That  j-e  han  of  my  dethe  or  of  my  wo 
Any  reward,  and  doon  me  this  honour, 
I  wot  wel  that  my  might  ne  my  labour 


May  nat  deserve  hit  in  my  Ij^-es  day  ;  1624 
God  thanke  yow,  ther  I  ne  can  ne  may. 
Your  man  am  I,  and  lowly  you  beseche, 
To  been  my  help,  with-oute  more  speche ; 
But    certes,   for    my  deeth    shal  I   nat 

spare.'  (261) 

Tho  gan  this  Medea  to  him  declare 
The  peril  of  this  cas,  fro  point  to  point. 
And  of  his  batail,  and  in  what  disjoint 
He  mote  stande,  of  which  no  creature. 
Save  only  she,  ne  mighte  his  lyf  assure. 
And  shortly,  to  the  point  right  for  to  go, 
They  been  accorded  ful,  betwix  hem  two, 
That  Jasoun  shal  her  wedde,  as  trewe 

knight ;  1636 

And  term  y-set,  to  come  sone  at  night  (270) 
Unto  her  chambre,  and  make  ther  his 

ootli, 
Upon  the   goddes,  that  he,  for  leef  ne 

looth,  1639 

Ne  sholdo  her  never  falsen,  night  ne  day, 
To  been  her  huslxjnd,  whyl  he  liven  may, 
As  she  that  from  his  deeth  him  saved 

here. 
And  her-upon,  at  night  they  mette  y-fere, 
And  doth  his  ooth,  and  goth  with  her  to 

bedde.  1644 

And  on  the  morwe,  upward  he  him  spedde; 
For  she  hath  taught  him  how  he  shal 

nat  faile  (279) 

The  flees  to  winne,  and  stinten  his  bataile ; 
And  saved  him  his  Ijrf  and  his  honour  : 
And  gat  liim  greet  name  as  a  conquerour 
Bight  through    the  sleight  of   her  en- 

chantement.  1650 

Now  hath  Jasoun  the  flees,  and  hoom 

is  went 
With  Medea,  and  tresor  ful  gret  woon. 
But  unwist  of  her  fader  is  she  goon 
To  Tessaly,  with  duk  Jasoun  her  leef, 
That  afterward  hath  broght  her  to  mes* 

cheef.  1655 

For  as  a  traitour  he  is  from  her  go. 
And  with  her  lafte  his  yonge  children 

two,  (290) 

And  falsly  hath  betrayed  her,  alias  ! 
And  ever  in  love  a  cheef  traitour  he  was ; 
And  wedded  j'it  the  thridde  wyf  anon, 1660 
That  was  the  doghter  of  the  king  Creon. 

This  is  the  meed  of  loving  and  guerdoun 
That  Medea  received  of  Jasoun 


ZH  JSegenb  of  Bucntia. 


381 


Eight  for  her  trouthe  and  for  her  kiude- 

nesse, 
That  loved  him  better  than  her- self,  I 

gesse,  1665 

And  lafte  her  fader  and  her  heritage. 
And  of  Jasoun  this  is  the  vassalage,   (300) 
That,  in  his  dayes,  nas  ther  noon  y-founde 
So  fals  a  lover  going  on  the  groiinde. 
And    therfor    in    her    lettre    thus    she 

seyde  1670 

First,  whan  she  of  his  falsnesse  him  um- 

breyde, 
'  Why  lyked  me  thy  yelow  heer  to  see 
More  then  the  boundes  of  myn  honestee, 


Why  lyked  me  thy  youthe  and  thy  fair- 

nesse. 
And   of  thy  tonge  the   infinit   gracious- 

nesse  ?  ,675 

O,    haddest  thou  in    thy  conquest   deed 

y-be, 
Ful  mikel  untrouthe  had  ther  dyed  with 

thee!'  (3,0) 

Wei  can  Ovyde  her  lettre  in  vers  endyte, 

Which  were  as  now  to  long  for  me  to 

wryte. 

Explicit  Legenda  Ysiphile  et  Medee, 
ilartiriim. 


V.   THE  LEGEND  OF  LUCRETIA. 


Incipit  Legenda  Lucrecie  Rome,  Martiris. 

Now  moot  I  seyn  the  exiling  of  kinges 
Of  Rome,  for  hir  horrible  doinges,       i68i 
And  of  the  laste  king  Tarquinius, 
As  saith  Ovyde  and  Titus  Livius. 
But  for  that  cause  telle  I  nat  this  storie, 
But  for  to  preise  and  drawen  to  memorie 
The  veiTay  wyf,  the  verray  trewe  Lucresse, 
That,  for  her  wyfhood  and  her  stedfast- 

Nat  only  that  thise  payens  her  comende, 
But  he,  that  cleped  is  in  our  legende    (10) 
The  grete  Austin,   hath   greet    compas- 
sioun  1690 

Of  this  Lucresse,  that  starf  at  Rome  toun  ; 
And  in  what  wyse,  I  wol  but  shortly  trete, 
And  of  this  thing  I  touche  bvit  the  grete. 

Whan  Ardea  beseged  was  aboute 
With  Romains,  that  ful  sterne  were  and 
stoute,  1695 

Ful  longe  lay  the  sege,  and  litel  wroghte, 
So  that  they  were  half  ydel,   as    hena 
thoghte;  (18) 

And  in  his  pley  Tarquinius  the  yonge 
Gan  for  to  jape,  for  he  was  light  of  tonge. 
And  seyde,  that  '  it  was  an  ydel  lyf ;  1700 
No  man  did  ther  no  more  than  his  wyf; 
And  lat  us  speke  of  wyves,  that  is  best ; 
Praise  every  man  his  owne,  as  him  lest, 
And  with  our  speche  lat  \is  ese  our  herte.' 

A   knight,    that   highte    Colatyne,    up 


sterte, 


1705 


And  seyde  thus,  '  nay,  for  hit  is  no  nede 
To   trowen  on     the   word,    but    on     the 

dede. 
I  have  a  wyf,'  quod  he,  '  that,  as  I  trowe. 
Is  holden   good   of  alle   that   ever    her 

knowe  ;  (^o'l 

Go  we  to-night  to  Rome,  and   we  shul 

see.'  1710 

Tarquinius  answerde,  '  that  lyketh  me.' 

To  Rome  be  they  come,  and  faste  hem 

dighte 
To  Colatynes  hous,  and  doun  they  lighte, 
Tarquinius,  and  eek  this  Colatyne. 
The  husbond  knew  the  estres  wel  and 

fyne,  1715 

And  prively  into  the  hens  they  goon  ; 
Nor  at  the  gate  porter  was  ther  noon  ; 
And  at  the  chambre-dore  they  abyde.  (39) 
This  noble  wyf  sat  by  her  beddes  syde 
Dischevele,  for  no  malice  she  ne  thoghte ; 
And  softe  woUe  our  book  seith  that  she 

wroghte  1721 

To  kepen  her  fro  sloiithe  and  ydelnesse  ; 
And  bad  her  servants  doon  hir  businesse. 
And  axeth  hem,  'what  tydings  heren  ye? 
How  seith  men  of  the  sege,  how  shal  hit 

be?  17,5 

God  wolde  the  walles  weren  falle  adoun ; 
Myn  husbond  is  so  longe  out  of  this  tonn, 
For  which    the   dreed   doth    me    so  sore 

smerte. 
Right   as  a  swerd  hit  stingeth   to   myn 

herte  (50) 


382 


ZU  Begeni  of  6oob  (?Doitt«n. 


Whan  I  think  on  tlie  sege  or  of  that  iilace ; 
God  save  my  lord,  I  preye  him  for  his 

grace  :' —  1731 

And  ther-with-al  fvd  tenderly  she  weep, 
And  of  her  werk  she  took  no  more  keep, 
IJut  mekely  sho  leet  lier  eyon  falle  ; 
And  thilke  semblaxit  sat  her  wel  with-alle. 
And  eek  her  teres,  ful  of  honestee,       1736 
Embelisshed  her  wyfly  chastitee  ; 
Her  countenaunce  is  to  her  herte  digne, 
For  they  acordeden  in  dede  and  signe.  (60) 
And  with  that  word  her  husbond  Colatj^n, 
Or  she  of  him  was  war,  com  sterting  in, 
And  seide,  'dreed  thee  noght,  for  I  am 

here  ! '  1742 

And  she  anoon  up  rocs,  with  blisful  cliere, 

And  kiste  liim,  as  of  wyves  is  the  wone. 

Tarquinius,  this  proude  kinges  sono, 

Conceived  hath    her    beautee    and    her 

chere,  1746 

Heryelow  heer,  her  shap,  and  her  mancre. 
Her  hew,  her  wordes  that  she  hath  com- 

pleyned. 
And  by  no  crafte  her  beautee  nas  nat 

feyned ;  (70) 

And  caught^  to  this  lady  swich  desyr. 
That  in  his  lierte  brende  as  any  fyr     1751 
So  woodly,  that  his  wit  was  al  forgeten. 
For  wel,  thoghte  he,  she  sholde  nat  be 

geten ; 
And  ay  the  more  that  he  was  in  dispair, 
The  more  he  coveteth  and  thoghte  her 

fair.  1755 

His  blinde  lust  was  al  his  covetingc. 

A-niorwe,  whan  the  brid  began  to  singe. 
Unto  the  sege  he  comth  ful  privily. 
And  by  himself  he  walketh  sobrely,     (80) 
Th"image  of  her  recording  alwey  newe  ; 
'  Thus  lay  her  heer,  and  thus  fresh  was 

her  he  we  ;  1761 

Thus  sat,  thus  spak,  thus  span  ;  this  was 

her  chere. 
Thus    fair   she    was,    and   this   was   her 

manere.' 
Al  this  conceit  liis  herte  hath  now  y-take. 
And,  as  the  see,  with  tempest  al  to-shake. 
That,  after  whan  the  storm  is  al  ago,  1766 
Yet  wol  the  water  quappe  a  day  or  two. 
Right   so,    thogh    that    her    forme    wer 

absent,  (89) 

The  plesaiinee  of  her  forme  was  present ; 


But  natheles,  nat  plesaunce,  but  delyt. 
Or  an  unrightful  talent  with  despyt ;  1771 
'  For,  maugre  her,  she  shal  my  lemman 

be; 
Hap  helpeth  hardy  man  alday,'  quod  he ; 
'  What  ende  that  I  make,  hit  shal  be  so ; ' 
And  girt  him  with  his  swerde,  and  gan 

to  go  ;  1775 

And  forth  he  rit  til  he  to  Rome  is  come. 
And  al  aloon  his  wey  than  hath  he  nome 
Unto  the  house  of  Colatyn  ful  right. 
Doun  was  the  sonne,  and  day  hath  lost 

his  light ;  (xx)) 

And  in  he  com  un-to  a  privy  halke,  1780 
And  in  the  night  ful  theefly  gan  ho  stalke, 
^V^lan  every  night  was  to  his  roste  broght, 
Ne  no  wight  had   of  tresoun  swich    a 

thoght. 
Were  hit  by  window  or  by  other  gin,  1784 
With  swerde  y-drawe,  shortly  he  comth  in 
Ther  as  she  lay,  this  noble  wyf  Lucresse. 
And,  as  she  wook,  her  bed  she  fclte  presse. 
'  What  beste  is  that,'   quod  she,   '  that 

weyeth  thus?' 
'  I  am  the  kinges  sone,  Tarquinius,'    (no) 
Quod  he,  '  but  and  thou  crye,  or  noise 

make,  1790 

Or  if  thou  any  creature  awake. 
By  thilke  god  that  formed  man  on  lyve. 
This  swerd  through-out  thyn  herte  shal 

I  ryve.' 
And  ther-withal  unto  her  throte  he  sterte, 
And  sette  the  point  al  sharp  upon  her 

herte.  1795 

No  word   sho  spak,  she  hath  no  might 

therto. 
Wliat  shal  she  sayn?  her  wit  is  al  ago. 
Right  as  a  wolf  that  fynt  a  lomb  aloon, 
To  whom  shal  she  compleyne,   or  make 

moon?  (120) 

What  !    shal  she  fighte   with    an  hardy 

knight  ?  i8i)o 

Wel  wot   men   that   a  woman   hath   no 

might. 
What  !    shal  she  crye,  or  how  shal  she 

asterte 
That  hath  her  by  the  throte,  with  swerde 

at  herte? 
She  axeth  grace,  and  seith  al  that  she  can. 
'  Ne  wolt  thou  nat,'  quod  he,  this  cruel 

man,  1S05 


Z-U  Begenb  of  Buctetta. 


383 


'  As  wisly  Jvipiter  mj'  sotile  save, 
As  I  shal  in  the  stable  slee  thy  knave, 
And  leye  him  in  thy  bed,  and  loude  crye. 
That  I  thee  flnde  in  suche  avouterye  ;  (130) 
And  thus  thou  shalt  be  deed,  and  also 
lese  J8io 

Thy  name,  for  thou  shalt  non  other  chese.' 
Thise   Komain   wys'es   loveden   so   hir 
name 
At  thilke  tyme,  and  dredden  so  the  shame. 
That,  what  for  fere  of  slaundre  and  drede 
ofdeeth,  1814 

She  loste  bothe  at-ones  wit  and  breeth, 
And   in   a  swough   she   lay  and  wex  so 

deed, 
Men  mighte  smyten  of  her  arm  or  heed  ; 
She  feleth  no-thing,  neither  foul  ne  fair. 
Tarquinius,  that  art  a  hinges  eyr,  (140) 
And  sholdest,  as  by  linage  and  by  right, 
Doon  as  a  lord  and  as  a  verray  knight. 
Why  hastow  doon  dispyt  to  chivalrye  ? 
Why  hastow  doon  this  lady  vilanye  ? 
Alias  !  of  thee  this  was  a  vileins  dede  ! 

But  now  to  purpos  ;  in  the  story  I  rede. 
Whan  he  was  goon,  al  this  mischaunce  is 
falle.  1826 

This  lady  sente  after  her  frendes  alle. 
Fader,  moder,  husbond,  al  y-fere  ;       (149) 
And  al  dischevele,  with  her  heres  clere, 
In  habit  swich  as  women  used  tho       1830 
Unto  the  burying  of  her  frendes  go. 
She  sit  in  halle  with  a  sorweful  sighte. 
Her  frendes  axen  what  her  aylen  mighte. 
And  who  was   deed?     And  she   sit  ay 

wepinge, 
A  word  for  shame  ne  may  she  forth  out- 
bringe,  1835 

Ne  upon  hem  she  dorste  nat  beholde. 
But  atte  laste  of  Tarquiny  she  hem  tolde. 
This  rewful  cas,  and  al  this  thing  horrible. 
The  wo  to  tellen  hit  were  impossible,  (160) 
That  she  and  alle  her  frendes  made 
atones.  1840 

Al  hadde  folkes  hertes  been  of  stones, 
Hit  mighte  have  maked  hem  upon   her 

rewe. 
Her  herte  was  so  wyfly  and  so  trewe. 
She  seide,  that,  for  her  gilt  ne  for  her 

blame, 
Her  husbond  sholde  nat  have  the  foule 
name,  1845 


That  wolde  she  nat  suffre,  by  no  wey. 
And  they  answerden  alle,  upon  hir  fey, 
That  they  foryeve  hit  her,  for  hit  was 
right  ;  (169) 

Hit  was  no  gilt,  hit  lay  nat  in  her  might ; 
And  seiden  herensamples  manyoon.  1850 
But   al   for   noght;    for   thus   she    seide 

anoon, 
'  Be  as  be  may,'  quod  she,  '  of  forgiving, 
I  wol  nat  have  no  forgift  for  no-thing.' 
But  prively  she  caughte  forth  a  knyf,   1854 
And  therwith-al  she  rafte  her-self  her  lyf ; 
And  as  she  fel  adoun,  she  caste  her  look. 
And  of  her  clothes  yit  she  hede  took  ; 
For  in  her  falling  yit  she  hadde  care 
Lest  that  her  feet  or  swiche  thing  lay 
bare;  (180) 

So  wel  she  loved  clennesse  and  eek  trouthe. 
Of  her  had  al  the  toun  of  Rome  routhe, 
And   Brutus  by  her  chaste  blode  hath 
swore  1862 

That  Tarquin  sholde  y-banisht  be  ther-fore. 
And  al  his  kin  ;  and  let  the  peple  calle. 
And  openly  the  tale  he  tolde  hem  alle. 
And  openly  let  carie  her  on  a  here      1S66 
Through  al  the  toun,  that  men  may  see 

and  here 
The  horrible  deed  of  her  oppressioun. 
Ne  never  was  ther  king  in  Rome  toun  (190) 
Sin  thilke  day  ;  and  she  was  holden  there 
A  seint,  and  ever  her  day  y-halwed  dere 
As  in  hir  lawe :  and  thus  endeth  Lucresse, 
The  noble  wyf,  as  Titus  bereth  witnesse. 
I  tell  hit,  for  she  was  of  love  so  trewe, 
Ne  in  her  wille  she  chaunged  for  no  newe. 
And  for  the  stable  herte,  sad  and  Idnde, 
That  in   these   women   men   may  alday 
finde ;  1877 

Ther  as   they  caste   hir   herte,  ther  hit 

dwelleth. 

For   wel   I   wot,    that    Crist    -f-him-selve 

telleth,  (200) 

That  in  Israel,  as  wyd  as  is  the  lond,  1880 

That  so  gret  feith  in  al  the  lond  he  ne 

fond 
As  in  a  woman  ;  and  this  is  no  lye. 
And  as  of  men,  loketh  which  tirannye 
They  doon  alday ;  assay  hem  who  so  liste. 
The  trewest  is  ful  brotel  for  to  triste.  1885 
Explicit  Legenda  Lucrecie  Home,  3Iartiris. 


384 


ZH  Begenii  of  <5ooi  (H)otne»t. 


VI.    THE  LEGEND  OF  ARIADNE. 


Incipit  Legenda  Adriane  de  Athenes. 

Jloe  infernal,  Minos,  of  Crete  king. 
Now  cometh  thy  lot,  now  comestow  on 

the  ring  ; 
Nat  for  thy  sake  only  wryte  I  this  storie, 
But  for  to  clepe  agein  unto  memorie  1889 
Of  Theseus  the  grete  untrouthc  of  love  ; 
For  whicli  the  goddes  of  the  he%'en  above 
Ben  wrothe,  and  wreche  han  take  for  thy 

sinne. 
Be  reed  for  shame  !  now  I  thy  lyf  beginne. 
Minos,  that  was  the   mighty  king  of 

Crete, 
That   hadde   an  hundred    citees  stronge 

and  grete,  (10)  1895 

To  scole  liath  sent  his  sone  Androgens, 
To  Athenes ;    of  the  whiche  hit  happed 

thus. 
That  ho  was  slayn,  lerning  philosophye. 
Right  in  that  citee,  nat  hut  for  envye. 

The  grete  Minos,  of  the  whiche  I  speke. 
His  soues  deeth  is  comen  for  to  wreke  ; 
Alcathoo  he  bisogoth  hanle  and  longe. 
But  natheles  tho  walles  be  so  stronge. 
And  Nisus,  that  was  king  of  that  citee. 
So  chivalrous,  that  litel  dredeth  ho  ;    1905 
Of  Minos  or  his  ost  took  ho  no  cure,     (21) 
Til  on  a  day  befel  an  aventure. 
That  Nisus  doghter  stood  upon  the  wal, 
And  of  the  sege  saw  the  maner  aL       1909 
So  happed  hit,  that,  at  a  scarmishing. 
She  caste  her  herte  upon  Minos  the  king. 
For  his  beautee  and  for  his  chivalrye, 
So  sore,  that  she  wendo  for  to  dye. 
And,  shortly  of  this  proces  for  to  pace, 
She  made  MLnos  winnen  thilke  place,  1915 
So  that  the  citee  was  al  at  his  wille,     (31) 
To  saven  whom  him  list,  or  elles  spille  ; 
But  wikkedly  he  quitte  her  kindenesse, 
And  let  her  drenche  in  sorowe  and  dis- 

tresse,  1919 

Nere  that  the  goddes  hadde  of  her  pite  ; 
But  that  tale  were  to  long  as  now  for  me. 

Athenes  wan  this  kin^  Minos  also, 
And  Alcathoe  and  other  tounes  mo  : 


And  this  th'effect,   that    Minos   hath  so 

driven 
Hem   of  Athenes,    that  they  mote    him 

yiven  (40)  1925 

Fro  yere  to  yere  her  owne  children  dere 
For  to  be  slayn,  as  ye  shul  after  here. 
Tliis  Minos  hath  a  monstre,  a  wikked 

beste. 
That  was  so  cruel  that,  without  areste, 
Whan  that  a  man   was  broght  in   his 

presence,  193(1 

He  woldo  him  cte,   ther  helpeth  no  do- 
fence. 
And  every  thriddo  yeer,  with-outen  doute. 
They  castcn  lot,  and,  as  hit  com  aboute 
On   riche,  on   pore,   ho   mosto  his  sone 

take,  1^49)  1934 

And  of  his  child  he  moste  present  make 
Unto  Minos,  to  save  him  or  to  spille, 
Or  lete   his  beste  devoure    him  at  his 

wille. 
•  And  this  hath  Minos  don,  right  in  despyt; 
To  wreke  his  sone  was  sot  al  his  delyt. 
And  maken  hem  of  Athenes  his  thral  1940 
Fro  yere  to  yere,  whyl  that  he  liven  shal ; 
And  hoom  he  saileth  whan  this  toun  is 

wonne. 
This  wikked  custom  is  so  longe  y-ronne 
Til  that  of  Athenes  king  Egeus 
Mot  sende  his  owne  sone,  Theseus,      1945 
Sith  that  the  lot  is  fallen  him  upon,     (61) 
To  be  devoured,  for  grace  is  ther  non. 
And  forth  is  lad  this  woful  yongo  knight 
Unto  the  court  of  king  Minos  ful  right, 
And  in  a  prison,  fetered,  cast  is  he      1950 
Til  thilke  tyme  he  sholdc  y-freten  be. 

Wei  maystow  wepe,  O  woful  Theseus, 
That  art  a  kinges  sone,  and  dampned 

thus. 
Me  thinketh  this,  that  thou  were  depe 

y-holde  1954 

To  whom  that  saved  thee  fro  cares  colde ! 
And  now,  if  any  woman  helpe  thee,     (71) 
AVel  oughtestow  her  servant  for  to  be. 
And  been  her  trewe  lover  yeer  by  yere  ! 
But  now  to  come  ageyn  to  my  matere. 


ZU  ^Be^enb  of  Jlnabne. 


385 


The  tour,  ther  as  this  Theseus  is  throwe 
Doun  in   the  botom  derke  and  wonder 

lowe,  1961 

Was  joyning  in  the  walle  to  a  foreyne  ; 
And   hit   was   longing   to   the   doghtren 

tweyne 
Of  king  Minos,  that  in  hir  chambres  grete 
Dwelten    above,    toward    the    maister- 

strete,  (80)  1965 

In  mochel  mirthe,  in  joye  and  in  solas. 
Not  I  nat  how,  hit  happed  ther,  per  cas, 
As  Theseus  compleyned  him  by  nighte. 
The  kinges  doghter,  Adrian  that  highte. 
And  eek  her  suster  Phedra,  herden  al  1970 
His  compleyning,  as  they  stode  on  the  wal 
And  lokeden  upon  the  brighte  mone  ; 
Hem  leste  nat  to  go  to  bedde  sone. 
And  of  his  wo  they  had  conipassioun  ; 
A  kinges  sone  to  ben  in  swich  prisoun 
And   be   devoured,    thoughte    hem    gret 

pitee.  (91)  1976 

Than  Adrian  spak  to  her  suster  free. 
And  seyde,  '  Phedra,  leve  suster  dere. 
This  woful  lordes  sone  may  ye  nat  here, 
How  pitously  eompleyneth  he  his  kin, 
And  eek  his  pore  estat  that  he  is  in,     1981 
And  gilteless  ?  now  certes,  hit  is  routhe  ! 
And  if  ye  wol  assenten,  by  my  trouthe. 
He  shal  be  holpen,  how  so  that  we  do  ! ' 
Phedra  answerde,  '  y-wis,  me  is  as  wo 
For  him  as  ever  I  was  for  any  man  ;   1986 
And,  to  his  help,  the  beste  reed  I  can  (102) 
Is  that  we  doon  the  gayler  prively 
To  come,  and  speke  witli  lis  hastily. 
And  doon  this  woful  man  with  him  to 

come.  i<)9o 

For  if  he  may  this  monstre  overcome. 
Than  were  he  quit  ;  ther  is  noon  other 

bote. 
Lat  us  wel  taste  him  at  his  herte-rote, 
That,  if  so  be  that  he  a  wepen  have, 
Wlier  that  he  dar,   his  lyf  to  kepe  and 

save,  (no)  1995 

Fighten  with  this  fend,  and  him  defende. 
For,  in  the  prison,  ther  he  shal  descende, 
Ye  wite  wel,  that  the  beste  is  in  a  place 
That  nis  nat  derk,  and  hath  roum  eek 

and  sjiace 
To  welde  an  ax  or  swerd  or  staf  or  knyf. 
So  that,  me  thinketh,  he  sholde  save  his 

ly^' ;  200I 


If  that  he  be  a  man,  he  shal  do  so. 
And  we  shul  make  him  balles  eek  also 
Of  we.xe  and  towe,  that,  whan  he  gapeth 

faste,  2004 

Into  the  bestes  throte  he  shal  hem  caste 
To  slake  his  hunger  and  encombre  his 

teeth ;  (12,) 

And  right  anon,  whan  that  Theseus  seeth 
The  beste  achoked,  he  shal  ou  him  lepe 
To  sleen  him,  or  they  comen  more  to-hepe. 
This  wepen  shal  the  gayler,  or  that  tyde, 
Ful  privily  within  the  prison  hyde  ;    201 1 
And,  for  the  hous  is  crinkled  to  and  fro, 
And  hath  so  queinte  weyes  for  to  go — 
For  hit  is  shapen  as  the  mase  is  wroght — 
Therto  have  I  a  remedie  in  my  thoght. 
That,   by  a  clewe  of  t\vyne,  as  he  hath 

goon,  (I,,)  2016 

Tlie  same  wey  he  may  returne  anoon, 
Folvving   alwey   the  threed,   as  he  hath 

come. 
And,  whan  that  he  this  beste  hath  over- 
come, 
Then  may  he  fleen  awey  out  of  this  drede. 
And  eek  the  gayler  may  he  with  him 

lede,  2021 

And  him  avaunce  at  hoom  in  his  contree 
Sin  that  so  greet  a  lordes  sone  is  he. 
This  is  my  reed,  if  that  he  dar  hit  take.' 
What  sholde  I  lenger  sermoun  of  hit 

make  ?  2^25 

Tlie  gayler  Cometh,  and  with  him  Theseus. 
And   whan   thise  thinges   been   acorded 

thus,  (,42) 

Adoun  sit  Theseus  upon  his  knee  : — 
'  The  righte  lady  of  my  lyf,'  quod  he, 
'I,  sorweful  man,  y-dampned  to  the  decth. 
Fro   yow,    whyl   that   me  lasteth  lyf  or 


breeth. 


2031 


I  wol  nat  twinne,  after  this  aventure, 
But  in  your  servise  thus  I  wol  endure. 
That,  as  a  wrecche  unknowe,  I  wol  yow 

serve  2034 

For  ever-mo,  til  that  myn  herte  sterve. 
Forsake  I  wol  at  hoom  myn  heritage,  (151) 
And,  as  I  seide,  ben  of  your  court  a  page. 
If  that  ye  vouche-sauf  that,  in  this  place, 
Ye  graunte  me  to  ban  so  gret  a  grace 
That  I  may  ban  nat  but  my  mete  and 

drinke  ;  2040 

And  for  my  sustenance  yit  wol  I  swinke. 


386 


ZH  Begenb  of  <5ooi  (^otnen. 


Hight   as  yow   list,    that    Minos   ue    no 

wight — 
Sin   that  lie  sjiw  me  never  with   eyen 

sight— 
Ne  no  man  elles,  shal  me  connc  espye ; 
So  slyly  and  so  wel  I  shal  me  gye,       2045 
And  me  so  wel  disfigure  and  so  lowe,  (161) 
That  in  this  world  ther  shal  no  man  me 

knowe, 
To  han  my  lyf,  and  for  to  han  presence 
Of  yow,  that  doon  to  me  this  excellence. 
And  to  my  fader  shal  I  senden  here    io.so 
This  worthy  man,  that  is  now  j'our  gay- 

lere. 
And,  him  to  guerdon,  that  he  shal  wel  be 
Oi>n  of  the  grettest  men  of  my  contree. 
And  yif  I  dorsto  seyn,  my  lady  bright, 
I  am  a  kinges  sone,  and  eek  a  knight ; 
As  wolde  god,  j-if  that  hit  naighte  be  (171) 
Ye  weren  in  my  contree,  alle  three. 
And  I  with  yow,  to  here  yow  companye. 
Than  shulde  ye  seen  yif  that  I  ther-of  Ije ! 
And,  if  I  profre  yow  in  low  manero    2(i6<) 
To  ben  your  page  and  serven  yow  right 

here. 
Hut  I  yow  ser%'e  as  lowly  in  that  place, 
I  prey  to  Mars  to  yive  me  swiche  a  grace 
That   shames   deeth   on   me    ther    mote 

falle, 
And   deeth   and   povert    to   my   frendes 

alle ;  2065 

And  that  my  spirit  by  nighte  mote  go  (181) 
After  my  deeth,  and  walko  to  and  fro ; 
That  I  mot«  of  a  traitour  have  a  name. 
For  which  my  spirit  go,  to  do  me  shame  ! 
And  yif  I  ever  c-laime  other  degree,     2070 
But-if  yc  vouche-sauf  to  yive  hit  me, 
As  I  have  seid,  of  shames  deeth  I  deyc  ! 
And  mercy,  lady  !  I  can  nat  elles  seye  ! ' 

A  seemly  knight  was  Theseus  to  see. 
And  yong,   but  of   a  twenty  yeer  and 

three ;  2075 

But   who-so   hadde   y-sej-n   his  counten- 

aunce,  (191) 

He  wolde   ha%'e  wei^t,  for  routhe  of  his 

penaunce ; 
For  which  this  Adriane  in  this  mancre 
Answerde  to  his  profre  and  to  his  chere. 
'A  kinges  sone,   and   eek  a  knight,' 

qnod  she,  20S0 

'  To  been  my  servant  in  so  low  degree, 


God  shilde  hit,  for  the  shame  of  women 

alle! 
And  leve  me  never  swich  a  cas  befalle  ! 
But  sende  yow   grace  and    sleighte    of 

herte  also, 
Yow  to  defende  and  knightly  slecn  your 

fo,  20S5 

And  leve  herafter  that  I  may  yow  finde 
To  me  and  to  my  suster  here  so  kinde. 
That  I  repente  nat  to  give  yow  lyf !    (20.^) 
Yit  were  hit  better  that  I  were  your 

Sin  that  ye  been  as  gentil  born  as  I,  2090 
And  have  a  rtaiime,  nat  but  timto  by. 
Then  that  I  suffred  giltles  yow  to  ster\-o, 
Or  that  I  let  yow  as  a  page  serve  ; 
Hit  is  not  profit,  as  nnto  yoxir  kinredc  ; 
But  what   is  that   that  man  nil  do  for 

drede  ?  2(x)5 

And  to  mj-  suster,  sin  that  hit  is  so  (21 1) 
That  she  mot  goon  with  mo,  if  that  I  go. 
Or  elles  snffre  deoth  as  wel  as  I, 
That  ye  unto  your  sone  as  trewely  2099 
Doon  her  be  wedded  atyour  hoom-coraing. 
Tliis  is  the  fynal  endc  of  al  this  thing  ; 
Ye  swore   hit  heer,  on  al  that  may  be 

sworn.' 
'  Ye,  lady  myn,'  quod  he,  '  or  elles  torn 
Mot*  I  be  with  the  Minotaur  to-morwe  ! 
And  haveth    her-of  my  herte-blood    to 

borwe,  (220)  2105 

Yif  tliat  ye  'wile  ;  if  I  had  knyf  or  spere, 
I  wolde  hit  leten  out,  and  ther-on  swere. 
For  tluin  at  erst  I  wot  ye  wLl  me  love. 
By  Mars,  that  is  the  checf  of  my  bileve. 
So  t)iat  I  mighte  liven  and  nat  faile    2 no 
To-morwe  for  t'acheve  my  bataile, 
I  nolde  never  fro  this  place  flee. 
Til  that  ye  shuld  the  verray  preve  see. 
For  now,  if  that  the  sooth  I  shal  yow  say, 
I  have  y-loved  yow  ful  many  a  day,     2115 
Thogh  ye  ne  wiste  hit  nat,  in  my  contree. 
And  aldermost  dcsyrod  yow  to  see       (232) 
Of  any  crthly  living  creature  ;  2118 

Upon  my  tronthe  I  swere,  and  j'ow  assure, 
Thise  seven  yeer  I  have  your  servant  be  ; 
Now  have  I  yow,  and  also  have  ye  me. 
My  dere  herte,  of  Athenes  duchesse  !' 

This  lady  smyleth  at  his  stedfastnesse, 
And  at  his  hertly  wordes,  and  his  chere, 
And  to  her  suster  seide  in  this  manere. 


^6e  Begenb  of  ilrtabne. 


387 


Al  softely,  '  now,  suster  myn,'  qiiod  she, 
'  Xow  be  we  duchesses,  hothe  I  and  ye, 
And  sikered  to  the  regals  of  Athenes,  (243) 
And  hothe  her-after  lykly  to  he  quenes. 
And  saved  fro  his  deeth  a  kinges  sone, 
As  ever  of  gentil  women  is  the  wone   2131 
To  save  a  gentil  man,  emforth  hir  might. 
In  honest  cause,  and  namely  in  his  right. 
Me   thinketh  no  wight  oghte  her-of  us 

blame, 
Ne  beren  us  ther-for  an  evel  name.'  2135 
And  shortly  of  this  matere  for  to  make, 
Tliis  Theseus  of  her  hath  leve  y-take,  (2,^2) 
And  every  point  f  performed  was  in  dede 
As  ye  have  in  this  covenant  herd  me  rede. 
His  wepen,  his  clew,  his  thing  that  I  have 

said,  2140 

Was  by  the  gayler  in  the  hous  y-laid 
Ther  as  this  Minotaur  hath  his  dwelling, 
Right  faste  by  the  dore,  at  his  entring. 
And  Tlieseus  is  lad  unto  his  deeth,      2144 
And  forth  tui-to  this  Minotaur  he  geeth. 
And  by  the  teching  of  this  Adriane    (261) 
He  overcom  this  beste,  and  was  his  bane ; 
And  out  he  cometh  by  the  clewe  again 
Ful  prevely,   whan  he  this  beste  hath 

slain  ;  2149 

And  by  the  gayler  geten  hath  a  barge. 
And  of  his  wy\'es  tresor  gan  hit  charge. 
And  took  his  wyf,  and  eek  her  suster  free. 
And  eek  the  gayler,  and  with  hem  alle 

three 
Is  stole  awey  out  of  the  lond  by  nighte, 
And    to    the    contre    of    Ennopye    him 

dightc  2155 

Ther  as  he  had  a  frend  of  his  knowinge. 
Ther  fasten  they,  ther  dauncen  they  and 

singe ;  (272) 

And  in  his  armes  hath  this  Adriane, 
Tliat  of  the  beste  hath  kept  him  from  his 

bane  ;  2159 

And  gat  him  ther  a  newe  barge  anoon. 
And  of  his  contree-folk  a  ful  gret  woon. 
And  taketh  his  leve,  and  hoomward  sail- 

eth  he. 
And  in  an  yle,  amid  tlie  wilde  see, 
Ther  as  ther  dwelte  creature  noon 
Save   wilde   bestes,   and   that    ful  many 

oon,  2165 

He  made  his  ship  a-londe  for  to  sette  ; 
And  in  that  yle  half  a  day  he  lette,    (2S2) 


And  seide,  that  on  the  lond  he  moste  him 

reste. 
His   mariners   han    doon  right    as    liim 

leste ; 
And,  for  to  tellen  shortly  in  this  cas,  2170 
Whan  Adriane  his  wyf  a-slepe  was. 
For  that  her  suster  fairer  was  than  she. 
He   taketh  her  in  his   hond,  and  forth 

goth  he 
To  shippe,  and  as  a  traitour  stal  his  way 
Whyl  that  this  Adriane  a-slepe  lay,     2175 
And    to     his     contree-ward     he    saileth 
blyve —  (291) 

A    twenty    devil    way    the     wind    liim 

dryve ! — 
And  fond  his  fader  drenched  in  the  see. 

Me  list  no  more  to  speke  of  him,  parde ; 
Thise  false  lovers,  poison  be  hir  bane  ! 
But  I  wol  turne  again  to  Adriane        2181 
That  is  with  slepe  for  werinesse  atake. 
Ful  sorwefully  her  herte  may  awake. 
Alias !    for    thee    my   herte     hath    now 

pite  ! 

Right  in  the  dawening  awalieth  she,  2185 

And  gropeth  in  the  bedde,  and  fond  right 

noght.  (301) 

'  Alias  ! '    quod    she,    '  that   ever    I    was 

■wroght  ! 
I  am  betrayed  ! '  and  her  heer  to-rente. 
And   to   the   stronde    bar-fot    faste    she 

wente. 
And  cryed,  '  Theseus  !  myn  herte  swete  ! 
Wher  be  ye,  that  I  may  uat  with  yow 
mete,  2:91 

And   mighte   thus  with  bestes  been  y- 
slain  ? ' 
The  holwe  rokkes  answerde  her  again  ; 
No   man   she   saw,   and   yit   shyned  the 
mone,  2194 

And  hye  upon  a  rokke  she  wente  sone. 
And  saw  his  barge  sailing  in  the  see.  (311) 
Cold  wex  her  herte,  and  right  thiis  seide 

she. 
'  Meker  than  ye  finde  I  the  bestes  wilde  ! ' 
Hadde  he   nat  smne,   that  her  thus  be- 

gylde? 
She  cryed,  '  O  turne  again,  for  routhe  and 
sinne !  2200 

Thy  barge  hath  nat  al  his  meiny  inne  !  ' 
Her  kerchef  on  a  pole  up  stikked  she, 
Ascaunce  that  he  sholde  hit  wel  y-see, 


388 


tU  Begenb  of  <5oob  (^otnen. 


And  him  remembre  that  she  was  behinde, 

And  turne  again,  and  on  the  stronde  her 
finde ;  (320)  2205 

But  al  for  noght ;  his  wey  he  is  y-goon. 

And  doun  she  fil  a-swown  upon  a  stoon  ; 

And  up  she  rist,  and  kiste,  in  al  her  care, 

The  steppes  of  his  feet,  ther  he  hath  fare. 

And  to  her  bedde  right  thus  she  speketh 
tho  : —  2210 

'  Thou  bed,'  quod  she,  '  that  hast  receyved 
two, 

Thou  shalt  answere  of  two,  and  nat  of 
oon  ! 

Wher  is  thy  gretter  part  away  y-goon  ? 

Alias !  wher  shal  I,  wrecched  wight,  be- 
come ! 

For,  thogh  so  be  that  ship  or  boot  heer 
come,  2215 


Hoom    to    my   contree    dar    I   nat    for 

drede  ;  (331) 

I  can  my-selven  in  this  cas  nat  rede  ! ' 
What  shal  I  telle  more  her  complein- 

ing? 
Hit  is  so  long,  hit  were  an  hevy  thing. 
In  her  epistle  Naso  telleth  al  ;  2220 

But  shortly  to  the  ende  I  telle  shal. 
The  goddes  have  her  holpen,  for  pitee  ; 
And,  in  the  signe  of  Taurus,  men  may 

see 
The  stones  of  her  coroun  shjoie  clere. — 

I  wol  no  more  speke  of  this  matere  ; 
But  thus  this  false  lover  can  begyle    2226 
His  trewe  love.     The  devil  -j-him  quyte 

his  whyle  !  (342) 

ETjilicit  Lcgenda  Adriaiie  dc  AUienes. 


VII.    THE  LEGEND  OF  PHILOMELA. 


Incipit  Legenda  Philomene. 

Deus  dator  formarunu 

Thou    yiver  of   the    formes,    that    hast 

wroght 
Tho   faire   world,    and   bare    hit   in   thy 

thoght 
Eternally,  or  thou  thy  werk  began,      2230 
Why  madest  thou,  unto  the  slaundre  of 

man. 
Or — al  be  that  hit  was  not  thy  doing, 
As     for     that    fyn    to    make    swiche    a 

thing — 
Why  suflfrest  thou  that  Tereus  was  bore. 
That  is  in  love  so  fals  and  so  forswore. 
That,   fro    this  world   up  to  the   firste 

hevene,  2236 

Corrumpeth,  whan  that  folk  his  name 

nevene?  (10) 

And,  as  to  me,  so  grisly  was  his  dede. 
That,  whan  that  I  his  foule  story  rede, 
Myn  eyen  wexen  foule  and  sore  also  ;  2240 
Yit  last  the  venim  of  so  longe  ago, 
That  hit  enfecteth  him  that  wol  beholde 
The  story  of  Tereus,  of  which  I  tolde. 

Of  Trace  was  he  lord,  and  kin  to  Marte, 
The   cruel  god  that    stant    with    blody 
2245 


darte : 


And  wedded  had  he,  wth  .a  blisful  chere. 
King  Pandiones  faire  doghter  dere,  (20) 
That  highte  Progne,  flour  of  her  contree, 
Thogh  Juno  list  nat  at  tho  feste  be, 
Ne  Ymeneus,  that  god  of  wedding  is ; 
But  at  the  feste  redy  been,  y-wis,  2251 
The  furies  three,   with  alle  hir  mortel 

brond. 
The  owle  al  night  aboute  the  balkes  wond, 
Tliat  prophet  is  of  wo  and  of  mischaunce. 
Tliis  revel,  ful  of  songe  and  ful  of  daunce, 
Lasteth  a  foxirtenight,  or  litel  lasse.    2256 
But,  shortly  of  this  story  for  to  passe,  (30) 
For  I  am  werj'  of  him  for  to  telle. 
Five  yeer  his  wj^f  and  he  togeder  dwelle, 
Til  on  a  day  she  gan  so  sore  longe       2260 
To  seen  her  suster,  that  she  saw  nat  longe. 
That  for  desyr  she  niste  what  to  seye. 
But  to  her  husband  gan  she  for  to  preye, 
For  goddes  love,   that  she  moste    ones 

goon  2264 

Her  suster  for  to  seen,  and  come  anoon, 
Or  ellos,  but  she  moste  to  her  wende, 
She  preyde  him,  that  he  wolde  after  her 

sende ;  (40) 

And  this  was,  day  bj'  daj-,  al  her  prayere 
With  al  humblesse  of  wj-f  hood,  word,  and 

chere.  2269 


ZU  Be^en^  of  ^^tfotnefa. 


389 


This  Tereus  let  make  his  shippes  yare, 
And  into  Grece  him-self  is  forth  y-fare 
Unto   his   fader   in   lawe,    and  gan  him 

preye 
To   vouche-sauf    that,    for   a   month    or 

tweye, 
That  Philomene,  his  wyves  suster,  mighte 
On    Progne   his  wyf  but   ones    have    a 

sighte —  2275 

'  And  she  shal  corae  to  yow  again  anoon. 
Myself  with   her   wol   bothe    come   and 

goon,  (50) 

And  as  myn  hertes  lyf  I  wol  her  kepe.' 
Tliis   olde    Pandion,    this    king,    gan 

wepe 
For  tendemesse  of  herte,  for  to  leve    2280 
His   doghter  goon,  and   for  to  yive  her 

leve ; 
Of  al  this  world  he  lovede  no-thing  so  ; 
But  at  the  laste  leve  hath  she  to  go. 
For  Philomene,  with  salte  teres  eke, 
Gan  of  her  fader  grace  to  beseke  2285 

To  seen  her  suster,  that  her  longeth  so  ; 
And  him  embraceth  with  her  armes  two. 
And  therwith-al  so  yong  and  fair  was  she 
That,  whau  that  Tereus  saw  her  beautee. 
And   of  array  that  ther  was   noon   her 

liche,  (63)  2290 

And  yit  of  boiintee  was  slie  two  so  riche. 
He  caste  his  fyry  herte  upon  her  so 
That  he  wol  have  her,  how  so  that  hit  go, 
And  with  his  wyles  kneled  and  so  preyde, 
Til  at  the  laste  Pandion  thus  seyde  : — 
'Now,  sone,'  quod  he,  'that  art  tome 

so  dere,  2296 

I  thee  betake  my  yonge  doghter  here,    (70) 
That  bereth  the  key  of  al  my  hertes  lyf. 
And  grete  wel  my  doghter  and  thy  wyf. 
And  yive  her  leve  somtyme  for  to  pleye. 
That  she  may  seen  me  ones  er  I  deye.' 
And   sootlily,    he   hath   mad    him   riche 

feste,  2302 

And  to  his  folk,  the  moste  and  eek  the 

leste. 
That  with  him  com;  and  yaf  him  yiftes 

grete, 
And  him  conveyeth  through  the  maister- 

strete  2305 

Of  Athenes,  and  to  tlie  see  him  broghte. 
And   turneth   hoom;    no   malice   he    ne 

thoghte.  (So) 


The  ores  pulleth  forth  the  vessel  faste, 
And  into  Trace  arriveth  at  the  laste. 
And  up  into  a  forest  he  her  ledde,       2310 
And  to  a  cave  privily  him  spedde  ; 
And,  in  this  derke  cave,  yif  her  leste. 
Or  leste  noght,  he  bad  her  for  to  reste  ; 
Of  whiche  her  herte  agroos,  and  seyde 

thus, 
'  Wher  is  my  suster,  brother  Tereus?'  2315 
And  therwith-al  she  wepte  tenderly. 
And  quook  for  fere,  pale  and  pitously, 
Right  as  the  lamb  that    of  the  wolf  is 

biten  ; 
Or   as   the   colver,    that   of    the    egle   is 

smiten. 
And  is  out  of  his  clawes  forth  escaped,  2320 
Yet  hit  is  afered  and  awhaped 
Lest  hit  be  hent  eft-sones,  so  sat  she. 
But  titterly  hit  may  non  other  be. 
By  force  hath  he,  this  traitour,  doon  that 

dede, 
That  he  hath  reft  her  of  her  mayden- 

hede,  2325 

Maugree  her  heed,  by  strengthe  and  by 

his  might.  (99) 

Lo  !  here  a  dede  of  men,  and  that  a  right ! 
She     cryeth    '  suster ! '    with     ful     loud 


And  '  fader  dere  ! '  and  '  help  me,  god  in 
hevene  ! '  2329 

Al  helpeth  nat  ;  and  yet  this  false  theef 
Hath  doon  this  lady  yet  a  more  mischeef, 
For  fere  lest  she  sholde  his  shame  crye, 
And  doon  him  openly  a  vilanye, 
And  with  his  swerd  her  tong  of  kerveth 

he. 
And  in  a  castel  made  her  for  to  be      2335 
Ful  privily  in  prison  evermore, 
And   kepte   her    to   his   usage    and    his 
store,  (iio) 

So  that  she  mighte  him  nevermore  asterte. 
O  sely  Philomene  !  wo  is  thyn  herte ; 
God   wreke   thee,    and    sende    thee    thy 


bone  ! 


2340 


Now  is  hit  tyme  I  make  an  ende  sone. 

This  Tereus  is  to  his  wyf  y-come, 
And  in  his  armes  hath  his  wyf  y-nome. 
And    pitously   he   weei>,    and    shook   liis 

heed. 
And  swor  her  tliat  he  fond  her  svister 
deed ;  2345 


39° 


ZU  Begen^  of  600^  (Pc)otnen. 


For  which  this  sely  Progne  hath  swich 

wo,  (119)  2346 

That  ny  her  sorweful  hcrte  brak  a-two ; 
And  thus  in  teres  lete  I  Progne  dwelle, 
And  of  her  snster  I'orth  I  wol  yow  telle. 
This  woful  lady  lerneil  had  in  yontho 
So  that  she  werken  and  enbrondon  coiithe, 
And  weven  in  her  stole  the  nidovore 
As  hit  of  women  hath  1x3  woned  yore.  , 

And,  shortly  for  to  seyn,  she  hath  her  | 

fille 
Of  mete  and  drink,  and  clothing  at  her 

wille,  2^55 

And  coude    eek    rede,   and   wel  y-nogh 

endyte. 
But  with  a  ponne  conde  she  nat  wryte  ; 
But  lettrescan  she  weven  to  and  fro,    (131) 
So  that,  by  that  the  yeer  Vas  al  a-go. 
She  had  y-woven  in  a  stamin  large      2360 
How  she  was  broght  from  Athenes  in  a 

barge. 
And  in  a  cave  how  that  she  waa  broght ; 
And  al  the  tliingthat  Toreus  hath  wroght, 
She   waf  liit   wel,   and  wroot  the  story 

above, 
How  she  was  served  for  her  suster  love  ; 
And  to  a  knave  a  ring  she  yaf  anoon,  2366 
And  pra3-ed  him,bysignes,fortogoon  (i^o) 
Untothequeno,  and  beren  her  that  clooth. 
And  by  signes  swor  him  many  an  ooth. 
She  sholde  him  yeve   what    she    geten 

mighte.  2370 

This  knave  anoon  unto  the  queno  him 

dighte, 


And  took  hit  her,  and  al  the  maner  tolde. 
And,  whan  that  Progne  hath  this  thing 

beholde. 
No  word  she  spak,  for  sorwe  a:id  eek  for 

rage; 
But  fe.^Tied  her  to  goon  on  pilgrimage  2375 
To    Bachus    temple ;     and,    in     a     litel 

stounde, 
Her  doinbe  snster  sitting  hath  she  foundo, 
Woping  in  the  castel  Ifer  aloon.  (151; 

Alias!   the  wo,   the   compleint,   and  the 

moon 
That    Progne    upon    her    dombe    suster 

makoth !  2380 

In  armes  everich  of  hem  other  taketh. 
And  thus  I  lete  hem  in  hir  sorwe  dwelle. 
Tlie   remenant    is    no   charge    for  to 

telle, 
For   this   is   al   anil   som,   thus  was   she 

served. 
That  never  harm  a-gilto  no  doscrvecl  2385 
Unto  this  cruel  man,  that  she  of  wiste. 
Yo   may  be   war   of  men,  yif  that  yow 

liste.  (160) 

For,  al  bo  that  ho  wol  nat,  for  his  shame, 
Doon  so  as  Terens,  to  lese  hLs  name. 
No  serve  yow  as  a  mordrour  or  a  knave, 
Ful  litel  whj-le  shul  ye  trewo  him  have. 
That  wol  I  seyn,    al   were   he    now   my 

brother,  239J 

But   hit   so   be   that    he   m.iy   liave   non 

other.  (166) 

Explicit  Lfgenda  Philomcne. 


VIII.    THE  LEGEND  OF  PHYLLIS. 


Incipit  Legenda  Phillis. 
Bt  prove  as  wel  as  by  auctoritee, 
That  wikked  fruit  cometh  of  a  wikked 

tree,  2395 

That   may  ye   fmdo,    if    that   it    lyketh 

yow. 
But  for  this  ende  I  speke  this  as  now. 
To  telle  you  of  false  Demophon. 
In  love  a  falser  herdo  I  never  non, 
But-if  hit  were  his  fader  Theseus.        24<x) 


'  God,  for  his  grace,  fro  swich  oon  kepe 

us  ! ' 
Thus  may  thise   women  prayeu  that  hit 

here.  (9) 

Now  to  th'effect  tume  I  of  my  matere. 

Destroyed  is  of  Troye  the  citee  ;        2404 
This  Demophon  com  sailing  in  the  see 
Toward  Athenes,  to  his  iialoys  large  ; 
With  him  com  many  a  ship  and  many  a 

barge 


ZU  Begeni  of  (p^pfft'e. 


391 


Ful  of  his  folk,  of  which  fvil  many  oon 
Is  wounded  sore,  and  seek,  and  wo  be- 

goon.  241XJ 

And  they  han  at  the  sege  longe  y-lain. 
Behinde  him  com  a  wind  and  eek  a  rain 
That  shoof  so  sore,   his  sail   ne   mighte 

stonde,  (19) 

Him  were  lever  than  al  the  world  a^londe, 
So  hiinteth  him  the  tempest  to  and  fro. 
So  derk  hit  was,  hecoude  nowlier  go  ;  2415 
And  with  a  wawe  brosten  was  his  stere. 
His   ship   was    rent    so    lowe,    in   swich 

manere. 
That  carpenter  ne  coiule  hit  nat  amende. 
The  see,  by  nighte,  as  any  torche  brende 
For  wood,  and  posseth  him  now  np  now 

doun,  2420 

Til  Neptnne  hath  of  him  compassionn, 
And    Thetis,   Chorus,    Triton,    and  they 

alle. 
And  maden  him  upon  a  lond  to  falle,  (30) 
Wher-of  that  PhUlis  lady  was  and  qnene, 
Ligurgus  doghter,  fairer  on  to  sene  2425 
Than  is  the  floiir  again  the  brighte  Sonne. 
Unnetho  is  Demophon  to  londe  y-wonne, 
Wayk  and  oek  wery,   and  his  folk  tbr- 

pyned 
Of  werinesse,  and  also  enfamyned  ;     2429 
And  to  the  deeth  he  almost  was  y-driven. 
His  wyse  folk  to  conseil  han  him  yivon 
To  soken  help  and  socour  of  the  queen, 
And  loken  what  his  grace  mighte  been,  (40) 
And  maken  in  that  lond  som  chevisaunce, 
To  kepen  him  fro  wo  and  fro  mischaunce. 
For  seek  was  he,  and  almost  at  the  deeth  ; 
Unnethe  mighte  he  speke  or  drawe  his 


breeth, 


2437 


And  lyth  in  Rodopeya  him  for  to  reste. 
Whan  he  may  walke,  hhn  thoughte  hit 

was  the  beste 
Unto  the  court  to  seken  for  socour.     2440 
Men   knewe   him   wel,    and    diden    him 

honour ; 
For  at  Athenes  duk  and  lord  was  he. 
As  Theseus  his  fader  hadde  y-be,  (50) 

That  in  his  tyme  was  of  greet  renoiin, 
No  m.an  so  greet  in  al  his  regioun  ;     2445 
/And  lyk  his  fader  of  face  and  of  stature, 
/  And  fals  of  love  ;  hit  com  him  of  nature  ; 
/As  doth  the  fox  Renard,  the  foxes  sone, 
\0f  kinde  he  coude  his  olde  faders  wone 


Withoute  lore,  as  can  a  drake  swimme. 
Whan  hit  is  caught   and   caried  to  the 

brimme.  245 1 

This  honourable  Phtllis  doth  him  chere, 
Her  lyketh  wel  his  port  and  his  manere. 
But  for  I  am  agroted  heer-biforn  (61) 

To  wryte  of  hem  that  been  in  love  for- 
sworn, 2455 
And  eek  to  haste  me  in  my  legende, 
Which  to  ptrfbrme  god  me  grace  sende, 
Therfor  I  passe  shortly  in  this  wyse  ; 
Ye  han  wel  herd  of  Theseus  devyse 
In  the  betraising  of  fair  Adriano,        2460 
That   of  her  pite    kepte  him  from   his 

bane. 
At  shorte  wordes,  right  so  Demophon 
The  same  wey,  the  same  path  hath  gon  (70) 
That  dide  his  false  fader  Theseus. 
For  imto  PhiUis  hath  he  sworen  thus,  2465 
To    weddea    her,   and    her   his  trouthe 

plighte. 
And  piked  of  her  al  the  good  he  mighte. 
Whan  he  was  hool  and  sound  and  hadde 

his  reste  ; 
And  doth  with  Phillis  what  so  that  him 

leste. 
And  wel  coude  I,  yif  that  me  leste  so,  2470 
Tellen  al  his  doing  to  and  fro. 

He  seide,  unto  his   contree   moste   he 

saile. 
For  ther  he  wolde  her  wedding  apparaile 
As  fil  to  her  honour  and  his  also.  (81) 

And  openly  he  took  his  leve  tho,  2475 

And  hath  her  sworn,  he  wolde  nat  sojorne, 
Biit  in  a  month  he  wolde  again  rctorne. 
And  in  that  lond  let  make  his  ordinatmce 
As  verray  lord,  and  took  the  obeisaunce 
Wel   and    hoomly,    and   let   his    shippes 

dighte,  2480 

And   boom   he   goth   the    uexte    wey    be 

mighte  ; 
For  unto  Phillis  yit  ne  com  he  noglit. 
And   that   hath  she  so  harde   and   sore 

aboght,  (90) 

Alias  !  that,  as  the  stories  us  recorde. 
She  was  her  owne  deeth  right  with  a 

corde,  2485 

^^^^an  that  she  saw  that  Demophon  her 

trayed. 
But  to  him  first  she  wroot  and  fasto 

him  prayed 


392 


Z^c  Bt^tnb  of  (Boob  (J^owen. 


i' 


He  wolde  come,  and  her  deliver  of  j)eyne, 
As  I  reherse  shal  a  word  or  tweyne. 
Me  list  nat  vouche-sauf  on  him  to  swinke, 
Ne  spende  on  him  a  penne  ful  ofinke,  2491 
For  fals  in  love  was  he,  right  as  his  syre ; 
The  devil  sette  hir  soiiles  bothe  a-fyre  ! 
But  of  the  lettre  of  Phillis  wol  I  wryte 
A  word  or   tweyne,  al-thogh  hit  be  but 

lyte.  (102)  2495 

'  Thyn  hostesse,'  quod  she, '  O  Demophon, 
Thy  Phillis,  which  that  is  so  wo  begon. 
Of  Rodopeye,  upon  yow  moot  compleyne. 
Over  the  terme  set  betwix  us  tweyne. 
That  ye  ne  holden  forward,  as  ye  seyde  ; 
Your   anker,    which    ye    in    our    haven 

leyde,  2501 

Highte  us,  that  ye  wolde  comen,  out  of 

doute, 
Or  that  the  mone  ones  wente  abonte.  (110) 
But  tymes  foure  the  mone  hath  hid  her 

face 
Sin  thilke  daj-  ye  wente  fro  this  place,  2505 
And  foure  tymes  light  the  world  again. 
But  for  al  that,  yif  I  shal  soothlj-  sain, 
Yit  hath  the  streem  of  Sitho  nat  y-broght 
From  Athenes  the  ship;    yit  comth  hit 

noght. 
And,  yif  that  ye  the  terme  rekne  wolde, 
As  I  or  other  trewe  lovers  sholde,         25 11 
I  plej-ne  not,  gotl  wot,  beforn  my  day.' — 
But  al  her  lettre  wryten  I  ne  may   (120) 
By  ordre,  for  hit  were  to  me  a  charge  ; 
Her   lettre   was   right  long  and    ther-to 

large;  2515 

But  here  and  there  iu  i-yme  I  have  hit 

laid, 
Ther  as  me  thoughte  that  she  wel  hath 

said. — 
ShP-SPido,  '  thy  sailes  comen  nat  again, 
Xe  to  thy  word  ther  nis  no  fey  certciu  ; 
But  I  wot  why  ye  come  nat,'  quod  slia: 
'  For  I  was  of  my  love  to  you  so  free.       2521 
And  of  the  goddes  that  ye  han  forswore, 
Yif  that  hir  vengeance  falle  on  yow  ther- 

fore,  (130) 

Ye  be  nat  suflfisaunt  to  here  the  peyne. 
To  moche  trusted  I,  wel  may  I  pleyne,  2525 


Upon  your  linage  and  j-our  faire  tonge. 
And  on  your  teres  falsly  out  y-wTonge. 
How  coude  ye  wepe  so  by  craft?'  quod 

she  ; 
'  May  ther  swiche  teres  feyned  be  ? 
Now  certes,  yif  ye  wolde  have  in  memorie, 
Hit  oghte  be  to  yow  but  litel  glorie      2531 
To  have  a  sely  mayde  thus  betrayed  ! 
To  god,'  quod  she,  '  preye  I,  and  ofte  have 

prayed,  (,40) 

That  hit  be  now  the  grettest  prys  of  alle. 
And  moste  honour  that  ever  j'ow  shal 

befalle !  2535 

And  whan  thyn  olde  auncestres  peynted 

be. 
In  which  men  may  hir  worthinesse  see, 
Than,  preye  I  god,  thou  peynted  be  also. 
That  folk  may  reden,  for-by  as  they  go, 
"  Lo  !  this  is  he,  that  with  his  flaterye  2540 
Betrayed  hath  and  doon  her  vilanye 
That  was  his  trewe  love  in  thoghte  and 

dede ! " 
But  sothly,  of  00  point  yit  may  they  rede, 
That  ye  ben  lykyovir  fader  as  in  this ;  (151) 
For  he  begyled  Adriane,  y-wis,  2545 

With  swiche  an  art  and  swiche  sotelte 
As  thou  thy-selven  hast  begyled  me. 
As  in  that  point,  al-thogh  hit  be  nat  fajT, 
Thou  folwest  him,  certein,  and  art  his  eyr. 
But  sin  thus  sinfully  ye  me  begj'le,     2550 
My  body  mote  ye  seen,  within  a  whyle, 
Right  in  the  haven  of  Athenes  fletinge, 
With-outen  sepulture  and  buryinge  ;  (160) 
Thogh  ye  ben  harder  then  is  any  stoon.' 
And,  whan  this  lettre  was  forth  sent 

anoon,  2555 

And  knew  how  brotel  and   how  fals  he 

was, 
gK^  fnr  il'°r"yr  f"-  '^•■^"  i.^^-^if  .^]]„r.  < 
Swicli  sorwe  hath  she,  for  she  besette  her 

so. 
Be  war,  ye  women,  of  your  sotil  fo,      2559 
Sin  yit  this  day  men  may  ensample  .see  ; 
And  trusteth,  as   in   love,   no   man    but 

me.  ii#sj 

Explicit  Lfifjenda  Phillis. 


Z^t  Jiegeni  of  J^^V^vmntetva. 


393 


IX.    THE  LEGEND  OF  HYPERMNESTRA. 


Incipit  Legenda  I'permistre. 
Ix  Grece  whylom  weren  brethren  two, 
Of  whiche  that  oon  was  called  Danao, 
That  man}'  a  sone  hath  of  his  body  wonne, 
As  swiche  false  lovers  ofte  conne.         2565 
Among  his  sones  alle  ther  was  oon 
That  aldermost  he  lovede  of  everichoon. 
And  whan  this  child  was  born,  this  Danao 
Shoop   him    a    name,   and    called    him 

Lino. 
That  other  brother  called  was  Egiste,  2570 
That  was  of  love  as  fals   as  ever  him 

liste,  (10) 

And  many  a  doghter  gat  he  in  his  lyve ; 
Of  which  he  gat  uiion  his  righte  wyve 
A  doghter  dere,  and  dide  her  for  to  calle 
Ypermistra,  yongest  of  hem  alle  ;         2575 
The  whiche  child,  of  her  nativitee. 
To  alle  gode  thewes  bom  was  she, 
As  lyked  to  the  goddes,  or  she  was  born, 
That   of  the   shefe    she   sholde    be    the 

corn  ;  (18) 

The  Wirdes,  that  we  clepen  Destinee,  2580 
Hath  shapen  her  that  she  mot  nedes  be 
Pitonse,  sadde,  wyse,  and  trewe  as  steel ; 
And  to  this  woman  hit  accordeth  weel. 
For,   though   that   Venus   yaf  her  greet 

beautee. 
With  Jvipiter  compouned  so  was  she  2585 
That   conscience,   trouthe,   and  dreed  of 

shame, 
And  of  her  wyf  hood  for  to  kepe  her  name. 
This,  thonghte  her,  was  felicitee  as  here. 
And  rede   Mars  was,  that   tyme  of  the 

So  feble,  that  his  malice  is  him  raft,  2590 
Repressed  hath  Venus  his  cruel  craft ;  (30) 
fWhat  with  Venus  and  other  oppressioun 
Of  houses.  Mars  his  venim  is  adonn, 
Tliat  Ypermistra  dar  nat  handle  a  knyf 
In  malice,  thogh  she  sholde  lese  her  lyf. 
But  natheles,  as  heven  gan  tho  turne,  2596 
To  badde  aspectes  hath  she  of  Saturne. 


That  made  her  for  to  deyeu  in  prisoun, 
As  I  shal  after  make  mencioun. 

To  Danao  and  Egistes  also —  S^lS 

Al-thogh  so  be  that  they  were  brethren 

two,  (40) 

For  thilke  tyme  nas  spared  no  linage — ■ 
Hit  lyked  hem  to  maken  mariage 
Betwix  Ypermistra  and  him  Lino, 
And  casten  swiche  a  day  hit  shal  be  so ;  2605 
And  ful  acorded  was  hit  witterly ; 
The  array  is  wroght,  the  tyme  is  faste  by. 
And  thus  Lino  hath  of  his  fadres  brother 
The  doghter  wedded,  and  eche  of  hem 

hath  other. 
The  torches   brennen  and  the  lampes 

brighte,  2610 

The  sacrifices  been  ful  redy  dighte  ;     (50) 
Th'encens  out  of  the  fyre  reketh  sote, 
The  flour,   the  leef  is  rent  up    by  the 

rote 
To  maken  garlands  and  corounes  hye  ; 
Ful  is  the  place  of  soun  of  minstralcye. 
Of  songes  amorous  of  mariage,  2616 

As  thilke  tyme  was  the  pleyn  usage. 
And  this  was  in  the  paleys  of  Egiste, 
That  in  his  hous  was  lord,  right  as  him 

liste  ; 
And   thus   the    day   they   dryven  to   an 

ende ;  2620 

The  frendes  taken  leve,  and  hoom  they 

wende.  (60) 

The  night  is  come,  the  bryd  shal  go  to 

bedde ; 
Egiste  to  his  chambre  faste  him  spedde, 
And  privily  he  let  his  doghter  calle. 
Wlian  that  the  hous  was  voided  of  hem 

alle,  2625 

He    loked    on     his     doghter   with    glad 

chere, 
And  to  her  spak,  as  ye  shul  after  here. 
'  My   righte    doghter,    tresor    of   myn 

herte  ! 
Sin  first  that   day  that  shapen  was  my 

sherte. 


•3 


394 


Z^t  JSegenb  of  (Boob  (J^omett. 


Or  by  the  fatal  snstren  had  my  dom,  2630 
So  ny  niyn  herte  never  thing  me  com  (70) 
As     thou,     myn      Ypermistra,     doghter 

dere  ! 
Tak  heed  what    I    thy  fader    sey  thee 

here, 
And  werk  after  thy  wyser  ever-mo. 
For  alderfirste,  doghter,  I  love  thee  so  2635 
Tliat  al  the  world  to  me  nis  lialf  so  leef ; 
Ne  I  nolde  rede  thee  to  thy  mischeef 
For  al  the  gode  under  the  colde  mone  ; 
And  wliat  I  mene,  hit  shal  he  seid  right 

sone, 
With  protestacioun,  as  in  this  wj-se,  2640 
That,  hut  thou  do  as  I  shal  thee  devyse, 
Thou  shalt  be  deed,  by  him  that  al  hath 

wroght  !  (8,) 

At  shorte  wordes,  thou  n'escapest  noght 
Out  of  my  paleys,  or  that  thou  be  deed. 
But  thou  consente  and  werke  after  my 

reed ;  2645 

Tak  this  to  thee  for  ful  conclusioun.' 

This  Ypermistra  caste  her  eyen  donn, 
And    qnook   as   dooth    the  leef  of   aspe 

grene; 
Deed  wex  her  hewe,  and   Ijk  as  ash  to 

sene,  2649 

And  seyde,  'lord  and  fader,  al  your  wille, 
After  my  might,  god  wot,  I  shal  fulfille. 
So  hit  to  me  be  no  confusioun.'  (91) 

'I  nil,' quod  he,  'have  noon  excepcioun'; 
And  out  he  caughte  a  knyf,  as  rasour  kene ; 
'Hyd  this,"  quod  he,  'that  hit  be  nat  y- 

sene ;  2655 

And,  whan  thyn  husbond  is  to  bedde  y-go, 
Whyl  that  he  slepeth,  cut  histhrote  a-two. 
For  in  my  dremes  hit  is  warned  me 
How  that  my  nevew  shal  my  bane  be, 
But  whiche    I  noot,  whertbr  I   wol  be 

siker.  2660 

Yif  thou  sey  nay,  we  two  shul  have  a 

biker  (,00) 

As   I   have   seyd,    by   him    that   I   have 

sworn.' 
This  Ypermistra  hath  ny  her  wit  forlon ; 
And,  for  to  passen  harmles  of  that  place. 
She  graunted  him  ;  ther  was  non  other  i 

grace.  2655 

And  therwith-al  a  costrel  taketh  he. 
And  seyde,  '  herof  a  draught,  or  two  or 

three : 


Yif  him  to   drinke,    whan   he  goth    to 

reste. 
And  he  shal  slepe  as  longo  as  ever  thee 

leste. 
The  narcotiks  and  opies  been  so  stronge  : 
And  go   thy  wey,  lest  that  him  thinke 

longe.'  (no)  2671 

Out  comth  the  bryd,  and  with  ful  sober 

chere. 
As  is  of  maidens  ofte  the  manere. 
To  chambre  is  broght  with  revel  and  with 

songe. 
And  shortly,  lest  this  tale  be  to  longe,  2675 
This  Lino   and  she  ben   sone  broght  to 

bedde ; 
And  every  wight  out  at  the  dore   him 

spedde. 
The  night  is  wasted,  and  he  fel  a-sleije  ; 
Ful  tenderly  beginneth  she  to  wepe. 
She    rist    her    up,    and     dredfully     she 

quaketh,  2680 

As    doth    the    braunche    that   Zcphirus 

shaketh,  (120) 

And  liusht  were  alle  in  Argon  that  citee. 
As  cold  as  any  frost  now  wexeth  she  ; 
For  pite  by  the  herte  her  streyneth  so, 
And  dreed  of  deeth  doth  her  so  moche  wo, 
That  thryes  doun  she   fil  in    swiche  a 

were.  2686 

She  rist  her  up,  and  stakereth  heer  and 

there, 
And  on  her  handes  faste  loketh  she. 
'Alias  !  and  shul  my  handes  blody  be  ? 
I  am  a  maid,  and,  as  by  my  nature,    2690 
And  by  my  semblant  and  by  my  vesture, 
Myn  handes  been  nat  shapen  for  a  knyf, 
As  for  to  reve  no  man  fro  his  Ij'f.         (132) 
What  devil  have  I  with  the  knyf  to  do  ? 
And  shal  I  have  my  throte  corve  a-two  ? 
Then  shal  I   blede,   alias!   and  me  be- 

shende ;  2696 

And  nedes  cost  this  thing  mot  have  an 

ende ; 
Or  he  or  I  mot  nedes  lese  our  Ij-f. 
Xow  certes,'  quod  she,  '  sin  I  am  his  wyf. 
And  hath  my  feith,  yit  is  it  bet  for  me 

or  to  be  deed  in  wj-fly  honestee  (140)  2701 
Than  be  a  traitour  living  in  my  shame. 
Be  as  be  may,  for  ernest  or  for  game. 
He  shal  awake,  and  rjse  and  go  his  way 
Out  at  this  goter,  or  that  hit  be  day ! ' — 


ZH  Begeni  of  J^^ptvmntetvA. 


395 


And  weep  fill  tenderly  tipon  his  face,    2706 
And  in  her  armes  gan  him  to  embrace, 
And  him  she  roggeth  and  awaketh  softe  ; 
And   at    the   window   leep    he    fro   the 

lofte 
Wlian  she  hath  warned  him,   and  doon 

him  bote.  2710 

This  Lino  swifte  was,  and  light  of  fote. 

And  from  his  wyf  he  ran  a  fnl  good  pas. 

Tliis  sely  woman  is  so  wayk,  alias  !     (152) 

And   helples   so,    that,    or    that   she   fer 

wente,  . 

Her  cruel  fader  dide  her  for  to  hente.  2715'! 


Alias  !  Lino  !  why  art  thou  so  unkinde  ? 
Why  ne  haddest  thou  remembred  in  thy 

minde 
To  taken  her,   and   lad   her  forth   with 

thee  ? 
For,  whan  she  saw  that  goon  awey  was  he. 
And  that  she  mighte  nat  so  faste  go,    2720 
Ne  folwen  him,  she  sette  her  doun  right 

tho,  (160) 

Til  she  was  caught  and  fetered  in  prisoun. 

This  tale  is  seid  for  this  conclusioun.  .  . 

{Unfinished.) 


•  5 


A   TREATISE    ON   THE 
ASTROLABE. 


PROLOGUS. 


LiTF.i,  Lowis  my  sone,  I  have  perceived 
wel  by  certeyne  evidences  tlijn  abilito  to 
Icrno  sciencez  touchinge  nonmbres  and 
proporciouns  ;  and  as  wel  considere  I  thy 
5  bisy  preyere  in  special  to  lerno  the  Tretis 
of  the  Astrolabio.  Than,  for  as  mechel 
as  a  philosofre  seith,  '  he  wrappeth  him  in 
liis  frend,  that  comlcscendeth  to  the 
ri^htfnl   preyers   of  his   frend,'   ther-for 

i<>  have  I  geven  thee  a  suffisannt  Astrolabie 
as  for  oure  orizonte,  compovs-ned  after  the 
latitude  of  Oxenford;  up-on  which,  by 
mediacion  of  this  litel  tretis,  I  purpose  to 
teche  thee  a  certein   nombre  of  conclu- 

15  sions  ajiertoning  to  the  same  instrument. 
I  sej'e  a  certein  of  conclusiouns,  for  three 
causes.  Tiie  furste  cause  is  this :  truste  wel 
that  alle  the  conclusiouns  that  han  ))en 
founde,    or    elles    possibly    mighten    be 

JO  founde  in  so  noble  an  instnxment  as  an 
Astrolabie,  ben  un-knowe  perfitly  to  any 
mortal  man  in  this  regionn,  as  I  suppose. 
A-nothor  cause  is  this ;  that  sothly,  in  any 
tretis  of  the  Astrolabie  that  I  have  seyn, 

J5  there  ben  some  conclusions  that  wole  nat 
in  alle  thinges  performen  hir  bihestes  ; 
and  some  of  hem  ben  to  harde  to  thy 
tendre  age  often  yeer  to  conse>-ve.  This 
tretis,  divided  in  f\-ve  parties,  wole  I  shewe 

30  thee  under  ful  lighte  rewles  and  naked 
wordes  in  English :  for  Latin  ne  canstow 


yit  but  smal,  my  lyte  sone.  But  natheles, 
sufFyse  to  thee  thise  trewo  conclusiouns  in 
English,  as  wel  as  suffysoth  to  thise  noble 
clerkes  Grekcs  thise  same  conclusiouns  in  35 
Greek,  and  to  Arabiens  in  Arabik,  and  to 
.Tewes  in  Ebrew,  and  to  the  Latin  folk  in 
Latin  ;  whiche  Latin  folk  han  hem  furst 
out  of  othre  diverse  langages,  and  writen 
in  hir  ovmc  tonge,  that  is  to  sein,  in  40 
Latin.  And  god  wot,  that  in  alle  thise 
langages,  and  in  many  mo,  han  thise 
conclusiouns  ben  suffisantly  lemed  and 
taught,  and  yit  by  diverse  rewdes,  right  as 
diverse  pathes  leden  diverse  folk  the  45 
righte  wey  to  Rome.  Now  wol  I  prey 
meekly  every  discreet  persone  that  redeth 
or  hereth  this  litel  tretis,  to  have  my 
rewde  endyting  for  excused,  and  my 
superfluite  of  wordes,  for  two  causes.  The  50 
I  firste  caiise  is,  for  that  curious  endyting 
]  and  hard  sentence  is  ful  hcvy  atones  for 
I  swich  a  child  to  leme.  And  the  secondc 
I  cause  is  this,  that  sothly  me  semeth  betre 
I  to  wryten  un-to  a  child  twyes  a  good  55 
I  sentence,  than  he  forgete  it  ones.  And 
Lowis,  yif  so  be  that  I  shewe  thee  in  my 
lighte  English  as  trewe  conclusiouns 
touching  this  materc,  and  naught  only  as 
trewe  but  as  manj'  and  as  subtil  con-  60 
clusionns  as  ben  shewed  in  Latin  in  any 
commune  tretis  of  the  Astrolabie,  con  me 


ZU  JBeftofafie :   (part  i. 


397 


the  raore  thank  ;  and  preye  god  save  the 
king,  that  is  lord  of  this  langage,  and  alls 

(15  that  him  feyth  bereth  and  obeyetli,  ever- 
ech  in  his  degree,  the  more  and  the  lasse. 
But  considere  wel,  that  I  ne  usnrpe  nat  to 
have  iounde  this  werk  of  my  labour  or  of 
myn   engyn.     I    nam    but   a   lewd    com- 

70  pilatour  of  the  labour  of  olde  Astro- 
logiens,  and  have  hit  translated  in  mj'n 
English  only  for  thy  doctrine  ;  and  with 
this  swerd  shal  I  sleen  envye. 

I.  The  firste  partie  of  this  tretis  shal 
75  reherse  the   figures  and  the  membres  of 

thyn  Astrolabie,  bi-cause  that  thi>\i  shalt 
han  the  grettre  knowing  of  thyn  owne 
instrument. 

II.  The  second  partie  shal  teche  thee 
,"o  werken  the  verrey  practik  of  the  forseide 

conclusiouns,  as  ferforth  and  as  narwe 
as  may  be  shewed  in  so  smal  an  instru- 
ment portatif  aboute.  For  wel  wot  every 
astrologion  that  smalest  fraccions  ne  wol 
Ss  nat  ben  shewed  in  so  smal  an  instrument, 
as  in  subtil  tables  calculed  for  a  cause. 

III.  The  thridde  partie  slial  contienen 
diverse  tables  of  longitudes  and  latitudes 
of  sterrcs   fixe   for   the  Astrolabie,   and 

(,o  tables  of  declinacions  of  the  Sonne,  and 
tables  of  longitudes  of  citeez  and  of 
townes  ;  and  as  wel  for  the  governance 


of  a  clokke  as  for  to  finde  the  altitude 
meridian ;    and   many   another   notable 
conclusioun,   after  the  kalendres  of  tlie  95 
reverent  clerkes,  frere  I.  Somer  and  frere 
N.  Lenne.. 

IV.  The  ferthe  partie  shal  ben  a  theorik 
to  declare  the  moevinge  of  the  celestial 
bodies  with  the  causes.  Tlie  whiche  100 
ferthe  partie  in  special  shal  shewen  a 
table  of  the  verray  moeving  of  the  nione 
from  houre  to  houre,  every  day  and  in 
every  signe,  after  thyn  almenak  ;  upon 
which  table  ther  folwith  a  canon,  suflfi-  105 
sant  to  teche  as  wel  the  maner  of  the 
wyrking  of  that  same  conclusiotin,  as  to 
knowe  in  oure  orizonte  with  which  de- 
gree of  the  zodiac  that  the  mone  ariseth 

in  any  latitude  ;  and  the  arising  of  any  1 10 
planete  after  his  latitude  fro  the  ecUptik 
lyne. 

V.  The  fifte  partie  shal  ben  an  intro- 
ductorie  after  thestatiitz  of  oure  doctours, 

in  which  thou  maist  lerne  a  gret  part  of  115 
the  general  rewles  of  theorik  in  astrologie. 
In  which  fifte  partie  shaltow  finde  tables 
of  equacions  of  hoixses  aftur  the  latitude 
of  Oxenford  ;  and  tables  of  dignetes  of 
planetes,  and  other  noteful  thinges,  yif  i.'o 
god  wol  vouche-sauf  and  his  modur  the 
mayde.  mo  than  I  behcte.  &c. 


PAET   I. 


JlERE    niGlNNETH   THE    DESCKIPCION   OK    THE 
ASTROL.^BIE. 

1.  Thyn  Astrolabie  hath  a  ring  to 
putten  on  the  thoumbe  of  thy  right 
hand  in  taking  the  heighte  of  thinges. 
And  tak  keep,  for  from  hennes-forthward, 

5  I  wol  clepe  the  heighte  of  any  tiling  that 
is  taken  by  thy  rewle,  the  altitude,  with- 
oute  mo  wordes. 

2.  Tlais  ring  renneth  in  a  maner  turet, 
fast  to  the  moder  of  thyn  Astrolabie,  in 
so  rowm  a  space  that  hit  desturbeth  nat 
the  instrument  to  hangen  after  his  rights 

5  centre. 


3.  The  Moder  of  thyn  Astrolabie  is  the 
thikkeste  plate,  perced  with  a  large  hole, 
that  resseyveth  in  hir  wombe  the  thinne 
plates  compowned  for  diverse  clymatz, 
and  thy  riet  shapen  in  manere  of  a  net  or  5 
of  a  webbe  of  a  loppe  :  and  for  the  more 
declaracioun,  lo  here  the  figure. 

4.  This  moder  is  de\'j-ded  on  the  bak- 
half  with  a  lyne,  that  cometh  dessend- 
inge  fro  the  ring  down  to  the  nethereste 
bordure.  The  whiche  lyne,  fro  the  for- 
seide ring  un-to  the  centre  of  the  large  5 
hole  amidde,  is  cleped  the  south  lyne,  or 
elles  the  lyne  meridional.  And  the 
remenant  of  this  Ivne  downe  to  the  bor- 


398 


ZU  ileftrofaBe  :    (part  i. 


dure  is  cleped  the  north  Ijiie,  or  elles  the 
lyne  of  midnight.  And  for  the  more 
declaracionn,  lo  hero  the  figure. 

5.  Over-thwart  this  for-seide  longe 
Ij-ne,  ther  crosseth  him  another  lyne  of 
the  same  lengthe  from  est  to  west.  Of 
the  whiche  Ij'ne,  from  a  litel  croys  -(-  in 
the  bordure  un-to  the  centre  of  the  large 
hole,  is  cleped  the  Est  I.^-ne,  or  elles  the 
lyne  Orientale  ;  and  the  remenant  of  this 
lyne  fro  the  forseide  +  un-to  the  bordure, 
is  eloped  the  West  IjTie,  or  the  l.\Tie  Occi- 

I  dentale.  Now  hastow  here  the  foure 
quarters  of  thin  astrolabie,  devyded  alter 
the  foure  principals  plages  or  quarters  of 
the  firmament.  And  for  the  more  declar- 
acioun,  lo  here  thj-  figure. 

6.  The  est  side  of  thyn  Astrolabie  is 
cleped  the  right  side,  and  the  west  side 
is  cleped  the  left  side.  Forget  nat  this, 
litel  Lowis.     Put  the  ring  of  thyn  Astro- 

;  labie  upon  the  thoumlje  of  thy  right 
hand,  and  thanne  wole  his  riglit  syde  be 
toward  thy  left  syde,  and  his  left  syde 
wol  be  toward  thy  right  syde;  tak  this 
rewle  general,  as  wel  on  the  bnk  as  on 

I  the  wombe-side.  Upon  the  ende  of  this 
est  lyne,  as  I  first  seide,  is  marked  a  litel 
+  ,  wher-as  evere-mo  generaly  is  con- 
sidered the  entring  of  the  first  degree  in 
which  the  sonne  aryseth.     And  for  the 

;  more  declaracioun,  lo  here  the  figure. 

7.  Fro  this  litel  +  up  to  the  ende  of 
the  lyne  meridional,  under  the  ring, 
shaltow  finden  the  Ixjrdure  devyded  with 
90  degrees  ;  and  by  that  same  pruporeioun 

;  is  every  quarter  of  thin  Astrolabie  de- 
vyded. Over  the  whiche  degrees  ther 
ben  noumbres  of  augrim,  that  devj-den 
thUke  same  degrees  fro  fyve  to  fyve,  as 
sheweth  by  longe  strykes  by-twene.     Of 

'  whiche  longe  strykes  the  space  by-twene 
contienith  a  mile-wey.  And  every  degree 
of  the  bordure  contieneth  foiire  minutes, 
that  is  to  seyn,  minutes  of  an  houre. 
And  for  more  declaracioun,  lo  here  the 

;  figure. 

8.  Under  the  compas  of  thilke  degfrees 
ben  writen  the  names  of  the  Twelve 
Signes,  as  Aries,  Taurus,  Gremini,  Cancer, 
Leo,   Virgo,   Libra,   Scorpio,    Sagittarius, 


Capricomus,  Aquarius,  Pisces ;  and  the  5 
nombres  of  the  degrees  of  tho  signes  ben 
writen  in  augrim  above,  and  with  longe 
devisiouns,  fro  fj'^'e  to  fyve  ;  devj-ded  fro 
tyme  that  the  signe  entreth  tm-to  the 
laste  ende.  But  understond  wel,  that  10 
thise  degrees  of  signes  ben  everich  of  hem 
considered  of  60  minutes,  and  every 
minute  of  60  secondes,  and  so  forth  in-to 
smale  fraccions  infinit,  as  seith  Alka- 
bucius.  And  ther-for,  know  wel,  that  15 
a  degree  of  the  bordure  contieneth  foure 
minutes,  and  a  degree  of  a  signe  con- 
tieneth 6<)  minutes,  and  have  this  in 
minde.  And  for  the  more  declaracioun, 
lo  here  thy  figure.  20 

9.  Next  this  folweth  the  Cercle  of  the 
Dayes,  that  ben  figured  in  maner  of 
degrees,  that  contienen  in  noumbre  365  ; 
divj'ded  also  with  longe  strj'kes  fro  fyve 
to  fyye,  and  the  nombres  in  augrim  S 
writen  under  that  cercle.  And  for  more 
declaracioun,  lo  hero  thy  figure. 

10.  Next  the  Cercle  of  the  Dayes,  fol- 
weth the  Cercle  of  the  names  of  the 
Jlonthes ;  that  is  to  seyen,  Januare, 
Fcbruare,  Marcius,  Aprile,  Mayus,  Juin, 
.Julius,  Augustus,  Septembre,  October,  5 
Novembre,  Decenibre.  The  names  of 
thise  monthes  were  cleped  in  Arabiens, 
somme  for  hir  propretees,  and  some  by 
statutz  of  lordes,  some  by  other  lordes  of 
Rome.  Eek  of  thise  monthes,  as  lyked  10 
to  Julius  Cesar  and  to  Cesar  Augustus, 
some  were  compowned  of  diverse  nom- 
bres of  dayes,  as  .Tuil  and  August.  Thanne 
hath  Januare  31  dayes,  Februare  28, 
March  31,  Aprille  30,  May  31,  Junius  30,  15 
Julius  31,  Augustus  31,  September  30, 
Ootobre  31,  Novembre  30,  December  31. 
Natheles,  al-though  that  Julius  Cesar 
took  2  dayes  out  of  Feverer  and  put  hem 

in  his  moneth  of  JuUle,  and  Augustus  20 
Cesar  cleped  the  moneth  of  August  after 
his  name,  and  orde3-ned  it  of  31  dayes, 
yit  truste  wel,  that  the  sonne  dwelleth 
ther-for  nevere  the  more  ne  lesse  in  con 
signe  than  in  another.  25 

11.  Than  folwen  the  names  of  the 
Halidayes  in  the  Kalender,  and  next 
hem   the    lettres  of  the  Abe.   on  which 


ZU  «S0frofa6e :  (pad  i. 


399 


they  fallen.     And  for  the  more  declara- 
c;  cioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

12.  Next  the  forseide  Cerole  of  the 
Abe,  under  the  cros-lyne,  is  marked  the 
scale,  in  maner  of  two  squyres,  or  elles  in 
manere  of  laddres,  that  serveth  by  hise 

5  12  poyntes  and  his  devisiovms  of  ful 
many  a  subtil  concliTsioun.  Of  this  for- 
seide scale,  fro  the  croos-lyne  un-to  the 
verre  angle,  is  cleped  -fiimbra  versa,  and 
the  nether  partie  is  cleped  the  fwrnbra 
lo  recta,  or  elles  tnnbra  extensa.  And  for 
the  more  declaracioun,  lo  here  the  figiire. 

13.  Thanne  hastow  a  brood  Kewle, 
that  hath  on  either  ende  a  square  plate 
perced  with  a  certein  holes,  some  more 
and  some  lesse,  to  resseyven  the  stremes 

5  of  the  sonne  by  day,  and  eek  by  media- 
cioun  of  thyn  eye,  to  knowe  the  altitude 
of  sterres  by  nighte.  And  for  the  more 
declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

14.  Thanne  is  tlier  a  large  Pyn,  in 
maner  of  an  extree,  that  goth  thorow 
the  hole,  that  halt  the  tables  of  the 
clymates  and  the  riet  in  the  wombe  of 

5  the  Moder,  thorw  which  Pyn  ther  goth 
a  litel  wegge  which  that  is  cleped  '  the 
hors,'  that  strejmeth  alle  thise  parties  to- 
hepe  ;  this  forseide  grete  Pyn,  in  maner 
of  an  extree,  is  imagined  to  be  the  Pol 
lo  Artik  in  thj-n  Astrolabie.  And  for  the 
more  declaracioun,  lo  here  the  figure. 

15.  The  wombe-side  of  thyn  Astrolabie 
is  also  devyded  with  a  longe  croys  in 
foure  quarters  from  est  to  west,  fro  south 
to  north,  fro  right  syde  to  left  syde,  as  is 

5  the  bak-syde.  And  for  the  more  declara- 
cioun, lo  here  thy  figure. 

16.  The  bordure  of  which  wombe-side 
is  de\'yded  fro  the  poynt  of  the  est  lyne 
vin-to  the  poynt  of  the  south  lyne  under 
the  ring,  in  90  degres  ;  and  by  that  same 

5  proporcioun  is  every  quarter  devj'ded  as 
is  the  bak-syde,  that  amonteth  360  de- 
grees. And  understond  wel,  that  degrees 
of  this  bordure  ben  answering  and  con- 
sentrik  to  the  degrees  of  the  Eqiiinoxial, 
10  that  is  devyded  in  the  same  nombre  as 
every  othere  cercle  is  in  the  heye  hevene. 
This  same  bordure  is  devyded  also  with 
23   lettres  capitals   and  a  smal   croys  + 


above  the  south  lyne,  that  sheweth  the 
24  houres  equals  of  the  clokke  ;  and,  as  15 
I  have  said,  5  of  thise  degrees  maken 
a  mile-wey,  and  3  mile-wey  maken  an 
houre.  And  every  degree  of  this  bordure 
conteneth  4  minutes,  and  every  miniit 
60  secoundes  ;  now  have  I  told  thee  twj-e.  20 
And  for  the  more  declaracioun,  lo  here 
the  figfure. 

17.  The  plate  under  thy  riet  is  des- 
cryved  with  3  principal  cercles  ;  of  whiche 
the  leste  is  cleped  the  cercle  of  Cancer, 
by-cause  that  the  heved  of  Cancer  tiirneth 
evermor  consentrik  up-on  the  same  5 
cercle.  In  this  heved  of  Cancer  is  the 
grettest  declinacioun  northward  of  the 
sonne.  And  ther-for  is  he  cleped  the 
Solsticioun  of  Somer ;  whiche  declina- 
ciovin,  aftiTr  Ptholome,  is  23  degrees  lo 
and  50  minutes,  as  wel  in  Cancer  as  in 
Capricorne.  This  signe  of  Cancer  is 
cleped  the  Tropili  of  Somer,  of  tropos, 
that  is  to  seyn  'agaynward  ;'  for  thanne 
by-ginneth  the  sonne  to  passe  fro  us-  15 
ward.  And  for  the  more  declaracioim, 
lo  here  the  figure. 

The  middel  cercle  in  wydnesse,  of  thise 
3,  is  cleped  the  Cercle  Equinoxial ;  up-on 
whiche   turneth    evermo    the    hedes    of  20 
Aries  and  Libra.     And  understond  wel, 
that  evermo  this  Cercle  Equinoxial  turn- 
eth justly  fro  verrey  est  to  verrey  west ; 
as  I  have  shewed  thee  in  the  spere  solide. 
This  same  cercle  is  cleped  also  the  Weyere,  25 
equator,  of  the  day  ;  for  whan  the  sonne 
is   in   the    hevedes   of  Aries   and  Libra, 
than  ben  the  dayes  and  the  nightes  ilyke 
of  lengthe  in  al  the  world.     And  ther- 
fore   ben   thise    two    signes    called    the  30 
Equinoxies.  And  alle  that  moeveth  with- 
in the  hevedes  of  thise  Aries  and  Libra, 
his  moeving  is  cleped  north-ward  ;    and 
alle  that  moeveth  with-oiite  thise  hevedes, 
his  moeving  is  cleped  south-ward  as  fro  35 
the  equinoxial.     Tak  keep  of  thise  lati- 
tudes north  and  sowth,  and  forget  it  nat. 
By  this  Cercle  Equinoxial  ben  considered 
the  24  houres  of  the  clokke  ;  for  everemo 
the  arysing  of  15  degrees  of  the  equinoxial  40 
maketh  an  houre   equal  of  the  clokke. 
This  equinoxial  is  cleped  the  girdel  of 


400 


Z^t  £.6tvoMt:    {pavt  I. 


the  firste  moeving,  or  elles  of  the  atujulut 
primi  motus  vel  primi  mobilia.     And  nota, 

45  that  firste  moeving  is  eloped  'moeving' 
of  the  firsta  moevable  of  the  8  sperc, 
whiche  moeving  is  fro  est  to  west,  and 
eft  agayn  in-to  est ;  also  it  is  clepid 
'girdel'   of    the    first     moeving,    for    it 

5<>  departeth  the  firste  moevable,  that  is  to 

soyn,    the   spere,    in   two   ilyko    parties, 

evene-distantz  fro  the  pi:)les  of  this  world. 

The  -wj-deste  of  thise  three   principal 

cercles  is  cleped  the  Cercle  of  Capricorne, 

■5  liy-canso  that  the  heved  of  Capricorne 
tnrneth  evermo  consentrik  np-<jn  tlie 
same  ccrele.  In  the  heved  of  tliis  for- 
seide  Capricorne  is  the  grettest  declina- 
cioun  southward  of  the  sonne,  and  ther- 

(H)  for  is  it  cleped  the  Solsticionn  of  Winter. 
This  signo  of  Capriconie  is  also  cleped 
the  Tropik  of  Winter,  for  thaiine  hygin- 
neth  the  sonne  to  come  agaj-n  to  us-ward. 
And  for  the  more  declaracioun,  lo  here 

65  thy  figure. 

18.  Ui>on  this  forseide  plate  ben  com- 
passed certoin  cercles  that  hightcn  Al- 
inicanteras,  of  which  som  of  hem  semen 
pcrfit  cercles,  and  somme  semen  ini)erfit. 

5  Tlie  centre  that  standith  o-middes  the 
narwest  cercle  is  cIcikkI  the  Senith  ;  and 
the  nethere^t  cercle,  or  the  firste  cercle, 
is  clepid  the  Orisonte,  that  is  to  seyn, 
the   cercle   that   devydetb  the  two  emi- 

II)  speries,  that  is,  the  partie  of  the  hevene 
a-bove  the  crtho  and  the  partie  be-nethe. 
Thise  Almicantoras  Ijcu  compowned  by 
two  and  two,  al-be-it  so  that  on  divers 
Astrolabies  some  Almicanteras  ben  de- 

15  vyded  by  oon,  and  some  by  two,  and 
somme  by  three,  after  the  qaantite  of  the 
Astrolabie.  This  forseide  senith  is  im- 
Jigened  to  ben  the  verrey  point  over  the 
crowne   of  thyu   heved  ;    and   also   this 

JO  senith  is  the  verrey  po<d  of  the  orisonte 
in  every  regioun.  And  for  the  more 
declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

19.  From  this  senith,  as  it  semeth,  ther 
come  a  maner  crokede  strykes  lyke  to 
the  clawes  of  a  loppe,  or  elles  like  to  the 
werk  of  a  womanes  calle,  in  kerving  over- 

5  thwart  the  Almikanteras.  And  thise 
same   strykes   or   divisiouns  ben    cleped 


^Vzimuthz.  And  they  devj-den  the  ori- 
sonte of  thjni  Astrolabie  in  four  and 
twenty  devisiouns.  And  thise  Azimutz 
scrven  to  knowe  the  costes  of  the  firma-  u) 
ment,  and  to  othre  conclusiouns,  as  for 
to  knowe  the  cenith  of  the  sonno  and  of 
every  sterre.  And  for  more  declaracioun, 
lo  here  thy  figure. 

'20.    Next    thise    azimutz,    under    the 
Cercle    of  Cancer,    ben   ther   twelve   de- 
visiouns embelif,  inoche  like  to  the  shap 
I  of  the  azimutes,  that  shewcn  the  spaces 

of  the  houres  of  planet es  ;  and  for  more  5 
t  declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 
I       21.  The  Kiet  of  thyn  Astrolabie  with 
thy  zodiak,  shapen   in   manor  of  a  net 
or  of  a  loppe-webbe  after  the  olde   des- 
cripcioun,  which  thow  mayst  torncn  up 
and   doun  as  thy-self  lykoth,  conteneth  5 
certein  nombre  of  storrcs  fixes,  with  hir 
longitudes  and  latitudes  determinat ;  yif 
so  be  that  the  makere  have  nat  erred. 
The  names  of  the  sterres  ben  writen  in 
the  margin  of  the  riet  ther  as  they  sitte  ;  10 
of  wliiche   sterres    the   smale   poynt    is 
clei)od  the  Centre.     And  understond  also 
tliat   alle    sterres    sittingo    with-in    the 
zodiak    of    thyn    Astrolabie   ben   cleped 
'  sterres  of  the  north,'  for  they  arysen  15 
by  northo  the   est  lyne.     And   alle  the 
romenant  fixed,   out  of  the  zodiak,  ben 
cleped  '  sterres  of  the  south  ; '  but  I  sey 
nat  that  they  arysen  alle  by  southe  the 
est   lyne ;    witnesse    on   Aldeberan    and  20 
Algomeysa.     Generally  understond  this 
rewlo,  that  thilko  sterres  that  ben  cleped 
sterres  of  the  north  arysen  rather  than 
the  degree  of  hir  longitude,  and  alle  the 
sterres   of   the   south    arysen   aft«r    the  25 
degree  of  hir  longitude  ;  this  is  to  seyn, 


sterres  fixed  in  th.vn  Astrolabie.  The 
mesure  of  tliis  longitude  of  .sterres  is 
taken  in  the  lyne  ecliptik  of  hevene, 
under  which  lyne,  whan  that  the  sonne  30 
and  the  mone  ben  lyne-right  or  elles  in 
the  superfice  of  this  lyne,  than  is  the 
eclips  of  the  sonne  or  of  the  mone  ;  as 
I  shal  declare,  and  cek  the  cause  why. 
But  sothly  the  Ecliptik  Lj-ne  of  thy  35 
zodiak  is  the  outteresto  bordure  of  thy 
zodiak.  thor  the  degrees  ben  marked. 


ZU  Meivoiah:   (part  ii. 


401 


TbyZodiak  of  thyn  Astrolabie  is  shapen 
as  a  compas  which  that  conteneth  a  h^rge 

)  brede,  as  after  the  quantite  of  thyn 
Astrolabie  ;  in  ensample  that  the  zodiak 
in  hevene  is  imagened  to  ben  a  superfice 
contening  a  latitnde  of  twelve  degrees, 
wheras  al  the  remenant  of  cercles  in  the 

;  hevene  ben  imagined  verrey  lynes  with- 
oute  eny  latitude.  Amiddes  this  celestial 
zodiak  ys  imagined  a  lyne,  which  that  is 
cleped  the  Ecliptik  Lyne,  nnder  which 
lyne   is   overmo   the  wej'  of  the   sonne. 

1  Thus  ben  ther  six  degrees  of  the  zodiak 
on  that  oon  side  of  the  lyne,  and  six 
degrees  on  that  other.  This  zodiak  is 
de%dded  in  twelve  principal  devisioims, 
that   deiiarten  the  twelve  signes.     And, 

;  for  the  streitnes  of  thin  Astrolabie,  than 
is  every  smal  devisionn  in  a  signe  de- 
partid  by  two  degrees  and  two  ;  I  mene 
degrees  contening  sixty  minutes.  And 
this  forseide  hevenissh  zodiak  is  cleped 

1  the  Cerole  of  the  Signes,  or  the  Cercle 
of  the  Bestes  ;  for  ::odia  in  langage  of 
Greek  so^vneth  '  bestes  '  in  Latin  tonge  ; 
and  in  the  zodiak  hen  the  twelve  signes 
that  han  names  of  bestes  ;  or  elles,  for 
whan  the  sonne  entreth  in  any  of  the 
signes,  he  taketh  the  propretee  of  swich 
bestes  ;  or  elles,  for  that  the  sterres  that 
ben  there  fixed  ben  disposed  in  signes  of 
bestes,  or  shape  like  bestes ;  or  elles, 
whan  the  jilanetes  ben  under  thilke 
signes,  they  causen  us  by  hir  influence 
operaciouns  and  effecteslyk  to  the  opera- 
ciouns  of  bestes.  And  understonde  also, 
that  whan  an  hot  planete  cometh  in-to 
an  hot  signe,  than  encresseth  his  hete  ; 


and  yif  a  planete  be  cold,  thanne  amen- 
useth  his  coldnesse,  by-cause  of  the  bote 
signe.  And  by  this  conclusioun  maj-stow 
take  ensample  in  alle  the  signes,  be  they 
moist  or  drye,  or  moeble  or  fix  ;  rekening  So 
the  qualitee  of  the  planete  as  I  first 
seide.  And  everich  of  thisc  twelve  signes 
hath  respecte  to  a  certein  parcelle  of  the 
body  of  a  man  and  hath  it  in  governance ; 
as  Aries  hath  thyn  lieved,  and  Taurus  thy  Sg 
nekke  and  thy  throte,  Gemini  thyn 
armholes  and  thyn  armes,  and  so  forth  ; 
as  shal  be  shewed  more  plejTi  in  the  fifte 
partie  of  this  tretis.  This  zodiak,  which 
that  is  part  of  the  eighte  spere,  over-  90 
kerveth  the  equinoxial  ;  and  he  over- 
kerveth  him  again  in  eveue  parties ;  and 
that  on  half  declineth  southward,  and 
that  other  northward,  as  pleynly  de- 
clarcth  the  tretis  of  the  spere.  And  for  95 
more  declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

22.  Thanne  hastow  a  label,  that  is 
schapen  lyk  a  rewle,  save  that  it  is  streit 
and  hath  no  plates  on  either  ende  with 
holes  ;  but,  with  the  smale  point  of  the 
forseide  label,  shaltow  calcule  thyne  5 
equaciouns  in  the  bordure  of  thin  Astro- 
labie, as  by  thyn  almury.  And  for  the 
more  declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

28.  Thyn  Almurj'  is  cleped  the  Denticle 
of  Capricorne,  or  elles  the  Calculer.  This 
same  Almury  sit  fix  in  the  heed  of  Capri- 
come,  and  it  serveth  of  many  a  neces- 
sarie  con  clusioun  in  equaciouns  of  thinges,  5 
as  shal  be  shewed;  and  for  the  more 
declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

Here  endeth  the  descripcion  of  the 
Astrolabie. 


PART   II. 


Here  bvcinn'kn  the  Co^•CI-usIO^•s  ov 

THE  Astrolabie. 

1.   To  fynds  the  degree  in  which  the  sonne  is 

day  by  day,  after  hir  cours  a-boute. 

Rekene  and  knowe  which  is   the   day 

of  thy  monthe  ;    and   ley  thy  rewle  up 

that    same    day ;    and    thanne    wol   the 

verray  point  of  thy  rewle   sitten  in  the 


bordure,  up-on  the  degree  of  thy  sonne.  5 
Ensample  as  thus  ;  the  yeer  of  oure  lord 
1.^91,  the  12  day  of  March  at  middaj-, 
I  wolde  knowe  the  degree  of  the  sonne. 
I  soughte  in  the  bak-half  of  myn  Astro- 
labie, and  fond  the  cercle  of  the  dayes,  10 
the  which  I  knowe  by  the  names  of  the 
monthes  writen  under  tlie  same  cercle. 
Tho  leide  I  my  rowlo  over  this  forseide 


402 


Z^t  .SehrofaBe:    (pAvi  II. 


■  lay,  and  fond  the  point  of  my  rewlo  in 
15  the  bordnre  ui>on  the  firsto  deg^reo  of 
Aries,  a  litel  with-in  the  degree ;  and 
thus  knowe  I  this  conclusioun.  Another 
day,  I  woldo  knowe  the  degree  of  my 
Sonne,  and  this  was  at  midday  in  the 
20  i,^  day  of  Pecembre  ;  I  fond  the  day  of 
the  nionthe  in  maner  as  I  seido ;  the 
b^de  I  my  rewle  np-on  tliis  forseide  13 
day,  and  fond  the  point  of  my  rewle  in 
the  bordnre  ui>on  the  first  degree  of 
25  Capricome,  a  lite  with-in  the  degree  ; 
and  than  hadde  I  of  this  conolnsioun  the 
ful  experience.  Ami  for  the  more  declar- 
acioun,  lo  here  thj-  figure. 

2.  To  knowe  the  altitude  of  the  sonne,  07- 

ofothre  celestial  bodies. 

Put  the  ring  of  thyn  Astrolabie  np-on 

thy  right  thoumbe,    and    tume  thy  lift 

-syde  agayn  the  liglit  of  the  sonne.     And 

remeve  thy  rewle  up  and  doun,  til  that 

5  the  stremes  of  the  sonne  slijTie  thorgh 
Vxjthe  holes  of  thy  rewle.  Loke  thanne 
how  many  degrees  thy  rewle  is  areised 
fro  the  litel  crois  ui>on  thj-n  est  line,  and 
tak  ther  the  altitude  of  thy  sonne.     And 

10  in  this  same  ^^•yse  maistow  knowe  by 
niglite  the  altitude  of  the  mone,  or  of 
brightesterres.  This  chapitre  isso  general 
ever  in  oon,  that  ther  nedith  no  more 
declaracion  ;  but  forget  it  nat.     And  for 

J5  the  more  declaracioun,  lo  here  the  figure. 

3.  To  knowe  every  tyme  of  the  day  by  light 
oft  he  Sonne,  and  every  tyme  of  the  nujht 
by  the  stem's  Jixe,  and  eke  to  knowe  by 
night  or  by  day  the  degree  of  any  signe 
that  assendeth  on  the  Est  OrisonU,  which 
that  is  cleped  communly  the  Assendent, 
or  elles  Oruscupum. 

Tak  the  altitude  of  the  sonne  whan 
thee  list,  as  I  have  said  ;  and  set  the 
degree  of  the  sonne,  in  cas  that  it  be 
by-forn  the  middel  of  the  day,  among 
5  thyn  almilcanteras  on  the  est  side  of  thyn 
.\strolabie  ;  and  yif  it  be  after  the  middel 
of  the  day,  set  the  degree  of  thy  sonne 
np-on  the  west  side  ;  tak  this  manere  of 
sotting  for  a  general  rewle,  ones  for 
10  evere.      And   whan    thou   hast   set    the 


degree  of  thy  sonne  np  as  many  almi- 
kanteras  of  heyghte  as  was  the  altitude 
of  the  Sonne  taken  by  thy  rewle,  ley  over 
thy  label,  np-on  the  degree  of  the  sonne  ; 
and  thanne  wol  the  point  of  thy  label  15 
sitten  in  the  bordure,  up-on  the  verrey 
tyd  of  the  day.  Ensample  as  thus  :  the 
yeer  of  oure  lord  1301,  the  u  day  of 
March,  I  wold  knowe  the  tyd  of  the  day. 
I  took  the  altitude  of  my  sonne,  and  20 
fond  that  it  was  25  deg^rees  and  30  of 
minutes  of  heyghte  in  the  bordure  on  the 
bak-syde.  Tlio  turnede  I  m>Ti  Astrola- 
bie, and  by-cause  that  it  was  by-fom 
midday,  I  turnede  my  riet,  and  sette  the  2,S 
degree  of  the  sonne,  that  is  to  sc.yn,  the 
I  degree  of  Aries,  on  the  right  syde  of 
myn  Astrolabie,  up-on  that  25  degrees 
and  v>  of  minutes  of  heyghte  among  myn 
almikanteras  ;  tho  leide  I  my  label  up-on  .^i> 
the  degree  of  my  sonne,  and  fontl  the 
poynte  of  my  label  in  the  bordure,  uiJ-on 
a  capital  lettre  that  is  cleped  an  X  ;  tho 
rekened  I  alle  tho  eapitalles  lettres  fro 
the  Ij-ne  of  midnight  un-to  this  forseide  35 
lettre  X,  and  fond  that  it  was  9  of  the 
clokke  of  the  day.  Tho  loked  I  down 
up-on  the  est  orisonte,  and  fond  there 
the  20  degree  of  Geminis  assending ; 
which  that  I  tok  for  myn  assendent.  4" 
And  in  this  wyse  hadde  I  the  experience 
for  ever-mo  in  which  maner  I  sholde 
knowe  the  tyd  of  the  day,  and  eek  myn 
assendent.  Tho  wolde  I  wite  the  same 
night  folwing  the  hour  of  the  night,  and  45 
wroughte  in  this  wyse.  Among  an  heep 
of  sterris  fixe,  it  lyked  me  for  to  take  the 
altitude  of  the  feire  white  sterre  that  is 
cleped  Alhabor ;  and  fond  hir  sitting  on 
the  west  side  of  the  lyne  of  midday,  50 
+  18  degres  of  heighte  taken  by  my  rewle 
on  tlie  bak-syde.  Tho  sette  I  tho  centre 
of  this  Alhabor  up-on  f  18  degrees  among 
myn  almikanteras,  up-on  the  west  syde  ; 
by-cause  that  she  was  foundeu  on  the  55 
west  syde.  Tho  leide  I  my  label  over 
the  degree  of  the  sonne  that  was  de- 
scended under  the  weste  orisonte,  and 
rikened  alle  the  lettres  capitals  fro  the 
lyne  of  midday  un-to  the  point  of  my  60 
label  in  the  bordure  :    and   fond  that  it 


ZU  «S0ftofa6e :    ^Avi  II. 


403 


was  passed  +8  of  the  clokke  the  space  of 
i  2  degrees.  Tho  loked  I  doun  lap-on  myn 
est  orisonte,  and  fond  ther  -1-23  degrees  of 

<>5  Libra  assending,  whom  I  tok  for  myn 
assendent ;  and  thus  lerned  I  to  knowe 
ones  for  ever  in  which  manere  I  shuld 
come  to  the  houre  of  the  night  and  to 
myn  assendent ;    as  verreyly  as  may  be 

70  taken  by  so  smal  an  instrument.  But 
natlieles,  in  general,  wolde  I  warne  thee 
for  evere,  ne  mak  tliee  nevere  bold  to 
have  take  a  just  ascendent  by  thjii 
Astrolabie,    or   elles   to   have   set   justly 

75  a  clokke,  whan  any  celestial  body  by 
which  that  thow  wenest  governe  thilke 
thinges  ben  ney  tlie  south  lyne  ;  for  trust 
wel,  whan  that  the  Sonne  is  ney  the 
meridional  lyne,  the  degree  of  the  sonne 

So  renneth  so  longe  consentrik  up-on  the 
almikanteras,  that  sothly  thou  shalt  erre 
fro  the  just  assendent.  The  same  con- 
clusioun  sey  I  by  the  centre  of  any  sterre 
fix  by  night  ;  and  more-over,  by  experi- 

<S5  ence,  I  wot  wel  that  in  oure  orisonte, 
froin  II  of  the  clokke  iin-to  oon  of  the 
clokke,  in  taking  of  a  just  assendent  in 
a  portatif  Astrolabie,  hit  is  to  hard  to 
knowe.     T  mene,  from   11  of  the  clokke 

t)(,  liiforn  the  houre  of  noon  til  oon  of  the 
clokke  next  folwing.  And  for  the  more 
declaracion,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

4.   Special  declaracion  of  the  assendent 

The  assendent  sothly,  as  wel  in  alle 
nativitez  as  in  questiouns  and  elecciouns 
of  tymes,  is  a  thing  which  that  thiso 
astrologiens   gretly   observen  ;    wher-fore 

5  me  semeth  convenient,  sin  that  I  speke 
of  the  assendent,  to  make  of  it  special 
declaracioun.  Tlie  assendent  sothly,  to 
take  it  at  tho  largeste,  is  thilke  degree 
that  assendeth    at  any  of  thise  forseide 

u>  tymes  upon  the  est  orisonte  ;  and  there- 
for, yif  that  any  planet  assende  at  that 
same  tyme  in  thilke  for-seide  ^degree  of 
his  longitude,  men  seyn  that  thilke 
planete  is  in  horoscopo.     But  sothly,  the 

15  hous  of  the  assendent,  that  is  to  seyn, 
tlie  firste  hous  or  the  est  angle,  is  a  thing 
more  brood  and  large.  For  after  the 
statutz  of  astrologiens,  what  celestial  body 


that  is  5  degres  above  thilk  degree  that 
assendeth,  or  -wath-in  that  noumbre,  that  20 
is  to  seyn,  nerethe  degree  that  assendeth, 
yit  rikne  they  thilke  planet  in  the  as- 
sendent. And  what  planete  that  is  under 
thilke  degree  that  assentlith  the  space 
of  -1-25  degrees,  yit  seyn  they  that  thilke  25 
planete  is  lyk  to  him  that  is  in  the  hous 
of  the  assendent ;  but  sothly,  yif  he  passe 
the  bondes  of  thise  forseide  spaces,  above 
or  bynethe,  they  seyn  that  the  planete  is 
failling  fro  the  assendent.  Yit  sein  thise  30 
astrologiens,  that  the  assendent,  and  eke 
the  lord  of  the  assendent,  may  bo  shapen 
for  to  be  fortunat  or  infortunat,  as  thus  : 
a  fortunat  assendent  clepen  they  whan 
that  no  wikkid  planete,  as  Satume  or  35 
Mars,  or  elles  the  Tail  of  the  Dragoun, 
is  in  the  hous  of  the  assendent,  ne  that 
no  wikked  planete  have  non  aspecte  of 
enemite  up-on  the  assendent ;  but  they 
wol  caste  that  they  have  a  fortunat  40 
planete  in  hir  assendent  and  yit  in  his 
felicitee,  and  than  sey  they  that  it  is  wel. 
Forther-over,  they  seyn  that  the  infor- 
tuning  of  an  assendent  is  the  contrarie 
of  thise  forseide  thinges  The  lord  of  45 
the  assendent.  sey  they,  that  he  is  for- 
tunat, whan  he  is  in  good  place  fro  the 
assendent  as  in  angle  ;  or  in  a  succedent, 
where-as  he  is  in  his  dignitee  and  con- 
forted  with  frendly  aspectes  of  planetes  50 
and  wel  resceived,  and  eek  that  he  may 
seen  the  assendent.  and  that  he  be  nat 
retrograd  ne  combust,  ne  joigned  with 
no  shrewe  in  the  same  signe  ;  ne  that  he 
be  nat  in  his  descencioun.  ne  joigned  with  55 
no  planete  in  his  discencioun,  ne  have 
up-on  him  non  aspecte  infortunat  ;  and 
than  sey  they  that  he  is  wel.  Natlieles, 
thise  l)en  observauncezof  judicial  matiere 
and  rytes  of  payens,  in  which  my  spirit  60 
ne  hath  no  feith,  ne  no  knowing  of  hir 
horoscopum ;  for  they  seyn  that  every 
signe  is  departed  in  3  evene  parties  by 
10  degrees,  and  thilke  porcioun  theyclepe 
a  Face.  And  al-thogh  that  a  planete  65 
have  a  latitude  fro  the  ecliptik,  yit  sey 
some  folk,  so  that  the  planete  aryse  in 
that  same  signe  with  any  degree  of  the 
forseide  face  in  which  his  longitude  is 


404 


Z^c  Scivoiaic :  (pavi  ii. 


70  rekned,  that  j-it  is  the  planete  in  horo- 
scopo,  be  it  in  nativite  or  in  eleo cioun,  &c. 
And  for  the  more  declaracioun,  lo  here 
the  figure. 

5.  To  knnice  the  verrey  equacioun   of  the 
degree  of  the  sonne,  yif  so  be  that  it  falle 
by-twixe  thyn  Almikanteras. 
For  as  moche  as  the  almikanteras  in 
thyn  Astrolabie  been  compouned  by  two 
and  two,  where-as  some  almikanteras  in 
sondry   Astrohibies    ben    compouned   by 
5  oon  and  oon,  or  elles  by  two   and  two, 
it  is  necessarie  to  thy  lerniug  to  tcche 
thee  first  to  knowe  and  worke  w'ith  thyn 
owuc  instrument.     VVher-for,  whan  that 
the  degree  of  thy  Sonne  falleth  by-twixe 
10  two  almikanteras,  or  elles  yif  thj-n  almi- 
kanteras   ben    graven    with    over     grot 
a   point   of  a   compas,   (for  bothe    tliLse 
thinges    may   causen   errour    as   wel   in 
knowing  of  the  tyd  of  the  day  as  of  the 
15  verrey    assendent),    thou    most    werken 
in    this   wj-se.      Set   the    degree   of  thy 
Sonne    ui)-on     the     heyer    almikanteras 
of  bothe,   and  waite  wel  wher  as  thin 
almury   toucheth   the   bordure,   and   set 
20  ther     a    prikke    of    inke.       Set     doun 
agaj-n   the   degree   of   thy  Sonne    nji-on 
the  nethere  almikanteras  of  bothe,  and 
set  ther  another  pi-ikke.    Remewe  thanne 
thyn  almury  in  the  bordure  evene  amid- 
25  lies   Ixithe    prikkes,   and    this   wol    lede 
justly  the  degree  of  thy  sonne  to  sitte 
by-twixe  bothe  almikanteras  in  his  right 
place.     Ley  thanne   thy  label   over   the 
degree  of  thy   sonne ;    and   find   in  the 
3.)  bordure  the  verrey  tyde  of  the  day  or  of 
the    night.      And    as    verreyly    shaltow 
fiude  up-on  thyn  est  orisonte  thyn  assen- 
dent.    And   for    more    declaracioun,    lo 
here  thy  figure. 

6.  To  knowe  the  spring  of  the  dawing  and 
live  ende  of  tlie  evening.    Vie  which  ben 
called  the  two  crepmculis : 
Set  the  nadir  of  thy  sonne  tip-on    18 
degrees  of  heighte  among  thjTi  almikan- 
teras on  the  west  syde,  and  ley  thy  label 
on  the  degree  of  thy  sonne,  and  thanne 
5  shal  the  poynt  of  thy  label  schewe  the 
sjiring  of  day.     Also  set  the  nadir  of  thy 


Sonne  up-on  18  degrees  of  heighte  a-mong 
thyn  almikanteras  on  the  est  side,  and 
ley  over  thy  label  up-on  the  degree  of  the 
Sonne,  and'  with  the  point  of  thy  label  10 
find  in  the  bordure  the  ende  of  the 
evening,  that  is,  verrey  night.  The  nadir 
of  the  Sonne  is  thilko  degree  that  is 
opposit  to  the  degree  of  the  sonne,  in  the 
sevcnthe  signe,  as  thus :  every  degree  15 
of  Aries  by  ordre  is  nadir  to  every  degree 
of  Libra  by  ordre  ;  and  Taurus  to  Scor- 
pion ;  Gemini  to  Sagittare  ;  Cancer  to 
Caprioome  ;  Leo  to  Aquarie  ;  Virgo  to 
Pisces  ;  and  yif  any  degree  in  thy  zodiak  20 
be  dirk,  his  nadir  shal  declare  him.  And 
for  the  more  declaracioun,  lo  here  thy 
figure. 

7.  To  knoice  the  arch  of  tlie  day,  that  some 

folk  callen  the   day  artificial,  from  the 

Sonne  arysiruj  til  hit  go  to  reste. 

Set  the  degree  of  thy  sonne  up-on  thyn 
est  orisonte,  and  ley  thy  label  on  the 
degree  of  the  sonne,  and  at  the  poynt 
of  thy  label  in  the  bordure  set  a  prikke. 
Turn  thanne  thy  riet  aboute  til  the  .'> 
degree  of  the  sonne  sit  \ip-on  the  west 
orisonte,  and  ley  thy  label  up-on  the 
same  degree  of  the  Sonne,  and  at  the 
point  of  thy  label  set  a-nother  prikke. 
Rekne  thanne  the  quantitee  of  tyme  in  i<> 
the  bordure  by-twixe  bothe  prikkes,  and 
tak  ther  thyn  ark  of  the  day.  The  reme- 
nant  of  the  bordure  under  tlie  orisonte  is 
the  ark  of  the  night.  Thus  maistow 
rekne  bothe  arches,  or  every  porcion,  15 
of  whether  that  thee  lyketh.  And  by 
this  manere  of  wyrking  maistow  see  how 
longe  that  any  sterre  fix  dwelleth  a-bove 
the  crthe,  fro  tyme  that  he  ryseth  til  he 
go  to  reste.  But  the  day  natural,  that  20 
is  to  sejTi  24  houres,  is  the  revolucioun  of 
the  equinoxial  with  as  moche  partie  of 
the  zodiak  as  the  sonne  of  his  propre 
moevinge  passeth  in  the  mene  whyle. 
And  for  the  more  declaracioun,  lo  here  25 
thy  figure. 

8.   To  turn  the  houres  in-equales  in  houres 
equales. 

Knowe  the  nombre  of  the  degrees  in 
the  houres  in-equales,  and  departe  hem 


ZU  cHetrofaBe :  ^avi  ii. 


405 


by  15,  and  talc  ther  thyn  hovires  equales. 
And  for  the  more  declaracioun,  lo  here 

5  thy  figrire. 

9.   To  knowe  the  quantitee  of  the  day  vul- 

gare,  that  is  to  seyen,  from  spring  of  the 

day  un-to  verrey  night. 

Know  tlie  quantitee  of  thy  crepusculis, 

as  I  have  taught  in  the  chapitre  bi-forn, 

and  ndde  hem  to   the  arch  of  thy  day 

artificial ;  and  tak  ther  the  space  of  alle 

5  the  hole  day  vulgar,  un-to  verrey  night. 

The   same    manere    maystow   worke,    to 

knowe  the  quantitee  of  the  vulgar  night. 

And  for  the  raore  declaracioun,  lo  here 

the  figure. 

10.  To  knowe  the  quantite  of  houres 
inequales  by  day. 
Utiderstond  wel,  that  thise  houres  in- 
equales ben   cleped   houres   of  planetes, 
and  xinderstond  wel  that  som-tyme  ben 
they  lengere  by  day  than  by  night,  and 

5  som-tyme  the  contrarie.  But  understond 
wel,  that  evermo,  generaly,  the  hour  in- 
equal  of  the  day  with  the  houre  in-equal 
of  the  night  contenen  30  degrees  of  the 
bordure,     whiche     bordure     is     ever-mo 

K)  answering  to  the  degrees  of  the  equi- 
noxial ;  wher-for  departe  the  arch  of  the 
day  artificial  in  12,  and  tak  ther  the 
ijuantitee  of  the  houre  in-equal  by  day. 
And  yif  thow  abate  the  quantitee  of  the 

15  houre  in-equal  by  daye  oiit  of  30,  than 
shal  the  remenant  that  leveth  performe 
the  houre  inequal  by  night.  And  for 
the  more  declaracioun,  lo  here  the  figure. 

11.   To  knowe  the  quantite  of  houres  equales. 
The  quantitee  of  houres  equales,  that 
is  to  seyn,  the  houres  of  the  clokke,  ben 
departed   by    15   degrees   al-redy   in    the 
bordure   of  thyn   Astrolabie,   as   wel   by 
5  night    as    by    day,    generaly  for    evere. 
What  nedeth  more  declaracioun  ?   Wher- 
for,   whan  thee  list  to  know  how  manye 
houres  of  the  clokke  ben  passed,  or  any 
pai-t   of   any  of    thise   houres   that   ben 
10  passed,    or   elles    how   many   houres    or 
partio  of  houres  ben  to  come,  fro  swich 
a  tyme  to  swich  a  tyme,  by  day  or  by 
nighte,  knowe  the  degree  of  thy  sonne, 


and  ley  thy  label  on  it  ;  turne  thy  riet 
aboute  joyntly  with  thy  label,  and  with  15 
the  point  of  it  rekne  in  the  bordure  fro 
the  sonne  aryse  un-to  the  same  place 
ther  thou  desirest,  by  day  as  by  nighte. 
This  conclusioun  wol  I  declare  in  the 
laste  chapitre  of  the  4  partie  of  this  tretis  20 
so  openly,  that  ther  shal  lakke  no  wordc 
that  nedeth  to  the  declaracioun.  And 
for  the  more  declaracioun,  lo  here  the 
figure. 

12.  Special  declaracioun  of  the  houres 
of  planetes. 

Understond  wel,  that  evere-mo,  fro  the 
arysing  of  the  sonne  til  it  go  to  reste,  the 
nadir  of  the  sonne  shal  shewe  the  houre 
of  the  planete,  and  fro  that  tyme  forward 
al  the  night  til  the  sonne  aryse  ;  than  5 
shal  the  verrey  degree  of  the  sonne  shewe 
the  houre  of  the  planete.  Ensample  as 
thus.  The  13  day  of  Maich  fil  up-on  a 
Saterday  per  aventure,  and,  at  the  aris- 
ing of  the  Sonne,  I  fond  the  secounde  10 
degree  of  Aries  sitting  up-on  myn  est 
orisonte,  al-be-it  that  it  was  but  lite ; 
than  fond  I  the  2  degree  of  Libra,  nadir 
of  my  Sonne,  dessending  on  my  west 
orisonte,  up-on  which  west  orisonte  every  15 
day  generally,  at  the  sonne  ariste,  entreth 
the  houre  of  any  planete,  after  which 
planete  the  day  bereth  his  name  ;  and 
endeth  in  the  nexte  stryk  of  the  plate 
under  the  forseide  west  orisonte  ;  and  21) 
evere,  as  the  sonne  climbeth  upi^ere  and 
uijpere,  so  goth  his  nadir  dounere  and 
dounere,  teching  by  swich  strykes  the 
houres  of  planetes  by  ordro  as  they  sitten 
in  the  hevene.  The  first  hoiire  inequal  25 
of  every  Satterday  is  to  Saturne  ;  and 
the  secounde,  to  Jupiter  ;  the  3,  to  Mars  ; 
the  4,  to  the  Sonne  ;  the  5,  to  Venus  ;  the 
6,  to  Mercurius  ;  the  7,  to  the  Mone  ;  and 
thanne  agayn,  the  8  is  to  Satvirne  ;  the  9,  30 
to  Jupiter;  the  10,  to  Mars;  the  11,  to 
the  Sonne;  the  12,  to  Venus;  and  now 
is  my  Sonne  gon  to  reste  as  for  that 
Setterday.  Thanne  sheweth  the  verrey 
degree  of  the  sonne  the  houre  of  Mercuric  35 
entring  under  my  west  orisonte  at  eve  ; 
and  next  him  succedeth  the  Mone  ;  and  so 


4o6 


Z^t  ileh-ofaSe :  (parf  ii. 


forth  by  ordre,  planete  after  planeto,  in 
)ioure  after  houre,  til  the  niglit  longe  til  the 

40  Sonne  ar.vse.  Now  ryseth  the  sonne  that 
Sonday  by  the  morwe  ;  and  the  nadir  of 
the  Sonne,  np-on  the  west  orizonte, 
sheweth  me  the  cntring  of  the  houre  of 
the  forseide  sonne.     And  in  this  maner 

45  succedeth  planete  under  planete,  fro 
Satume  un-to  the  Alone,  anil  fro  the 
Mone  up  a-gayn  to  Satume,  houre  after 
houre  generaly.  And  thus  knowe  I  this 
conclnsioun.     Ami  for  the  more  declara- 

50  cioun,  lo  here  the  figure. 

13.  To  knotce  the  aUitude  0/  the  Mtinf  in 
middes  of  the  day,  that  u  cleped  the 
altitude  meridian. 

Set  the  degree  of  the  sonne  up-on  the 
lyne  meridional,  and  rikcne  how  many 
degrees  of  almikanteras  ben  by-twixe 
thyn  est  orisonte  and  the  degree  of  the 
5  Sonne.  And  tak  ther  thyn  altitude 
meridian  ;  tins  is  to  seyne,  the  heyest  of 
the  Sonne  as  for  that  day.  So  maystow 
knowe  in  the  same  l.vne,  the  heyest 
fours  that  any  sterre  fix  climbeth  by 
10  night  ;  this  is  to  seyn,  that  whan  any 
sterre  fix  is  passed  the  lyne  meridional, 
tlian  by-ginneth  it  to  descende,  and  so 
doth  the  Sonne.  And  for  the  more 
declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

14.  To  knotce  the  degree  of  the  tonne  by 
thij  riet,  for  a  maner  ciiriositee,  <(c. 

Sek  bysily  with  thy  rewle  the  heyest 
of  the  Sonne  in  midde  of  the  day  ;  tume 
thanne  thyn  Astrolabie,  and  with  a 
prikke  of  ink  marke  the  nombre  of  that 
5  same  altitude  in  the  Ij-ne  meridional. 
Tume  thanne  thy  riet  aboute  til  thou 
fynde  a  degree  of  thy  zodiak  acording 
with  the  prikke,  this  is  to  seyn,  sittinge 
on  the  prikke  ;  and  in  sooth,  thou  shalt 

10  finde  but  two  degrees  in  al  the  zodiak 
of  that  condicionn  ;  and  yit  thilke  two 
degrees  ben  in  tliverse  signes ;  than 
maistow  lightly  by  the  sesoun  of  the  yere 
knowe  the  signe  in  whiche  that  is  the 

15  Sonne.  And  for  the  more  declaracioun, 
lo  here  thy  figure. 


15.  To  knotc  which  day  is  lyk  to  which  day 

as  of  lengthe,  dc. 
Loke  whiche  degrees  ben  y-lyke  fer  fro 
the  hevedes  of  Cancer   and    Capricorn  ; 
and   lok,  whan  the  sonne  is   in  any   of 
thilke  degrees,  than  ben  the  dayes  y-lyke 
of  lengthe.     This  is  to  seyn,  that  as  long  5 
is  that  day  in  that  monthe,  as  was  swich 
a  day  in  swich   a  month  ;    ther  varieth 
but  lite.     Also,  yif  thou  take  two  dayes 
naturaly  in  the  yeer  y-l,vke  fer  fro  ej-ther 
pointe  of  the  equinoxial  in   the  opposit  10 
parties,  than  as  long  is  the  day  artificial 
of  that  on   day  as  is  the  night  of  that 
othere,  and  the  contrarie.     And  for  the 
more  declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

16.  TTiis  cha})itre  is  a  maner  declaracioun 

to  conclusiouna  that  foluxn. 
Understond    wel    that    thy   zodiak    is 
departid  in  two  halfc  cercles,  as  fro  the 
hoved  of  Capricorne  un-to  the  heved  of 
Cancer  ;  ond  agnj-nward  fro  the  heved  of 
Cancer  un-to  the   heved   of  Capricorne.  5 
The  heved   of  Capricorne  is  the  lowest 
point,  wher-as  the  Sonne  goth  in  winter  ; 
and  the  heved  of  Cancer  is  the  heyest 
point,  in  wliiche  the  sonne  goth  in  somer. 
.\nd   ther-for   understond  wel,  that  any  10 
two  degrees  that  ben  y-lyke  fer  fro  any 
of    thise   two   hevedes,    truste   wel   that 
thilke  two  degrees  ben   of  y-lyke  decli- 
nacionn,  be  it  southward  or  northward  ; 
and    the    dayes    of  hem    ben    y-l.vke    of  15 
lengthe,  and  the  nightes  also  ;  and  the 
shadwes  y-lyke,  and  the  altitudes  y-lyke 
at    midday    for    evere.     And    for    more 
declaracioun,  lo  here  thj'  figure. 

17.  To  knowe  the  verrey  degree  of  any 
maner  sterre  straungc  or  unstraunge  after 
his  longitude,  though  he  be  indeterminat 
in  thyn  Astrolabie  ;  sothlyto  the  troicthe, 
thus  he  shal  be  knowe. 

Tak  the  altitude  of  this  sterre  whan  he 
is  on  the  est  side  of  the  IjTie  meridional, 
as  ney  as  thou  mayst  gesse ;  and  tak 
an  assendent  a-non  right  by  som  maner 
sterre  fix  which  that  thou  knowest ;  and  5 
for-get  nat  the  altitude  of  the  firste  sterre, 
ne  thyn  assendent.  And  whan  that  this 
is  don,  espye  diligently  whan  this  same 


ZU  ^etvotaU :  (J)ad  ii. 


407 


firste  sterre  passeth  any-thing  the  south 

10  westward,  and  hath  him  a-non  right  in 
the  same  nonmbre  of  altitude  on  the 
west  side  of  this  Ij'ne  meridional  as  he 
was  caught  on  the  est  side  ;  and  tak 
a   newe   assendent  a-non   right   by  som 

15  maner  sterre  fixe  which  that  thou  know- 
est ;  and  for-get  nat  this  secounde  as- 
sendent. And  whan  that  this  is  don, 
rikne  thanne  how  manye  degrees  ben 
by-twixe    the    firste   assendent   and   the 

20  seconde  assendent,  and  rikne  wel  the 
middel  degree  by-t  wene  botlie  assendentes, 
and  set  thilke  middel  degree  up-on  thin 
est  orisonte ;  and  waite  thanne  what 
degree   that    sit   up-on    the    Ij'ne   rneri- 

25  dional,  and  tak  ther  the  verrey  degi'oe 
of  the  ecliptik  in  which  the  sterre  stond- 
eth  for  the  tyme.  For  in  the  ecliptik 
is  the  longitude  of  a  celestial  body 
rekened,   evene  fro   the   heved   of  Aries 

30  un-totheende  of  Pisces.  And  his  latitude 
is  rikned  after  the  quantitee  of  his  decli- 
nacion,  north  or  south  to-warde  the 
poles  of  this  world  ;  as  thus.  Yif  it  be 
of  the  Sonne  or  of  any  fix  sterre,  rekene 

35  his  latitude  or  his  declinacioun  fro  the 
equinoxial  cercle  ;  and  yif  it  be  of  a 
planete,  rekne  than  the  quantitee  of  his 
latitude  fro  the  ecliptik  lyne.  Al-be-it 
so  that  fro  the  cquinoxial  raay  the  decli- 

40  nacion  or  the  latitude  of  any  body  celes- 
tial be  rikned,  after  the  site  north  or 
south,  and  after  the  quantitee  of  hLs  de- 
clinacion.  And  right  so  may  the  latitude 
or  the  declinacion  of  any  body  celestial, 

45  save  only  of  the  Sonne,  after  his  site 
north  or  south,  and  after  the  quantitee 
of  his  declinacioun,  be  rekned  fro  the 
ecliptik  lyne ;  fro  which  lyne  alle  planetes 
som  tyme  declynen  north  or  south,  save 

50  only  the  for-seide  Sonne.  And  for  the 
more  declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

18.  To  knowe  the  degrees  of  the  longitudes 
of  fixe  sterres  after  that  they  ben  deter- 
minat  in  thin  Astrolabie,  yif  so  be  that 
they  ben  trewly  set. 

Set  the  centre  of  the  sterre  up-on  the 
lyne  meridional,  and  tak  keep  of  thy 
zodiak,  and  loke  what  degree  of  any  signe 


that  sit  on  the  same  lyne  meridional  at 
that  same  tyme,  and  tak  the  degree  in  .i 
which  the  sterre  standeth  ;  and  with 
that  same  degree  comth  that  same  sterre 
\in-to  that  same  lyne  fro  the  orisonte. 
And  for  more  declaracioun,  lo  here  thy 
figure.  J 

19.  To  knowewith  which  degree  of  the  zodiak 
any  sterre  fixe  in  thyn  Astrolabie  aryseth 
up-on  the  est  orisonte,  al-thogh  his  dwell- 
ing be  in  a-nother  signe. 

Set  the  centre  of  the  sterre  up-on  the 
est  orisonte,  and  loke  what  degree  of  any 
signe  that  sit  up-on  the  same  orisonte  at 
that  same  tyme.  And  understond  wel, 
that  with  that  same  degree  aryseth  that  i 
same  sterre;  and  tliis  merveyllous  arysing 
with  a  strange  degree  in  another  signe 
is  by-cause  that  the  latitude  of  the  sterre 
fix  is  either  north  or  south  fro  the  cqui- 
noxial. But  sothly,  the  latitudes  of 
planetes  ben  comunly  rekned  fro  the 
ecliptik,  bi-cause  that  non  of  hem  de- 
clineth  but  fewe  degrees  out  fro  the  brede 
of  the  zodiak.  And  tak  good  keep  of 
this  chapitre  of  arysing  of  the  celestial 
bodies  ;  for  truste  wel,  that  neyther  mone 
ne  sterre  as  in  oure  embelif  orisonte 
aryseth  with  that  same  degree  of  his 
longitude,  save  in  00  cas ;  and  that  is, 
whan  they  have  no  latitude  fro  the  ■■ 
ecliptik  lyne.  But  natheles,  som  tyme 
is  everiche  of  thise  planetes  imder  the 
same  lyne.  And  for  more  declaracioun, 
lo  here  thy  fig^ure. 

20.  To  knotce  the  declinacioun  of  any  degree 
in  the  zodiak  fro  the  equinoxial  cercle,  dx. 

Set  the  degree  of  any  signe  up-on  the 
lyne  meridional,  and  rikne  his  altitude 
in  almikanteras  fro  the  est  orizonte  up 
to  the  same  degree  set  in  the  forseide 
lyne,  and  set  ther  a  prikke.  Turne  up  i 
thanne  thy  riet,  and  set  the  hoved  of 
Aries  or  Libra  in  the  same  meridional 
lyne,  and  set  ther  a-nother  priklce.  And 
whan  that  this  is  don,  oonsidere  the 
altitudes  of  hem  bothe  ;  for  sothly  the  : 
difference  of  thilke  altitudes  is  the  decli- 
nacion of  thilke  degree  fro  the  equinoxial. 
And  yif  so  be  that  thilke  degree  be  north- 


4c8 


ZU  cHatvofaBe:  (pavt  ii. 


ward  fro  the  equinoxial,  than  is  his 
(leclinacion  north  ;  yif  it  be  southward, 
than  is  it  sontli.  And  for  the  more 
declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

21.  To  knoice  for  what  latitude  in  any 
regioun  the  almikanteras  of  anij  table 
ben  compouned. 

Eikne  how  manye  degrees  of  almikan- 
teras, in  the  meridional  lyne,  be  fro  tlie 
cercle  equinoxial  un-to  the  senitli  ;  or 
dies  fro  the  pool  artik  nn-to  the  north 
orison te  ;  and  for  so  gret  a  latitude  or  for 
so  smal  a  latitude  is  the  table  comiwuned. 
And  for  more  declaracion,  lo  here  thy 
figure. 

22.  To  krunee  in  special  the  latitude  of 
oure  cottntray,  I  mene  after  the  latitude 
of  Oxenford,  and  the  heighte  of  owe  pal. 
Understond  wel,  tliat  as  fer  is  the  heved 

of  Aries  or  Libra  in  the  equinoxial  from 
ouro  orisonte  as  is  the  senith  from  the  pole 
artik ;  and  as  hey  is  the  pol  artik  fro  the 
orisonte,  as  the  eqxiinoxial  is  fer  fro  the 
senith.  I  prove  it  thus  by  the  latitude 
of  Oxenford.  I'nderstond  wel,  that  the 
heyghte  of  oure  pool  artik  fro  oure  north 
orisonte  is  51  degrees  and  50  minutes  ; 
than  is  the  senith  from  oure  piM)l  artik 
38  degrees  and  10  minutes  ;  than  is  the 
equinoxial  from  oure  senith  51  degrees 
and  50  minutes ;  than  is  ouro  south 
orisonte  from  oure  equinoxial  38  degrees 
and  10  minutes.  Understond  wel  this 
rekning.  Also  for-get  nat  that  the  senith 
is  90  degrees  of  heyghte  fro  the  orisonte, 
and  oure  equinoxial  is  o<)  degrees  from 
oure  pool  artik.  Also  this  shorte  rewle 
i  is  soth,  that  the  latitude  of  any  place  in 
a  regioun  is  the  distance  fro  the  senith 
unto  the  equinoxial.  And  for  more 
declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 
2.3.   To  prove  evidently  the  latitude  of  any 

I)lace  in  a  regioun,  by  the  preve  of  tlie 

Jieijghte   of  the  pol  aiiik  in   that   same 

place. 

In  some  winters  night,  whan  the  fir- 
mament isclere  and  thikke-sterred,  waite 
a  tyme  til  that  any  sterre  fix  sit  lyne-right 
l>erpendiculer    over   the   pol   artik,    and 
^  clepe  that  sterre  A.     And  wayte  a-nother 


sterre  that  sit  lyne-right  iinder  A,  and 
under  tlio  pol,  and  clepe  that  sterre  F. 
And  understond  wel,  that  F  is  nat  con- 
sidered but  only  to  declare  that  A  sit 
eveno  overe  the  pool.  Tak  thanne  a-non  u> 
right  the  altitude  of  A  from  the  orisonte, 
and  forget  it  nat.  Lat  A  and  F  go  farwel 
til  agayns  the  dawening  a  gret  whylo  ; 
and  come  thanne  agayn,  and  abyd  til 
that  A  is  eveno  under  the  pol  and  under  15 
F ;  for  sothly,  than  wol  F  sitte  over  the 
pool,  and  A  wol  sitte  under  the  pool. 
Tak  than  eft-sones  the  altitude  of  A  from 
the  orisonte,  and  note  as  wel  his  secounde 
altitude  as  his  firste  altitude  ;  and  whan  20 
that  this  is  don,  rikne  how  manye  degrees 
that  the  firste  altitude  of  A  excedeth 
his  seconde  altitude,  and  tak  half  thilke 
porcioun  that  is  exceded,  and  adde  it  to 
his  seconde  altitude  ;  and  tak  ther  the  25 
elevacioun  of  thy  pool,  and  eke  the 
latitude  of  thy  regioun.  For  thise  two 
ben  of  a  nombre ;  this  is  to  seyn,  as 
many  degrees  as  thy  pool  is  elevat,  so 
michol  is  the  latitude  of  the  regioun.  .^n 
Ensamplo  as  thus  :  par  aventure,  the 
altitude  of  A  in  the  evening  is  56  degrees 
of  heyghte.  Than  wol  his  seconde  altitude 
or  the  dawing  be  48  ;  that  is  8  lasse  than 
56,  that  was  his  firste  altitude  at  even.  35 
Take  thanne  the  half  of  8,  and  adde  it  to 
48,  that  was  his  seconde  altitude,  and 
than  hastow  5J.  Now  hastow  the  heyghte 
of  thy  pol,  and  the  latitude  of  thorcgioun. 
But  understond  wel,  that  to  prove  this  4" 
conclusioun  and  many  a-nothor  fair  con- 
clusioun,  thou  most  have  a  plomet  hang- 
ing on  a  lyne  heyer  than  thin  heved 
on  a  perche  ;  and  thilke  lyne  mot 
hangc  evene  perpendiculer  by-twixe  the  45 
pool  and  thjoi  eye  ;  and  thanne  shaltow 
seen  .vif  A  sitte  evone  over  the  pool  and 
over  F  at  evene  ;  and  also  yif  F  sitte 
evene  over  the  pool  and  over  A  or  day. 
And  for  more  declaracion,  lo  here  thy  50 
figure. 

24.  Another  conclusioun  to  prove  the  heyghte 
of  the  pool  artik  fro  the  orisonte. 
Tak  any  sterre   fixe  that  nevere   dis- 
sendeth   under   the   orisonte    in    thilke 


^0e  ilefvofaBe :  ^avt  ii. 


409 


regioim,  and  consiclere  his  heyest  altitude 
and  his  lowest  altitude  fro  the  orisonte  ; 
5  and  make  a  nombre  of  bothe  thise  alti- 
tudes. Tak  thanne  and  abate  half  that 
nombre,  and  tak  ther  the  elevaoioun  of 
the  pol  artik  in  that  same  regioun.  And 
for  more  declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

25.  A-nother  conclusioun  to  prove  the 

latitiide  of  the  regioun,  <fc. 
Understond  wel  that  the  latitvide  of 
any  place  in  a  regioun  is  verreyly  the 
space  by-twixe  the  senith  of  hem  that 
dwellen  there  and  the  equinoxial  cerkle, 
5  north  or  southe,  taking  the  mesure  in 
the  meridional  lyne,  as  gheweth  in  the 
almikanteras  of  thyn  Astrolabie.  And 
thilke  space  is  as  moche  as  the  pool  artik 
is  hey  in  the  same  place  fro  the  orisonte. 

10  And  than  is  the  depressioun  of  the  pol 
antartik,  that  is  to  seyn,  than  is  the  pol 
antartik  by-nethe  the  orisonte,  the  same 
quantite  of  space,  neither  more  ne  lasse. 
Thanne,   yif  thow  desire  to  knowe  this 

15  latitude  of  the  regioun,  tak  the  altitude 
of  the  Sonne  in  the  middel  of  the  day, 
whan  the  sonne  is  in  the  hevedes  of 
Aries  or  of  Libra  ;  (for  thanne  moeveth 
the  Sonne  in  the  lyne  equinoxial) ;  and 

20  abate  the  nombre  of  that  same  sonnes 
altitude  out  of  90,  and  thanne  is  the 
remenaunt  of  the  noumbre  that  leveth 
the  latitude  of  the  regioun.  As  thus  : 
I  suppose  that  the  sonne  is  thilke  day 

25  at  noon  38  degrees  and  10  minutes  of 
heyghte.  Abate  thanne  thise  degrees  and 
minutes  out  of  90;  so  leveth  there  51 
degrees  and  50  minutes,  the  latitude. 
I  sey  nat  this  but  for  ensample  ;  for  wel 

30  I  wot  the  latitude  of  Oxenforde  is  certein 
minutes  lasse,  as  I  mighte  prove.  Now 
yif  so  be  that  thee  semeth  to  long  a  tary- 
inge,  to  abyde  til  that  the  sonne  be  in 
the  hevedes  of  Aries  or  of  Libra,  thanne 

35  waite  whan  the  sonne  is  in  any  other 
degree  of  the  zodiak,  and  considere  the 
degree  of  his  declinacion  fro  the  equi- 
noxial lyne  ;  and  yif  it  so  be  that  the 
sonnes  declinacion  be  northward  fro  the 

40  equinoxial,  abate  thanne  fro  the  sonnes 
altitude  at  noon  the  nombre  of  his  de- 


clinacion, and  thanne  hastow  the  heyghte 
of  the  hevedes  of  Aries  and  Libra.  As 
thvis  :  my  sonne  is,  par  aventure,  in  the 
f  firste  degree  of  Leoun,  f^S  degrees  and  45 
10  minutes  of  heyghte  at  noon  and  liis 
declinacion  is  almost  -fao  degrees  north- 
ward fro  the  equinoxial ;  abate  thanne 
thilke  fjo  degrees  of  declinacion  oiit 
of  the  altitude  at  noon,  than  leveth  thee  ,S') 
38  degrees  and  odde  minutes  ;  lo  ther  the 
heved  of  Aries  or  Libra,  and  thyn  equi- 
noxial in  that  regioun.  Also  yif  so  be 
that  the  sonnes  declinacioun  be  south- 
ward fro  the  equinoxial,  adde  thanne  55 
thilke  declinacion  to  the  altitude  of  the 
Sonne  at  noon  ;  and  tak  ther  the  hevedes 
of  Aries  and  Libra,  and  thyn  equinoxial. 
Abate  thanne  the  heyghte  of  the  equi- 
noxial out  of  90  degrees,  and  thanne  60 
leveth  there  the  distans  of  the  pole,  51 
degrees  and  50  minutes,  of  that  regioim 
fro  the  equinoxial.  Or  elles,  yif  thee 
lest,  take  the  heyest  altitvide  fro  the 
equinoxial  of  any  sterre  fix  that  thoii  65 
knowest,  and  tak  hisnethere  elongacioun 
lengthing  fro  the  same  equinoxial  lyne, 
and  wirke  in  the  maner  forseid.  And 
for  more  declaracion,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

26.  Declaracioun  of  the  assensioun  of 
sit/nes,  dc. 

The  excellence  of  the  spere  solide, 
amonges  other  noble  conclusiouns,  shew- 
eth  manifesto  the  diverse  assenciouns 
of  signes  in  diverse  places,  as  wel  in  the 
righte  cerole  as  in  the  embelif  cercle.  5 
Thise  auctours  wryten  that  thilke  signe 
is  cleped  of  right  ascensioun,  with  which 
more  part  of  the  cercle  equinoxial  and 
lasse  part  of  the  zodiak  ascendeth  ;  and 
thilke  signe  assendeth  embelif,  with  10 
whiche  lasse  part  of  the  equinoxial  and 
more  part  of  the  zodiak  assendeth. 
Ferther-over  they  seyn,  that  in  thilke 
cuntrey  where  as  the  senith  of  hem  that 
dwellen  there  is  ^n  the  equinoxial  lyne,  15 
and  her  orisonte  passing  by  the  poles 
of  this  worlde,  thilke  folke  han  this  right 
cercle  and  the  right  orisonte  ;  and  evore- 
mo  the  arch  of  the  day  and  the  arch  of  the 
night  is  ther  y-like  long,  and  the  sonne  20 


ZH  ile^tofaBe:  (pavt  ii. 


twj-es  every  yeer  passings  tliorow  tlio 
senith.  of  her  heveil  ;  ami  two  someres 
and  two  winteres  in  a  yeer  lian  this 
forseide  poeple.     And   the   almikanteras 

25  in  her  Astrolabies  ben  streighte  as  a  lyne, 
so  as  sheweth  in  this  figiire.  The  ntilite 
to  knowe  the  assencionns  in  the  righte 
cercle  is  this  :  truste  wel  that  by  media- 
cionn  of  thilke  assencionns  thise  astro- 

30  logiens,  by  hir  tables  and  hir  instrii- 
mentz,  knowen  verreyly  the  assencionn 
of  every  degree  and  minnt  in  al  the  zodiak, 
as  shal  be  shewed.  And  nota,  that  this 
forseid    righte    orisonte,    that    is   cleped 

35  orison  rectum,  divydeth  the  equinoxial 
in-to  right  angles  ;  and  the  eml)elif  ori- 
sonte, wher-as  the  pol  is  enhaused  up-on 
the  orisonte,  overkerveth  the  eqninoxial 
in  ombelif  angles,  as  sheweth  in  the  fig^ire. 

40  And  for  the  more  declaracionn,  lo  here 
the  figure. 

27.  37ii«  is  the  eonchisioun  to  knowe  the 
assencionns  of  signes  in  the  right  cercle, 
that  w,  circulus  direclus,  <(•<■. 

Set  the  heved  of  what  sigue  thee  liste 
to  knowe  his  assending  in  the  right  cercle 
np-on  the  lyne  meridional  ;  and  waite 
wher  thyn  almury  toucheth  the  bordure, 
5  and  set  ther  a  prikke.  Tnme  thanne  thy 
riet  westward  til  that  the  ende  of  the 
forseide  signe  sitte  up-on  the  meridional 
lyne ;  and  eft-sones  waito  wher  thj-n 
almury  toucheth   the   bordure,   and   set 

10  ther  another  prikke.  Rikne  thanne  the 
nombre  of  degrees  in  the  bordure  by- 
twixe  bothe  prikkes,  and  tak  the  assen- 
cionn of  the  signe  in  the  right  cercle. 
And    thus   maystow   wyrke   with    every 

15  porcioun  of  thy  zodiak,  &c.  And  for  the 
more  declaracioun,  lo  here  thj^  fig^ure. 

28.  To  knowe  the  assencions  of  signes  in  the 
embelif  cercle  in  every  regioun,  I  intone, 
in  circtdo  ohliqvo. 

Set  the  heved  of  the  signe  which  as 
thee  list  to  knowe  his  ascensionn  ui>on 
the  est  orisonte,  and  waite  wher  thyn 
almtiry  toucheth  the  bordure,  and  set 
5  ther  a  prikke.  Turne  thanne  tliy  riet 
upward  til  that  the  ende   of  the   same 


signe  sitte  iip-on  tho  est  orisonte,  and 
waite  eft-sones  wher  as  thyn  almury 
touchetli  the  bordvire,  and  set  ther 
a-nother  prikke.  Eikne  thanne  the  10 
noumbre  of  degrees  in  tlie  bordure  by- 
twi.xe  bothe  prikkes,  and  tak  ther  the 
assencionn  of  the  signe  in  the  embelif 
cercle.  And  understond  wel,  that  alle 
signes  in  thy  zodiak,  fro  the  heved  of  1.=; 
Aries  iinto  the  ende  of  Virgo,  ben  cleped 
signes  of  the  north  fro  the  equinoxial  ; 
and  these  signes  arysen  by-twixe  the 
verrey  est  and  the  verrey  north  in  oure 
orisonte  generalj'  for  evere.  Ami  alle  20 
signes  fro  the  heved  of  Libra  un-to  the 
ende  of  Pisces-  ben  cleped  signes  of  the 
south  fro  the  equinoxial  ;  and  thise  signes 
arysen  ever-mo  by-twixe  the  verrey  est 
and  the  verrey  south  in  cure  orisonte.  25 
Also  every  signe  by-twixe  tho  heved  of 
Capricorne  \in-to  the  ende  of  Geminis 
aryseth  on  oure  orisonte  in  lasse  than  two 
houres  equales  ;  and  thise  same  signes, 
fro  the  heved  of  Capricorne  un-to  the  y 
ende  of  Geminis,  ben  cleped  '  tortnos 
signes '  or  '  croked  signes,'  for  they  arisen 
embelif  on  oure  orisonte  ;  and  thise  cro- 
kede  signes  ben  obedient  to  the  signes 
that  ben  of  right  assencionn.  Tlie  signes  ,S5 
of  right  assencioun  ben  fro  the  heved  of 
Cancer  to  the  f  ende  of  Sagittare ;  and 
thise  signes  arysen  more  upright,  and  they 
ben  called  eke  soverej-n  signes ;  and 
everich  of  hem  aryseth  in  more  space  4< 
than  in  two  houres.  Of  which  signes, 
Gemini  obeyeth  to  Cancer  ;  and  Taurus 
to  Leo;  Aries  to  Virgo  ;  Pisces  to  Libra  ; 
Aquarius  to  Scorpioun  ;  and  Capricorne 
to  Sagittare.  And  thus  ever-mo  two  4o 
signes,  that  ben  y-lyke  fer  fro  the  heved 
of  Capricorne,  obeyen  everich  of  hem  til 
other.  And  for  more  declaracioun,  lo 
here  the  figure. 

29.  To  knowe  Justly  the  foure  quarters  of 
the  world,  as  est,  west,  north,  and  soivth. 
Take  the  altitude  of  thy  sonne  whan 
thee  list,  and  note  wel  the  quarter  of  the 
world  in  which  the  sonne  is  for  the  tyrae 
by  the  azimiitz.  Tume  thanne  thyn 
Astrolabie,    and   set   the   degree   of    the  5 


^6e  ilefvofafi^:  {pavt  ii. 


41] 


Sonne  in  the  almikanteras  of  his  altitude, 
on  thilke  side  that  the  sonne  stant,  as  is 
the  manere  in  taking  of  houres  ;  and  ley 
thy  label  on  the  degree  of  the  sonne,  and 

K)  rikene  how  many  degrees  of  the  bordure 
l>en  by-twixe  the  lyne  meridional  and  the 
point  of  thy  label ;  and  note  wel  that 
noumbre.  Turne  thanne  a-gayn  thyn 
Astrolabie,  and  set  the  point  of  thy  gret 

15  rewle,  ther  thon  takest  thyne  altitudes, 
np-on  as  many  degrees  in  his  bordiire  fro 
his  meridional  as  was  the  point  of  thy 
label  fro  the  lyne  meridional  on  the 
wombe  syde.     Tak    thanne    thyn   Astro- 

2<'  labie  with  bothe  handes  sadly  and  slely, 
and  lat  the  sonne  shyne  thorow  bothe 
holes  of  thy  rewle  ;  and  sleyly,  in  thilke 
shyninge,  lat  thyn  Astrolabie  conch  adoun 
evene  up-on  a  smothe  grond,  and  thanne 

25  wol  the  verrey  lyne  meridional  of  thyn 
Astrolabie  lye  evene  soixth,  and  the  est 
lyne  wole  lye  est,  and  the  west  lyne  west, 
and  north  lyne  north,  so  that  thon  werke 
softly  and  a^'isely  in  the  couching  ;  and 

?<)  thus  hastow  the  4  quarters  of  the  firma- 
ment. And  for  the  more  declaracioun, 
lo  here  the  fig:ure. 

30.  To  knowe  the  altitude  of  planetea  fro 

the  wey  of  the  sonne,  whether  so  they  be 

north  or  south  fro  the  forseide  wey. 

Lok  whan  that  a  planete  is  in  the  lyne 

meridional,  yif  that  hir  altitude  be  of  the 

same  heyghte  that  is  the  degree  of  the 

Sonne  for  that  day,  and  than  is  the  planete 

5  in  the  verrey  wey  of  the  sonne,  and  hath 

no  latitude.     And  yif  the  altitude  of  the 

planete  be  heyere  than  the  degree  of  the 

Sonne,  than  is  the  planete  north  fro  the 

wey  of  the  sonne  swich  a  quantite  of  lati- 

10  tude  as  shewetli  by  thyn  almikanteras. 

And  yif  the  altitude  of  the  planete  be  lasse 

than  the  degree  of  the  sonne,  thanne  is 

tlie  planete  south  fro  the  wey  of  the  sonne 

swich  a  qnantite  of  latitude  as  sheweth 

15  by  thyn  almikanteras.     This  is  to  sejTi, 

fro   the   wey   wher-as   the   sonne   wente 

thilke  day,  but  nat  from  the  wey  of  the 

Sonne  in  every  place  of  the  zodiak.     And 

for  the  more  declaracioun,  lo  here  the 

20  figure. 


31.  To  knoim  the  senith  of  the  aryaing  of 
the  sonne,  this  is  to  seyn,  the  partie  of  the 
orisonte  in  which  that  the  sonne  aryseth. 

Thoii  most  first  considere  that  the 
Sonne  aryseth  nat  al-wey  verrey  est,  but 
some  tyme  by  north  the  est,  and  soni 
tyme  by  southe  the  est.  Sothly,  the  sonno 
arj'seth  never-mo  verrey  est  in  cure  ori-  5 
sonte,  but  he  be  in  the  heved  of  Aries  or 
Libra.  Now  is  thyn  orisonte  departed  in 
24  parties  by  thy  azimutz,  in  significacion 
of  24  partiez  of  the  world  ;  al-be-it  so 
that  shipmen  rikne  thilke  partiez  in  32.  lo 
Thanne  is  ther  no  more  but  waito  in 
which  azimut  that  thy  sonne  entreth  at 
his  arysing  ;  and  take  ther  the  senith  of 
the  arysing  of  the  sonne.  The  manere  of 
the  devisioun  of  thyn  Astrolabie  is  this  ;  15 
I  mene,  as  in  this  cas.  First  is  it  devided 
in  4  plages  principals  with  the  lyne  that 
goth  from  est  to  west,  and  than  with 
a-nother  lyne  that  goth  fro  south  to  north. 
Tlian  is  it  devided  in  smale  partiez  of  20 
azimutz,  as  est,  and  est  by  southe,  whereas 
is  the  firste  azimut  above  the  est  Ij-ne  ;  and 
so  forth,  fro  partie  to  partie,  til  that  thou 
come  agajTi  ixn-to  the  est  Ijiie.  Thus 
maistow  nnderstond  also  the  senith  of  25 
any  sterre,  in  which  partie  he  ryseth, 
&c.  And  for  the  more  declaracion,  lo 
here  the  figure. 

32.  To  knowe  in  which  partie  of  the  firma- 

ment  is  the  conjunccioun. 

Considere  the  tyme  of  the  conjnnccion 
by  thy  kalender,  as  thus  ;  lok  how  many 
houres  thilke  conjnnccion  is  fro  the  mid- 
day of  the  day  precedent,  as  sheweth  by 
the  canoun  of  thy  kalender.  Rikne  5 
thanne  thilke  nombre  of  houres  in  the 
bordure  of  thyn  Astrolabie,  as  thou  art 
wont  to  do  in  knowing  of  the  houres  of 
the  day  or  of  the  night ;  and  ley  thy  label 
over  the  degree  of  the  sonne  ;  and  thanne  "> 
wol  the  point  of  thy  label  sitte  up-on  the 
hour  of  the  conjnnccion.  Loke  thanne  in 
which  azimut  the  degree  of  thy  sonne 
sitteth,  and  in  that  partie  of  the  firma- 
ment is  the  conjunccioun.  And  for  the  15 
more  declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 


412 


ZU  SettohU  :   ^avt  II. 


33.  To  knowe  the  senith  of  the  altitude  of 

the  Sonne,  &c. 

This  is  no  more  to  seyn  but  any  tyme 

of  the  day  tak  the  altitude  of  the  Sonne  ; 

and  by  the  azimut  in  which  he  stondeth, 

maystou  seen  in  which  partie  of  the  fir- 

5  mament  he  is.     And  in  the  same  wyse 

maystou  seen,  by  the  night,  of  any  sterre, 

wliether  the  sterre  sitte  est  or  west  or 

mirth,  or  any  partie  by-twene,  after  the 

name  of  the  azimut  in  which  is  the  sterre. 

lo  And  for  the  more  ileclaracioun,  lo  here 

the  figure. 

34.  To  knowe  sothlij  the  degree  of  the 
longitude  of  the  mone,  or  of  any  planete 
that  hath  no  latitude  for  the  tyme  fro  the 
ecliptik  lijne. 

Tak  the  altitude  of  the  mone,  and 
rikne  thj-n  altitude  up  among  thj-ne  al- 
mikanteras  on  which  syde  that  the  mone 
stande ;    and   set   there   a   prikke.     Tak 

5  thenne  anon-right,  up-on  the  mones  syde, 
the  altitude  of  any  sterre  fix  which  that 
thou  knowest,  and  set  his  centre  up-on 
his  altitude  among  thyn  almikanteras 
ther  the  sterre  is  founde.     Waite  thanne 

lo  which  degree  of  the  zodiak  toucheth  the 
prikke  of  the  altitude  of  the  mone,  and 
tak  ther  the  degree  in  which  the  mone 
standeth.  This  conclusioun  is  verrey 
sooth,  yif  the  sten-es  in  thyn  Astrolabie 

15  stonden  after  the  trowthe  ;  of  comune, 
tretis  of  Astrolabie  ne  make  non  excep- 
cioun  whether  the  mone  have  latitude,  or 
non  ;  ne  on  whether  sytle  of  the  mone  the 
altitude  of  the  sterre  fix  be  taken.     And 

20  nota,  that  yif  the  mone  shewe  himself  by 
light  of  day,  than  maystow  wyrke  this 
same  conclusioun  by  the  sonne,  as  wel  as 
by  the  fix  sterre.  And  for  the  more  de- 
claracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

35.  This  is  the  workinge  of  the  concliisioun, 
to  knowe  yif  that  any  planete  he  directe 
or  retrograde. 

Tak  the  altitude  of  any  sterre  that  is 

cleped  a  planete,  and  note  it  wel.     And 

tak  eek  anon  the  altitude  of  any  sterre 

fix  that   thou  knowest,  and  note  it  wel 

5  also.     Come  thanne  agaj-n  the  thridde  or 


the  ferthe  night  next  folwing  ;  for  thanne 
shaltow  aperceyve  wel  the  moeving  of 
a  planete,  whether  so  he  moeve  forth  ward 
or  bakward.  Awaite  wel  thanne  whan 
that  thy  sterre  fix  is  in  the  same  altitude  10 
that  she  was  whan  thou  toke  hir  firste 
altitude  ;  and  tak  than  eftsones  the  alti- 
tude of  the  forseide  phmete,  and  note  it 
wel.  For  trust  wel,  yif  so  be  that  the 
planete  be  on  the  right  syde  of  the  meri-  15 
dional  lyne,  so  that  his  seconde  altitude 
be  lasse  than  his  firste  altitude  was, 
thanne  is  the  planete  directe.  And  yif 
he  be  on  the  west  syde  in  that  condicion, 
thanne  is  he  retrograd.  And  yif  so  be  20 
that  this  planete  be  up-on  the  est  syde 
whan  his  altitude  is  taken,  so  that  his 
secoundc  altitude  be  more  than  his  firste 
altitude,  thanne  is  he  retrograde,  and  yif 
he  be  on  the  west  syde,  than  is  he  directe.  25 
But  the  contrarie  of  thise  parties  is  of  the 
cours  of  the  mone  ;  for  sothly,  the  mone 
moeveth  the  contrarie  from  othere  plan- 
etes  as  in  hir  episicle,  but  in  non  other 
manere.  And  for  the  more  declaraoioiin.  M> 
lo  here  thy  figure. 

36.  The  conclusioum  of  equacioum  oj 
houses,  after  the  Astrolabie,  &c. 

Set  the  by-ginning  of  the  degree  that 
assendeth  up-on  the  ende  of  the  8  houre 
inequal ;  thanne  wol  the  by-ginning  of 
the  2  hous  sitte  up-on  the  lyne  of  mid- 
night. Remeve  thanne  the  degree  that  5 
assendeth,  and  set  him  on  the  ende  of  the 
10  hour  inequal  ;  and  thanne  wol  the 
byginning  of  the  3  hous  sitte  up-on  the 
midnight  lyne.  Bring  up  agayn  the  same 
degree  that  assendeth  first,  and  set  him  lo- 
up-on  the  orisonte ;  and  thanne  wol  the 
beginning  of  the  4  hous  sitte  up-on  the 
lyne  of  midnight.  Tak  thanne  the  nadir 
of  the  degree  that  first  assendeth,  and 
set  him  on  the  ende  of  the  2  houre  15 
inequal ;  and  thanne  wol  the  beginning 
of  the  5  hous  sitte  up-on  the  lyne  of  mid- 
night ;  set  thanne  the  nadir  of  the  assen- 
dent  on  the  ende  of  the  4  houre,  than  wol 
the  beginning  of  the  6  house  sitte  on  the  20 
midnight  lyne.  The  beginning  of  the 
7  hous  is  nadir  of  the   assendent,  and 


ZU  M&ivoMt :    (part  il. 


413 


the  beginning  of  the  8  hous  is  nadir  of 
the  2  ;  and  the  beginning  of  the  9  hous  is 

25  nadir  of  the  3  ;  and  the  beginning  of  the 
10  hous  is  the  nadir  of  the  4  ;  and  the  be- 
ginning of  the  1 1  hous  is  nadir  of  the  5  ; 
and  the  beginning  of  the  12  hous  is  nadir 
of  the  6.     And  for  the  more  declaracion, 

30  lo  here  the  figure. 

37.  A-nother  manere  of  equaciowns  of 

hotcses  by  the  Astrolahie. 
Tak  thyn  assendent,and  thanne  hastow 
thy  4  angles  ;  for  wel  thou  wost  that  the 
opposit  of  thyn  assendent,  that  is  to  seyn, 
thy  beginning  of  the  7  hous,  sit  up-on  the 
5  west  orizonte  ;  and  the  beginning  of  the 
10  hous   sit  up-on  the  lyne  meridional ; 
and  his  opposit  up-on  the  l.vne  of  mid- 
night.    Thanne   ley   thy   label   over   tlie 
degree  that  assendeth,  and  rekne  fro  the 
10  point  of  thy  label  alle  the  degrees  in  the 
bordure,  til  thou  come  to  the  meridional 
lyne  ;  and  departe  alle  thilke  degrees  in 

3  evene  parties,  and  take  the  evene 
equacion   of  3  ;    for   ley   thy   label   over 

15  everich  of  3  parties,  and  than  maistow 
see  by  thy  label  in  which  degi'ee  of  the 
zodiak  [is]  the  beginning  of  everich  of 
thise  same  houses  fro  the  assendent  : 
that    is   to   seyn,   the   beginning   of  the 

20  12  house  next  above  thyn  assendent ;  and 
thanne  the  beginning  of  the  11  hoiise  ; 
and  thanne  the  10,  up-on  the  meridional 
lyne  ;  as  I  first  seide.  The  same  wyse 
wirke  thou  fro  the  assendent  doun  to  the 

25  lyne  of  midnight ;  and  thanne  thus 
hastow  other  3  houses,  that  is  to  seyn, 
the  beginning  of  the  2,  and  the  3,  and  the 

4  liou.ses  ;  thanne  is  the  nadir  of  thise 
3  houses  the  beginning  of  the  3  houses 

30  that  folwen.  And  for  the  more  declara- 
cioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

B8.  To  finde  the  lyne  merydional  to  dwelle 

fix  in  any  certein  place. 

Tak  a  rond  plate  of  metal ;  for  warping, 

the  brodere  the  bettre  ;  and  make  ther- 

upon  a  just  compas,  a  lite  with-in  the 

bordure  ;  and  ley  this  ronde  plate  tip-on 

5  an  evene  grond,  or  on  an  evene  ston,  or 

on  an  evene  stok  fix  in  the  gronde  ;  and 


ley  it  even  by  a  level.     And  in  centre  of 
the  compas  stike  an  evene  pin  or  a  wyr 
upright ;   the  smallere  the  betere.      Set 
thy  pin  by  a  plom-rewle  evene  upright ;  10 
and  let   this    pin    be    no    lengere    than 
a  quarter  of  the  diametre  of  thy  compas, 
fro  the  centre.     And  waite  bisily  aboute 
10  or   n  of  the   clokke  ;    and  whan  the 
Sonne  shyneth,  whan  the  shadwe  of  the  15 
pin  entreth  any-thing  with-in  the  eercle 
of  thy  plate  an  heer-mele,  and  mark  ther 
a  prikke  with  inke.     Abyde  thanne  stille 
waiting  on  the  sonne  after  i  of  the  clokke, 
til  that  the  schadwe  of  the  wyr  or  of  the  20 
pin  passe  ony-thing  out  of  the  eercle  of 
the  compas,  be  it  never  so  lyte  ;  and  set 
ther  a-nother  prikke  of  inke.     Take  than 
a  compas,  and  mesure  evene  the  middel 
by-twixe  bothe  prikkes  ;   and  set  ther  a  25 
prikke.     Take  thanne  a  rewle,  and  draw 
a  stryke,  evene  a-lyne  fro  the  pin  vin-to 
the  middel  prikke ;  and  tak  ther  thy  lyne 
meridional  for  evere-mo,  as  in  that  same 
place.     And  yif  thow  drawe  a  cros-lyne  30 
over-thwart  the  compas,  justly  over  tlie 
lyne   meridional,    than   hastow   est    and 
west  and  south  ;   and,  par  consequence, 
tlian  the  nadir  of  the  south  lyne  is  the 
north  IjTie.     And  for  more  declaracioun,  35 
lo  here  thy  figure. 

39.  Bescripcion  of  the  meridional  lyne,  of 
longitudes,   and  latitudes  of  citees  and 
toumes  from  on  to  a-nother  of  clymatz. 
This  lyne  meridional  is  biit  a  maner 
descripcion  of  lyne  imagined,  that  passeth 
upon  the  poles  of  tliis  world  and  by  the 
senith  of  oure  heved.    And  hit  is  y-cleped 
the  lyne  meridional  ;    for  in  what  place  5 
that  any  maner  man  is  at  any  tyme  of 
the  yeer,  whan  that  the  sonne  by  moeving 
of  the  firmament  cometh  to   his  verrey 
meridian  place,  than  is  hit  verrey  midday, 
that  we  clepen  oure  noon,  as  to  thilke  10 
man  ;  and  therfore  is  it  cleped  the  lyne 
of  midday.      And   nota,    for   evermo,    of 
2  citees  or  of  2  tovmes,  of  whiche  that  o 
toiin  aprocheth  more  toward  the  est  than 
doth   that   other   toun,    trnste  wel  that  15 
thilke    tounes    hau    diverse     meridians, 
Nota  also,  that  the  arch  of  the  equinoxial, 


414 


ZU  SatvoiaBt:  (part  ii. 


(hat  is  contejTietl  or  boiuided  by-twixe  the 
2  meridians,   is  clejied  the  longitude  of 

2')  the  toun.  And  yif  so  be  that  two  tonnes 
liave  y-lyke  meridian,  or  oon  meridian, 
than  is  the  distajice  of  hem  bothe  y-lyke 
Icr  fro  the  est ;  and  the  contrarie.  And 
in   this   manere  they    chaunge   nat    her 

^5  meridian,  but  sothly  they  chaungen  her 
almikanteras  ;  for  the  enhausing  of  the 
jKxil  and  the  distance  of  the  Sonne.  The 
longitude  of  a  clymat  is  a  lyue  imagined 
fro  est  to  west,  y-lyke  distant  by-twene 

,^o  them  alle.  The  latitude  of  a  clymat  is  a 
lync  imagined  from  north  to  south  the 
space  of  the  erthe,  fro  the  byginning  of 
the  firste  clymat  unto  the  vcrrey  ende  of 
the  same  climat,  evene  ilirecte  agayns 

.^5  the  pole  artik.  Thus  seyn  some  auctours; 
and  somme  of  hem  seyn  that  yif  men 
clepen  the  latitude,  thay  mene  the  arch 
meridian  that  is  contiened  or  intercept 
by-twixe  the  senith  and  the  equinoxiaL 

4<)  Thanne  sey  they  that  the  distaunce  fro 
the  oquinoxial  unto  the  cnde  of  a  clymat, 
cveno  agayns  the  pole  artyk,  is  the  lati- 
tuile  of  a  clymat  for  sothe.  And  for 
more  declaracioun,  lo  here  thy  figure. 

40.  To  knowe  n-ith  which  degree  of  the 
zodiak  that  any  planete  assendith  on  the 
vrUont^,  ichether  so  that  his  latitude  be 
noi-th  or  south. 

Knowe  by  thyn  almenak  the  degree  of 
the  ccliptik  of  anj*  signo  in  which  that 
the  planete  is  rekned  for  to  be,  and  that 
is  cleped  the  degree  of  his  longitude ;  and 
5  knowe  also  the  degree  of  his  latitude  fro 
the  ocliptik,  north  or  south.  And  by 
thise  samples  folwmge  in  special,  may- 
stow  wirke  •];■  for  sothe  in  everj'  signe  of 
the  zodiak.     The  degree  of  the  longitude, 

lo  par  aventiire,  of  Venus  or  of  another 
planete,  was  6  of  Capricome,  and  the 
latitude  of  him  was  northward  2  degrees 
fro  the  ecliptik  Ij-ne.  I  tok  a  subtil  com- 
pas,  and  cleped  that   oon  poynt  of  my 

15  compas  A,  and  that  other  poynt  F.  Than 
tok  I  the  point  of  A,  and  set  it  in  the 
ocliptik  lyne  evene  in  my  zodiak,  in  the 
degree  of  the  longitude  of  Venus,  that  is 
to  seyn,  in  the  6  degree  of  Capricome; 


and  thanne  sette  I  the  point  of  F  upward  .^o 
in  the  same  signe,  bycause  that  the  lati- 
tude  w;xs   north,  up-on    the   latitude   of 
Venus,  that  is  to  seyn,  in  the  6  degree  fro 
the  heved  of  Capricome  ;  and  thus  have 
I   2    degrees    by-twixo  my   two   prikkes.  ?5 
Than  leide  I  doun   softely  my  compas, 
and   sette   the   degree    of  the   longitude 
ui>on  the  orisonte ;  tlio  tok  I  and  wcxede 
my  label  in  maner  of  a  peyre  tables  to 
resceyve   distinctly   the   prikkes    of  my  30 
compas.     Tho  tok  I   this  forscide  label, 
and  leide  it  fix  over  tho  degree  of  my 
longitude  ;  tho  tok  I  up  my  comjjas,  and 
sette  the  point  of  A  in  the  wex  on  my 
label,  as  evene  as  I  coudo  gesse  over  the  35 
ecliptik  lyne,  in  the  ende  of  the  longi- 
tude ;   and  sette  tho  point  of  F  endlang 
in  my  label  up-on  the  space  of  the  lati- 
tude, inwarde  and  over  the  zodiak,  that 
is  to  seyn,  north-ward  fro  the  ecliptik.  40 
Than  leide  I  doun  my  compas,  and  lokede 
■wcl  in  the  wey  upon  the  prikke  of  A  and 
of  F  ;    tho  turned  I  my  riet  til  that  the 
Iirikke  of  F  sat  up-on  the  orisonte  ;  than 
s^w  I  wel  that  the  body  of  Venus,  in  htr  45 
latitude     of    2    dcgi-ees    septentrionalis, 
assended,   in  the   ende  of  the  6  degree, 
in  the  heved  of  Capricome.      And  nota, 
that  in  the  same  maner  maistow  wirke 
with   any  latitude  septentrional  in  alle  50 
signes  ;  but  sothly  tho  latitude  meridional 
of  a  planete  in   Cajiricome  may  not  be 
take,  by-cause  of  the  litel  space  by-twixe 
the  ecliptik  and  the  bordure  of  the  Astro- 
labie  ;   but  sothlj',  in  alle  other  signes  it  55 
may. 

Also  the  degree,  par  aventure,  of  Jupi- 
ter or  of  a-nother  planete,  was  in  the 
first  degiee  of  Pisces  in  longitude,  and 
his  latitude  was  3  degi-ees  meridional ;  60 
tho  tok  I  the  point  of  A,  and  sette  it  in 
the  firste  degree  of  Pisces  on  the  eclii)tik, 
and  thanne  sette  I  the  point  of  F  doun- 
ward  in  the  same  signe,  by-cause  that  the 
latitude  was  south  3  degrees,  that  is  to  65 
seyn,  fro  the  heved  of  Pisces  ;  and  thus 
have  I  3  degrees  by-twixe  bothe  prikkes  ; 
thanne  sette  I  the  degree  of  the  longitude 
ui>-on  the  orisonte.  Tho  tok  I  my  label, 
and  leide  it  fix  upon  the  degree  of  the  70 


ZU  iletvofaSe :  (part  ii. 


415 


longitude  ;  tho  sette  I  the  point  of  A  on 
my  label,  evene  over  the  ecliptit  lyne,  in 
the  ende  evene  of  the  degree  of  the  longi- 
tTide,  and  sette  the  point  of  F  endlang  in 

75  my  label  the  space  fof  3  degrees  of  the 
latitude  fro  the  zodiak,  this  is  to  seyn, 
southward  fro  the  ecliptik,  toward  the 
bordure ;  and  turned  my  riet  til  the 
prilike    of    F    sat    iip-on   the    orisonte ; 

So  thanne  saw  I  wel  that  the  body  of 
Jupiter,  in  his  latitude  of  3  degrees 
meridional,  ascended  with  14  degrees  of 
Pisces  in  lioroscopo.  And  in  this  maner 
maistow  wirke  with  any  latitude  meri- 

.''5  dional,  as  I  first  seide,  save  in  Capricome. 
And  j-if  thou  wolt  pleye  this  craft  with 


tho  arysing  of  the  mone,  loke  thou  rekne 
wel  hir  cours  houre  by  houre  ;  for  she  ne 
dwelleth  nat  in  a  degree  of  hir  longitude 
but  a  litel  whyle,  as  thou  wel  knowest ;  9" 
but  natheles,  yif  thou  rekne  hir  verreye 
moeving  by  thy  tables  houre  after  houre, 
•f-thou  shalt  do  wel  y-now. 

Explicit  tracfatiw  ile  C'ondusionibus  Astiv- 
labii,  compilatus  per  Galfridum  Chait- 
ciers  ad  FiVmm  suum  Lodewicum, 
scolarem  tunc  temporis  Oxonie,  ac  sub 
tuUla  illius  nubilissimi  x>liilosopln  Ma- 
ijistri  K.  Strode,  etc. 


SUPPLEMENTAEY   PROPOSITIONS. 


41.  Umbra  Ite.cta. 

YLf  it  so  be  that  thou  wilt  werke  by 
tiiiibra  recta,  and  thou  may  come  to  the 
bas  of  the  toure,  in  this  maner  thou 
schalt  werke.  Tak  the  altitude  of  the 
.■;  tour  by  bothe  holes,  so  that  thy  rewle 
ligge  even  iu  a  poynt.  Ensample  as 
thus  :  I  see  him  thorw  at  the  poynt  of  4  ; 
than  mete  I  the  space  be-tween  me  and 
the   toxir,   and  I   flnde  it  20  feet ;    than 

IU  beholde  I  how  4  is  to  12,  right  so  is  the 
space  betwixe  thee  and  the  tour  to  the 
altitude  of  the  tour.  For  4  is  the  thridde 
Xiart  of  12,  so  is  the  space  be-tween  thee 
and   the   tour   the   thridde   part   of  the 

15  altitude  of  the  tour  ;  than  thryes  20  feet 
is  the  heyghte  of  the  tour,  with  adding  of 
thyn  owne  persone  to  thyn  eye.  And 
this  rewle  is  so  general  in  umbra  recta, 
fro  the  poynt  of  oon  to  12.     And  yif  thy 

20  rewle  falle  upon  5,  than  is  5  12-partyes  of 
the  heyght  the  space  be-tween  thee  and 
the  toure ;  with  adding  of  thyn  owne 
heyght. 

42.  Umbra  Versa. 

Another  maner  of  werkinge,  hy  vmbra 
versa.     Yif  so  be  that  thou  may  nat  come 


to  iho  bas  of  the  tour,  I  see  him  thorw 
the  nombre  of  i  ;  I  sette  ther  a  prikke  at 
my  fote  ;  than  go  I  neer  to  the  tour,  and  5 
I  see  him  thorw  at  the  poynt  of  2,  and 
there  I  sette  a-nother  prikke ;  and  I 
beholde  how  i  hath  him  to  12,  and  ther 
finde  I  that  it  hath  him  twelfe  sythes; 
than  beholde  I  how  2  hath  him  to  12,  and  10 
thou  shalt  finde  it  sexe sythes;  than  thou 
shalt  finde  that  as  12  above  6  is  the 
numbre  of  6,  right  so  is  the  space 
between  thy  two  prikkes  the  space  of  6 
tymes  thj-n  altitude.  And  note,  that  at  15 
the  ferste  altitude  of  i,  thoi^  settest  a 
prikke  ;  and  afterward,  whan  thou  seest 
him  at  2,  ther  thou  settest  an-other 
prikke  ;  than  thou  findest  between  two 
prikkys  60  feet;  than  thou  shalt  finde  20 
that  10  is  the  6-party  of  60.  And  then  is 
10  feet  the  altitude  of  the  tour.  For 
other  poyntis,  yif  it  fille  in  umbra  versa, 
as  thus  :  I  sette  caas  it  fill  wgon  fi,  and 
at  the  seciinde  upon  f  3  ;  than  schalt  thou  25 
finde  that  2  is  6  partyes  of  12  ;  and  3  is  4 
partyes  of  12 ;  than  passeth  6  4,  by 
nombre  of  2  ;  so  is  the  space  between  two 
prikkes  twyes  the  heyghte  of  the  tour. 
And  yif  the  differens  were  thryes,  than  30 


4i6 


ZU  .SehrofaBe:   ^avt  ii. 


sliulde  it  be  three  tymes  ;  and  thus  mayst 
thou  werke  fro  2  to  u  ;  and  yif  it  bo  4,  4 
tymes ;  or  5,  5  tymes  ;  et  sic  de  ceteris. 

43.   Umbra  Recta. 

An-other  maner  of  wyrking  be  umbra 
recti.  Yif  it  so  be  that  thon  maj'st  nat 
come  to  the  baas  of  the  tour,  in  this 
maner  thou  schiilt  werke.  Sette  thy  rewle 
5  upon  I  till  thou  see  the  altitude,  and 
sette  at  thy  foot  a  prikke.  Than  sette 
thy  rewle  upon  2,  and  beholde  what  is 
the  differense  be-tween  i  and  2,  and  thou 
shalt  finde  that  it  is  i.     Than  mete  the 

lu  space  be-tween  two  prikkes,  and  that  is 
the  12  partie  of  the  altitude  of  the  tour. 
And  yif  ther  were  2,  it  were  the  6  partye  ; 
and  yif  ther  were  3,  the  4  partye;  et  sic 
ileinapg.     And  note,  yif  it  were  5,  it  were 

15  the  5  party  of  12  ;  and  7,  7  party  of  12  ; 
and  note,  at  the  altitude  of  thy  conclu- 
sioun,  addo  the  stature  of  thyn  heyghte 
to  thyn  eye. 


44.  Another  maner  conclusion,  to  knove  the 
mene  mote  and  the  argumeniis  of  any 
planete.  To  know  the  mene  mote  and 
the  arguments  of  every  planete  fro  yere 
to  yere,  from  day  to  day,  from  houre 
to  houre,  and  from  smale  fraccionis 
infinite. 

In  this  maner  shalt  thou  worche  : 
consider  thy  rote  first,  the  whiche  is 
made  the  beginning  of  the  tables  fro  the 
yere  of  oui-e  lord  13,7,  and  entere  hit  in-to 
5  thy  slate  for  the  laste  meridie  of  Decem- 
ber ;  and  than  consider  the  yere  of  oure 
lord,  what  is  the  date,  and  be-hold 
whether  thy  date  bo  more  or  lasse  than 
the  yere  139-      And  yf  hit  so  be  that  hit 

10  be  more,  loke  ho^t  many  yeres  hit  passeth, 
and  with  so  many  entere  into  thy  tables 
in  the  first  Ij-ne  ther-as  is  writen  anni 
collecti  et  expansi.  And  loke  where  the 
same  planet  is  writen  in  the  hede  of  thy 

15  table,  and  than  loke  what  thou  findest  in 
directe  of  the  same  yere  of  oure  lord 
whiche  is  passid,  be  hit  8,  or  9,  or  10,  or 


what  nombre  that  evere  it  be,  tU  the 
tyme  that  thou  come  to  20,  or  40,  or  60. 
And  that  thou  findest  in  directe  fwryte  20 
in  thy  slate  under  thy  rote,  and  adde  hit 
to-geder,  and  that  is  thy  mene  mote,  for 
the  lasto  meridian  of  the  December,  for 
the  same  yero  whiche  that  thou  hast 
purposed.  And  if  hit  so  be  that  hit  passe  25 
20,  consider  wel  that  fro  i  to  20  ben  anni 
expansi,  and  fro  20  to  3000  ben  anni  collecti; 
and  if  thy  nombere  passe  20,  than  take 
that  thou  findest  in  directe  of  20,  and  if 
hit  be  more,  as  6  or  18,  than  take  that  30 
thou  findest  in  directe  there-of,  that  is  to 
sayen,  signes,  degrees,  minutes,  and  se- 
coundes,  and  adde  to-gedore  un-to  thy 
rote  ;  and  thus  to  make  rotes.  And  note, 
that  if  hit  so  be  that  the  yere  of  oure  lord  35 
be  flasse  than  the  rote,  which  is  the  yere 
of  ouro  lord  1397,  than  shalt  thou  wryte 
in  the  same  wyse  furst  thy  rote  in  thy 
slate,  and  after  entere  in-to  thy  table  in 
the  same  yere  that  be  lasse,  as  I  taught  40 
be-fore ;  and  than  consider  how  many 
signes,  degrees,  minutes,  and  secoundes 
thyn  entringe  coriteyneth.  And  so  be 
that  ther  be  2  entrees,  than  adde  hem 
togeder,  and  after  with-drawo  hem  from  45 
the  rote,  the  yere  of  oure  lord  1397;  and 
the  residue  that  leveth  is  thy  mene  mote 
fro  the  lastc  meridie  of  December,  the 
whiche  thou  hast  purposed  ;  and  if  hit  so 
be  that  thou  wolt  weten  thy  mone  mote  50 
for  any  day,  or  for  any  fraccioun  of  day, 
in  this  maner  thou  shalt  worche.  Make 
thy  rote  fro  the  laste  day  of  Decembere  in 
the  maner  as  I  have  taught,  and  after- 
ward behold  how  many  monethes,  dayes,  55 
and  houres  ben  passid  from  the  meridie 
of  Decembere,  and  with  that  entere  with 
the  lasto  moneth  that  is  ful  passed,  and 
take  that  thou  findest  in  directe  of  him, 
and  wrj-te  hit  in  thy  slate ;  and  entere  60 
with  as  mony  dayes  as  be  more,  and  wryte 
that  thou  findest  in  directe  of  the  same 
planete  that  thou  worchest  for ;  and  in 
the  same  wyse  in  the  table  of  houres,  for 
houres  that  ben  passed,  and  adde  alle  65 
these  to  thy  rote  ;  and  the  residue  is  the 
mene  mote  for  the  same  day  and  the 
same  houre. 


Z()^  .EeftrofaBe:   (pavt  ii. 


417 


4o.    A7iother  manere  to  knoive  the  mene 


"Wlian  thou  wolt  make  tlie  mene  mote 
of  eny  planete  to  be  by  Arsecliieles  tables, 
take  thy  rote,  the  whiche  is  for  the  yere 
of  oure  lord  1397  ;  and  if  so  be  that  thy 
5  yere  be  passid  the  date,  wryte  that  date, 
and  than  wrj'te  the  nombere  of  the  yeres. 
Than  with-drawe  the  yeres  out  of  the 
yeres  that  ben  passed  that  rote.  En- 
sampul  as  thus  :   the  yere  of  oure  lord 

10  1400,  f  I  wolde  witen,  precise,  my  rote ; 
than  wroot  I  furst  1400.  And  under  that 
nombere  I  wrote  a  1397 ;  than  withdrow 
I  the  laste  nombere  out  of  that,  and  than 
fond  I  the  residue  was  3  yere  ;  I  wiste 

15  tliat  3  yere  was  passed  fro  the  rote,  the 
whiche  was  writen  in  my  tables.  Than 
after-ward  soglito  I  in  my  tables  the  annis 
collectis  ct  exxiansis,  and  amonge  myn 
expanse  yeres  fond  I  3  yeer.     Than  tok 

20  I  alle  the  signes,  degrees,  and  miniites, 
that  I  fond  directe  under  the  same 
planete  tliat  I  wroghte  for,  and  wroot  so 
many  signes,  degrees,  and  minutes  in  my 
slate,  and  after-ward  added  I  to  signes, 

25  degrees,  minutes,  and  secoundes,  the 
whiche  I  fond  in  my  rote  the  yere  of  oure 
lord  1397 ;  and  kepte  the  residue ;  and 
than  had  I  the  mene  mote  for  the  laste 
day  of  Deeembere.     And  if  thoii  woldest 

30  wete  the  mene  mote  of  any  planete  in 
March,  Aprile,  or  May,  other  in  any  other 
tyme  or  moneth  of  the  yere,  loke  how 
many  monethes  and  dayes  ben  passed 
from  the  laste  day  of  Deeembere,  the  yere 

35  of  oure  lord  1400  ;  and  so  with  monethes 
and  dayes  entere  in-to  thy  table  ther 
thou  findest  thy  mene  mote  y-writen  in 
monethes  and  dayes,  and  take  alle  the 
signes,  degrees,  mintites,  and  secoundes 

40  that  thou  findest  y-write  in  directe  of  thy 
monethes.  and  adde  to  signes,  degrees, 
minutes,  and  secoundes  that  thou  findest 
with  thy  rote  the  yere  of  oure  lord  1400, 
and  the  residue  that  leveth  is  the  mene 

45  mote  for  that  same  day.  And  note,  if  hit 
so  be  that  thoi\  woldest  wete  the  mene 
mote  in  any  yere  that  is  lasse  than  thy 


rote,  with-drawe  the  nombere  of  so  many 
yeres  as  hit  is  lasse  than  the  yere  of  oure 
lord  a  1397,  and  kepe  the  residue  ;  and  so  50 
many  yeres,  monethes,  and  dayes  entere 
in-to  thy  tabelis  of  thy  mene  mote.  And 
take  alle  the  signes,  degrees,  and  minutes, 
and  secoundes,  that  thou  findest  in 
directe  of  alle  the  yeres,  monethes,  and  55 
dayes,  and  wryte  hem  in  thy  slate  ;  and 
above  thilke  nombere  wryte  the  signes, 
degrees,  minutes,  and  secoundes,  the 
whiche  thou  findest  with  thy  rote  the 
yere  of  oure  lord  a  1397  ;  and  with-drawe  60 
alle  the  nethere  signes  and  degrees  fro 
the  signes  and  degrees,  minutes,  and 
secoundes  of  other  signes  with  thy  rote  ; 
and  thy  residue  that  leveth  is  thy  mene 
mote  for  that  day.  O5 

46.  For  to  knowe  at  what  houre  of  the  day, 
or  of  the  night,  shal  be  flode  or  ebbe  *. 
First  wite  thou  certeinly,  how  that 
haven  stondeth,  that  thou  list  to  werke 
for ;  that  is  to  say  in  whiche  place  of  the 
firmament  the  mone  being,  maketh  fulle 
see.  Tlian  awayte  thou  redily  in  what  5 
degree  of  the  zodiak  that  the  mone  at 
that  tj-me  is  inne.  Bringe  furth  than 
the  labelle,  and  set  the  point  therof  in 
that  same  cost  that  the  mone  maketh 
flode,  and  set  thou  there  the  degree  of  10 
the  mone  according  with  the  egge  of  the 
label.  Than  afterward  awayte  where  is 
than  the  degree  of  the  Sonne,  at  that 
tyme.  Remeve  thou  than  the  label  fro 
the  mone,  and  bringe  and  sette  it  justly  15 
upon  the  degree  of  the  sonne.  And  the 
point  of  the  label  shal  than  declare  to 
thee,  at  what  houre  of  the  day  or  of  the 
night  shal  be  flode.  And  there  also 
maist  thou  wite  by  the  same  point  of  the  20 
label,  whether  it  be,  at  that  same  tyme, 
flode  or  ebbe,  or  half  flode,  or  quarter 
flode,  or  ebbe,  or  half  or  quarter  ebbe  ;  or 
ellis  at  what  houre  it  was  last,  or  slial 
be  next  by  night  or  by  day,  thou  than  25 
shalt  esely  knowe,  &c.  Furthermore,  if 
it  so  be  that  thou  happe  to  worke  for  this 
matere  aboute  the  tjnne  of  the  conjunc- 
cioun,   bringe  furthe  the  degree  of  the 


Fediaps  not  genuiue. 


4i8 


ZU  SetvoMt :   (pavt  ll. 


30  mone  with  the  labelle  to  that  coste  as  it 
is  before  seycl.  But  than  thou  shalt 
understoinle  that  thou  may  not  bringe 
furthe  the  label  fro  the  degree  of  the 
mone  as  thou  dide  before  ;   for- why  the 

35  Sonne  is  than  in  the  same  degree  with 
the  mone.  And  so  thou  may  at  that 
tyme  by  the  point  of  the  labelle  un- 
remeved  knowe  the  houre  of  the  flode  or 
of  the  ebbe,  as  it  is  before  seyd,  &c.    And 

40  evermore  as  thou  findest  the  mone  passe 


fro  the  Sonne,  so  remeve  thou  the  labelle 
than  fro  the  degree  of  the  mone,  and 
bringe  it  to  the  degree  of  the  sonne. 
And  worke  thou  than  as  thou  dide  before, 
&c.  Or  elles  knowe  thou  what  houre  it  45 
is  that  thou  art  inne,  by  thyn  instru- 
ment. Than  bringe  thou  furth  fro 
thennes  the  labelle  and  ley  it  upon  the 
degree  of  the  mone,  and  therby  may 
thou  wite  also  whan  it  was  flode,  or  whan  50 
it  wol  be  next,  be  it  night  or  day ;  &c. 


THE    CANTERBURY  TALES. 


GROUP  A.     THE  PROLOGUE. 

Here  biginneth  the  Book  of  the  Tales  of  Caunterbury. 


Whan  that  Aprille  with  his  shoiires  sote 
The  droghte  of  Marche  hath  perced  to 

the  rote, 
And  bathed  every  veyne  in  swich  licoiir, 
Of  which  vertii  engendred  is  the  flour  ; 
TVlian  Zephin^s  eek  with  his  swete  lareeth  5 
Inspired  hath  in  every  holt  and  heeth 
The  tendre  croppes,  and  the  yonge  sonne 
Hath  in  the  Eara  his  halfe  coors  y-ronne, 
And  smale  fowles  maken  melodye, 
That  slepen  al  the  night  with  open  ye,  10 
(So  priketh  hem  natm-e  in  hir  corages) : 
Than  longen  folk  to  goon  on  pilgrimages 
(And    palmers    for    to    sekeu    straunge 

strondes) 
To  feme  halwes,  couthe  in  sondi-y  londes ; 
And  specially,  from  every  shires  ende    15 
Of  Engelond,  to  Cannterbury  they  wende, 
The  holy  blisfnl  martir  for  to  seke, 
Tliat  hem.  hath  holpen,  whan  that  they 

were  seke. 
Bifel  that,  in  that  seson  on  a  day, 
In  South werk  at  the  Tabard  as  I  lay     20 
Kedy  to  wenden  on  my  pilgrimage 
To  Cavanterbury  with  ful  devout  corage. 
At  night  was  come  in-to  that  hostelrye 
Wei  nyne  and  twenty  in  a  companye, 
Of  sondry  folk,  by  aventure  y-fiille  25 

In  felawshipe,  and  ijUgrims  were  they  aUe, 
Tliat  toward  Caunterbury  wolden  ryde  ; 
The  chambres  and  the  stables  weren  wyde. 
And  wel  we  weren  esed  atte  beste. 
And  shortly,  whan  the  sonne  was  to  reste. 


So  hadde  I  spoken  with  hem  everichon,  31 
That  I  was  of  hir  felawshipe  anon, 
And  made  forward  erly  for  to  rj'se. 
To  take  our  wey,  ther  as  I  yow  devyse. 
But  natheles,  whyl  I  have  tyme  and 

space,  35 

Er  that  I  ferther  in  this  tale  pace. 
Me  thinketh  it  acordaunt  to  resoun, 
To  telle  yow  al  the  condicioun 
Of  ech  of  hem,  so  as  it  semed  me. 
And  whiche   they  weren,  and  of  what 

degree ;  40 

And  eek  in  what  array  that  they  were 

inne: 
And  at  a  knight  than  wol  I  first  biginne. 
A  Knight  ther  was,  and  that  a  worthy 

man.  Knight. 

That  fro  the  tyme  that  he  first  bigan 
To  ryden  out,  he  loved  chivalrye,  45 

Trouthe  and  honour,  fredom  and   cur- 

teisye. 
Ful  worthy  was  he  in  his  lordes  werre. 
And  therto    hadde    he    riden  (no  man 

ferre) 
As  wel  in  Cristendom  as  hethenesse. 
And  ever  honoured  for  liis  worth  inesse.  50 
At  Alisaundre  he  was,  whan  it  was 

wonne ; 
Ful  ofte  tyme  he  hadde  the  bord  bigonne 
Aboven  alle  naciouns  in  Pruce, 
In  Lettow  hadde  he  reysed  and  in  Euce, 
No  Cristen  man  so  ofte  of  his  degree.     $s 
In  Gernade  at  the  sege  eek  hadde  he  be 


420 


A.    Z^t  (profoguc. 


[T.57- 


[42. 


Of  Algezir,  and  riden  in  Belmaryo. 

At  Lj-eys  was  he,  and  at  Satalye, 

A\'lmn    they  were   woune ;    and   in   the 

Greta  See 
At  many  a  ni>lde  arj-ve  hadde  he  be.      60 
At  mortal  batiiilles  hadde  he  been  fiftene, 
And  loughten  for  our  feith  at  Traniissene 
In  listes  thryes,  and  ay  slayn  his  fo. 
This  ilke  worthy  knight  had  been  also 
Sonit^nio  with  the  lord  of  Palatye,         65 
Ageyn  another  hethen  in  Turkye  : 
And  evermore  he  hadde  a  sovereyn  prys. 
And  though  that  he  were  worthy,  he  was 

wys. 
And  of  his  port  as  meke  as  is  a  maydo. 
Ho  never  yet  no  vilein.ve  ne  aiyde  70 

In  al  his  Ij-f,  un-to  no  manor  wight. 
Ho  was  a  vorray  imrfit  gcntil  knight. 
But  for  to  tellen  yow  of  his  array. 
His  hors  were  gtnle,  but  he  was  uat  gay. 
Of  fustian  he  wered  a  giiwuin  75 

Al  bismotercd  with  his  liabergeoun  ; 
For  he  was  late  y-come  from  his  viage, 
And  wente  for  to  doon  his  pilgrimage. 
With  him  ther  was  his  sone,  a  yong 

SyrvEK,  Sqnyer. 

A  lo\yere,  and  a  lusty  bacheler,  80 

A\ith  lokkes  crolle,  as  they  were  leyd  in 

presse. 
Of  twenty  yeer  of  age  he  was,  I  gesse. 
Ot  his  stature  he  was  of  evene  lengthe. 
And    wonderly    deliver,    and     greet     of 

strengthe. 
And  he  had  been  somtyme  in  chivachye,  85 
In  Flaundres,  in  Artoj-s,  and  Picardye, 
And  )x>ru  him  wel,  as  of  so  litel  space. 
In  hope  to  stonden  in  his  lady  g^race. 
Endirouded  was  he,  as  it  were  a  mede 
Al  ful  of  fresshe  floures,  whyte  and  rode.  90 
Singinge  he  was,  or  floj-tinge,  al  the  day; 
He  was  as  fresh  as  is  the  month  of  May. 
Short  was  his  goixne,  with  sieves  longe 

and  wyde. 
AVel  coude  he  sitte  on  hors,  and  faire  ryde. 
He  coude  songes  make  and  wel  endj-te,  95 
Juste  and  eek  daunce,  and  wel  purtreye 

and  wryte. 
So  bote  he  lovede,  that  by  nightertale 
He  sleep  namore  than  dooth  a  nightingale. 
Curteys  be  was,  lowly,  and  servisable, 
And  carf  biforn  his  fader  at  the  table.  100 


A  Ykjias  hadde  he,  and  servaunts  namo 
At  that  tyme,  for  him  liste  r>-do  so  ; 
And  ho  was  clad  in  cote   and  hood  of 

greiie ;  Yeman. 

A    sheef    of    pecok-arwes    brighte    and 

kenc 
Under  his  belt  he  bar  ful  thriftily  ;        105 
(Wel  couilo  he  dresse  his  takel  yemanly  : 
His  arwos  drouped  uoght  with  fetheres 

lowei, 
And  in  his  hand  he  bar  a  mighty  bowo. 
A  not-heed  hadde  he,  with  a  brouu  visage. 
Of  wode-eraft  wel  coude  he  al  the  usage,  i  lu 
Upon  his  arm  he  bar  a  gay  bracer. 
And  by  his  syde  a  swerd  and  a  bokeler, 
And  on  that  other  syde  a  gay  daggere, 
Harneised  wel,   and   sharp   as  point   of 

spere ; 
A  Cristofre  on  his  brest  of  silver  sbene.  1 15 
An  horn   he   bar,   the  bawdrik   was   of 

grene  ; 
A  forster  was  he,  soothly,  as  I  gesse. 

Ther  was  also  a  Nonne,  a  Piuouesse, 
That  of  hir  smyling  was  ful  simple  and 

coy ;  Prioresse. 

^Hir   grettestc    00th   was    but    by  so.Mit 

Lo.v;  120 

And  she  was  cleped  madame  Eglentyne. 
Ful  wel  she  song  the  service  di-tyne, 
Entuned  in  hir  nose  ful  semely  ; 
And  Fronsh  she  spak  ful  fiiLre  and  fetisly. 
After  the  scolo  of  Stratford  atte  Bowc,  1^5 
For  Frensh  of  Paris  was  to  hir  unknowe. 
At  mete  wel  y-taught  was  she  with-alle  ; 
She  leet  no  morsel  from  hir  lippes  falle, 
Xe  wette  hir  fingres  in  hir  sauce  depe. 
Wel  coude  she  carie  a  morsel,  and  wel 

kepe,  130 

That  no  tlrope  ne  tille  up-on  hir  brest. 
In  curteisye  was  set  ful  muche  hir  lest. 
Hir  over  lippe  wj^ied  she  so  clene, 
That  in  hir  coppe  was  no  ferthing  sene 
Of  grece,  whan  she  dronken  hadde  hir 

draughte.  135 

Ful  semely  after  hir  mete  she  raughte, 
And  sikerly  she  was  of  greet  disport. 
And  ful  plesaunt,  and  amiable  of  port. 
And  peyned  hir  to  countrefete  chere 
Of  court,  and  been  estatlich  of  manere,  140 
And  to  ben  holden  digne  of  reverence. 
But,  for  to  speken  of  hir  conscience, 


143- 


-3...] 


A.    ZH  (profo^uc. 


421 


She  was  so  charitable  and  so  pitous, 
She  wokle  wepe,  it'  that  she  sawe  a  mous 
Caught  in  a  trappe,  if  it  were  deed  or 

bledde.  145 

Of  smale  houndes  had  she,  that  she  fedde 
With  rosted  flesh,  or  milk  and  wastel- 

breed. 
But  sore  weep  she  if  oon  of  hem  were 

deed. 
Or  if  men  smoot  it  with  a  yerde  smerte  : 
And  al  was  conscience  and  tendre  herte. 
Ful  semely  hir  wimpel  pinched  was  ;  151 
Hir  nose  tretys  ;  hir  eyen  greye  as  glas  ; 
Hir  mouth  ful  smal,  and  ther-to  softe  and 

reed  ; 
But  sikerly  she  hadde  a  fair  forheed  ; 
It  was  almost  a  spaune  brood,  I  trowe ;  155 
For,  hardily,  she  was  nat  luiilergrowe. 
Ful  fetis  was  hir  cloke,  as  I  was  war. 
Of  smal  coral  aboute  hir  arm  she  bar 
A  iicire  of  bedes,  gauded  al  with  grene  ; 
And  ther-on  heng  a  broche  of  gold  ful 

shene,  160 

On  which  ther  was  first  write  a  crowned  A, 
And  alter,  Amor  vincit  omnia.        Nonne. 

.\jiother  NoN.NE  with  hir  hadde  she. 
That  was  hir  chapeleyne,  and  Pueestes 

THREE.  3  Preestes. 

A  Monk  ther  was,  a  fair  for  the  maistrj-e, 

An  out-rydere,  that  lovede  veneiye  ;     160 

A  manly  man,  to  been  an  abbot  able. 

Ful  many  a  deyntee  hors  hadde  he  in 

stable :  Monk. 

And,    whan   he   rood,    men    mighto   his 

brydcl  here 
Ginglen  in  a  whistling  wind  as  clere,   170 
And  eek  as  loude  as  dooth  the  chapel- 
belle 
Ther  as  this  lord  was  keper  of  the  celle. 
The   reule   of  seint   Maure   or   of  seint 

Beneit, 
By-cause  that  it  was  old   and   som-del 

streit. 
This  ilke  monk  leet  olde  thinges  pace,  175 
And    held    after    the    newe    world    the 

space. 
He  yaf  nat  of  that  text  a  pulled  hen, 
That  seith,  that  hunters  been  nat  holy 

men  ; 
Ne  that  a  monk,  whan  he  is  cloisterlees. 
Is  lykned  til  a  fish  that  is  waterlees  ;    i.'-'o 


This  is  to  seyn,  a  monk  out  of  his  cloistre. 
But  thilke  text  held  he  nat  worth  an 

oistre ; 
And  I  seyile,  his  opinioun  was  good. 
What  sholde  he  stutUe,  and  make  him- 

selven  wood, 
I'pon  a  book  in  cloistre  alwey  to  poui-e,  185 
Or  swinken  with  his  haiides,  and  laboure. 
As  Austin  bit  i"    How  shal  the  world  be 

served  ? 
Lat  Austin  have  his  s  wink  to  him  reserved. 
Therfore  he  was  a  pricasour  aright ; 
Grehoundes  he  hadde,  as  swifte  as  fowel 

in  flight ;  190 

Of  priking  and  of  hunting  for  the  hare 
Was  al  his  lust,   for  no  cost  wolde  he 

spare. 
I  seigh  his  sieves  purtiled  at  the  hond 
With  grys,  and  that  the  tyneste  of  a  lond  ; 
And,  for  to  festne  his  hood   under  his 

chin,  ii;5 

Ho  hadde  of  gold  y-wroght  a  curious  pin : 
A  love-knotte  in  the  gretter  ende  ther  was. 
His  heed  was  balled,  that  shoon  as  any 

glas, 
And  eek  his  face,  as  he  had  been  anoint. 
He  was  a  lord  ful  fat  and  in  good  point ;  2ix> 
His  eyen  stepe,  and  roUinge  in  his  heed. 
That  stemed  as  a  forneys  of  a  leetl ; 
His  botes  souple,  his  hors  in  greet  estat. 
Now  certeinly  he  was  a  fair  prelat ; 
He  was  nat  pale  as  a  for-pyned  goost.  J05 
A  fat  swan  loved  he  best  of  any  roost. 
His  palfrey  was  as  brouu  as  is  a  berye. 
A  Fkkre  ther  was,  a  wantowu  and  a 

merye,  Frere. 

A  limitoui',  a  ful  solempne  man.  209 

In  alle  the  ordres  foure  is  noon  that  can 
So  muche  of  daliaunce  and  fair  langage. 
He  hadde  maad  ful  many  a  mariage 
Of  yonge  wommen,  at  his  owne  cost. 
Un-to  his  ordre  he  was  a  noble  post. 
Ful  wel  biloved  and  famulier  was  he    215 
With  frankelcjais  over-al  in  his  contree. 
And  eek  with   worthy  wommen   of  the 

touii  : 
For  he  had  power  of  confessioun. 
As  seydo  him-sclf,  more  than  a  curat, 
For  of  his  ordre  he  was  licentiat.  220 

Ful  swetely  herde  he  confessioun. 
And  plesaunt  was  his  absolucioun  ; 


422 


ZH  (J)rofogue. 


[t.  22.^-306. 


He  was  an  esy  man  to  yeve  penauuce 
Ther  as  he  wiste  to  han  a  good  pitaiinco  ; 
For  unto  a  jio^Te  ordre  for  to  yive        225 
Is  signe  that  a  man  is  wel  y-shrive. 
For  if  he  yaf,  he  dorste  make  avanut, 
He  wiste  that  a  man  was  repentaunt. 
For  many  a  man  so  hard  is  of  bis  herte, 
He  may  nal  wepe    al-thogh    him    sore 

smerte.  230 

Therfore,  in  stede  of  weping  and  preyeres, 
Men  moot  yeve  silver  to  the  povre  freres. 
His  tipot  was  ay  farsed  fnl  of  kny^•es 
And  pinnes,  for  to  yeven  faire  w>-\'es. 
And  eerteinlj-  he  hadde  a  mery  note  ;  235 
Wel  coude  he  singe  and  pleyen  on  a  rote. 
Of  yeddinges  lie  bar  ntterly  the  pr>-8. 
His  nokke  whyt  was  as  the  flour-de-l;\-s  ; 
Ther-to  he  strong  was  as  a  championn. 
He  knew  the  tavemes  wel  in  everj'  tonn, 
And  everich  hostiler  and  tappestere     241 
Bft  than  a  lazar  or  a  beggestere  ; 
For  iin-to  swich  a  wfirthy  man  as  he 
Acorded  nat,  as  by  his  fuciiltee,  244 

To  have  with  seke  lazars  aqueyntaunce. 
It  is  nat  honest,  it  may  nat  avannce 
For  to  delen  with  no  swich  poraiUe, 
But  al  with  riche  and  sellers  of  vitaille. 
And  over-al,  ther  as  profit  sholde  arj-se, 
Cnrtej-s  he  was,  and  lowly  of  ser\-j-se.  250 
Ther  nas  no  man  no-wher  so  vertuous. 
Ho  was  the  boste  beggere  in  his  hoiis  ; 
+And    yaf    a    certej-u     ferme     for    the 

graunt ;  252  b 

f  Noon  of  his  bretheren  cam  ther  in  his 

haunt ;  252  c 

For  thogh  a  widwe  hadde  nf>ght  a  sho, 
So  plesaunt  was  his  '  In  prhicipio,' 
Yet   wolde   he  have   a   ferthing,   er    he 

went*.  255 

His  purchas  was  wel  bettre  than  his  rente. 
And  rage  he  coude,  as  it  were  right  a 

whelpe. 
In    love-dayes    ther    coude    he    muchel 

helpe.  (260) 

For  there  he  was  nat  lyk  a  cloisterer, 
With  a  thredbar    cope,   as    is  a  povre 

scoler,  260 

But  he  was  lyk  a  maister  or  a  pope. 
Of  double  worsted  was  his  semi-cope, 
That  rounded  as  a  belle  out  of  the  presse. 
Somwhat  he  lipsed,  for  his  wantownesse, 


To   make   his   English  swete   np-on  his 

tonge ;  265 

And  in  his  harping,  whan  that  lie  had 

songe. 
His  eyen  twinkled  in  his  heed  aright, 
As    doon     the     sterres     in    the    frosty 

night.  (270) 

This  worthy  limitour  was  cleped  Huberd. 

A  Mauciiakt  was  ther  with  a  forked 

herd,  Marchant. 

In  mottelee,  and  hye  on  horse  he  sat,   2;i 
Up-on  his  heed  a  Flanndrish  bever  hat : 
His  botes  clasped  faire  and  fetisly. 
His  resons  he  sjwk  ful  solempnely,        274 
Souninge  alway  th'oncrces  of  his  winning. 
He  wolde  the  see  were  kept  for  any  thing 
Bitwise  Middelbnrgh  and  Orewelle. 
Wel    coude    he    in    eschaunge  sheeldes 

selle.  (280) 

Tliis  worthy  man  ful  wel  his  wit  bisette  ; 
Tlier  wi.ste  no  wight  that  he  was  in  dette, 
.So  estatly  was  he  of  his  governaunco,  281 
With  his  bargaj-nes,  and  with  his  chevi- 

saunce. 
For  sothe  lie  was  a  worthy  man  with-alle, 
But  sooth  to  sej-n,  I  noot  how  men  him 

calle.  Clerk. 

A  Ci.ERK  ther  was  of  Oxenford  also, 
That  un-to  logik  hadde  longe  y-go.       286 
As  lene  was  his  hors  as  is  a  rake. 
And  he  nas  nat  riglit  fat,  T  undertake ;  (290) 
But  loked  holwo,  and  ther-to  solierly. 
Ful  thredbar  was  his  overest  courtepy ;  290 
For  he  had  geten  him  yet  no  benefyce, 
Xo  was  so  worldly  for  to  have  offyce. 
For  him  was  lever  have  at  his  beddes 

heed 
Twenty  bokes,  clad  in  blak  or  reed. 
Of  Aristotle  and  liis  philosophye,  295 

Than  robes  riche,  or  fithele,  or  gay  sautrye. 
But  al  be  that  he  was  a  jihilosophre. 
Yet  hadde  he  but  litel  gold  in  cofre  ;  (300) 
But  al  that  he  mighte  of  his  freendes 

hente. 
On  bokes  and  on  leminge  he  it  spente,  3(X3 
And  bisily  gan  for  the  soules  preye . 
Of  hem  that  yaf  him  wher-with  to  scoleye. 
Of  studie  took  he  most  cure  and   most 

hede. 
Noght   o  word   spak  he   more  than  was 

nede. 


T.  307-386.] 


A.    Z^i.  (ptofogue. 


423 


And  that  was  seycl  in  forme  and  rever- 
ence, .^05 
And    short    and   quik,    and    ful    of    hy 

sentence. 
Sonninge  in  moral  vertu  was  his  speche, 
And  gladly  wolde  he  lerne,  and  gladly 

teche.  ManofLawe.  (310) 

A  Sergeant  of  the  Lawe,  war  and  wys, 
That  often  hadde  been  at  the  parvys,  310 
Ther  was  also,  ful  riche  of  excellence. 
Discreet  he  was,  and  of  greet  reverence  : 
He    semed  swich,   his   wordes  weren  so 

wyse. 
.Tustyce  he  was  ful  often  in  assyse,        314 
By  patente,  and  by  pleyn  comniissioun  ; 
For  his  science,    and  for  his  heigh  re- 

noim 
Of  fees  and  robes  hadde  he  many  oon. 
So    greet    a    purchasonr    was    no-wher 

noon.  (3-0) 

Al  was  fee  simple  to  him  in  effect, 
His  purchasing  mighte  nat  been  infect.  320 
No-wher  so  bisy  a  man  as  he  ther  nas, 
And  yet  he  semed  bisier  than  he  was. 
In  termes  hadde  he  caas  and  domes  alle. 
That  from  the  tyme  of  king  William  were 

falle. 
Therto  he   coude    endj'te,    and   make   a 

thing,  325 

Ther    coude    no    wight    pinche    at    his 

wryting  ; 
And  every  statut  coude  he  plejTi  by  rote. 
He  rood  but  hoomly  in  a  medlee  cote  (330) 
Girt  with  a  ceint  of  silk,  with  barres 

smale ; 
Of  his  array  telle  I  no  lenger  tale.         330 

A  Frankelevn  was  in  his  companye  ; 
\^^lJ't  was  his  herd,  as  is  the  dayesye. 
Of  his  complexioun  he  was  sangwyn. 
Wei  loved  he  by  the   morwe   a  sop  in 

wyn.  Frankeleyn. 

To  liven  in  delji;  was  ever  his  wone,     335 
For  he  was  Epicurus  owne  sone, 
That  heeld  opinioun,  that  pleyn  delyt 
Was  verraily  felicitee  parfj-t.  (340) 

An  housholdere,  and  that  a  greet,  was  he  ; 
Seint  Julian  he  was  in  his  contree.  340 
His  breed,  his  ale,  was  alwey  after  oon  ; 
A  bettre  envyned  man  was  no-wher  noon. 
With-oute  bake  mete  was  never  his  hous, 
Of  fish  and  flesh,  and  that  so  plentevous, 


It    suewed    in    his    hous    of    mete    and 

drinke,  345 

Of  alle  deyntees  that  men  coude  thinke. 
After  the  sondry  sesons  of  the  yeer,   (349) 
So  chaunged  he  his  mete  and  his  soper. 
Ful  many  a  fat  partrich  hadde  he   in 

naewe. 
And  many  a  breem  and  many  a  luce  in 

stewe.  350 

Wo  was  his  cook,  but-if  his  sauce  were 
Poynaunt  and  sharp,  and  redy  al  his  gere. 
His  table  dormant  in  his  haUe  alway 
Stood  redy  covered  al  the  longe  day. 
At  sessiouns  ther  was  he  lord  and  sire  ;  355 
Ful  ofte  tyme  he  was  knight  of  the  shire. 
An  aulas  and  a  gipser  al  of  silk  (359) 

Heng  at  his  girdel,  whyt  as  morne  milk. 
A  shirreve  hadde  he  been,  and  a  countour ; 
Was  no-wher  such  a  worthy  vavasour.  360 
An  Haheudassueij  and  a  Caupenter, 

Haberdassher.     Carpenter. 
A  Webbe,  a  Dyere,  and  a  Tapicer, 

Webbe.    Dyere.    Tapicer. 
Were  with  us  eek,  clothed  in  o  liveree, 
Of  a  solempne  and  greet  fraternitee.    364 
Ful  fresh  and  newe  hir  gere  apyked  was  ; 
Hir  knyves  were  y-chaped  noght  with 

bras. 
But  al  with  silver,  wroght  ful  clene  and 

weel,  (369) 

Hir  girdles  and  hir  poiiches  every-deel. 
Wei  semed  ech  of  hem  a  fair  burgeys. 
To  sitten  in  a  yeldhalle  on  a  deys.         370 
Everich,  for  the  wisdom  that  he  can, 
Was  shaply  for  to  been  an  alderman. 
For  catel  hadde  they  y-nogh  and  rente. 
And  eek  hir  wyves  wolde  it  wel  assente  ; 
And  ellcs  certein  were  they  to  blame.  37s 
It  is  ful  fair  to  been  y-clept  '  ma  dame,' 
And  goon  to  vigilj^es  al  bifore. 
And  have  a  mantel  royalliche  y-bore.  (380) 
A  Cook  they  hadde  with  hem  for  the 


nones. 


Cook. 


To  boille  the  chiknes  with  the  mary- 
bones,  38" 

Andpoudre-marchant  tart,  and  galingale. 

Wel  coude  he  knowe  a  draughte  of 
London  ale. 

He  coude  roste,  and  sethe,  and  broille, 
and  frye, 

Makeu  mortreitx,  and  wel  bake  a  i)ye. 


424 


A.    Z^t  ^rofogue. 


[t.  387-462. 


But  greet  harm  was  it,  as  it  thouglite 
me,  3«5 

That  on  his  sliine  a  mormal  hadde  he  ; 
For  blankmiuiger,  that  made  he  with  the 

beste.  (3«y) 

A  Shipman  was  ther,  woning  fer  by 

weste :  Shipman. 

For  aught  I  woot,  he  was  of  Dertemouthe. 
He  rood  up-on  a  rouncy,  as  he  couthe,  390 
In  a  gowne  of  falding  to  the  knee. 
A  daggere  hanging  on  a  laas  hadde  he 
Aboxite  his  nekke  under  his  arm  adoun. 
Tlie  hote  somer  had  maad  his  hewe  al 

broun  ; 
And,  certeinlj',  he  was  a  good  felawe.  .195 
Ful  many  a   draughte  of  wyn  had   he 

y-drawe 
From  Burdeux-ward,  whyl  that  the  chap- 
man sleep. 
Of  nyce  conscience  took  he  no  keep.  (4c  xj) 
If  that  he  faught,  and  hadde  the  hyer 

bond, 
By  water  he  sente  hem  boom  to  everj- 

lond.  4«i 

But  of  his  craft  to  rekene  wel  his  tydes. 
His  stremes  and  his  danngers  him  bisydes, 
His  herl)erwe  and   his   mone,  his  lode- 
menage, 
Ther   nas    noon    swich    from  Halle    to 

Cartage. 
Hardy  he  was,  and  wj-s  to  xindertake  ;  405 
With  many  a  tempest  hadde  his  herd 

been  shake. 
He  knew  wel  alle  the  havenes,  sis  they 

were,  (409) 

From  Gootlond  to  the  cape  of  Finistere, 
And    every  crjke    in   Britayne   and  in 

SpajTie ;  409 

His  barge  y-cleped  was  the  Maudelayne. 

With  us  ther  was  a  Doctolr  ok  Phisvk, 
In  al  this  world  ne  was  ther  noon  him 

lyk  Doctour. 

To  speke  of  phisik  and  of  surgerj-e  ; 
For  he  was  grounded  in  astronomye. 
He  kepte  his  pacient  a  ful  greet  del      415 
In  houres,  by  his  magik  nature! 
Wel  coude  he  fortunen  the  ascendent 
Of  his  images  for  his  pacient.  (420) 

He  knew  the  cause  of  everich  maladye. 
Were  it  of  hoot  or  cold,  or  moiste,  or 

drye,  420 


And    where    engendred,    and     of    what 

humour ; 
He  was  a  verrey  parfit  practisour. 
The  cause  y-knowe,  and  of  his  harm  the 

rote. 
Anon  he  yaf  the  seke  man  his  bote. 
Fttl  redy  hadde  he  his  apothecaries,      4J5 
To  sende  him  drogges  and  his  letuaries. 
For    ech    of   hem    made    other    for    to 

winne ; 
Hir  frendschipe  nas  nat  newe  to  biginne. 
Wel  knew  he  th'olde  Esculapius,        (431) 
And  Deiscoridos,  and  eek  Rufus,  430 

Old  Ypocras,  Haly,  and  Galien  ; 
Serapion,  Razis,  and  Avicen  ; 
Averrois,  Danmscien,  and  Constantyn  ; 
Bernard,  and  Gatesden,  ami  Gilbertyn. 
Of  his  (liete  mesurable  was  he,  43S 

For  it  was  of  no  superfluitee. 
But  of  greet  norissing  and  digestible. 
His  studie  was  but  litel  on  the  bible.  (440) 
In  sangwin  and  in  pers  he  clad  was  al, 
Lyned  with  taffata  and  with  sendal ;  440 
And  yet  he  was  but  esy  of  dispence ; 
He  kepte  that  he  wan  in  pestilence. 
For  gold  in  i)hisik  is  a  cordial, 
Therfore  he  lovede  gold  in  special.        444 
A  gooil  Wyf  was  ther  of  bisyde  Bathe, 
But  she  was  som-del  deef,  and  that  was 
scathe.  Wyf  of  Bathe. 

Of  clooth-making  she  hadde  swiche  an 
haunt,  (459) 

She  passed  hem  of  Ypres  and  of  Gaunt. 
In  al  the    parisshe  wyf    ne    was    ther 

noon 
That    to    th'  offring  bifore    hir    sholde 
goon ;  450 

And  if  ther  dide,  cert«yn,  so  wrooth  was 

she. 
That  she  was  out  of  alle  charitee. 
Hir  coverchiefs  ful  fyne  were  of  ground ; 
I  dorste  swere  they  weyeden  ten  pound 
That  on  a  Sonday  were  upon  hir  heed.  455 
Hir  hosen  weren  of  fyn  scarlet  reed, 
Ful  streite  y-teyd,  and  shoos  ful  moiste 

and  newe. 

Bold  was  hir  face,  and  lair,  and  reed  of 

hewe.  (460) 

She  w£is  a  worthy  womman  al  hir  lyve, 

Housbondes  at  chirche-dore  she  hadde 

tjTe,  460 


T.   463-544-] 


ZU  d^rofogue. 


425 


Withouten  other  companye  in  youthe  ; 
But  therof  nedetli  nat  to  speke  as  noutlie. 
And  tliryes  hadde  she  been  at  Jerusalem  ; 
She    hadde    passed    many   a    straunge 
streem ;  464 

At  Rome  she  hadde  been,  and  at  Boloigne, 
In  Galice  at  seint  Jame,  and  at  Coloigne. 
She   conde  muche   of  wandring  by  the 

weye: 
Gat-tothed  was  she,  soothly  for  to  seye. 
Uii-on  an  amblere  esily  she  sat,  (471) 

Y-wimpled  wel,  and  ou  hir  heed  an  hat 
As  brood  as  is  a  bokeler  or  a  targe  ;       471 
A  foot-mantel  abonte  hir  hipes  large, 
And  on  hir  feet  a  paire  of  spores  sharpe. 
In  felawschip  wel  coude  she  laughe  and 

carpe. 
Of    remedyes    of    love    she    knew    per- 
chaiince,  475 

For  she  ooude  of  that  art  the  olde  dannce. 
Persoun. 
A  good  man  was  ther  of  religioun, 
And  was  a  povre  Persoun  of  a  toim  ;  {480) 
But  riche  he  was  of  holy  thoght  and  werk. 
He  was  also  a  lerned  man,  a  clerk,       480 
That  Cristes  gospel  trewely  wolde  preche ; 
His  parisshens  devoutly  wolde  he  teche. 
Benigne  he  was,  and  wonder  diligent, 
And  in  adversitee  ful  pacieut ; 
And  swich  he  was  y-preved  oite  sythes. 
Ful  looth  were   him  to  cvirsen  for  his 
tj-thes,  486 

But  rather  wolde  he  yeven,  out  of  doute, 
Un-to  his  povre  parisshens  aboute      (490) 
Of  his  offring,  and  eek  of  his  substaunce. 
He  coude  in  litel  thing  han  suffisaunce. 
Wyd  was  his  parisshe,  and  houses  fer 
a-sonder,  491 

But  he  ne  lafte  nat,  for  reyn  ne  thonder, 
In  siknes  nor  in  meschief,  to  visjiie 
The  ferreste  in  his  parisshe,  muche  and 

lyte, 
Up-on  his  feet,  and  in  his  hand  a  staf.  495 
This  noble  ensample  to  his  sheep  he  yaf. 
That  first  he  wroghte,  and  afterward  he 

taughte  ; 
Out  of  the  gospel  he  tho  wordes  caughte  ; 
And  this  fig^ure  he  added  eek  ther-to,  (501) 
That  if  gold  ruste,  what  shal  iren  do  ?  500 
For  if  a  preest  be  foul,  on  whom  we  truste, 
Xc«  wonder  is  a  lewed  man  to  mste  ; 


And  shame  it  is,  if  a  preest  take  keep, 
A  shiten  shepherde  and  a  clene  sheep. 
Wel  oghte  a  preest  ensample  for  to  yive, 
By  his    olennesse,   how  that  his  sheep 
shold  live.  506 

He  sette  nat  his  benefice  to  hyre. 
And  Icet  his  sheep    encombred   in  the 

m.vre,  (510) 

And  ran  to  London,  un-to  seynt  Poules, 
To  seken  him  a  chaujiterie  for  soviles,  510 
Or  witli  a  bretherhed  to  been  withholde  ; 
But  dwelte  at  hoom,  and  kepte  wel  his 

folde, 
So  that  the  wolf  ne  made  it  nat  miscarie  ; 
He  was  a  shepherde  and  no  mercenarie. 
And  though  he  holy  were,  and  vertuous. 
He  was  to  sinful  man  nat  despitous,     516 
Ne  of  his  speclie  daungerous  ne  digne, 
But  in  his  teching  discreet  and  benigne. 
To  drawen  folk  to  lieven  by  fairuesse  (521) 
By  good  ensample,  was  his  bisinesse  :  520 
But  it  were  any  persone  obstinat, 
Wliat-so  he  were,  of  heigh  or  lowe  estat. 
Him  wolde  he  snibben  sharply  for  the 

nones. 
A  bettre  preest,   I   trowe   that    nowher 

noon  is. 
He  waj-ted  after  no  pompe  and  reverence, 
Ne  maked  him  a  spyced  conscience,      526 
But  Cristes  lore,  and  his  apostles  twelve. 
He  taughte,  and  first  he  folwed  it  him- 

selve.  (530) 

With  him  ther  was  a  Plowman,  was  his 

brothei-.  Plowman. 

That  hadde  y-lad  of  dong  ful  many  a 

fother,  530 

A  trewe  swinker  and  a  good  was  he, 
Livinge  in  pees  and  parfit  charitee. 
God  loved  he  best  with  al  his  hole  herte 
At    alle    tymes,   thogh    him    gamed    or 

smerte, 
And  thanne  his  neighebour  right  as  him- 

selve.  535 

He  wolde  thresshe,  and  ther-to  dyke  and 

delve. 
For  Cristes  sake,  for  every  povre  wight, 
Withouten  hyre,  if  it  lay  in  his  might. 
His  tythes  payed  he  ful  faire  and  wel,  (541) 
Botlie  of  his  propre  swink  and  his  catel. 
In  a  tabard  he  rood  upon  a  mere.  541 

Ther  was  also  a  Eeve  and  a  Slillere, 


426 


ZU  ^tofogue. 


[t.  545-620. 


A  Somnour  and  a  Pardoner  also, 

A  Mannciple,   and   my-self;    ther  were 

name. 
The  Mii-i.EK  was  ii  stont  carl,  for  the 

nones,  Miller. 

Fnl   big  he  was   of  braun,  and  eek   of 

bones ;  546 

That  proved  wel,  for  over-al  ther  he  cam, 
At  wrastling  he  wolde  have  alwey  the 

ram.  (550) 

He  was  short-sholdred,  brood,  a  thikke 

knarre, 
Ther  nas  no  dore  that  he  nolde  heve  of 

harre,  550 

Or  breke  it,  at  a  renning,  with  his  heed. 
His  herd  as  any  sowe  or  fox  was  reed, 
And    ther-to   brood,    as   though   it  were 

a  spade. 
Up-on  the  cop  right  of  his  nose  he  hade 
A  werte,  and  ther-on  stood  a  tuft  of  heres, 
Eeed  as  the  bristles  of  a  sowes  eres  ;     556 
His  nose-thirles  blake  were  and  wyde. 
A  swerd  and  Ixjkeler  bar  he  by  his  syde  ; 
His  month  as  greet  was  as  a  greet  forneys. 
He  was  a  janglere  and  a  goliardeys,      560 
And  that  was  most  of  sinne  and  har- 

lotryes.  (563) 

Wel  coude   he  stelen   corn,   and   tollen 

thryes  ; 
And  yet  he  hadde   a  thombe  of   gold, 

pardee. 
A  whyt  cote  and  a  blew  hood  wered  he. 
A  baggepji^e   wel   coude  he  blowe  and 

sowne,  565 

And   ther-with-al  he  broghte  us  out  of 

towne.  Maunciple. 

Agentil  Maukciple  was  ther  of  a  temple. 

Of  which  achatours  mighte  take  exemple 

For  to  be  \N-j-se  in  bying  of  vitaUle       (571) 

For  whether  that  he  payde,  or  took  by 

taille,  570 

.Vlgate  he  waj'ted  so  in  his  achat. 
That  he  w;is  ay  bifom  and  in  good  stat. 
Now  is  nat  that  of  God  a  ful  fair  grace. 
That  swich  a  lewed  majines  wit  shal  pace 
The  wisdom  of  an  heep  of  lemed  men?  575 
Of  maistres  hadde   he  mo    than   thryes 

ten, 
That  were  of  lawe  expert  and  curious  ; 
Of  which    ther  were  a  doseyn  in  that 

hous 


Worthy  to  been  stiwardes  of  rente  and 

lond  (581) 

Of  any  lord  that  is  in  Engelond,  580 

To  make  him  live  by  his  propre  good, 
In  honour  dettelees,  but  he  were  wood. 
Or  live  as  scarsly  as  him  list  desire  ; 
And  able  for  to  helpen  al  a  shire 
In  any  cas  that  mighte  falle  or  happe  ;  5S5 
And  yit  this  maunciple  sette  hir  aller 

cappo.  Reve. 

The  Eevk  was  a  sclendre  colerik  man, 
His  herd  was  shave  as  ny  as  ever  he 

can.  (590) 

His  heer  was  by  his  eres  round  y-shorn. 
His  top  was  dokked  lyk  a  preest  biforn. 
Ful  longe  were  his  legges,  and  ful  lene, 
Y-lyk  a  staf,  ther  was  no  calf  y-sene. 
Wel  co\ade  he  kepe  a  gerner  and  a  binne ; 
Ther  was  noon  auditour  coude  on  him 

winne. 
Wel  wiste  he,  by  the  droghte,  and  by  the 

reyn,  595 

The    yelding    of   his    seed,    and    of    his 

greyn. 
His  lordes  sheep,  his  neet,  his  dayerje. 
His  swjTi,   his  hors,   his   stoor,  and  his 

pultrye,  (600) 

Was  hofdly  in  this  reves  governing,      599 
And  by  his  covenaunt  yaf  the  rekening, 
Sin  that  his  lord  was  twenty  yeer  of  age  ; 
Ther    coude    no    man    bringe    him    in 

arrerage. 
Ther  nas  baillif,  ne  herde,  ne  other  hyne, 
That  he  ne   knew  his  sleighte  and  his 

covyne ;  604 

They  were  adrad  of  him,  as  of  the  deeth. 
His  woning  was  ful  fair  up-<in  an  heeth, 
Witli  grene  trees  shadwed  was  his  place. 
He  coude  bettre  than  his  lord  purchace. 
Ful  riche  he  was  astored  prively,        (611) 
His  lord  wel  coude  he  plesen  subtUly,  610 
To  yeve  and  lene  him  of  his  owne  good, 
And  have  a  thank,  and  yet  a  cot«  and 

hood. 
In  youthe  he  leme<l  hadde  a  good  mister; 
He  was  a  wel  good  wrighte,  a  carpenter. 
This  reve  sat  up-on  a  ful  good  stot,       615 
That  was  al  pomely  grey,   and   highte 

Scot. 
A  long  surcote  of  pers  up-on  he  hade, 
And  by  his  syde  he  bar  a  rusty  blade.  (620) 


T.  621-696.] 


A.    ZH  (ptofogue. 


427 


Of  Northfolk  was  this  reve,  of  which  I 
teUe,  619 

Bisyde  a  toun  men  clepen  Baldeswelle. 
TrUiked  he  was,  as  is  a  frere,  aboute, 
And  ever  he  rood  the  hindreste  of  om- 
route. 
A  SoMNouK  was  ther  with  iis  in  that 
place,  Somnotir. 

That  hadde  a  fyr-reed  cherubinnes  face, 
For  sawcefleem  he  was,  with  eyen  narwe. 
As  hoot    he  was,   and    lecherous,   as    a 
sparwe ;  626 

With  scalled  browes  blake,  and  piled  berd  ; 
Of  his  visage  children  were  aferd.  (630J 
Ther  nas  qnik-silver,   litarge,   ne   brim- 

stoon. 
Boras,  ceruce,  ne  oille  of  tartre  noon,  630 
Ne    oynement    that    wolde    dense    and 

byte. 
That  him  mighte  helpen  of  his  whelkes 

whyte, 
Nor  of  the  knobbes  sittinge  on  his  chekes. 
Wei  loved  he  garleek,  oynons,  and  eek 

lekes, 
And  for  to  drinken  strong  wyn,  reed  as 
blood.  635 

Than   wolde  he  speke,  and   crye  as  he 

were  wood. 
And  whan  that  he  wel  dronken  hadde  the 
^vyn,  (639) 

Than  wolde  he  speke  no  word  but  LatjTi. 
A  fewe  termes  hadde  he,  two  or  three, 
That  he  had  lemed  out  of  som  decree  ;  640 
No  wonder  is,  he  herde  it  al  the  day  ; 
And  eek  ye  knowen  wel,  how  that  a  jay 
Can  clepen  '  Watte,'  as  weU  as  can  the 

pope. 
But  who-so  coude  ia  other  thing  him 
grope,  644 

Thaune  hadde  he  spent  al  his  philosophye ; 
Ay  '  Questio  quid  iuris '  wolde  he  crye. 
He  was  a  gentU  harlot  and  a  Idnde  ;  (649) 
A  bettre  felawe  sholde  men  noght  finde. 
He  wolde  suffre,  for  a  quart  of  wyn, 
A  good  felawe  to  have  his  ct>ucubyn     650 
A  tweh-month,  and  excuse  him  atte  fullo  : 
Ful  prively  a  finch  eek  coude  he  piille. 
And  if  he  fond  o-wher  a  good  felawe. 
He  wolde  techen  him  to  have  non  awe. 
In  swich  cas,  of  the  erchedeknes  curs,  655 
But-if  a  mannes  soule  were  in  his  purs  ; 

P 


For  in  his  purs  he  sholde  y-punisshed  be. 
'Purs  is  the  erchedeknes  helle,'  seyde 

^e.  (660) 

But  wel  I  woot  he  lyed  right  in  dede  ; 
Of   cursing   oghte    ech  gilty  man    him 

drede—  660 

For  curs  wol   slee,   right    as    ;issoilling 

saveth — 
And  also  war  him  of  a  significant. 
In  daunger  hadde  he  at  his  owne  gyse 
The  yonge  girles  of  the  diocyse, 
And   knew  hir  counseil,  and  was  al  hir 


reed. 


665 


A  gerland  hadde  he  set  up-on  his  heed, 
As  greet  as  it  were  for  an  ale-stake  ; 
A  bokeler  hadde  he  maad  hun  of  a  cake. 
With  him  ther  rood  a  gentil  Pakdonek 
Of  Kouncival,  his  freend  and  his  compeer. 
That  streight  was  comen  fro  the  court  of 

Rome.  Pardoner. 

Ful  loude  he  song,  '  Com  hider,  love,  to 
_  me.'  (670)  672 

This  somnour  bar  to  him  a  stif  burdoun, 
Was  never  trompe  of  half  so  greet  a  soun. 
This  pardoner  hadde  heer  as  yelow  as 

wex,  675 

But  smothe  it  heng,  as  dooth  a  strike  of 

flex; 
By  ounces  henge  his  lokkes  that  he  hadde, 
And  ther-with    he    his    shuldres    over- 

spradde ;  (ego) 

But  thinne  it  lay,  by  colpons  oon  and 

oon; 
But  hood,  for  jolitee,  ne  wered  he  noon, 
For  it  was  trussed  up  in  his  walet.        681 
Him  thoughte,  he  rood  al  of  the  newe  jet ; 
Dischevele,  save  his  cappe,  he  rood  al 

bare. 
Swiche   glaringe  eyen  hadde  he  as   an 

hare. 
A  vemicle  hadde  he  sowed  on  his  cappe. 
His  walet  lay  bifom  him  in  his  lappe,  686 
Bret-ful  of  pardoun  come  from  Rome  al 


hoot. 


(689) 


A  voys  he  hadde  as  smal  as  hath  a  goot. 
No  berd  hadde  he,  ne  never  sholde  have. 
As  smothe  it  was  as  it  were  late  y-shave  ; 
I  trowe  he  were  a  gelding  or  a  mare.    691 
But  of  his  craft,  fro  Berwik  into  Ware, 
Ne  was  ther  swich  another  pardoner. 
For  in  his  male  he  hadde  a  pilwe-beer, 


42J 


ZU  (|?rofogue. 


[t.  697- 


■VATiich    that,   he    seyde,    was   our    hvtly 

vcyl :  695 

He  seyde,  he  hadde  a  gobet  of  the  seyl 
That  seynt  Peter  hadde,  whan  that  he 

wonto  (6i.)<)) 

Upon  tlie  see,  til  Jesii  Crist  him  hente. 
He  hadde  a  croys  of  latonn,  ful  of  stones, 
And  in  a  glass  he  hadde  pigrpes  Iwncs.    ycx) 
But  with  thise  relikes,  whan    that    he 

fond 
A  povre  person  dwelling  ui>-on  lond, 
I'p-on  A  daj-  he  gat  him  more  moneye 
Than  that  the  person  gat   in  monthes 

tweye. 
And  thus,  with  fej-ned  flaterj-e  and  japes. 
He  made  the  person  and  the  peple  his 

apes.  706 

But  trewely  to  tellen,  atte  laste,  (709) 

Ifo  was  in  chirche  a  noble  ecclesiaste. 
\Vol  coudo  ho  rode  a  lessoun  or  a  storie, 
But  aldcrljest  he  song  an  offertorie  ;     710 
For  wel  ho  wiste,  whan  that  song  was 

songe. 
He   mosto   preche,   and   wel    affyle    his 

tonge, 
To  whine  silver,  as  he  ful  wel  coude  ; 
Therefore  he  song  so  merielj-  and  loude. 

Now  have  1  told  you  shortly,  in  a  clause, 
Th'estat,  th'array,  the  nombre,  and  eek  the 

cause  716 

^^^ly  that  assembled  was  this  companye 
In  Southwerk,  at  this  gentil  hostelrje, 
That  highte  the    Tabard,   faste  by  the 

Belle.  (721) 

But  now  is  tyme  to  yow  for  to  telle       720 
How  that  we  baren  us  that  ilke  night, 
Wluin  we  were  in  that  hostelrj-e  alight. 
And  atter  wol  I  telle  of  our  viage. 
And  al  the  remenaunt  of  our  pilgrimage. 
But  first  I  pray  yow,  of  your  curteisye,  725 
That  ye  n'arette  it  nat  my  vileinye, 
Thogh    that    I    pleynly    speke    in    this 

matere,  (729) 

To  telle  yow  hir  wordes  and  hir  chere  ; 
Xe  thogh  I  spoke  hir  wordes  properly. 
For  this  ye  knowen  al-so  wel  as  I,  730 
\Mio-so  shal  telle  a  tale  after  a  man. 
He  moot  reherce,  as  ny  as  ever  he  can, 
Everich  a  word,  if  it  be  in  his  charge, 
Al    speke    he    never    so   rudeliche   and 

large ; 


Or  elles  he  moot  telle  his  talo  untrewe,  735 
Or  leyne  thing,  or  finde  wordes  newe. 
He  may  nat  spare,  al-thogh  he  were  his 

brother ;  (739) 

He  moot  as  wel  seye  o  wortl  as  another. 
Crist  spak    him-self  ful    brode  in    holy 

writ. 
And  wel  ye  woot,  no  vileinye  is  it.        740 
Eek   Plato  seith,   who-so  that   can  him 

rede, 
The  woi-iles  mote  be  cosin  to  the  dede. 
Also  I  prey  yow  to  foryeve  it  me, 
Al  have  I  nat  sot  folk  in  hir  degree 
Here  in  this  tale,  as  that  they  sholde 

stf>ndo  ;  745 

My  wit  is  short,  ye  may  wel  understondc. 
Greet  chere  made  our  hoste  us  e  verichon, 
Ajid  to  the  soper  sctto  us  anon  ;  (750) 

And  serv'ed  us  with  vitaille  at  the  beste. 
Strong  was  the  vryn,  and  wel  to  drinke 

us  loste.  750 

A  semcly  man  our  hoste  was  with-alle 
For  to  han  been  a  marshal  in  an  halle ; 
A  large  man  ho  was  with  eyen  stepe, 
A  fairer  burgeys  is  ther  no<^)n  in  Chepe : 
Bold  of  his  speche,  and   wys,   and  wel 

y-taught,  755 

And  of  manhoil  him  lakkedo  right  naught. 
Eek  therto  he  was  right  a  mery  man. 
And  after  soper  pleyen  he  bigan,        f7^>o) 
And    spak   of   mirthe    amonges    othere 

thinges, 
Whan  that  we  hadde  maad  our  reken- 

inges ;  760 

Andsej'de  thus  :  '  Now,  lordinges,  trewely, 
Ye  been  to  me  right  welcome  hertely : 
For  by  my  trouthe,  if  that   I  shal  nat 

lye, 
I  ne  SJiugh  this  yeer  so  mery  a  companye 
At  ones  in  this  herberwe  as  is  now.       765 
Fayn  wolde   I   doon  yow  mirthe,  wiste 

I  how. 
And  of  a  mirthe  I  am  right  now  bithoght, 
To    doon   yow    ese,  and    it    shal    coste 

noght.  (770; 

Ye  goon   to  Caunterbuo';    God  yow 

spede, 
The    blisful    martir    quyte     yow    your 

mede.  770 

And  wel  I  woot,  as  ye  goon  by  the  weye, 
Ye  shapen  yow  to  talen  and  to  pleye ; 


T.  775-846.] 


A.     ZU  (pvofogue. 


429 


For  trewely,  contort  ne  niirthe  is  noon 
To  i-yde  by  the  weye  iloumb  as  a  stoon  ; 
And  tliertbre  wol  I  niakeu  yow  disport, 
As  I  seyde  erst,  and  doon  yow  som  con- 
fort.  776 
And  if  yow  lyketh  alle,  by  oon  assent, 
Now  for  to  stonden  at  my  j  ugement,    ( 780) 
And  for  to  werken  as  I  shal  yow  seye, 
To-morwe,  whan  ye  ryden  by  the  weye, 
Now,  by  my  fader  soule,  that  is  deed,   781 
But  ye  be  merye,  I  wol  yeve  yow  myn 

heed. 
Hold   lip    your    hond,    withouten    more 

speche.' 
Onr    counseil    was    nat    longe    for    to 

seche ; 
Us  thonghte  it  was  noght  worth  to  make 

it  vrys,  785 

And     graunted     him    withouten     more 

avys, 
Aiul    bad  him   seye  his    verdit,  as  him 

leste. 
•  Lordinges,'  quod  he,   '  now  herkneth 

for  the  beste  ;  (790) 

But  tak  it  not,  I  prey  yow,  in  desdeyn  ; 
This  is  the  poynt,  to  speken  short  and 

pleyn,  790 

That  ech   of  yow,   to   shorte  with  your 

weye, 
In  this  viage,  shal  telle  tales  tweye, 
To  Caunterbury-ward,  I  mene  it  so, 
And  hom-ward    he    shal    tellen    othere 

two, 
Of  aventures  that  whylom  han  bifaUe.  795 
And  which  of  yow  that  bereth  him  best 

of  alle. 
That  is  to  seyn,  that  telleth  in  this  cas 
Tales  of  best  sentence  and  most  solas,  (800) 
Shal  have  a  soper  at  our  aller  cost 
Here  in  this  place,  sitting  by  this  post, 
WTian  that  we  come  agayn  fro  Caunter- 

bury.  goi 

And  for  to  make  yow  the  more  mery, 
I  wol  my-selven  gladly  with  yow  ryde. 
Eight  at  myn  owne   cost,  and  be  your 

gyde. 
And  who-so  wol  my  jugement  withseye 
Shal  paye  al   that  we   spenden    by  the 

weye.  806 

And  if  ye  vouehe-sauf  that  it  be  so. 
Tel  me  anon,  with-outen  wordes  mo,  (8iu) 


And  I  wol  erly  shape  me  therfore.' 

This  thing  was-  graunted,  and  our  othes 

swore  810 

With  ful  glad  herte,  and  preyden  him 

also 
That  he  wold  voiiche-sauf  for  to  do  so, 
And  that  he  wolde  been  our  governour. 
And  of  our  tales  juge  and  reportour, 
And  sette  a  soper  at  a  certeyn  prys  ;      815 
And  we  wold  reuled  been  at  his  devys. 
In  heigh   and  lowe ;   and  thus,  by  oon 


"We  been  acorded  to  his  jugement.      (820) 
And  ther-up-on  the  wyn  was  fet  anon  ; 
We  dronken,  and  to  reste  wente  echon, 
With-outen  any  lenger  taryinge.  821 

A-morwe,  whan  that  day  bigan  to  springe. 
Up    roos    our    host,  and  was    our   aller 

cok. 
And  gadrede  us  togidre,  alle  in  a  flok, 
And  forth  we  riden,  a  litel  more  than 

pas,  825 

Un-to  the  watering  of  seint  Thomas. 
And  there  our  host  bigan  his  hors  areste. 
And  seyde ;  '  Lordinges,  herkneth,  if  yow 

leste.  (830) 

Ye  woot  yoiir  forward,  and  I  it  yow  re- 

corde. 
If  even-song  and  morwe-song  acorde,    830 
Lat    see   now  who  shal  teUe  the  firste 

tale. 
As  ever  mote  I  drinke  wyn  or  ale, 
Who-so  be  rebel  to  my  jugement 
Shal  paye  for    al    tliat    by  the    weye  is 

spent. 
Now    draweth   cut,    er    that    we    ferrer 

twinne ;  835 

He  which  that  hath  the  shortest  shal 

biginne. 
Sire  knight,'  rxuod  he,   '  my  maister  and 

my  lord,  (839) 

Now  draweth  cut,  for  that  is  myn  acord. 
Cometh  neer,'  quod  he,  '  my  lady  prior- 

esse; 
And  ye,  sir  clerk,  lat  be  your  shamfast- 

Ne  studieth  noght ;    ley  hond  to,   every 
man.' 
Anon  to  drawen  every  wight  bigan. 
And  shortly  for  to  tellen,  as  it  was. 
Were  it  by  aventure,  or  sort,  or  cas, 


43° 


A.    ZU  ICmg^fee  Za(t. 


[t.  847-S90. 


Tlie  sotbe  is  tliis,  the  cut  fil  to  the  knight,      He     seyde  :    '  Sin    I    shnl    hegnnne    the 


game. 
What,    welcome    bo   the    out,    a    Oo<lilf 


Of  which  ful  blythe  and  glad  was  every 
wight  ;  846 

And  telle  he  moste  his  tale,  as  was  resoun,  name  ! 

By  forward  and  by  romiwsicioiin,        (8501  |   Now  lat  tis  ryde.  and  horkneth  wlmt  I 
As  ve  han  herd  ;  what  nedeth  wordesmo?  seve.'  8,i; 


And    whan    this    gode     man    saugli    it 
was  so,  850 

As  he  that  wys  was  and  obedient 
To  kepe  his  forward  liy  his  free  assent, 


And  with  that  word  we  riden  forth  otir 
weyo ;  (858) 

And  he  bigan  with  right  a  mery  chere 
His  tale  anon,  and  sevdo  in  this  manere. 


Here  endeth  the  prolog  of  this  book;   ajid  here  biginneth  the  first  tale, 
which  is  the  Knightes  Tale. 


THE    KNIGHTES    TALE. 


Imnqne  domos  jwitrias,  Scithice  pngt  anpera  gentis 
rrelia,  laurif/ero,  <(r.  [Statius,  Theb.  xxi.  519.] 


WiiTi.oM,  as  olde  stories  tellen  ns, 
Ther  was  a  duk  that  highte  Thesetxs  ;  861) 
Of  Athcnes  he  was  lord  and  govemour, 
And  in  his  tj-me  swich  a  conqnerour. 
That  gretter  was  ther  noon  under  the 

Sonne. 
Fill  many    a    riche    contree    hadde    he 

wonne  ;  864 

■\Vhat  with  his  wisdom  and  his  chivalrye, 
He  conquered  al  the  regne  of  Femenye, 
That  whylom  was  y-eleped  Scithia ; 
And  weddede  the  qnene  Ipolita,  (10) 

And  broghte  hir  hoom  -N^-ith  him  in  his 

contree  869 

With  ninchel  glorie  and  greet  solempnitee, 
And  eek  hir  yonge  snster  Emelye. 
And  thus  with  victorie  and  -with  melodve 


Lete     I     this     noble     duk     to    Athenes 

ryde. 
And  al  his  boost,  in  armes,  him  bisyde. 

And  certes,  if  it  nere  to  long  to  here,  875 
I  wolde  han  told  yf>w  fully  the  manere, 
How  wonnen  was  the  regne  of  Femenye 
By  Theseus,  and  by  his  chivalrye  ;        ^20) 
And  of  the  grete  bataLUc  for  the  nones 
Bitwixen  AtheniSs  and  Amazones  ;        880 
And  how  asseged  was  Ipolita, 

I  The  faire  hardy  qnene  of  Scithia  ; 

j  And  of  the  feste  that  was  at  hir  weddinge, 
And  of  the  tempest  at  hir  hoom-cominge ; 

j  But  al  that  thing  I  moot  as  now  forbere. 

I  I  have,  God  woot,  a  large  feeld  to  ere,  886 
And  wayke  been  the  oxen  in  my  plough. 

!  The  remenant  of  the  tale  is  long  y-nouglu 


A. 


ZU  Unt^^fee  Zak. 


I  wol  nat  letten  eek  noon  of  this  route  ; 
Lat  every  felawe  telle  his  tale  aboute,  890 
And  lat   see   now  who    shal  the    soper 
winne ;  (33) 

And  ther  I  lefte,  I  wol  ageyn  biginne. 

Tliis  dnk,  of  whom  I  make  mencioun, 
AMien   lie   was    come    almost    unto  the 

toun, 
In  al  his  wele  and  in  his  moste  pryde,  895 
He  was  war,  as  he  caste  his  eye  asyde, 
Wlier  that  ther  kneled  in  the  hye  weye 
A  oompanye  of  ladies,  tweye  and  tweye, 
Ech  after  other,  clad  in  clothes  blake ;  (41) 
But  swich  a  cry  and  swich   a  wo  they 
make,  poo 

That  in  tliis  world  nis  creature  livinge, 
That  herde  swich  another  weymentinge  ; 
And  of  tliis  cry  they  nolde  never  stenten, 
Til  they  the  reynes  of  his  brydel  henten. 
'  What  folk  ben  ye,  that  at  myn  hoom- 
cominge  po^ 

Perturben  so  my  feste  with  cryLnge  ? ' 
Quod  Theseus,  '  have  ye  so  greet  envye 
Of  mj-n  honour,  that  thus  compleyne  and 
crye?  (50) 

Or  who  hath  yow  misboden,  or  offended  ? 
And  telleth  me  if  it  may  been  amended  ; 
And  why  that  ye  ben  clothed  thus  in 
blak?'  p„ 

The  eldest  lady  of  hem  aUe  spak, 
Wlien  she  hadde  swowned  with  a  deecUy 

chere, 
That  it  was  routhe  for  to  seen  and  here. 
And  seyde  :  '  Lord,  to  whom  Fortune  hath 
yiven  p,, 

Victorie,  and  as  a  conquerour  to  liven, 
Noght  greveth  us  your  glorie  and  your 

honour ; 
But  we  biseken  mercy  and  socour.        (rxi) 
Have  mercy  on  our  wo  and  our  distresse. 
Som  drope  of  pitee,  thurgh    thy  gentil- 
esse,  p,o 

Up-on  us  wrecched  wommen  lat  thou  falle. 
For  certes,  lord,  ther  nis  noon  of  us  alle. 
That  she  natli  been  a  duchesse  or  a  quene ; 
Now  be  we  caitifs,  as  it  is  wel  sene  : 
I  Thanked  be  Fortune,  and  hir  false  wheel. 
That  noon  estat  assuretli  to  be  weel.  926 
And  certes,  lord,  t'abyden  your  presence, 
Here    in    the    temple    of   the    goddesse 


Clemence 


(70) 


431 


Wo  han  ben  waytinge  althis  fourtenight ; 
Now  help  us,  lord,  sith  it  is  in  thy  might. 
I  wrecche,  which  that  wepe  and  waille 
thus,  p„ 

Was  whylom  wyf  to  king  Capaneus, 
That  starf  at  Tliebes,  cursed  be  that  day ! 
And  alle  we,  that  been  in  this  array. 
And  maken  al  this  lamentacioun,  935 

We  losten  alle  our  housbondes  at  that 

toun, 
Whyl  that  the  sege  ther-aboute  lay. 
-Ajid  yet  now  th'olde  Creon,  weylaway  ! 
The  lord  is  now  of  Thebes  the  citee,      (81) 
Fulfild  of  ire  and  of  iniquitee,  940 

He,  for  despji;,  and  for  his  tirannye. 
To  do  the  dede  bodyes  vileinye. 
Of  alle  our  lordes,  whiche  that  ben  slawe, 
Hath  alle  the  bodyes  on  an  heep  y-drawe. 
And  wol  nat  sufifren  hem,  by  noon  assent. 
Neither  to  been  y-buried  nor  y-brent,  946 
But  maketh  houndes  ete  hem  in  despj-t.' 
And  with  that  word,  with-outen  more 
respj-t,  (pq) 

They  fillen  gruf,  and  cryden  pitously, 
'Have    on    us  wrecched  wommen    som 
mercy,  <j^, 

And  lat  our  sorwe  sinken  in  thyn  herte.' 
This  gentil  duk  doun  from  his  courser 
sterte 
With  herte  pitous,  whan  he  herde  hem 

speke. 
Hun  thoughte  that  his  herte  wolde  breke, 
■WTian  he  saugh  hem  so  pitous  and  so 
mat,  g^g 

That  whylom  weren  of  so  greet  estat. 
Anil  in  his  amies  he  hem  alle  up  hente, 
And  hem  conforteth  in  ful  good  entente  ; 
And  swoor  his   ooth,    as  he  was  trewe 
knight,  (loi) 

He  wolde  doon  so  ferforthly  his  might  960 
Up-on  the  tyraunt  Creon  hem  to  wreke. 
That  al  the  peple  of  C}rece  sholde  speke 
How  Creon  was  of  Theseus  y-served. 
As  he  that  hadde  his  deeth  ful  wel  de- 
served. 96^ 
And  right  anoon,  with-outen  more  abood. 
His  baner  he  desplayeth,  and  forth  rood 
To  Thebes-ward,  and  al  his  host  bisyde  ; 
No  neer  Athenes  wolde  he  go  ne  ryde, 
Ne  take  his  ese  fully  half  a  day,          ( 1 1 1) 
But  onward  on  his  wey  that  night  he  lay; 


432 


A.    ZU  %ni^^U6  Zak. 


[T. 


973-1052. 


And  sente  iiuoou  Ipolita  the  quene,      971 
And  Emelye  liir  yonge  suster  shene, 
Un-to  the  tonn  of  Athenos  to  dwelle; 
And  forth  he   rit ;   ther  iiis  namore  to 

telle. 
The  rede  statue  of  Mars,   with   spere 

and  ttirge,  975 

So  shyneth  in  his  whyte  boner  large, 
Tlint  alle  the  feeldes  gliteren  up  and  dovm ; 
And  by  his  baner  bora  is  his  penoun  (120) 
Of  gold   ful  riche,   in   which   ther  was 

y-bete 
The  Minotaur,  which  that  he  slough  in 

Crete.  980 

Thus  rit  this  duk,  thus  rit  this  conquerour, 
And  in  his  host  of  chivalrye  the  flour, 
Til  that  he  cum  to  Thebes,  and  alighte 
Faire  in  a  feeld,  ther  as  he  thoghte  fighte. 
But  shortly  for  to  speken  of  this  thing,  985 
With  Creon,  which  that  was  of  Thebes 

king. 
He  faught,   and  slough   him   manly  as 

a  knight 
In  pleyn  bataille,  and  putte  the  folk  to 

flight ;  (,30) 

.\nd  by  assaut  he  wan  the  citee  after, 
And  rente  adoun  Ijothe  wal,  and  sparre. 


and  rafter ; 


990 


And  to  the  liidyes  he  restored  a^yn 
The  bones  ot  hir  housbondes  that  were 

slaj-n. 
To  doon  obsequies,  as  was  tho  the  gyse. 
But  it  were  al  to  long  for  to  de^•J•se      994 
The  grete  clamour  and  the  waj-mentinge 
Tliat  the  ladyes  made  at  the  brenninge 
Of  the  Vxxlyes,  and  the  grete  honour 
Tlmt  Tlieseus,  the  noble  conquerour,  (140) 
Doth  to  the  la<lyes,  whan  they  from  him 

wente ;  999 

But  shortly  for  to  telle  is  myn  entente. 
AMian  that  this  worthy  duk,  this  Theseus, 
Hath   Creon  slayn,   and   wonne  Thebes 

thus, 
.Stille  in  that  feeld  he  took  al  night  his 

reste, 
.\jid   tlide  with  al  the  contree    as  him 

leste.  ,004  I 

To  ransake  in  the  tas  of  bodj-es  dede,      1 

Hem  for  to  strepe  of  barneys  and  of  wede. 

The  pUours  diden  bisinesse  and  cure,  I 

After  the  bataille  and  tlisconfiture.     (150)  | 


And  so  bifel,  that  in  the  tas  they  founde, 
Thurgh-girt  with  many  a  gi'evous  blody 

wounde,  1010 

Two  yonge  knightes  ligging  by  and  by, 
Bothe  in  oon  amies,  wroght  ful  richely, 
Of  whiche  two,  Arcita  hight  that  oon. 
And  that  other  knight  hight  Palamon. 
Xat  full.v  quike,  ne  fully  dede  they  were. 
But  by  hir  cote-armures,  and  byhirgere, 
Tlie  heraudes  knewe  hem  best  in  special. 
As  they  that  weren  of  the  blood  royal  (160) 
Of  Thebes,  and  of  snstren  two  y-born. 
Out  of  the  tas  the  pilours  han  hem  torn. 
And  han    hem    caried  softe  nn-to    the 

tente  1021 

Of  Tlieseus,  and  he  ful  sone  hem  sente 
To  Athenes,  to  dwellen  in  prisoun 
Peri'etuelly,  he  nolde  no  raunsoun. 
And  whan  this  worthy  duk   hath  thus 

y-don,  1025 

He  took  his  host,  and  hoom  he  rood  anon 
With  laurer  crowned  aa  a  conquerour  ; 
And   there    he   liveth,   in  joye  and    in 

honour,  (170) 

Terme  of  his  Ij-f ;    what  ncdeth  wordes 

mo? 
And  in  a  tour,  in  ang^^^•ish  and  in  wo,  1030 
Dwellen  this  Palamoun  and  eek  Arcite, 
For   evermore,    ther   may  no   gold   hem 

quj-te. 
This  passeth  yeer  by  yeer,  and  day  by 

day. 
Til  it  fil  ones,  in  a  morwe  of  May, 
That  Emelye,  that  fairer  was  to  sene  1035 
Than  is  the  lilie  upon  his  stalke  grene. 
And  fressher  than  the  May  with  floures 

newe —  (179) 

For  with  the  rose  colour  stroof  hir  hewe, 
I  noot  which  was  the  fairer  of  hem  two — 
Er  it  were  day,  as  was  hir  wone  to  do. 
She  was  arisen,  and  al  redy  dight ;      1041 
For  May  wol  have  no  slogardye  a-night. 
The  sesoun  priketh  every  gentil  herte, 
And  maketh  him  out  of  his  sleep  to  sterte, 
And  seith,   'Arys,   and  do  thyn   obser- 

vatmce.'  (187)  1045 

This  maked  Emelye  have  remembraunce 
To  doon  honour  to  May,  and  for  to  ryse. 
Y-clothed  was  she  fresh,  for  to  devyse ; 
Hir  yelow  heer  was  broyded  in  a  tresse, 
Bihinde  hir  bak,  a  yerde  long,  I  gesse. 


io53-"3i^-] 


A.    ZU  ICm^^^ee  Cafe. 


433 


And  in  the  gardin,  at  the  Sonne  np-riste, 
She   walketh  up   and  doun,  and  as  hir 

liste 
She  gadereth  floures,   party  whyte   and 

rede, 
To  make  a  sotil  gerland  for  hir  hede, 
And  as  an  aungel  hevenly  she  song.    1055 
The  grete  tonr,  that  was  so  thikke  and 

strong, 
Which  of  the  castel  was  the  chief  don- 

geoun,  (199) 

(Ther-as  the  knightes  weren  in  prisoiin. 
Of  whiche  I  tolde  yow,  and  tellen  shal) 
Was  evene  jojmant  to  the gardiu-wal,  1060 
Ther  as  this  Emelye  hadde  hir  pleyinge. 
Bright  was  the  Sonne,    and    oleer  that 

morweninge, 
And  Palanion,  this  woful  prisoner, 
As  was  his  wone,  by  leve  of  his  gayler. 
Was  risen,  and  romed  in  a  chambre  on 

heigh,  1065 

In  which  he  al  the  noble  citee  seigh. 
And  eek   the  gardin,   ful  of  braunches 

grene,  (209) 

Ther-as  this  fresshe  Emelye  the  shene 
Was  in  hir  walk,   and   romed  up  and 

donn.  1069 

This  sorweful  prisoner,  this  Palamoun, 
Groth  in  the  chambre,  roming  to  and  fro, 
And  to  him-self  compleyning  of  his  wo  ; 
That  he  was  bom,  fill  ofte  he  seyde,  '  alas ! ' 
And  so  bifel,  by  avencure  or  cas. 
That  thurgh  a  window,  thikke  of  many 


barre 


'075 


Of  yren  greet,  and  square  as  any  sparre. 
He  caste  his  eye  upon  Emelya, 
And  ther-with-al  he  bleynte,  and  cryde 
'a!'  (220) 

As  thotigh   he  stongen  were  un-to  the 


herte. 


1079 


And  with  that  cry  Arcite  anon  up-sterte. 
And    seyde,    'Cosin    myn,    what    eyleth 

thee. 
That  art  so  pale  and  deedly  on  to  see  ? 
Why  crydestow?    who  liath  thee  doon 

offence  ? 
For  Goddes  love,  tak  al  in  pacience    1084 
Our  prisoun,  for  it  may  non  other  be  ; 
Fortune  hath  yeven  us  this  adversitee. 
Som  wikke  aspect  or  disposicioun 
Of  Satvirue,  by  sum  constellacioun,    (230) 


Hath  yeven  us  this,  al-though  we  hadde 

it  sworn  ; 
So  stood  the  heven  whan  that  we  were 

born  ;  i,h,o 

We  moste  endure  it :  this  is  the  short  and 

pleyn.' 
This    Palamou    answerde,   and    seyde 

ageyn, 
'  Cosyn,  for  sothe,  of  this  opinioun 
Thou  hast  a  veyn  imaginaciovin. 
This  prison  caused  me  nat  for  to  crye.  1095 
But   I  was  hurt  right  now  thurgh-oiit 

myn  ye 
In-to  myn  herte,  that  wol  my  bane  be. 
The  fairnesse  of  that  lady  that  I  see  (240) 
Yond  in  the  gardin  romen  to  and  fro, 
Is  cause  of  al  my  crying  and  my  wo.   i  uxj 
I  noot  wher  she  be  womman  or  goddesse ; 
Bvit  Venus  is  it,  soothly,  as  I  gesse.' 
And  ther-with-al  on  knees  doun  he  fil. 
And  seyde  :  '  Venus,  if  it  be  thy  wil 
Yow  in  this  gardin  thus  to  transfigure  1105 
Bifore  me,  sor\veful  wrecche  creature, 
Out  of  this  prisoun  help  that  we   may 

scapeu. 
And  if  so  be  my  destines  be  shapen    (250) 
By  eteme  word  to  dyen  in  prisoun. 
Of  our  linage  have  som  compassioun,  mo 
That  is  so  lowe  y-broght  by  tirannye.' 
And  with  that  word  Arcite  gan  espye 
Wher-as  this  lady  romed  to  and  fro. 
And  with  that  sighte  hir  beautee  hurte 

him  so,  1114 

That,  if  that  Palamon  was  wounded  sore, 
Arcite  is  liurt  as  muche  as  he,  or  more. 
And  with  a  sigh  he  seyde  pitously  :  (259) 
'  The  fresshe  ))eautee  sleeth  me  sodeynly 
Of  hir  that  rometh  in  the  yonder  place  ; 
And,  but  I  have  hir  mercy  and  hir  grace. 
That  I  may  seen  hir  atte  leeste  weye,  1121 
I  nam  but  deed  ;  ther  nis  namore  to  seye.' 
This   Palamon,   whan    he   tho   wordes 

herde, 
Dispitously  he  loked,  and  answerde  : 
'  Whether  seistow  this   in   ernest   or  in 

pley?'  1 1 25 

'Nay,'qviod  Arcite,   'in  ernest,  by  my 

fey! 
God  help  me  so,  me  list  ful  y\-ele  pleye.' 
This  Palamon  gan   knitte   his  browes 
tweye  :  (.,70) 


434 


ZU  ICntg^^ee  Zah. 


[t.  1131-1216. 


'It   nere,'   quod    he,    'to   thee   no   greet 

honour 
For  to  be  fals,  no  for  to  be  traj-toiir  1 130 
To  me,  that  am  thy  cosin  and  thy  brother 
Y-swom  ful  depe,  and  ech  of"  us  til  other, 
Tliat  never,  for  to  dyen  in  tlie  pej-ne, 
Til  that  the  deeth  departe  shal  us  tweyne, 
Neither  of  us  in  lovo  to  hindren  other,  1135 
No  in  non  other  cas,  my  leve  brother  ; 
But  that  thou  sholdesttrewelyforthren  me 
In  everj-  cas,  and  I  shal  forthron  thee.  (28^)) 
Tills  was  tliyn  00th,  and  nij-n  also,  certeyn ; 
I  wot  right  wel,  thou  darst  it  nat  withseyn. 
Tlius  artow  of  my  counseil,  out  of  doutc. 
And  now  thou  woldest  falslj-  l>een  aboute 
To  love  my  lady,  whom  I  love  and  ser^-e, 
And  ever  shal,  til  that  mj-n  herte  stervc. 
Now  certos,  fals  Arcite,  thou  shalt  nat  so. 
I  loved  hir  first,  and  toldo  thee  my  wo  1 146 
As  to  mycoun.soil,  and  my  brother  sworn 
To  forthro  me,  as  I  have  told  biforn.  (2<y)) 
For  which  thou  art  y-l¥>unden  as  a  knight 
To  helpen  me,  if  it  laj-  in  thy  miglit,  1150 
Or  dies  artow  faLs,  I  darwel  si>>-n.' 

Tliis  Arcite  ful  proudly  spak  age.\-n, 
'Thou   shalt,'   quod   he,    'be  rather  fals 

than  I ; 
But  thou  art  fals,  I  telle  thee  utterly ; 
For  ;xi  rumour  I  loved  hir  first  erthow.  1155 
What  wiltow  seyn  ?  thou  wistest  nat  yet 

now 
■\Maether  she  be  a  womman  or  goddesse  ! 
Tlijni  is  affeccioun  of  holinesse,  (.loo) 

And  mj-n  is  love,  as  to  a  creature  ; 
For  which  I  tolde  thee  m.\-n  aventure  ii6o 
As  to  my  cosin,  and  my  brother  sworn. 
I  pose,  that  thou  lovedest  hir  biforn  ; 
Wostow  nat  wel  the  olde  clerkes  sawe. 
That  •'  who  shal  yeve  a  lover  any  lawe  ?  " 
I    Love  is  a  gretter  lawe,  by  my  pan,       1165 
Than  may  I*  yeve  to  any  erthly  man. 
And  therefore    positif  lawe    and    swich 

decree 
Is  broke  al-day  for  love,  in  ech  degree.  (310) 
A  man  mof)t  nedes  love,  maugree  his  heed. 
He  may  nat  fleen  it,  thogh  he  sholde  be 

deed,  ii^o 

Al  l>e  she  mayde,  or  widwe,  or  elles  ■wj-f. 
And  eek  it  is  nat  lyklj',  al  thy  lyf, 
To  stonden  in  hir  grace  ;  uamore  shal  I : 
For  wel  thou  woost  thy-selven,  verraily. 


That  thou  and  I  be  dampned  to  prisoun 
Perpetuelly  ;  us  gayneth  no  raunsoun. 
AVo  strj-ve  as  dide  the  houndes  for  the 

boon,  1177 

Theyfotighte  al  day,  and  yot  hir  part  was 

noon ;  (320) 

Tlier  cam  a  kyte,  whyl  that  they  were 

wrothe. 
And  bar    awey  the   boon    bitwixe   hem 

bothe.  iiSti 

And  thorfore,  at  the  kinges   court,   my 

brother, 
Ech  man  for  him-self,  thor  is  non  other. 
Love  if  thee  list ;  for  I  love  and  aj-  slial  ; 
And  soothly,  leve  brother,  this  is  al. 
Here  in  this  prisoun  mote  we  endure,  1185 
And  everich  of  us  take  his  aventure.' 
Greet  was  the  stryf  and  long  bitwise 

hem  tweyc. 
If  that  I  haddo  leyser  for  to  seye  ;       (330) 
But  to  th'offoct.     It  happed  on  a  day, 
(To  telle  it  yow  as  shortly  as  I  may)    1190 
A  worthy  duk  that  liiglite  Porotheus, 
That  felawe  was  un-to  duk  Theseus 
Sin  thilke  day  that  they  were  cliildren 

l.'vte. 
Was  come  to  Athenes,  his  felawe  to  visyt«, 
And  for  to  pleye,  as  he  was  wont  to  do. 
For  in  this  world  he  loved  no  man  so  :  1 196 
And  he  loved  him  as  tendrely  ageyn. 
So  wel  they  loved,  as  olde  l)okes  seyn,  ^340) 
That  whan  that  oon  was  deed,  sothly  to 

teUe, 
His  felawe  wente  and  soghte  him  doun  in 

helle;  1200 

But  of  that  story  list  me  nat  to  wrjle. 
Duk  Perotheus  loved  wel  Arcite, 
And  haddo  him  knowe  at  Thebes  yeer  by 

yere ; 
And  fynally,  at  requeste  and  preyere  1204 
Of  Perotheus,  with-oute  any  raunsoun, 
Duk  Theseus  him  leet  out  of  prisoun, 
FVeely  to  goon,  wher  that  him  liste  over-al. 
In  swich  a  gj-se,  as  I  you  tellen  shal.  (350) 
This  was  the  forward,  pleynly  for  t'en- 

dyte, 
Bitwixen  Tlieseus  and  him  Arcite  :      1210 
Tlxat  if  so  were,  that  Arcite  were  y-founde 
Ever  in  his  lyf,  by  day  or  night  or  stounde 
In  any  contree  of  this  Tlieseus, 
And  he  were  caught,  it  was  acorded  thus, 


17-1304.] 


A.    ZU  %Mi^U0  Zak. 


435 


That  with   a  swerd  he   sholde  lese  his 
heed;  1215 

Ther  nas  non  other  remedye  ne  reed, 
But  taketh  his  leve,  and  honaward  he  him 
spedde ;  (359) 

Let  him  be  war,  his  nekke  lyth  to  wedde  ! 
How  greet  a  sorwe  sufFreth  now  Arcite  ! 
The   deeth  he   leleth   thurgh  his  herte 
smji;e ;  1220 

He  wepeth,  wayleth,  cryeth  pitously ; 
To  sleen  him-self  he  wayteth  privelj-. 
He  seyde,  '  Alias  that  day  that  I  was  bom ! 
Now  is  my  prison  worse  than  biforn  ; 
Now  is  me  shape  eternally  to  dwelle    1225 
Noght  in  purgatorie,  but  in  helle. 
Alias  !  that  ever  knew  I  Perotheus  ! 
For  elles  hadde  I  dwelled  with  Theseus 
Y-fetered  in  his  prisoun  ever-mo.         (^71) 
Than  liadde  I  been  in  blisse,  and  nat  in  wo. 
Only  the  sighte  of  hir,  whom  that  I  serve. 
Though  that  I  never  hir  grace  may  deserve, 
Wolde  han  suffised  right  y-nough  for  me. 
O  dere  cosin  Palamon,'  quod  he, 
'  Thyn  is  the  victorie  of  this  aventure,  1235 
Ful  blisfully  in  prison  maistow  dure  ; 
In  prison  ?  certes  nay,  but  in  paradys  ! 
Wei  hath  fortune  y-turned  thee  the  dys. 
That  hast  the  sighte  of  hir,  and  I  th'ab- 
sence.  (38,)  ,239 

For  possible  is,  sin  thou  hast  hir  presence, 
And  art  a  knight,  a  worthy  and  an  able, 
That  by  som  cas,  sin  fortune  is  chaunge- 

able, 
Thoumaj'sttothydesyrsom-tymeatteyue. 
But  I,  that  am  exyled,  and  bareyne 
Of  alle  grace,  and  in  so  greet  despeir,  1245 
That  ther  nis  erthe,  water,  fyr,  ne  eir, 
Ne  creature,  that  of  hem  maked  is. 
That  may  me  helpe  or  doon  confort  in  this: 
Wei  oughte  I  sterve  in  wanhope  and  dis- 
tresse ;  (3^,) 

Farwel  my  lyf,  my  lust,  and  mygladnesse ! 
Alias,  why  pleynen  folk  so  in  commune 
Of  purveyaunce  of  God,  or  of  fortune, 
That  yeveth  hem  ful  ofte  in  many  a  gyse 
Wei  bettre  than  they  can  hem-self  devj-se  ? 
Som  man  desyreth  for  to  han  richesse,  1255 
That  cause  is  of  his  mordre  or  greet  sik- 

uesse. 
And  som  man  wolde  out  of  his  prison  fayn. 
That  in  his  hous  is  of  his  meynee  slayii. 


Infinite  harmes  been  in  this  matere  ;  (4.01) 
AVe  witen  nat  what  thing  we  preyen  here. 
We  faren  as   he    that    dronke   is   as   a 

mous;  1261 

A  dronke  man  wot  wel  he  hath  an  hous, 
But  he  noot  which  the  righte  wey  is  thider ; 
And  to  a  dronke  man  the  wey  is  slider. 
And  certes,  in  this  world  so  faren  we  ; 
We  seken  faste  after  felicitee,  1266 

But  we  goon  wrong  ful  often,  trewely. 
Thus  may  we  seyen  alle,  and  namely  I,  ^410) 
That  wende  and  liadde  a  greet  opinioun, 
That,  if  I  mighte  escapen  from  prisoun, 
Than  hadde  I  been  in  joye  and  perfit 

hele,  1271 

Ther  now  I  am  exyled  fro  my  wele. 
Sin  that  I  may  nat  seen  yow,  Emelye, 
I  nam  but  deed  ;  ther  nis  no  remedye.' 

Up-on  that  other  syde  Palamon,       1275 
Whan  that  he  wiste  Arcite  was  agon, 
Swich  sorwe  he  maketh,  that  the  grete 

tour 
Resouueth  of  his  youling  and  clamour. 
The  pure  fettres  on  his  shines  grete   (421) 
Weren  of  his  bittre  salte  teres  wete.    12S0 
'  Alias  ! '  quod  he,  '  Aroita,  cosin  myn, 
Ofal  ourstiyf,  Godwoot,  the  fruytis  thyn. 
Tliow  walkest  now  in  Tliebes  at  thy  large, 
And  of  my  wo  thou  yevest  litel  charge. 
Thou  mayst,  sin  thou  hast  wisdom  and 


manhede, 


1285 


Assemblen  alle  the  folk  of  our  kinrede. 
And  make  a  werre  so  sharp  on  this  citee, 
That  by  som  aventure,  or  som  tretee. 
Thou  mayst  have  hir  to  lady  and  to  wj'i, 
For  whom  that  I  f  mot  nedes  lese  my  "lyf 
For,  as  by  wey  of  possibilitee,  (433)  1291 
Sith  thou  art  at  thy  large,  of  prison  free. 
And  art  a  lord,  greet  is  thyn  avauntage. 
More  than  is  myn,  that  sterve  here  in  a 
cage.  ,294 

For  I  mot  wepe  and  wayle,  why!  I  live, 
With  al  the  wo  that  prison  may  me  yive. 
And  eek  with  peyne  that  love  me  yiveth 


also. 


(4.^9) 


That  doubleth  al  my  torment  and  my  wo.' 
Ther-with  the  fyr  of  jelousye  up-sterte 
With-inne  his  brest,  and  hente  him  by 
the  herte  1300 

So  woodly,  that  he  lyk  was  to  biholde 
The  box-tree,  or  the  asshen  dede  and  colde. 


436 


ZH  ICntg^fee  Zak. 


[t.  1305- 


Tlio   seyde  he  ;     '  O   cruel    goddes,    that 

governe 
This  world  witli   binding  of  your  word 

eterne, 
And  wryten  in  the  table  of  athamaunt  1305 
Your  parlenient,  and  your  eterne  graixnt, 
A\Tiat  is  mankinde  more  iin-to  yow  holde 
Than  is  the  sheep,  that  rouketh  in  the 

folde?  (450) 

For  slayn  is  man  right  as  another  beste, 
And  dwelleth  eek  in  prison  and  areste, 
And  hath  siknesse,  and  greet  adversitee, 
And  ofte  tymes  giltelees,  pardee  !         i,m2 
What  governaunce  is  in  this  prescience, 
That  giltelees  tormenteth  innocence  ? 
And  yet  encreseth  this  al  my  penaunce, 
That  man  is  bounden  to  his  observaunce. 
For  Goddes  sake,  to  letten  of  his  wille, 
Tlier  as  a  beest  may  al  his  lust  fulfiUe.  (460) 
And  whan  a  beest  is  deed,  he  hath  no 

peyuc ; 
But  man  after  his  deeth  moot  wepe  and 

pleyne,  1320 

Though  in  this  world  he  have  care  and  wo: 
With-outen  doute  it  may  stonden  so. 
Th'  answere  of  this  I  lete  to  divjniis. 
But  wel  I  woot,  that  in  this  world  gret 

pyne  is. 
.\llas!  I  see  a  serpent  or  a  theef,  1325 

That  many  a  trewe  man  hath  doon  mes- 

cheef, 
Goon  at  his  large,  and  wher  him  list  may 

tume.  (469) 

But  I  mot  been  in  prison  thurgh  Satume, 
And  eekthurgh  .Juno,  jalous  and  eek  wood, 
That  hath  destroyed  wel  ny  al  the  blood 
Of  Thebes,  with  his  waste  walles  ^v•yde. 
And  Venus  sleeth  me  on  that  other  syde 
For  jelousye,  and  fere  of  him  Arcite.' 
Xow  wol  I  stinte  of  Palamon  a  Ij'te, 
And  lete  him  in  his  prison  stiUe  dwelle. 
And  of  Arcita  forth  I  wol  yow  telle.    1336 
The  somer  passeth,  and    the    nightes 

longe  (479) 

Encresen  double  wyse  the  peynes  stronge 
Bothe  of  the  lovere  and  the  j^risoner. 
I  noot  which  hath  the  wofullere  mester. 
F^)r  shortly  for  to  sej-n,  this  Palamoun 
Perpetuelly  is  dampned  to  prisoun,     134J 
In  cheynes  and  in  fettres  to  ben  deed  ; 
And  Arcite  is  exyled  upon  his  heed 


For  ever-mo  as  out  of  that  contree,      1345 
Ne  never-mo  he  shal  his  lady  see. 

Yow  loveres  axe  I  now  this  questioun. 
Who  hath  the  worse,  Ai-cite  or  Palamoun  ? 
That  oon  may  seen  his  lady  day  by  day. 
But  in  prison  he  moot  dwelle  alway.   1350 
That  other  wher  him  list  may  ryde  or  go, 
But  seen  his  lady  shal  he  never-mo.  (494) 
Now  demeth  as  yow  liste,  ye  that  can. 
For  I  wol  telle  forth  as  I  bigan. 
Explicit  prima  Pars. 
Sequitur  pars  secunda. 
Whan  that  Arcite  to  Thebes  comen  was, 
Ful  ofte  a  day  he  swelte  and  seyde  '  alias,' 
For  seen  his  lady  shal  he  never-mo.     1357 
And  shortly  to  concluden  al  his  wo,  (500) 
So  muche  sorwo  had  never  creature 
That  is,  or  shal,  whyl  that  the  world  may 

dure.  1360 

His  sleep,  his  mete,  his  drink  is  him  biraft, 
That  lene  he  wex,  and  diye  as  is  a  shaft. 
His  eyen  holwe,  and  grisly  to  biholde  ; 
His  hewe  falwe,  and  pale  as  asshen  colde, 
And  solitarie  he  was,  and  ever  allone,  1365 
And  wailling  al  the  night,  making  his 

mone. 
And  if  he  herde  song  or  instrument. 
Then  wolde  he  wepe,  he  mighte  nat  be 

stent ;  (510) 

So    feble    eek   were  his   spirits,   and  so 

lowe,  1369 

And  chaunged  so,that  no  man  coude  knowe 
His  speche  nor  his  vols,  though  men  it 

herde. 
And  in  his  gere,  for  al  the  world  he  ferde 
Nat  oonly  lyk  the  loveres  maladyo 
Of  Hereos,  but  rather  lyk  manyc 
Engentlred  of  humour  malencolyk,      1375 
Biforen,  in  his  celle  fantastyk. 
And  shortly,  tui-ned  was  al  up-so-doun 
Bothe  habit  and  eek  disposicioun        (520) 
Of  him,  this  woful  lovere  daun  Arcite. 

What  sholde  I  al-day  of  his  wo  endj^te  ? 
Whan  he  endured  hadde  a  j'eer  or  two 
Tliis  cruel  torment,  and  this  peyne  and  wo, 
At  Thebes,  in  his  contree,  as  I  seyde, 
Up-on  a  night,  in  sleep  as  he  him  leyde. 
Him  thoughts  how  that  the  winged  god 

Mercurie  1385 

Bifom  him  stood,  anil  bad  liini  to  be  murye. 


T.   1389-147S.] 


A.    €^e  %ni^9)tt6  Zak. 


437 


His  slepy  yerde  in  hond  he  bar  upriglite  ; 
An  liat  he  werede  np-on  his  heres  brighte. 
Arrayed  was  tliis  god  (as  he  took  keep) 
As  he  was  whan  that  Argus  took  his  sleep  ; 
And  seyde  him  thus  :  '  T'  Ath^nes  shaltovi 
wende  ;  {^iT.)  1391 

Ther  is  thee  shapen  of  thy  wo  an  ende.' 
And  with  that  word  Arcite  wook  and  sterte. 
'  Now  trewely,  how  sore  that  me  smerte,' 
Quod  he,  't' Ath^nes  right  now  wol  I  fare  ; 
Ne  for  the  drede  of  deeth  shal  I  nat  spare 
To  see  my  lady,  that  I  love  and  serve  ; 
In  hir  presence  I  recohe  nat  to  sterve.'  (540) 
And  with  that  word  he  caughte  a  greet 
miroiir,  1399 

And  saugh  that  chaunged  was  al  his  colour. 
And  saugh  his  visage  al  in  anotlier  Idnde. 
And  right  anoon  it  ran  him  in  his  minde, 
Tliat,  sith  his  face  was  so  disfigured 
Of  maladye,  the  which  he  hadde  endured, 
He  niighte  wel,  if  that  he  bar  him  lowe, 
Live  in  Athenes  ever-more  nnknowe,  1406 
And  seen  his  lady  wel  ny  day  by  day. 
And  riglit  anon  he  chaunged  his  array, 
And  cladde  him  as  a  povre  laborer,     (551) 
And  al  allone,  save  oonly  a  squyer,      1410 
That  knew  his  privetee  and  al  his  cas. 
Which  was  ilisgysed  povrely,  as  he  was, 
T' Athenes  is  he  goon  the  nexte  way. 
And  to  the  court  he  wente  up-on  a  day, 
And  at  the  gate  he  profreth  his  ser\-yse. 
To  drugge  and  drawe,  what  so  men  wol 
devj'se.  1416 

And  shortly  of  this  matere  for  to  seyn. 
He  fil  in  office  with  a  chamberleyn,    (560) 
The  which  that  dwelling  was  with  Emelye ; 
For  he  was  wys,  and  coude  soon  aspye  1420 
Of  every  servaunt,   which  that  serveth 

here. 
AVel  coude  he  hewen  wode,  and  water  here. 
For  he  was  yong  and  mighty  for  the  nones, 
And  ther-to  he  was  strong  and  big  of  bones 
To  doon  that  any  wight  can  him  devyse. 
A  yeer  or  two  he  was  in  this  servyse, 
Page  of  the  chambre  of  Emelye  the  brighte ; 
And  '  Philostrate '  he  seide  that  he  highte. 
But  half  so  wel  biloved  a  man  as  he   (571) 
Ne  was  ther  never  in  court,  of  his  degree ; 
He  was  so  gentil  of  condicioun,  143 1 

That  thurghotit  al  the  court  was  his  re- 
noun. 


They  seyden,  that  it  were  a  charitee 
That  Theseus  wolde  enhauncen  his  degree, 
And  putten  him  in  worshipful  servyse, 
Ther  as  he  mighte  his  vertu  excercyse. 
And  thus,  vrith-inne  a  whyle,  his  name  is 

spronge  1437 

Bothe  of  his  dedes,  and  his  goode  tonge. 
That  Theseus  hath  taken  him  so  neer  (581) 
That  of  his  cliambre  he  made  him  a  squyer. 
And  yaf  him  gold  to  mayntene  his  degree  ; 
And  eek  men  broghte   him  out   of  his 

contree 
From  yeer  to  yeer,  ful  prively,  his  rente  ; 
But  honestly  and  slyly  he  it  spente. 
That  no  man  wondred   how  that  he   it 

hadde.  1445 

And  three  yeer  in  this  ^^'J-se  his  lyf  he 

ladde. 
And  bar  hini  so  in  pees  and  eek  in  werre, 
Ther  nas  no  man  that  Theseus  hath  derre. 
And  in  this  blisse  lete  I  now  Arcite,  (591) 
And  speke  I  wol  of  Palamon  a  lyte.  1450 
In  derknesse  and  horrible  and  strong 

prisoun 
Tliis  seven  yeer  hath  seten  Palanaoun, 
Forpyned,  what  for  wo  and  for  distresse  • 
■WHio  feleth  double  soor  and  hevinesse 
But  Palamon  ?  that  love  destreyneth  so, 
That  wood  out  of  his  wit  he  gooth  for  wo ; 
And  eek  therto  he  is  a  prisoner  1457 

Perpetuelly,  noght  oonly  for  a  yeer.    (6(X)) 
Wlio  coude  ryme  in  English  proprely 
His  martirdom  ?  for  sotlie,  it  am  nat  I ; 
Therefore  I  passe  as  lightly  as  I  may. 

It  fel  that  in  the  seventhe  yeer,  in  May, 
The  thridde  night,  (as  olde  bokes  seyn, 
That  al  this  storie  tellen  more  pleyn,) 
Were  it  by  aventiire  or  destinee,  1465 

(As,  whan  a  thing  is  shapen,  it  shal  be,) 
That,  sone  after  the  midnight,  Palamoun, 
By  helping  of  a  freend,  brak  his  prisoun, 
And  fleeth  the  citee,  faste  as  he  may  go ; 
For  he  had  yive  his  gayler  drinke  so  1470 
Of  a  clarree,  maad  of  a  certeyn  wjti,  (613) 
With  nereotikes  and  opie  of  Thebes  fyn. 
That  al  that  night,  thogh  that  men  wolde 

him  shake, 
The  gayler  sleep,  he  mighte  nat  awake  ; 
And  thus  he  fleeth  as  faste  as  ever  he 

may.  1475 

The  night  was  short,  and  faste  by  the  day. 


438 


A.    Z^t  %ni^i>U0  Zak. 


[t.  I479-I56S. 


That  neiles-cost  he  moste  him-selven  hycle. 
And  til  a  grove,  faste  ther  besyde,  (620) 
With   dredfiil  loot  than  stalketh   Pala- 

moun. 
For  shortly,  this  was  his  opinioun,       1480 
That  in  that  grove  he  wohle  him  hyde  al 

day, 
.ind  in  the  night  than  wolde  he  take  his 

way 
T"  Thebes-ward,  his  treendes  lor  to  preye 
On  Theseus  to  helpe  hiin  to  werreye  ; 
And  shortly,  outher  he  wolde  lese  his  lyt'. 
Or  wiunen  Emelye  un-t<)  his  wyl';        i486 
Tliis  is  th'effect  and  his  entente  pleyn. 

Now  wol  I  tome  iin-to  Arcite  ageyn,  (030) 
That  litel  wiste   how  ny  that  was  his 

care, 
Til  that  fortune  had  broght  him  in  the 

suai-e.  1490 

The  bisy  larke,  messager  of  day, 
Salueth  in  hir  song  the  morwe  gray ; 
And  fyry  Phebus  ryseth  up  so  brighte, 
That  al  the  orient  laugheth  of  the  lighte, 
And  with  his  stremes  drjetli  in  the  greves 
The  silver  dropes,  hanging  on  the  leves. 
And  Arcite,  that  is  in  the  court  royal 
With  Theseus,  his  sqnyer  principal,  {640) 
Is  risen,  and  loketh  on  the  myrie  day. 
And,  for  to  doon  his  observ'aonce  to  May, 
Remembring  on  the  i>oynt  of  his  desyr. 
He  on  a  courser,  sterting  as  the  fyr,    1502 
Is  riden  in-to  the  leeldes,  him  to  pleye, 
Out  of  the  court,  were  it  a  myle  or  tweye  ; 
And  to  the  grove,  of  which  that  I  yow 

tolde,  1505 

By  aventure,  his  wey  he  gan  to  holde. 
To  makeu  him  a  gerland  of  the  greves. 
Were  it  of  wwlebinde  or  hawethom-leves. 
And  loude  he  song  ageyn  the  sonne  shene  : 
■  May,  with  alle  thy  floures  and  thygrene, 
Wel-come  be  thou,  faire  Iresshe  May,  151 1 
I  hope  that  I  som  grene  gete  may.'     1.654; 
And  from  his  courser,  with  a  lusty  hert«, 
In-to  the  grove  ful  hastily  he  sterte. 
And  in  a  path  he  rometh  up  and  doun, 
Tlier-as.  bj'  aventure,  this  Palamoun  1516 
Was  in  a  bush,  that  no  man  mighte  him 

see. 
For  sore  afered  of  his  deeth  was  he.   (660) 
No-thing  ne  knew  he  that  it  was  Arcite  : 
God  wot  he  wolde  have  trowed  it  ful  Ij-te. 


But  s<H)th  is  seyd,  gon  sithen  many  yeres, 
That  '  feeld  hath  eyen,  and  the  wode  hath 

eres.'  1522 

It  is  ful  fair  a  man  to  here  him  evene. 
For  alnlay  meteth  men  at  unset  stevene. 
Ful  litel  woot  Arcite  of  his  felawe,       1525 
That  was  so  ny  to  herknen  al  his  sawe, 
For  in  the  bush  he  sitteth  now  ful  stille. 

Whan  that  Arcite  had  romed  al  his  fille. 
And  songen  al  the  roundel  lustily,  (671) 
In-to  a  studio  he  fil  sode.vnly,  1530 

As  doon  thise  loveres  in  hir  queynte  geres, 
Now  in  the  croppe,  now  doun  in  the  breres, 
Now  up,  now  doun,  as  boket  in  a  welle. 
Right  as  the  Friday,  soothly  for  to  telle, 
Now  it  shyneth,  now  it  reyneth  fast«,    1535 
Right  so  can  gery  Venus  overcaste 
The  hertes  of  liir  folk  ;  right  as  hir  day 
Is  gerful,  right  so  chaungeth  she  array. 
Selile  is  the  Friday  al  the  wykc  y-lyke. 
Whan  that  Arcite  had  songe,  he  gan  to 

syke,  (682)  1540 

And  sett€  him  doun  with-outenany  more  : 
'  Alas ! '  qtiod  he, '  that  day  that  I  was  bore ! 
How  longe,  Juno,  thurgh  thy  cmeltee, 
Woltow  werreyen  Thebes  the  citee  ? 
"Alias !  y-broght  is  to  confusioun  1545 

The  blood  royal  of  Cadme  and  Amphioun  ; 
Of  Cadmus,   which   that  waa  the  first« 

man  (689) 

That  Theljes  bulte,  or  first  the  tonn  bigan, 
And  of  the  citee  first  was  croimed  king, 
Of  liis  linage  am  I,  and  his  of-sprLng  1550 
By  verray  ligne,  as  of  the  stok  royal : 
And  now  I  am  so  caitif  and  so  thral, 
That  he,  that  is  my  mortal  enemy, 
I  serve  him  as  his  squyer  povrely.        1554 
An<l  yet  doth  Juno  me  wel  more  shame, 
F<  ir  I  dar  noght  biknowe  myn  owne  name ; 
But  ther-as  I  was  wont  to  highte  Arcite, 
Now  highte  I  PhUostrate,  noght  worth  a 

myte.  (700) 

Alias !  thou  felle  Mars,  alias !  Juno,    1559 
Thus  hath  your  ire  our  kinrede  al  fordo, 
Save  only  me,  and  wrecched  Palamoun, 
That  Tlieseus  martyrcth  in  prisoun. 
And  over  al  this,  to  sleen  me  utterly, 
Love  hath  liis  fyry  dart  so  brenningly 
Y-stiked  thurgh  my  trewe  careful  herte, 
That  shapen  was  niy  deeth  erst  than  my 

sherte.  1566 


1569-1646.] 


A.    Z2>i.  Untg^fee  Zak. 


439 


Ye  sleen  me  with  your  eyen,  Emelye  ; 
Ye  been  the  cause  wherfor  that  I  dye.  (710) 
Of  al  the  remenant  of  myn  other  care 
Ne  sette  I  nat  the  mountaunce  of  a  tare, 
So  that  I  coude  don  aught  to  your  ple- 
saunce ! '  1571 

And  with  that  word   he  lil    doiin    in   a 

traivnce 
A  longe  tyme  ;  and  after  he  up-sterte. 
This    Palamoun,    that    thoughte    that 
thurgh  his  herte  (716)  1574 

He  felte  a  cold  swerd  sodeynliche  glyde, 
For  ire  he  quook,  no  lenger  wolde  he  byde. 
And  whan  that  he  had  herd  Arcites  tale, 
As  he  were  wood,  with  face  deed  and  pale, 
He  sterte  him  up  out  of  the  buskes  thikke. 
And  seyde  :  '  Arcite,  false  traitour  ^vikke, 
Now  artow  hent,  that  lovest  my  lady  so. 
For  whom  that  I  have  al  this  peyne  and 
wo,  1582 

And  art  my  blood,  and  to  my  counseil 

sworn. 
As  I  ful  ofte  have  told  thee  heer-biforn. 
And  hast  by-japed  here  duk  Theseus,  1585 
And  falsly  chaunged  hast  thy  name  thus ; 
I  wol  be  deed,  or  elles  thou  shalt  ilye. 
Thou  shalt  nat  love  my  lady  Emelye,  (730) 
But  I  wol  love  hir  only,  and  namo  ; 
For  I  am  Palamoun,  thy  mortal  fo.     1590 
And  though  that  I  no  wepne  have  in  this 

place. 
But  out  of  prison  am  astert  by  grace, 
I  drede  noght  that  outher  thou  shalt  dye. 
Or  thou  ne  shalt  nat  loven  Emelye. 
Chees  which  thou  wilt,  for  thou  shalt  nat 
asterte.'  1595 

This  Arcite,  with  ful  despitous  herte. 
Whan  he  him  knew,  and  hadde  his  tale 

herd. 

As  tiers  as  leoun,  pulled  out  a  swerd,  (740) 

And  seyde  thus  :  '  by  God  that  sit  above, 

Nere  it  that  thou  art  sik,  and  wood  for  love, 

And  eek  that  thou  no  wepne  hast  in  this 

place,  1601 

Thou  sholdest  never  out  of  this  grove  pace. 

That  thou  ne  sholdest  dyen  of  myn  hond. 

For  I  defye  the  seurtee  and  the  bond 

Which  that  thou  seyst  that  I  have  maad 

to  thee.  1605 

What,  verray  fool,  think  wel  that  love  is 

free,  (748) 


And  I  wol  love  hir,  maugre  al  thy  might ! 
But,  for  as  muche  thou  art  a  worthy  knight. 
And  wilnest  to  darreyne  hir  by  batayle, 
Have  heer  my  trouthe,  to-morwe  I  wol 
nat  fayle,  1610 

With-outen  witing  of  any  other  wight, 
That  here  I  wol  be  founden  as  a  knight. 
And  briugen  barneys  right  y-nough  for 

thee  ; 
And  chees  the  beste,  and  leve  the  worste 

for  me. 
And  mete  and  drinke  this  night  wol  I 
bringe  1615 

Y-nough  for  thee,    and    clothes   for   thy 
beddinge.  (758) 

And,  if  so  be  that  thou  my  lady  winne, 
And  slee  me  in  this  wode  thor  I  am  inne. 
Thou  mayst  wel  have  thy  lad.y,  as  for  me.' 
This  Piilamon  answerde  :    '  I  graunte  it 
thee.'  1620 

And  thus  they  been  departed  til  a-morwe, 
When  ech  of  hem  had  leyd  his  feitli  to 
borwe. 
O  Cupide,  out  of  alle  charitee  ! 
O  regne,  that  wolt  no  felawe  have  with 

thee! 
Ful  sooth  is  seyd,  that  love  ne  lordshipe 
Wol  noght,  his  thankes,  have  no  felawe- 
shipe ;  1626 

Wel  finden  that  Arcite  and  Palamoun. 
Arcite  is  riden  anon  un-to  the  toun,  (770) 
And   on   the   morwe,    er  it   were   dayes 

light, 
Ful  prively  two  barneys  hath  he  dight,  1630 
Bothe  suifisaunt  and  mete  to  darreyne 
The  bataiUe    in   the   feeld    bitwix  hem 

tweyne. 
And  on  his  hors,  allone  as  he  was  born. 
He  carieth  al  this  barneys  him  bifom  ; 
And  in  the  grove,  at  tyme  and  place  y-set. 
This  Arcite  and  this  Palamon  ben  met. 
Tho  chaungen  gan  the  colour  in  hir  face  ; 
Right  as  the  hunter  in  the  regne  of  Trace, 
That  stondeth  at  the  gappe  with  a  spere, 
Whan  hunted  is  the  leoun  or  the  here, 
And  hereth  him  come  russhing  in  the 
greves,  (783)  1641 

And  breketh  bothe  bowes  and  the  leves. 
And  thinketh,  '  heer  cometh  my  mortel 

enemy, 
With-oute  faile,  he  moot  be  deed,  or  I ; 


44° 


A.    Z^t  "Knig^fee  Zak. 


[t.  1647- 


1732- 


For  outlier  I  mot  sleen  liim  at  the  gappe, 
Or  lie  mot  sleeu  me,  if  that  me  mishappe : ' 
So    fenlen    they,    iu    chauiiging   of   hir 

hewe,  1647 

As  fer  as  everich  of  hem  other  knewe.  (790) 
Tlier  lias  no  good  day,  ne  no  saluing ; 
Butstreight,with-outenwordorrehersing, 
Everich  f>f  hem  lialp  for  to  armeu  other, 
As  freendly  as  he  were  his  owiie  brother ; 
And  after  that,  with  sharpe  speres  stronge 
They  foyiien  ecli  at  other  wonder  longe. 
Thou  mightest  wene  that  this  Palamoun 
In  his  fighting  were  a  wood  leoun,      1656 
And  as  a  cruel  tygre  was  Arcite  : 
As  wilde  lj<ires  gonne  they  to  smyte,  (800) 
That    frothen  wliyte    as    foom  for    ire 

wood. 
Up  to  the  ancle  foghte  they  in  hir  blood. 
And  in  this  wyse  I  lete  hem  fighting  dwellc; 
And  forth  I  wol  of  Theseus  yow  telle. 

The  destinee,  ministre  general. 
That  exeeuteth  in  the  world  over-al 
Tlie  pur\'eyaunce,  that   God  hath   seyn 

bifom,  1665 

So  strong  it   is,  that,  though  the  world 

had  sworn 
The  contrarie  of  a  thing,  b.v  .ve  or  nay. 
Yet  somtyme  it  shal  fallen  on  a  day  (810) 
That  falleth  nat  eft  with-inne  a  thousand 

yere. 
For  certeinly,  our  appetytes  here,        1670 
Be  it  of  werre,  or  pees,  or  hate,  or  love, 
Al  is  this  reuled  by  the  sighte  above. 
This  meue  I  now  by  mighty  Theseus, 
That  for  to  hoiiten  is  so  desirous, 
And  namely  at  the  grete  hert  in  May,  1675 
That   in   his   bed   ther  daweth   him  no 

day. 
That  he  nis  clad,  and  redy  for  to  ryde 
"With  hunte  and  horn,  and  houndes  him 

bisyde.  (820) 

For  in  his  hunting  hath  he  swich  delyt. 
That  it  is  al  his  joye  and  appetj-t         1680 
To  been  him-self  the  grete  hertes  bane  ; 
For  after  Mars  he  ser\-etli  now  Diane. 

Cleer  was  the  day,  as  I  have  told  er  this. 
And  Theseus,  with  alle  joye  and  blis. 
With  his  Ipolita,  the  fajTC  queue,        1685 
And  Emelye,  clothed  al  in  grene, 
On  hunting  be  they  riden  royally. 
And  to  the  grove,  that  stood  ful  faste  by. 


In  which  ther  was  an  hert,  as  men  him 

tulde,  (8.^0 

Duk    Tlieseus    the  streighte    wey    hath 

holde.  1690 

And  to  the  launde  he  rydeth  him  ful  right. 
For  thider  was  the  hert  wont  have  his 

flight, 
And  over  a  brook,  and  so  forth  on  his  weye. 
This  duk  wol  lian  a  cours  at  him,  or  tweye, 
With  houndes,  swiche  as  that  him  list 

comaunde.  1695 

And  whan  this  duk  was  come  un-to  the 

launde. 
Under  the  sonne  he  loketh,  and  anon 
He  was  war  of  Arcite  and  Palamon,  (840) 
That  foughten  breme,  as  it  were  bores  two ; 
Thebrighteswerdes  wenten  to  and  fro  1700 
So  hidously,  that  with  the  leeste  strook 
It  seemed  as  it  wolde  felle  an  ook  ; 
But  what  the.v  were,  no-thing  he  ne  woot. 
This   duk    his    courser  with  his  spores 

smoot, 
And  at  a  stert  he  was  bitwix  hem  two,  1705 
And  pulled  out  a  swerd  and  cryed,  '  ho  ! 
Namore,  up  peyne  of  lesing  of  your  heed. 
By  mighty  Mars,  he  shal  anon  be  deed,  (850) 
^at  smj-teth  any  strook,  that  I  may  seen! 
But  telletli  me  what  mister  men  ye  been. 
That  been  so  hardy  for  to  figliten  here  1711 
With-outen  juge  or  other  ofiicere. 
As  it  were  in  a  listes  royally  ?  ' 

This  Palamon  answerde  hastily 
And  seyde  :    '  sire,  what  nedeth  wordes 

mo?  1715 

We  have  the  deeth  deserved  bothe  two. 
Two  woful  wrecches  been  we,  two  cay- 

tjTes,  (S59) 

That  been  encombred  of  our  owne  lyves  ; 
And  as  thou  art  a  rightful  lord  and  juge, 
Ne  yeve  us  neither  mercy  ne  refuge,    1720 
But  slee  me  first,  for  sejnite  charitee ; 
But  slee  my  felawe  eek  as  wel  as  me.     ' 
Or  slee  him  first ;  for,  though  thou  knowe 

it  lyte. 
This  is  thy  mortal  fo,  this  is  Arcite,    1724 
That  fro  thy  lond  is  banished  on  his  heed, 
For  which  he  hath  deserved  to  be  deed. 
For  this  is  he  that  cam  un-to  thy  gate, 
Andsej-de,  that  he  higlite  PhUostrate.  (870) 
Thus  hath  he  japed  thee  ful  many  a  yeer, 
And  thoii  has  maked  him  thy  chief  squyer : 


T.   1733-1816. 


A.    ZU  1Cn%^fe6  Zak. 


441 


And  this  is  lie  that  loveth  Emelye.       1731 
For  sith  the  day  is  come  that  I  shal  dye, 
I  make  pleynly  my  confessioun, 
That  I  am  thilke  woful  Palamoun, 
That  hath  thy  prison  broken  wikkedly. 
I  am  thy  mortal  fo,  and  it  am  I  1736 

That  loveth  so  hote  Emelye  the  brighte, 
That  I  wol  dye  present  in  hir  sighte.  (880) 
Thertbre  I  axe  deeth  and  my  juwyse  ; 
But  slee  my  felawe  in  the  same  wyse,  1740 
For  bothe  han  we  deserved  to  be  slajai.' 

This  worthy  duk  answerde  anon  agayn, 
And  seyde,  '  This  is  a  short  conclnsioun  : 
Youre  owue  mouth,  by  your  confessioun, 
Hath  dampned  you,  and  I  wol  it  recorde. 
It  nedeth  noght  to  pyne  yow  with  the 
corde.  ,y^(. 

Ye  shul  be  deed,   by  mighty   Mars  the 
rede  ! ' 

The  queue  anon,  for  verray  womman- 


hede, 


(890) 


Gan  for  to  wepe,  and  so  dide  Emelye, 
And  alle  the  ladies  in  the  companye.  1750 
Oret  pitee  was  it,  as  it  though te  hem  alle. 
That  ever  swich  a  chaunce  sholde  falle ; 
For  gentil  men  they  were,  of  greet  estat, 
And  no-thing  tjut  for  love  was  this  debat ; 
And  sawe  hir  blody  woundes  wyde  and 

sore;  ,755 

And  alle  cryden,  bothe  lasse  and  more, 
'Have  mercy,   lord,   up-on   us  wommen 

alle!' 
And  on  hir  bare  knees  adoun  they  falle. 
And  wolde  have  kist  his  feet  ther-as  he 

stood,  (yO,) 

Til  at  the  laste  aslaked  was  his  mood ;  1760 
For  pitee  renneth  soue  in  gentil  herte. 
And  though  he  lii'st  for  ire  quook  and 

sterte. 
He  hath  considered  shortly,  in  a  clause, 
The  trespas  of  hem  bothe,  and  eek  the 

cause : 
And    al-though    that    his    ire    hir    gilt 

accused,  (po^)  j^g,. 

Yet  in  his  reson  he  hem  bothe  excused  ; ' 
As  thus  :  he  thoghte  wel,  that  every  man 
Wol  helpe  him-self  in  love,  if  that  he  can, 
And  eek  delivere  him-self  out  of  prisoun  ; 
And  eek  his  herte  had  compassioun  1770 
Of  wommen,  for  they  wepen  ever  in  oon ; 
And  in  his  gentil  herte  he  thoghte  anoon. 


And  solte  un-to  himself  he  seyde  :  '  fy 
Up-on  a  lord  that  wol  have  no  mercy. 
But  been   a  leoun,  bothe  in  word  and 
dede,  ,j,-- 

To  hem  that  been  in  repentaunce  and 

drede 
As  wel  as  to  a  proud  despitous  man  (919) 
That  wol  mayuteyne  that  he  first  bigan  ! 
That  lord  hath  litel  of  discrecioun, 
That  in  swich  cas  can  no  divisioun,     1780 
But  weyeth  pryde  and  humblesse  after 

oon.' 
And  shortly,  whan  his  ire  is  thus  agoon, 
He  gan  to  loken  ixp  with  eyen  lighte, 
And    spak    thise    same     wordes    al     on 

highte  : — 
'  The  god  of  love,  a  !  henedicife,  1785 

How  mighty  and  how  greet  a  lord  is  he  ! 
Ayeins    his    might    ther   gayueth    none 

obstacles, 
He  may  be  cleped  a  god  for  his  miracles  ; 
For  he  can  maken  at  his  owne  gyse    (931) 
Of  everich  herte,  as  that  him  list  devyse. 
Lo  beer,  this  Arcite  and  this  Palamoun, 
That  quitly  weren  out  of  my  prisoun,  1792 
And  mighte  han  lived  in  Thebes  royally, 
And  witen  I  am  hir  mortal  enemy, 
And   that   hir   deeth  lyth  in  my  might 
also;  ,,<j^ 

And  yet  hath  love,  maugree  hir  eyen  two, 
Y-broght  hem  hider  bothe  for  to  dye  ! 
Now  loketh,  is  nat  that  an  heigh  folye  ? 
Wlio  may  been  a  fool,  but-if  he  love  ?  (941) 
Bihold,  for  Goddes  sake  that  sit  above,  1800 
Se  how  thoy  blede  !    be  they  noght  wel 

arrayeil  ? 
Thus    hath   hir    lord,    the   god   of  love, 

y-payed 
Hir  wages  and  hir  fees  for  hir  servyse  ! 
And  yet  they  wenen  for  to  been  ful  wyse 
That  serven  love,  for  aught  that   may 
bifalle!  ,go- 

But  this  is  yet  the  beste  game  of  alle, 
That  she,  for  whom  they  han  this  jolitee, 
Can  hem  ther-for  as  muolie  thank  as  me  ; 
She  woot  namore  of  al  this  hote  fare,  (9^1) 
By  God,  than  woot  a  cokkow  or  an  hare  ! 
But  al  mot  been  assayed,  hoot  and  cold ; 
A  man  mot  been  a  fool,  or  yong  or  old  ; 
I  woot  it  by  my-self  ful  yore  agoon  :    1813 
For  in  my  tyme  a  servant  was  I  oon. 


442 


A.    ZU  ICmg^^cs  Zak. 


[t.  1817- 


I90C. 


And  therfore,  sin  I  knowe  of  loves  peyne, 
And  woot  how  sore  it  can  a  man  distre.^aio, 
As  he  that  hath  ben  canght  ofte  in  his  las, 
I  yow  foi-j-cve  al  hooUy  this  trespas,  (960) 
Atrequesteof  the  quenethat  kneleth  here, 
And  eek  of  Emelye,  my  suster  dere.  1820 
And  ye  shnl  bothe  anon  ixn-to  me  swere, 
That  never-mo  ye  shul  my  contree  dere, 
No  make  werre  up-on  me  night  ne  day, 
But  been  my  freendes  in  al  that  ye  may  ; 
I  yow  foryeve  this  trespas  everj'  del.'  1825 
And  they  him  swore  his  axing  fayre  and 

wel, 
And  himof  lordshipeand  of  mercy  preyde, 
And  he  hem  graunteth  grace,  and  thiis  he 

seyde :  (970) 

'  To  speke  of  royal  linage  and  richesse, 

Though  that  she  were  a  qnene  or  a  prin- 

cesse,  1830 

Ech  of  yow  bothe  is  worthy,  doutelees. 
To  wedden  whan  tyme  is,  but  nathelees 
I  speke  as  for  my  snster  Emelye, 
For  whom  ye  have  this  stryf  and  jelonsye: 
Ye  wtx>tyonr-self,she  may  not  wedden  two 
At  ones,  though  ye  fighten  ever-mo  :  1836 
That  oon  of  yow,  al  be  him  looth  or  leef, 
Ho  moot  go  p.\-pen  in  an  ivy-leef ;       (980) 
This  is  to  seyn,  she  may  nat  now  han 

Iwthe, 
Al  lie  ye  never  so  jelous,  ne  so  ^vrothe.  1840 
And  for-thy  I  yow  putte  in  this  degree, 
That  ech  of  yow  shal  have  his  destinee 
As  him  is  shape  ;  and  herkneth  in  what 

wyse ; 
Lo,  heer  your  ende  of  that  I  shal  devyse. 
My  wil  is  this,  for  plat  conclusioun,  1845 
With-outen  any  replicacioun, 
If  that  yow  lyketh,  tak  it  for  the  beste. 
That  everich  of  yow  shal  gon  wher  him 

leste  (990) 

Frely,  with-outen  raunson  or  daunger  ; 
And  this  day  fifty  A%-ykes,  fer  ne  ner,  1850 
Everich  of  j-ow  shal  bringe  an  hiuidred 

knightes, 
Armed  for  listes  up  at  alle  rightes, 
Al  redy  to  darreyne  hir  by  bataille. 
And  this  biliote  I  yow,  with-outen  faille, 
I*p-on  my  trouthe,  and  as  I  am  a  knight, 
That  whether  of  yow  bothe  that  hath 

might,  r998;  1856 

This  is  to  sejm.  that  whether  he  or  thou 


May  with  his  hundred,  as  I  spak  of  now, 
Sleen  his  contrarie,  or  out  of  listes  dryve, 
Him  shal  I  yevo  Emelya  to  wy^-e,  i860 
To  whom  that  fortune  yeveth  so  fair  a 

grace. 
Tlie  listes  shal  I  maken  in  this  place, 
And  God  so  wisly  on  my  soule  rewe, 
As  I  shal  even  juge  been  and  trewe.    1864 
Ye  shul  lion  other  ende  with  me  maken, 
Tliat  oon  of  yow  ne  shal  he  deed  or  taken. 
And  if  yow  thinketh  this  is  wely-sayd, 
Seyeth  yoixr  a^•J's,  and  holdeth  yow  apayd. 
This  is  your  ende  and  your  conclusioun.' 
WTio  loketh  lightly  now  butPalamoun? 
Whospringeth  upforjoyebut  Arcite?  1871 
Wlio  couthe  telle,  or  who  couthe  it  ondyte, 
Tlie  joye  that  is  maked  in  the  place 
"Whan  Theseus  hath  doon  so  fair  a  grace? 
But  doun  on  knees  wente  every  maner 
wight,  1875 

And  thanked  him  with  al  her  herte  and 

might. 
And  namely  the  Thebans  ofte  sythe. 
And  thus  with  good  hope  and  with  herte 
blj-the  (1020) 

Thoy  take  hir  leve,  and  hom-ward  goune 

they  rj-de 
To  Thebes,  with  his  oldc  walles  wyde.  1880 
Explicit  secunda  pars. 
Sequitur  pars  tercia. 
I  trowe  men  wolde  deme  it  necligence. 
If  I  foi-yete  to  tellen  the  dispence 
Of  Theseus,  that  goth  so  bisily 
To  maken  up  the  listes  royally  ; 
That  swich  a  noble  theatre  as  it  was,  1885 
I  dar  wel  seyn  that  in   this  world  ther 

nas. 
The  circuit  a  myle  was  aboute,  (1029; 

Walled  of  stoon,  and  diched  al  with-oute. 
Round  was  the  shap,  in  maner  of  compas, 
Ful  of  degrees,  the  heigh  te  of  sixty  pas,  1 890 
Tliat,  whan  a  man  was  set  on  o  degree, 
He  letted  nat  his  felawe  for  to  see. 

Est-ward  ther  stood  a  gate  of  marbel 
whyt. 
West-ward,  right  swich  another  in  the 
opposit.  1894 

And  shortly  to  concluden,  swich  a  place 
Was  noon  in  erthe,  as  in  so  litel  space ; 
For  in  the  lend  ther  nas  no  crafty  man, 
That  geometrie  or  ars-metrik  can,    (1040., 


T.   1901-1982.] 


A.    ZU  %ni^Ut0  Zak. 


443 


Ne  ptirtreyour,  ne  kerver  of  images, 
That  Theseus  ne  yaf  him  mete  and  wages 
The  tlieatre  for  to  maken  and  devyse.  1901 
And  for  to  doon  his  ryte  and  sacrifyse, 
He  est-ward  hath,  up-on  the  gate  above. 
In  worship  of  Venus,  goddesse  of  love, 
Don  make  an  aviter  and  an  oratorie  ;  1905 
And    west-ward,   in  the  minde  and  in 

memorie 
Of  Mars,    he   maked  hath  right  swich. 

another, 
Tliat  coste  largely  of  gold  a  fother.   (1050) 
And  north-ward,  in  a  touret  on  the  wal. 
Of  ala])astre  whyt  and  reed  coral         1910 
An  oratorie  riche  for  to  see, 
In  worship  of  Dyane  of  cliastitee, 
Hath  Tlieseiis  don  wroght  in  noble  wyse. 

But  yet  hadde  I  foryeten  to  devyse 
The  noble  kerving,  and  the  portreitures, 
The   shap,   the   countenai\nce,   and    the 

figures,  1916 

That  weren  in  thise  oratories  three. 
First  in  the  temple  of  Venus  maystow 

see  (1060) 

Wroght  on  the  wal,  ful  pitous  to  biholde, 
The  Ijroken  slepes,  and  the  sykes  colde  ; 
The  sacred  teres,  and  the  waymenting ; 
The  fyry  strokes  of  the  desiring,  1922 

That  loves  servaunts  in  this  lyf  enduren  ; 
The  othes,  that  hir  covenants  assuren  ; 
Plesaunce  and  hope,    desyr,   fool-hardi- 

nesse,  1925 

Boautee  and  youthe,  bauderie,  richesse, 
Charmes  and  force,  lesinges,  flaterye, 
Dispense,  bisynesse,  and  jelousye,      (1070) 
That  wered  of  yelwe  goldes  a  gerland, 
And  a  eokkow  sitting  on  hir  hand  ;     1930 
Festes,  instniments,  caroles,  daunccs. 
Lust   and   array,   and  alle    the   circum- 

staunces 
Of  love,  wliiche  that  I  rekne  and  rekne 

shal. 
By  ordre  weren  peynted  on  the  wal,  1934 
And  mo  than  I  can  make  of  meneioun. 
For  soothly,  al  the  mount  of  Citheroun, 
Ther  Venus  hath  hir  principal  dwelling. 
Was  shewed  on  the  wal  in  portreying. 
With  al  the  gardin,  and  the  lustinesse. 
Nat  was  foryeten  the  porter  Ydelnesse, 
Ne  Narcisus  the  faire  of  yore  agon,      194 1 
Ne  yet  the  folye  of  king  Salamon,     (1084) 


Ne  yet  the  grete  strengths  of  Hercules— 
Th'enchaunteme"nts  of  Medea  and  Circes— 
Ne  of  Turnus,  with  the  hardy  fiers  corage, 
The  riche  Cresus,  caytif  in  servage.  1946 
Thus     may    ye    seen    that    -wasdom    ne 


Beautee  ne  sleighte,  strengthe,  ne  hardi- 

nesse,  (1090) 

Ne  may  with  Venus  holde  champartye  ; 
For  as  hir  list  the  world  than  may  she 

gre.  1950 

Lo,    alle   thise   folk    so   caught    were   in 

hir  las. 
Til  they  for  wo  ful  ofte  seyde  '  alias  ! " 
Suffyceth  heer  ensamples  oon  or  two. 
And  though  I  coude  rekne  a  thousand  mo. 
The  statue  of  Venus,  glorious  for  to  see, 
Was  naked  Acting  in  the  large  see,     1956 
And  fro  the   navele    doun    all   covered 

was 
With  wawes  grene,  and  brighte  as  any 

glas.  (iicx:)) 

A  citole  in  hir  right  hand  hadde  she, 
And  on  hir  heed,  ful  semely  for  to  see,  19C0 
A  rose  gerland,  fresh  and  wel  smellinge  ; 
Above  hir  heed  hir  dowves  flikeringe. 
Biforn  hir  stood  hir  sone  Cupido, 
Up-on  his  shuldres  winges  hadde  he  two ; 
And  lilind  he  was,  as  it  is  ofte  sene  ;    1965 
A  bowe  he  bar  and  arwes  brighte  and 

kene. 
Wliy  sholde  I  noght  as  wel  eek  telle 

yow  al 
The  portreiture,  that  was  up-on  the  wal 
With-inne  the  temple  of  mighty  Mars  the 

rede?  (mi) 

Al  peynted  was  the  wal,  in  lengthe  and 


brede, 


1970 


Lyk  to  the  estres  of  the  grisly  place. 
That  highte  the  grete  temple  of  Mars  in 

Trace, 
In  thilke  colde  frosty  regioun, 
Ther-as  Mars  hath  his  sovereyn  mansioun. 
First  on  the  wal  was  peynted  a  fureste, 
In  which  ther  dwelleth  neither  man  ne 

beste,  1976 

With  knotty  knarry  bareyn  trees  olde 
Of  stulibes  sharpe  and  hidous  to  biholde  ; 
In  which  ther  ran  a  rumbel  and  a  swough. 
As  though  a  storm  sholde  bresten  every 

bough  :  1980 


444 


Z^c  %ni^^tt0  Zait. 


[t.   1983-2066. 


And  downward  from  an  liille,  under  a 

bente,  (1123)  1981 

Tlier   stood  tlie    temple   of  Mars   armi- 

potente, 
Wroght    al    of    burned   st«el,   of  which 

thentree 
Was  lung  and  strait,  and  gastly  for  tosee. 
And  ther-out  cam  a  rage  and  such  u  vese, 
Tliat  it  made  al  the  gates  for  to  rese.  1986 
Tlie  northren  light  in  at  the  dores  shoon, 
Fi >r  windowe  on  the  wal  ne  was  ther  noon, 
Thnrgh  which   men   mighten  any  light 

discerne.  (ii.^O 

Tlie  dores  were  alle  of  adamant  eteme, 
Y-clenched  overthwartand  endelong  1991 
With   iren  tough  ;   and,   for  to  make  it 

strong, 
Every  piler,  the  temple  to  snst«ne, 
Was  tonne-greet,  of  iren  bright  and  shene. 
Ther  saugh  I  first  the  derke  imagining 
Of  felonye,  and  al  the  compassing  ;     1996 
The  cruel  ire,  reed  as  any  glede  ;       (11.19) 
The  pykepnrs,  and  eek  the  pale  dre<le  ; 
The  smyler  with  the  knj-f  under  the  cloke ; 
The    shepne    brenning  with   the    blake 

smoke ;  2000 

The  treson  of  the  mordring  in  the  bedde  ; 
The  open  werre,   with   woundes    al    bi- 

bledde ; 
Contck,    with    blo<ly    knyf    and    sharp 

manace  : 
Al  ful  of  chirking  was  that  sory  place. 
The  sleere  of  him-self  yet  saugh  Ither,  2005 
His  herte-blood  hath  bathed  al  his  heer; 
The  nayl  y-driven  in  the  shode  a-night  ; 
The  colde  deeth,  with  month  gaping  up- 
right. (1 150) 
-Ajniddes  of  the  temple  sat  meschaunce. 
With  disconfort  and  sory  contenaunce. 
Yet  sjiugh  I  woodnesse  laughing  in  his 

rage ;  201 1 

Armed    compleint,    out-hees,    and    fiers 

outrage. 
The  careyne   in  the  bush,   with  throt« 

y-cors'e : 
A  thousand  slaj-n,    and   nat    of   qualm 

y-storve ;  ^014 

The  tiraunt,  with  the  prey  by  force  y-ratt; 
Tlietoun  destroyed,  ther  was  no-thinglaft. 
Yet  saugh  I  brent  the  shippes  hoppesteres; 
The  hnnte  strangled  with  the  wilde  beres: 


The  sowe  freten  the  child  right  in  the 
cradel;  (1161) 

The  cook  y-scalded,  for  al  his  longe  ladel. 
Xoght  was  foryeten  by  th'infortune  of 
Marte ;  2021 

The  carter  over-riden  with  his  carte, 
Under  the  wheel  ful  lowe  he  lay  adoun. 
Ther  were  also,  of  Martes  divisioun, 
Tlie   harbour,   and  the  bocher,  and  the 
smith  2025 

That  forgeth  sharpe  swerdes  on  his  stith. 
And  al  above,  depejoited  in  a  tour,    (ii6y) 
Saw  I  conquest  sittinge  in  greet  honour. 
With  the  sharjie  swerde  over  his  lieed 
Hanginge  by  a  sotil  twynes  threed.     2030 
DepejTited  was  the  slaughtre  of  Julius, 
Of  grete  Nero,  and  of  Antonius  ; 
Al  be  that  thilke  tyme  they  were  \inborn. 
Yet  was  hir  deeth  depeynted  ther-biforn. 
By  manasingo  of  Mars,  right  by  figure  ; 
So  was  it  shewed  in  that  portreiture 
As  is  depejnited  in  the  sterres  aljove,  (1179) 
Who  shal  be  slayn  or  elles  deed  for  love. 
Suffyceth  oon  ensamplc  in  stories  olde, 
I  may  not  rekne  hem  alle,  tliogh  I  wolde. 

Tlie  statue  of  Mars  ui>-on  a  carte  stof)d. 
Armed,  and  loked  grim  as  he  were  wood ; 
And  over  his  heed  ther  shynen  two  figures 
Of  sterres,  that  been  cleped  in  scrii)tures, 
Tliat  oon  Puolla,  that  other  Rubens.  2045 
This  god  of  armes  was  arrayed  thus  : — 
A  wolf  ther  stood  biforn  him  at  his  feet 
With  eyen  rede,  and  of  a  man  he  eet ;  ( 1 190) 
With  sotil  pencel  was  depej-nt  this  storie, 
In  rcdoutinge  of  Mars  and  of  his  glorie. 

Now  to  the  temple  of  Diane  the  chaste 
As  shortly  as  I  can  I  wol  me  haste,     2052 
To  telle  yow  al  the  descripcioun. 
Dcpe.^Titod  been  the  walles  up  and  doitn 
Of  hunting  and  of  shamfastchastitee.  2055 
Ther  saugh  I  how  woful  Calistopee,  (1198) 
^Vllan  that  Diane  agreved  was  with  here, 
Was  turned  from  a  womman  til  a  here, 
And  after  was  she  maad  the  lode-sterre  j 
Thus  was  it  peynt,   I   can  say  yow  no 
ferre ;  2060 

Hir  sone  is  eek  a  sterre,  as  men  may  see. 
Ther  saugh  I  Dane,  y-tumed  til  a  tree, 
I  mene  nat  the  goddesse  Diane, 
But  Penneus  doughter,  which  that  highte 
Dane.  2^)64 


T.   2067-2144.] 


A.    ZH  ICntg^tee  Z(xk. 


445 


Ther  saugli  I  Attheou  an  hert  y-maked, 
For  vengeaunce  that  he  sangh  Diane  al 

naked ; 
I  saugh  how  that  his  hoiindes  have  him 

catight, 
And  freten  him,  for  that  theyknewe  him 

naught.  (1210) 

Yet  pejTited  was  a  litel  forther-m.oor, 
How  Atthalante  hunted  the  wikle  boor, 
And  Meleagre,  and  many  another  mo,  2071 
For  which  Diane  ^\Toghte  him  care  and  wo. 
Ther  saugh  I  many  anotlier  wonder  storie, 
The    whiche    me    list    nat     drawen    to 

memorie.  2074 

This  goddesse  on  an  liert  t'ul  hye  seet. 
With  smale  houndes  al  aboute  hir  feet ; 
And   luidernethe  hir  feet   she  hadde  a 

mone,  (1-19) 

Wexing  it  was,  and  sholdo  wanie  sone. 
In  gaude  grene  hir  statue  clothed  was, 
With  bowe  in  honde,  and  arwes  in  a  cas. 
Hir  eyen  caste  she  ful  lowe  adoun,      2081 
Ther  Pluto  hath  his  derke  regioun. 
A  womman  travailinge  was  hir  biforn. 
But,  for  hir  child  so  longe  was  unborn, 
Ful  pitously  Lucyna  gan  she  calls,      2085 
And  seyde,  '  help,  for  thou  mayst  best  of 

alle.' 
Wei   couthe    he   pejTiten    l.\-fly    that    it 

wroghte,  (1229) 

With  many  a  florin  he  the  hewes  boghte. 

Now    been     thise     listes    maad,     and 

Theseus, 
That  at  his  grete  cost  arrayed  thus     2090 
The  temples  and  the  theatre  every  del, 
■\Mian   it   was  doon,  him  lyked  wonder 

wel. 
But  stinte  I  wol  of  Theseus  a  Ij-te, 
And  speke  of  Palamon  and  of  Arcite. 

The  day  approcheth  of  hir  retouminge. 
That  everich  sholde  an  hundred  Imightes 

bringe,  2096 

The  bataille  to  darreyne,  as  I  yow  tolde  ; 
And  til  Athenes,  hir  covenant  for  to  holde. 
Hath  everich  of  hem  broght  an  hundred 

knight  es  (1241) 

Wel  armed  for  the  werre  at  alle  rightes. 
And  sikerly,  ther  trowed  many  a  man  2101 
That  never,  sithen  that  the  world  bigau. 
As  for  to  speke  of  knighthod  of  hir  hond. 
As  fer  as  God  hath  makedsee  or  lond. 


Xas,  of  so  fewe,  so  noble  a  companye.  2105 
For  every  wight  that  lovede  cliivalrye, 
And  wolde,  his  thankes,  han  a  passant 

name. 
Hath  preyed  that  he  mighte  ben  of  that 

game;  (1-50) 

And  wel  was  him,  that  ther-to  chosen  was. 
For  if  therfille  to-morwe  swich  a  cas,  21 10 
Ye  knowen  wel,  that  every  lusty  knight, 
That    loveth    paramours,    and    hath    his 

might. 
Were  it  in  Engelond,  or  elles-where, 
They  wolde,  hir  thankes,  wilnon  tn  lie 

there. 
To  fighte  for  a  lady,  ben'citi'  I  2115 

It  were  a  lusty  sights  for  to  see. 

And  right  so  ferden  they  with  Palamon. 
With   him  ther  wenten  knightes  man.\- 

oon ;  (1260J 

Som  wol  ben  armed  in  an  habergeoun, 
In  a  brest-plat  and  in  a  light  gipoun ;  2120 
And  somme  woln   have   a   iieyre   platfs 

large  ; 
And  somme  woln  have  a  Pruce  sheld,  or  a 

targe  ; 
Somme  woln  ben  armed  on  hirlegges  weel, 
And  have  an  ax,  and  somme  a  mace  of 

stesl.  2124 

Ther  nis  no  newe  gyss,  that  it  nas  old. 
Armed  were  they,  as  I  have  you  told, 
Everich  after  his  opinioun. 

Ther  maistow  seen  coming  with  Pala- 

moiin  (1270) 

Ligurge  him-self,  the  grete  king  of  Trace ; 
Blak  was  his  herd,  and  manly  was  his 

face. 
The  cercles  of  his  eyen  in  his  heed,      2 131 
They  gloweden  bitwise  yelow  and  reed  • 
And  lyk  a  griffon  loked  he  aljoute. 
With  kempe  herss  on  his  browes  stoute  ; 
His  limes  grete,  his  braunes  harde  and 

stronge,  2135 

His  shuldres  brode,  his  amies  rouude  and 

longe. 
And  as  the  gyse  was  in  his  contres, 
Ful  hye  iip-on  a  char  of  gold  stood  he, 
With  foure  whyte  boles  in  the  trays.  (12S1) 
In-stede  of  cote-armure  over  his  harnays. 
With  nayles  yelwe  and  brighte  as  any 

gold,  2 14 1 

He  hadde  a  beres  skin,  col-blak,  for-old. 


446 


A.    ZH  %nic^^U6  Zcik. 


T.   2145-2232. 


Hislongeheerwiiskemlid  biliincle  liis  biik, 
As  any  ravenes  fether  it  slioon  t'or-blak  : 
A   wrethe    of  gold    arm-greet,    of   hi\ge 

wighte,  -M45 

Upon  his  heed,  set  ful  of  stones  brighte. 
Of  fj-ne  rubies  and  of  dyamaiants. 
Aboiite    his    char    ther  wenten    whyte 

alannts,  ('290) 

Twenty  and  mo,  as  grete  as  any  steer, 
To  liuuten  at  the  leoun  or  the  deer,     2150 
And     folwed    him,     with    mosel    faste 

y-bonnde, 
Colers  of  gold,  and  torets  fyled  roiinde. 
\n  hundred  lordes  hadde  he  in  his  route 
Armed  ful  wel,  with  hertes  Sterne  and 

stoute. 
AN'ith  Arcita,  in  stories  as  men  finde,  2155 
The  grete  Emetreus,  the  king  of  Inde, 
Up-on  a  stede  bay,  trapped  in  steel, 
Covered  in  cloth  of  gold  diapred  weel,  (1300) 
Cam  i-j-ding  lyk  the  god  of  iirmes,  ilars. 
His  coto-armure  wasof  cloth  of  Tai-s,  2160 
Couched  with  perles  whj-te  and  rounde 

and  grete. 
His  sadel  was  of  brend  gold  news  y-bete  ; 
A  mantelet  uixm  his  shuldre  hanginge 
Bret-ful  of  rubies  rede,  jis  fyr  sparklinge. 
His  (  rispe  hecr  lyk  ringoswasy-ronne,2i65 
And  that  was  yelow,  and  glitered  as  the 

Sonne. 
Hisnose  was  heigh,  his  eyen  bright  citrj-n, 
Hislippes  rounde,  his  colourwas  sangwyn, 
A  fewe  fralinesinhis  face  y-spreynd,  (1311) 
Betwixen  yelow  and  somdcl  blak  y-meynd, 
And  as  a  leoun  he  his  loking  caste.      J171 
Of  fyve  and  twenty  yecr  his  age  I  caste. 
His  berd  was  wel  V)igonne  for  to  springe  ; 
His  voys  was  as  a  trompe  thunderinge. 
Up-on  his  heed  he  wered  of  laurer  grene 
A  gerland  fresh  and  lusty  for  to  sene.   2176 
L'li-on  his  hand  he  l>ar,  for  his  deduyt. 
An  egle  tame,  as  eny  lilie  whyt.         (1320) 
An  hundred  lordes  hadde  he  with  him 

there, 
Al  armed,  sauf  hir  heddes,  in  al  hir  gere, 
Ful  richely  in  alio  maner  thinges.       2181 
For  trusteth  wel,  that  dukes,  erles,  kinges. 
Were  gadered  in  this  noble  companye. 
For  love  and  for  encrees  of  chivalrye. 
Aboute  this  king  ther  ran  on  every  part 
Ful  many  a  tame  leoun  and  lepart.     2186 


And  in  this  ^VJ•se  thise  lordes,  alle  and 

some, 
Ben  on  the  Sonday  to  the  citee  come  (1330) 
Aboute  po'nie,  and  in  the  toun  alight. 
This   Theseus,   this    duk,    this  worthy 
knight,  2190 

Whan  he  had  broght  hem  in-to  his  citee, 
And  iuned  hem,  everich  in  his  degree. 
He  festeth  hem,  and  dooth  so  greet  labour 
To  esen  hem,  and  doon  hem  al  honovir. 
That  yet  men  weneth  that  no  maunes  wit 
Of  noon  estat  ne  coude  amenden  it.     2196 
The  minstralcj-e,  the  service  at  the  teste, 
The  grete  yiftes  to  the  moste  and  leste. 
The  riche  array  of  Theseus  iialeys,     (1341) 
Xe  who  sat  lirst  ne  last  up-on  the  deys, 
\ATiat  latlies  fairest  been  or  best  daunsinge. 
Or  which  of  hem  can  dauncen  best  and 
singe,  2202 

Ne  who  most  felingly  speketh  of  love  : 
What  haukes  sitten  on  the  perche  above, 
^^^^at  houndes  liggen  on  the  floor  adouu: 
Of  al  this  make  I  now  no  mencioun  ;  2206 
But  al  th'eifect,   that  thinketh  me  the 

beste ; 
Now  comth  the  poynt,  and  herkneth  if 
*    yow  leste.  {^350) 

The   Sonday   niglit,    er   day   bigan    to 
springe, 
WlienPalamou  thelarke  herde singe, 2210 
Although  it  nero  nat  day  by  houres  two, 
Yet  song  the  larke,  and  Palamon  also. 
With  holy  herte,  and  with  an  heigh  corage 
He  roos,  to  wenden  on  his  pilgrimage 
Un-to  the  blisful  Citherea  benigne,      2215 

I  I  mene  Venus,  honurable  and  digne. 

I  And  in  hir  houre  he  walketh  forth  a  pas 

j  Un-to  the  listes,  ther  hirtemple  was,  (i36<j) 

And  doun  he  kneleth,  and  with  hunible 

chere  2219 

And  herte  soor,  he  seyde  as  ye  shul  here. 

Faireste  of  faire,  o  lady  myn,  Venus, 
Doughter  to  Jove  and  spouse  of  Vulcauus, 
Thou  glader  of  the  mount  of  Citheroun, 
For  thilke  love  thou  haddest  to  Adoun, 
Have  pitee  of  my  bittre  teres  smerte,  2225 
Andtakmyn  humble  preyerat  thyn  herte. 
Alias  !  I  ne  have  no  langage  to  telle  (1369) 
Th'effectes  ne  the  torments  of  myn  helle ; 

!  ilyn  herte  raay  myne  harmes  nat  bi^vreye; 

I  I  am  so  confus,  that  I  can  noght  seye.  2230 


T.  2233-2318.] 


A.    ZH  Knig^^ee  ^afe. 


447 


But  mercy,  lady  bright,  that  knowest  weel 
My  thought,  and  seest  what  harmes  that 

I  feel, 
Considere  al  this,  and  rewe  vip-on   my 

sore. 
As  wisly  as  I  shal  for  evermore,  2234 

Emforth  my  might,  thy  trewe  servant  be. 
And  holden  werre  alwey  with  chastitee  ; 
That  make  I  myn  avow,  so  ye  me  helpe. 
I  kepe  noght  of  armes  for  to  yelpe,  (1380) 
Ne  I  ne  axe  nat  to-morwe  to  have  victorie, 
Ne  renoun  in  this  cas,  ne  veyne  gloria  2240 
Of  pris  of  armes  blowen  up  and  doun, 
But  I  widde  have  fully  possessioun 
Of  Emelye,  and  dye  in  thy  servyse  ; 
Find  thou  the  maner  how,  and  in  what 

wyse. 
I  recche  nat,  but  it  may  bettre  be,       2245 
To  have  victorie  of  hem,  or  they  of  me. 
So  that  I  have  my  lady  in  myne  armes. 
For  though  so  be  that  Mars  is   god  of 

armes,  (1390) 

Your  vertu  is  so  greet  in  hevene  above. 
That,  if  yow  list,  I  shal  wel  have  my  love. 
Thy  temple  wol  I  worshipe  evermo,     2251 
And  on  thyn  auter,  wher  I  ryde  or  go, 
I  wol  don  sacrifice,  and  fjTes  bete. 
And  if  ye  wol  nat  so,  my  lady  swete,  2254 
Than  preye  I  thee,  to-morwe  with  a  spere 
That  Arcita  me  thurgh  the  herte  here. 
Thanne  rekke  I  noght,  whan  I  have  lost 

iwyi.vf,  (1399) 

Though  that  Arcita  winne  hir  to  his  -svyf. 
This  is  th'eflfect  and  ende  of  my  preyere, 
Yif  me  my  love,  thou  blisful  lady  dere.' 

Whan  th'orisoun  was  doon  of  Palamon, 
His  sacrifice  he  dide,  and  that  anon  2262 
Ful  pitously,  with  alle  circumstaunces, 
Al  telle  I  noght  as  now  his  observaunces. 
But  atte  laste  the  statue  of  Venus  shook. 
And  made  a  signe,  wher-by  that  he  took 
That  his  preyere  accepted  was  that  day. 
For  thogh  the  signe  shewed  a  delay,  (1410) 
Yet  wiste  he  wel  that  graunted  was  his 

bone ; 
And  with  glad  herte  he  wente  him  hoom 
ful  sone.  2270 

The  thridde  houre  inequal  that  Palamon 
Bigau  to  Venus  temple  for  to  goon. 
Up  roos  the  sonne,  and  up  roos  Emelye, 
And  to  the  temple  of  Diane  gan  hye. 


Hir  maydens,  that  she  thider  with  hir 

ladde,  227s 

Ful  redily  with  hem  the  fyr  they  hadde, 
Th'encens,  the  clothes,  and  the  remenant 

al 
That  to  the  saerifyce  longen  shal ;  (1420) 
The  homes  fulle  of  meth,  as  was  the  gyse  ; 
Ther  lakked  noght  to  doon  hir  sacrifyse. 
Smoking  the  temple,  ful  of  clothes  faire, 
This  Emelye,  with  herte  debonaire,  2282 
Hir  body  wessh  with  water  of  a  welle  ; 
But  how  she  dide  hir  ryte  I  dar  nat  telle. 
But  it  be  any  thing  in  general ;  2285 

And  yet  it  were  a  game  to  heren  al  ; 
To  him    that  meneth  wel,   it  were   no 

charge : 
But  it  is  good  a  man  ben  at  his  large.  (1430) 
Hir  brighte  heer  was  kempt,  untressed  al ; 
A  coroune  of  a  grene  ook  cerial  2290 

Up-on  hir  heed  was  set  ful  fair  and  mete. 
Two  fyres  on  the  auter  gan  she  bete, 
And  dide  hir  thinges,  as  men  may  biholde 
In  Stace  of  Thebes,  and  thise  boltes  olde. 
Whan  kindled  was  the  fyr,  with  pitous 

chere  2295 

Un-to  Diane  she  spak,  as  ye  may  here. 

'  0  chaste  goddesse  of  the  wodes  grene. 
To  whom  bothe  heven  and  erthe  and  see 

is  sene,  ( 1440) 

Quene  of  the  regne  of  Pluto  dark  and 

lowe, 
Goddesse  of  maydens,  that  myn  herte  hast 

knowe  2300 

Ful  many  a  yeer,  and  woost  what  I  desire. 
As  keep  me  fro  thy  vengeaunce  and  thyn 

ire. 
That  Attheon  aboughte  cruelly. 
Chaste  goddesse,  wel  wostow  that  I 
Desire  to  been  a  mayden  al  my  lyf,     2305 
Ne  never  wol  I  be  no  love  ne  wyf, 
I  am,  thou  woost,  yet  of  thy  companye, 
A  mayde,  and  love  hunting  and  venerye. 
And  for  to  walken  in  the  wodes  wilde. 
And  noght  to  been  a  wyf,  and  be  with 

childe.  (1452)  2310 

Noght  wol  I  knowe  companye  of  man. 
Now  help  me,  lady,  sith  ye  raay  and  can, 
For  tho  thre  formes  that  thou  hast  in  thee. 
And  Palamon,  that  hath  swich  love  to  me. 
And  eek  Arcite,  that  loveth  me  so  sore. 
This  grace  I  preye  thee  with-oute  more. 


448 


A.    Z^t  1Ctti56<e6  Zak. 


[t.  2319-2404. 


As  sende  love  and  pees  Mtwixe  hem  two  ; 
And  fro  me  turne  awey  Mr  liertes  so,  (1460) 
That  al  hir  bote  love,  and  Lir  desyr, 
And  al  hir  bisy  torment,  and  hir  fjT  2320 
Be  quej-nt,  or  turned  in  another  place  ; 
And  if  so  be  thou  wolt  not  do  me  grace, 
Or  if  my  destinee  be  shapen  so, 
That  I  shal  nedes  have  oon  of  hem  two, 
As  sende  me  him  that  most  desireth  me. 
Bihold,  goddesse  of  clene  chastitee,     2326 
The  bittre  teres  that  on  my  chekes  falle.    I 
Sin  thou  are  mayde,  and  keper  of  us  alle,  1 
My    maydenhede    thou    kepe    and    wel  ; 

conser\-c,  ('47')  , 

And  whyl  I  live  a  mayde,  I  wol  thee  ] 

serve.'  2.3.V> 

The  fyres  brenne  up-on  the  auter  clere, 
"\Miyl  Emelye  was  thus  in  hir  preyere  ; 
But  sotk'iiily  she  saiigh  a  sighte  ijueynte. 
For  right  anon  oon  of  the  fyres  <ineynte. 
And  (luikod  agayn,  and  after  that  anon 
That  other  fj-r  was  quoynt,  and  al  agon  ; 
And  as  it  que.vnte,  it  made  a  whistelinge. 
As  doon  thise  wete  brondes  in  hir  bren- 

ninge,  ('4**"^ 

And  at  the  brondes  ende  out-ran  anoon 
As  it  were  blody  dropes  many  oon  ;     2340 
For  which  so  sore  agast  was  Emelye, 
That  she  was  wel  ny  mail,  and  gan  tocryc. 
For  she  ne  wist*  what  it  signifyed  ; 
But  only  for  the  fero  thus  hath  she  cryed. 
And  weep,  that  it  was  pitee  for  to  here. 
And  ther-with-al  Diane  gan  appere,   2346 
With  bowe  in  hond,  right  as  an  hunter- 

esse, 
And  seyde  :   '  Doghter,  stint  thyn  heW- 

nesse.  ('49") 

Among  the  goddes  hye  it  is  affermed. 
And  by  eterne  word  ^v^ite  and  confermed. 
Thou  shalt  ben  wedded  un-to  oon  of  tho 
That  han  for  thee  so  muchel  care  and  wo  ; 
But  un-to  which  of  hem  I  may  nat  telle. 
Farwel,  for  I  ne  raay  no  lenger  dwelle. 
The    fjTcs  which    that    on    myn    aater 

brenne  2355 

Shul  thee  declaren,  er  that  thou  go  henne, 
ThjTi  aveuture  of  love,  as  in  this  cas.' 
And  with  that  word,  the  arwes  in  the  cas 
Of  the  goddesse  clateren  faste  and  ringe. 
And  forth  she  wente,  and  made  a  vanissh- 

inge;  (1502)  2360 


For  which  this  Emelye  astoned  was, 

And  seyde,  '  ^^^lat  amoiinteth  this,  alias  ! 

I  putte  me  in  thy  proteccioun, 

Diane,  and  in  thy  disposiciouu.' 

And  hoom   she    gooth  anon   tho   nexte 

weye.  2365 

This  is  th'eflfect,  ther  is  namore  to  seye. 

The  nexte  houre  of  Mars  folwinge  this, 
Arcite  un-to  tho  temple  walked  is     (1510) 
Of  fierse  Mars,  to  doon  his  sacrifyse, 
With  alle  tho  r>-tcs  of  his  payon  wj-se.  2370 
With  pitous  herte  and  heigh  devocioun. 
Right  thus  to  Mars  ho  seyde  his  orisoun  : 
'  O  strong©  god,  that  in  the  regnes  colde 
Of  Trace  honoured  art,  and  lord  y-holde. 
And  hast  in  every  regno  and  every  lond 
Of  armes  al  the  brydel  in  th.vn  hond,  2376 
And  hem  fortunest  as  thee  list  devyse. 
Accept  of  me  my  pitous  sacrifyse.     (1520) 
If  so  be  that  my  youthe  may  deserve, 
And  that   my  might   be  worthy  for  to 

serve  2380 

Thy   godhede,  that   I  may  been  oon  of 

thyne. 
Than  preye  I  thee  to  rewe  up-on  my  pyne. 
For  thilke  peyne,  and  thilke  hoto  fyr. 
In  which  thou  whylom  brendest  for  desyr, 
\Mian  that  thou  uscdost  tho  grete  beautee 
Of  fayre  yongc  fresshc  Venus  free,      2386 
And  haddest  hir  in  armes  at  thy  wille, 
Al-though  thee  ones  on  a  tyme  misfille 
'\^^lan  Vulcanus  had  caught  thee  in  hia 

las.  ('53') 

And  fond  thee  ligging  by  his  wyf,  alias ! 
For  thilke  sorwe  that  was  in  thyn  herte. 
Have  routhe  as  wel  up-on  my  peynes 

smerte.  2392 

I  am  yong  and  unkonning,  as  thou  wost. 
And,    as  I  trowe,   with    love    offended 

most, 
That  ever  was  any  lyves  creature  ;      2395 
For  she,  that  dooth  me  al  this  wo  endure, 
Ne  reccheth  never  wher  I  sinke  or  flete 
And  wel  I  woot,  er  she  me  mercy  hete, 
I  moot  with  strengthe  winne  hir  in  the 

place ;  ('54') 

And  wel  I  woot,  withouten  help  or  grace 
Of   thee,   ne   may  my  strengthe  noght 

avaUle.  2401 

Than    help  me,  lord,  to-morwe  in   my 

bataille. 


2405-24SS.] 


A.    e^e  %m^^UQ  Zak. 


449 


For  thilke  fjT  that  whylom  brente  thee, 
As  wel  as  thilke  iyr  now  brenneth  me  ; 
And  do  that  I  to-morwe  have  victoria.  2405 
Myn  be  the   travaille,  and  thyn  he  the 

glorie  ! 
Thy  soverein  temple  wol  I  most  honouren 
Of  any  place,  and  alwey  most  labouren 
In    thy   plesaunce   and    in    thy   craftes 
stronge,  (,55,) 

And  in  thy  temple  I  wol  my  baner  honge, 
And  alle  the  armes  of  my  companye  ;  241 1 
And  evere-mo,  nn-to  that  day  I  dye, 
Eterne  fyr  I  wol  biforn  thee  finde. 
And  oek  to  this  avow  I  wol  me  binde  : 
My  herd,  myn  heer  that  hongeth  long 
adoun,  2415 

That  never  yet  ne  felte  offensioun 
Of  rasour  nor  of  share,  I  wol  thee  yive. 
And  been  thy  trewa  servant  whyl  I  live. 
Now  lord,  have  routhe  up-on  my  sorwas 
sore,  (,561) 

Yifme  tvictorie,  I aske  thee  namore.'  2420 
The  preyere  stinte  of  Arcita  the  stronge, 
The  ringes  on  the  temple-dore  that  honge. 
And  eek  the  dores,  clatereden  fnl  faste. 
Of  which  Arcita  som-what  him  agaste. 
The  fjTes  brende  np-on  the  auter  brighta. 
That  it  gan  al  the  temple  for  to  lighte  ; 
And  swete  smel  the  ground  anon  up-yaf. 
And  Arcita  anon  his  hand  up-haf,     (1570) 
And  more  encens  in-to  the  fyr  he  caste, 
With  othere  rytes  mo  ;  .and  atte  laste  24.S0 
The  statue   of  Mars  bigan  his  hauberk 

ringe. 
And  with  that  soun  he  hei-de  a  murmur- 

inge 
Ful    lowe    and    dim,   that    sayde    thus, 

'  Victorie ' : 
For  which  he  yaf  to  Mars  honour  and 

glorie. 
And  thus  with  joye,  and  hope  wel  to  fare, 
Arcite  anon  un-to  his  inne  is  fare,      2436 
As  fayn  as  fowel  is  of  the  brighte  sonne. 
And  right  anon  swich  stryf  ther  is  bi- 
gonne  (,580) 

For  thilke  graunting,  in  the  hevene  above, 
Bitwixe  Venus,  the  goddesse  of  love,  2440 
And  Mars,  the  sterne  god  armipotente. 
That  Jupiter  was  bisy  it  to  stente  ; 
Til  that  the  pale  Saturnus  the  colde, 
That  knew  so  manye  of  aventures  olde 


Fond  in  his  olde  experience  an  art,  2445 
That  he  ful  sone  hath  plesed  every  part.' 
As  sooth  is  sayd,  elde  hath  greet  avantage  ; 
In  elde  is  bothe  wisdom  and  usage  ;( 1590) 
Men  may  the  olde  at-renne,  and  noght 

at-rede. 
Satume  anon,  to  stinten  stryf  and  drede, 
Al  be  it  that  it  is  agayn  his  kynde,     2451 
Of  al  this  stryf  he  gan  remedie  fynde. 

'  My  dero  doghter  Venus,'  quod  Saturne, 
'  My  cours,  that  hath  so  wyde  for  to  turne, 
Hath  more  power  than  wot  any  man.  24=;^ 
Myn  is  the  drenching  in  the  see  so  wan  ; 
Myn  is  the  prison  in  the  derke  cote  ; 
Myn  is  the  strangling  and  hanging  by  the 
^,    *^"-°te;  (,600) 

The  murmure,  and  the  cherles  rebelling. 
The  groyning,  and  the  pryvee  empoyson- 

I  do  vengeance  and  pleyn  correccioun 
Whyl  I  dwelle  in  the  signe  of  the  Leoun. 
Myn  is  the  ruine  of  the  hye  haUes, 
The  falling  of  the  toures  and  of  the  waUes 
Up-on  the  mynour  or  the  carpenter.  2465 
I  slow  Sampsoun  in  shaking  the  piler  ; 
And  myne  be  the  maladyes  colde. 
The  derke  tresons,  and  the  castes  olde  ; 
My  loking  is  the  fader  of  pestilence.  ( 161 1 ) 
Now  weep  namore,  I  shal  doon  diligence 
That  Palamon,  that  is  thyn  owne  knight, 
Shal  have  his  lady,  as  thou  hast  him  hight! 
Though  Mars  shal  helpe  his  knight,  yet 

nathelees 
Bitwixe  yow  ther  moot  bo  som  tyme  pees, 
Al  be  ye  noght  of  o  complexioun,         2475 
That  causeth  al  day  swich  divisioun. 
I  am  thin  ayel,  redy  at  thy  wille  ; 
Weep  thou  namore,  I  wol  thy  lust  ful- 

Now  wol  I  stinten  of  the  goddes  above, 
Of  Mars,  and  of  Venus,  goddesse  of  love, 
And  telle  yow,  as  pleynly  as  I  can,      2481 
The  grete  effect,  for  which  that  I  bigan. 
Explicit  tercia  pars. 
Sequitur  pars  quarta. 
Greet  was  the  feste  in  Athenes  that  day. 
And  eek  the  lusty  seson  of  that  M;iy 
Made    every    wight    to    been    in    swich 
plesaunce,  ^^g^ 

That  al   that   Monday  justen   they   and 
daunce, 


45° 


A.    ZU  %ni^^U6  Zak. 


[t.  2489-2562. 


And  spenden  it  in  Venus  heigh  ser\-yse. 
But  by  the  cause  that  they  sholde  ryse 
Erly,  for  to  seen  the  grete  fight,         (1631) 
Unto  hir  reste  wente  they  at  night.    2490 
And  on  the  morwe,  whan  that  day  gan 

springe, 
Of  hors  and  barneys,  noyse  and  clateringe 
Ther  was  in  hostelryes  al  alioute  ; 
And  to  the  puleys   rood    ther  many  a 

route 
Of  lordes,  «p-on  stedes  and  palfreys.  2495 
Ther  maystow  seen  de%'ysing  of  hemeys 
So  uncouth  and  so  riche,  and  wroght  so 

weel 
Of    goldsmithrie,    of    browding,    and    of 

steel;  (1640) 

The  sheeldes  brightc,  testers,  and  trap- 

pures  ; 
Gold-hewen    liclmes,    hauberks,    cote-ar- 

mures ;  2500 

Lordes  in  paraments  on  hir  courseres, 
Knightes  of  retenue,  and  eek  squyeres 
Nailinge  the  spores,  and  helmes  bokelinge, 
Gigginge  of  sheeldes,  with  layncres  la- 

cingc  ; 
Ther  as  need  is,  they  weren  no-thing  ydel ; 
The  fomy  stedes  on  the  golden  brydel  2506 
Onawinge,  and  faste  the  armurers  also 
With  fyle  and  hamer   prikinge  to  and 

fro;  (1050) 

Yemen  on  fote,  and  communes  many  oon 
With  shorte  staves,  thikke  as  they  may 

goon ;  2510 

Pypes,  trompes,  nakers,  clariounes. 
That  in  the  b.ata:lle  blowen  blody  sounes ; 
The  paleys  ful  of  peples  up  and  doun, 
Heer  three,  ther  ten,  holding  hir  ques- 

tioun, 
Divyninge  of  thise  Theban  knightes  two. 
Somme  seyden  thus,  somme  seyde  it  shal 

be  so  ;  2516 

Somme  helden  with  him  with  the  blake 

herd, 
Somme  with  the  balled,  somme  with  the 

thikke-herd ;  (1660) 

Somme    s.nyde,    he    loked   grim   and   he 

wolde  fighte  ; 
He  hath  a  sparth  of  twenty  pound  of 

wighte.  2520 

Thus  was  the  halle  ful  of  divyninge, 
Longe  after  that  the  sonne  gan  to  springe. 


The  grete   Theseus,  that  of  his  sleep 

awaked 
With   minstralcye   and    noyse   that  was 

maked, 
Held  yet  the  chambre  of  his  paleys  riche. 
Til  that  the  Thebane  knightes,  bothe  y- 

liche  2526 

Honoured,  were  into  the  paleys  fet. 
Duk  Theseus  was  at  a  window  set,  (1670) 
Arrayed  right  as  he  were  a  god  in  trone. 
The  peple  preesseth  thider-ward  ful  sone 
Him  lor  to  seen,  and  doon  hoigli  reverence. 
And  eek  to  herkne    his    best    and  his 

sentence. 
An  heraud  on  a  scaffold  made  an  ho. 
Til  al  the  noyse  of  peple  was  y-do  ; 
And  whan  he  saugh  the  peple  of  noyse  al 

stille,  2535 

Tho  showed  he  the  mighty  dukes  wille. 

'  Tho  lord  hath  of  his  heigh  discrecioun 
Considered,  that  it  were  destruccioun(  1680) 
To  gentil  blood,  to  fighten  in  the  gyse 
Of  mortal  bataille  now  in  this  empi-yse  ; 
Wherfore,  to  shapen  that  they  shul  not 

dyo,  2541 

He  wol  hia  firste  purpos  modifye. 
No  man  therfor,  up  peyne  of  los  of  lyf. 
No  maner  shot,  ne  pollax,  ne  short  knyf 
Into  the  listes  sende,  or  thider  bringe  ;  2545 
Ne  short  swerd  for  to  stoke,  with  poynt 

bytinge, 
No  man  ne  drawe,  ne  bere  it  by  his  syde. 
Ne  no  man  shal  un-to  his  felawe  ryde  (1690) 
But  o  cours,  with  a  sharp  y-g^ounde  spere ; 
Foyne,  if  him  list,  on  fote,  him-self  to 

were.  2550 

And  he  that  is  at  meschief,  shal  be  take, 
And  noght  slayn,  but  be  broght  un-to  the 

stake 
That  shal  ben  ordeyned  on  either  syde  ; 
But  thider  he  shal  by  force,  and  ther 

abyde. 
And  if  so  falle,  the  chieftayn  be  take  2555 
On  either  syde,  or  elles  sleo  his  make. 
No  lenger  shal  the  tumcyinge  laste. 
God  spede  yow  ;   goth  forth,  and  ley  on 

faste.  (1700) 

With   long  swerd  and  with  maces  fight 

your  fille. 
Goth  now  your  wey;  this  is  the  lordes 

wUle.'  2560 


T.   2563-2640.] 


A.    ZU  %ni^Ute  Za^i. 


451 


The  voys  of  peple  touchede  the  hcvene, 
So  loude  cryden  they  with  mery  stevene  : 
'  God  save  swich  a  lord,  that  is  so  good, 
He  wilneth  no  destruccioun  of  blood  ! ' 
Up  goon  the  trompes  and  the  melodye.  2565 
And  to  the  listes  rit  the  companye 
By  ordinaunce,  thurgh-out  the  citee  large, 
Hanged  with  cloth  of  gold,  and  uat  with 

sarge.  (1710) 

Ful  lyk  a  lord  this  noble  duk  gan  i-yde, 
Thise  two  Thebanes  vip-on  either  syde  ;  2570 
And  after  rood  the  quene,  and  Emelye, 
And  after  that  another  companye 
Of  oon  and  other,  after  hir  degree. 
And  thus   they  passen    thurgh-out  the 

citee. 
And  to  the  listes  come  they  by  tyme.  2575 
It  nas  not  of  the  day  yet  fully  pryme, 
Whan  set  was  Theseus  iul  riche  and  hye, 
Ipolita  the  qxiene  and  Emelye,  (1720) 

And  other  ladies  in  degrees  abov^te. 
Un-to  the  seetes  preesseth  al  the  route.  2580 
And  west-ward,  thui-gh  the  gates  under 

Marte, 
Arcite,  and  eek  the  hundred  of  his  parte. 
With  baner  reed  is  entred  right  anon  ; 
And  in  that  selvc  moment  Palamon 
Is  under  Venus,  est-ward  in  the  place,  2565 
With  baner  whyt,  and  hardy  chere  and 

face. 
In  al  the  world,  to  seken  up  and  doun, 
So  even  with-outen  variacioun,  (1730) 

Ther  nere  swiche  companyes  tweye. 
For   ther   nas   noon   so  wys  that   coudc 

seye,  2590 

That  any  hadde  of  other  avauntage 
Of  worthinesse,  ne  of  estaat,  ne  age. 
So  even  were  they  chosen,  for  to  gesse. 
And  in  two  renges  faire  they  hem  dresse. 
Whan  that  hir  names  rad  were   everi- 


choon. 


2595 


That  in  hir  nombre  gyle  were  ther  noon, 
Tho  were  the  gates  shot,  and  cryed  was 

loude  : 
'Do   now  your    devoir,   yonge    knightes 

proiide!'  (1740) 

The  heraudes  lefte  hir  priking  up  and 


doun  ; 


599 


Now  ringcn  trompes  loude  and  clarioun  ; 
Ther  is  namore  to  seyn,  but  west  and  est 
In  goon  the  speres  ful  sadly  in  arest ; 


In  goth  the  shai'pe  spore  in-to  the  syde. 
Ther  seen  men  who  can  juste,  and  who 

can  ryde  ; 
Ther    shiveren    shaftes    up-on    sheeldes 

thikke  ;  2605 

He    feleth    thiirgli    the    herte-spoon   the 

prikke. 
Up  springen  speres  twenty  foot  on  highte ; 
Out    goon    the    swerdes    as    the    silver 

brighte.  (1750) 

The  helmes  they  to-hewen  and  to-shrede  ; 
Out  brest  the  blood,  with  sterne  stremes 

rede.  2610 

With  mighty  maces  the  bones  they  to- 

breste. 
He  thurgh  the  thikkeste  of  the  throng 

gan  threste. 
Ther  stomblen  stedes  stronge,  and  dovm 

goth  al. 
He  rolleth  under  foot  as  dooth  a  bal.  2614 
He  foyneth  on  his  feet  with  his  tronchoun, 
And  he  him  hurtleth  with  his  hors  adoun. 
He  thurgh  the  body  is  hurt,  and  sithen 

y-take, 
Maugree  his  heed,  and  broght  im-to  the 

stake,  (1760) 

As   forward    was,    right  ther    he   moste 

abyde ; 
Another  lad  is  on  that  other  syde.       2620 
And  som  tyme  dooth  hem  Theseus  to  reste, 
Hem  to  refresshe,  and  drinken  if  hem 

leste. 
Ful  ofte  a-day  han  thise  Thebanes  two 
Togidre  y-met,  and  wroght  his  felawe  wo; 
Unhorsed  hath  ech  other  of  hem  tweye. 
Ther  nas  no  tygre  in  the  vale  of  Galgo- 

pheye,  2626 

Whan  that  hir  whelp  is  stole,  whan  it  is 

lyte. 
So  cruel  on  the  hunte,  as  is  Arcite    (1770) 
For  jelous  herte  upon  this  Palamoun  : 
Ne  in  Belmarye  ther  nis  so  fel  leoun,  2630 
That  hunted  is,  or  for  his  hunger  wood, 
Ne  of  his  praye  desireth  so  the  blood, 
As  Palamon  to  sleen  his  fo  Arcite. 
The  jelous  strokes  on  hir  holmes  byte  ; 
Out   renneth   blood    on    both    hir    sydes 

rede.  2635 

Som  tyme  an  ende  ther  is  of  every  dede ; 
For  er  the  sonne  un-to  the  rostc  wente. 
The  stronge  king  Emetreus  gan  hente 


Q  2 


452 


ZU  1Cntg8fe0  Zatz. 


[t.   2641-2726. 


Tljis  Palamon,  as  ho  faught  with  Arcite, 
And  made  his  swerd  depe  in  his  flesh  to 

byte;  (i-S-^)  2640 

And  by  the  force  of  twenty  is  he  take 
Unyolden,  and  y-drawe  unto  the  stake. 
And  in  the  rescoiis  of  this  Palamoun 
The  stronge  king  Lignrge  is  born  adoun  ; 
And  king  Emetrens,  for  al  his  strengthe, 
Is  born  out  of  his  sadel  a  swerdcs  lengthe, 
So  hitto  him  Pahimon  er  ho  were  take  ; 
But  al  for  noght,  he  was  broght  to  the 

stake.  (>79'>) 

His  hardy  herte  mighte  him  helpe naught ; 
He  moste  abyde,  whan  that  he  was  caught 
By  force,  and  eek  by  composicioun.  2651 
Who  sorweth  now  but  woful  Palamoun, 
Tliat  moot  namore  goon  agayn  to  fighte  ? 
And  whan  that  Theseus  had  seyn  this 

sighte,  2654 

Un-to  the  folk  that  foghten  thtis  echoon 
He  cryde,  '  Ho  !  namore,  for  it  is  doon  ! 
I  wol  bo  trewe  juge,  and  no  partye. 
Arcite  of  Thebes  shal  have  Emelye,  (i8oo) 
That  by  his  fortune   hath  hir  faire  y- 

wonnc.' 
Anon  ther  is  a  noyse  of  peplo  bigonne  26(k> 
For  joyo  of  this,  so  londe  and  heigh  with-" 

aUe, 
It  semed  that  the  listes  sholdo  falle. 

What  can  now  faire  Venus  doon  above  ? 
What  seith  she  now?    what  dooth  this 

queue  of  love  ? 
But  wepeth  so,  for  wanting  of  hir  wille, 
Til  that  hir  teres  in  the  listes  fllle  ;     2666 
She  seyde  :  '  I  am  asliamed,  dontelees.' 
Satumus  seyde  :  '  Doghter,  hold  thy  pees. 
Mars  hath  his  wille,  his  knight  hath  al 

his  bone,  ,      (>8ii) 

And,  by  myn  heed,  thou  shalt  ben  esed 

sone.'  2670 

The  trompes,  with  the  loude  minstral- 

The  heraudes,  that  ful  loude  yolle  and 

crye. 
Been  in  hir  wele  for  joye  of  daun  Arcite. 
But  herkneth  me,  and  stinteth  now  a 

Ij-te, 
\VTiich  a  miracle  ther  bifel  anon.  2675 

This  fierse  Arcite  hath  of  his  helm  y-don. 
And  on  a  courser,  for  to  shewe  his  face. 
He  priketh  endelong  the  large  place,  (1820) 


Loking  upward  up-on  this  Emelye  ;    2679 
And  she  agayn  him  caste  a  freendlich  y?, 
(For  womnien,  as  tospeken  in  comune. 
They  folwen  al  the  favour  of  fortune) ; 
And  she  was  al  his  chore,  as  in  his  herte. 
Out  of  the  ground  a  furio  infernal  sterte. 
From  Pluto  sent,  at  requosto  of  Saturne, 
For  which  his  hors  for  fere  gan  to  turne, 
And  Iccp  asyde,  and  foundred  as  lie  leep  ; 
And,  er  that  Arcite  may  taken  keep,  (i8,vj) 
He  pighte  him  on  the  pomel  of  his  heed, 
That  in  the  place  he   lay  as  ho  wore 

deed,  2690 

His  brest  to-brosten  with  his  sadel-bowe. 
As  blak  he  lay  as  any  cole  or  crowe. 
So  was  the  blood  y-ronnen  in  his  face. 
Anon  he  was  y-born  out  of  the  place 
With  herte  soor,  to  Theseus  paloys.     2695 
Tho  was  he  corven  out  of  his  harncys. 
And   in  a  bed  y-brought  ful   faire  and 

blyve, 
For  he  was  yet  in  memorie  and  alyve,  (1840) 
And  alway  crj-ing  after  Emelye. 

Duk  Theseus,  with  al  his  companye,  2700 
Is  comen  hoom  to  Athenos  his  citee. 
With  alio  blisse  and  greet  solompnitee. 
Al  be  it  that  this  aventure  was  falle, 
He  nolde  noght  disconforten  hem  alle. 
Men  seyde  eek,  that  Arcite  shal  nat  dye; 
He  shal  ben  holed  of  his  maladyo.        2706 
And  of  another  thing  they  wore  as  fayn, 
That  of  hem  alio  was  ther  noon  y-slayn, 
Al  were  they  sore  y-hurt,  and  namely  oon. 
That  with  a  spere  was  thirled  his  brest- 

boon.  (1852)  2710 

To  othere  wonndes,  and  to  broken  armes. 
Some  hadden  salves,  and  some  hadden 

charmes ; 
Fermacies  of  herbes,  and  eek  save 
They  dronken,  for  they  wolde  hir  limes 

have. 
For  which  this  noble  duk,  as  he  wel  can, 
Conforteth  and  honourcth  every  man,  2716 
And  made  revel  al  tho  longe  night, 
Un-to  the  straungc  lordes,  as  was  right. 
No  ther  was  holden  no  disconfitinge,  (1861) 
But  as  a  justes  or  a  tourneyinge  ;         2720 
For  soothly  ther  was  no  discomfiture. 
For  falling  nis  nat  but  an  aventure  ; 
Ne  to  be  lad  with  fors  un-to  the  stake 
Unyolden,  and  with  twenty  knightes  take. 


2727-2816.] 


ZU  TS,ni^^k0  Zak. 


453 


O  persone  allone,  with-outen  mo,  2-25 

And  haried  forth  by  arme,  foot,  and  to, 
And  eek  his  stede  driven  forth  with  staves, 
With    footmen,    bothe    yemen    and   eek 
knaves,  (1870) 

It  nas  aretted  him  no  vileinye,  2729 

Ther  may  no  man  clepen  it  cowardye. 

For  which  anon  duk  Theseus  leet  crye, 
To  stinten  alle  rancour  and  envye, 
Tlie  gree  as  wel  of  o  syde  as  of  other, 
And  either  syde  y-lyk,  as  otheres  brother ; 
And  yaf  hem  yiftes  after  hir  degi-ee,    2735 
And  fully  heeld  a  feste  dayes  three  ; 
And  conveyed  the  kinges  worthily 
Out  of  his  toun  a  journee  largely.      (1880) 
And  hoom  wente  every  man  the  righte 

way. 
Ther  was  namore,  but  '  far  wel,  have  good 
day!'  2740 

Of  this  bataille  I  wol  namore  endjrte, 
But  speke  of  Palamon  and  of  Arcite. 
.Swelleth  tlie  brest  of  Arcite,  and  the 

sore 
Encreesseth  at  his  herte  more  and  more. 
The  clothercd  blood,  for  any  lechecraft, 
Corrupteth,  and  is  in  his  bouk  y-laft,  2746  ■ 
That  neither  veyne-blood,  ne  ventusingc, 
Ne  drinke  of  iierbes  may  ben  hishelpinge. 
The  vertu  expulsif,  or  animal,  (1891) 

Fro  thilke  vertu  cleped  natural  2750 

Ne  may  the  venim  voydeii,  ne  expelle. 
The  pypes  of  his  longes  gonne  to  swelle, 
And  every  lacerte  in  his  brest  adoun 
Is  shent  with  venim  and  corrupcioun. 
Him  gayneth  neither,  for  to  gete  his  lyf, 
Vomyt  upward,  ne  dounward  laxatif ;  2756 
Al  is  to-brosten  thilke  regioun, 
Nature  hath  now  no  dominacioun.  (1900) 
And  certeinly,  ther  nature  wol  nat  wirche, 
Far-wel,    phisyk !    go    ber    the    man    to 

cliirche !  ^760 

Til  is  al  and  som,  that  Arcita  mot  dye, 
For  which  he  sendeth  after  Emelye, 
And  Palamon,  that  was  his  cosin  dere  ; 
Tluiu   seyde   he   thus,    as   ye   shul   after 

here. 
'  Naught  may  the  woful  spirit  in  myn 

herte  ,.5, 

Declare  o  poynt  of  aUe  my  sorwes  smerte 
To  yow,  my  lady,  that  I  love  most ; 
But  I  biquethe  the  service  of  my  gost  (khu) 


To  yow  aboven  every  creature, 
Sin  that  my  lyf  may  no  lenger  dure.  2770 
Alias,  the  wo  !  alias,  the  peynes  stronge, 
That  I  for  yow  have  suffred,  and  so  longe  ! 
Alias,  the  deeth  !  alias,  myu  Emelye  ! 
Alias,  departing  of  our  companye  !      2774 
Alias,  myn  hertes  queue  !   alias,  my  wyf ! 
Myn  hertes  lady,  endere  of  my  lyf !     -, 
^Tiat  is  this  world?  what  asketh  men  to 

have? 
Now  with  his  love,  now  in  his  colde  grave 
Allone,  with-outen  any  companye.    (1921) 
Far-wel,  my  swete  fo  !  myn  Emelye  !  2780 
And  softe  tak  me  in  your  armes  tweye. 
For  love  of  God,  and  herkneth  what  I  seye. 

I  have  heer  with  my  cosin  Palamon 
Had  stryf  and  rancour,  many  a  day  agon, 
For  love  of  yow,  and  for  my  jelousye.  2785 
And  Jupiter  so  wis  my  soule  gye, 
To  speken  of  a  servant  proprely, 
With  alle  circumstaunces  trewely,    (1030) 
That   is   to   seyn,    trouthe,    honour,   and 

knighthede. 
Wisdom,   hiunblesse,  estaat,   and  heigh 
kin  rede,  2790 

Fredom,  and  al  that  longeth  to  that  art, 
So  Jupiter  have  of  my  soule  part. 
As  in  this  world  right  now  ne  knowe  I  non 
So  worthy  to  ben  loved  as  Palamon,   2794 
That  serveth  yow,  and  wol  don  al  his  lyf. 
And  if  that  ever  ye  shul  been  a  wyf, 
Foi-yet  nat  Palamon,  the  gentil  man. '(1939) 
And  with  that  word  his  speche  faille  gan. 
For  from  his  feet  up  to  his  brest  was  come 
The  cold  of  deeth,  that  hadde  him  over- 
come. 28,^, 
And  yet  more-over,  in  his  armes  two 
The  vital  strengthe  is  lost,  and  al  ago. 
Only  the  intellect,  with-outen  more 
That  dwelled  in  his  herte  syk  and  sore, 
Gan  faillen,  when  the  herte  felte  deeth. 
Dusked  his  eyen  two,  and  failled  breeth. 
But  on  his  lady  yet  caste  he  his  ye;  (1949) 
His  laste  word  was,  '  mercy,  Emelye  ! ' 
His  spirit  chaunged  hous,  and  wente  ther, 
As  I  cam  never,  I  can  nat  tellen  wher.  2810 
Therfor  I  stinte,  I  nam  no  divinistre  ; 
Of  soules  finde  I  nat  in  this  registre, 
Ne  me  ne  list  thilke  opiniouns  to  telle 
Of  hem,  though  that  they  wryten  wher 
they  dwelle. 


454 


ZH  %rxi^^tte  Za^t. 


[t.  2817-2902. 


Arcite  is  cold,  ther  Mai-s  his  sinile  gje  ; 
Now  wol  I  spoken  forth  of  Emelye.  2816 
Shrighte  Eniolye,  and  howleth  Palamon, 
And  Theseus  his  snster  took  anon  (1961)) 
Swowningo,anil  bar  hir  fro  the  corps  away. 
^\^lat  helpcth  it  to  tarien  forth  the  day, 
To  tellen  liow  sho  weep,  bothe  eve  and 
,  morwe?  2821 

For  in  swich  cas  wommen  have  swich 

sorwc, 
Whan  that  hir  housbonds  been  from  hem 

ago. 
That  for  the  more  part  they  sorwen  so, 
Or  elles  fallen  in  swich  maladye,  2S25 

That  nt  the  laste  certeinly  they  dye. 

Infinite  been  the  .sorwes  and  the  teres 
Of  oldefolk,  and  folk  of  tendre.vercs,(  1970) 
In  al  the  tonn,  for  deeth  of  this  Theban  ; 
For  him   thcr  wepeth   bothe   child   and 

man ;  2831) 

.So  greet  a  woping  was  ther  noon,  certayn. 
Whan  Ector  was  y-bropht,  al  fresh  y-slajni. 
To  Troyo  ;  alias  !  the  pitoe  that  was  ther, 
Cracching  of  chekes,  rending  eck  of  heer. 
'  Why  woldestow  bo  deed,'  thise  wommen 

crye,  28.15 

'  And  haddcst  gold  y-nongh,  and  Emelye?' 
No  man  niighto  gladon  Thcsens, 
Savinge  his  oldo  fa<lcr  Egeuss,  (1980) 

That  knew  this  worhles  transmntacionn. 
As  he  had  sej-n  it  chaungcn  up  and  doun, 
.loye  after  wo,  and  wo  after  gladnesse  : 
And  shewed  hem  cnsamples  and  lyknesse. 
'  Right  as  ther  deyed  never  man,'  quod 

he,  2843 

'  That  he  no  livedo  in  erthe  in  som  degree. 
Right  so  ther  livedo  never  man,'  he  seyde, 
'  In  al  this  world,  that  som  tymo  he  no 

deyde.  (1988)  2846 

This  world  nis  but  a  thurghfare  ful  of  wo. 
And  we  ben  pilgrimes,  psissinge  to  and  fro ; 
Deeth  is  an  endc  of  evei-y  worldly  sore.' 
And  over  al  this  yet  seyde  he  muchel  more 
To  this  effect,  ful  \\-j'sly  to  enhorte  2851 
The  peple,  that  t  hey  sholde  hem  reconforte. 

Duk  Theseus,  with  al  his  bisy  cure, 
Caste  now  wher  that  the  sepulture 
Of  good  Arcite  may  best  y-maked  be,    2855 
And  eek  most  honurable  in  his  degree. 
And  at  the  laste  he  took  conclusioun,  (1999) 
That  ther  as  first  Arcite  and  Palamoun 


Hadden  for  love  the  bataillo  hem  bitweno. 
That  in  that  solve  grove,  swoto  and  grene, 
Therashehadde  his  amorous  desires,  2861 
His  compleynt,  and  for  love  his  hote  fires. 
He  wolde  make  a  fyr,  in  which  th'office 
Funeral  he  mighte  al  accomplice  ; 
And  leet  comannde  anon  to  hakkc  and 

hcwe  (2007)    2865 

The  okes  oldo,  and  leyo  horn  011  a  rewo 
In  colfons  wol  arrayed  for  to  brenne ; 
His  officers  with  switte  feet  thoy  renne 
And  rj-do  anon  at  his  coniaundement. 
And  after  this,  Theseus  hath  y-sent    2870 
After  a  bore,  and  it  al  over-spradde 
With  cloth  of  gold,  the  richest  that  he 

hadde. 
And  of  the  same  suyte  he  cladde  Arcite  ; 
I'pon  his  hondes  hadde  ho  gloves  whyte ; 
Eek   on    his   hood    a    croune    of    laurer 

grenc,  2875 

And  in  Iris  hond  a  swerd  ful  bright  and 

kono.  (2018) 

He  leydo  him  bare  the  visage  on  the  here, 
Tlierwith  ho  weep  that  piteo  was  to  here. 
And  for  the  pople  sholde  soon  him  alle. 
Whan  it  was  day,  he  broghto  him  to  the 

halle,  28P0 

That  roreth  of  the  crying  and  the  soun. 

Tlio  cam  this  woful  Theban  Palamoun, 
With  floterj-  herd,  and  ruggj' asshy  hores. 
In  clothes  blnke,  y-dropped  al  with  teres; 
And,  passing  othere  of  weping,  Emelye, 
The  rewfulleste  of  al  the  companye.   2886 
In  as  muche  as  the  service  sholde  be 
The  more  noble  and  riche  in  his  degree, 
Duk  Theseus  leet  forth  three  stedes  bringe, 
That  trapped  were  in  steel  al  gliteringe. 
And    covered    with    the  armes  of  dann 

Arcite.  (2033)  2891 

Ui>-on  thise  stedes,  that  weren  grete  and 

wh.rto, 
Ther  seten  folk,  of  which  oon  barhissheeld. 
Another  his  spere  up  in  his  hondes  heeld ; 
The  thridde  bar  with  him  his  bowc  Tur- 

kej-s,  2895 

Of  brend  gold  was  the  cas,  and  eck  the 

hameys ;  (2038) 

And  riden  forth  a  jjas  with  sorweful  chere 
Toward  tho  grove,  as  ye  shul  .after  here. 
Tlie  nobleste  of  the  Grekes  that  ther  were 
Upon  hir  shuldres  carieden  the  here,   2900 


2903- 


-29S4.] 


A.    ZH  %ni^^tte  Zak, 


455 


With  slakke  pas,  and  eyen  rede  and  wete, 
Thnrgh-out  the  citee,  by  the  maister-strete, 
That  sprad  was  al  with  blak,  and  wonder 

hyo 
Right  of  the  same  is  al  the  strete  y-wrye. 
U p-on  the  right  hond  wente  old  Egeus,  2905 
And  on  that  other  syde  duk  Theseus, 
With  vessels  in  hir  hand  of  gold  fnl  fyn, 
Al  fill  of  hony,  milk,  and  blood,  and  wyn  ; 
Eek  Palamon,  with  fnl  greet  companye  ; 
And  after  that  cam  woful  Emelye,  2910 
With  i'yr  in  honde,  as  was  that  tyme  the 

To  do  th'office  of  fvineral  ser\'j-se. 

Heigh  labour,  and  fulgreet  apparaillinge 
Was  at  the  service  and  the  fjT-makinge, 
Tliat  with  his  grene  top  the  heven  raiTghte, 
And  twenty  fadme  of  brede  the  armes 

straughte ;  2916 

This  is  to  seyn,  the  bowes  were  so  brode. 
Of  stree  first  ther  was  leyd  ful  many  a 

lodo.  (2060) 

But  how  the  fyr  was  maked  up  on  highte. 
And  eek  the  names  how  the  trees  highte, 
As   ook,    firre,    birch,    asp,    alder,    holm, 

popler,  2921 

Wilow,   elm,   plane,  ash,   box,   chasteyn, 

lind,  laurer, 
Mapiil,  thorn,  beech,  hasel,  ew,  whippel- 

tree. 
How  they  weren  feld,  shal  nat  lie  told  for 

me  ; 
Ne  how  the  goddes  ronnen  up  and  doun. 
Disherited  of  hir  habitacioun,  2926 

In  which  they  woneden  in  reste  and  pees, 
Nymphes,  Faunes,  and  Amadrides  ;  (2070) 
Ne  how  the  bostes  and  the  briddes  alle 
Fledden  for  fere,  whan  the  wodewasfalle  ; 
Ne  how  the  ground  agast  was  of  the  light. 
That  wasnat  wont  to  seen  the  sonnebright; 
Ne  how  the  fyr  was  couched  first  with  stree. 
And  than  with  drye  stokkescloven  athree. 
And  than  with  grene  wode  and  spyceryo. 
And  than  with  cloth  of  gold  and  with 

perrye,  2936 

And   gerlandes   hanging  with  ful  many 

a  flour. 
The   mirre,    th'encens,   with  al  so  greet 

odoxir ; 
Ne  how  Arcite  lay  among  al  this,      (2081) 
Ne  what  richesse  aboute  his  body  is  ;  2940 


Ne  how  that  Emelye,  as  was  the  gyse, 

Putte  in  the  fjT  of  funeral  servyse  ; 

Ne  how  she  swowned  whan  men  made  the 

fyr, 

Ne  what  she  spak,  ne  what  was  hir  desyr ; 
Ne  what  jeweles  men  in  the  fyr  tho  caste. 
Whan  that  the  fyr  was  greet  and  brente 

faste ;  2946 

Ne  how  som  caste  hir  sheeld,  and  som  hir 

spere. 
And  of  hir  vestiments,  whiche  that  they 

were,  (20Q0) 

And  cuppes  ful  of  wyn,  and  milk,   and 

blood, 
Into  the  fjT,  that  brente  as  it  were  wood  ; 
Ne  how  the  Grekos  witli  an  huge  route 
Thi-yt-s  riden  al  the  fyr  aboute  2952 

Up-on  the  left  hand,  witli  a  loud  shoutinge. 
And  thryes  with  hir  speres  clateringe  ; 
Andthryeshowtheladiesgonnecryc ;  2955 
Ne  how  that  lad  was  hom-ward  Emelj'e  ; 
Ne  how  Arcite  is  brent  to  asshen  colde ; 
Nehowthatliche-wake  was  y-holde  (2100) 
Al  thilke  night,  ne  how  the  Grekes  pleye 
The  wake-pleyes,  ne  kepe  I  nat  to  seyo ;  2960 
Who   wrastleth   best   naked,    with    oille 

enoynt, 
Ne  who  that  bar  him  best,  in  no  disjoynt. 
I  wol  nat  tellen  eek  how  that  they  goon 
Hoom  til  Athenes,  whan  the  pley  is  doon  ; 
But  shortly  to  the  poynt  than  wol  I  wende. 
And  maken  of  my  longe  tale  an  cndc.  2966 
By  processe  and  by  lengthe  of  certejn^ 

yeres 
Al  stinted  is  the  moorning  and  tho  teres. 
Of  Grekes,  by  oon  general  assent,      (2111) 
Than  semed  me  ther  was  a  parlement  2970 
At  Athenes,  up-on  certeyn  poyntsand  cas; 
Among  the  whiche  pojmts  y-spoken  was 
To  have  with  certeyn  contrees  alliaunce, 
And  have  fully  of  Thebans  obeisaunce. 
For  which  this  noble  Theseus  anon     2075 
Leet  senden  after  gentil  Palamon, 
Unwist  of  him  what  was  the  cause  and 

why ; 
But  in  his  blake  clothes  sorwefully  (2120) 
He  cam  at  his  comaundemcnte  in  hye. 
Tho  sente  Theseixs  for  Emelye.  29^0 

Wlian  they  were  set,  and  bust  was  al  the 

place, 
And  Theseus  abiden  hadde  a  space 


45C 


Z^t  %M^e)U6  Zak. 


[t.  2985-3068. 


Er  any  word  cum  from  his  wyse  brest, 
His  eyen  sette  he  ther  as  was  his  lest, 
And  with  a  sad  visage  he  syked  stille,    2985 
And  after  that  right  thus  he  seyde  his  wille. 
'  The  firste  moevere  of  the  cause  above, 
Whan  he  first  made  the  faire  cheyne  of 

love,  (2130) 

Greet  was  th'effect,  and    heigh  was  his 

entente  ; 
Wei  wiste  he  why,  and  what  ther-of  he 

mente ;  2990 

For  with  that  faire  cheyne  of  love  he  bond 
The  fyr,   the    eyr,   the   water,   and    the 

lond 
In  certej-n  boundes,  that  they  may  nat  flee ; 
That  same  prince  and  that  moevere,' quod 

he, 
'  Hath  stablissed,  in  this  wrecched  world 

adoun,  2995 

Certeyno  dayes  and  duracioun 
To  al  that  is  engendred  in  this  place,  (2139) 
Over  the  whiche  day  they  may  nat  pace, 
Al  mowe  tliey  yet  tho  dayes  wel  abregge  ; 
Ther  needeth  non  auctoritee  allegge,    3000 
For  it  is  preved  by  experience, 
But  that  me  list  dedaren  my  sentence. 
Than  may  men  by  this  ordre  wel  disceme, 
That  thilke  moevere  stable  is  and  eteme. 
Wel  may  men  knowe,  but  it  be  a  fool,  3005 
That  every  part  deryvcth  from  his  hool. 
For  nature  hath  nat  take  his  beginning 
Of  no  party  no  cantel  of  a  thing,        (2150) 
But  of  a  thing  that  parfit  is  and  stable, 
Descending  so,  til  it  be  corrumpable.   3010 
And  therfore,  of  his  wyse  purveyaunce, 
He  hath  so  wel  biset  his  ordinaunce, 
That  speces  of  thinges  and  progressiouns 
Shullen  enduren  by  successiouns, 
And  nat  eteme  be,  with-oute  lye  :        3015 
This  maistow  understonde  and  seen  at  y6. 
'  Lo  the  00k,  that  hath  so  long  a  noris- 
shinge 
From  tyme  that  it  first  biginneth  springe, 
A  nd  hath  so  long  a  lyf,  as  we  may  see,  (2161) 
Yet  at  the  laste  wasted  is  the  tree.       3020 
'  Considereth  eek,  how  that  the  harde 
stoon 
Under  our  feet,  on  which  we  trede  and 

goon, 
Yit  wasteth  it,  as  it  lyth  by  the  weye. 
The  brode  river  somtyme  wexeth  dreye. 


Tlio  grote  tonnes  sec  we  wane  and  wende. 
Than  may  ye  see  that  al  this  thing  hath 

ende.  3026 

'  Of  man  and  womman  seen  wo  wel  also, 

That  nedeth,  in  oon  of  thise  termes  two, 

This  is  to  seyn,  in  yout  he  or  elles  age,  (2 1 7 1 ) 

He  moot  ben  deed,  the  king  as   shal  a 

page ;  3030 

Som  in  his  bed,  som  in  the  depe  see, 
Som  in  the  large  feeld,  as  men  may  se ; 
Ther  helpeth  noght,  al  gotii  tlint  ilke  weye. 
Thanne  may  I  seyn  that  al  this  thing  moot 

deye.  3034 

What  maketh  this  but  Jupiter  the  king? 
The  which  is  prince  and  cause  of  alle  thing, 
Converting  al  un-to  his  propre  welle. 
From  which  it  is  deryved,  sooth  to  telle. 
And  here-agayns  nocreature  on  lyve  (2181) 
Of  no  degree  availleth  for  to  stry  ve.    3040 
'  Thanne  is  it  wisdom,  as  it  thinketh  me, 
To  maken  vertu  of  necessitee, 
And  take  it  wel,  that  wo  may  nat  eschue, 
And  namely  that  to  us  alle  is  due. 
And  who-so  gruccheth   ought,  he  dooth 

folye,  3045 

And  rebel  is  to  him  that  al  may  gye. 
And  certeinly  a  man  hath  most  honour 
To  dyen  in  his  excellence  and  flour,  (2190) 
Wlian  he  is  siker  of  his  gode  name  ; 
Than  hath  he  doon  hisfreend,  ne  him,  no 

shame.  305<j 

And  gladder  oghte  his  frcond  ben  of  his 

deeth, 
Whan  with  honour  \ip-yoldcn  is  his  breeth, 
Than  whan  his  name  apalled  is  for  age  ; 
For  al  forgeten  is  his  vasselage. 
Than  is  it  best,  as  for  a  worthy  fame,   3055 
To  dyen  whan  that  he  is  best  of  name. 
The  contrarie  of  al  this  is  wUfulnesse. 
W'hy  grucchen  we?  why  have  we  hevi- 

nesse,  (2200) 

That  good  Arcite,  of  chivalrye  flour 
Departed  is,  with  duetee  and  honour,  3060 
Out  of  this  foule  prison  of  this  lyf? 
Why  grucchen  heer  his  cosin  and  his  wyf 
Of  his  wel-fare  that  loved  hem  so  weel  ? 
Can  he  hem  thank  ?  nay,  God  wot,  never 

a  deel, 
That  bothe  his  soule  and  eek   hem-self 

oflfende,  3<'65 

And  yet  they  mowe  hir  lustes  nat  amende. 


T.  3069-31  2S.] 


A. 


ZU  QUiffetT'e  (profogue. 


457 


'  What  may  I  conclude  of  this  longe  serie, 
But,  after  wo,  I  rede  us  to  be  merie,  (2210) 
And  thanken  Jupiter  of  al  his  grace  ? 
And,    er    that   we    departen    from    this 

place,  3070 

I  redo  that  we  make,  of  sorwes  two, 
O  parfyt  joye,  lasting  ever-mo  ; 
And  loketh  now,  wher  most  sorwe  is  her- 

inne, 
Ther  wol  we  first  amenden  and  biginne. 

'  Suster,'  quod  he,  '  this  is  my  fulle  assent. 
With  alth'avysheerofmyparlement,  3076 
That  gentil  Palamon,  your  owne  knight. 
That  serveth  yow  with  wille,  herte,  and 

might,  (2220) 

And  ever  hath  doon,  sin  that  ye  first  him 

Icnewe,  3079 

That  ye  shul,  of  your  grace,  up-on  him  rewe. 
And  taken  him  for  hoiisbonde  and  for 

lord: 
Leen  me  yourhond,  for  this  is  our  acord. 
Lat  see  now  of  your  wommanly  pitee. 
He  is  a  kingcs  brother  sone,  pardee ; 
And,  though  he  were  a  povre  bacheler,  3085 
Sin  he  hath  served  yow  so  many  a  yeer. 


And  had  for  yow  so  greet  adversitee, 

It  moste  been  considered,  leveth  me ;  (2230) 

For  gentil  mercy  oghte  to  passen  right.' 

Than  seyde  he  thus  to  Palamon  fill  right  ; 
'  I  trowe  ther  nedetli  litel  sermonmg  3091 
To  make  yow  assente  to  this  thing. 
Com  neer,  and  tak  j'oiir  lady  by  the  bond.' 
Bitwixen  hem  was  maad  anon  the  bond, 
That  highte  matrimoine  or  mariage,  3095 
By  al  the  counseil  and  the  baronage. 
And  thus  with  alle  blisse  and  melodyo 
Hath  Palamon  y-wedded  Emelye.      (2240) 
And  God,  that  al  this  wyde  world  hath 

wroght, 
Sende  him  his   love,   that   hath   it   dere 

a-boght.  3 100 

For  now  is  Palamon  in  alle  wele. 
Living  in  blisse,  in  richesse,  and  in  hele  ; 
And  Emelye  him  loveth  so  tendi'ely, 
And  he  hir  serveth  al-so  gentilly. 
That  never  was  ther  no  word  hem  bitwene 
Of  jelovisye,  or  any  other  tene.  3106 

Thvis  endeth  Palamon  and  Emelye  ; 
And  God  save  al  this  faire  companye  ! — 

Amen.  (-2250) 


Here  is  ended  the  Knightes  Tale. 


THE     MILLER'S     PROLOGUE. 


Here  folwen  the  wordes  bitwene  the  Host  and  the  Millere. 


Whan  that  the  Knight  had  thus  his  tale 

y-told. 
In  al  the  route  nas  ther  yong  ne  old   31 10 
That  he  no  seyde  it  was  a  noble  storie, 
And  worthy  for  to  drawen  to  memorie  ; 
And  namely  the  gentils  everichoon. 
Our  Hoste  lough  and  swoor, '  so  moot  I  goon. 
This  gooth  aright  ;  unbokeledisthemale  ; 
Lat  see  now  who  shal  telle  another  tale  : 
For  trewely,  the  game  is  wel  bigonne.  3117 
Now  telleth  ye,  sir  Monk,  if  that  yo  conne, 
Q 


Siimwhat,    to   quyte  with    the    Knightes 
tale.'  (11) 

The     Miller,    that    for-dronken     was    al 
pale,  3120 

So  that  unnethe  up-on  his  hors  he  sat. 
He  nolde  avalen  neither  hood  ne  hat, 
Ne  abyde  no  man  for  his  curteisye. 
But  in  Pilates  vols  he  gan  to  crye. 
And  swoor  by  armes  and  by  blood  and 
bones,  3125 

'  I  can  a  noble  tale  for  the  nones, 

3 


458 


A.    ZH  (pUffer'e  ^rofogue.  [t.  3129-3186. 


AVit}i  which  I  wol  now  qnj-to  the  Kniglitcs 

tale.' 
Our  Hoste  sau^^h  thiit  he  was  dronkoof 

ale,  (jo) 

Andsoyde  :  'iihyd,  Kol)in,niyleve brother, 

Sum  bcttrc  mail  shal  telle  us  first  another : 

Abyd,  and  lat  us  werken  thriitily.'       3131 

'By  goddes  soul,'  quod  ho,  'that  wol 

nat  I  ; 
For  I  wol  8i>ekc,  or  elles  go  my  way.' 
Our    Hoste   answerde  :    '  t«l  on,  a  dovel 

wey ! 
Thou  art  a  fool,  thy  wit  is  overcome.' 3 135 
'  Kow  horkneth,'  (jnod  the  Miller,  'alio 

and  some ! 
lint  first  I  make  a  protestacioun 
Tliiit   I   am  dronke,   I  knowo   it   by  my 

soun  ;  (31)) 

Anil  thorfore,  if  that  I  missi>ekQ  or  scye, 
■\Vj-te    it   the   alo   of  Sonthwork,    I   yow 

preyo;  3140 

For  I  wol  telle  a  log<>n<lo  ami  a  lyf 
Botho  of  a  t'arpentcr,  and  of  his  wyf, 
How  that  a  •■lerk  huth  sot  the  wrightes 

cappe.' 
The  Rcveanswonloanilsoj-dp,  'stint thy 

clappe, 
Tjit  lie  fliy  lowed  dmnkon  harlotryo.  3145 
It  is  a  sinne  and  eok  a  greet  folyo 
To  ajioircn  any  man,  or  him  difTame, 
And    eek   to    bri'ngen   wyves    in    swich 

fame.  (40) 

Tliou   maj-st   y-nogh    of    othere    thingos 

sej-n.' 
Tills  dronken  Miller  sjiakfulsoneageyn, 
Anil  seyde,  '  lovo  brother  Osewold,       3151 
Who  hath  no  wj-f,  he  is  no  cokewold. 
But  I  sey  nat  therfore  that  thou  art  oon  ; 
Ther  been  ful  godc  wj'\e8  many  oon, 


f  .\nil   ever  a  thousand  gixlo  aycyns  oon 

Imdde,  3155 

tThat  knowestow  wcl  thy-solf,  but-if  thou 

maddc. 
Why  artow  angrj-  with  my  tiilo  now? 
I  have  a  wyf,  pardee,  as  well  as  thou,  (511) 
Yet  nolde  I,  for  tho  o.\en  in  my  plogh. 
Taken  ujvon  mo  more  than  y-nogh,    3i6«j 
As  demon  of  my-self  that  I  wore  oon  ; 
I  w<d  beleve  wel  that  I  am  noon. 
An  housbond  shal  nat  boon  imjuisitif 
Of  giHldes  jirivetee,  nor  of  his  wyf. 
So  he  may  findo  ginldes  foysoii  there,  3165 
Of  tho  remenant  nedeth  nat  omiuero.' 
What    sholile    I    nioro   seyn,    but    this 

Millero 
He  nolde  his  wordcs  for  no  man  forljcre,  {U)) 
But  t*>ldo  his  cherlos  tale  in  his  mauero  ; 
Me  thinketh  that  I  shal  roherco  it  hero.  3 1 70 
And     thor-fore     every     gontil     wight    I 

preyo, 
For  gTMldos  love,  dometh  nat  that  I  soyo 
f)f  ovel  entente,  but  that  I  moot  roherco 
Hir  tale*  alle,  lio  they  bettre  or  worse. 
Or  olios  faUcn  som  of  my  matero.         3175 
.\nil  therforo,  who-«<j  liiit  it  nat  y-horo, 
Tumo  over  the  leef,  and  chese  another 

tale;  (69) 

Ffir  ho  shal  finde  y-nowo,  groto  and  smale, 
Of  storial  thing  that  toucheth  gcntillesse, 
And  eek  nioralitoo  and  holincsse  ;        3180 
Blameth  nat  mo  if  that  ye  chcso  amis. 
Tho    Miller    is   a   cherl,   yo    knowo    wel 

this; 
So  was  the  Revc,  and  othere  many  mo, 
And  harlotr>-e  thoy  tolden  Iwtho  two. 
A\-j'wth  yow  anil  imtto  me  out  of  blame; 
And  00k  men  shal   nat   make  omest   of 

game.  (78)  3186 


Here  endelh  the  prologe. 


3187-3260.] 


ZU  (Wlifferee  ^afe. 


459 


THE    MILLERES    TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Millere  his  tale. 


WiiYLOM  ther  was  dwcllinge  at  Oxenford 
A  riche  grnof,  that  gpstos  heeld  to  bord, 
And  of  his  craft  he  was  a  Carpenter. 
With  him  ther  was   dwelliuge  a  povre 
scoler,  3190 

Had  lemed  art,  but  al  his  fantasye 
Was  turned  for  to  leme  astrologj-e, 
And  coiide  a  certeyn  of  conclusiouns 
To  demon  by  intcrrogacionns, 
Ifthat  men  axed  him  in  ccrteinhoures,  3195 
Whan  that  men  sholde  have  droghte  or 
dies  shoures,  ( 10) 

Or  if  men  axed  him  what  sholde  bifalle 
Of  every  thing,  I  maj-  nat  rekene  hem  alle. 

This  clerk  was  deped  hcnde  Nicholas ; 
Of  deme  love  he  coude  and  of  solas  ;  3200 
And  ther-to  he  was  sleigh  and  ful  privee, 
And  lyk  a  mayden  meke  for  to  see. 
A  chambre  hadde  he  in  that  hostelrye 
Allone,  with-outen  any  companye, 
Fulfetislyy-dight  with  herbes  swote  ;  3205 
And  he  him-self  as  swcte  as  is  the  rote  (20) 
Of  licorj's,  or  any  cotewale. 
His  Almageste  and  bokes  grete  and  smale, 
His  astrelabie,  longinge  for  his  art, 
His  angrim-stones  layen  faire  a-part   3210 
On  shelves  couched  at  his  bcddes  heed  : 
His  presse  y-covered  with  a  falding  reed. 
And  al  above  ther  lay  a  gay  sautrye, 
On  which  ho  made  a  nightes  melodye 
So  swetely,  that  al  the  chambre  rong  ;  3215 
And  AtKjelus  ad  virginem  he  song  ;         (30) 
And  after  that  he  song  the  kinges  note  ; 
Ful  otten  blessed  was  his  mory  throte. 
And  thus  this  swete  clerk  his  tjTne  spente 
After  his  freendes  finding  and  his  rente. 

This  Carpenter  had  wedded  newe  a  wyf 
Which  that  he  lovede  more  than  his  lyf ; 
Of  eightetene  yeer  she  was  of  age. 
Jalous  he  was,  and  heeld  hir  narwe  in  cage, 
Q 


For  she  was  wilde  and  yong,  and  he  was 

old,  (39)  3--5 

And  demed  him-self  ben  lyk  a  cokewold. 
He  knew  nat  Catoun,  for  his  wit  was  rude, 
That  bad  man  sholde  weddehis  similitude. 
Men  sholde  wedden  after  hir  estaat. 
For  youthe  andeldeisoftenatdebaat.  3230 
But  sith  that  ho  was  fallen  in  the  snare. 
He  moste  endure,  as  other  folk,  his  care. 
Fair  was  thisyongo  wyf,  and  ther-with-al 
As  any  wesele  hir  body  gent  and  smal. 
A  ceynt  she  werede  barred  al  of  silk,  3235 
A  barmclooth  cek  as  whj^;  as  mome  milk 
Vp-on  hir  lendes,  ful  of  many  a  gore.    (51) 
Wh^-t  was  hir  smok  andbroudedalbifore 
And  eek  bihinde,  on  hir  color  aboute. 
Of  col-blak  silk,  with-inne  and  eek  with- 

oute.  324" 

The  tapes  of  hir  whyte  voluper 
Were  of  the  same  suyte  of  hir  color  ; 
Hir  fllet  brood  of  silk,  and  set  ful  hye  : 
And  sikerly  she  hadde  a  likerous  y{5.  3244 
Ful  smale  y-puUed  were  hir  browes  two, 
And  tho  were   bent,  and  blake  as  any 

sloo.  (<><>. 

She  was  ful  more  blisful  on  to  see 
Than  is  tho  newe  pero-jonetto  tree  ;  3248 
And  softer  than  the  woUe  is  of  a  wether. 
And  by  hir  girdel  hecng  a  purs  of  lether 
Tasseld  with  silk,  and  period  with  latoun. 
In  al  this  world,  to  seken  up  and  doun. 
There  nis  no  man   so  wys,   that  coudo 

thenche 
So  gay  a  popelote,  or  swich  a  wenche.  3254 
Ful  brighter  was  the  shjTiing  of  hir  hewe 
Than  in  tho  tour  the  noble  y-forgcd  newe. 
But  of  hir  song,  it  was  as  loude  and  yemc 
As  any  swalwe  sittingo  on  a  borne.  (72) 
Ther-to  she  coude  skippo  and  make  game. 
As  any  kide  or  calf  folwinge  his  dame.  3260 

5 


460 


A.    e^e  Qlltffme  ^afc. 


[t.  iiOi-ii^?. 


Hir  mouth   was  8wet«   its  bragot  <>r  the 

mceth, 
Or  hord  of  apples  leyd  in  hey  or  hoetb. 
Whisinge  she  was,  as  is  a  joly  colt, 
I/ong  as  a  mast,  and  upright  as  a  lx>lt. 
A  broo<'h she  Ijaar up-on  h ir lowe ooler,  3265 
As  brood  as  is  the  bos  of  a  Ixxler.  (Soi 

Hir  shoes  were  laood  on  hir  legges  hyc  ; 
She  was  a  i)r}nncr<>le,  a  pigges-nyo 
For  any  lord  to  Icggcn  in  his  lioddo, 
Or  yet  for  any  gooil  yenian  to  wedde.  3i7»> 

Now  sire,  and  oft  sire,  so  bifel  the  cas, 
That  on  a  day  this  hcndo  Nicholas 
I'il  with  this  yongo  wyf  to  rage  and  ploye, 
Whyl  that  hir  honslwind  was  at  Osonoyo, 
As  clerkes  bon  ful  subtile  and  ful  quej-nto  ; 
And  prively  ho  cnughte  hirby  tin-  ijuejaite, 
And  seydo,   'y-wis,  but    if  ich   have    my 

willo,  (iji)  3^77 

For  dcrno  love  of  thee,  lemman,  I  spille.* 
And  hoeld  hir  harde  by  the  hauncho- bones. 
And  seydo,  'lemman,  love  mo  al  at-one«, 
Or  I  wol  dyen,  also  gml  me  save  ! '  yiHi 
And  she  sprong  as  a  colt  iloth  in  the  travo, 
Anil  with  hir  heed  she  wrj-cd  fasto  awoy, 
And84'vdo,  •  I  wol  nat  kisse  thee,  by  my  fey, 
Why,  lat  be,'  <jno<l  she,  '  lat  lie,  Nicholas, 
Or  I  wol  crj-o  out  "harrow"  anil  "alias." 
IV)  wey  your  handes  for  your  curteisye  '. ' 

This  Nicholas  gan  mercy  for  to  crje. 
.\nd  spak  so  fairo,  and  )>rofred  hir  so  faste. 
That   she    hir    love    him    granntod    atto 

lasto,  (104)  3^90 

And  swoor  hir  ooth,  by  scint  Thomas  of 

Kent, 
That  she  wol  been  at  his  comandement, 
Wlian  that  sho  may  hir  loj-ser  wel  ospyc 
'  Myn  honsbontl  is  -so  ful  of  jalonsye. 
That  but  yo  waj-te  wel  and  boon  privoo,  3^05 
I  woot  right  wel  I  nam  but  deed,'  quod  sho. 
'  Yo  mosto  l>een  ful  demo,  as  in  this  cas.' 
'  Nay  ther-of  caro   thee   noght,'   quod 

Nicholas,  (iii) 

'  A  clerk  had  lithorly  biset  his  whyle, 
Bat-if  he  conde  a  carpenter  bigylo.'  3300 
And  thus  they  been  acorded  and  y-swom 
To  wayte  a  tyme,  as  I  have  told  bifom. 
Whan  Nicholas  had  doon  thus  cverydeel. 
And  thakkcd  hir  abonte  the  lendes  weel. 
Ho  kist  hirswote.  and  taketh  hissautrye. 
And  pleyeth  faste,  and  maketh  melodye. 


Thau   fll   it  thus,   that  to  tlio  parish- 

chircho,  (ui) 

Cristes  owno  werkos  for  to  wircho. 
This  go*lo  wyf  wont«  on  an  haliday  ; 
Hir  forhoodshoon  as  bright  OS  any  <lay,  3310 
S<)  was  it  wasshen  whan  sho  loot  hir  work. 
Now  was  ther  of  that  chircho  a  jjarish- 

clork. 
The  which  that  was  y-clepo<l  Alwolon. 
Crul  was  his  heor,  and  as  the  gold  it  shoon, 
And  strouted  as  a  fanne  largo  and  brodu  ; 
Put  stroight  and  even  lay  )iis  joly  shodo. 
His  rodo  was  reed,  his  oyeu  groyo  as  gnoa ; 
With  Powlos  window  corvon  on  his  shoos. 
In  hoses  retlo  he  wento  fotisly.  (133) 

Y-<-lad  ho  was  ful  smal  and  proproly,  33^11 
.\1  in  a  kirtol  of  a  light  wachet  ; 
Kul  fairo  ond  thikko  l>ocn  the  ]io\-nt4>s8et. 
And  thor-ui>-on  ho  hadde  a  gay  surjilys 
An  whyt  as  is  the  blosmo  u|Hon  the  rys. 
A  merj'  child  ho  was,  so  g<Ml  mo  wive,  3325 
Wel  coudo  ho  latcn  blood  and  clipi>o  and 

shave,  (14") 

.\nd  makoachartrooflond  orar(|iiitaunce. 
In   twenty  niancro  coudo  ho  tripiM)  and 

dnunco 
.\flor  the  8C0I0  of  Oxonfordo  tho, 
.\nd  with  his  logger  casten  to  and  fro,  3330 
.-Vnd  ployen  songes  on  a  small  nibiblc ; 
Ther-to  he  song  som-tymo  a  loud  quiniblo ; 
And  as  wel  conde  ho  jiloyo  on  his  gitome. 
In  al  tho  toun  nas  brewhous  no  tavemo 
Tliat  ho  uc  visitc<l  with  his  solos,         3335 
Ther  any  gaylard  toppestero  was.        (i,S'>) 
But  sooth  tosoj-n,he  wassomdcl  s<iuaymous 
Of  farting,  and  of  specho  danng^rous. 

This  Aljsolon,  that  jolif  was  and  gay, 
Oooth  with  a  sonccr  on  the  halidaj',  3340 
Sensinge  the  wyves  of  the  parish  faste  ; 
.\nd  many  a  lovely  look  on  hem  ho  caste, 
And  namely  on  this  carjR-ntcres  wyf. 
To  loko  on  hir  him  thoughte  a  mery  lyf, 
.She  was  so  pn>pro  and  sweto  and  likerons. , 
I  dar  wel  sojti,  if  she  had  bcenamous,  (i6o) 
And  ho  a  cat,  ho  wolde  hir  hente  anon. 

This  pariah-olerk,  this  joly  Absolon, 
Hath  in  his  herte  swich  a  love-longinge, 
That  of  no  wyf  ne  took  he  noon  offringe  ; 
For  curteisj-e,  he  seyde,  he  woldc  noon. 
The  mono,  whan  it  was  night,  ful  brighte 

shoon,  335i 


T.  3353-3434-] 


ZU  QUifferee  Zak. 


461 


And  Absolon  his  giteme  hath  y-takc, 
For  paramours,  he  thoglitc  for  to  wake. 
And  forth  hegooth,  jolifandamorous,  3,555 
Til  }ie  cam  to  the  carpenteres  hous     (i;o) 
A  litel  after  cokkes  liadde  y-crowe ; 
And  dressed  him  up  by  a  shot-windowe 
That  was  up-on  the  carpenteres  wal. 
He  singeth  in  his  vois  gentil  and  smal, 
'  Now,  dere  lady,  if  thy  wille  be,  3361 

I  preye  yow  that  yo  wol  rewe  on  me,' 
Ful  wel  acordaunt  to  his  giterninge. 
This   carpenter   awook,   and   herde   him 

singe. 
And    spak    un-to    his     wyf,    and     seydo 

anon,  33'>5 

'  What !  Alison  !   lierestow  nat  Absolon 
That  channteth  thus  under  our  boures 

wal?'  (181) 

And   she   answerdo  hir   housbond   ther- 

with-al, 
'  Yis,  god  wot,  John,  I  here  it  everj--del.' 
This  passeth  forth  ;    what  wol  ye  bet 

than  wol  ?  3370 

Fro  day  to  day  this  joly  Absolon 
So  woweth  hir,  that  him  is  wo  bigon. 
He  wakcth  al  the  night  and  al  the  day; 
He  kempte  hiso  lokkes  brode,  and  made 

him  gay ;  ,,74 

Ho  woweth  hir  by  raencs  and  brocage, 
And    swoor    ho    wolde    been    hir    owne 

page;  (,90) 

He  singeth,  brokkingo  as  a  nightingale  ; 
He  sentc  hir  piment,  meeth,  and  spyced 

ale, 
And  wafrcs,  pyping  hote  out  of  the  gledo ; 
And    for  she   was   of  toune,   he  profred 

mede.  ,,8,, 

For  som  folk  wol  ben  wonnen  for  richesse, 
And  som  for  strokes,  and  som  for  gentil- 

lesse. 
Somtyme,  to  shewo  his  lightnesso  and 

maistryc, 
He  pleyeth  Herodes  on  a  scaffold  hye. 
I$nt  what  availleth  him  as  in  this  cas?  3385 
She  loveth  so  this  hende  Nicholas,      (2011) 
That  Absolon  may  blowe  the  bukkes  horn ; 
Ho  no  liaddo  for  his  labour  but  a  scorn  ; 
And  thus  she  maketh  Absolon  hir  ape. 
And  al  his  erncst  turncth  til  a  jape.    3390 
Ful  sooth  is  this  proverbe,  it  is  no  lye, 
Men  sejTi  right  thus,  '  alwey  the  nyo  slyc 


Maketh  the  ferre  love  to  be  looth.' 
For  though   that    Absolon    be   wood    or 
wrooth,  ^^,,4 

By-cause  that  ho  fer  was  from  hir  sight*, 
This  nyo  Nicholas  stood  in  his  light*.  (210) 
Now  bero  thee  wol,  thou  hende  Nicho- 
las! 
For  Absolon  may  waille  and  singe  '  alias.' 
And  so  bifol  it  on  a  Satcrday, 
This  carpenter  was  goon  til  Osenay;  3400 
And  hende  Nicholas  and  Alisoun 
Acorded  been  to  this  conelusioun. 
That  Nicholas  shal  shapen  him  a  wyle 
This  selj'  jalous  housbond  to  bigj'le  ; 
And  if  so  bo  the  game  wente  aright,  3405 
She  sholde  slepen  in  his  arm  al  night. 
For  this  was  his  desjT  and  hir  also.    (2J1) 
And  right  anon,  with-outen  wordes  mo. 
This  Nicholas  no  longer  wolde  tarie, 
But   doth   ful   softo   un-to  his   chambro 
carie  ,4,^ 

Bothe   mete   and   drinko    for    a  day  or 

tweye. 
And  to  hir  housbondo  bad  hir  for  to  soye. 
If  that  he  axed  after  Nicholas, 
She  sholde  soye  she  nisto  where  ho  was. 
Of  al  that  day  she  saugh  him  nat  with  yii ; 
She  trowed  that  ho  w;is  in  maladyo,  (230) 
For,  for  no  crj-,  hir  mayde   coude   him 


callo ; 


H'7 


He    nolde    answero,    for   no-thing    tliat 

mighte  falle. 

This  pnssoth  forth  al  tliilke  Satcrday, 

That  Nicholas  stillc  in  his  chambro  lay, 

And  ect   and   sloop,   or   dido  what   hii 


lesto. 


3421 


Til  Sbnday,  that  the  sonne  gooth  to  reste. 

Tliis  scly  carpenter  hath  greet  morveyle 
Of  Nich<das,  or  what  thing  mighte  him 
oyle,  3424 

And  seydo,  '  I  am  adrad,  by  seint  Thomas, 
It  stondeth  nat  aright  with  Nicholas.  (240) 
God  shildo  that  ho  deyde  sodcj-nly  ! 
This  world  is  now  ful  tikel,  sikerly ; 
I  saugh  to-day  a  cors  y-bom  to  chircho 
That  now,  on  Monday  last,  I  saugh  him 
wirche.  34,0 

Go  up,'  quod  he  un-to  his  knave  anoon, 
'  Clepe  at  his  dore,  or  knokke  with  a  stoon, 
Loke  how  it  is,  and  tel  me  boldely.' 

Tliis  knave  gooth  him  up  ful  sturdily, 


462 


ZU  QUiffcrce  Zak. 


[t.  3435-.^? io- 


And  at  the  chaml>ro-<loro,  wliyl  that  lie 

stood,  34.15 

He  crj-tle  nnd  knokked  ns  that  he  -wito 

wood  : —  (■'5<>) 

'  What !     how !     what    do    ye,    maister 

Nicholay? 
How  may  ye  slepen  al  the  longe  day?' 

But  al  for  noght,  he  herde  nat  a  word  ; 
An  hole  ho  fond,  ful  lowe  up-on  a  bord, 
Ther  as    the    cat   was  wont    in  for  to 

cropo;  344' 

And  at  that  hole  he  looketl  in  ful  depe, 
And  at  thclastehchadde  of  him  asighte. 
This  Nicholas  sat  piping  ever  up-righte. 
As  ho  had  kykod  on  the  newo  mono.  3445 
Adoun  he  gooth,  and  toldo   his  maister 

Bono  (20«») 

In  what  array  he  sangh  this  ilke  man. 
This  carpenter  to  Messen  him  hignn, 
.\nd  seydc,  '  help  us,  seinte  Fridcswyde  ! 
A  man  wrH)t  litcl  what  him  slml  l>it.vde. 
This  man  is  falle,  with  his  astrom.vo,  3451 
In  som  wofHlnesse  or  in  som  agon.vo  ; 
I  thoghte  ay  wcl  how  that  it  sholde  bo ! 
Men  sholde  nat  knowo  of  gixldes  privetee. 
Ye,  blessed  be  alwoy  a  lowed  man,       .34.S5 
That  noght  but  onl.v  his  bilovo  can  !    (270) 
So  ferdo  am>thor  clerk  with  astromyo  ;     • 
He  walked  in  the  feoldes  for  to  prye 
Up-on  the  storres,  what  ther  sholde  bifalle, 
Til  ho  was  in  a  marle-pit  y-fallo  ;         3460 
He  saugh  nat  that.     But  yet,   by  seint 

Thomas, 
Me  reweth  sore  of  hende  Nicholaa 
He  shal  be  rat«d  of  his  studying, 
If  that  I  may,  by  Jesus,  hevcne  king! 

Get  me  a  staf,  that  I  may  underspore, 
%Nliyl  that  thou,  Bobin,  bevcst   up   the 

doro.  (280)  3466 

Hi-  shal  out  of  his  studying,  as  I  gesso' — 
.\ud   to   the   chambre-dore   be  gan  him 

dresse. 
H  is  knave  was  a  strong  carl  for  the  nones, 
And  by  the  haspe  he  haf  it  up  atones  ; 
In-to  the  floor  the  dore  fil  anon.  3471 

This  Nicholas  sat  ay  as  stille  as  stoon. 
And  ever  gaped  upward  in-to  the  eir. 
This  carpenter  wende  he  were  in  despeir. 
And  hente  him  by  the  sholdres  mightily, 
And   shook  him  harde,  and  cryde  spit- 

ously,  (i9o)  3476 


'  ^\^lllt !    Nicholay!    what,    how!    what! 

loke  adoun  ! 
Awake,  and  thcnk  on  Cristos  passionn  ; 
Icrouchetheofromolvosand  fro  wightes!' 
Ther-with  the  uight-spel  soydo  ho  anon- 
I  rightos  3480 

On  fouro  halves  of  the  hous  aboute, 
And  on  the  threshfold  of  the  dore  with- 
onto  : — 
'  .Tesu  Crist,  and  s^ynt  Bencdight, 
I       BIpsso   this  hous   from   every   wikkod 
wight, 
For   nightes   vcrjo,    tho   white   pater- 
noster.' —  34«5 
i       Wliere  wentestow,  seynt  Petres  soster?' 
And  atte  laste  this  hende  Nichohis     (301) 
Gan  for  to  syko  soro,  and  seydo,  '  alhvs  ! 
Shal  al  the  world  V)o  Uwt  eftsones  now?' 
This       carpenter      answerdc,       'what 
sej-stow  ?                                               34i)() 
\Miat  !   thenk  on  g«Hl,   as  wo  don,   men 
that  swinke.' 
This    Nicholas   answorde,   '  feccho   me 
drinke  ; 
And  after  wol  I  spcko  in  privoteo 
Of  certeyn  thing  that  toucheth  me  ami 
thee ;                                                   34<)4 
I  wol  telle  it  non  other  man,  certeyn.' 
Tliis  carpenter  goth  doun,  and  comtli 
]           agpyn,                                                 f3i<>) 
And  broghte  of  miglity  ale  a  largo  quart ; 
I  And  whan  that  ech  of  hem  had  dronko 
I          his  part, 
Tliis  Nicholas  his  dore  fasto  shette,     3490 
And  doun  tho  carpenter  by  him  he  sette. 
He  seyde,  'John,  myn  hosto  lief  and 
dore, 
Thou  shalt  up-on  thy  trouthe  swore  me 
here, 
.  Tliat  to  no  wight  thou  shalt  this  conseil 
I           wreye  ; 

I  For  it  is  Cristes  conseil  that  I  seye,    3504 

And  if  thou  telle  it  man,  thou  are  forlore  ; 

,  For  this  vengaonce  thou  shalt  han  ther- 

1  fore,  (320) 

That  if  thou  wreye   me,    thou  shalt   be 

!  wf  >od  ! ' 

'  Nay,  Crist  forbede  it,  for  his  holy  blood ! ' 

Quod  tho  this  sely  man,  'I  nam  no  labbe. 

No,    though    I  seye,  I   nam   nat  lief  to 

gabbe.  3510 


T.  3511 


-3584-] 


A.    ZH  QlUffere©  Cafe. 


463 


Sey  what  tliou  wolt,  I  shal  it  never  telle 
To   child  ne  wyf,   by  him  that   harwed 
helle!' 
'  Xow  John,'  quod  Nicholas,  '  I  wol  nat 
lye; 
I  have  y-fonnde  in  myn  astrologye, 
As  I  have  loked  in  the  mone  bright,    3515 
That   now,   a  Monday  next,   at  quarter- 
night,  (330) 
Shal  falle  a  reyn  and  that  so  wilde  and 

wood. 
That  half  so  greet  was  never  Noes  flood. 
This  world,'  he  seyde,  'in  lasse  than  in 

an  hour 

Shal  al  be  dreynt,  so  hidons  is  the  shonr ; 

Thus   shal  mankynde  drenche  and  lose 

hirlj-f.'  3521 

This  carpenter  answerde,  'alias,  my  wyf ! 

And  shal  she  drenche?  alias!  myn  Ali- 

soun! ' 

For  sorwe  of  this  he  fil  almost  adoun. 

And  seyde,  '  is  ther  no  remedie  in  this 

cas?'  3525 

'  Why,    yis,    for    gode,'    quod    hende 

Nicholas,  (340) 

'  If  thou  wolt  werken  after  lore  and  reed ; 

Thou  mayst  nat  werken  after  thyn  owene 

heed. 
For  thus  seith   Salomon,   that   was   ful 

trewe, 
"  Werk  al  by  conseil,  and  thou  shalt  nat 
rewe."  35.?° 

And  if  thou  werken  wolt  by  good  conseil, 
I  undertake,  with-outcn  mast  and  seyl. 
Yet  shal  I  saven  hir  and  thee  and  mo. 
Hastow  nat  herd  how  saved  was  NoS, 
WHian   that  our  lord  had  warned   him 
biforn  3535 

That  al  the  world  with  water  sholde  be 
lorn  ? '  (350) 

'Yis,'  quod   this  carpenter,  'ful  yore 

ago.' 
'  Hastow  nat  herd,'  quod  Nicholas,  '  also 
The  sorwe  of  Nog  with  his  felawshipe,  3539 
Er  tliat  ho  mighte  geto  liis  -svyf  to  shipe? 
Him  had  be  lever,  I  dar  wol  undertake. 
At  thilke  tyme,  than  alle  hise  wetheres 

blake. 
That  she  hadde  had  a  ship  hir-self  allone. 
And  thor-fore.  wostou   what  is  best  to 
done  ?  3544 


This  asketh  haste,  and  of  an  hastif  thing 
Men  may  nat  preche  or  maken  tarying. 

Anon  go  gete  us  faste  in-to  this  in  (361) 
A  kneding-trogh,  or  elles  a  kimelin. 
For  ech    of  us,   but  loke  that  they  be 

large. 
In  whiche  we  mowe  swimme  as  in  a  barge, 
And  han  ther-inne  vitaille  suffisant     3551 
But  for  a  day  ;  fy  on  the  remenant ! 
The  water  shal  aslake  and  goon  away 
A*boute  pryme  up-on  the  nexte  day. 
But   Robin  may   nat  wite   of  this,   thy 
knave,  (369)  3555 

Ne  eek  thy  mayde  Gille  I  may  nat  save  ; 
Axe  nat  why,  for  though  thou  aske  me, 
I  wol  nat  teUen  goddes  privetee. 
Sufhseth  thee,  but  if  thy  wittes  madde. 
To  han  as  greet  a  grace  as  Noe  haddo.  3560 
Thy  wyf  shal  I  wel  saven,  out  of  doute. 
Go  now  thy  wey,  and  speed  thee  heer- 
aboute. 
But  whan  thou  hast,  for  hir  and  thee 
and  me, 
Y-geten  us  thise  kneding-tubbes  three. 
Than  shaltow  hange  hem  in  the  roof  ful 
hye,  3565 

That  no  man  of  our  purveyaunce  spye. 
And  whan  thou  thus  hast  doon  as  I  have 
seyd,  (381) 

And  hast  our  vitaille  fairo  in  hem  y-leyd. 
And  eek  an  ax,  to  smyte  the  corde  atwo 
Wlien   that  the   water  comth,  that  we 
may  go,  3570 

And  broke  an  hole  an  heigh,  up-on  the 

gable. 
Unto  the  gardin-ward,  over  the  stable. 
That  we  may  frely  passen  forth  our  way 
VVhan  that  the  grete  shour  is  goon  away — 
Than  shaltow  swimme  as  myrie,  I  under- 
take, 3575 
As  doth  the  whyte  doke  after  hir  drake. 
Than  wol  I  clepe,  "  how  !  Alison  !  how  ! 
John !                                                    (391) 
Be  myrie,  for  the  flood  wol  passe  anon." 
And    thou    wolt    seyn,    "  hayl,    maister 

Nicholay ! 
Good  morwe,  I  se  thee  wel,  for  it  is  day." 
And  than  shul  we  be  lordes  al  our  lyf  3581 
Of  al  the  world,  as  N06  and  his  ^vyf. 

But  of  o  thyng  I  warne  thee  ful  right. 
Be  wel  avysed,  on  that  iike  night         3584 


464 


A.     ZU  Qlliffcrce  talc. 


[t.  3585-3<»(''^ 


Thftt  wo  ben  entrod  in-to  shippcs  bord, 
That  noon  of  lis  no  spoko  nat  a  word,  (400) 
Ne  clepe,  ne  crj'c,  but  Iwcn  in  hisproyero  ; 
For  it  is  goddos  o^^^le  hcste  dorc. 

Thy   wj-f  and    thou    mot«    hango    fer 

ft-twinnc, 
For  that  bitwixo  yow  shiU  b«  no  sinne 
No  more  in  looking   tlian  tber  sbal   in 

dodo ;  jS«)i 

Tliis  ordinance  is  st'yd,  go,  god  theo  spode! 
Tomorwo  at  night,   whan  men  bon  alle 

iislcpo, 
In-to  our  kneding-tubbcs  wol  we  crepe, 
And  sittcn  thor,  abyding  giMlJos  grace. 

00  now  thy  woy,  I  liavi>  no  longer  8|>aco 
To  make  of  this  no  longer  sermoning.  (41 1) 
Men  soyn  thns,  '•  sond  the  wyse,  and  soy 

no-thing;"  ^5«>8 

Thou  art  so  wys,  it  nodeth  thoo  nat  teche : 
Oo,  save  onr  lyf,  and  that  I  theo  bisvcho.' 
This  soly  carjionter  goth  furth  his  wry. 
Ful  ofte  ho  soith  'ulhis'  and  '  woy  la  woy,' 
And  to  his  wyf  lie  tul.lc  his  privcteo  ; 
And  sho  was  war,  and  know  it  bet  than 

he,  (418.  j|6q4 

What  al  thi8<|ni'yntfca«t  was  lor  to  wyo. 
Hut  nat  hfloos  idio  fordo  as  sho  woldo  di-jf, 
Aiidscydo,  'alias!  p>  forth  thy  woy  anon, 
lli'lp  us  to  (wajic,  or  we  U-n  bwt  ot-bon  ; 

1  am  thy  trowo  vorrny  wcd<lo<l  *yf; 

lio,   doro  spouse,  and   help  to   save   our 
lyf."  3610 

Lo  I  which  a  groot  thyng  is  affeccioun  ! 
Men  may  dyo  of  imoginacionn, 
So  ileiH?  may  imjircssioun  bo  take. 
This  soly  cariMMitor  biginnoth  quake;  3614 
Him  thinkcth  vormily  that  ho  may  see 
Xi>is  fl<KHl  come  walwing  as  the  see   (430) 
To  droncbon  Alisoun,  bis  h.>ny  dort>. 
Ho  wcjiotb,  woylotb,  maketh  sory  chore. 
He  sjketh  with  ful  many  a  sory  swogh. 
He  gooth  and  goteth  him  a  knc<ling-trogh. 
And  after  that  a  tubbo  and  a  kimelin,  3631 
And  prively  ho  soiite  hem  to  his  in, 
.\nd  heng  horn  in  tbo  ro..f  in  privotee. 
His  owne  hand  bo  made  laddres  three. 
To  climbon  by  the  ronges  and  the  stalkes 
In-to  the  tublx-s  hanginge  in  the  balkes, 
.Ajid  hem  vitailled,  Ijothe  trogh  and  tubbo, 
With  brood  and  cbeso,  and  good  ale   in 


Suflysinge  riglit  y-nogh  as  for  a  day. 
But  er  that  ho  hod  niaa4l  al  this  army. 
Ho  sontc  his  knave,  ami  oek  his  wencho 

also.  36,1 

l'l>-on  his  notlo  to  Ixmdon  for  to  go. 
And  on   the   Monday,   whan   it  drow  t.. 

night. 
He  shotto  his  dnre  with-outo  candol-light. 
And  drossotl  al  thing  us  it  sholdo  )m>.  to.V^ 
And  shortly,  up  they  cliimlM<n  alle  three  ; 
They  sitton  stillo  wol  a  furlong-wny.  (4.SI) 
'  Now,  I'attr-nottfr,  clom  !'  aoyde  Nicho- 

In.v, 
.\nd  '  clom,'  quo<l  John,  and  '  clom,'  seyib" 

Alisoun. 
This  cnrpontor  soj-do  his  devocionn,    3*141  ■ 
I  And  stillo  ho  sit,  and  biddoth  bisproyiT^ 
Awajtingw  on  the  royn,  if  be  it  horo. 
The  do<lo  sloop,  for  wor>'  bisinoaso, 
Fil  4in  this  car|>oiit4<r  right,  as  I  geAse, 
.\lM>ut«  corfow-tj-nio,  or  litol  nitire;      3645 
For   tra%-ail    of    bis    gnost    ho    gmneth 

■ore,  (460) 

And  eft  bo  n)ut«th,  ff>r  his  heo<l  mislay. 
I>imn  of  tbo  loddro  stalkoth  Nicholay. 
And  Alisnnn,  ful  soltv  ndoun  she  Ri>odilo; 
^  \Vith-<iuton    wt>nlos    nio,    thoy   giwin    to 

beddo  3650 

Tlier-os  the  cari>enter  is  wont  to  lye. 
Thor  was  the  revel  and  tho  molodyo  ; 
And  thtu  Ij-th  Alison  and  Nicholas, 
In  biHinoASo  of  mirtho  and  <if  N>>liut,      3654 
Til  that  tho  boUo  of  luudos  gim  to  ringc, 
And  freros  in  the  cbauncol  gonno  singe. 
Tliis  )>arisl)-elerk,    this    amorous   Al>- 

■r.lon,  ^71) 

That  is  for  love  alwoy  so  wo  bigon, 
U|>-on  tho  Monday  was  at  (>i<onoye 
With    companye,    him    t«    disportc   and 

I'loyo,  366U 

.\nd  ajte<l  up-on  cas  a  cloisterer 
Ful  privoly  afl«r  .lohn  the  car]>ent«r ; 
And   be  ilrungh  liim  a-iiart  oat   of  tbo 

chirche, 
Ancl  seyde,  '  I  n<x>t,  I  sangh  him  hero  nat 

wirche 
Sin  Saturday;   I  trow  that  he  Ixs  went  i(i(t$ 
For   timber,    thor   our   abbot   hath    him 

sent  ;  (48,,, 

For  he  is  wont  for  timber  for  to  go, 
.\nd  dwollen  at  the  grange  a  day  or  tw.,: 


T-  3669-3742.] 


A.    ZU  (nueecrce  Za^t. 


46; 


Or  elles  he  is  at  his  hous,  certeyn  ;     366<) 
AVhor  that  he  be,  I  can  nat  sothly  seyn.' 

This  Absolon  ful  joly  was  and  light, 
And  thoghte, '  now  is  tyme  wake  al  night ; 
For  sikirly  I  saugh  him  nat  stiringe  367:1 
Aboute  liis  dure  sin  day  bigan  to  springe. 
So  moot  I  thrj'vo,  I  shul,  at  cokkes  crowe, 
Ful  prively  knokken  at  his  windowe  (49«j) 
That  stant  ful  lowe  ui>-on  his  boures  wal. 
To  Alison  now  wol  I  tellen  al 
My    love-longing,    for    yet     I     shal     nat 

misso 
That  at  the  leste  wcy  I  shal  hir  kissc.  3680 
Som  manor  contort  shal  I  have,  parfay, 
My   mouth   hath    icched     al    this    longo 

day  ; 
Tliat  is  a  signe  of  kissing  atte  leste. 
Al  night  mo  mctte  eek,  I  was  at  a  feste. 
Thcrfor   I    wol   gon    sleiKj    an    houro   or 

tweye,  3685 

And  nl  the  night  than  wol  I   wake  and 

ploye.'  (500) 

AVhan  that  the  firste  cok  hath  crowe, 

anon 
Up  rist  this  joly  lover  Absolon, 
And  him  arraycth  gay,  at  point-devys. 
Hut  first  he  cheweth  greyn  and  lycorj's. 
To  BmcUen  swete,  or  he  hud  kcmbd  his 

heer.  3691 

Under  liis  tonge  a  trewe  love  ho  beer, 
For  ther-by  wendo  he  to  ben  gracious. 
He  romcth  to  the  carpentcros  hous. 
And    stille    he    stant    under    tho    shot- 

wiiidowe  ;  (509)  M''}5 

Un-to  his  brest  it  raughte,  it  was  so  lowe  ; 
And  solto  he  cogheth  with  a  scmi-soun — 
'  What  do  ye,  hony-comb,  swete  Alisonn  ? 
My  faire  brid,  my  swete  cinamome, 
Awaketh,  lemman  myn,  and  speketli  to 

mo  !  3700 

Wei  litcl  thenken  ye  np-on  my  wo. 
That  for  your  love  I  swete  ther  I  go. 
Xo  wonder  is  thogh   that  I  swelte  and 

swete  ; 
I  nioomo  as  doth  a  lamb  after  the  tete. 
Y-wis,  lemman,  I  liave  swich  love-long- 

inge,  37<>5 

Tlmt  lyk  a  turtel  trewe  is  my  moominge ; 

I  may  nat  ete  na  more  than  a  mayde.'  (^21) 

'  Go  fro  the  window,   Jakke  fix>l,'  she 

saydc. 


'  As  help  me  god,  it  wol  nat  be  "  com  ba 
me,"  37<)o 

I  love  another,  and  dies  I  were  to  blame, 
WcI  bet  than  thee,  by  Jesu,  Absolon  ! 
Go  forth  thy  wey,  or  I  wol  caste  a  ston, 
And  hit  me  slepe,  a  twenty  devel  wey  ! ' 

'Alias,'  quod  Absolon,  'and  weylaweyl 
That  trewe  love  was  ever  so  j'\'el  biset ! 
Than  kisse  me,  sin  it  may  bo  no  hot,  (530) 
For  Jesus  love  and  for  the  love  of  me.' 
'  Wiltow  than  go  thy  wey  ther- with  ?  ' 

quod  she. 
'  Ye,  certes,   lemman,'   quod   this   Ab- 

sob>n. 
'Thanne   make   thee  rcdy,'  (juo*!  slu\ 
'  I  come  anon  ; '  37J0 

fAnd  un-to  Nicholas  she  seydo  stille, 
f '  Now  bust,  and  thou  shalt  laughen  al 
thy  fillo.' 
This   Absolon    doun   setto  him  on   his 
knees. 
And  seytlc,  '  I  am  a  lord  at  alio  degrees  ; 
For  after  this  I  hope  ther  comcth  more  ! 
Lemman,  thy  grace,  and  swete  brid,  thyn 
ore!'  (540)37^(1 

Tho  window  she  undoth,  and  that  in 
haste, 
'  Have  do,'  qiiod  she,  'com  of,  and  speed 

tliee  faste. 
Lest  that  our  neighebores  thee  espye.' 
This  Absolon  gan  wjpe  his  mouth  ful 
dr>e  ;  3730 

Dork  was  tho  night  as  picli,  or  as  the  cole, 
And  at  the  window  out  she  putte  hir  hole. 
And  Absolon,  him  fil  no  bet  ne  wers, 
But  with  his  mouth  ho  kisto  hir  naked 

ers 

Ful  savonrly,  er  ho  was  war  of  this.     3735 

Abak    ho   sterte,   and   thoghto   it   was 

_     amis,  (550) 

For   wel   ho   wiste  a  womman   hath  no 

herd  ; 

He  felto  a  thing  al  rough  and  long  y-herd. 

And  seyde,  '  fy  !  alias  !  what  have  I  doV 

'Tehee!'    quod    she,    and    cl.ijjte    the 

window  to ;  3740 

And  Absolon  goth  forth  a  sory  pas. 

'A  herd,  a  herd  I '  quod  honde  Nicholas, 
'  By  goddes  corpun,  this  goth  faire   and 
weel ! ' 
This  sely  Absolon  herdo  every  dcci,  3744 


466 


A.    ^^t  (mtffetee  Zak. 


[t-  3743-3820. 


And  on  liis  lippe  he  gan  for  anger  byte  ; 

And  to  him-self  he  seyde,  'I  shal  thee 
quyte  ! '  (560) 

Who  rubbeth  now,  who  froteth  now  his 
lippes 

With  dust,  with  sond,  with  straw,  with 
clooth,  with  chippes, 

But  Absolon,  that  seith  ful  ofte,  '  alias  ! 

My  sonle  bitako  I  un-to  Sathanas,        3750 

But   me   wer   lever   than   al    this  toun,' 
quod  he, 

'  Of  this  dospyt  awroken  for  to  lie  ! 

Alias  ! '  quod  he,  '  alias !   I  ne  hadde  y- 
bleynt!' 

His  hot*  love  was  cold  and  al  y-qneynt ; 

For  fro  that  tyme  that  he  had  kisto  hir 
ers,  3755 

Of  paramours  he  sette  nat  a  kers,        (570) 

For  he  was  helcd  of  his  maladye  ; 

Ful  oftc  paramours  lie  gan  dclfye. 

And  weep  as  dof)th  a  child  that  isy-bete. 

A  softe  paas  he  wente  over  the  streto  .:?76o 

t'n-til  a  smith  men  clepcd  daun  Gerveys, 

That  in  his  forge  smithed  plough-hamej-s ; 

He  sharpoth  shaar  and  culter  bisily. 

This  Absolon  knokketh  al  esily, 

And   seyde,    '  iindo,    Ger\'ey8,    and    that 
anon.'  3765 

'What,   who  artow?'    'It  am   I,  Ab- 
solon.' (580) 

'  What,  Absolon  !  for  Cristes  swete  tree, 

Why  rj-se  ye  so  rathe,  ey,  ben'cite  ! 

VDx&t  eyleth  yow  ?   som  gay  gerl,  god  it 
woot,  3669 

Hath  broght  yow  thus  ujj-on  the  viritoot ; 

By  se.>-nt  Note,  .ve  woot  wel  what  I  mene.' 
This  Absolon  ne  roghte  nat  a  l)ene 

Of  al  his  pley,  no  word  agayn  he  yaf ; 

He  hadde  more  tow  on  his  distaf 

Than  Gerveys  knew,  and  seyde,  '  freend 
so  dere,  (589)  3775 

That  bote  cnltcr  in  the  chimenee  here, 

As  lene  it  me,  I  have  ther-with  to  done, 

And  I  wol  bringe  it  thee  agayn  ful  sone. ' 
Gerveys  answerde,  '  certes,  were  it  gold. 

Or  in  a  poke  nobles  alle  untold,  3780 

Tliou  sholdest  have,  as  I  am  trewe  smith ; 

Ey,   Cristes  foo!    what   wol  j-e   do  ther- 
with  ? ' 
'  Ther-of,'  quod  Absolon,  '  be  as  be  may; 

I  shal  wel  t«lle  it  thee  to-morwe  day ' — 


And   caughte   the    culter   by   the    coldo 

stele.  3785 

Ful  softe  out  at  the  doro  he  gan  to  stele, 
And  wente  un-to  tlie  carpenteres  waL  (601) 
He   coghoth   first,   and   knokketh    ther- 

with-al 
Upon  the  windowe,  right  as  he  dide  er. 

This  Alison  answerde,  '  Wlio  is  ther  3790 

That  knokketh  so?  I  warante  it  a  theef.' 

'WTiy,   nay,'  quod  he,   'god  woot,  my 

swete  leef, 
I  am  thyn  Absolon,  my  dereling ! 
Of  gold,'   quod  he,   '  I  have  thee  broght 

a  ring; 
My  moder  yaf  it  me,  so  god  me  save,  3795 
Ful  fyn  it  is,  and  ther-to  wel  y-grave  ;  (610) 
This  wol  I  yeve  thee,  if  thou  me  kisse  !' 

This  Nicholas  was  risen  for  to  pisse, 
And   thoghte  ho  wolde  amenden  al  the 

jape,  .1799 

Ho  sholde  kis.se  his  ers  er  that  he  scape. 
And  up  the  windowe  dido  he  hastilj-. 
And  out  his  ers  he  puttetli  prively 
Over  the  buttok,  to  the  haunche-bon  ; 
And    ther-with     spak    this    clerk,    this 

Absolon, 
'  Spek,  swete  brid,  I  noot  nat  wher  thou 

art.'  3805 

This  Nicholas  anon  leet  flee  a  fart,  (620) 
As  greet  as  it  had  been  a  thonder-dent. 
That  with    the    strook    he   was  almost 

y-blent ; 
And  he  was  redy  with  his  iren  hoot. 
And  Nicholas  amidde  the  ers  he  smoot. 
Of    gooth    the    skin    an    liande-brede 

aboute,  3811 

The  hote  culter  brende  so  his  toute, 
And  for  the  smert  he  wende  for  to  dye. 
As  he  were  wood,  for  wo  he  gan  to  crye — 
'  Help  !  water !   water  !   help,  for  goddes 

herte!'  3815 

This  carpenter  out  of  his  slomber  sterte. 

And  herde  oon  cryen  '  water '  as  he  were 

wood,  (631) 

And  thoghte,  '  Alias  !  now  comth  Now^lis 

flood ! ' 
He  sit  him  up  with-onten  wordes  mo,  3819 
And  with  his  ax  he  smoot  the  corde  a-two. 
And  dotrn  goth  al ;    he  fond  neither  to 

selle, 
Ne  breed  ne  ale,  til  he  cam  to  the  selle 


T.  382 


A.    ZU  (S^uu*6  (profogue. 


467 


Up-on  the  floor  ;  and  ther  aswowne  he  lay. 

Up  sterte  hir  Alison,  and  Nicholay, 
And  cryden  '  out '  and  '  harrow '   in  the 

strete.  (639)  3825 

The  neighebores,  bothe  smale  and  grete, 
In  ronnen,  for  to  gauren  on  this  man, 
That  yet  aswowne  he  lay,  bothe  pale  and 

wan  ; 
For  with  the  fal  he  brosten  hadde  his 

arm  ; 
But   stonde    he    moste    un-to    his   owne 

harm.  3830 

For  whan   he   spak,  he  was  anon   bore 

doun 
With  hende  Nicholas  and  Alisoun. 
They   tolden     every   man    that    lie    was 

wood, 
He  was  agast  so  of  '  Nowulis  flood ' 
Thurgh  fantasye,  that  of  his  vanitee  3835 
He   hadde   y-boght   him   kneding-tubbes 

three,  (650) 


And  hadde  hem  hanged  in  the  roof  above ; 
And  that  he  preyed  hem,  for  goddes  love. 
To  sitten  in  the  roof,  par  companye.     3839 

The  folk  gan  laughen  at  his  fantasye  ; 
In-to  the  roof  they  kyken  and  they  gape, 
And  turned  al  his  harm  nn-to  a  jape. 
For  what  so  that  this  carpenter  answerde. 
It  was  for  noght,  no  man  his  reson  herde ; 
With  otlies  grete  he  was  so  sworn  adoun. 
That  he  was  holden  wood  in  al  the  toun  ; 
For   every  clerk   anon-right  heeld  with 

other.  (661)  384; 

They  seyde,  'the  man  is  wood,  my  leve 

brother ; ' 
And  evei-y  wight  gan  laughen  of  this  stryf. 
Thus  swy^•ed  was  the  carpenteres  wyf. 
For  al  his  keping  and  his  jalousye  ;     3851 
And  Absolon  hath  kist  hir  nether  ye  ; 
And  Nicholas  is  scalded  in  the  toute. 
This  tale  is  doon,  and  god  save  al  the 

route  !  (668)  3854 


Here  endeth  the  Millere  his  tale 


THE    REEVE'S    PROLOGUE. 


The  prologe  of  the  Reves  tale. 


Whan  folk  had  laughen  at  this  nyce  cas 
Of  Absolon  and  hende  Nicholas,  3856 

Diverse  folk  diversely  they  seyde  ; 
But,  for  the  more  part,  they  loughe  and 

pleyde, 
Ne  at  this  tale  I  saugh  no  man  him  greve, 
But  it  were  only  Osewold  the  Eeve,    3860 
By-cause  he  was  of  carf)enteres  craft. 
A  litel  ire  is  in  his  herte  y-laft. 
He  gan  to  grucche  and  blamed  it  a  lyte. 
'  So   thee'k,'    quod  he,    '  ful  wel  coude 

I  yow  quyte  (10) 

With  blering  of  a  proud  milleres  ye,  3865 
If  that  me  liste  speke  of  ribaudye. 
But  ik  am  old,  me  list  not  pley  for  age  ; 
Gras-tyme   is   doon,   my   fodder   is   now 

forage, 


This  whyte  top  wrytetli  mjTie  olde  yeres, 
Myn  herte  is  al-so  mowled  as  myne  heres, 
But-if  I  fare  as  dooth  an  open-ers  ;  3871 
That  ilke  fruit  is  ever  leng  the  wers. 
Til  it  be  roten  in  mullok  or  in  stree. 
We  olde  men,  I  drede,  so  fare  we  ;  (20) 
Til  we  be  roten,  can  we  nat  be  rype  ;  3875 
We  hoppen  ay,  whyl  that  the  world  wol 

pype. 

For  in  oure  wil  ther  stiketh  ever  a  nayl, 
To  have  an  hoor  heed  and  a  grene  tayl. 
As  hath  a  leek  ;  for  thogh  our  might  be 

goon, 
Our  wil  desiretli  folie  ever  in  oon.       3880 
For  whan  we  may  nat  doon,  than  wol  we 

speke  ; 
Yet  in  our  asshen  olde  is  fyr  y-reke. 


468 


Z^i.  (Ret>C0  Zak. 


[t.  38S1-3944. 


iVmre   gledes   han   we,  whiche  I  shal 

devyse, 
Avaunting,  lying,  anger,  coveityse ;      (30) 
Thise  foure  sparkles  longen  nn-to  elde. 
Our  olde  lemes  mowe  wcl  been  unwelde. 
But  wil  ne  shnl  nat  faillen,  that  is  sooth. 
And  yet  ik  have  alwpy  a  coltes  tooth,  3888 
As  many  a  ycor  as  it  is  passed  henne 
Sin  that  my  tapiie  of  lyf  liigan  to  renne. 
For  sikorly,  whan  I  was  liorc,  anon     3891 
lleeth  drogh  the  tappo  of  lyf  and  leet  it 

gon; 
And  ever  sith  hath  so  the  tappe  y-ronne. 
Til  that  almost  al  emptj-  is  the  tonne.  (40) 
The  streem  of  Ij-f  now  droppcth  on  the 

chimbo ;  3S<)5 

The  sely  tongo  may  wel  ringe  and  chimbo 

Of  wrecohednesso  that  passed  is  fill  yore  ; 

With  oldo  folk,  save  dotage,  is  namore.' 

AVhan  that  our  host  hadde  herd  this 

sermoning, 
}Io  giin  to  spoke  lis  lordly  its  a  king ;  3<)oo 


He  seide,  '  what  amounteth  al  this  wit  ? 
A\Tiat  shul  wo  speke  alday  of  holy  writ  ? 
The  devel  mado  a  revo  for  to  preche. 
And  of  a  souter  a  shipman  or  a  loche.  {50) 
.Sey  forth  thy  tale,  and  taric  nat  the  tyme, 
Iai,  Depoford  !  and  it  is  half-way  jiryme. 
Ixj,   (Trenewich,   ther  many  a  shrowo  is 
inno ;  3907 

It  were  al  tyme  thy  tale  to  biginno.' 

'  Now,  sires,'<iuod  thisOsewoldthoReve, 

'  I  pray  yow  alio  that  yo  nat  yow  grcve, 

Thogh  I  luiswere   and   somdol   setto  his 

Ikiwvc  ;  391 1 

For  leveful  is  with  force  force  of-showve. 

This  dronke  millero  hath  y-told  us  heer. 
How  that  bigyled  was  a  carpcntoer,  (60) 
rcraventnre  in  scorn,  for  I  am  oon.  3915 
And,  by  your  love,  I  shal  him  quj-to  anotm ; 
Hight  in  his  rherlos  termes  wol  I  speke. 
I  pray  to  gixl  his  nekko  moto  broke ; 
Ho  can  wi.d  in  myn  yli  seen  a  stalko,  3919 
But  ill  his  ownu  he  can  nat  seen  a  balko. 


THE    RE\^KS   TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Reves  tale. 


At  Tmmpington,  nat  fer  fro  Cantebriggo, 
Ther  goth  a  brot>k  and  over  that  a  brigge, 
I'ji-taitho  whiche  brook  therstant  a  moUo  ; 
And  tJiis  is  vorray  soth  that  I  yuw  telle. 
A  Miller  was  ther  dwelling  many  a  day  ; 
.\s  eny  pecok  he  was  proud  and  gay.  39^6 
Pypen  he  coude  and   fisshe,   and   uettes 

bete, 
,\nd  turne  coppes,  and  wel  wrastle  and 

shete  ; 
.\nd  by  his  belt  he  baar  a  long  panade, 
.\nd  of  a  swerd  fol  trenchant  was   the 

blade.  3930 

A  joly  popper  baar  he  in  his  pouche  ;  (11) 
Ther  was  no  man  for  peril  dorste  him 

touche. 


\  SheffeM  thwitel  baar  ho  in  his  hose  ; 
Round  was  his  face,  and  camnsc  was  his 

nose. 
As  piled  as  an  ape  was  his  skuUe.         3935 
He  was  a  market-betcr  attc  folle. 
Tlier  dorste  no  wight   hand  np-on  him 

Tliat  he  ne  Bwoor  ho  sholdo  anon  abegge. 
A  theef  he  was  for  scithe  of  com  and  mele, 
And  that  a  sly,  and  usannt  for  to  stele. 
His  name  was  hoten  deynous  Simkin.  (21) 
A  wyf  he  hadde,  y-comen  of  noble  kin  ; 
The  person  of  the  tonn  hir  fader  was. 
With  hir  he  yaf  ful  many  a  panne  of  bras. 
For  that  Simkin  sholde  in  his  blood  allye. 
She  was  y-fostred  in  a  nonnerye  ;        3946 


T.  3945-4028.] 


A.    ZU  (Hepee  Zak. 


469 


For  Simkin  wolde  no  wyf,  as  he  sayde, 
But  she  were  wel  y-norissed  and  a  mayde, 
To  saven  his  estaat  of  yomanrye.         3949 
And  she  was  proud,  and  pert  as  is  a  pye. 
A  ful  fair  sighte  was  it  on  hem  two  ;    (31) 
On  haly-dayes  biforn  hir  wolde  he  go 
AVith  his  tipet  bounden  about  his  heed, 
And  she  cam  after  in  a  gyte  of  reed  ; 
And  Simkin  hadde  hosen  of  the  same. 
Ther   dorste    no  wight   clepen    hir   but 

'  dame.'  3956 

Was  noon  so  hardy  that  wente    by  the 

weyc 
That  with  hir  dorste  rage  or  ones  pleye, 
But-if  he  wolde  be  slayn  of  Simkin    3959 
With  panado,  or  with  knyf,  or  boydekin. 
For  jalous  folk  ben  perilous  evermo,     (41) 
Algate  they  wolde  hir  wyves  wenden  so. 
And  cok,  for  she  was  somdel  smoterlich, 
She  was  as  digne  as  water  in  a  dich  ; 
And  ful  of  hoker  and  of  bisemare.       3965 
Hir   thoughte    that    a    lady   sholde    hir 

spare, 
What  for  hir  kinrcdo  and  hir  nortelrye 
Tliat  she  had  lerned  in  the  nonnerye. 

A  doghter  hadde  thoy  bitwixe  hem  two 
Of  twenty  yeer,  with-oiiten  any  mo,    3970 
Savingo  a  child  that  was  of  half-yeer  age  ; 
111  cradel  it  lay  and  was  a  propre  page. 
This  wenche  thikke  and   wel  y-growen 

was,  (53) 

With  camuse  nose  and  ygn  greye  as  glas  ; 
W'itli  buttokes  brode  and  brostes  rounde 

and  hyo,  3975 

But  right  fair  was  hir  heer,  I  wol  nat  lye. 
The  person  of  the  toun,  for  she  was  feir, 
In  purpos  was  to  maken  hir  his  heir 
Bothe  of  his  catel  a-nd  his  messuage,  3979 
And  straunge  he  made  it  of  hir  mariago. 
His  purpos  was  for  to  bistowe  hir  hyo  (Oi) 
In-to  som  worthy  blood  of  auncetryo  ; 
For  holy  chirches  good  moot   been    de- 

spended 
On  holy  chirches  Idood,  that  is  descended. 
Tlierfore  he  wolde  his  holy  blood  honoure, 
Though  that  he  holy  chirche  sholde  de- 

voure.  ■  3986 

Gret  soken  hath  this  miller,  out  of  doute. 

With  whete  and  malt  ofal  the  land  abouto  ; 

And  namelicho  ther  was  a  greet  collegge. 

Men  clepen  the  Soler-halle  atCantebregge, 


Ther  was  hir   whete   and   eek  hir  malt 

y-grounde.  (71)  3901 

And  on  a  day  it  happed,  in  a  stounde, 
Sik  lay  the  maunciple  on  a  maladye  ; 
Men  wenden  wisly  that  he  sholde  dye. 
For  which  this  miller  stal  bothe  mele  and 

corn  3995 

An  hundred  tyme  more  than  biforn  ; 
For  ther-biforn  he  stal  but  curteisly. 
But  now  he  was  a  theef  outrageously. 
For  which  the  wardeyn  chidde  and  made 

fare.  (79) 

Butthor-of settethe  millernatataro ;  4000 
He  craketh  boost,  and  swoor  it  was  nat  so. 
Than  were  ther  yonge  povre  clerkes  two, 
That  dwelten  in  this  halle,  of  which  I  seye. 
Testif  they  were,  and  lusty  for  to  pleye. 
And,  only  for  hir  mirtho  and  revelryo, 
Up-on  the  wardeyn  bisily  they  crye,  4006 
To  yove  hem  leva  but  a  litel  stounde 
To  goon   to  mille  and  seen  hir  corn  y- 

grounde ; 
And  hardily,  they  dorste  loyo  hir  nekko. 
The  miller  shold  nat  stele  hem  half  a 

pekke  (90)  4010 

Of  corn  by  sleighte,  no  by  force  hem  rove ; 
And  at  the  laste  the  wardeyn  yaf  hem  levo. 
John  hight  that  oon,   and  Aloyn  hight 

that  other  ; 
Of  o  toun  were  they  born,    that   highte 

Strother,  4014 

Fer  in  the  north,  I  can  nat  telle  where. 

This  Aloyn  makoth  redy  al  his  gere. 
And  on  an  hors  the  sak  ho  caste  anon. 
Forth  goth  Aleyn  the  clork,  and  also  John, 
With  good  swerd  and  with  bokeler  by  hir 

sj'de.  (99)  4019 

John  knew  the  wey,  hem  nedede  no  gydo. 
And  at  the  mille  the  sak  adoun  lie  layth. 
Aleyn  spak  first, '  al  hayl,  Symond, y-fayth; 
How  fares  thy  faire  doghter  and  thy  wyf  ?' 
'  Aleyn !  welcome,'  quod  Simkin,  '  by  my 

lyf, 

And  John  also,  how  now,  what  do  ye  heer  ? ' 
'Symond,'  quod   John,   'by  god,   node 

has  na  peer ;  4026 

Him  boes  serve    him-selve  that   has   na 

swayn. 
Or  elles  he  is  a  fool,  as  clerkes  sayn. 
Our  manciple,  I  hope  he  wil  be  deed,  4029 
Swa  werkes  ay  the  wanges  in  his  heed. 


470 


A.    Z^t  (Rcpce  Zak. 


[t.  4029-4104. 


And  forthy  is  I  come,  and  eek  Alayn,  (in) 
To  grinde  onr  com  and  carie it  ham  agayn; 
I    pray  yow    spede  ns    hethen   that  ye 

may.' 
'  It  shal  bo  doon,'  quod  Simkin,  '  by  my 

fay ;  4034 

Wliat  wol  yo  doon  wliyl  that  it  is  in  hande  ? ' 

'  By Bo<l,  right  by  tlie  hoper  wil  I  stande," 

Quod  Jolin,  '  and  so  how  that  the  corn 

gas  in; 
Yet  saugh  I  never,  by  my  fader  kin,  40,^8 
H<>w  that  the  Imper  wagges  til  and  fra,' 

AJej-n  answerde, '  John,  and  wiltow  swa, 
Tlian  wil  I  be  bjTiethe,  by  my  cr<jun,(iji) 
And  se  how  that  the  melo  fallcs  doun 
In-to  the  trough  ;  that  sal  be  my  disport. 
For  John,  in  faith,  I  may  been  of  your 

sort ; 
I  is  as  ille  a  miller  as  are  ye.'  4<>45 

This  miller  smyled  of  hir  nycetee, 
And  thoghte,  'ol  this  nis  doon  bat  for  a 

wj-le  ; 
They  wene  that  no  man  may  hem  big>'lo  ; 
But,  by  my  thrift,  j-et  shal  I  blere  hir  yfl 
For  althcsleighte  in  liir  phili>s<>phj-e.  4050 
The  more  quej-nte  crekes  that  they  make, 
The  more  w-ol  I  stele  whan  I  take.  ('i') 
In   stedo   of  flour,  yet  wol  I  yeve  hem 

bren. 
"The   gretteste   clerkes   been  iioght  the 

wj-sest  men," 
As  whylom  to   the   wolf  thus   spak  the 

mare ;  4055 

Of  al  hir  art  I  counte  noght  a  tare.' 

Out  at  the  dure  he  gixith  ful  prively, 
Whan  that  he  saugh  his  tyme,  softely  ; 
Ho  lokcth  up  and  doun  til  he  hath  founde 
The  clerkes  hors,  ther  as  it  stood  y-bounde 
Bihinde  the  mille,  under  a  lovesel ;     4061 
.Vnd  to  the  hors  he  gooth  him  faire  and 

wel ;  (>42) 

He  strepeth  of  the  brydel  right  anon. 
.\.nd  whan  the  hors  was  loos,  he  ginneth 

gon 
Toward  the  fen,  ther  wilde  mares  renne. 
Forth   with   wehee,   thurgh   thikke   and 

thnrgh  thenne.  4066 

This  m.ller  gooth  agayn,  no  word  he 

seyde, 
But  dooth  his  note,  and  with  the  clerkes 

pleyde, 


Til  that  hir  corn   was  faire  and  wel  j-- 

groundo. 

And   whan  the  melo   is   sakked  and  y- 

bounde,  (150)  4070 

This  John  goth  out  and  fynt  his  hors  away. 

And  gan  to  crye  '  harrow  '  and  '  weylaway ! 

Our  hors  is  lorn  !  Alayn,  lor  goddes  banes, 

Stop  on  thy  feet,  com  out,  man,  al  at  anes  I 

Alias,  our  wardeyn  has  his  palfrey  lorn.' 

This  Aleyn  al  forgat,  bothe  meleandcom, 

Al  was  out  of  his  mjnide  his  houslxindrj'c. 

'  What  ?  whilk  way  is  he  geen  V  '  he  gan 

to  crj-e. 

Tlie  wj-f  cam  loping  inward  with  a  ren. 

She  seyde,  '  alios !  your  hors  goth  to  the 

fen  (Kx))  4080 

With  wilde  mares,  as  faste  as  he  may  go. 

Unthank   come  on  his  hand  that  bond 

him  so. 
And  he  that  bettre  sholde  hau  knit  the 
roj-ne.' 
'Alias,'  quotl  John,  'Aleyn,  for  Cristes 
I  pejTie, 

Lay  doan  thy  sword,  and  I  wil  mjoi  alswa ; 
I  is  ful  wight,  god  waat,  as  is  a  raa ;  4086 
By  g<Mldes  hcrte  he  sal  uat  scape  us  bathe. 
'   Why  niwlstow  pit  the  cajiul  in  the  lathe? 
[  Il-hayl,  by  god,  Aleyn,  thou  is  a  fonne  ! ' 
Tiiis  sely  clerkes  hau  ful  faste  j'-ronne 
I  To- ward   the  fen,   botho  Aleyn  and   eek 
I  John.  (171)  4091 

I       And  whan  the  miller  saugh  that  they 
'  were  gon, 

I  He  half  a  busshel  of  hir  flour  hath  take, 
]  And  bad  his  wyf  go  knede  it  in  a  cake. 
1  Ho  seyde,  '  I  trowe  the  clerkes  were  aferd  ; 
I  Yet  can  a  miller  make  a  clerkes  herd  4096 
'  For  al  his  art ;  now  lat  hem  goon  hir  weye. 
j  Lo  wher  they  g<x)n,  ye,  lat  the  children 
I  pleye ; 

They  gete  him  nat  so  lightly,  by  mycroun  I' 
Tliise  sely  clerkes  rennen  up  and  doun 
With    '  keep,    keep,    stand,   stand,  jossa, 
warderere,  (181)  4101 

Ga  whistle  thou,  and  I   shal  kepe  him 

here ! ' 
But  shortly,  til  that  it  was  verray  night. 
They  coude  nat,  thoogh  they  do  al  hir 
might,  4104 

Hir  capul  cacche,  he  ran  alwey  so  faste, 
Til  in  a  dich  they  caughte  him  atte  laste. 


T.  4 1 05-4 1 88.] 


A.    ZH  (S^^vifi  tak. 


471 


AVery  and  weet,  as  beste  is  in  the  reyn, 
Comth  sely  John,   and  with  liim  comth 

Aleyn. 
'Alias,' quod  John,   'the  day  that  I  was 

bom ! 
Now   are  we    drive  til   hething   and   til 
scorn.  (190)  41 10 

Our  corn  is  stole,  men  wil  us  foles  calle, 
Bathe  the  wardeyn  and  our  felawes  alle, 
And  namely  the  miller  ;  weylaway  ! ' 
Thus  pleyneth  John  as  he  goth  by  the 
way 
Toward  the  mille,  and  Bayard  in  his  hond. 
The  miller  sitting  by  the  lyr  he  fond,  4116 
For  it  was  night,  and  forther  mighte  they 

noght ; 
But,  for  the  love  of  god,  they  him  bisoght 
Of  herberwe  and  of  ese,  as  for  liir  peny. 

The  miller  seydo  agayn,  '  if  ther  be  eny, 

Swich  as  it  is,  yut  shal  ye  have  your  part. 

Myn  hous  is  streit,  but  yc  han  lerned  art ; 

Ye  conne  by  argnmentes  make  a  place 

A  mylc  brood  of  twenty  foot  of  space.  (204) 

Lat  see  now  if  this  place  may  suftyse,  4125 

Or  make  it  roum  with  speche,  as  is  youre 

gyse.' 

'  Now,  Symond,'  seyde  John,  '  by  seint 

Cutberd, 

Ay  is  thou  merj',  and  this  is  faire  answerd. 

I  have   herd  seyd,  man  sal   taa  of  twa 

thinges  4129 

Slyk  as  he  fyndes,  or  taa  slyk  as  he  bringes. 

But  specially,  I  pray  thee,  hoste  dere,  (211) 

Get  us  som  mete  and  drinke,  and  make 

us  chere, 
And  we  wil  payen  trewely  atte  fulle. 
With  empty  hand  men  may  na  haukes 

tulle  ; 
Lo  here  our  silver,  rcdy  for  tospende.'  4135 
This  miller  in-to  toun  his  doghter  sendo 
For  ale  and  breed,  and  rosted  hem  a  goos. 
And  bond  hir  hors,  it  sholde  nat  gon  loos ; 
And  in  his  owne  chambre  liem  made  a 
bed  (219)  4139 

With  shetes  and  with  chalons  faire  y-spred, 
Noght  from  his  owne  bed  ten  foot  or  twelve. 
His  doghter  hadde  a  bed,  al  V)y  hir-selve, 
Eight  in  the  same  chambre,  by  and  by  ; 
It  mighte  be  no  bet,  and  cause  why,  4144 
Ther  was  no  roumer  herberwe  in  the  place. 
They  soupen  and  they  speke,  hem  to  solace. 


And  driuken  ever  strong  ale  atte  beste. 
Aboute  midnight  weiite  they  to  reste. 
Wei  hath    this   miller   vernisshed   his 
heed  ; 
Ful   pale   he   was    for-drouken,    and   nat 
reed.  415" 

He  yexeth,   and  ho  siieketh  thurgh  the 
nose  (23' 

As   he  were  on  the   quukke,   or   on   the 

pose. 
To  bedde  he  gooth,  and  with  him  goth 

his  wj-f. 
As  any  jay  she  light  was  and  jolyf. 
So  was  hir  joly  whistle  wcl  y-wet.         4155 
The  cradel  at  hir  bcddes  feet  is  set. 
To  rokken,  and  to  yeve  the  child  to  souko. 
And  whan  that   dronken  al  was  in  tlic 

crouke, 
To  bedde  went  the  doghter  right  anon  ; 
To  bedde  gooth  Aleyn  and  also  John  ;  4161) 
Ther  nas  na  more,  hem  nedede  no  dwale. 
This  miller  hath  so  wisly  bibbed  ale,  (242,1 
That  as  an  hors  he  snortcth  in  his  sleep, 
Ne  of  his  tayl  bihinde  he  took  no  keep. 
His  wyf  bar  him  a  burdon,  a  ful  strong. 
Men  mighte  hir  routing  here  two  furlong  ; 
The  wenche  routeth  eek  jMtr  compantje. 

Aleyn  the  clerk,  that  herd  this  melodye, 
He  poked  John,  and  seyde,  '  slepestow  ? 
Herdcstow  ever  slyk  a  sang  er  now  ?  4170 
Lo,  whilk  a  compline  is  y-mel  hem  alle ! 
A  wilde  fyr  up-on  thair  bodycs  falle  !  (252) 
Wha  herkned  ever  slyk  a  ferly  thing? 
Ye,  they  sal  have  the  flour  of  il  ending. 
This  lange  night  ther  tydes  me  na  reste  ; 
But  yet,  na  furs  ;  al  sal  be  for  the  beste. 
For  John,'  seyde   he,   '  als  ever  moot  I 

thrys'e. 
If  that  I  may,  yon  wcncho  wil  I  swyve. 
Som  csement  has  lawe  y-shapen  us  ;    4179 
For  .John,  ther  is  a  lawe  that  says  thus. 
That  gif  a  man  in  a  point  be  y-gi-eved,  (261; 
That  in  another  he  sal  be  releved. 
Our  com  is  stoln,  shortly,  it  is  na  nay, 
And  we  han  had  an  il  fit  al  this  day. 
And  sin  I  sal  have  neen  amendement,  4185 
Agayn  my  los  I  wil  have  esement. 
By  goddes  saule,  it  sal  neen  other  be  ! ' 

This.John  answerdc,  'Alajai,  avysethee. 
The  miller  is  a  perilous  man,'  he  seyde, 
'  And  gif  that  he  out  of  liis  sleep  abreyde 


472 


^6e  (Rc»e0  Zak. 


[t.  4189-^268. 


He  niightc  tloon  \\s  batho  a  vileinye."  (^711 

AJeyn  answenlo,   'I  eoant  him   nat  a 

flyo  ; '  ^192 

And  up  he  rist,  ami  by  the  wenche  lie 

crept  e. 
Tliis  woncho  laynpright,  and  fnst-e  slepte, 
Til  he  so  ny  was,  er  she  might<<  ospyo,  4195 
That  it  lind  hocn  to  lat«  for  to  crj-e, 
And  shortly  for  to  scyn,  they  were  at  on  ; 
.Vow  iiloy,  Alejni !  for  I  W(d  spoko  of  John. 
Til  is  .John  lyth  stille  a  fnrlong-woy  or 
two, 
.Viid  to  him-self  he  maketh  ronthe  and 
wo  :  (j8oi  4i<« 

•  .\llns  ! '  qno<l  ho,  '  this  is  a  wikked  japo  ; 
Xow  may  I  soyn  that  I  is  but  an  ape. 
\'('t  has  my  felawe  som-what  for  liis  harm  ; 
Hi'  has  the  inillcris  doghtor  in  his  ami. 
Iff  anntred  him,  anfl  has  his  nodes  s|>od. 
And  I  lyo  ns  a  dnif-sok  in  my  l)od  :      4iitit 
.\nd  when  tliis  japo  is  tald  another  day, 
I  sal  1)0011  halde  a  daf,  a  eokonny ! 
I  w^il  arj-s«>,  and  anntro  it,  by  my  fayth  ! 
'•  I'nhardy  is  nn.>«ely,"  thus  men  saj-th.' 
.\nd  np  ho  roos  and  softely  ho  went<<  1 J91) 
I'n-to  tlio  rra<lel,and  in  his  hand  it  hento, 
.Vml  baar  it  softo  tin-to  his  bo<ldos  foot. 

Sine  after  tliis  the  wj-f  hir  routing  loot, 
.\nd   gan  awake,  and   wonte   hir  out   to 
pi.sse,  4115 

.\nd  ram  agn.vn,  and  gan  hir  oradel  misse, 
And  groped  heer  an<l  ther,  but  she  fond 
noon. 
Alias!'  quo.!  she,  '  I  hadde  almost  niis- 
goon  ; 
I  hadde  almost  gon  to  the  olorkes  bod. 
Ey,  ;>tnVi7»'/tlianne  haddo  I  fonley-sped  : ' 
And  forth  slio  grmth   til  she  the   cradel 
fond.  1 1,01)  4JJI 

She  gropeth  alwey  fortlier  with  hir  bond, 
.\nd  fond  the  be<l,  and  thoghtc  noght  but 

good, 
By-cjiuso  that  the  cradel  by  it  stood,  4124 
.\nd  nistc  wher  she  was,  for  it  was  derk  ; 
But  fairo  and  wel  she  creep  in  to  the  clerk, 
.\nd  Ij-th  ful  stille,  and  wolde  ban  caught 

a  sleep. 
With-inne  a  whyl  this  John  the  clerk  up 
leep,  4228 

.■Vnd  on  this  gode  w^yf  he  leyth  on  sore. 
So  mery  a  fit  ne  hadde  she  nat  fnl  yore ; 


Ho  prikoth  hardo  and   dope  as  ho  were 
mad.  (311) 

This  joly  lyf  han  thi.se  two  clerkcfl  lad 
Til  that  the  thriddo  cok  bigan  to  singe. 

Aleyn  wox  wery  in  the  daweningo,  4J34 
For  ho  had  swonkon  al  the  longo  night ; 
And  seydo,  '  far  wel,  Malin,  swete  wight! 
The  day  is  come,  I  may  no  longer  byde  ; 
But  evermo,  wher  so  I  go  or  r>-do, 
I  is  th>-n  awen  clerk,  swa  have  I  seel ! ' 
'  Now  dero  lemman,'  ijuoil  she,  '  go,  far 
wool!  (320)4240 

j   But  er  thon  go,  o  thing  I  wol  thee  telle, 
i   Whan   that   thou  wendest  homward    by 
;  the  melle, 

Right  at  the  entree  of  the  doro  bihinde, 
Tliou  ghalt  a  cake  of  half  a  busshel  liiido 
That  was  y-maked  of  t  liyn  owno  mole, 
Wlii<di  that  I  heelp  my  fader  for  to  stt-lf. 
'   And.   grtde  lemman,   go<I  theo   save  ami 
j  1"'P<> !  ■  4247 

And   with   that  wi.rd    almost  she  gan   to 
[  wopo. 

I       Aleyn  Mi>-riHt,  and  thoughto,   'or  that 
it  dawo, 
I  wol  go  cropon  in  liy  my  felawo  ;         4250 
'  An<I  fond  the  cnulel  with  his  hand  anon, 
'By  god,'  thoghte  he,   '  al  wrang  I  have 
misgon ;  (332) 

M>-n  hoed  is  toty  of  my  swink  to-night, 
That  maketh  mo  that  I  go  nat  aright.  4254 
I  woot  wel  by  the  cradel,  I  have  misgo, 
Hoer  Ij-th  the  miller  and  his  wyf  also.' 
.\nd  forth  ho  goth,  a  twenty  devel  way, 
In-to  the  liod  thor-as  the  miller  lay. 
He  wondo  have  cropon  by  his  felawe  John  ; 
And  by  the  miller  in  he  creep  anon,  42(')<) 
And  canghto  h.vm  by  the  nekke,  and  softo 
ho  spak  :  (.141) 

He  seydo,  'thon,  John,  thou  swjiies-heed, 

awak 
For  Cristes  sanle,  and  heer  a  noble  game. 
For   by  that   lord   that    called    is  seint 

Jamo, 
As  I  have  thrye^,  in  this  shorto  night,  4265 
Swy^-ed  the  milleres  doghter  bolt-upright, 
Whyl  thow  hast  as  a  coward  been  agast.' 
'  Ye,  false  harlot,'  quod  the  miller, 
'hast? 
A  !  false  traitoor !  false  clerk  !  *  quod  he, 
'  Thon  shalt  be  deed,  by  goddes  diguitee  ! 


T.  4269-4322.] 


A.    ZU  (B^vee  Z(xk. 


473 


Who  dorste  be  so  bold  to  disparage     (351) 
My  doghter,  that  is  come  of  swicli  linage?  ' 
And  by  the  throte-bolle  he  caughte  Alayn. 
And  he  hente  hym  despitously  agayn, 
And  on  the  nose  he  smoot  him  with  his 

fest.  4275 

Donn  ran  the  blodystreemiip-on  hisbrest ; 
And  in  tlie  floor,  with  nose  and  mouth 

to-broke, 
They  walwe  as  doon  two  pigges  in  a  poke. 
And  up  they  goon,  and  doun  agaj'n  anon. 
Til  that  the  miller  sporned  at  a  stoon,  4^80 
And  doun  he  fil  bakward  uji-on  his  wj-i". 
That  wiste  no-thing  of  this  nyce  stryf ; 
For  slie  was  falle  aslepe  a  lyte  wight  (■1,6^) 
With  .John  the  clerk,  that  waked  haddc 

al  night. 
And  witli  the  fal,  out  of  hir  sleep  she 

breyde—  4285 

'  Help,    holy  croys   of  Bromeholm,'    she 

seyde, 
'  Tn  iiiant(s  tuas!    lord,  to  thee  I  calle  ! 
Awak,  Symond  I  the  feenil  is  on  us  falle, 
Jlyn  herte   is   broken,   help,  I  nam    but 

deed  ; 
There  lyth  oon   up  my   wombe    and    up 

myn  heed  ;  4290 

Help,  Simkin,  for  the  false  clerkes  fighte.' 

This  .Tohn  sterto  tip  as  faste  as  ever  he 

mighte,  (372) 

And  graspeth  by  the  walles  to  and  fro, 
To  findo  a  staf ;  and  she  sterte  up  also, 
And  know  the  estres  Ijet  than  dide  this 

John,  4295 

And  by  the  wal  a  staf  she  fond  anon. 


And  saugh  a  litel  shimering  of  a  light, 
For  at  an  hole  in  shoon  the  mone  bright ; 
And  by  that  light  she  saugh  hem  bothe 

two. 
But  sikerly  she  niste  who  was  who,    4300 
But  as  she  saugh  a  whyt  thing  in  hir  ye. 
And  whan  she  gan  the  whyte  thing  espye, 
She  wende  the  clerk  hadde  wered  a  volu- 

peer.  (383) 

And  with  the  staf  she  drough  ay  neer  and 

neer,  4304 

And  wende  han  hit  this  Aleyn  at  the  fulle, 
And  snioot  the  miller  on  the  pyled  skulle. 
That  doun  he  gooth  and  cryde,  '  harrow  ! 

Idye!' 
Thise  clerkes  bete  him  weel  and  lete  him 

lye; 
And  g^eythen  hem,  and  toke  hir  hors  anon, 
And  eek  hir  mele,  and  on  hir  wey  they 

gon.  (3<H))  43'" 

And  at  the  mille  yet  they  toke  hir  cake 
Of  half  a  biisshcl  flour,  ful  wel  y-bake. 
Thus  is  the  proude  miller  wel  y-bete. 
And  hath  y-lost  the  grinding  of  the  whete, 
And  payed  for  the  soper  every-deel     4315 
Of  Aleyn  and  of  John,  that  botte  him  weel. 
His  wyf  is  swyvwl,  and  his  doghter  als  ; 
Lo,  swich  it  is  a  miller  to  be  fals  ! 
And  therforo  this   provorbe   is   seyd   ful 

sooth,  4319 

'  Him  thar  nat  wene  wel  that  yvel  dooth  ; 
A  gylour  shal  him-self  bigyled  be.'      (401) 
And  God,  that  sitteth  heighe  in  magestee. 
Save  al  this  companye  greto  and  smale  ! 
Thus  have  I  quit  the  miller  in  my  tale. 


Here  is  ended  the  Raves  tale. 


A.      Z(>C   €oo(l'o    (profoguC.  [t.  43I3-437'>- 


TlUi    COOK'S    PROLOGUE, 


The  prologe  of  the  Cokes  tale. 


The  r.M.k  of  l>in(l  .n,  wliyl  tho  Rpvo  8i>ak, 
Fi>r  joyo,  liim  llionRhto,  ho  clnwed  him 

•  •n  tho  hftk,  4326 

'  Hii !  Im  ! '  qnol  lio,  '  furCriston  pnssioun, 
This  miller  lincMo  a  sharp  concliisioitu 
t'poii  his  arpii'nont  of  horberRago  ! 
Wcl  soytlo  Salomon  in  )iis  langa^,      4vv> 
'■  N'u    hrinpo   nat  i-vory  man   in-to  thyn 

hous;" 
Fr>r  horlwrwinjf  hy  nightn  is  porilons. 
Wcl  of^hto  a  man  a\-j-8<>cl  for  to  b<«  (<)) 

Whom  tliat  ho  limghto  in-to  his  privotoo. 
i  pniy  to  ffoU,  80  yovo  mo  iu>rwo  and  care, 
Itovor,  sith  I  hi(;lito  Homyc  of  Waro,   4  v?*' 
Hrnlo  I  n  millor  l;cttro  y-««'t  a-work. 
Hi'  hnililo  a  ja|>c  of  maliro  in  tho  ilork. 
Hut  rihI  fi.rl¥«ilo  that  wo  stinton  hero  ; 
Ami  thcrfore,  if  ye  %-onoho-«»nf  to  horo 
A  tnio  of  mo,  that  am  a  jv>vrt>  man,    ^mt 
I  wol  vow  ti-Uo  as  wpI  as  over  I  ran 
A  litol  jni>o  that  hi  in  our  citoo." 

Our  host  answonlo,  and  seido,  '  I  i^rannto 

it  thoo  ;  (JO)  4544 


Now  telle  on.  KoRor,  loko  flint  it  l>o  Rood  ; 
For  many  a  jiaston  hastow  laton  blood, 
Ancl  many  a  .lakko  of  Dover  hnstow  sold 
Tliat  hath  lK>on  twyoshoot  iind  twjescold. 
Of  many  a  pilprim  hostow  Oristes  curs, 
For  of  thy  persly  yot  thoy  faro  tho  wors, 
Tliat  thoy  han  et<'n  with  thy  stuldMd-^oos; 
For  in  thy  slmppo  is  many  a  flyo  loos.  (j8) 
Now  toUo  on,  (fontil  Hop<T,  hy  thy  name. 
Bnt  yot  Ipray  thoo,  !>o  nat  wrooth  for  game, 
A  man  may  seyo  ful  sooth  in  gamo  anri 

'  Thon  seist  ful  siMith,'  f|no«l  Kogor,  '  by 

my  fey, 
lint  "sooth  ploy,  (inand  ploy,"  as  tho  Flcm- 

inirseith;  (,1) 

.And  ther-foro,  Horry  Dailly,  by  thy  foith, 
he  thon  nat  wr»>oth,  or  wo  do]mrton  hecr, 
Though  that  my  talc  Ihi  of  an  hostilecr. 
Hut  natholeos  I  wol  nat  tollo  it  yit,  4561 
But  or  wo  p.irto,  y-wis.  f  lion  shall  l>o  quit.' 
Andthor-with-al  ho  lough  and  madorhoro. 
And  seydo  his  tale,  as  yo  slinl  alter  horo. 


Thus  endeth  the  Prologe  of  the  Cokes  tale. 


THR   COKES    T.\LE. 


Heer  bigynnetb  the  Cokes  taJe. 


.\  Pkf.xtis  whylom  dwelle<l  in  onr  ritee, 
.\nd  of  a  craft  of  vitaillors  was  he  ;     41^/1 
Oaillard  ho  was  as  goldfinch  in  theshawe, 
Bronn  as  a  borio,  a  propro  short  felawe. 
With  lokkcs  blake,  y-kempt  fnl  fetisly. 
Dauncon  he  conde  so  wel  and  jolily,   4^^. 
That  he  was  cleped  Perkin  Revelour. 
He  was  as  ful  of  love  and  paramour 


\a  is  the  hj-\o  ful  of  hony  swet«  ; 

Wcl   was  the  wencho  with  him  mighte 

mete.  <ui) 

At   every   br^dale    wolde    ho   singe   and 

hoppe,  4,-5 

He  loved  l»et  the  tavern  than  the  shoppc. 
For  whan  ther  any  ryding  was  in  Chepc, 
Oat  of  the  shoppc  tliider  woldo  he  lepe. 


T.  437 


-4432.]    B.    Jn^roiucfton  to  (man  of  Baw'0  (Jjrofogue.  475 


Til  that  he  hadde  al  tlio  siglite  y-soyn, 
And  datinced  wcl,    he   wolde   nat   come 

ageyn.  4380 

And  gadered  him  a  meince  of  his  sort 
To  hojipe  and  singe,  and  maken   swich 

disport. 
And  ther  they  setten  steven  for  to  mete 
To  pleyen  at  the  dys  in  swich  a  strete.  (20) 
For  in  the  tonne  nas  ther  no  prentj-s,  4385 
Tliat  fairer  condo  caste  a  jjaire  of  dys 
Than  Porkin  conde,  and  tlier-to  he  was  free 
Of  his  dispense,  in  place  of  privetee. 
That  fond  his  maister  wol  in  his  cliaffare  ; 
For  often  tj-me  he  fond  his  Ik>x  ful  bare. 
For  sikerly  ft  prontis  revelonr,  4391 

Tliat  liauntcth  dys,  ri<  t,  or  paramour, 
His  maister  shal  it  in  his  shoppe  abyo, 
M  Iiave  lie  no  part  of  the  minstralcyo ;  (30) 
For  thefte  and  riot,  tljoy  l>en  convertible, 
.'M  conne  he  pleyo  on  giteme  or  ribible. 
Revel  and  tronthe,  as  in  a  low  degree, 
They  been  fol  wrothe  al  day,  as  men  may 

see. 
This  joly  prenti.s  with  his  maister  hood. 
Til  he  were  ny  out  of  his  prentishood,  4400 
Al  were  ho  onibbod  bothe  erly  and  late, 
And  somtyme  lad  with  revel  to  Xewgato  ; 
Hut  atto  lasto  his  maister  him  bithoghte, 


Up-on  a  d.ij-,  whan  he  his  paper  soghte,  (40) 
Of  a  proverbe  that  seith  this  same  word, 
'  Wei  bet  is  roteu  appel  out  of  hord    44*^) 
Than  that  it  rotie  al  the  remenaunt.' 
So  fareth  it  by  a  riotous  scrvaunt ; 
It  is  wel  lasse  harm  to  leto  him  pace. 
Than  he  shende  alio  the  servants  in  the 
place.  44>" 

Tlierfore  his  maister  yaf  him  acquitanco, 
And   bad   him   go  with  sorwe  and  with 

meschanco  ; 
And    thus    this    joly   prontis   haddo   his 

leve. 
Now  lat  him  rioto  al  the  night  or  levo.(5o^ 
And  for  ther  is  no  theef  with-oute  a 
louke,  4415 

That  helpeth  him  to  wasten  and  to  souke 
Of  that  he  bryl>e  can  or  borwe  may, 
Anon  ho  sente  his  bed  and  his  array 
Un-to  a  compeer  of  his  owno  sort, 
Tliat  lovodo  dys  and  revel  and  disport,  4420 
And  hadde  a  wyf  that  heeld  for  count- 
enance (57) 
A  shoppo,  and  swyvod  for  hir  sustenance. 


Of  this  Cokes  tale  maked  Chaucer 
na  more. 


GROUP  B. 

INTRODUCTION   TO   THE    MAN   OP 
LAWS    PROLOGUE. 


The  wordes  of  the  Hoost  to  the  companye. 


( )i-R  Hoste  sey  wol  that  tlio  brighte  sonne 
Tirark  of  his  artificial  day  had  ronno 
Tlie  fonrthc  part,  and  half  an  liourc,  and 

more  ; 
And  though  ho  wore  not  dope  export  in 

lore. 
Ho  wisto  it  was  the  eightetetho  day  5 

( )f  April,  that  is  messager  to  May  ; 


And  soy  wel  that  the  shadwo  of  every  troo 
Was  as  in  lengtho  the  samo  quantitoo 
That  was  the  body  erect  that  caused  it. 
And  thcrfor  l>ythoshadwo  ho  took  his  wit 
That  rhel>us,  whidi  that  shoon  so  clei-o 

anil  brighto,  1 1 

Degrees  was  fyvo  and  fourty  clombo  on 

highte  ; 


476    B.    3«<vobuchOtt  to  QTlatt  of  faro's  (J)rofoguc.  [t.  4433-45J0. 


And  for  that  day,  as  in  that  latitude, 
It  was  ten  «>f  the  t'li>kke,  he  gan  conchide, 
And  sodeynly  lie  ]>lightc  his  hors  alnnite. 
'  Lordingos,'  qutnl  he,  '  I  wame  yow,  al 

this  route,  i6 

Tlio  fourthe  party  of  this  day  is  goon  ; 
Now,   for   the  love  of  gotl   and  of  seint 

John, 
l.oscth  no  tyme,  as  ferforth  as  ye  may  ; 
I/irdinges,  the  tymo  wasteth  night  and 

day,  xi 

And  stcleth  from  ns,  what  pri velyslepinge, 
And    what     thurgh    necligeuco     in    our 

wakinge, 
As  d<M>th  the  streem,  that  tumeth  never 

1  )c8cending  fro  the  montaigne  in-to  playn. 
Wcl  can  Senek,  an<l  many  a  philosophre  25 
niwailen  tjTiie,  more  than  gold  in  cofre, 
'•  For  los  of  catel  may  rerovore*!  l)e. 
Hut  los  of  tyiiie  shondeth  ns,"  quinl  he. 
It  wol  nat  come  ngaj-n,  with-oufen  clre«le, 
Xa  more  than  wol  Malkins  maydeiih<-d<-, 
Whan  she  hath  lost  it  in  liir  wantownesse; 
Tjit  us  nat  moulen  thus  in  ydelnosse.     ^j 
Sir  man   of  lawe,'  ijuoil   he,   "so  have  ye 

Mis, 
Tel  ns  a  tale  nnon,  aa  forwanl  is  : 
Vo    been    snbmittecl    thurgh    your    free 

assent  35 

Til  stonde  in  this  raa  at  m.v  jngement. 

Ap<iuiteth  yow,  and  holdeth  your  biheste. 

Than  have  ye  doon  your  devoir  atte  lesto  ' 

'Hoste,'  qno<l   he,    '  dfjmrdieux  ich   a«- 

sente, 
To  brekc  for«-ard  is  not  mj-n  entente.    4<i 
lliheste  is  dette,  and  I  wol  holile  fa>-n 
Al  my  biheste  ;  I  can  no  I>etter  sej-n. 
For  swich  lawe  as  man  yeveth  another 

wight. 
Ho  sholde  him-selven  nsen  it  by  right ;  44 
Thus  w<d  onr  text  ;  bnt  natheles  cortej-n 
I  can  right  now  no  thrifty  tale  sej-n, 
fBut  Chancer,  though  lie  can  but  lewetlly 
On  metres  and  on  rjming  craftily. 
Hath  se.vd  hem  in  swich  English  as  he  can 
Of  olde  tyme,  as  knoweth  many  a  man.  50 
And  if  he  have  not  seyd  hem,  levo  brother, 
Tn  o  book,  he  hath  seyd  hem  in  another. 
For  he  hath  told  of  loveres  np  and  donn 
Mo  than  Ovyde  made  of  mencionn 


In  his  Epistelles,  that  been  ful  olde.  "i."; 
What  sholdo  I  tellen  hem,  sin  they  Inn 

toldo  ? 
In  youthe  he  made  of  Ceys  and  Alcion, 
And  sitlien  hath  he  sp<^ko  of  overichon. 
Tliiso  noble  wyves  and  thise  loveres  eke. 
Who-So  that  wol  his  large  volume  sekeoo 
C'le|ied  the  Sieintes  Legendo  of  Cupyiie, 
Ther  may  he  seen  the  largo  wonndos  wyde 
Of  Lucre.«se,  and  of  nnbilan  Tisliee  ; 
The  swcrd  of  Di.lo  for  the  false  Enee  ; 
The  tree  of  I'hillis  for  hir  Demophon  ;    05 
The  pleinte  of  Dianiro  and  Hermion, 
Of  A<lriano  and  of  Isiphilec ; 
The  liarej-no  ylo  stonding  in  the  see  ; 
The  drejTite  I>cander  for  his  Erro  ; 
The  teres  of  Eleyne,  and  eek  the  wo       ^o 
Of  Brixseyde,  and  of  thee,  I^domi^a  ; 
The  crueltee  of  llioe,  <|ueen  ModC-a, 
Thy  litel  childn^n  hanging  by  the  hals 
F-'r  thy  .Fa.<«in,  that  was  of  love  so  fuls  ; 

0  Y|>erinistni,  Pcnelopoe,  Alceste,  75 
Your  wyflKMl  hocomendoth  with  thebestc! 

Hut  <-orteinl.v  no  wonl  no  wr>-toth  he 
Of  thilke  wikko  ensamplc  of  Canacee, 
That  love<le  hir  owne  brother  sinfully  ; 
f  »f  swiche  cursed  stories  I  sey  "  fy  "  ;     Ko 
Or  olles  of  Tj'ro  .\polloniufl, 
H'lW  that  the  cursotl  king  Antiochus 
IJirafle  his  <b«htor  of  hir  mnydcnhe<le. 
That  is  so  horrible  a  tftle  for  to  rode. 
Whan  he  liir  throw  up-on  the  pavement. 
And  therfor  he,  of  ful  avyscment,  Hit 

\olde  never  wrj-te  in  none  of  his  sermonns 
Of  swiche  unlun<lc  abhominaciouns, 
Ne  I  wol  noon  reherse,  if  that  I  may. 

But  of  my  tale  how  shal  I  doon  thisdui  V 
Me  were  bnith  bo  lyknod,  doutolees,       iji 
To  Muses  that  men  rlepe  Pierides — 
Metiimorjihiii¥'oii  wot  what  I  mcne  : — 
Bnt  nathelees,  I  recche  noght  a  bone     94 
Though  I  come  after  Jiim  with  hawo-bake ; 

1  spckc  in  prose,  and  lat  him  rymes  make.' 
And  ■with  that  word  he,  with  a  sobre  chere, 
Bigan  his  tale,  as  yc  shal  after  here. 

The  Prologe  of  the  Mannes  Tale 
of  Lawe. 
O  hateful  harm  !  condicion  of  povorte  . 
With  thurst,  with  cold,  with  hunger  so 
confounded !  u»> 


T.  452I-4574-J   B.    ZU  Zdk  of  tU  (HXau  of  Baw^. 


477 


To  asken  help  thee  shame th  in  thyii 
herte  ; 

If  thou  noon  aske,  with  nede  artow  so 
wounded, 

That  verray  nede  nnwrappeth  al  thy 
wounde  hid  ! 

llaugTce  thyn  heed,  thovi  most  for  indi- 
gence 104 

Or  stele,  or  begge,  orborwe  thy  despence  ! 

Thou  blamest  Crist,  and  seyst  ful  bitterly, 
He  niisdeparteth  richosse  temporal  ; 
Tliy  neighebour  thou  wj'test  sinfully,  (:o) 
And  seyst  thoii  hast  to  Ij-te,  and  he  hath  al. 
■  Parfay,"seistow,  'somtyme  he  rekne  shal, 
\Vhan  that  his  tayl  shal  brennen  in  the 

glode,  1 1 1 

For  he   noght   helpeth   needfullo    in   hir 

nede,' 

Herkne   what    is    the    sentence    of   the 

wyse  :— 
'  Bet  is  to  dyi^n  than  have  indigence  ; '  114 
'  Thy  selve  neighebour  wol  thee  despyse ; ' 


If  thou  be  povre,  farwel  thy  rev« 
Yet  of  the  wj'se  man  tak  this  sentence  : — 
'Alle  the  dayes  of  po\Te  men  ben  wikke  ; ' 
Be  war  therfor,  er  thou  come  in  that 
prikke  I  (21) 

'If  thou   be    povre,    thy  brother   hateth 
thee,  ijo 

And  alle  thy  freendes  ileen  fro  thee,  alas ! ' 
O  riche  marchaunts,  ful  of  wele  ben  ye, 

0  noble,  o  prudent  folk,  as  in  this  cas! 
Your  bagges  been  nat  filled  with  ambes  as. 
But  with  sis  cink,  that  renneth  for  your 

chaunce ;  125 

At  Cristemasse  merie  may  ye  daunce  ! 

Ye  sekcn  lond  and  see  for  your  winninges, 
As  wj'se  folk  ye  knowen  al  th'estaat    (30) 
Of  regnes;  ye  ben  fadres  of  tydinges 
And  tales,  botho  of  pees  and  of  debat.  i  -,0 

1  were  right  now  of  tales  desolat, 

Nere  that  a  niarchaunt,  goon  is  many  a 

yere. 
Me  taughte  a  tale,  which  that  ye  shal  here. 


THE  TALE  OF  THE   MAN    OF   LAWE. 


Here  beginneth  the  Man  of  Lawe  his  Tale. 


In  Surrie  whylom  dwelte  a  companye 
Of  chapmen  riche,  and  therto  sadde  and 

trewe,  135 

That  wyde-wher  scnten  her  spycerye, 
(Clothes  of  gold,  and  satins  riche  of  hewe; 
Herchafifar  w.as  so  thrifty  and  so  newe,  (40) 
That  everj'  wiglit  hath  deyntee  to  chaffare 
With   hem,  and   eek  to  seUen  hem  hir 

ware.  140 

Now  fel  it,  that  the  maistres  of  that  sort 
Han  shapen  hem  to  Rome  for  to  wcnde  ; 
Were  it  for  chapmanhode  or  for  disport, 
Xon  other   message   wolde    they  thider 
sende, 


But  comen  hem-self  to  Rome,  this  is  the 
ende ;  145 

And  in  swich  place,  as  thoughte  liem 
avantage 

For  her  entente,  they  take  her  herbergage. 

Sojourned  han  thise  marchants  in  that 
toun  (50) 

A  certein  tyme,  as  fel  to  hir  plesanoe. 
And  so  bifol,  that  th'excellent  renoun  150 
Of  th'emperourcs  doghter,  dame  distance, 
Reported  was,  with  every  circumstance, 
Un-to  thise  Surrien  marchants  in  swich 

wyse, 
Fro  day  to  day,  as  I  shal  yow  devyse. 


478 


B.    Z^t.  Zak  of  t^i  QUan  of  Zam.    [t.  4r  75-465  «• 


This   was    the    commune   vols  of  every 
man —  '55 

'  Our  Empcronr  of  Rome,  Rml  him  see, 
A  iloglitcr  hath  that,  sin  the  world  higan, 
To  rckno  as  wtl  hir  p'xxlnosso  as  l>cautoo, 
Xas  never  gwich  iin«.llier  as  is  she  ;  (Oi) 
I  prey  to  god  in  lionour  hir  susteno,  160 
And  woldo  she  were  <>f  al  Euri>pe  the 
qucne. 

In  hir  is  heigh  iKsantce,  with-oute  prj'de, 
Yowtho,  wilh-onte  gronoliedo  or  folyo  ; 
To  alio  hir  wirkcs  vortn  is  liir  gjde, 
Humblesso  lintli  slayn  in  hir  al  tirannyo. 
She  is  mirour  of  alio  curtcisyo  ;  (f)8;  i</i 
Hir  herto  is  vorrny  chambro  of  holincssc, 
Hir  hand,  niinistro  of  fredom  for  almrssc' 

And  al  this  vois  was  soth,  as  god  is  trcwo, 
Hut  now  to  iivir|><>s  lat  ns  tiirncagayn;  i7i> 
Thiso  mari-hants  han  do<pn    fraught  hir 

sliii>i>o8  ni'wo. 
And,  whan  tlioy  han  this  blisful  maydcn 

soj-n, 
Hoom  to  Surrj'C  l)cen  thoy  wont  ful  fayn, 
And  doon  lior  ncdos  as  they  han  don  yore, 
And  liven  in  welo;  I  ran  in>yyow  no  more. 

Now  ffl  it,  that  thiso  marchants  stmlo  in 
grac43  i;6 

Of  him,  that  was  the  sowdan  of  Surryo  ; 
For  whan  tlioy  came  from  any  strange 
jihico,  (80) 

Ho  woldo,  of  his  bcnigno  cnrtoisyc, 
Make  hem  goo<l  chore,  and  bisily  e«pye  180 
Tyilings  of  sondrj-  rcgnes,  for  to  lero 
The  woudres that  they  mightesecnor here. 

Amongcs  othore  thinges,  specially 

Thisc  marrliants  han  him  told  of  dante 

Custanco, 
So  grot  noblesse  in  emest,  cerionsly,     185 
That   this  sowdan  hath  caught  so  gret 

plesanco 
To  han  hir  figure  in  his  remembrance, 
Tliat  al  his  lust  and  al  his  bisy  euro     k/j; 
Was  for  to  love  hir  whyl  his  lyf  may  dure. 

Paraventtire  in  thilke  large  book  190 

^Miich  that  men  clepe  the  heven,  y-writen 


With  st«rre8,  whan  that  he  his  birthe  took, 
That  ho  for  love  sliuldohnnhisdoeth.  alias! 
For  in  tho  sterros,  clorer  than  is  glaa. 
Is  writon,  g<Kl  wot,  wlio-so rondo  it  ro<lo,  nj.s 
The  doetli  of  every  man,  withouton  dretle. 

In  stcrres,  many  a  winter  thor-biforn, 
Was  writon  tho  dooth  of  Kctor,  Achilles, 
Of  Pompey,  Julius,  erthoy  weru  bom;  (101) 
Tho  St  rjf  of  Thebes  ;  and  of  Ercules,    nn 
Of  Sanni84>n,  Tumtis,  and  of  Socrates 
Tho  dotth  ;   but  menn(4  wittcs  been  so 

dullo. 
Tliat  no  wight  can  wol  redo  it  atto  fulle. 

Tliis  sowdan  for  liis  priveo  consoil  sont<>. 
And,  shortly  of  this  mator  for  to  pace,  joj 
Ho  hath  to  honi  declared  his  entente. 
And  seytio  hem  c43rtoin,  '  but  ho  mighte 
havo  grace  ('09) 

To  han  Custanco  with-inno  a  lilcl  siMtce, 
Ho  nas  but  deod  ; '  and  cluvrged  hem,  in 

To  sliapcn  for  his  lyf  som  rcme<lyo.       3ii> 

Diverse  men  >liver*o  thinges  soyden  ; 
They  argumonten,  castcn  up  and  doun 
Many  a  subtil  res<iun  forth  they  Icydon, 
Tlu-y  s|M-k)-n  of  niagik  and  abusioun  ; 
nut  finally,  as  in  conclusioun,  315 

Tlicy  can  not  seen  in  that  non  avantage, 
Ne  in  non  other  wcy,  save  manage.    (119) 

Than  sawe  they  thor-in  swich  difiiculteo 
By  wey  of  rcs<jun,  for  t4>  s|>okc  al  jdayn. 
By-cause  that  thorwasswirdidivorsitoe  jjo 
Bitwono  hir  iMithe  lawos.  that  they  sayn. 
They  trowe  '  that  no  criston  prince  woldo 

fa.\'n 
Wodden  his  child  under  ourc  lawcs  swete 
Tliat   us   wore    taught   by    Hahoun   our 

prophetc.' 

And  ho  answerdo,  '  rather  than  I  lose  235 
Custnnce,  I  w<d  l>o  cristned  doutelces ; 
I  mot  ben  hires,  I  may  non  other  chese. 
I    prej'  j-ow    holdo    j'onr   arguments  in 
pees ;  (ijo) 

Saveth  my  Ij-f,  and  bceth  noght  recchelees 
To  geten  hir  that  hath  my  lyf  in  ctire  ;  3^0 
For  in  this  wo  I  may  not  longe  endure.' 


4652-4728.]    B.     ZH  Zak  of  t^i  QUan  of  Bant. 


479 


Wliat  nedeth  gretter  ililatacioun  ? 

I  seye,  by  tretis  and  embassadrj-e, 

And  by  the  popes  mediacioun, 

And  al  the  chirche,  and  al  the  chivalrye, 

That,  in  destruccioun  of  Maumetrye,   236 

And  in  cncrees  of  Cristes  lawe  dere, 

They  ben  acorded,  so  as  ye  shal  here  ;  (140) 

How  that  the  sowdan  and  his  baronage 
And  alle  his  liges  shuldo  y-cristned  bo,  240 
And  he  slial  ban  Custance  in  mariage, 
And  certein  gold,  I  noot  what  quantitee, 
And  licr-to  IViunden  suffisant  seurtee  ; 
This  same  acord  was  sworn  on  oyther  syde ; 
Xow,  f;uro  Custance,  almighty  god  thee 
gj'de !  245 

Xow  woldc  som  men  waiton,  as  I  gesse, 
That  I  sliulde  toUen  al  the  purveyance 
That  tli'cmpcrour,  of  his  grcto  noblesse. 
Hath  shapen  for  his  dogljtcr  dame  Cus- 
tiince.  (151) 

\Vul  may  men  knowe  that  so  gret  ordin- 
ance 250 
May  no  man  tellen  in  a  litel  clause 
As  was  arrayed  for  so  heigh  a  cause. 

Bisshopes    ben    shapen   with   hir  for  to 

wendo, 
Lordes,  lailycs,  knightcs  of  renoun, 
And  other  folk  y-nowe,  this  is  the  ende ; 
And  notifyed  is  thurgh-jut  the  toun     256 
That  every  wight,  with  gret  devocioiin, 
Shuldc  prej-en  Crist  that  he  this  mariage 
ReccyN'e  in  gree,  and  spede  this  viage.  (161) 

The  day  is  comen  of  hir  departinge,     260 
I  sey,  the  woful  day  fatal  is  come, 
That  ther  may  bo  no  lenger  taryinge, 
But  forthward  they  hem  dressen,  alle  and 

some ; 
Cvistance,  that  was  with  sorwe   al  over- 
come, 264 
Fill  pale  arist,  and  drcsseth  hir  to  wende  ; 
For  wcl  she  seeth  ther  is  non  other  ende. 

Alias !  what  wonder  is  it  though  she  wepte, 
That  shal  be  sent  to  strange  nacioun(i7o) 
Fro  I'recndcs,  that  so  tendrely  hir  kepte, 
And  to  be  bounden  under  subieccioun  270 
Of  oon,  she  knoweth  not  his  condicioun. 


Housbondes  been  alle  gode,  and  han  ben 

yore, 
Tliat  knowen  wyves,  I  diu-  say  yow  no  more. 

'  Fader,'  she  sayde,  '  thy  wrecched  child 

Custance, 
Thy  yonge  doghter,  fostred  up  so  softe,  275 
And  ye,  my  modor,  my  sovcraj'n  plesance 
Over  alle  thing,  out  taken  Crist  on-lofte, 
Custance,  your  child,  hir  recomandeth 

ofte  (iSo) 

Un-to  your  grace,  for  I  shal  to  Surry o. 
No  shal  I  never  seen  yow  more  with  ye.  2S0 

Alias !  un-to  the  Barbre  naciouu 
I  moste  anon,  sin  that  it  is  your  willo  ; 
But  Crist,  that  starf  for  our  redcmpcioun. 
So  yeve  me  grace,  his  hestes  to  fulfillo  ; 
I,  -wreccho    womman,  110   fors  though    I 

spillo.  2S.S 

Wommen    are    born    to    thralilom    and 

penance. 
And  to  ben  under  mannes  governance.' 

I  trowe,  at  Troye,  whan  Pirrus  brak  the 
wal  (190) 

Or  Ylion  brendo,  at  Thebes  the  citee,  289 
X'at  Rome,  for  the  harm  thurgh  Hanibal 
That  Romaj-ns  hath  venquisshed  tymes 

three, 
Xas  herd  swich  tendre  weping  for  piteo 
As  in  the  chambre  wasforhir  dci)artinge  ; 
Bot  fortli  she  moot,  wher-so  she  wope  or 
singe. 

O  firste  moeving  cruel  firmament,  295 
With  thy  diurnal  sweigh  that  crowdest  ay 
And  hurlest  al  from  Est  til  Occident,  (199) 
That  naturelly  woldo  holde  another  way, 
Thy  crowding  set  the  heven  in  swich  array 
At  the  beginning  of  this  fiers  viage,  300 
That  cruel  Mars  hath  slajn  this  mariage. 

Infortunat  ascendent  tortuous. 
Of  which  the  lord  is  helples  fallo,  alias ! 
Out  of  his  angle  in-to  the  derkest  hous. 
O  Mars,  O  Ativzir,  as  in  this  cas  !  305 

O  feble  mono,  unhappy  been  thy  pas  ! 
Thou  knittest    thee  ther  thou  art  nat 

receyved, 
Ther  thou  wore  weel,  fro  thcnnes  artow 

wcyved.  (210) 


48o 


ZH  ^(^^^  of  ti>t  (nUn  of  Bam.    [t.  4729-4805 


Imprudent  emperoiir  of  Romo,  alias  !  309 
Was  ther  no  philosophre  in  al  tljy  toun  ? 
Is  no  tyme  bot  than  other  in  swich  cas  ? 
Of  viage  is  ther  noon  eleccioun, 
Namely  to  folk  of  heigh  conflicioun, 
Nat  whan  a  rote  is  of  a  birthe  y-knowe  ? 
Alias  !  we  ben  to  lewed  or  to  slowe.       315 

To  shippe  is  bronght  this  wofiil  faire  mayde 
Solempnely,  with  every  circumstance. 
'  Now  Jesu  Crist  be  with  yow  alle,'  she 

sayde ;  (220) 

Ther    nis    namore    but   '  farewel !    faire 

Custance  !  '  319 

She  pejnieth  h  ir  to  make  good  countenance, 
And  forth  I  lete  hir  sayle  in  this  manere, 
And  tnme  I  wol  agayn  to  my  matere. 

The  nioder  of  the  sowdan,  welle  of  •v'yces, 
Espyl'd  hath  hir  sones  plej-n  entente, 
How  he  wol  lete  his  olde  sacrifyces,      325 
And  right  anon  she  for  hir  conseil  sente; 
And  they  ben  come,  to  knowe  what  she 

mente. 
And  when  assembled  was  this  folk  in-fere, 
She  settc  hir  doun,  and  sayde  as  ye  shal 

here.  (231) 

'  Lordes,'  quod  she,  'ye  knowen  everichon, 
How  that  my  sone  in  point  is  for  to  lete  jn 
The  holy  lawes  of  our  Alkaron, 
Yeven  by  goddes  message  Makomete. 
But  oon  avow  to  greto  god  I  heto,  334 

The  lyf  shal  rather  out  of  my  Ixnly  sterte 
Than  Makometes  lawe  out  of  myn  herte  ! 

^^^lat  shulde  us  tyden  of  tliis  newe  lawe 
But  thraldom  to  our  Ixxlies  an<l  penance  ? 
And  afterward  in  hello  to  be  drawe    (241) 
For  we  reneyed  Mahoun  our  creance  ?  340 
But,  lordes,  wol  ye  maken  assurance, 
.\s  I  shal  sej-n,  assenting  to  my  lore, 
.\ud  I  shall  make  us  sauf  for  evermore  ?  ' 

They  sworen  and  assenten,  every  man,  344 
To  live  with  hir  and  dye,  and  by  hir  stonde ; 
And  everich,  in  the  beste  wjse  he  can, 
To  strengthen  hir  shal  alle  his  freendes 

fonde  ; 
And  she  hath  this  empryse  y-take  on 

honde,  (250) 


AVliich  yc  shal  lieren  that  I  shal  devyse, 
And  to  hem  alio  she  spak  right  in  this 
wyse.  350 

'  We  shul  first  fej-ue  us  cristendom  to  take. 
Cold  water  shal  not  grevo  us  but  a  lyte  ; 
And  I  shal  swich  a  feste  and  revel  make. 
That,  as  I  trowe,  I  shal  the  sowdan  quyte. 
For  though  his  wyf  be  cristned  never  so 

whj-te,  355 

She  shal  have  nede  to  wasshe  awey  the 

rede, 
Thogh  she  a  font-ful  water  with  hir  lede.' 

O  sowdanesse,  rote  of  iniquitee,  (260) 

Virago,  thou  Semyram  the  seconnde, 
O  serpent  under  fomininitee,  360 

Lyk  to  the  serpent  depe  in  helle  y-bounde, 
O  fcyned  worn  man,  al  that  may  confounde 
Vertu  and  innocence,  thurghthy  malyce, 
Is  bred  in  thee,  as  nest  of  every  vyce  ! 

O  Satan,  envious  sin  thilko  day  365 

That  thou  were  chased  from  our  heritage, 
Wei  knowestow  to  wommen  the  olde  way  ! 
Tliou  madost  Eva  bringe  us  in  servage.  (270) 
Tlmu  wolt  fordoon  this  cristen  mariage. 
Thyn  instrument  so,  wej-lawey  the  whyle ! 
Makestow  of  wommen,  whan  thou  wolt 
begyle.  371 

This  sowdanesse,  whom  I  thus  blame  and 

wario. 
Loot  prively  hir  conseil  goon  hir  way. 
What  sholde  I  in  this  tale  longer  tarie? 
Slie  rj-deth  to  the  sowdan  on  a  day,      375 
And  seyde  him,  that  she  wolde  reneye 

hir  lay. 
And  cristendom  of  preestes  handes  fonge. 
Repenting  hir  she  hethen  was  so  longe,{28o) 

Biseching  him  to  doon  hir  that  honour, 
That  she  moste  han  the  cristen  men  to 

feste  ;  380 

'  To  plesen  hem  I  wol  do  my  labour.' 
Tlie  sowdan  seith, '  I  wol  don  at  yourheste,' 
And  kneling  thanketh  hir  of  that  requeste. 
So  glad  he  was,  he  niste  what  to  seye ; 
She  kiste  hir  sone,  and  hoom  she  gooth 

hir  weye.  385 

Explicit  prima  pars.        Sequitur 
pars  secunda. 


T.  4806-4S82.]    B.    ZU  Zcik  of  t^t  (J)\att  of  Bawt. 


481 


Arryved  ben  this  Cristen  folk  to  londe, 
In  Surrie,  with  a  greet  solempne  route, 
And  hastily  this  sowdan  sente  his  sonde, 
First   to  his   moder,  and   al  the   regne 

aboute,  (291) 

And  seyde,  his  wyf  was  comen,  out  of 

doute,  390 

And   preyde   hir  for  to  ryde  agayn  the 

queue. 
The  honour  of  his  regne  to  sustene. 

Gret  was  the  prees,  and  riche  was  th'array 
Of  Surriens  and  Romayns  met  y-fere  ; 
The  moder  of  the  sowdan,  riche  and  gay, 
Eeceyveth  hir  with  al-so  glad  a  chere  396 
As  any  moder  mighte  hir  doghter  dere. 
And  to  the  nexte  citee  ther  bisyde  (300) 
A  softe  pas  solempnely  they  ryde. 

Noght  trowe  I  the  triumphe  of  Julius,  400 
Of  which  that  Lucan  maketh  swich  a  host, 
Was  royaller,  ne  more  curious 
Than  was  th'assemblee  of  this  blisful  host. 
But  this  scorpioun,  this  wikked  gost, 
The  sowdanesse,  for  al  hir  flateringe,  405 
Caste  under  this  ful  mortally  to  stinge. 

The  sowdan  comth  him-self  sone  after  this 
So  royally,  that  wonder  is  to  telle,  (310) 
And  welcometh  hir  with  alle  joye  andblis. 
And  thus  in  merthe  and  joye  I  lete  hem 

dwelle.  410 

The  fruyt  of  this  matere  is  that  I  telle. 
Whan  tyme  cam,  men  thoughte  it  for  the 

beste 
That  revel  stinte,  and  men  goon  to  hir 

reste. 

The  tyme  cam,  this  olde  sowdanesse  414 
Ordeyned  hath  this  feste  of  which  I  tolde, 
And  to  the  feste  Cristen  folk  hem  dresse 
In  general,  ye  !  botheyonge  and  olde.  (319) 
Here  may  men  feste  and  royaltee  biholde, 
And  deyntees  mo  than  I  can  yow  devyse, 
But  al  to  dere  they  boughte  it  er  they  ryse, 

O  sodeyn  wo  !  that  ever  art  successour  421 
To   worldly  blisse,  spreynd  with   bitter- 

nesse ; 
Th'  ende  of  the  joye  of  our  worldly  labour ; 
Wo  oocupieth  the  fyn  of  our  gladnesse. 
Herke  this  conseil  for  thy  sikemesse,  425 


Up-on  thy  glade  day  have  in  thy  minde 
The  unwar  wo  or  harm  that  comth  bi- 
hinde. 

For  shortly  for  to  tellen  at  o  word,     (330) 
The  sowdan  and  the  Cristen  everichone 
Ben  al  to-hewe  and  stiked  at  the  bord,  430 
But  it  were  only  dame  Custance  aUone. 
This  olde  sowdanesse,  cursed  crone, 
Hath  with  hir  frendes  doon  this  cursed 

dede, 
For  she  hir-self  wolde  al  the  contree  lede. 

Ne  ther  was  Surrien  noon  that  was  con- 
verted 435 

That  of  the  conseil  of  the  sowdan  woot, 

That  he  nas  al  to-hewe  er  he  asterted. 

And  Custance  han  they  take  anon,  foot- 
hoot,  (340) 

And  in  a  shippe  al  sterelees,  god  woot. 

They  han  hir  set,  and  bidde  hir  lerne 
sayle  440 

Out  of  Surrj'e  agayn  ward  to  Itayle. 

A  certein  tresor  that  she  thider  ladde. 
And,  sooth  to  sayn,  vitaille  gret  plentee 
They  han  hir  yeven,  and  clothes  eek  she 

hadde, 
And  forth  she  sayleth  in  the  salte  see.  445 
O  my  Custance,  ful  of  benignitee, 
O  emperoures  yonge  doghter  dere,      (349) 
He  that  is  lord  of  fortune  be  thy  stere ! 

She  blesseth  hir,  and  with  ful  pitous  voys 
Un-to  the  croys  of  Crist  thus  seyde  she, 
'  O  clere,  o  welful  auter,  holy  croys,  451 
Reed  of  the  lambes  blood  full  of  pitee, 
That  wesh  the  world  fro  the  olde  iniquitee, 
Me  fro  the  feend,  and  fro  his  clawes  kepe. 
That  day  that  I  shal  drenchen  in  the 
depe.  455 

Victorious  tree,  proteccioun  of  trewe. 
That  only  worthy  were  for  to  here      (359) 
The  kingof  heven  with  his  woundes  newe, 
The  whj^e  lamb,  that  hurt  was  with  the 

spere,  459 

Flemer  of  feendes  out  of  him  and  here 
On  which  thy  limes  feithfully  extenden, 
Me  keep,  and  yif  me  might  my  lyf  t'amen- 

den.' 


482 


B.    ZH  Zah  of  iH  QTldtt  of  Bant.    [t.  4SS3- 


•495-'- 


Teres  and  dayes  fleet  tliis  creature 
Thurgbout  tlio  see  of  Grece  unto  the 

strayto 
Of  Marrok,  as  it  was  hir  aventure  ;       465 
On  many  a  sory  ineel  now  may  she  baj"te  ; 
After  her  deeth  ful  often  may  she  wayte, 
Er  that  the  wilde  wawes  wol  hir  dryve 
Un-to  the  place,  tber  she  shal  arryve.  (371) 

Men  mighten  asken  wliy  she  was  not 
slayn  ?  470 

Eek  at  the  feste  who  mighte  hir  body  save? 

And  I  answere  to  that  demaunde  agayn, 

Who  saved  Daniel  in  the  horrible  cave, 

Ther  every  wiglit  save  he,  maister  and 
knave,  474 

Was  with  tlie  leoun  frete  er  he  asterte  ? 

No  wight  but  god,  that  he  bar  in  his  herta 

Qodliste  to  shewe  his  wonderful  miracle 
In  hir,  for  we  sholde  seen  his  mighty 
werkes  ;  (380) 

Crist,  which  that  is  to  every  harm  triacle. 
By  certcin  moncs  ofto,  ns  knowen  clerkes. 
Doth   thing   for    ceitoin    ende    that  ful 
derk  is  481 

To  mannes  wit,  that  for  our  ignorance 
Ne  conne   not   knowe  his  prudent  pur- 
veyance. 

Now,  sith  she  was  not  at  the  feste  y-slawe. 

Who  kepte  hir  fro  the  drenching  in  the 
see  ?  485 

Who  kepte  Jonas  in  the  fisshes  mawe 

Til  he  was  spouted  np  at  Ninivee  ? 

Wei  may  men  knowe  it  was  no  wight 
but  lie  (390) 

That  kepte  peplo  Ebraik  fro  hir  drench- 
inge. 

With  drye  feet  tlinrgli-out  the  see  pass- 
ings 490 

Who  bad  the  foure  spirits  of  tempest, 
That  power  ban  fanoyen  laud  and  see, 
*Bothe  north  and  south,  and  also  west 

and  est, 
Anoyeth  neither  see,  ne  land^  ne  tree  ?' 
Sothly,  the  comaundour  of  that  was  he, 
That  fro  the  tempest  ay  this  womman 

kepte  496 

As  wel  whan  [that]  she  wook  as  whan  she 

slepte. 


Wlier  mighte  this   womman  mete  and 

drinke  have  ?  (400) 

Three  yeer  and   more    how  losteth  hir 

vitaille  ?  499 

Who  feddo  the  Egipcien  Mario  in  the  cave, 
Or  in  desert?   no  wight  but  Crist,  sans 

faiUe. 
Fyve  thousand  folk  it  was  as  gret  mer- 

vaille 
With  loves  tyvo  and  fisshes  two  to  fede. 
God  sente  his  foison  at  hir  grete  nede. 

She  dryveth  forth  in-to  our  occean       505 
Tliurgh-out  our  wilde  see,  til,  atte  laste. 
Under  an  hold  that  nempnon  I  no  can, 
Fer   in   Nortlnimberlond   the   wawo   hir 

caste,  (4 10) 

And  in  the  sond  hir  ship  stiked  so  fasto. 
That  thcnnos  wolde  it  nogbt  of  al  a  tj-de, 
The  wille  of  Crist  was  that  she  shulde 

abyde.  511 

The  constable  of  the  castel  doun  is  fare 
To  seen  this  wrak,   and  al  the  ship  he 
soghte, 

j  And  fond  this  wery  womman  ful  of  care  ; 

\  Ho  fond  also  the  tresor  that  she  broghte. 
In  hir  langagc  mercy  she  bisoghte  516 
Tlie  lyf  out  of  hir  body  for  to  twinne,  (419) 
Hir  to  delivere  of  wo  that  she  was  inne. 

A  maner  Latin  corrupt  was  hir  speche, 
But  algates  tlier-by  was  she  understonde; 
The  constable,  whan  him  list  no  lenger 

seche,  521 

Tliis  woful  womman  broghte  he  to  the 

londe  ; 
She  kneleth  doun,  and  thanketh  goddes 

sonde. 
But  what  she  was,  she  wolde  no  man  seye. 
For  foul  ne  fair,  thogh  that  she  shulde 

deye.  525 

She  seyde,  she  was  so  mased  in  the  see 
That  she  forgat  hir  minde,  by  hir  trouthe ; 
The  constable  hath  of  hir  so  greet  pitee, 
And  eek  his  wyf,  that   they  wepen  for 
routhe,  (431)  529 

She  was  so  diligent,  with-outen  slouthe. 
To  serve  and  plesen  everich  in  that  place, 
Tliat  alle  hir  luven  that  loken  on  hir  face. 


T-  ^953-502 2.]  B.    ZU  Zdk  of  tH  (nUn  of  JSawe. 


483 


This  constable  and  dame  Hermengild  his 
wyf 

Were  payens,  and  that  contree  every- 
where ; 

But  Hermengihl  lovede  hir  right  as  hir 

And   Cnstance  hath  so  longe  sojourned 

there, 
In  orisons,  with  many  a  bitter  tere, 
Til  Jesu  hath  converted  thnrgh  his  grace 
Dame  Hermengild,  constablesse  of  that 

place.  (44,)   5,9 

In  al  that  lond  no  Cristen  dnrste  route, 
Alle  Cristen  folk  ben  fled  fro  that  contree 
Thurgh     payens,    that    conquereden    al 

aboute 
The  plages  of  the  North,  by  land  and  see  ; 
To  Walls  fled  the  Cristianitee 
Of  olde  Britons,  dwellinge  in  this  yle  ;  545 
Ther  was  hir  refut  for  the  mene  whyle. 

But  yot  nere  Cristen  Britons  so  exyled  (449) 
That  ther  nere  somme  that  in  hir  priveteo 
Honovired  Crist,  and  hethen  folk  bigyled  ; 
And  ny  the  castel  swiche  ther  dwelten 

three.  5,0 

That  oon  of  hem  was  blind,  and  mighte 

nat  see 
But  it  were  with  thilke  yen  of  his  mindo, 
With  whichc  men  seen,  after  that  they 

ben  blinde. 

Bright  was  the  sonno  iis  in  that  someres 
Jay>  554 

For  which  the  constable  and  his  wyf  also 
And  Custance  han  y-take  the  lighte  way 
Toward  the  see,  a  furlong  wey  or  two. 
To  pleyen  and  to  romen  to  and  fro  ;  (460) 
And  in  hir  walk  this  blinde  man  they 
mette  ^jcj 

Croked  and  old,  with  yen  faste  y-shette. 

'In    name   of    Crist,'   cryde    this    blinde 

Britoun, 
'  Dame   Hermengild,    yif  mo    my   sighte 

agayn.' 
This  ladj'  wax  affra.yed  of  the  soun, 
Lest  that  hir   hotisbond,    shortly  for   to 

sayn, 
Wolde  hir  for  Jesu  Cristes  love  han  slayn, 


Til  Custance  made  hir  bold,  and  bad  hir 

werche  566 

The  wil  of  Crist,  as  doghter  of  his  chirche. 

The  constable  wex  abasshed  of  that  sight. 
And  seyde,  '  what  amounteth  al  this  fare?' 
Ciistance   answerde,    'sire,    it   is  Cristes 
might,  (472)  570 

That  holpeth  folk  out  of  the  feendes  snare.' 
And  so  ferforth  she  gan  our  lay  declare, 
That  she  the  constable,  er  that  it  were  eve, 
Converted,  and  on  Crist  made  him  bileve. 

This  constable  was  no-thing  lord  of  this 
place  (477)  575 

Of  which  I  speke,  ther  he  Custance  fond. 
But  kepte  it  strongly,  many  wintres  space. 
Under  Alia,  king  of  al  Northumberlond, 
That  was  ful  wj^s,  anil  worthy  of  his  bond 
Agayn  the  Scottes,  as  men  may  wel  here, 
But  turne  I  wol  agayn  to  my  matere.  581 

Sathan,  that  ever  us  waiteth  to  bigyle, 
Saugh  of  Custance  al  hir  porfeccioun. 
And  caste  anon  how  ho  mighte  quyte  hir 

whyle, 
And  made  a  yong  knight,  that  dwelte  in 

that  toiin,  581; 

Love  hir  so  hote,  of  foul  affeecioun. 
That  verraily  him   thoughte    he    shuldc 

spille  (489) 

But  he  of  hir  mighte  ones  have  his  wille. 

He  woweth  hir,  but  it  availleth  noght. 
She  wolde  do  no  sinne,  by  no  weye  ;      590 
And,    for   de.spyt,    he    compassed    in   his 

thoght 
To  maken  hir  on  sliamful  deth  to  deye. 
He  wayteth  whan  the  constable  was  aweyo. 
And  prively,  up-on  a  night,  he  crepte  594 
In  Hermengikles  chambre  whyl  she  slepte. 

Wery,  for-waked  in  her  orisouns, 
Slepeth  Custance,  and  Hermengild  also. 
This   knight,    thurgh    Sathanas   tempta- 

ciouns,  (500) 

Al  softely  is  to  the  bed  y-go. 
And  kitte  the  throto  of  Hermengild  a-two, 
And    leyde    the    blody    knyf    by    dame 

Custance,  6oi 

And  wente  his  wey,   ther  god  yeve  him 

meschance  ! 


484 


ZU  ^of«  of  f$e  (rHan  of  Bawe.    [t.  5023-5095- 


Sone   after  comth   this   constable   lioom 

agayn,  1 

And  eok  Alia,  that  king  was  of  that  lend,  1 
And  saugh  his  wytdesi)itously  y-slayn,  605 
For  which  ful  ofte  he  weep  and  wrong  his 

hond,  I 

And  in  the  bed  the  bloiiy  knyf  he  fond        | 
By  damo  Custance  ;  alias !  what  mighte 

she  seye?  (510)  | 

For  verray  wo  hir  wit  was  al  aweye.  | 

To  king  Alia  was  told  al  this  meschance, 
And  eek  the  tyme,  and  where,  and  in 
what  wyse  61 1 

That  in  a  sh  ip  was  founden  dame  distance, 
As  heer-biforn  that  ye  han  herd  de\'5'se. 
The  kinges  herte  of  pitee  g^an  agrj-se, 
Whan  he  saugh  so  Itenigne  a  creature  615 
Falle  in  disese  and  in  misaventure. 

For  as  the  lomb  toward  his  deeth  is  broght. 
So  stant  this  innocent  bifore  the  king  ; 
This  false  knight  that  hath  this  tresoun 

wroght  (521) 

Berth  hir  on  hond  that  she  hath  doon 

this  thing.  6io 

iBut    nathelees,    ther    was    [ful]    greet 

mourning 
Among  the  jtcple,  and  seyn,  '  they  can  not 

gesse 
That  she  hath  doon  so  g^eet  a  wikked- 

nesse,  623 

For  they  han  seyn  hir  ever  so  vertuous, 
And  loving  Hermengild  right  us  her  lyf.' 
Of  this  bar  witnesse  everich  in  that  hous 
Save  he  that  Hermengild  slow  with  his 

knyf 
This  gentil  king  hath  caught  a  gret  motyf 
Of  this  witnesse,  and  thoghte  he  wolde 

enquere  (53,) 

Deiiper  in  this,  a  trouthe  for  to  lere.     630 

Alias !  Custance !  thou  hast  no  champioun, 
Xe  fighte  canstow  nought,  so  weylawey  ! 
Bat  he,  that  starf  for  our  redempcionn 
And  bond  Sathan  (and  yit  lyth  ther  he 

lay) 

So  be  thy  stronge  champioun  this  day !  635 
For,  but-if  Crist  open  miracle  kj-the, 
AVithouten  gilt  thou  shalt  be  slayn  as 
swythe. 


She  sette  her  doun  on  knees,  and  thus 
she  sayde,  (540) 

'  Immortal  god,  that  savedest  Susanne 

Fro  false  blame,  and  thou,  merciful 
mayde,  640 

Mary  I  mene,  doghter  to  Seint  Anne, 

Bifore  whos  child  aungeles  singe  Osanne, 

If  I  be  giltlees  of  this  felonye, 

My  socour  be,  for  elles  I  shal  dye  ! '       644 

Have  ye  nat  seyn  som  tyme  a  pale  face, 
Ajnong  a  prees,  of  him  that  hath  be  lad 
Toward  his  deeth,   wher-as  him  gat  no 

grace. 
And  swich  a  colour  in  his  face  hath  had, 
Men   mighte   knowe  his  face,   that  was 

bistad,  (551) 

Amonges  alle  the  faces  in  that  route  :  650 
So  stant  Custance,  and  loketh  hir  aboute. 

O  queues,  livinge  in  prosperitee, 
Duchesses,  and  ye  ladies  evorichi>no, 
Haveth  som  routhe  on  hir  advcrsitec  ; 
An  enii>erourcs  doghter  stant  allone  ;   655 
She  hath  no  wight  to  whom  to  make  hir 

nioue. 
O  blood  royal,  that  stondest  in  this  drede, 
Fer  ben  thy  freendes  at  thy  g^cte  nede! 

This  Alia  king  hath  swich  compassioun, 
As  gentil  herte  is  fulflld  of  pitee,  (562)  660 
That  from  his  ytn  ran  the  water  doun. 
'  Now  hastily  do  fecche  a  book,'  quod  he, 
'  And  if  this  knight  wol  sweren  how  that 

she 
This  womman  slow,  yet  wole  we  us  avyse 
Whom  that  we  wole  that  shal  ben  our 

jnstyse.'  665 

A  Briton  book,  writen  with  Evangyles, 

Was  fet,  and  on  this  )xx>k  he  swoor  anoon 

She  gilty  was,  and  in  the  mene  whyles 

j  A  hand  him  smoot  upon  the  nekke-boon, 

I  That  doun  he  fil  atones  as  a  stoon,  (572)  670 

;  And  bothe  his  yCn  broste  out  of  his  face 

In  sight  of  every  body  in  that  place. 

j  A  vols  was  herd  in  general  audience, 
And    seyde,    '  thou    hast    desclaundred 
giltelees 
I  The    doghter    of   holy  chirche    in    hey 
I  presence ;  675 


5096-5169.]    B.    'tU  ^ak  of  iU  Qn<»tt  of  Bawi. 


4«5 


Thtis  hastou  doon,  and  yet  holde  I  my 

pees.' 
Of  this  mervaille  agast  was  al  the  prees  ; 
As  mased  folk  they  stoden  everichone,  (580) 
For  drede  of  wreche,  save  Custance  allone. 

Greet  was  the  drede  and  eek  the  repent- 
ance 680 

Of  hem  that  hadden  wrong  snspeccioun 

Upon  this  sely  innocent  Custance  ; 

And,  for  this  miracle,  in  conclusionn, 

And  by  distances  mediacioun, 

The  king,  and  many  another  in  that 
place,  685 

Converted  was,  thanked  be  Cristes  grace ! 

This  false  knight  was  slayn  for  his  \in- 

trouthe 
By  jiigement  of  Alia  hastifly  ;  (59<i) 

And  yet  Cnstance  hadde  of  liis  deoth  gret 

routhe. 
And  after  this  Jesus,  of  his  mercy,        690 
Made  Alia  wedden  ful  solempnely 
This  holy  mayden,  that  is  so  bright  and 

shene. 
And  thus  hath    Crist   y-maad    Custance 

a  qnene. 

But  who  was  woful,  if  I  shal  nat  lye, 
Of  this  wedding  but  Donegild,  and  na  mo. 
The  kinges  moder,  ful  of  tirannye?  696 
Hir  thoughte  hi  r  cursed  herte  brast  a-two ; 
She  wolde  noght  hir  sone  had  do  so ;  (6(X)) 
Hir  thoughte  a  despit,  that  he  sholde  take 
So  strange  a  creature  un-to  his  make.  700 

Me  list  nat  of  the  chaf  nor  of  the  stree 
Maken  so  long  a  tale,  as  of  the  com. 
What  sholde  I  tellen  of  the  royaltee 
At  mariage,  or  which  cours  gooth  biforn, 
Wlio  bloweth  in  a  trompe  or  in  an  horn  ? 
The  fruit  of  every  tale  is  for  to  seye  ;    706 
They  ete,  and  drinke,  and  daunce,  and 
singe,  and  pleye. 

They  goon  to  bedde,  as  it  was  skile  and 

right ;  (6:0) 

For,    thogh    that   wj-ves   been    ful    holy 

thinges. 
They  moste  take  in  pacience  at  night  710 
Swich  maner  necessaries  as  been  plesinges 
To   folk   that   han   y-wedded   hem  with 
ringes, 


And  leye  a  lyte  hir  holinesse  asyde 
As  for  the  tyme  ;  it  may  no  bet  bityde. 

On  hir  he  gat  a  knave-child  anoon,       715 
And  to  a  bishop  and  his  constable  eke 
He  took  his  wyf  to  kepe,  whan  he  is  goon 
To  Scotland-ward,  his  fo-men  for  to  seke ; 
Now  faire  Custance,  that  is  so  humble 

and  meke,  (621) 

So  longe  is  goon  with  childe,  til  that  stillo 
She  halt  hir  chambre,  abyding  Cristes 

wille.  72 1 

The  tyme  is  come,  a  knave-child  she  ber ; 
Mauricins  at  the  font-stoon  they  him  calle ; 
This  constable  dooth  forth  come  a  mes- 

sager. 
And  wroot  un-to  his  king,  that  cleped 

was  Alle,  725 

How  that  this  blisful  tyding  is  bifalle, 
And  othere  tydings  speedful  for  to  seye  ; 
He  tak'th  the  lettre,  and  forth  he  gootli 

his  weye.  (630) 

This  messager,  to  doon  his  avantage,     729 
Un-to  the  kinges  moder  rydeth  swythe. 
And  salueth  hir  ful  faire  in  his  langage, 
'  Madame,'  quod  he,  '  ye  may  be  glad  and 

blythe. 
And  thanke  god  an  hundred  thousand 

sythc  ; 
My  lady  quene   hath   child,  witli-outen 

doute,  73+ 

To  joye  and  blisse  of  nl  this  regne  aboute. 

Lo,  heer  the  lettres  seled  of  this  thing, 
That  I  mot  here  with  al  the  haste  I  may ; 
If  ye  wol  aught  un-to  your  sone  the  king, 
I  am  your  servant,  bothe  night  and  day.' 
Donegild  answerde,  '  as  now  at  this  tyme, 

nay;  (642)  740 

But  heer  al  night  I  wol  thou  take  thy 

reste, 
Tomorwe  wol  I  seye  thee  what  me  leste.' 

This  messager  drank  sadly  ale  and  wyn. 
And  stolen  were  his  lettres  prively 
Out  of  his  box,  whyl  he  sleep  as  a  s-wyn  : 
And  countrefeted  was  ful  subtilly  740 
Another  lettre,  wroght  ful  sinfully, 
Un-to  the  king  direct  of  this  matere  (650) 
Fro  his  constable,  as  ye  shul  after  here. 


486 


B.    ZU  ^afe  of  tU  QU<*n  of  JSawe.    [t.  5170-5246. 


The  lettro  spak,  '  the  queen  Uelivered  was 
Of  so  horrible  a  fecndly  creature,  751 

That  in  the  castel  noon  so  hardy  was 
Tliat  any  whyle  dorste  ther  endure. 
The  moder  was  an  elf,  by  aventure 
Y-come,  by  charmes  or  by  sorcci-ye,      755 
And  every  wight  hateth  hir  companye.' 

"Wo  was   this   king  whan    he  this  lettre 
had  scyn,  (659) 

But  to  no  wighto  he  toldc  his  sorwes  sore, 
Br.t  of  his  owene  honde  he  wroot  ngcyn, 
'  Welcome  the  sonde  of  Crist  for  evermore 
To  me,  that  am  now  lerncd  in  his  lore ;  761 
liord,    welcome    be    thy    lust    and     thy 

plcsaunce, 
My  lust  I  putte  al  in  thyn  -ordinnunce  ! 

Kepeth  this  child,  al  lie  it  foul  or  fair, 
And    eek    my    wyt',    un-to    myn    hoom- 

cominge ;  765 

Crist,  whan  him  list,  may  sonde  mo  an 

heir 
More  agreablo  than  this  to  my  lykinge." 
This  lettro  he  seloth,  prively  wepinge,  (670 
Which  to  the  messager  was  take  -sono. 
And  forth  he  gooth  ;  ther  is  na  more  to 

done.  770 

O  messager,  fulfild  of  dronkenesse, 
Strong  is  thybreeth,  thy  limes  faltron  ay. 
And  thou  biwreyest  alle  sccreenessc. 
Thy  mind  is  lorn,  thou  janglcst  as  a  jay, 
Thy  face  is  turned  in  a  newe  array  I      775 
Ther  dronkenesse  regfneth  in  any  route, 
Ther  is  no  conseil  hid,  with-outen  doiite. 

()  Donegild,  I  ne  have  noon  tinglish  digne 
Un-to  thy  malice  and  thy  tininnye  !  (681 1 
And  therfor  to  the  foend  1  thee  rcsigne, 
liOt  him  cndj-tcn  of  thy  traitorj-e  I         781 
Fy,  mannish,  fy  I  o  nay.  liy  g<>d,  I  lye, 
Fy,  feendly  spirit,  for  I  dar  wel  telle, 
Thoxtgh  thou  heer  walke,  thy  spirit  is  in 
heUe !  784 

This  messager  comth  fro  the  king  agayn, 
Antl  at  the  klnges  modres  court  he  lighte, 
And  she  was  of  this  messager  ful  fayn. 
And    plesed    him    in  al  that   over   she 

mighte.  (''90) 

He   drank,   and   wel  his    girdel    under- 

pighte. 


He  slepeth,  and  ho  snoreth  in  his  gj-se  79*1 
Al  night,  fun-til  the  Sonne  gan  aryse. 

Eft  were  his  lettres  stolen  everichon 
And  oountrefeted  lettres  in  this  wyse  ; 
'  The  king  comandeth  his  constable  anon, 
Up  peyne  of  hanging,  and  on  heigh  juj'se. 
That  ho  ne  sholde  sutfren  in  no  wyse   796 
Custance  in-with  his  rogue  for  t'abyde 
Thre  dayes  and  a  quarter  of  a  tyde  ;  (7<x)) 

But  in  the  same  ship  ivs  he  hir  fond, 
Hir  and  hir  yonge  sone,  and  nl  hir  gere, 
He  sholde  putte,  and  croudo  hir  fro  the 

lond,  801 

And  charge  hir  that  she  never  oft  come 

there.' 
O  my  Custance,  wel  may  thy  goost  have 

fere 
And  sloping  in  thy  drecm  been  in  penance. 
When  Donegild  caste  al  this  ordinance  ! 

This  messager  on  morwe,  whan  he  wook, 
Un-to  the  castel  halt  the  nexte  wey,  (709) 
And  to  the  constable  he  the  lettre  took  ; 
.\nd  whan  that  he  this  pitous  lettre  sey, 
Ful    ofte   he   seydu    'alias!'    and    '  wey- 

lawey  ! '  8iu 

'Lord    Crist,'    quoil    ho,    'how   may    this 

world  endure  ? 
So  ful  of  sinne  is  many  a  creature  ! 

O  mighty  god,  if  that  it  bo  thj'  willo, 
Sith  thou  art  rightful  jugo,  how  may  it  be 
Tliat  thoxi  wolt  suffrtn  innocents  to spillo. 
And  wikked  folk  regno  in  prosperitee'?8i6 
O  gmid  Custance,  alias !  so  wo  is  me 
That  I  mot  be  thy  tormentour,  or  deyo 
On   shames   deeth ;    ther    is   noon  other 
weye!'  (721) 

Wepen  bothe  yonge  and  olde  in  al  tliat 

place,  820 

Wlian  that  the   king  this  cursed  lettre 

sente, 
And  Custance,  with  a  deedly  pnle  face, 
Tlie  ferthe  day  toward  hir  ship  she  wente. 
But  natheles  she  taketh  in  gofjd  entente 
The  wille  of  Crist,  and,  kncling  on  the 

stronde,  825 

She  seyde,    '  lord !    ay   wel-com    be   thy 

sonde  ! 


T.  5247-5314.]    B.    Z^t  Zak  of  tU  (l.UAn  of  Bam. 


487 


He  that  me  kepte  fro  the  false  blame 
Whyl  I  was  on  the  londe  amonges  yow, 
He  can  me  kepe  from  hamie  and  eek  fro 
shame  (73') 

Iji  salte  see,  al-thogh  I  see  nat  how.     830 
As  strong  as  ever  he  was,  he  is  yet  now. 
In  lijm  triste  I,  and  in  his  moder  dere. 
That  is  to  me  my  seyl  and  eek  my  stere.' 

Hir  litel  child  lay  weping  in  hir  arm,  834 
And  kneling,  pitovisly  to  him  she  seyde, 
'Pees,    litel    sone,    I   wol    do    thee    non 

harm.' 
With  that  hir  kerchef  of  hir  heed  she 

hrej-de, 
And  over  his  litel  yen  she  it  leyde  ;     (740; 
And  in  hir  arm  she  lulleth  it  fill  faste. 
And  in-to  heven  hir  yen  up  she  caste.  840 

'  Moder,'   quod  she,   '  and  mayde   bright, 

Maiye, 
Sooth  is  that  thurgh  wommannes  cgge- 

ment 
Mankind  was  lorn  and  damned  ay  to  dye. 
For  which  thy  child  was  on  a  croys  y- 

rent; 
Thy  blisful  y6n  sawe  al  his  torment ;    845 
Tlian  is  ther  no  comparisoun  bitwene 
Thy  wo  and  any  wo  man  may  sustene. 

Thou  sawe  thy  child  y-slayn  bifor  thyn 
yen,  (750) 

And  yet  now  liveth  my  litel  child,  parfay ! 

Now,  lady  bright,  to  whom  alle  wofiU 
cryen,  850 

Thou  gloric  of  wommanhede,  thou  faire 
may. 

Thou  haven  of  refut,  brighte  sterre  of  day, 

Rcwe  on  my  child,  that  of  thy  gentillesse 

Rawest  on  every  rewful  in  distresse  ! 

O  litel  child,  alias  !  what  is  thy  gilt,  855 
That    never    wroughtest    sinne    as    yet, 

Pardee, 
\\niy  wil  thyn  harde  fader  han  thee  spilt? 
O  mercj',  dere  constable  I'  quod  she;  (760) 
'  As  lat  my  litel  child  dwelle  heer  with 

thee ; 
And  if  thou  darst    not    saven    him,   for 

blame,  860 

So  kis  him  ones  in  his  fadres  name  ! ' 


Ther-with    she    loketh    bakward   to    the 

londe, 
And   seydc,    '  far-wel,    hoiisbond   routhc- 

lees  ! ' 
And  up  she  rist,  and  walketh  doun  the 

strondo 
Toward  the  ship  ;  hir  folweth  althe  prees. 
And  ever  she  preyeth  hir  child  to  holde 

his  pees  ;  866 

And  taketh  hir  leve,  and  with  an  holy 

entente 
She   blesseth    hir ;    and    in-to    ship    she 

wente.  (77") 

Vitailled  was  the  ship,  it  is  no  drcdc, 
Habundantly  for  hir,  fill  longe  space,  870 
And  other  necessaries  that  sholdo  nede 
She  hadde  y-nogh,  horied  be  goddcs  grace ! 
For  wind  and  weder  almighty  god  pur- 

chace. 
And  bringe  hir   lioom  !    I  can  no  bettre 

seye ;  874 

But  in  the  see  she  drj^eth  forth  hir  weye. 

Explicit   secunda   pars. 
Sequitur  pars  tercia. 

Alia  the  king  comth  h<jom,  sone  after  this. 
Unto  his  castel  of  the  which  I  tolde,  (779) 
And  axeth  wher  his  wyf  and  his  child  is. 
The  constable  gan  aboute  his  herte  colde. 
And  pleynly  al  the  mancr  he  him  tolde  880 
As  ye  han  herd,  I  can  telle  it  no  bettre. 
And  sheweth  the  king  his  seel  and  [eek] 
his  let t re, 

And  seyde,  '  lord,  ns  j'e  comaunded  me 
Up  peyne  of  deeth,  so  have  I  doon,  certein.' 
This  messager  tormented  was  til  he      885 
Moste  biknowe  and  tellen,  plat  and  plein, 
Fro  night  to  night,  in  what  place  he  had 

leyn. 
And  thus,  by  wit  and  subtil  enqueringe, 
Ymagined  was  by  whom  this  harm  gan 

springe.  (791) 

The  hand  was  knowe  that  the  lettre  wroot, 
j  And  al  the  venim  of  this  cursed  dede,  891 

But  in  what  wyse,  certeinly  I  noot. 

Th'effect  is  this,  that  Alia,  out  of  drede, 

His  moder  slow,  that  men  may  pleinly 
I  rede, 


488 


ZU  Zak  of  tU  QHAtt  of  Bant.    [t.  5315-5.^84. 


For  that  she  traitour  was  to  hir  ligeaunce. 

Thus  endeth  olde   Donegild  with    mes- 

cbaunce.  S96 

The  sorwe  that  this  Alia,  night  and  day, 
Maketh  for  liis  wyf  and  for  his  child  also, 
Ther  is  no  tongo  that  it  telle  may.  (801) 
But  now  wol  I  un-to  Custance  go,  900 

That  fleteth  in  the  see,  in  pej-ne  and  wo, 
Fyve  yeer    and    more,    as   lyked  Cristes 

sonde, 
Er  that  hir  ship  approohed  un-to  londe. 

Under  an  hethen  castcl,  atte  laste, 

Of  which    the  name  in   my  text  noght 

I  finde,  90s 

Custance  and  eek  hir  child  the  see  up- 

caste. 
Almighty  god,  that  saveth  al  mankinde, 
Have  on  Custance  and  on  hir  child  som 

minde,  (8i<>) 

That  fallen  is  in  hethen  land  efl-sone,909 
In  point  to  spille,  as  I  shal  telle  yow  sone. 

Doun  from  the  castel  comth  ther  many 

a  wight 
To  gauren  on  this  ship  and  on  Custance. 
But  shortly,  from  the  castel,  on  a  night, 
The  lordes  sty-ward — god  yeve  him  mes- 

chaunce ! —  914 

A  theef,  that  had  reneyed  our  creaunce, 
Com  in-to  ship  allono,  and  seyde  he  sholdo 
Hir  lemman   be,   wher-so  she  wolde  or 

nolde,  (819) 

Wo  was  this  wrecched  womman  tho  bigon, 
Hir  child  crjde,  and  she  cryde  pitously  ; 
But  blisful  Marie  hcelp  hir  right  anon  ; 
For  with  hir  striigling  wel  and  miglitUy 
The  theef  fil  over  bord  al  sodeinly,  922 
And  in  the  see  he  dreynte  for  vengeance  ; 
And  thus  hath   Crist   unwemmed   kept 

Custance. 

Anctor. 
O  foule  lust  of  luxurie  !  lo,  thyn  ende  ! 
Nat    only   that    thou    feyntest    mannes 

minde,  926 

But  verraily  thou  wolt  his  body  shende  ; 
Th"ende   of  thy  werk   or   of    thy   lustes 

blinde  (830) 

Is  compleyning,  how  many-oon  may  men 

finde 


That  noght  for  werk  som-tj-me,  but  for 
th 'entente  930 

To  doon  this  sinne,  ben  outher  sleyn  or 
shente  ! 

How  may  this  wayke  womman  han  this 

strengthe 
Hir  to  defende  agayn  this  renegat  ? 

0  Golias,  uiimesiirable  of  longtlie. 

How  mighte  David  make  thee  .so  mat,  935 
So  yong  and  of  armure  so  dosolat? 
How dorste  lie  loke  ui)-on  thy  dredful  face? 
Wel  may  men   seen,   it  nas   but  goddes 
grace !  (840) 

Who  yaf  Judith  corago  or  hardinesse 
To  sleen  him,  Olofernus,  in  his  tente,  940 
And  to  deliveren  out  of  wrecchednesse 
Tlio  peplo  of  god?  I  seye,  for  this  entente, 
That,  riglit  as  god  spirit  of  vigour  sente 
To  horn,  an<l  saved  hem  out  of  meschance, 
So  sente  ho  might  and  vigour  to  Custance. 

Forth  goth  hir  ship  thurgh-out  tho  narwe 
month  946 

Of  .lubaltar  and  Septe,  dryving  ay, 

Som-tyme  West,  som-tyme  North  and 
South,  (850) 

And   som-tyme    Est,    ful    many   a   wery 

Til  Cristes  moder  (blessed  be  she  ay !)   950 
Hath  shapen,  thurgh  hir  endelees  good- 

ncsse. 
To  make  an  ende  of  al  hir  hevinesse. 

Now  lat  us  stinte  of  Custance  but  a  throwe. 
And  speke  we  of  the  Romain  Emperour, 
That  out  of  Snrrie  hath  by  lettres  knowe 
The  slaughtre  of  Cristen  folk,  and  dis- 
honour 956 
Don  to  his  doghter  by  a  fals  traitour, 

1  mene  the  cursed  wikked  sowdanesse, 
That  at  the  feste  leet  sleen  both  more  and 

lesse.  (861) 

For  which  this  emperour  hath  sent  anoon 
His  senatour,  with  royal  ordinance,      961 
And  othere  lordes,  got  wot,  many  oon, 
On  Surriens  to  taken  heigh  vengeance. 
They  brennen,  sleen,  and  bringe  hem  to 
meschance 


'X.  5385-54; 


.]    B.    •e^e  Zak  of  tU  (?Han  of  Sawe. 


Ful  many  a  day;  but  shortly,  this  is 
the  ende,  9^5 

Homward  to  Home  they  shapen  hem  to 
wende. 

This  senatour  repaireth  with  victorie  j 

To  Rome-ward,  sayling  ful  royally,     (870)  ' 
And  mette  the  ship  dryving,  as  seith  the 

storie, 
111  which  Custance  sit  ful  pitously.        971) 
Xo-thing  ne  knew  he  what  she  was,  ue 

why 
She  was  in  swich  array ;  ne  she  nil  seye 
Of  hir  estaat,  althogh  she  sholde  deye. 

He  bringeth  hir  to  Rome,  and  to  his  wyf 
He  yaf  hir,  and  hir  yonge  sone  also  ;  975 
And  with  the  senatour  she  laddo  her  lyf. 
Tlius  can  our  lady  bringen  out  of  wo  (879) 
^V(lful  Custance,  and  many  another  mo. 
And  longe  tyme  dwelled  she  in  that  place, 
In  holy  werkes  ever,  as  was  hir  grace.  980 

The  senatoures  wyf  hir  amite  was, 

But  for  al  that  she  knew  hir  never  the 

more ; 
1  wol  no  lenger  tarien  in  this  cas, 
But  to  king  Alia,  which  I  spak  of  yore, 
Tliat   for    his   wyf    wepeth    and    syketh 

sore,  985 

I  wol  retourne,  and  lete  I  wol  Custance 
Under  the  senatoures  governance. 

King  -AlUi,  which  that  haddi;  his  modor 
slayn,  (890) 

L'pon  a   day  til  in  swich  repentance. 
That,  if  I  shortly  tellen  shal  and  plain,  990 
To    Rome    he    comth,    to    receyveu    his 

penance  ; 
And  putte  hiin  in  the  popes  ordinance 
In  heigh  and  low,  and  Jesu  Crist  bisoghte 
Foryove     his    wikked    werkes     that     he 
wroghte.  994 

The  fame  anon  thurgh  Rome  toun  is  born, 
How  Alia  king  shal  come  in  pilgrimage. 
By  herbergeovirs  that  wenten  him  biforn ; 
For  which  the  senatour,  as  was  usage,  (900) 
Rood  him  ageyn,  and  many  of  his  linage, 
As  wel  to  shewen  his  heighe  magnificence 
As  to  don  any  king  a  reverence.  looi 


Greet  chere  dooth  this  noble  senatour 
To  lung  Alia,  and  he  to  him  also  ; 
Everich  of  hem  doth  other  greet  honour  ; 
And  so  bifel  that,  in  a  day  or  two,       1005 
This  senatour  is  to  king  Alia  go 
To  feste,  and  shortly,  if  I  shal  nat  lye, 
distances  sone  wente  in  his  companye. 

Som    men   wolde    seyn,    at    reqvieste    of 
Custance,  (9") 

This  senatour  hath  lad  this  child  to  feste ; 
I  may  nat  tellen  every  circumstance,  loii 
Be  as  be  may,  ther  was  he  at  the  leste. 
But  soth  is  this,  that,  at  his  modres  heste, 
Biforn  Alia,  during  the  metes  space. 
The  child  stood,  loking  in  the  kinges  face. 

This  Alia  king  hath  of  this  child  greet 

wonder,  1016 

And  to  the  senatour  lie  seyde  anon, 
'  Whos  is  that  faire  child  that  stondeth 

yonder  ? '  (920) 

'  I  noot,'  quod  he,  '  by  god,  and  by  seint 

John !  1019 

A  moder  he  hath,  but  fader  hath  he  non 
That  I  of  woot ' — but  shortly,  in  a  stounde, 
He  tolde  Alia  how  that  this  child  was 

founde. 

'  But  god  wot,'  quod  this  senatour  also, 
'  So  vertuous  a  livere  in  my  lyf,  1024 

Ne  saugh  I  never  as  she,  ne  herde  of  mo 
Of  worldly  wommen,  mayden,  nor  of  wyf ; 
I  dar  wel  seyn  hir  hadde  lever  a  knyf 
Thurgh-out  her  breste,  than  been  a  wom- 

man  wikke  ;  (930) 

Ther  is  no  man  coudo  bringe  hir  to  that 

prLkko.' 

Now  was  this  child  as  lyk  un-to  Custance 
As  possible  is  a  creature  to  be.  103 1 

This  Alia  hath  the  face  in  remembrance 
Of  dame  Custance,  and  ther-on  mused  he 
If  that  the  childes  moder  were  aught  she 
That  was  his  wj'f,  and  prively  he  sighte, 
And  spedde  hina  fro  the  table  that  he 
mighte.  1036 

'  Parfay,'  thoghte  he,  '  fantome  is  in  myu 

heed  ! 
I  oghte  deme,  of  skilful  jugement,      (940) 


K3 


49° 


Zi)t  Za"t  of  tU  (yiUn  of  Bavot.    [t.  5459-553S. 


That  in  the  salte  see  my  wj't'is  deed.' 
And  afterward  he  made  his  argument — 
'  \\'hat  woot  I,  if  that  Crist  have  hider 

y-sent  104 1 

My  wyf  by  see,  as  wel  as  he  hir  sente 
To    my   contree    fro    thennes    that   she 

wente  ^ ' 

And,  after  noon,  hoom  with  the  senatour 
Goth  Allu,  for  to  seen  this  wonder  chauuce. 
This  senatour  dooth  Alhi  greet  honour. 
And  hastifiy  he  sente  after  Custauncc. 
IJut  trusteth  weel,  hir  liste  nat  to  daunce 
Whan  that  she  wiste  wherefor  was  that 
sonde.  (951)  1049 

Unnethe  up-on  hir  feet  she  mighte  stonde. 

■\VTien  Alia  saugh  his  wyf,  faire  he  hir 

grette, 
And  weep,  that  it  was  routhe  for  to  see. 
For  at  the  firste  look  he  on  hir  sette 
He  knew  wel  vorraily  that  it  was  she. 
And  she  for  sorwe  as  donib  stnnt  as  a  tree  ; 
So  was  hir  hertc  shet  in  hir  distresse  1056 
Whan  she  remembrcd  his  unkindeuesse. 

TwyOs  she  swowned  in  his  owne  sighte ; 
He  weep,  and  liini  excaseth  pitoosly  : — 
'  Now  god,'  quod  he,  '  and  alle  his  halwes 
brighto  (962)  1060 

So  wisly  on  my  soule  as  have  mercy, 
Tliat  of  your  harm  as  gilt«lees  am  I 
.\s  is  Maurice  my  sone  so  lyk  your  face  ; 
EUesthe  feend  me  fecche  out  of  this  place ! ' 

Long  was  the  sobbing  and  the  bitter  peyne 
Er  that  hir  woful  hertes  mighte  cesse  ; 

0  reet  was  the  pitee  for  to  here  hem  plej-ne, 
Thurgh  whicho  pleintes  gan  hir  wo  en- 

cresse.  (970) 

1  prey  yow  al  my  labour  to  relesse  ; 

I  may  nat  telle  hir  wo  un-til  tomorwe,  1070 
I  am  so  wery  for  to  speke  of  sorwe. 

But  fynally,  when  that  the  sooth  is  wist 
That  Alia  giltelees  was  of  hir  wo, 
I  trowe  an  hundred  tymes  been  they  kist, 
And  swich  a  blisse  is  ther  bitwix  hem  two 
That,  save  the  joye  that  lasteth  evcrmo, 
Ther  is  non  lyk,  that  any  creature       1077 
Hath  sej-n  or  shal,  whyl  that  the  world 
may  dure.  (980) 


Tho  preyde  she  hir  housbond  mekelj-. 
In  relief  of  hir  longe  pitous  pyne,         loSo 
That  he  wold  preye  hir  fader  specially 
That,  of  his  magestee,  he  wolde  enclyne 
To  vouche-sauf  som  day  with  him  to  dyne ; 
She  preyde  him  eek,  ho  sholde  bj-  no  weye 
Un-to  hir  fader  no  word  of  hir  seye,    1085 

Som  men  wold  seyn,  how  that  the  child 

Maurice 
Doth  this  message  un-to  this  emperour  ; 
But,  OS  I  gesse.  Alia  was  nat  so  nyce  (990) 
To  him,  that  was  of  so  sovereyn  honour 
As  he  that  is  of  Cristen  folk  the  flour,  1090 
Sente  any  child,  but  it  is  bet  t<j  deme 
He  wente  him-self,  and  so  it  may  wel  seme. 

This  emjierour  hath  graunted  gentilly 
To  come  to  diner,  as  he  him  bisoghte  ; 
And  wel  rede  I,  ho  loked  bisily  1095 

I'ixin   this   child,    and    on   his    doghter 

thoghto. 
Alia  goth  to  his  in,  and,  as  him  oghto. 
Arrayed  for  tliis  fcsto  in  every  wyse  (i<x);>) 
As  ferforth  as  his  conning  may  sulfyse. 

Tho  morwe  cam,  and  Alia  gan  him  dresso, 
And  eek  his  'wj'f,  this  emperour  to  mete  ; 
And  forth  they  ryde  in  joye  and  in  glad- 

nesse.  1 102 

And  whan  she  saugh  hir  fader  inthestrete, 
She  lighte  doun,  and  falleth  him  to  fete. 
'  Fader,'   quod  she,    '  your   yonge    child 

Custance  1 105 

Is  now  ful  clene  out  of  your  remembrance. 

I  am  your  doghter  Custancfi,'  quod  she, 
'  That  whylom  ye  han  sent  un-to  Surrye. 
It  am  I,  fader,  that  in  the  salte  see  (loii) 
Was  put  allone  and  dampncd  for  to  dye. 
Now,  gode  fader,  mercy  I  yow  crye,  iiu 
Send  me  namore  un-to  non  hethenesse. 
But  thonketh  my  lord  heer  of  his  kinde- 
nesse.' 

Who  can  the  pitous  joye  tellen  al 
Bitwix   hem    three,    sin    they   ben   thus 
y-mette?  1115 

But  of  my  tale  make  an  ende  I  shal ; 
The  day  goth  faste,  I  wol  no  longer  lette. 
This  glade  folk  to  diner  they  hem  sette  ; 


T.  5539-55S2.]    B.    ZH  tah  of  tU  ^o^n  of  B,mt. 


491 


In  joje  and  blisse  at  mete  I  lete  hem 

dwelle  (io2i)  1119 

A  thousand  fold  wel  more  than  I  can  telle. 

This  child  Maurice  was  sithen  emperour 
Maad  by  the  pope,  and  lived  Cristenly. 
To  Cristes  chirche  he  dide  greet  honour  ; 
But  I  lete  al  his  storie  passen  by, 
Of  Custance  is  my  tale  specially.  1125 

In  olde  Romayn  gestes  may  men  finde 
Maurices  lyf ;  I  here  it  noght  in  minde. 

This  king  Alia,  whan  he  his  tjTtne  sey,  ( 1030) 
With  his  Custance,  his  holy  wyf  so  swete, 
To  Engelond  been  they  come  the  righte 

wey,  1130 

Wher-as  they  live  in  joye  and  in  quiete. 
But  litel  whyl  it  lasteth,  I  yow  hete, 
Joye   of  this   world,    for   tj-me    wol   nat 

abydo ; 
Fro  day  to  night  it  changeth  as  the  tyde. 

Wlio  lived  ever  in  swich  delyt  o  day  1 135 
That  him  ne  moevcd  outher  conscience, 
Or  ire,  or  talent,  or  som  kin  affray,  {1039) 
Envye,  or  pryde,  or  passion,  or  offence  ? 
I  ne  seye  but  for  this  ende  this  sentence, 
That  litel  whyl  in  joye  or  in  plesance  1 140 
Lasteth  the  blisse  of  AUa  with  Custance. 


For  deetli,  that  taketh  of  heigh  and  low 

his  rente, 
When  passed  was  a  yeer,  even  as  I  gesse. 
Out  of  this  world  this  king  AUa  he  hente. 
For  whom  Custance  hath  ful  gret  hevi- 

nesse.  1145 

Now  lat  us  preyen  god  his  soule  blesse  ! 
And  dame  Custance,  f3'nally  to  seye. 
Towards  the  toun  of  Home  gooth  hir  weye. 

To  Rome  is  come  this  holy  creature,  (1051) 
And  fyndeth  ther  hir  frendes  hole  and 

sounde :  1150 

Now  is  she  scaped  al  hir  aventure  ; 
And  whan  that  she  hir  faderhath  y-founde, 
Doun  on  hir  knees  falleth  she  to  grounde  ; 
Weping  for  tendrenesse  in  herte  blythe. 
She  herieth  god   an   hundred   thousand 

sythe.  1 1 55 

In  vertu  and  in  holy  almes-dede  ( io5«j 
Theyliven  alle,  and  never  a-sonderwende  ; 
Til  deeth  departed  hem,  this  lyf  they  lede. 
And  fareth  now  weel,  my  tale  is  at  an  ende. 
Now  Jesu  Crist,  that  of  his  might  may 

sende  11 60 

Joye  after  wo,  governe  us  in  his  grace, 
And  kepe  us  alle  that  ben  in  this  place  ! 

Amen. 


Here  endeth  the  Tale  of  the  Man  of  Lawe ;  sind  next  folweth  the 
Shipm£innes  Prolog. 


*«*  For  1.  5583  in  Tyrwhitt's  Text,  see  Group  D,  1.  i. 


B5 


492 


Z^i  ^^t'pmott'e  ^rofogue.         [t. 


2903-i-!95C. 


THE    SHIPMAN'S    PROLOGUE. 

Here  biginneth  the  Shipniannes  Prolog. 
'."  In  Tyrwhitt's  text,  II.  ij()i)3-i3c)24. 


Ouit     bosto     wp-on     his     stiro])es     stood 
anon, 

And  seyde,  'good  men,  herkneth  cverich 
ou  ; 

This  was  a  thrifty  tale  for  the  nones  !  11O5 

Sir  parish  prest,'   quod   he,    'for  goddes 
bones, 

'IV'l  US  a  tale,  as  was  thy  forward  yore. 

1  see  wel  that  ye  lemed  men  in  lore 

Can  mot-bo  good,  1>y  gfuldes  digniteo  !' 
The  I'orsDUO himanswerdo, '  ben  rite !  i  i;o 

Wliat    eyletb    the    man,    so    sinfully   to 
swere?' 
Our  hosto  answerde,  '  O  Jankin,  be  ye 
there?  (10) 

I  smelle  a  lollor  in  the  wind,'  quod  he. 

•  How  !  good  men,'  quod  ourhoste,  'herk- 
neth me ; 


I  For  we  shal  ban  a  prcdicacioun  ; 
I  This  lollor  beer  wil  predion  us  som-what.' 
I       '  Nay,  by  my  fader  soule  !  that  shal  be 
nat,' 
Seyde  the  Shipman  ;  '  beer  he  sbal  nat 

preohe. 
He  shal  no  gospel  gloscnboernetecbe.  1180 
We  leve  alio  in  the  grete  god,'  quod  be, 
'  He  wolde  sowen  som  difficultee,  (ui) 

Or  springen  cokkol  in  our  clene  com  ; 
And  tberfor,  bosto,  I  warne  thee  biforn. 
My  joly  body  sbal  a  tale  telle,  1185 

And  I  sbal  ulinkon  yow  so  mery  a  belle, 
Tliat  I  sbal  waken  al  this  companye  ; 
But  it  sbal  nat  ben  of  philosopbye, 
Ne  iphysices,  ne  termes  queinto  of  lawo  ; 
Ther  is  but  litel  Latin  in  my  mawe.'  iic^t 


Here  endelh  the  Shipman  his  Prolog. 


THE    SHHWIANNES    TALE, 


Here  biginneth  the  Shipmannes  Tale. 


V    Marciiant   wbylom    dwelled   at    Seint 

Denys, 
That  riche  was,  for  which  men  belde  him 

wys  ; 
A  wyf  be  hadde  of  excellent  beautee. 
And  compaignable  and  revelous  was  she, 
Wliicb   is  a    thing    that    causetb   more 

dispence  1195 

Thau  worth  is  al  the  chere  and  reverence 
That  men   hem  doon   at  festes   and  at 

daunces ; 
Swicbe  salutaciouns  and  coutenaunces 
Piissen  as  dooth  a  shadwe  np-on  the  wal. 


But  wo  is  him  that  payen  moot  for  al ;  1200 
Tlie  sely  bousbond,  algate  be  mot  paye  ; 
He    moot    us  clothe,   and   he    moot    us 

arraye,  (12) 

Al  for  bis  owene  worship  richely, 
In  which  array  we  daunce  jolily.         1204 
And  if  that  he  nogbt  may,  par-aventure. 
Or  elles,  list  no  swich  dispence  endure, 
But  thinketh  it  is  wasted  and  y-lost, 
Tlian  moot  another  payeu  for  our  cost. 
Or  lone  us  gold,  and  that  is  perilous. 
This  noble   Marchant  heeld  a  worthy 

hous,  (20)  1210 


12951-13038.] 


ZU  ^^t^jwannee  Zak, 


493 


For  which  he  haclde  alday  so  greet  repair 
For  his  largesse,  and  for  his  wyf  was  fair, 
That  wonder  is  ;  bvit  herkneth  to  my  tale. 
Amonges  alio  his  gestes,  grete  and  smale, 
Ther  was  a  monk,  a  fair  man  and  a  hold, 
I  trowe  of  thritty  winter  he  was  old,  i.m6 
That  ever  in  oon  was  drawing  to  that  place. 
This  yonge  monk,  that  was  so  fair  of  face, 
Aqueinted  was  so  with  the  gode  man, 
Sith  that  hir  firste  knoweliche  bigan,  1220 
Tliat  in  his  hous  as  famulier  was  he  (31) 
As  it  possible  is  any  freend  to  be. 

And  for  as  miichel  as  this  gode  man 
And  eek  this  monk,  of  which  that  I  bigan, 
Were  bothe  two  y-born  in  o  village,     1225 
The  monk  him  claimeth  as  for  cosinage  ; 
And  he  again,  he  seith  nat  ones  nay, 
But  was  as  glad  ther-of  as  fowcl  of  day  ; 
For  to  his  herte  it  was  a  greet  plcsaunce. 
Thus  been  they  knit  with  eterne  alliaunce, 
And  ech  of  hem  gan  other  for  t'assure  1231 
Of  bretherhede,   whyl  that  hir  lyf  may 
dure.  (42) 

Free  was   daun   John,  and  namely  of 
dispenco. 
As  in  that  lions  ;  and  ful  of  diligence  1234 
To  doon  plesaunce,  and  also  greet  costage. 
He  noght  forgat  to  yeve  the  loeste  page 
lu  al  that  hous  ;  but,  after  hir  degree, 
Ho  yaf  tlie  lord,  and  sitthe  al  his  meynee, 
When  that  he  cam,  som  maner  honest 
thing ;  1239 

For  which  they  were  as  glad  of  his  coming 
As  fowel  is  I'ayn,  whan  that  the  Sonne 
up-ryseth.  (51) 

Na  more  of  this  as  now,  for  it  suffysetli. 

But  so  bifel,  this  marchant  on  a  day 
Shoop  him  to  make  redy  his  array 
Toward  the  toun  of  Brugges  forto  fare,  1245 
To  byen  ther  a  porcioun  of  ware  ; 
For  which  he  hath  to  Paris  sent  anon 
A  messager,  and  preyed  hath  daun  John 
That  he  shokle  come  to  Seint  Deiiys  to 
pleye  1249 

"With  him  and  with  his  wyf  a  day  or  tweye, 
Er  he  to  Brugges  wente,  in  alle  wyse.  (61) 
This  noble  monk,  of  which  I  yow  devyse, 
Hath  of  his  abbot,  as  him  list,  licence, 
By-cause  he  was  a  man  of  heigh  prudence, 
And  eek  an  officer,  out  for  to  ryde,  1255 
To  seen  hir  graunges  and  hir  hemes  wyde ; 


And  un-to  Seint  Denys  he  comth  anon. 
Who  was  so  welcomie  as  my  lord  daun 

John, 
Our  dere  cosin,  ful  of  curteisye  ?  1259 

With  him  broghtehe  a  jubbe  of  Malvesj-e, 
And  eek  another,  ful  of  fyn  Vernagc,  (;i) 
And  volatyl,  as  ay  was  his  usage. 
And  thus  I  lete  hem  ete  and  drinke  and 

pleye, 
This  marchant  and  this  monk,  a  day  or 
tweye. 
The   thridde    day,   this   marchant    \\p 
aryseth,  1265 

And  on  his  nedes  sadly  him  avyseth. 
And  up  in-to  his  countovir-hous  goth  he 
To  rekene  with  him-self,  as  wel  may  he, 
Of  thilke  yeer,  how  that  it  with  him  stood, 
And  how  that  he  despended  hadde  his 
good  ;  i2;o 

And  if  that  he  encressed  were  or  noon.  (81) 
His  bokes  and  his  bagges  many  oon 
He  leith  biforn  him  on  his  counting-bord  ; 
Ful  riche  was  his  tresor  and  his  hord. 
For  which  ful  faste  his  countour-dore  lie 
shettc  ;  1275 

And  cck  lie  nolde  that  no  man  shokle  him 

lette 
Of  his  accountes,  for  the  mene  tyme  ; 
And  thus  he  sit  til  it  was  passed  pryme. 

Daun  John  was  risen  in  the  morwe  also. 
And  in  the  gardin  walketh  to  and  fro,  1280 
And  hath  his  thinges  soyd  ful  curteisly. 

This  gode  wj'f  cam  walking  prively  (92) 
In-to  the  gardin,  ther  ho  walketh  softc, 
And  him  salewcth,  as  she  hath  don  ofte. 
A  mayde  child  cam  in  liir  companye,  12S5 
WTiichashirlist  she  maygoverueand  gj'O, 
For  yet  under  the  yerde  was  the  mayde. 
'  O  dere  cosin  mjm,  daun  .John,'  she  sayde, 
'  What  eyleth  yow  so  rathe  for  to  rysc  ?  ' 
'  Nece,'  quod  he,  '  it  oghte  y-nough  suffyse 
Fyve  houres  fortoslepeup-onanight,  (loi) 
But  it  were  for  an  old  appalled  wight. 
As  been  thise  wedded  men,  that  lye  and 

dare 
As  in  a  forme  sit  a  wery  hare. 
Were  al  Ibr-straught  with  ho\indes  grctc 
and  smale.  [295 

But  dere  nece,  why  be  ye  so  pale  ? 
I  trowe  certes  that  our  gode  man        (107) 
Hath  yow  laboured  sith  the  night  bigan, 


494 


ZU  ^^tpmannee  ^afe.  [t.  13039-1 31 26. 


Thatyowwerenedetoresten  hastily?  '  1J99 
And  with  that  word  he  lough  ful  merily, 
And  of  his  oweno  thought  ho  wexnl  reod. 
This  faire  wyf  gan  for  to  shake  hir  heed, 
And  seyde  thus,  '  ye,  god  wot  al,'  quod  she ; 
'  Nay,  cosin  nij-n,  it  stant  nat  so  with  me. 
For,  by  that  god  that  yaf  me  soule  and  lyf, 
InaltheremeofFrancoisthernow>'f  1306 
That  lasso  lust  hath  to  that  sory  ploy. 
For  I  may  singe  "alias"  and  "  weylawey, 
That  I  was  born,"  but  to  no  wight,'  quod  she, 
'  I)ar  I  nat  telle  how  that  it  stant  with  me. 
"Wherfore   I  thinke  out   of  this   land  to 

wende,  (lii)  13" 

Or  dies  of  my-solf  to  make  an  ende. 
So  ful  am  I  of  drede  and  eek  of  care.' 

This  monk  bigan  ui>-on  this  wyf  tostare, 
And  seyiic,  '  alias,  my  nece,  god  forbcdo 
That  ye,  for  any  sorwe  or  any  drede,  1,^16 
Fordo your-self;  buttelleth  meyourgrief; 
Paraventiire  I  may,  in  your  meschief, 
Conseille  or  holi)0,  and  therforo  telleth  me 
Al  your  anoy,  for  it  shal  been  secreo  ;  i.?k) 
For  on  my  jH>rthor8  here  I  make  an  00th, 
That  never  in  my  lyf,  forlief  nel«)oth,  ( iy2) 
No  shal  I  of  no  consoil  yow  biwroyo.' 
'The  same  agayn  to   yow,'   quod  she, 

'  I  seyo ;  1.I24 

By  god  and  by  this  porthors,  I  yow  swere, 
Tliongh  men  me  wolde  ol  in-to  i>ece8  tere, 
Ne  shal  I  never,  for  to  goon  to  helle, 
Biwreye  a  word  of  thing  that  yo  me  telle, 
Nat  for  no  cosinage  ne  alliance. 
But  verraily,  for  love  and  affiance.'  1330 
Thus  been  they  sworn,  and  heer-upon  they 

kiste,  (141) 

And  ech  of  hem  tolde  other  what  hem  liste. 

'Cosin,'    quod    she,  'if   that    I   hadde 

a  space. 
As  I  have  noon,  and  namely  in  this  place, 
Than  wolde  I  telle  a  legendo  of  my  lyf,  1335 
What  I  have  suffred  sith  I  was  a  wj-f 
With  myn  housbonde,  al  be  he  your  cosyn. ' 
'  Nay,'  quod  this  monk, '  by  god  and  seint 

Martjni, 
He  is  na  more  cosin  un-to  me  1339 

Than  is  this  leef  that  hangeth  on  the  tree  ! 
I  clepe  him  s<>,  by  Seint  Uenys  of  Fravuice, 
To  have  the  more  cause  of  aqueintaunce 
Of  yow,  which  I  have  loved  si>ecially  (153) 
Aboven  alle  wommen  sikerly ; 


Tliis  swero  I  yow  on  my  professionn.  1345 
Telleth  your  grief,  lest  that  he  come  adoun, 
And  hasteth  yow,  and  gooth  your  wey 

anon.' 
'  My  dere  love,'  quod  she,  '  o  my  daun 

John,  (158) 

Fx»l  lief  were  me  this  conseil  for  to  hyde, 

But  out  it  moot,  I  may  namore  abyde.  1350 

Myn  housbond  is  to  me  the  worste  man 

I  That  ever  was,  sith  that  the  world  bigan. 

But  sith  I  am  a  wyf,  it  sit  nat  me 
I  To  tcllcn  no  wight  of  our  privotee,       1354 
Neither  a-bedde,  ne  in  non  other  place  ; 
God  shilde  I  sholde  it  tellen,  for  his  grace  ! 
A  wyf  no  shal  nat  scjoi  of  hir  housbonde 
But  al  honour,  as  I  can  understonde  ; 
Save   un-to   yow  thus    muche    I    tellen 

shal ; 
Aslielpmegod,he  isnoght  worth  at  al  1360 
In  no  degree  the  value  of  a  flye.  (171) 

But  yot  mo  grovcth  most  his  nigard.ye; 
And  wel  yo  woot  that  wommen  naturelly 
Dosyron  tliinges  sixe,  as  wel  as  I.         1364 
They  wolde  that  hir  housbondos  sholde  be 
Hanly,  and  wjse,  and  riche,  and  ther-to 

free. 
And  bu.xom  to  his  wj-f,  and  fresh  a-bedde. 
But,  l)y  that  ilke  lor»i  that  for  ns  bledde, 
For  his  honour,  my-self  for  to  arraye, 
A  Son<lay  next,  I  moste  nodes  payo     1370 
An  hundred  frankes,  or  elles  am  I  lorn. 
Yet  were  mo  lever  that  I  were  unborn  (182) 
Than  me  were  doon  a  sclaundre  or  vil- 

einye ; 
And  if  mj-n  housbond  eek  it  miglite  espye, 
I  nero  but  lost,  and  therforo  I  yow  preye 
Lcno    mo   this  sonune,   or  elles  moot  I 

dcye.  1376 

Daun  John,  I  seye,  lene  me  thise  hundred 

frankes ; 
Pardee,  I  wol  nat  faille  yow  my  thankes, 
If  that  yow  list  to  d'xjn  that  I  yow  praye. 
For  at  a  cortein  day  I  wol  yow  payc,    i38<j 
And   doon   to  yow    what    plesance   and 

servyce  ('9') 

That  I  may  doon,  right  as  yow  list  devyse. 

And  but  I  do,  god  take  on  me  vengeance 

As  foul  as  ever  had  Geniloun  of  France  !  * 

This  gentil   monk    answerde    in    this 

manere ;  1385 

'  Now,  trewely,  myn  owene  lady  dere, 


[3I27-I32IO-] 


ZU  ^^tpwannes  Cafe. 


495 


I  have,'  quod  he,  '  on  yow  so  greet  a  routhe, 
That  I  yow  swere  and  plighte  yow  my 

trouthe, 
That  whan  yourhonsbond  is  to  Flaundres 

fare, 
I  wol  delivere  yow  out  of  this  care  ;     1390 
For  I  wol  bringe  yow  an  hundred  frankes.' 
And  with  that  word  he  caughte  hir  by  the 
flankes,  (2"^) 

And  hir  embraceth  harde,  and  kiste  hir 

ofte. 
'  Goth  now  your  wey,'  quod  he,  '  al  stille 

and  softe, 
And  lat  us  dj-ne  as  sone  as  that  ye  may ; 
For  by  mychilindre  it  isprymeof  day.  1396 
Goth  now,  and  beeth  as  trewe  as  I  shal  bo.' 
'  Now,  elles  god  forbade,  sire,'  quod  she. 
And  forth  she  gooth,  as  jolif  as  a  pye, 
And  bad  the  cokes  that  they  sholde  hem 
hye,  '400 

So  that  men  mighte  dyne,  and  that  anon. 
Up  to  hir  housbonde  is  this  wyf  y-gon,  (212) 
And  knokketh  at  his  countour  boldely. 
'  Qui  la  i  '  quod  he.     '  Peter  !  it  am  I,* 
Quod  she,  '  what,  sire,  how  longe  wol  ye 
faste?  H05 

How  longe  tyme  wol  ye  rekene  and  caste 
Your  sommes,  and  your  bokes,  and  your 

thinges? 
The  devel  have  part  of  alle  swiche  reken- 

inges  ! 
Ye  have  y-nough,  pardee,  of  goddes  sonde ; 
Com  doun   to-day,  aud  lat  your  bagges 
stonde.  '4'f^ 

Ne  be  ye  nat  ashamed  that  daun  John  (221) 
Shal  fasting  al  this  day  elenge  goon  ? 
Wliat !  lat  us  here  a  messe,  and  go  we 
dyne.' 
'  Wyf,'  quod  this  man,  '  litel  canstow 
devyne 
The  curious  bisinesse  that  we  have.     1415 
For  of  us  chapmen,  al-so  god  me  save. 
And  by  that  lord   that  cleped  is  Seint 

Yve, 
Scarsly  amonges  twelve  ten  shul  thryve, 
ContinueUy,  lastinge  im-to  our  age.     14 19 
We  may  wel  make  chere  and  good  visage, 
And  dryve  forth  the  world  as  it  may  be, 
And  kepen  our  estaat  in  privetee,        (232) 
Til  we  be  deed,  or  elles  that  we  pleye 
A  pilgrimage,  or  goon  out  of  the  weye. 


And  therfor  have  I  greet  necessitee     1425 
Up-on  this  queinte  world  t'a\'yse  me  ; 
For  evermore  we  mote  stonde  in  drede 
Of  hap  and  fortune  in  our  chapmanhede. 
To  Flaundres  wol  I  go  to-morwe  at  day, 
And  come  agayn,  as  sone  as  ever  I  may. 
Forwhich,  my  dere  wyf,  I  thee  biseke,  (241) 
As  be  to  every  wight  buxom  and  meke, 
And  for  to  kepe  our  good  be  curious, 
And  honestly  governe  wel  our  hous.  1434 
Thou  hast  y-nough,  in  every  maner  -vvyse. 
That  to  a  thrifty  houshold  may  sufFyse. 
Thee  lakketh  noon  array  ne  no  vitaille. 
Of  silver  in  thy  purs  shaltow  nat  faille.' 
And  with  that  word  his  countour-dore  ho 

shette, 
And  doun  he  gooth,  no  lenger  wolde  he 
lette,  "44" 

But  hastily  a  messe  was  ther  seyd,      (251) 
And  spedily  the  tables  were  y-leyd, 
And  to  the  diner  fasto  they  hem  speddo  ; 
And  richely  this  monk  the  chapman  fedde. 
At-after  diner  daun  John  sobrely    1445 
This  chapman  took  a-pai-t,  and  prively 
He  seyde  him  thus,  '  cosyn,  it  standeth  so. 
That  wel  I  see  to  Bruggcs  wol  ye  go. 
God  andseint  Aiastin  spedo  yow  and  gyde ! 
I  prey  yow,  cosin,  wysly  that  ye  ryde  ;  1450 
Govemeth  yow  also  of  your  diete        (261) 
Atemprely,  and  namely  in  this  hete. 
Bitwix  us  two  nedeth  no  strange  fare  ; 
Fare- wel,   cosyn  ;    god    shilde    yow    fro 

care. 
If  any  thing  ther  be  by  day  or  night,  1455 
If  it  lye  in  my  power  and  my  might. 
That  ye  me  wol  comando  in  any  -ivyse, 
It  shal  be  doon,  right  as  ye  wol  devyse. 
O  thing,  er  that  ye  goon,  if  it  may  be, 
I  wolde  prey  yow  ;  for  to  lene  me        1460 
An  hundred  frankes,  for  a  wyke  or  tweye. 
For  certein  beestes  that  I  moste  beye,  (272) 
To  store  with  a  place  that  is  oures. 
God  help  me  so,  I  wolde  it  were  youres  ! 
I  shal  nat  faille  surely  of  my  day,        1465 
Nat  for  a  thousand  frankes,  a  myle-way. 
But  lat  this  thing  be  secree,  I  yow  preye. 
For  yet  to-night  thise  beestes  moot  I  beye  ; 
And    fare-now    wel,   myn    owene    cosin 

dere, 
Graunt  mercy  of  your  cost  and  of  your 
chere.'  (280)  1470 


496 


Z^t  ^^ipwannee  Cafe. 


[t.  13211-13287. 


This  noblo  marchant  gentilly  anon 
Answerde,  and  seyde,  '  o  cosin  myn,  dann 

John, 
Now  sikerly  this  is  a  smal  request©  ; 
My  gold  is  youres,  whan  that  it  yow  leste. 
-Vnd  nat  only  my  gold,  hut  my  chaffare  ; 
Take  what  yow  list,  god  shilde  that  j'e 

spare.  1476 

But  o  thing  is,  ye  knowe  it  wel  y-nogh. 
Of  chapmen,  that  hir  moneye  is  hir  plogh. 
We  may  crcaunco  wliyl  we  have  a  name, 
But  goldlees  for  to  be,  it  is  no  game.  1480 
Payo  it  agayn  whan  it  lyth  in  your  ese  ; 
After  my  might  ful  fayn   wolde  I  yow 

plese.'  (292) 

Thise  hundred   frankes  he  fette  forth 

anon, 
.AjkI  prively  he  tof>k  liem  to  daun  .John. 
Xo  wight  in  al  this  world  wisto  of  this 

lone,  14S5 

Savinge  this  marchant  and   dann   John 

allono. 
They  drinke,  and  speko,  and  romo  a  whyle 

and  plpye. 
Til  that  dann  .John  rj-deth  to  his  abheye. 
The  morwo  cam,  nnd  forth  this  mar- 
chant rydeth 
To  Flannd res- ward  ;  liis  prentis  wel  him 

g?Jeth,  1490 

Til  he  cam  in-to  Bmgges  merily.  (301) 
Now  gooth  this  marchant  faste  and  bisily 
Aboute  his  nede,  and  byeth  and  creaun- 

ceth. 
He  neither  pleyeth  at  the  dees  no  dann- 

ceth  ; 
But  as  a  marchant,  shortly  for  to  telle,  1 495 
He  let  his  lyf,  and  there  I  lete  him  dwelle. 
The  Sonday  next  this  Marchant   was 

agon. 
To  Seint  Denys  y-comen  is  dann  .John, 
With  crowno  and  herd  all  fresh  and  newo 

y-shave. 
In  al  the  lions  ther  nas  so  litel  a  knave,  i50i> 
Ne  no  wight  eUes,  that  he  nas  ful  fayn,  C311) 
For  tliat  my  lord  daun  .John  was  come 

agayn. 
And  shortly  to  the  point  right  for  to  gon. 
This  faire  wyf  accorded  with  daun  John, 
That  for  thise  hundred  frankes  he  sholde 

al  night  15  5 

Have  hir  in  his  armes  bolt-upright  ; 


And  this  acord  pr.ribumed  was  in  dede. 
In  mirthe  al  night  a  bisy  lyf  they  lede 
Til  it  was  day,  that  daun  John  wente  his 

way. 
And  bad  the  meynee  '  fare-wel,  have  gootl 

day  !'  (.^jo)  1510 

For  noon  of  hem,  ne  no  wight  in  the  toun. 
Hath  of  daun  .Jolin  right  no  suspecioxin. 
.\nd  forth  he  ridt-th  liooin  to  his  abbeyc, 
Or  where  him  list ;  namoro  of  him  I  seye. 
This  marchant,  whan  that  ended  was 

the  faire,  1515 

To  Seint  Denys  ho  gan  for  to  repaire. 
And  with  his  wyf  he  maketh  feste  and 

chero. 
And  telleth  hir  that  chaffare  is  so  dere, 
That  nedos  moste  he  make  a  chevisaunco. 
For  he  was  boundo  in  a  reconissaunce  1520 
To  payo  twenty  thousand  shoold  anon.  (331) 
For  which  this  marchant  is  to  Paris  gon. 
To  borwo  of  certein  frendes  that  he  hadde 
A  certein  fnuikcs  ;  and  sommo  with  him 

he  ladde. 
And  whan  that  he  wascomo  in-to  the  toun, 
For  greet  chortec  and  greet  affeccioun,  1536 
Un-to  daun  John  ho  gfooth  him  first,  to 

pleye  ; 
■Nat  for  to  axe  or  lx)rwe  of  him  moneye. 
But  for  to  witt"  and  seen  of  Iiis  welfare, 
And  for  to  tcllcn  him  of  his  chaffare,  1530 
As  freendes  doon    whan   they   l)en   met 

y-fere.  (341) 

Dann  John  him  maketh  feste  and  mery 

chere  ; 
And  he  him  tolde  agayn  ful  specially, 
How  lie  hadde  wel  y-Vx>ght  and  graciously, 
Thanked  be  god,  al  hool  his  marchandyse. 
Save  that  he  moste,  in  alle  manor  wyse,  1536 
Maken  a  chevLsaunce,  as  for  his  beste, 
And  thanne  he  sholde  been  in  joye  and 

reste. 

Daun  John  answerde,  'certes,  I  am  fayn 

That  j-e  in  hele  arcomenhoom agayn.  1540 

And  if  that  I  were  richo,  as  have  I  blisse, 

Of  twenty  thousand  sheeld  shold  ye  nat 

niisse,  (352) 

For  ye  so  kindely  this  other  day 
Lente  me  gold  ;  and  as  I  can  and  may, 
I  thanke  yow,  by  god  and  by  se:nt  .Jame! 
But  nathelecs  I  took  un-tf«  our  dame,  1546 
Your  wyf  at  lioom,  the  same  gold  ageyn 


T.  1 3288-1 3364.]        B.    Z^t  ^^ipmannte  ^afe. 


497 


Upon  your  bench;  shcwoot  it  \vel,ceite}ai, 
By  certein  tokenes  that  I  can  hir  telle. 
Now,  by  your  levc,  I  may  no  longer  dwelle, 
Our  abbot  wol  out  of  this  toon  anon  ;  (361 ) 
And  in  his  companye  moot  I  gon.  155^ 
Crete  wel  our   dame,   myn   owene   nece 

swete, 
And  fare-wel,  dere  cosin,  til  we  mete  ! ' 
This  Marchant,  which  that  was  ful  war 

and  ^vys,  1555 

Creaunced  hath,  and  payd  eek  in  Parys, 
To  certeyn  Lumbardes,  redy  in  hir  hond, 
The  somme  of  gold,  and  gat  of  hem  his 

bond  ; 
And  hoom  he  gooth,  mery  as  a  papejaj'. 
For  wel  he  knew  he  stood  in  swieh  array, 
That    uedes    moste    he   winne    in    that 

viage  (370 

A  thousand  frankes  above  al  his  costage. 
His  wyf  ful  redy  mette  him  atte  gate, 
As  she  was  wont  of  old  usage  algate,  1564 
And  al  that  night  in  mirtho  they  bisette  ; 
For  he  was  riche  and  clecrly  out  of  dette. 
■\Vlian   it  was    day,    this   marchant   gan 

embrace 
His  wyf  al  newe,  and  kistc  hir  on  hir  face, 
And   up    he   gooth   and    makcth    it    ful 

tough. 
'Namoro,'  qiiod  she,  'by  god,  ye  have 

y-nough  ! '  1570 

And    wantounly    agayn    with    him    she 

plcyde;  (381) 

Til,  atte  lasto,  that  thi^i  Marchant  seyde, 
'  By  god,'  quod  he,  '  I  am  a  litel  wrooth 
With   yow,  my  wyf,  al-thogh   it   be    me 

looth. 
And  woot  ye   why?    by   god,   as  that  I 

gcsse,  1575 

That  ye  haia  maad  a  manor  straungenesse 
Bitwixen  me  and  my  cosyn  daun  John. 
Ye  sholdc  han  warned  me,  or  I  had  gon, 
That  he  yov/  hadde  an  hi\ndred  frankes 

payed 
By    redy   tokenc ;    and    heeld   him   yvel 

apayed,  1580 

For  that  I  to  him  spak  of  chevisaunce. 
Me  semed  so,  as  by  his  contenaunce.  (392) 
But  nathelees,  by  god  our  hcvene  king, 
I  thoghte  nat  to  axe  of  him  no-thing. 


I  prey  thee,  wyf,  ne  do  namore  so  ;      1585 
Tel  me  alwey,  er  that  I  fro  thee  go. 
If  any  dettour  hath  iu  mj-n  absence 
Y-payed  thee ;  lest,  thurgh  thy  necligence, 
I  mighte  him  axe  a  thing  that  he  hath 

payed.'  (399)  1589 

This  wyt  was  nat  afered  nor  affrayed. 
But  boldely  she  seyde,  and  that  anon  : 
'  Marie,  1  defye  the  false  monk,  daun  John  ! 
I  kepe  nat  of  hise  tokenes  never  a  deel ; 
He  took  me  certein  gold,  that  woot  I  weel ! 
What !  yvel  thedomonhis  monkessnoute ! 
For,  god  it  woot,  I  wende,  withouten  doiite. 
That  he  had  yeve  it  me  bycause  of  yow. 
To  doon  ther-with  mj-n  honour  and  my 

prow. 
For  cosinage,  and  eek  for  bele  cherc 
That  he  hath  had  ful  ofte  tymes  here.  Uxx) 
But  sith  I  see  I  stonde  in  this  disjoint,  (411) 
I  wol  answere  yow  shortly,  to  the  poiiit. 
Y'e  han  mo  slakker  dettours  than  ain  I ! 
For  I  wol  paye  yow  wel  and  ledily 
Fro  day  to  day  ;  and,  if  so  be  I  fai.le,  i(x)5 
I  am  your  wyf;  score  it  up-on  my  taille, 
And  I  shal  paye,  as  sone  as  ever  I  may. 
For,  by  my  trouthe,  I  have  on  myn  array, 
Antl  nat  on  wast,  bistowed  every  deel. 
And  for  I  have  bistowed  it  so  weel      1610 
For  your  honour,  for  goddcs  sake,  I  seye, 
As  be  nat  wrooth,  but  lat  xis  laughe  and 

T'leye.  (422) 

Ye  shal  my  joly  body  have  to  wedde  ; 
By  god,  I  wol  nat  paye  yow  but  a-beddc. 
Forgive  it  me,  myn  owene  spouse  dere  ; 
Turne    hidcrward    and     makoth     bettrc 

chere.'  1616 

This    marchant    saugh    ther    was    no 

remedye. 
And,  for  to  ehyde,  it  nere  but  greet  folye, 
Sith  that  tlie  thing  may  nat  amended  be. 
'  Now,  wyf,'  ho  seyde,    '  and  I  foryeve  it 

thee ;  1620 

But,  by  thj-  lyf,  no  be  namore  so  large  ; 
Keep  Viet  our  g<"><l,  this  yeve  I  thee    in 

charge.'  (^43-') 

Thus  ondeth  now  my   tale,    and  god  us 

sende 
Taling   y-nough,   nn-to   our   lyvcs    cnde. 

Amen. 


Here  endeth  the  Shipmannes  Tale. 


498 


^^e  ^rioreee'e  (profoguc.     [t.  13365-13403. 


THE    PRIORESS'S    PROLOGUE. 

Bihold  the  mery  wordes  of  the  Host  to  the  Shipman  and  to  the 
lady  Prioresse. 


'  Wel  seyd,  by  corjnis  dominus,'  quod  our 

hoste.  1625 

'  Now  longe  moot  tliou  sayle  l)y  the  coste, 
Sir  gentil  niaistor,  gentil  marineer  ! 
God  yeve  this  monk  a  thousand  last  quad 

yeer ! 
A  liu  !    felawes  !    l)eth  ware  of  swicho  a 

jape! 
The  monk  putte  in  the  mannes  hood  an 

ape,  1 630 

And  in  his  vryvos  eek,  by  seint  Austin  ! 
Draweth  no  monkcs  more  nn-to  your  in. 
But  now  passe  over,  and  lat  ob  seke 

aboute, 


Who    shal    now   telle    first,   of   al   this 
route,  (10) 

Another  tale ; '    and  with  that  word  he 
sayde,  1635 

As  cnrteisly  as  it  had  lieen  a  mayde, 
'  My  lady  Priorosse,  by  yonr  leve, 
S<»  that  I  wisto  I  sholde  yow  nat  greve, 
I  wolde  domi>n  that  yo  tellen  sholdo 
A  tale  next,  if  so  were  that  ye  woldp.  1640 
Now  wol  ye  vonche-sauf,  my  lady  dere?' 
'Gladly,'    quod   she,    and  seydo  as  ye 
shal  here.  (18) 

Explicit. 


THE    PRIORESSES   TALE. 


The  Prologe  of  the  Prioresses  Tale. 


Domin 


noster. 


O  LoRn  our  lord,   thy  name   how   mer- 

veillous 
Is   in   this  large   worlde  y-sprad— quod 

she  : — 
For  nogbt  only  thy  laude  precious      1645 
Parfourned  is  by  men  of  dignitee. 
But  by  the  mouth  of  children  thy  boontee 
Parfourned  is,  for  on  the  brest  soukinge 
Som  tyme  shewen  they  thj-n  heryinge. 

Wlierfor  in  laude,  as  I  best  can  or  may. 
Of  thee,  and  of  the  whj-te  lily  flour     1651 
Which  that  thee  bar,  aud   is  a  mayde 
alway,  (10) 


To  telle  a  storii-  I  wol  do  my  labour ; 
Not  that  I  may  encresen  hir  honour  ; 
For  she  hir-self  is  honour,  and  the  rote 
Of  bountee,  next   hir   sone,   and  soules 
bote. —  1656 

O  moder  mayde  !  o  mayde  moder  free  ! 
O  bush   unbrent,   brenninge   in    Moyses 

sighte, 
That  ravisedest  donn  fro  the  deitee, 
Thnrgh  thyn  humblesse,  the  goost  that  in 

th'alighte,  1660 

Of   whos   vertu,   whan    he    thyn    herte 

lighte, 
Conceived  was  the  fadres  sapience,       (20) 
Help  me  to  telle  it  in  thy  reverence  ! 


[3404- 


[3480.] 


ZU  (pnoreeeee  Zak. 


499 


Lady  !  thy  bountee,  thy  magnificence, 
Thy  vertu,  and  thy  grete  humilitee  1665 
Ther  may  no  tonge  expresse  in  no  science ; 
For  som-tyme,  lady,  er  men  praye  to  thee, 
Thou  goost  biforn  of  thy  benignitee. 
And  getest  us  the  light,  thurgh  thy  preyere, 
To  gyden  us  un-to  thy  sone  so  dere.     1670 

My  conning  is  so  wayk,  o  blisful  quene. 
For  to  declare  thy  grete  worthinesse,   (30) 
That  I  ne  may  the  weighte  nat  sustene. 
But   as  a  child  of  twelf  monthe  old,   or 
lesse,  1674 

That  can  unnethes  any  word  expresse, 
Right  so  fare  I,  and  therfor  I  yow  preye, 
Gydeth  my  song  that  I  shal  of  yow  seye. 
Explicit. 

Here  biginneth  the  Prioresses  Tale. 

Ther  was  in  Asie,  in  a  greet  citee, 
Amonges  Cristen  folk,  a  Jewerye, 
Sustened  )>y  a  lord  of  that  contree       1680 
For  fonle  usure  and  lucre  of  vilanye, 
Hateful  to  Crist  and  to  his  companye ; 
And  thurgh  the  strete  men  mighte  ryde 
or  wende,  (4') 

For  it  was  free,  and  open  at  either  ende. 

A  litel  scole  of  Cristen  folk  ther  stood 
Doun  at  the  ferther  ende,  in  which  ther 

were  1686 

Children   an  heep,   y-comen  of   Cristen 

blood. 
That  lerned  in  that  scole  j'eer  by  yere 
Swich  maner  doctrine  as  men  used  there, 
This  is  to  sejm,  to  singen  and  to  rede,  i6()() 
As  smale  children  doon  in  hir  childliede. 

Among  thise  children  was  a  widwes  sone, 
A  litel  clergeon,  seven  yeer  of  age,        (51) 
That  day  by  day  to  scole  was  his  wone. 
And  eek  also,  wher-as  he  saugh  th'image 
Of  Cristes  moder,  hadde  he  in  usage, 
As  him  was  taught,  to  loiele  adoun  and 

seye 
His  Ave  Marie,  as  he  goth  by  the  weye. 


Thus  hath  this  widwe  hir  litel  sone  y- 

t aught 
Our  blisful  lady,  Cristes  moder  dere,  1700 
To  worshipe  ay,  and  he  forgat  it  naught, 


:^or  sely  child  wol  alday  sone  lere  ;  (60) 
But  ay,  whan  I  remembre  on  this  matere, 
Seint  Nicholas  stant  ever  in  my  presence. 
For  he  so  yong  to  Crist  did  reverence.  170,"; 

This  litel  child,  his  litel  book  lerninge. 
As  he  sat  in  the  scole  at  his  prymer, 
He  Almn  redemptoria  herde  singe, 
As  children  lerned  hir  antiphoner  ; 
And,  as  he  dorste,  he  drough  him  ner  and 
ner,  1710 

And  herkned  ay  the  wordes  and  the  note. 
Til  he  the  firste  vers  coude  al  by  rote.  (70) 

Noght  wiste  he  what  this  Latin  was  to 
seye. 

For  ho  so  yong  and  tendro  was  of  age  ; 

But  on  a  day  his  felaw  gan  lie  preye    1715 

T'expounden  him  this  song  in  his  langage, 

Or  telle  him  why  this  song  was  in  usage  ; 

This  preydo  ho  him  to  construe  and  de- 
clare 

Ful  ofte  tyme  upon  his  kuowes  bare. 

His  felaw,  which  that  elder  was  than  he, 
Answerde  him  thus  :  '  this  song,  I  have 

herd  seye, 
"Was  maked  of  our  blisful  lady  free,     (80) 
Hir  to  salue,  and  eek  hir  for  to  preye 
To  been  our  help  and  socour  whan  we 

deye.  1724 

I  can  no  more  expounde  in  this  matere  ; 
I  leme  song,  I  can  but  smal  grammere.' 

'  And  is  this  song  maked  in  reverence 
Of  Cristes  moder  ?  '  seyde  this  innocent ; 
'  Now  ccrtes,  I  wol  do  my  diligence     i72«> 
To  conne  it  al,  er  Cristemasse  is  went ; 
Though  that  I  for  my  prymer  shal  be 

shent, 
And  shal  be  beten  thrygs  in  an  honre,  (90) 
I  wol  it  conne,  our  lady  for  to  honoure.' 

His  felaw  taughte  him  homward  prively, 
Fro  day  to  day,  til  he  coude  it  by  rote. 
And  than  he  song  it  wel  and  boldely 
Fro  word  to  word,  acording  with  the  note; 
Twyes  a  day  it  passed  thurgh  his  throte. 
To  scoleward  and  homward  whan  he 
wente ;  '739 

On  Cristes  moder  set  was  his  entente. 


500 


^6e  fpvionec^e  Zak.        [t.  13481-13559. 


As  I  have  seyd,  thurgh-oiit  the  Jewerye 
This  litel  child,  as  he  cam  to  and  fro,  (loo) 
Ful  mcrily  than  wolde  he  singe,  and  crye 
O  Alma  redemptoris  ever-mo. 
The  swetnes  hath  his  herte  perced  so  1745 
Of  Cristes  moder,  tliat,  to  hir  to  preye, 
He  can  nat  stinte  of  singing  by  the  weye. 

Our  firste  fo,  the  serpent  Sathanas, 
That  hath  in  .Tewes  herte  his  waspes  nest. 
Up  swal,  and  seide,    '  0  Hebraik  peple, 
alias!  1750 

Is  this  to  yow  a  thing  that  is  honest. 
That  swich  a  boy  shal  walkcn  as  him  lest 
In  your  despj-t,  and  singe  of  swich  sen- 
tence, (m) 
Which  is  agayn  your  lawes  reverence?' 

Fro  thennes  forth   the  Jewes  han    con- 
spjTed  1755 

This  innocent  out  of  this  world  to  chace ; 

An  homicydo  ther-to  han  they  hyred. 

That  in  an  alcy  liadde  a  privee  place  ; 

And  as  the  cliild  gan  for-by  for  to  pace, 

This  cursed  Jew   him  hente   and   hecM 
him  fastp,  1760 

And  kittc  his  throte,  and  in  a  pit  him  , 
caste. 

I  seye  that  in  a  wardrobe  they  him  threwe 
Wher-as  these  .lewes  purgen  hircntraille. 
O  cursed  folk  of  Herodes  al  newe,  (12.') 
What  may  your  j'vel  entente  yow  availle  ? 
Mordre  wol  out,  certein,  it  wol  nat  faille, 
And  namely  ther  th'ononr  of  god  shal 

sprede. 
The  blood  out  cryeth  on  your  cursed  dede. 

'  O  martir,  sonded  to  virginitee,  1769 

Now  rnaystou  singeu,  folwing  ever  in  oon 
The  whyte  lamb  celestial,'  qiiod  she, 
•  Of  which  the  grete  evangelist,  seintjohn. 
In  Pathmos  wroot,  which  seith  that  they 

that  goon  (131) 

Biforn  this  lamb,  and  singe  a  song  al  newe. 
That    never,    fleshly,    wommen    they   ne 

knewe.'  1775 

This  povre  widwe  awaiteth  al  that  night 
After  hir  litel  child,  but  he  cam  noght ; 
For  which,  as  sone  as  it  was  dayes  light, 


With  face  pale  of  drede  and  bisy  thoght, 
,  Slie  liath  at  scole  and elles-wher  him sogli t, 
I   Til  finally  she  gan  so  fer  ospye  i7<Si 

That  he  last  seyn  was  in  the  Jewerye.  (140) 

!  With  modres  pitee  in  hir  brest  enclosed, 
!  She  gooth,  as  she  were  half  out  of  hir 

minde, 
I  To  every  place  wher  she  hath  supposed 
I  By  lyklihede  hir  litel  child  to  finde  ;   1786 
And  ever  on   Cristes  moder  meke  and 

kinde 
She  cryde,and  atte  lastethusshe  wroghtc. 
Among  the  cursed  Jewes  she  him  soghtc. 

:  She  frayneth  and  she  preyeth  pitously 
I  To  evcrj'  Jew  that  dweltc  in  thilke  place. 
To  telle  hir,  if  hir  child  wente  oght  for-by. 
They  seydc,  '  nay ' ;  but  Jesu,  of  his  grace, 
Yaf  in  hir  thought,  inwith  a  litel  space. 
That  in  that  place  after  hir  sone  she  cryde, 
W^her  he  was  casten  in  a  pit  bisyde.    i7i>6 
I 
O  grete  god,  that  parfournest  thy  laude 
By  mouth  of  innocents,  lo  heer  thy  might ! 
This  gemme  of  chastitee,  this  emeraudo, 
And  oek  of  martirdom  the  ruby  bright. 
Ther  he  with  throte  y  corven  lay  upright. 
He  '  Almn  redemptoris''  gan  to  singe   (ifjo; 
So  loude,  that  al  the  place  gan  to  ringe. 

The  Criston  folk,  that  thurgh  the  strete 
wente,  1804 

In  coonien,  for  to  wondre  up-on  this  thing, 
And  hastily  they  for  the  provost  sente  : 
He  cam  anon  with-outen  tai-ying. 
And  herieth  Crist  that  is  of  heven  king. 
And  eek  his  moder,  honour  of  mankinde, 
And  after  that,  the  Jewes  leet  he  hindc. 

Tliis  child  with  pitous  lamentacioun  i8u 
Up-taken  was,  singing  his  song  alway ; 
And  with  honour  of  greet  procession  n 
They  carien  him  tiu-to  the  nexte  a])bay. 
His  moder  swowning  by  the  here  lay  ; 
Unnethe  might  the  peple  that  was  there 
This  newe  Rachel  bringe  fro  his  here. 

With  torment  and  with  shamful  deth 
echon  (176) 

This  provost  dooth  thise  Jewes  for  to 
stei-\'e  1810 


T.  13560-13620.]         B.    ZU  (prioveeeee  Zc^k. 


501 


That  of  this  mordre  wiste,  and  that  anon  ; 
He  nolde  no  swich  cursednesse  observe. 
Yvel  shal  have,  that  yvel  wol  deserve. 
Tlierfor  with   wilde   hors   he    dide    hem 
draws,  {181) 

And  alter  that  he  heng  liem  by  the  lawe. 

I'lJ-on  his  here  ay  lyth  tliis  innocent  1825 
Bitorn  the  chief  auter,  whyl  masse  laste, 
And  after  that,  the  abbot  with  his  covent 
Han  sped  liem  for  to  burien  him  ful  faste  ; 
And     wlian    they   holy   water    on    liim 

caste. 
Yet  spak  this  child,  wlian  spreynd  was 

holy  water,  1S30 

And  song — '  O  Alma  redemptoris  mater  ! ' 

'I'll  is  abbot,  which  that  was  an  holy  man 
As  monkes  been,  or  elles  oghten  be,    (191) 
Tliis  yonge  child  to  conjure  he  bigan. 
And  seyde,  '  o  dere  child,  I  halse  thee. 
In  vertu  of  the  holy  Trinitee,  1836 

Tel  me  what  is  thy  cause  for  to  singe, 
.Sith  that  thy  throte  is  cut,  to  my  sem- 
iuge? ' 

'  My  throte  is  cut  un-to  my  nekke-boon,' 
Seyde  this  child,  '  and,  as  by  wey  of  kinde, 
I  sholde  have  deyed,  ye,  longe  tyme  agoon, 
But  Jesu  Crist,  as  ye  in  bokes  finde,  (2ix)j 
Wil  that  his  glorie  laste  and  be  in  minde ; 
And,  for  the  worship  of  his  moder  dere. 
Yet  may  I  singe  "  O  Alma"  loude  and 
clere.  1S45 

This  welle  of  mercy,  Cristes  moder  swete, 
1  lovede  alwey,  as  after  my  conninge  ; 
And  whan  that  I  my  lyf  sholde  forlete. 
To  me  she  cam,  and  bad  me  for  to  singe 
This  autem  verraily  in  my  deyinge,     1850 


As  ye  han  herd,  and,  whan  that  I  had 

songe. 
Me  thoughte,  she  leyde  a  greJ^l  up-on  my 

touge.  (2IU) 

Wherfor  T  singe,  and  singe  I  moot  certeyu 
In  honour  of  that  blisful  mayden  free, 
Til  fro  my  tonge  of-taken  is  the  greyn  ; 
And  afterward  thus  seyde  she  to  me, 
"  My  litel  child,  now  wol  I  fecche  thee 
Whau  that  the  greyn  is  fro  thy   tonge 
y-take ;  1858 

Be  nat  agast,  I  wol  thee  nat  forsake."  ' 

This  holy  monk,  this  abbot,  him  mene  I, 
Him  tonge  out-caughte,  and  took  a-wey 

the  greyn, 
And  he  yaf  up  the  goost  ful  softely.    (220) 
And  whan  this  abbot  had  this  wonder 

seyn. 
His  salte  teres  trikled  doun  as  reyn,   1864 
And  gruf  he  lil  al  plat  up-on  the  grounde, 
And  stille  he  lay  as  he  had  been  y-bounde. 

The  covent  eek  lay  on  the  pavement 
Weping,  and  herien  Cristes  moder  dere, 
And  alter  that  they  lyse,  and  forth  ben 
went,  18(19 

And  toke  awey  this  martir  fro  his  bere, 
And  in  a  tombe  of  marbul-stones  clere 
Enclosen  they  his  litel  body  swete  ;    (230) 
Ther  he  is  now,  god  leve  us  for  to  mete. 

O  yonge  Hugh  of  Lincoln,  slayn  also 

With  cursed  Jewes,  as  it  is  notable,    1875 

For  it  nis  but  a  litel  whyle  ago  ; 

Preye  eek  for  us,  we  sinful  folk  unstable. 

That,  of  his  mercy,  god  so  merciable 

On  us  his  grete  mercy  multiplye,         (237) 

For  reverence  of  hismoderMarye.    Amen, 


Here  is  ended  the  Prioresses  Tale. 


B.    (profogue  to  ^iv  'Z^ojpae,      [t.  13621-1367; 


PROLOGUE   TO    SIR   THOPAS. 

Bibold  the  murye  wordes  of  the  Host  to  Chaucer. 


Whan-  seycl  was  al  this  miracle,  every  man 
As  sobre  was,  that  wonder  was  to  see, 
Til  that  our  lioste  japen  tho  bigan. 
And  than  at  erst  he  loked  up-on  me. 
And  seyde  thus, '  what  man  artow  ?  '  quod 

he ;  1885 

'Thou  lokest  as  thou  woldest  finde  an 

hare. 
For  ever  up-on  the  ground  I  see  thee  stare. 

Approche  neer,  and  loke  up  merily. 
Now  war  yow,  sirs,  and  lat  this  man  have 

place  ; 
He  in  the  waast  is  shape  as  wel  as  I ;  1890 
This  were  a  jiopet  in  an  arm  t'enbrace  (11) 


For  any  womman,  smal  and  fair  of  face. 
He  semeth  elvish  by  his  contenaunce. 
For  un-to  no  wight  dooth  he  daliaunce. 

Sey  now  somwhat,   sin  other  folk  han 
sayd ;  1895 

Tel  us  a  tale  of  mirthe,  and  that  anoon  ; ' — 
'  Hoste,'  quod  I,  '  ne  bcth  nat  yvel  apayd. 
For  other  tale  certes  can  I  noon, 
But  of  a  ryme  I  lerned  longe  agoon.' 
'  Ye,  that  is  good,'  quod  he  ;  '  now  shul 
we  here  1900 

Som  dcyntee  thing,  me  thinketli  by  his 
chere.'  (21) 

Explicit. 


SIR   THOPAS. 


Here  biglimeth  Chancers  Tale  of  Thopas. 


LisTETn,  lordes,  in  good  entent. 
And  I  wol  telle  verraj-nient 

Of  mirthe  and  of  solas  ; 
Al  of  a  knyght  was  fair  and  gent 
In  bataille  and  in  tourneyment. 

His  name  was  sir  Thopas. 

Y-bom  he  was  in  fer  contree. 
In  Flaundres,  al  biyonde  the  see, 

At  Popering,  in  the  place  ; 
His  fader  was  a  man  ful  free. 
And  lord  he  was  of  that  contree, 

As  it  was  goddes  grace. 

Sir  Thopas  wex  a  doghty  swayn, 
Whyt  was  his  face  as  payndemayn, 
His  lippes  rede  as  rose  ; 


1910 

(10) 


His  rode  is  lyk  scarlet  in  grajTi, 
And  I  yow  telle  in  good  certayn, 
He  hadde  a  semely  nose. 

His  beer,  his  berd  was  lyk  saffroun,     1920 
That  to  his  girdel  raughte  adoun  ;        (20) 

His  shoon  of  Cordewane. 
Of  Brugges  were  his  hosen  broun, 
His  robe  was  of  ciclatoun, 

That  coste  many  a  jane.  1925 

He  coude  hunte  at  wilde  deer. 
And  ryde  an  banking  for  riveer, 

With  grey  goshauk  on  honde  ; 
Ther  to  he  was  a  good  archeer, 
Of  wrastling  was  ther  noon  his  peer,  1930 

Ther  any  ram  shal  stonde.  (30) 


T.  13672-13761.] 


nv  'Z^o\>a6, 


503 


Ful  many  a  mayde,  bright  in  hoxvc, 
They  moorne  for  him,  paramour, 

Whan  hem  were  bet  to  slepe  ; 
But  he  was  chast  and  no  lechour,         1935 
And  sweet  as  is  the  bremble-flour 

That  bereth  the  rede  hepe. 

And  so  bifel  up-on  a  day. 
For  sothe,  as  I  yow  telle  may, 

Sir  Thopas  wolde  out  ryde  ;  1940 

He  worth  upon  his  stede  gray,  (40) 

And  in  his  honde  a  launcegay, 

A  long  swerd  by  his  syde. 

He  priketh  thurgh  a  fair  forest, 
Ther-inne  is  many  a  wilde  best,  1945 

Ye,  bothe  bukke  and  hare  ; 
And,  as  he  priketh  north  and  est, 
I  telle  it  yow,  him  hadde  almest 

Bitid  a  scry  care.  1949 

Ther  springen  herbes  grete  and  smale. 
The  lycorys  and  cetewale,  (50) 

And  many  a  clowe-gilofre  ; 
And  notemuge  to  putte  in  ale, 
Whether  it  be  moyste  or  stale, 

Or  for  to  leye  in  cofre.  1955 

The  briddes  singe,  it  is  no  nay. 
The  sparhauli  and  the  papejay. 

That  joye  it  was  to  here  ; 
The  thrustelcok  made  eek  his  lay, 
The  wodedowve  upon  the  spray  i960 

She  sang  ful  loude  and  clere.  (60) 

Sir  Thopas  fil  in  love-longinge 

Al  whan  he  herde  the  thrustel  singe. 

And  priked  as  he  were  wood  : 
His  faire  stede  in  his  prikinge  1965 

So  swatte  that  men  mighte  him  wringe, 

His  sydes  were  al  blood. 

Sir  Thopas  eek  so  wery  was 
For  prikinge  on  the  softe  gras. 

So  fiers  was  his  corage,  1970 

That  doun  he  leyde  him  in  that  plas    (70) 
To  make  his  stede  som  solas. 

And  yaf  him  good  forage. 

'  O  seinte  Marie,  ben'cite  ! 
What  eyleth  this  love  at  me  1975 

To  binde  nae  so  sore  ? 


Me  dremed  al  this  night,  pardee. 
An  elf-queen  shal  my  lemman  be, 
And  slepe  under  my  gore. 

An  elf-queen  wol  I  love,  y-wis,  1980 

For  in  this  world  no  womman  is  (80) 

Worthy  to  be  my  make  [T.  1372.2 

In  toune  ;  [T.  13722 

Alle  othere  wommen  I  forsake,  [T.  13723 

And  to  an  elf-queen  I  me  take  1985 

By  dale  and  eek  by  doune  ! ' 

In-to  his  sadel  he  clamb  anoon, 
And  priketh  over  style  and  stoun 

An  elf-queen  for  t'espye. 
Til  he  so  longe  had  riden  and  goon     1990 
That  he  fond,  in  a  privee  woon,  (90) 

The  contree  of  Fairye  [T.  13731 

So  wilde  ;  [T.  13734 

For  in  that  contree  was  ther  noon 
fThat  to  him  dorste  ryde  or  goon,       1995 

Neither  yryi  ne  childe. 

Til  that  ther  cam  a  greet  geaunt, 
His  name  was  sir  Olifaunt, 

A  perilous  man  of  dede  ; 
He  seyde,  '  child,  by  Termagaunt,        2000 
But-if  thou  prike  out  of  mjru  haunt,  (ux)) 

Anon  I  slee  thy  stede  [T.  13743 

With  mace.        [T.  13743 
Heer  is  the  queen  of  Fayerye, 
With  harpe  and  pype  and  simxshonye  2005 

Dwelling  in  this  place.' 

The  child  seyde,  '  al-so  mote  I  thee, 
Tomorwe  wol  I  mete  thee 

Whan  I  have  myn  armoure  ; 
And  yet  I  hope,  par  ma  fay,  2010 

That  thou  shalt  with  this  launcegay  (no) 

Abyen  it  ful  soure  ;  [T.  13752 

Thy  mawe  [T.  13752 

Shal  I  percen,  if  I  may, 
Er  it  be  fully  pryme  of  day,  2015 

For  heer  thou  shalt  be  slawe.' 

Sir  Thopas  drow  abak  ful  faste  ; 
This  geaunt  at  him  stones  caste 

Out  of  a  fel  staf-slinge  ; 
But  faire  escapeth  child  Tho^ias,  2020 

And  al  it  was  thurgh  goddes  gras,       (120) 

And  thurgh  his  fair  beringe. 


504 


B.     ^iv  Zhv<^' 


[t.  1 3762-1 3S46. 


Yet  listetli,  lordes,  to  my  talo 
Merier  than  the  nightingale, 

For  now  I  wol  yow  roune  2025 

How  sir  Thopas  with  sydes  smalc, 
Priking  over  hil  and  dale, 

Is  come  agayn  to  toune. 

His  merie  men  comanded  he 

To  make  him  bothe  game  and  glee,     2030 

For  nodes  moste  he  fighte  (.i.^oj 

AVith  a  gcaunt  with  hevedes  three. 
For  paramour  and  jolitee 

Of  oon  that  shoon  ful  brighte. 

'  Do  come,'  he  seyde,  '  my  minstrales,  2035 
And  gestours,  for  to  tellen  tales 

Anon  in  myn  arminge  ; 
Of  romances  that  been  royales, 
Of  popes  and  of  cardinales, 

And  eek  of  love-lykinge.'  2040 

They  fette  him  first  the  swete  wyn.    (140) 
And  mede  oek  in  a  maselyn, 

And  royal  spicerye 
Of  gingebreed  that  was  ful  fyn, 
And  lycorys,  and  eek  eomyn,  2045 

With  sugre  that  is  so  trye. 

He  dide  next  his  whyte  lere 
Of  clooth  of  lake  fyn  and  clere 

A  breech  and  eek  a  sherte  ; 
And  next  his  sherte  an  aket^iun,  2050 

And  over  that  an  habergeoun  (150) 

For  percinge  of  his  herte  ; 

And  over  that  a  fjTi  hauberk, 
Was  al  y-wroght  of  Jewes  werk, 

Ful  strong  it  was  of  plate  ;  2055 

And  over  that  his  cote-armour 
As  whyt  as  is  a  lily-flour. 

In  which  he  wol  debate. 

His  sheeld  was  al  of  gold  so  reed. 

And  ther-in  was  a  bores  heed,  2(:6o 

A  charboclo  bisyde  ;  (160) 

And  there  he  swoor,  on  ale  and  breed, 
How  that  '  the  geaunt  shal  be  deed, 

Bityde  what  bityde  ! ' 

His  jambeux  were  of  quirboilly,  2065 

His  swerdes  shethe  of  y vory. 
His  helm  of  laton  bright ; 


His  sadel  was  of  rewel-boou, 
His  brj'del  as  the  sonne  shoon. 

Or  as  the  mone  light.  2070 

His  spere  was  of  fyn  ciprees,  (170) 

That  bodeth  werre,  and  no-thing  pees. 

The  heed  ful  sharpe  y-grounde  ; 
His  stede  was  al  dappel-gray. 
It  gooth  an  ambel  in  the  way  2075 

Ful  softely  and  rounde  [T.  138 15 

In  londo.      [T.  13815 
Lo,  lordes  myne,  heer  is  a  fit ! 
If  ye  wol  any  more  of  it, 

To  telle  it  wol  I  fonde.  2080 


[The  Second  Fit.] 

Now  hold  your  mouth,  par  charitee,    (180) 
Bothe  knight  and  lady  free, 

And  herkneth  to  my  spelle  ; 
Of  bataille  and  of  chivalry, 
And  of  ladyes  love-drury  2085 

Anon  I  wol  yow  telle. 

Men  speke  of  romances  of  pi"ys, 
Of  Horn  child  and  of  Ypotys, 

Of  Bevis  and  sir  Gy, 
Of  sir  Liljeux  and  Plcyn-damonr  ;        21190 
But  sir  Thopas,  he  bereth  the  flour     (190) 

Of  royal  chivalry. 

His  gode  stede  al  he  bistrood, 
And  lorth  upon  his  wey  he  glood 

As  sparkle  out  of  the  bronde  ;  2095 

Ui>-on  his  crest  he  bar  a  tour. 
And  ther-in  stiked  a  lily-flour, 

God  shilde  his  cors  fro  shonde  ! 

,\nd  for  he  was  a  knight  auntrous. 

He  noldo  slepen  in  non  hous,  2100 

But  liggen  in  his  hode  ;  (200) 

His  brighte  helm  was  his  wonger, 
And  by  him  baiteth  his  dextrer 

Of  herbes  fyne  and  gode. 

Him-self  drank  water  of  the  wel,  2105 

As  did  the  knight  sir  Percivel, 

So  worthy  under  wede, 
Til  on  a  day (207) 


Here  the  Host  stinteth  Chaucer  of  his  Tale  of  Thopas. 


.3847-13894-]       ^-    (J?tofo5w«  <«  (meft6eu0. 


505 


PROLOGUE    TO    MELIBEUS. 


'  No  more  of  this,  for  goddes  dignitee,' 
Quod  oure  hoste,  '  for  thou  makest  me  21 10 
So  wery  of  thy  verray  lewednesse 
That,  also  wisly  god  my  soiile  blesse, 
Myn  eres  aken  of  thy  drasty  speche  ; 
Now  swiche  a  rym  the  devel  I  biteohe ! 
This  may  wel  be  rym  dogerel,'  qviod  he. 

'  ^Vhy  so  ? '  quod  I,  '  why  wiltow  lette  me 
More  of  my  tale  than  another  man. 
Sin  that  it  is  the  beste  rym  I  can  ? '     (10) 
'By   god,'    quod   he,    'for   pleynly,    at 
a  word. 
Thy  drasty  ryming  is  nat  worth  a  tord  ; 
Tliou  doost  nought  elles  but  despendest 
tyme,  2 121 

Sir,    at    o   word,    thou   shalt    no   lenger 

ryme. 
Lat  see  wher  thoii  canst  tellen  aught  in 

geste. 
Or  telle  in  prose  somwhat  at  the  Teste 
In  which  ther  be   som  mirthe  or  som 
dootryne.'  2125 

'  Gladly,'  quod  I,  'by  goddes  swete  pyne, 
I  wol  yow  telle  a  litel  thing  in  prose, 
That  oghte  lyken  yow,  as  I  suppose,     (20) 
Or  elles,  certes,  ye  been  to  daungerous. 
It  is  a  moral  tale  vcrtuous,  2130 

Al  be  it  told  som-tyme  in  sondry  wyse 
Of  sondry  folk,  as  I  shal  yow  devyse. 


As  thus ;  ye  woot  that  every  evangelist. 
That  telleth  us  the  peyne  of  Jesu  Crist, 
Ne  saith  nat  al  thing  as  his  felaw  dooth. 
But  natheles,  hir  sentence  is  al  sooth,  2136 
And  alle  acorden  as  in  hir  sentence, 
Al  be  ther  in  hir  telling  difference.      (30) 
For  somme  of  hem  seyn  more,  and  somme 

lesse. 
Whan  they  his  pitous  passioun  expresse  ; 
I  mene  of  Mark  [and]  Mathew,  Luk  and 
John  ;  2141 

But  doutelees  hir  sentence  is  al  oon. 
Therfor,  lordinges  alle,  I  yow  biseche, 
If  that  ye  thinke  I  varie  as  in  my  speche, 
As  thus,  thogh  that  I  telle  som-what  more 
Of  proverbes,  than  ye  han  herd  bifore, 
Comprehended  in  this  litel  tretis  here. 
To  enforce  with  the  th'effect  of  my  matere. 
And  thogh  I  nat  the  same  wordes  seye  (41 ) 
As  ye  han  herd,  yet  to  yow  alle  I  preye, 
Blameth  me  nat ;  for,  as  in  my  sentence. 
Ye  shiil  not  fynden  mocho  difference 
Fro  the  sentence  of  this  tretis  lyte 
After  the  which  this  mery  tale  I  wryte. 
And  therfor  herkneth  what  that  I  shal 
seye,  2155 

And  lat  me  tellen  al  my  tale,  I  preye.'  (48) 
Explicit, 


THE    TALE    OF    MELIBEUS. 


Here  biginneth  Chaucers  Tale  of  Melibee. 


^1.  A  yong  man  called  Melibeus, 
mighty  and  riche,  bigat  up-on  his  wyf 
that  called  was  Prudence,  a  doghter 
which  that  called  was  Sophie./ 

§  2.  Upon  a  day  bifel,  that  he  for  his 
desport  is  went  in-to  the  feeldes  him  to 
pleye.  /     His  wyf  and  eek  his   doghter 


hath  he  left  in  with  his  hous,  of  which  the 
dores  weren  fast  y-shette.  /  Three  of  his 
olde  foos  han  it  espyed,  and  setten  laddres 
to  the  walles  of  his  hous,  and  by  the 
windowes  been  entred,  /  and  betten  his  2i6f) 
wyf,  and  wounded  his  doghter  with  fyve 
mortal  woundes  in  fyve  sondry  places  ;  / 


5o6 


B.    Z^t  Zak  of  (nuftfieug. 


[t-  §§  3- 


this  is  to  sejni,  in  ]iir  feet,  in  hir  handes, 
in  hir  eras,  in  hir  nose,  and  in  hir  mouth ; 
and  leften  hir  for  deed,  and  wenten 
awey.  / 

§  3.  Whan  Melibens  retourned  was  in- 
to his  hons,  and  saiigh  al  tliis  mcsohief, 
lie,  Ij-k  a  mad  man,  rendinge  his  clothes, 
gan  to  wope  and  crj-e.  /  I 

§  i.  Prudence  his  wj-f,  as  ferforth  as 
she  dorste,  bisoghte  him  of  his  weping  for 
to  stinte  ;  /  but   nat  for-thy  he  gan  to 

-'irts  crye  and  wepen  ever  lenger  tlie  more.  / 
§  5.  This  noble  wyf  Prudence  remem- 
bered hir  upon  the  sentence  of  Ovide,  in  ' 
his  book  that  clepod  is  The  Remedie  of 
Love,  wher-as  he  seith  ;  /  '  he  is  a  fool 
that  destourbeth  the  moder  to  wepen  in 
the  deeth  of  hir  child,  til  she  have  wept 
hir  fille,  as  for  a  certein  tyme  ;  /  and 
thanne  shal  man  doon  his  diligence  with 
amiable  wordes  hir  to  reconforte,  and 
preyen  hir  of  hir  weping  for  to  stinte.'  / 
For  which  resoun  this  noble  wyf  Prudence 
suffred  hir  housbond  for  to  wepe  and  crj-e 
as  for  a  certein  space  ;  /  and  whan  she 
saugh  hir  tjTne,  she  seyde  him  in  this 
wyso.     '  .\Uas,  my  lord,'  quod  she,  '  whj' 

2i7(>  make  yo  your-self  for  to  be  lyk  a  fool?  ^ 
For  sothe,  it  apcrteneth  nat  to  a  wys 
man,  to  maken  swiche  a  sorwe.  /  Your 
doghter,  with  the  grace  of  god,  shal 
warisshe  and  escape.  /  And  al  were  it  so 
that  she  right  now  were  deed,  ye  ne  oghte 
nat  as  for  hir  deeth  your-self  to  destroye./ 
Senek  seith  :  "  the  wise  man  shal  nat 
take  to  greet  disconfort  for  the  deeth  of 
his  children,  /  but  certes  he  sholde  suffren 
it  in  pacience,  as  wel  as  he  abydeth  the 

-•i;5  deeth  of  his  owene  propre  persone."  '  / 

g  6.  This  Melibeus  answerde  anon  and 
seyde,  '  What  man,'  quod  he,  '  sholde  of 
his  weping  stinte,  that  hath  so  greet 
a  cause  for  to  wepe  ?  /  Jesu  Crist,  our 
lord,  him-self  wepte  for  the  deeth  of 
Lazarus  his  freend.'/  Prudence  answerde, 
'  Certes,  wel  I  woot,  attempree  weping  is 
no-thing  defended  to  him  that  sorweful 
is,  amonges  folk  in  sorwe,  but  it  is  rather 
graunted  him  to  wepe.  /  The  Apostle 
Paul  un-to  the  Rf)mayns  wryteth,  "  man 
shal  rejoyse  with  hem  that  maken  joye. 


and  wepen  with  swich  folk  as  wepen."  / 
But  thogh  attemj^ree  wejiing  bo  y- 
graunted,  outrageous  weping  certes  is 
defended.  /  Mesure  of  weping  sholde  be  21X0 
considered,  after  the  lore  that  techeth  us 
Senek.  /  "Whan  that  thy  freend  is 
deed,"  quod  he,  "  lat  nat  thyne  eyen  to 
moyste  been  of  teres,  ne  to  muche  diye  ; 
althogh  the  teres  come  to  thyne  eyen,  lat 
hem  nat  falle."  /  And  whan  thou  hast 
for-goon  thy  freend,  do  diligence  to  gete 
another  freend  ;  and  this  is  more  wysdom 
than  for  to  wepe  for  thy  freend  which 
that  thou  hast  lorn  ;  for  ther-inne  is  no 
bote.  /  And  therfore,  if  ye  governo  yow 
by  sapience,  put  awey  sorwe  out  of  your 
herte.  /  Eemembre  yow  that  Jesus  SjTak 
seith  :  "  a  man  that  is  joj-ous  and  glad  in 
herte,  it  him  conservoth  florisshing  in  his 
age  ;  but  soothly  sorweful  herte  maketh 
his  bones  drye."  /  Ho  seith  eek  thus  :  2i,«j 
"  that  sorwe  in  herte  sleeth  ful  many 
a  man."  /  Salomon  seith  :  "that,  right 
as  motthes  in  the  shepes  flees  anoyeth  to 
the  clothes,  and  the  smalo  wormes  to  the 
tree,  right  so  anoyeth  sorwe  to  the 
herte."  /  Wherforo  us  oghte,  as  wel  in 
the  deeth  of  our  children  as  in  the  losse 
of  our  goodes  temporels,  have  pacience.  / 

§  7.  Eemembre  yow  up-on  the  pacient 
Job,  wlian  he  hadde  lost  his  children  and 
his  temporal  substance,  and  in  his  body 
endured  and  recej'\'ed  ful  many  a  grevous 
tribulacioun  ;  yet  seyde  he  thus  :  /  "  oxir 
lord  hath  yeven  it  me,  our  lord  hath 
biraft  it  me  ;  right  as  our  lord  hath  wold, 
right  so  it  is  doon  ;  blessed  be  the  name 
of  our  lord." '  /  To  thise  foreseide  thinges  2191) 
answerde  Melibeus  \in-to  his  wyf  Pru- 
dence :  '  AUe  thy  wordes,'  quod  he,  'been 
sothe,  and  ther-to  profitable  ;  but  trewely 
mjii  herte  is  troubled  with  this  sorwe  so 
grevously,  that  I  noot  what  to  done.'  / 
'  Lat  calle,'  quod  Prudence,  '  thy  trewe 
freendes  alle,  and  thy  linage  whiche  that 
been  vryse ;  telleth  your  cas,  and  herkneth 
what  they  seye  in  conseiling,  and  yow 
goveme  after  hir  sentence.  /  Salomon 
seith  :  "  werk  alle  thy  thinges  by  conseil, 
and  thou  shalt  never  repente." '  / 

§  8.  Thanne,  by  the  conseil  of  his  ■\vy{ 


§§  9-1 1-] 


B.    t6e  Zak  of  (meftfieue. 


507 


Prudence,  this  Melibeus  leet  callen  a  greet 
congregacionn  of  folk ;  /  as  surgiens, 
phisioiens,  olde  folk  and  yonge,  and 
somme  of  liise  olde  enemys  reconsiled  as 
by  hir  semblaunt  to  his  love  and  in-to  his 

!05  grace  ;  /  and  ther-with-al  ther  comen 
son  I  me  of  hise  neighebores  that  diden 
him  reverence  more  for  drede  than  for 
love,  as  it  happeth  ofte.  /  Ther  comen 
also  ful  many  svibtile  flatereres,  and  wyse 
advocats  lerned  in  the  lawe.  / 

§  9.  And  whan  this  folk  togidre  as- 
sembled weren,  this  Melibeus  in  sorweful 
wyse  shewed  hem  his  cas  ;  /  and  bj'  the 
manere  of  his  speche  it  semed  that  in 
herte  he  bar  a  cruel  ire,  redy  to  doon 
voiigeaunce  tip-on  hise  foos,  and  sodeynly 
desired  that  the  werre  sholde  biginne  ;  / 
but  nathelees  yet  axed  he  hir  conseil  upon 

-'I HI  this  matere.  /  A  surgien,  by  licence  and 
assent  of  swiche  as  weren  wyse,  iip  roos 
and  un-to  Melibeus  seyde  as  ye  may 
iiere.  / 

§  10.  '  Sir,'  cxuod  he,  '  as  to  us  sxirgiens 
i<l)prtenetli,  that  we  do  to  every  wight  the 
besto  that  we  can,  wher-as  we  been  with- 
lio'.de,  and  to  our  pacients  that  we  do  no 
damage  ;  /  wherfore  it  happeth,  many 
tyme  and  ofte,  that  whan  twey  men  han 
everich  wounded  other,  oon  same  surgien 
heleth  hem  botlio  ;  /  wherefore  tin-to  our 
art  it  is  nat  pertinent  to  norice  werre,  ne 
parties  to  supporte.  /  But  certes,  as  to 
the  warisshingc  of  your  doghter,  al-be-Lt 
so  tliat  she  perilously  be  wounded,  we 
sliullen  do  so  entcntif  bisinesse  fro  day 
to  night,  that  with  the  grace  of  god  she 
shal   be    hool   and   sound   as   sone  as  is 

-■C15  possible.' /  Almost  right  in  the  same 
wyse  the  phisiciens  answerden,  save  that 
they  seyden  a  fewe  wordes  more :  /  'That, 
right  as  maladyes  been  cured  by  hir 
contraries,  riglit  so  shul  men  warisshe 
werre  by  vengeaunce.'/  His  neighebores, 
ful  of  envye,  his  feyned  freendes  that 
semeden  reconsiled,  and  his  flatereres,  / 
maden  semblant  of  weping,  and  em- 
peireden  and  agreggeden  muchel  of  this 
matere,  in  preising  greetly  Melibee  of 
might,  of  power,  of  richesse,  and  of 
freendes,    despysinge   the   power   of    his 


adversaries,  /  and  seiden  outrely  that  he 
anon  sholde  wreken  him  on  his  foos  and 
biginne  werre.  /  2.' 10 

§  11.  Up  roos  thanne  an  advocat  that 
was  wys,  by  leve  and  by  conseil  of  othere 
that  were  wyse,  and  seyde  :  /  '  Lordinges, 
the  nede  for  which  we  been  assembled  in 
this  place  is  a  ful  hevy  thing  and  an 
heigh  matere,  /  by-cause  of  the  virrong 
and  of  the  wikkednesse  that  hath  bo 
doon,  and  eek  by  resoun  of  the  grete 
damages  that  in  tyme  cominge  been 
possible  to  fallen  for  this  same  cause  ;  / 
and  eek  by  resoun  of  the  grete  richesse 
and  power  of  the  parties  bothe  ;  /  for  the 
whiche  resotins  it  were  a  ful  greet  peril 
to  erren  in  this  matere.  /  Wherfore,  2215 
Melibeus,  this  is  our  sentence  :  we  con- 
seille  yow  aboven  alle  thing,  that  right 
anon  thou  do  thy  diligence  in  kepinge  of 
thy  propre  persone,  in  swich  a  wyse  that 
thou  ne  wante  noon  espye  newacche,  thy 
body  for  to  save.  /  And  after  that  we 
conseille,  that  in  thyn  hous  thou  sstte 
suffisant  garnisoun,  so  that  they  may  as 
wel  thy  body  as  thyn  hous  defende.  / 
But  certes,  for  to  moeve  werre,  or  so- 
deynly for  to  doon  vengeaunce,  we  may 
nat  demen  in  so  litel  tyme  that  it  were 
profitable.  /  Wherfore  we  axen  leyser 
and  espace  to  have  deliberaoioun  in  this 
cas  to  deme.  /  For  the  commune  proverbe 
seith  thus:  "he  that  sone  demeth,  sime 
shal  repente."  /  And  eek  men  seyn  that  222(1 
thilke  juge  is  w^s,  that  sone  under- 
stondeth  a  matere  and  juggeth  by  leyser.  / 
For  al-be-it  so  that  alle  tax-ying  be 
anoyful,  algates  it  is  nat  to  reprove  in 
yevinge  of  jugement,  no  in  vengeance- 
taking,  whan  it  is  suffisant  and  reson- 
able.  /  And  that  shewed  our  lord  Jesu 
Crist  by  ensample ;  for  whan  that  the 
womman  that  was  taken  in  avoiitrie  was 
broght  in  his  presence,  to  knowen  what 
sholde  be  doon  with  hir  persone,  al-be-it 
so  that  ho  wisto  wel  him-self  what  that 
he  wolde  answere,  yet  ne  wolde  he  nat 
answere  sodeynly,  but  he  wolde  have 
deliberaoioun,  and  in  the  ground  he 
wroot  twyes.  /  And  by  thise  causes  we 
axen  deliberacioun,  and  we  shal  thanne. 


5o8 


ZH  ^<ife  of  Qnefifieue. 


[t.  §§  r: 


by  the  grace  of  god,  conseille  thee  thing 
that  shal  be  profitable.'/ 

§  12.  Up  stirten  thanne  the  yonge  folk 
at-ones,  and  the  moste  partie  of  that 
companye  ban  scorned  the  oldo  wyse 
men,  and  bigonnen  to  make  noyse,  and 

2.J25  seyden  :  that,  /  right  so  as  whyl  that  iren 
is  hoot,  men  sholden  smj-te,  right  so,  men 
sholde  wreken  hir  wronges  whyle  that 
they  been  fresshe  and  newe ;  and  with 
loud  voys  tliey  cryden,  '  werre  !  werre  ! '/ 
Up  roos  the  oon  of  thise  olde  wyse,  and 
with  his  hand  made  contcnaunce  that 
men  sholde  holden  hem  stille  and  yeven 
him  audience.  /  '  Lordingos,'  quod  he, 
'  ther  is  ful  many  a  man  that  cryeth 
"werre!  werre!"  that  woot  ful  litel  what 
werre  amounteth.  /  Werre  at  his  bi- 
ginning  hath  so  greet  an  entree  and  so 
large,  that  every  wight  may  entre  whan 
him  lyketh,  and  lightly  findc  werre.  / 
But,  certes,  what  cnde  that  shal  ther-of 

2J30  bifalle,  it  is  nat  light  to  knowc.  /  For 
sothly,  whan  that  werre  is  ones  bigonne, 
ther  is  ful  many  a  child  xinborn  of  his 
nioder,  that  shal  stcrve  yong  by-cause  of 
that  ilke  werre,  or  elles  live  in  sorwe  and 
dye  in  wrecchednesse.  /  And  ther-fore, 
er  that  any  werre  biginne,  men  moste 
have  greet  conseil  and  greet  delibera- 
cioun.'/  And  whan  this  olde  man  wende 
to  enforeen  his  tale  by  resons,  wel  ny 
alle  at-ones  bigonne  they  to  ryse  for  to 
breken  liis  tale,  and  beden  him  ful  ofte 
his  wordes  for  to  abregge.  /  For  soothly, 
he  that  precheth  to  hem  that  listen  nat 
heren  his  wordes,  his  sermon  hem 
anoyeth.  /  For  Jesus  Syrak  seith  :  that 
'  mosik  in  wepinge  is  anoyous  thing ' ; 
this  is  to  seyn :  as  muche  availleth 
to  speken  bifore  folk  to  whiche  his 
speche     anoyeth,     as    dooth     to     singe 

2235  bifom  him  that  wepeth.  /  And  whan 
this  wyse  man  saugh  that  him  wanted 
audience,  al  shamefast  he  sette  him  doun 
agayn.  /  For  Salomon  seith  :  '  ther-as 
thou  ne  mayst  have  noon  audience, 
enforce  thee  nat  to  speke.'/  '  I  see  wel,' 
quod  this  wyse  man,  '  that  the  commune 
prove rbe  is  sooth  ;  that  "  good  conseil 
wanteth  whan  it  is  most  nede.'"/ 


§  13.  Yet  haddo  this  Melibeus  in  his 
conseil  many  folk,  that  prively  in  his  ere 
conseilled  him  certeyn  thing,  and  con- 
seilled  him  the  contrarie  in  general 
audience.  / 

WHian  Melibeus  hadde  herd  that  the 
gretteste  partie  of  his  conseil  weren 
accorded  that  he  sholde  maken  werre, 
anoon  he  consented  to  hir  conseilling, 
and  fully  affermed  hir  sentence.  /  Thanne  2240 
dame  Prudence,  whan  that  she  saugh  how 
that  hir  housbondo  shoop  him  for  to 
wreken  him  on  his  foos,  and  to  biginne 
werre,  she  in  ful  humble  wyse,  when  she 
saugh  hir  tyme,  seide  him  thise  wordes  :/ 
'My  lord,'  quod  she,  'I  yow  biseche  as 
hertely  as  I  dar  and  can,  ne  haste  yow 
nat  to  faste,  and  for  alle  guerdons  as 
yeveth  me  audience.  /  For  Piers  Alfonce 
seith  :  "  who-so  that  dooth  to  that  other 
good  or  harm,  haste  thee  nat  to  quyten 
it ;  ior  in  this  wyse  thy  freend  wol  abyde, 
and  thyn  enemy  shal  the  lenger  live  in 
drede."  /  The  proverbe  seith  :  "hehasteth 
wel  that  wysely  can  abyde " ;  and  in 
wikked  haste  is  no  profit.'/ 

§  14.  Tliis  Melibee  answerde  un-to  his 
wj-f  Pnidence  :  '  I  purpose  nat,'  quod  he, 
'  to  werke  by  thy  conseil,  for  many  causes 
and  resouns.  For  certes  every  wight 
woldo  holde  me  thanne  a  fool ;  /  this  is  2245 
to  seyn,  if  I,  for  thy  conseilling,  wolde 
chaungen  thinges  that  been  ordeyned 
and  affermed  by  so  manye  wyse.  / 
Secoundly  I  seye,  that  alle  wommen  been 
wikke  and  noon  good  of  hem  alle.  For 
"  of  a  thousand  men,"  seith  Salomon, 
"  I  fond  a  good  man  :  but  certes,  of  alle 
wommen,  good  womman  fond  I  never."/ 
And  also  certes,  if  I  governed  me  by  thy 
conseil,  it  sholde  seme  that  I  hadde  yeve 
to  thee  over  me  the  maistrie  ;  and  god 
forbede  that  it  so  were.  /  For  Jesus 
Syrak  seith;  "that  if  the  wyf  have 
maistrie,  she  is  contrarious  to  hir  hous- 
bonde."  /  And  Salomon  seith  :  "  never 
in  thy  lyf,  to  thy  wyf,  ne  to  thy  child,  ne 
to  thy  freend,  ne  yeve  no  power  over  thy- 
self. For  bettre  it  were  that  thy  children 
aske  of  thy  persone  thinges  that  hem 
nedeth,    than    thou   see   thy-self  in   the 


T.  §   1 5-] 


B.    Z^t  Zak  of  (nieft6eu0. 


509 


.'J50  handes  of  thy  children."/  And  also,  if 
I  wolde  werke  by  thy  conseilling,  certes 
my  conseilling  moste  som  tyme  be  secree, 
til  it  were  tyme  that  it  moste  be  knowe  ; 
and  this  ne  may  noght  be.  /  [fFor  it  is 
writen,  that  "  the  janglerie  of  wommen 
can  hyden  thinges  that  they  witen 
noght."  /  Furthermore,  the  philosophre 
seith,  "in  wikked  conseil  wommen  ven- 
(juisshe  men  " ;  and  for  thise  resouns  I  ne 
ow  nat  usen  thy  conseil.']  / 

§  15.  Whanne  dame  Prudence,  ful 
debonairly  and  with  greet  pacience, 
hadde  herd  al  that  hir  housbonde  lyked 
for  to  seye,  thanne  axed  she  of  him 
licence  for  to  speke,  and  seyde  in  this 
wyse.  /  '  My  lord,'  quod  she,  '  as  to  your 
firste  resoun,  certes  it  may  lightly  been 
answered.  For  I  seye,  that  it  is  no  folie 
to  chaunge  conseil  whan  the  thing  is 
chaunged  ;     or    elles    whan     the    thing 

J255  semeth  otherweyes  than  it  was  biforn.  / 
And  more-over  I  seye,  that  though  ye  han 
sworn  and  bihight  to  perfourne  your 
empi-ise,  and  nathelees  ye  weyve  to  per- 
fourne thilke  same  emprise  by  juste 
cause,  men  sholde  nat  seyn  therefore  that 
ye  were  a  Iyer  ne  forsworn.  /  For  the 
book  seith,  that  "the  wyse  man  niaketh 
no  lesing  whan  he  turnoth  his  corage  to 
the  bettre."  /  And  al-be-it  so  that  your 
emprise  be  establissed  and  ordeyned  by 
greet  multitude  of  folk,  yet  thar  ye  nat 
accomplice  thilke  same  ordinaunce  but 
yow  lyke.  /  For  the  trouthe  of  thinges 
and  the  profit  been  rather  founden  in 
fewe  folk  that  been  wyse  and  ful  of 
resoun,  than  by  greet  multitude  of  folk, 
ther  every  man  cryeth  and  clatereth  what 
that  him  lyketh.  Soothly  swich  multi- 
tude is  nat  honeste.  /  As  to  the  seconde 
resoun,  where-as  ye  seyn  that  "  alle 
wommen  been  wikke,"  save  your  grace, 
certes  ye  despysen  alle  wommen  in  this 
wyse  ;  and  "  he  that  alle  desi^yseth  alle 

2260  displeseth,"  as  seith  the  book.  /  And 
Senek  seith  that  "  who-so  wole  have 
sapience,  shal  no  man  dispreise ;  but  he 
shal  gladly  techen  the  science  that  he 
can,  with-outen  presumpcioun  or  pryde.  / 
And  swiche  thinges  as  he  nought  ne  can, 


he  shal  nat  been  ashamed  to  lerne  hem 
and  enquere  of  lasse  folk  than  him-self."/ 
And  sir,  that  ther  hath  been  many 
a  good  womman,  may  lightly  be  preved./ 
For  certes,  sir,  our  lord  Jesu  Crist  wolde 
never  have  descended  to  be  born  of 
a  womman,  if  alle  wommen  hadden  ben 
wikke.  /  And  after  that,  for  the  grete 
bountee  that  is  in  wommeii,  our  lord  Jesu 
Crist,  whan  he  was  risen  fro  deeth  to 
lyve,  apijeered  rather  to  a  womman  than 
to  his  apostles.  /  And  though  that  22(15 
Salomon  seith,  that  "he  ne  fond  never 
womman  good,"  it  folweth  nat  therfore 
that  alle  wommen  ben  wikke.  /  For 
though  that  he  ne  fond  no  good  womman, 
certes,  ful  many  another  man  hath 
founden  many  a  womman  ful  good  and 
trewe.  /  Or  elles  per-aventure  the  en- 
tente of  Salomon  was  this  ;  that,  as  in 
sovereyn  bountee,  he  fond  no  womman  ;  / 
this  is  to  seyn,  that  ther  is  no  wight  that 
hath  soverejTi  bountee  save  god  allone  ; 
as  he  him-self  recordeth  in  his  Evaun- 
gelie.  /  For  ther  nis  no  creature  so  good 
that  him  ne  wanteth  somwhat  of  the 
perfeccioun  of  god,  that  is  his  :naker.  /  2270 
Your  thridde  resoun  is  this  :  ye  seyn  that 
"  if  ye  governe  yow  by  my  conseU,  it 
sholde  seme  that  ye  hadde  j-eve  me  the 
maistrie  and  the  lordshipe  over  your 
persone."/  Sir,  save  your  grace,  it  is  nat 
so.  For  if  it  were  so,  that  no  man  sholde 
be  conseilled  but  only  of  hem  that  hadden 
lordshipe  and  maistrie  of  his  persone,  men 
wolden  nat  be  conseilled  so  ofte.  /  For 
soothly,  thilke  man  that  asketh  conseil  of 
a  purpos,  yet  hath  he  free  chois,  wheither 
he  wole  werke  by  that  conseil  or  noon.  / 
And  as  to  your  fourthe  resoun,  ther  ye 
seyn  that  "  the  janglerie  of  wommen  hath 
hid  thinges  that  they  woot  noght,"  as 
who  seith,  that  "  a  womman  can  nat  hyde 
that  she  woot  "  ;  /  sii",  thise  wordes  been 
understonde  of  wommen  that  been  jan- 
gleresses  and  wikked  ;  /  of  whiche  wom-  2275 
men,  men  seyn  that  "  three  thinges 
dryven  a  man  out  of  his  hous  ;  that  is  to 
seyn,  smoke,  dropping  of  reyn,  and 
wikked  wyves"  ;  /  and  of  swiche  wommen 
seith    Salomon,    that    "  it    were    bettre 


;io 


B.    Z^z  Zak  of  (meftfieue. 


[t.  §§  16,  17. 


Jwelle  in  desert,  than  with  a  -wommau 
that  is  riotous."  /  And  sir,  by  your  leve, 
that  am  nat  I ;  /  for  ye  han  ful  ofte 
assayed  my  grete  silence  and  my  grot 
pacience ;  and  eek  how  wel  that  I  can 
hyde  and  hele  thinges  that  men  oghte 
secreely  to  hyde.  /  And  soothly,  as  to 
your  fiitlie  resonn,  wher-as  ye  seyn,  that 
"  in  wikked  conseil  wommen  venquisshe 
meu "  ;  god  woot,  thillie  resoun  stant 
280  here  in  no  stede.  /  For  understond  now, 
ye  askeu  conseil  to  do  wikkednesse ;  /  and 
if  yo  wole  werken  wikkednesse,  and  your 
wyf  restreynetlx  thilke  wkked  purpos, 
and  ovcrcometh  yow  by  resoun  and  by 
good  conseil ;  /  ccrtes,  your  wyf  oghte 
rather  to  he  preised  than  y-blamed.  / 
Thus  sholde  ,yc  understonde  the  philo- 
sophre  that  seith,  "  in  wikked  conseil 
wommen  venquisshen  hir  housbondes."  / 
And  thcr-as  ye  blamen  alle  wommen  and 
hir  resouns,  I  shal  shewe  yow  by  manye 
cnsamples  that  many  a  womman  hath 
ben  ful  good,  and  yet  been ;  and  hir 
^85  conseils  ful  hoolsome  and  profitable.  / 
Eek  som  men  han  seyd,  that  "  the  con- 
seillinge  of  wommen  is  outher  to  dero,  or 
elles  to  litel  of  prj-s,"  /  But  al-be-it  so, 
that  ful  many  a  womman  is  badde,  and 
hir  conseil  vile  and  noght  worth,  yet  han 
men  foundo  ful  many  a  good  womman, 
and  ful  discrete  and  wise  in  conseillingc.  / 
Lo,  Jacob,  by  good  conseil  of  his  moder 
Rebekka,  wan  the  benisoun  of  Ysaak  his 
fader,  and  the  lordshipe  over  alle  his 
bretheren.  /  Judith,  by  hir  good  conseil, 
delivered  the  citee  of  Bethulie,  in  which 
she  dwelled,  out  of  the  handes  of  Olo- 
fernus,  that  hadde  it  biseged  and  wolde 
have  al  destroyed  it.  /  Abigail  delivered 
Nabal  hir  housbonde  fro  David  the  king, 
that  wolde  have  slayn  him,  and  apaysed 
the  ire  of  the  king  by  hir  wit  and  by  hir 
2290  good  conseilling.  /  Hester  by  hir  good 
conseil  enhatmced  greetly  the  peple  of 
god  in  the  regne  of  Assuerus  the  king.  / 
And  the  same  bountee  in  good  conseilling 
of  many  a  good  womman  may  men  telle.  / 
And  moreover,  whan  our  lord  hadde  creat 
Adam  our  forme-fader,  he  seyde  in  this 
■wyse  :  /  "  it  is  nat  good  to   been  a  man 


allone  ;  make  we  to  him  an  help  sernb- 
lable  to  himself."  /  Here  may  ye  se  that, 
if  that  wommen  were  nat  goode,  and  hir 
conseils  goode  and  profitable,  /  our  lord  jji;.^ 
god  of  hevene  wolde  never  han  wroght 
hem,  ne  called  hem  help  of  man,  but 
rather  confusioun  of  man.  /  And  ther 
seyde  ones  a  clerk  in  two  vers  :  "  what  is 
bettre  than  gold  ?  Jaspre.  What  is  bettro 
til  an  jaspre  ?  Wisdom.  /  And  what  is 
bettre  than  wisdom?  Womman.  An-.l 
what  is  bettre  than  a  good  womman  ? 
No-thing."  /  And  sir,  by  manye  of  othre 
resons  may  ye  seen,  that  manye  wommen 
been  goode,  and  hir  conseils  goode  and 
profitable.  /  And  therfore  sir,  if  yo  wol 
tristo  to  my  conseil,  I  shal  restore  yow 
your  doghter  hool  and  sound.  /  And  eek  j^ok 
I  wol  do  to  yow  so  muchc,  that  ye  shul 
have  lionour  in  this  cause.'  / 

g  16.  Whan  Melibee  hadde  herd  the 
wordes  of  his  ^vyf  Prudence,  he  seyde 
thus  :  /  '  I  see  wel  that  the  word  of 
Salomon  is  sooth  ;  he  seith,  that  "wordes 
that  been  spoken  discreetly  by  ordinaunce, 
been  honycombes ;  lor  they  yoven  swct- 
nesse  to  the  soule,  and  hoolsomnesse  to 
the  body."/  .4nd  wyf,  by-cause  of  thy 
swete  wordes,  and  eek  for  I  have  assayed 
and  preved  thy  grete  sapience  and  thy 
grete  troiithe,  I  wol  goveme  me  by  thy 
conseil  in  alio  thing.'  / 

§  17.  '  Now  sir,'  quod  dame  Prudence, 
'  and  sin  j-e  vouche-sauf  to  been  governed 
by  my  conseil,  I  wol  enforme  yow  how  ye 
shul  goveme  your-self  in  chesinge  of  your 
conseillours.  /  Ye  shul  first,  in  alle  j"our  2.v>5 
werkes,  mekely  biseken  to  the  hcighc  god 
that  he  wol  be  your  conseillour ;  /  and 
shapeth  yow  to  swich  entente,  that  he 
yeve  yow  conseil  and  confort,  as  taughte 
Thobie  his  sone  :  /  "at  alle  tymes  thou 
shalt  blesse  god,  and  praye  him  to  dresse 
thy  weyes " ;  and  looke  that  alle  thy 
conseils  been  m  him  for  evermore.  /  Seint 
Jame  eek  seith  :  "  if  any  of  yow  have 
nede  of  sapience,  axe  it  of  god."  /  And 
afterward  thanne  shul  ye  taken  conseil 
in  your-self,  and  examine  wol  your 
thoghtes,  of  STA'ich  thing  as  yo\v  thinketh 
that  is  best  for  your  profit.  /  And  thanne  -^.^k) 


T.  §§  18-21.] 


B.    ZU  ^afe  of  QnefiUeuff. 


5'i 


shul  ye  dryve  fro  your  herte  three  thinges 
that  been  contrariouse  to  good  conseil,  / 
that  is  to  seyn,  ire,  coveitise,  and  hastif- 
nesse.  / 

§  18.  First,  he  that  axeth  conseil  of 
him-self,  certes  he  moste  been  with-otiten 
ire,  for  manye  causes.  /  The  firste  is 
this  :  he  that  hath  greet  ire  and  wratthe 
in  him-self,  he  weneth  alwey  that  he 
may  do  t'}ing  th.at  he  may  nat  do./  And 
secoundely,  he  that  is  irous  and  wroth, 

-'.^15  he  ne  may  nat  wel  deme  ;  /  and  he  that 
may  nat  wel  deme,  may  nat  wel  con- 
seille.  /  The  thridde  is  this  ;  that  "  he 
that  is  irous  and  wrooth,"  as  seith  Senek, 
"ne  may  nat  speke  but  he  blame  thinges";/ 
and  with  his  viciouse  wordes  he  stireth 
other  folk  to  angre  and  to  ire.  /  And 
eek  sir,  ye  moste  dryve  coveitise  oiit  of 
your  herte.  /     For  the  ap<jstle  seith,  that 

J320  "  coveitise  is  rote  of  alle  Iiarmes."  /  And 
trust  wel  that  a  coveitous  man  ne  can 
noght  deme  ne  thinke,  but  only  to  fulfille 
the  ende  of  his  coveitise  ;  /  and  certes, 
that  ne  naay  never  been  accompliced ; 
for  ever  tlie  more  habundaunce  that  he 
hath  of  riohesse,  the  more  he  desyreth.  / 
And  sir,  ye  moste  also  dryve  out  of  your 
herte  hastifnesse  ;  for  certes,  /  ye  ne  may 
nat  deme  for  tlie  beste  a  sodeyn  thouglit 
that  falleth  in  youre  herte,  but  ye  moste 
avyse  yow  on  it  ful  ofte.  /  For  as  ye 
herde  biforn,  the  commune  proverbe  is 
tliis,  that  "  he  tliat   sone   denieth,    sone 

.•325  repenteth."  / 

§  19.  Sir,  ye  ne  be  nat  alwey  in  lyke 
disposicioun ;  /  for  certes,  som  thing 
that  somtyme  semeth  to  yow  that  it  is 
good  for  to  do,  another  tyme  it  semeth 
to  yow  the  contrarie.  / 

§  20.  Whan  ye  han  taken  conseil  in 
.your-self,  and  han  denied  by  good  delib- 
oraoion  swich  thing  as  you  semeth  best,  / 
tlianne  rede  I  yow,  that  ye  kepe  it 
secree.  /  Biwrey  nat  your  conseil  to  no 
persone,  but-if  so  be  that  ye  wenen  sik- 
erly  tliat,  tliurgh  yoiu'  biwreying,  your 
condicioun   shal   be   to    j-ow    the    raore 

-'.530  profitable.  /  For  Jesus  Syrak  seith  : 
"neither  to  thy  foo  ne  to  thy  freend 
discovere  nat  thy  secree  ne  thy  folic  ;  / 


for  they  wol  yeve  yow  aiidience  and 
lokingand  supportacioun  in  thy  presence, 
and  scorne  thee  in  thyn  absence."  / 
Another  clerk  seith,  that  "  scarsly  shaltou 
fmden  any  persone  that  may  kepe  con- 
seil secreely."  /  The  book  seith  :  "  whyl 
that  thou  keiaest  thy  conseil  in  thyn 
herte,  thou  kepest  it  in  thy  prisoiin  :  / 
and  whan  thou  biwreyest  thy  conseil  to 
any  -wdght,  he  holdeth  thee  in  his 
snare."/  And  therefore  yow  is  bettre  2335 
to  hyde  your  conseil  in  your  herte,  than 
praye  him,  to  whom  ye  han  biwreyed 
your  conseil,  that  he  wole  kepen  it  cloos 
and  stille.  /  For  Seneca  seith  :  "  if  so  be 
that  thou  ne  mayst  nat  thyn  owene  con- 
seil hyde,  how  darstou  prayen  any  other 
wight  thy  conseil  secreely  to  kepe?"/ 
But  nathelees,  if  thou  wene  sikerly  that 
the  biwreying  of  thy  conseil  to  a  persone 
wol  make  thy  condicioun  to  stonden  in 
the  bettre  plyt,  thanne  shaltou  tellen 
him  thy  conseil  in  this  wj'se.  /  First, 
tliou  shalt  make  no  semblant  whether 
thee  were  lever  pees  or  werre,  or  this  or 
that,  ne  shewe  him  nat  thy  wille  and 
thyn  entente ;  /  for  trust  wel,  that 
comunly  thise  conseillours  been  flater- 
eres,  /  namely  the  conseillours  of  grete  2,540 
lordes ;  /  for  they  enforcen  hem  alwey 
rather  to  speken  plesante  wordes,  enclyn- 
inge  to  the  lordes  lust,  than  wordes  that 
been  trewe  or  profitable.  /  And  therfore 
men  seyn,  that  "  the  riche  man  liath  seld 
good  conseil  but-if  he  have  it  of  him- 
self." /  And  after  that,  thou  shalt  con- 
sidere  thy  freendes  and  thyne  enemys.  / 
And  as  tovichinge  thy  freendes,  thou  shalt 
considere  whiche  of  hem  been  most 
feithful  and  most  wyse,  and  eldest  and 
most  approved  in  conseilling.  /  And  of  2345 
hem  shalt  thou  aske  thy  conseil,  as  the 
caas  requireth.  / 

§  21.  I  seye  that  first  ye  shul  clepe  to 
your  conseil  your  freendes  that  been 
trewe.  /  For  Salomon  seith  :  that  "  right 
as  the  herte  of  a  man  delj-teth  in  savour 
that  is  sote,  right  so  the  conseil  of  trewe 
freendes  yeveth  s  wetenesse  to  the  soule."/ 
He  seith  also:  "ther  may  no-thing  be 
lykned    to    the    trewe    freend.'"  /      For 


512 


B.    Z9>c  Zak  of  (nufi6eu0. 


[t.    §§    22,  23. 


certes,  gold  ne  silver  both  nat  so  mucho 
2350  worth  as  the  gode  wil  of  a  trowe  freend.  / 
And  eek  he  seith,  that  "  a  trewe  freend 
is  a  strong  defFense ;  who-so  that  it 
findeth,  certes  he  findeth  a  greet  tre- 
sour."/  Thanne  shul  j-e  cck  considere, 
if  that  your  trewe  freendes  boon  dis- 
crete and  wyse.  For  the  book  seith  : 
"  axe  alwey  thy  conseil  of  hem  that  been 
^v•yse."  /  And  by  this  same  resoon  shul 
ye  clepen  to  your  conseil,  of  your  freendes 
that  been  of  age,  swiche  as  han  seyn  and 
been  expert  in  manye  thinges,  and  been 
approved  in  conseillinges.  /  For  the 
book  seith,  that  "  in  olde  men  is  the 
sai)icnce  and  in  longe  tj-me  the  pru- 
dence." /  And  Tullius  seith  :  that  "  grote 
thinges  ne  been  nat  ny  accompliced  by 
strengthe,  ne  by  dclivemessc  of  body, 
but  by  good  conseil,  by  auctoritee  of  per- 
sones,  and  by  science ;  the  whiche  three 
thinges  ne  been  nat  feblo  by  age,  but 
certes  they  cnforcen  and  cncreesen  day 
-■355  ^y  day."  /  And  thanne  shul  ye  kepe 
this  for  a  general  reule.  First  shul  je 
clepen  to  your  conseil  a  few©  of  your 
freendes  that  been  especiale  ;  /  for  Salo- 
mon seith  :  "  manye  freendes  liave  thou  ; 
but  among  a  thousand  chese  thee  oon  to 
be  thy  conseillour."  /  For  al-be-it  so 
that  thou  first  ne  telle  thy  conseil  but 
to  a  fewe,  thou  mayst  afterward  telle  it 
to  mo  folk,  if  it  be  nede.  /  But  loko 
alwey  that  thy  conseillonrs  have  thilko 
three  condiciouns  that  I  have  seyd  bifore  j 
that  is  to  seyn,  that  they  be  trowe,  wyse, 
and  of  old  experience.  /  And  werke  nat 
alwey  in  every  nede  V\v  oon  connseillour 
allone ;  for  somtyme  bihoveth  it  to  been 
2360  conseilled  by  manye.  /  For  Salomon 
seith  :  "  salvacioun  of  thinges  is  wher-as 
ther  been  manye  conseillours."/  , 

§  22.  Now  sith  that   I  have  told  yow 
of  which  folk  ye  sholilo  been  counseilled, 
now  wol  I  teche  yow  which  conseil   ye  : 
oghte  to  eschewe.  /    First  ye  shul  eschewe  ! 
the  conseilling  of  foles ;  for  Salomon  seith  : 
"  taak  no  conseil  of  a  fool,  for  he  ne  can  I 
uoght  consoille  but  after  his  owene  lust 
and  his  aifeccioun."/     The  book  seith: 
that  "the  propretee  of  a  fool  is  this ;  he 


troweth  lightly  harm  of  every  wight, 
and  lightly  troweth  alio  bounteo  in  him- 
self." /  Thou  shalt  eek  eschewe  the  con- 
seilling of  alle  flatcreres,  swiche  as  en- 
forcen  hem  rather  to  preise  your  persone 
by  flaterj-e  than  for  to  telle  yow  the 
sothtastnesse  of  thinges.  /  2365 

§  23.  Wherfore  Tullius  seith :  "amonges 
alle  the  pestilences  that  been  in  freend- 
shipe,  the  gretteste  is  flaterye."  And  ther- 
fore  is  it  more  nede  that  thou  eschewe  and 
dredo  flaturures  than  any  other  peple.  / 
The  book  seith  :  "  thou  shalt  rather  dredo 
and  fleo  fro  the  swcto  wordes  of  flatcringe 
preiseres,  than  fro  the  egre  wordes  of  thy 
freend  that  seith  thee  thy  sothes."/ 
Salomon  seitli,  that  "  the  wordes  of  a 
flatererc  is  a  snare  to  caccho  with  inno- 
cents."/ Ho  seith  also,  that  "he  that 
spcketli  to  his  freend  wordes  of  swetnesso 
and  of  plesaunco,  setteth  a  not  biforn 
his  feet  to  cacche  him."  /  And  therfore 
seith  Tullius  :  "  enclyno  nat  thyno  ores  to 
flatereros,  no  taketh  no  conseil  of  wordes 
of  flaterye,"/  And  Caton  seith  :  "  avyse  2370 
thee  wel,  and  eschewe  the  wordes  of 
swotncsse  and  of  plesaunco."  /  And  eek 
thou  shalt  eschewe  the  conseilling  of 
th.vne  olde  enemys  that  been  reconsiled.  / 
The  b<x>k  seith :  that  "  no  wight  re- 
tonrneth  saufly  in-to  the  grace  of  his 
olde  enemy."  /  And  Isope  seith  :  "  ne 
trust  nat  to  hem  to  whicho  thou  hast 
had  som-tyme  werre  or  onmitoe,  ne  telle 
hem  nat  thj-  conseil."  /  And  Seneca 
toUeth  the  cause  why.  "  It  may  nat  be," 
seith  he,  "  that,  where  greet  fyr  hath 
longe  t>-me  endured,  that  ther  ne  dwell- 
eth  som  vapour  of  warmnesse."  /  And  2375 
therfore  seith  Salomon  :  "  in  thyn  olde 
foo  trust  never."  /  For  sikerly,  though 
thyn  enemy  be  reconsiled  and  maketh 
thee  chere  of  humilitee,  and  louteth'to 
thee  with  his  heed,  ne  trust  him  never.  / 
For  certes,  he  maketh  thilke  feyned  hu- 
militee more  for  his  profit  than  for  any 
love  of  thy  porsone  ;  by-cause  that  he 
demeth  to  have  victorie  over  thy  persone 
by  swich  feyned  contenance,  the  which 
victorie  he  mighte  nat  have  by  stryf  or 
werre.  /   And  Peter  Alfonce seith  :  "make 


§    2-1.] 


B.    ZU  Zak  of  Q1left'6eu0. 


513 


no  felawsbipe  with  thyne  filde  euemys ; 
for  if  thou  do  hem  bountee,  they  wol  per- 
verten  it  in-to  wikkednesse."  /  And  eek 
thou  most  eschewe  the  conseilling  of  hem 
that  been  thy  ser\'ants,  and  beren  thee 
greet    reverence ;    for   peraventure    they 

2380  seyn  it  more  for  drede  than  for  love.  / 
And  therfore  seith  a  philosophre  in  this 
wyse  :  "  ther  is  no  wight  pariitly  trewe 
to  him  that  he  to  sore  dredeth."  /  And 
Tullius  seith  :  "  ther  nis  no  might  so 
greet  of  any  emperour,  that  longe  may 
endure,  but-if  he  have  more  love  of  the 
peple  than  drede."  /  Thou  shalt  also 
eschewe  the  conseiling  of  folk  that  been 
dronkelewe;  for  they  ne  can  no  conseil 
hyde.  /  For  Saloznon  seith  :  "  ther  is 
no  privetee  ther-as  regneth  dronke- 
nesse."  /  Ye  shul  also  ban  in  suspect 
the  conseilling  of  swich  folk  as  conseille 
yow   a  thing  prively,  and  conseille  yow 

2385  the  contrarie  openly.  /  For  Cassidorie 
seith:  that  "it  is  a  maner  sleighte  to 
hindre,  whan  he  sheweth  to  doon  a  thing 
openly  and  werketh  prively  the  con- 
trarie." /  Thou  shalt  also  have  in  suspect 
the  conseilling  of  wikked  folk.  For  the 
Ijook  seith  :  "  the  conseilling  of  wikked 
folk  is  alwey  fol  of  fraude  : "  /  And  David 
seith  :  "  blisful  is  that  man  that  hath 
nat  folwed  the  conseilling  of  sbrewes."  / 
Thou  shalt  also  eschewe  the  conseilling 
of  yong  folk  ;  for  hir  conseil  is  nat  rype.  / 
§  24.  Now  sir,  sith  I  have  shewed  yow 
of  which  folk  ye  shul  take  your  conseil, 
and   of  which   folk    ye    shul    folwe   the 

2390  conseil,  /  now  wol  I  teche  yow  how  ye 
i  shal  examine  your  conseil,  after  the  doc- 

trine of  Tullius.  /  In  the  examininge 
thanne  of  your  conseillour,  ye  shul  cou- 
sidere  manye  thinges.  /  Alderfirst  thou 
shalt  considere,  that  in  thilke  thing  that 
thou  purposest,  and  upon  what  thing 
thou  wolt  have  conseil,  that  verray 
trouthe  be  seyd  and  conserved  ;  this  is 
to  seyn,  telle  trewely  thy  tale.  /  For  he 
that  seith  fals  may  nat  wel  be  conseilled, 
in  that  cas  of  which  he  lyeth.  /  And 
after  this,  thou  shalt  considere  the  thinges 
that  acorden  to  that  thou  purposest  for 
to    do    by    tliy    conseillours,    if    resoun 


accorde  therto;  /  and  eek,  if  tby  migbt  2395 
may  atteine  ther-to ;  and  if  the  more 
part  and  the  bettre  part  of  thy  con- 
seillours acorde  ther-to,  or  no.  /  Thanne 
shaltou  considere  what  thing  shal  folwe 
of  that  conseilling ;  as  hate,  pees,  werre, 
grace,  profit,  or  damage ;  and  manye 
othere  thinges.  /  And  in  alle  thise  thinges 
thou  shalt  chese  the  beste,  and  weyve 
alle  othere  thinges.  /  Thanne  shaltow 
considere  of  what  rote  is  engendred  the 
matere  of  thy  conseil,  and  what  fnxit 
it  may  conceyve  and  engendre.  /  Thou 
shalt  eek  considere  alle  thise  causes,  fro 
whennes  they  been  sprongen.  /  And  2400 
whan  yo  ban  examined  j'our  conseil  as 
I  have  seyd,  and  which  partie  is  the 
bettre  and  more  profitable,  and  hast 
approved  it  by  manye  vryse  folk  and 
olde  ;  /  thanne  shaltou  considere,  if  thou 
mayst  parfourne  it  and  maken  of  it  a 
good  ende.  /  For  certes,  resoun  wol  nat 
that  any  man  sholde  biginne  a  thing, 
but-if  he  mighto  parfourne  it  as  him 
oghte.  /  Ne  no  wight  sholde  take  up-on 
hym  so  hevy  a  charge  that  he  mighte 
nat  here  it.  /  For  the  proverbe  seith  : 
"  he  that  to  muche  embraceth,  distrey- 
neth  litel."  /  And  Catoun  seith  :  "  assay  2405 
to  do  swich  thing  as  thou  hast  power  to 
doon,  lest  that  the  charge  oppresse  thee 
so  sore,  that  thee  bihoveth  to  weyve 
thing  that  thou  hast  bigonne."  /  And 
if  so  be  that  thou  be  in  doute,  whether 
thou  mayst  parfourne  a  thing  or  noon, 
chese  rather  to  suffre  than  biginne.  / 
And  Piers  Alphonce  seith  :  "if  thou  hast 
might  to  doon  a  thing  of  which  thou 
most  repento  thee,  it  is  bettre  '  nay ' 
than  '  ye  ' ;  "  /  this  is  to  seyn,  that  thee 
is  bettre  holdo  thy  tonge  stille,  than  for 
to  spoke.  /  Thanne  may  ye  understonde 
by  stronger  resons,  that  if  thoii  hast 
power  to  parfourne  a  werk  of  which  thou 
shalt  repente,  thanne  is  it  bettre  that 
thou  suffi-e  than  biginne./  Wel  seyn  2410 
they,  that  defenden  every  wight  to  assaye 
any  thing  of  which  he  is  in  doute, 
whether  he  may  parfourne  it  or  no.  / 
And  after,  whan  ye  han  examined  your 
conseil  as  I  have  seyd  biforn,  and  kno':*.  i 


5U 


ZH  Zak  of  (meft6eu0. 


[t.  §§  2: 


■29. 


wel  tliat  yo  may  parfimrne  youre  em- 
prise, conferme  it  thanne  sadly  til  it  be 
at  an  ende.  / 

§  25.  Now  ia  it  rcsoun  and  tyme  that 
I  shewe yow,  whanne,  and  wliGrfore,  that 
ye  may  chaunge  your  conseil  with-outen 
your  reprevo.  /  Soothly,  a  man  maj' 
chaungen  his  purpos  and  his  conseil  if 
the  cause  cesseth,  or  wbjin  a  newe  caas 
bitydeth.  /  For  the  lawe  seith :  that 
"  upon     thinges     that     newely    bityden 

24 '5  bihovcth  newe  conseiL"/  And  Senek 
seith  :  "  if  thy  conseil  ia  comen  to  the 
eres  of  thyn  enemy,  chaunge  thy  con- 
seil."/ Thou  mayst  also  chaunge  thy 
conseil  if  so  be  that  thou  finde  that,  by 
errour  or  by  other  cause,  harm  or  damage 
may  bityde.  /  Also,  if  thy  conseil  be 
dishonest,  or  ellcs  comet  h  of  dishoneste 
cause,  chaunge  thy  conseil.  /  For  the 
lawos  seyn  :  that  "  alio  bihestes  that  been 
dishoneste  been  of  no  value."  /  And 
cck,  if  it  so  be  that  it  bo  inpossible,  or 

J420  may  nat  goodly  be  parfoumed  or  kept.  / 
§  26.  And  take  this  for  a  general  reulo,^ 
that  every  conseil  that  is  affermed  so 
strongly  that  it  may  nat  be  chaunged, 
for  no  condicioun  that  may  bityde,  I 
seye  that  thilke  conseil  is  wikked.'  / 

§  27.  This  Melibens,  whanne  he  hadde 
herd  the  doctrine  of  his  wyf  dame  Pru- 
dence, answerde  in  thia  wyse.  /  'Dame,' 
quod  he,  '  as  yet  in-to  this  tymo  ye  han 
"wel  and  covenalily  taiight  me  as  in 
general,  how  I  shal  goveme  me  in  the 
chesinge  and  in  the  withholdinge  of 
my  conseillours.  /  But  now  wolde  I 
fayn  that  ye  wolde  condescende  in 
especial,  /  and  telle  me  how  lyketh 
yow,  or  what  semeth  yow,  by  our 
conseillours  that  we  han  chosen  in  our 

2425  present  nede.'  / 

§  28.  '  My  lord,'  quod  she,  '  I  biseke 
yow  in  al  humblesse,  that  ye  wol  nat 
wilfully  replye  agayn  my  resouns,  ne 
distempre  your  herte  thogh  I  speke 
thing  that  yow  displese.  /  For  god  wot 
that,  as  in  mj-n  entente,  I  speke  it  for 
your  beste,  for  your  honovir  and  for  your 
profite  eke.  /  And  soothly,  I  hope  that 
your  benignitce  wol  taken  it  in  pacience./ 


Trusteth  mo  wel,'  quotl  she,  '  that  your 
conseil  as  in  this  caas  ne  sholdo  nat, 
as  to  speke  properly,  be  called  a  con- 
seilling,  but  a  mocioun  or  a  moevj-ng  of 
folye  ;  /  in  which  conseil  ye  han  erred  in 
*nany  a  sondry  wyso.  /  2430 

§  29.  First  and  forward,  ye  han  erred 
in  th'assemblinge  of  your  conseillours.  / 
For  yo  sholdo  first  have  cleped  a  fewe 
folk  to  your  conseil,  and  after  ye  mighte 
han  shewed  it  to  mo  folk,  if  it  liadde 
been  nede.  /  But  certes,  ye  han  sodoynly 
cleped  to  your  conseil  a  greet  multitude 
of  peple,  ful  chargeant  and  ful  anoyoua 
for  to  here.  /  Also  ye  han  erred,  for 
there-as  ye  sholden  only  have  cleped  to 
your  conseil  your  trewo  freendes  oldo  and 
\s-yse.  /  ye  han  y-clepcd  straunge  folk, 
and  j'ong  folk,  false  flatereros,  and  enemys 
reconsiled,  and  folk  that  doon  yow 
reverence  witliouton  lovo.  /  And  eck  2435 
also  yo  have  erred,  for  yc  han  broght 
with  yow  to  your  conseil  ire,  covetise, 
and  hastifnesse ;  /  the  whiche  three 
thinges  been  contrarionso  to  every  conseil 
honesto  and  profitable ;  /  the  whiche 
three  thinges  ye  han  nat  anientissed  or 
destroyed  hem,  neither  in  your-self  ne 
in  your  conseillours,  as  yow  oghte.  /  Ye 
han  erred  also,  for  ye  han  shewed  to 
yonr  conseiUonrs  your  talent,  and  your 
affeccioun  to  make  werre  anon  and  for 
to  do  vengeance ;  /  they  han  esjjyed  by 
your  wordes  to  what  thing  yo  been 
enclyned.  /  And  therforo  han  they  2440 
rather  conseilled  yow  to  your  talent  than 
to  j'our  profit.  /  Ye  han  erred  also,  for 
it  semeth  that  yow  suffyseth  to  han  been 
conseilled  by  tliise  conseillours  only,  and 
with  litel  avj-s;/  wher-as,  in  so  greet 
and  so  heigh  a  nede,  it  hadde  been 
necessarie  mo  conseillours,  and  more 
deliberacioun  to  parfoume  your  emprise./ 
Ye  han  erred  also,  for  yo  han  nat 
examined  your  conseil  in  the  forseyde 
manere,  ne  in  due  manere  as  the  caas 
requireth.  /  Ye  han  erred  also,  for  ye 
han  maked  no  divisioun  bitwixe  your 
conseillours ;  this  is  to  seyn,  bitwixen 
your  trewe  freendes  and  your  feyned 
conseillours ;  /    ne   yc    han    nat    knowe  2445 


T.  §§   30,  31  •] 


B.    Z()t  Zak  of  (meft8eu0. 


515 


the  wil  of  your  trewe  freendes  olde  and 
wyse ;  /  but  ye  han  cast  alle  liir  wordes 
in  an  hoehepot,  and  enclyned  your  herte 
to  the  more  part  and  to  the  gretter 
nombre ;  and  ther  been  ye  condescended./ 
And  sith  ye  wot  wel  that  men  shal 
alwey  finde  a  gretter  nombre  of  foles 
than  of  -wysQ  men,  /  and  therfore  the 
oonseils  that  been  at  congregaciouns  and 
multitudes  of  folk,  ther-as  men  take 
more  reward  to  the  nombre  than  to  the 
sapience  of  persones,  /  ye  see  wel  that  in 
swiohe  conseillingcs  foles  han  the  mais- 

2450  trie.'  /  Melibeus  answerde  agayn,  and 
seydo  :  '  I  graunte  wel  that  I  have  erred  ;  / 
but  ther-as  thou  hast  told  mo  heer-biforn, 
that  he  nis  nat  to  blame  that  chattngcth 
hise  couseillours  in  ccrtein  caas,  and  for 
certeine  juste  causes,  /  I  am  al  redy  to 
chaunge  my  couseillours,  right  as  thou 
wolt  devyse.  /  The  proverbe  seith  :  that 
"for  to  do  sinne  is  mannish,  but  certes 
for  to  persevere  longe  in  sinne  is  werk  of 
the  devel." '  / 

§  BO.  To  this  sentence  answerde  anon 

-'455  dame  Prtidence,  and  seyde:/  'Examineth,' 
quod  she,  'your  conseil,  and  lat  us  see 
the  whiche  of  hem  han  spoken  most 
resonably,  and  taught  yow  best  conseil.  / 
And  for-as-muche  as  that  the  examin- 
acioun  is  neoessarie,  lat  us  biginne  at  the 
surgiens  and  at  the  phisiciens,  that  first 
speken  in  this  matere.  /  I  sey  yow,  that 
the  surgiens  and  phisiciens  han  seyd 
yow  in  your  conseil  discreetly,  as  hem 
oughte ;  /  and  in  hir  speche  seyden  ful 
wysly,  that  to  the  office  of  hem  aper- 
teneth  to  doon  to  every  wight  honour 
and  iirofit,  and  no  wight  for  to  anoye ;  / 
and,  after  hir  craft,  to  doon  greet  dili- 
gence un-to  the  cure  of  hem  whiche  that 

^460  they  han  in  hir  govemaunce.  /  And 
sir,  right  as  they  han  answered  wysly 
and  discreetly,  /  right  so  rede  I  that 
they  been  heighly  and  sovereynly  guer- 
doned for  hir  noble  speche  ;  /  and  eek 
for  they  sholde  do  the  more  ententif 
bisinesse  in  the  curacioun  of  your  doghter 
dere.  /  For  al-be-it  so  that  they  been 
your  freendes,  therfore  shal  ye  nat 
suffren  that  they  serve  yow  for  noght ;  / 

S 


but  ye  oghte  the  rather  guordone  hem 
and  shewe  hem  your  largesse.  /  And  as  2465 
touchinge  the  proposicioun  which  that 
the  phisiciens  entreteden  in  this  caas,  this 
is  to  seyn,  /  that,  in  maladyes,  that  oon 
contrarie  is  warisshed  by  another  con- 
trarie,  / 1  wolde  fayn  knowo  how  ye 
understonde  thilke  text,  and  what  is 
your  sentence.'  /  '  Certes,'  quod  Melibeus, 
'  I  understonde  it  in  this  wyse  :  /  that, 
right  as  they  han  doon  me  a  contrarie, 
right  so  sholde  I  doon  hem  another.  /  2470 
For  right  as  they  han  venged  hem  on  me 
and  doon  me  wrong,  right  so  shal  I 
venge  me  upon  hem  and  doon  hem 
vvTong ;  /  and  thanne  have  I  cured  oon 
contrarie  by  another.'  / 

§  31.  '  Lo,  lo  ! '  quod  dame  Prudence, 
'how  lightly  is  every  man  enclyned  to 
his  owene  desyr  and  to  his  owene  ple- 
saunce  !  /  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  the  wordes 
of  the  phisiciens  ne  sholde  nat  han  been 
understonden  in  this  wyse.  /  For  certes, 
wikkednesse  is  nat  contrarie  to  wikked- 
nesse,  ne  vengeaunce  to  vengeaunce,  no 
^vrong  to  wrong ;  but  they  been  sembla- 
ble.  /  And  therfore,  o  vengeaunce  is  nat  2475 
warisshed    by    another   vengeaunce,   ne 

0  wrong  by  another  wrong  ;  /  but  everich 
of  hem  encreesceth  and  aggreggcth 
other.  /  But  certes,  the  wordes  of  the 
phisiciens  sholde  been  understonden  in 
this  wyse  :  /  for  good  and  wikkednesse 
been  two  contraries,  and  pees  and  werre, 
vengeaunce  and  suffraunce,  discord  and 
accord,  and  manye  othere  thinges.  /  But 
certes,  wikkednesse  shal  be  warisshed  by 
goodnesse,  discord  by  accord,  werre  by 
pees,  and  so  forth  of  othere  thinges.  /  2480 
And  heer-to  accordeth  Seint  Paul  the 
apostle  in  manye  places.  /  He  seith : 
"ne  yeldeth  nat  harm  for  harm,  ne 
wikked  speche  for  wikked  speche  ;  /  but 

do  wel  to  him  that  dooth  thee  harm,  and 
blesse  him  that  seith  to  thee  harm."  / 
And  in  manye  othere  places  he  amones- 
teth  pees   and  accord.  /      But  now  wol 

1  speke  to  yow  of  the  conseil  which  that 
was  yeven  to  yow  by  the  men  of  la  we  and 
the  wyse  folic,  /  that  seyden  alle  by  oon  2485 
accord  as  ye  han  herd  bifore  ;  /  that,  over 


B.    ZU  Zak  of  (Tllefificua. 


[T-   §§   32.  33- 


alle  thynges,  yo  sholile  doon  yoar  dili- 
gence to  kepen  your  persone  and  to 
warnestore  yoxir  hous.  /  And  seyden 
also,  that  in  this  caas  ye  oghteu  lor  to 
werken  ful  avj-sely  and  with  greet  deli- 
beracioun.  /  And  sir,  as  to  the  firste 
point,  that  toucheth  to  the  koping  of 
,\-our  persone  ;  /  ye  shul  iinderstonde  tliat 
he  that  hath  werre  shal  evermore  mekely 

2490  and  devoutly  preyen  biforn  alio  thinges,  / 
that  Jesus  Crist  of  his  grete  mercy  wol 
han  him  in  his  proteccioun,  and  been  liis 
sovereyn  helping  at  his  nede.  /  For 
certes,  in  this  world  ther  is  no  wight  that 
may  be  conseilled  ne  kept  suflfisantly 
withouten  the  keping  of  our  lord  Jesu 
Crist.  /  To  tliis  sentence  accordeth  the 
prophete  David,  that  seith  :  /  "  if  god  ne 
kepe  the  citee,  in  ydel  waketh  he  that  it 
kepeth."  /  Now  sir,  thanne  shul  ye  com- 
mitte  the  keping  of  your  persone  to  your 
trewe  freendes  that  been  approved  and 

24')?  y-ltnowe  ;  /  and  of  hem  shul  ye  axen  help 
your  persone  for  to  kepe.  For  Catoun- 
seith  :  "if  thou  hast  nede  of  help,  axe  it 
of  thy  freendes  ;  /  for  ther  nis  noon  so 
good  a  phisicien  as  thy  trewe  freend."  / 
And  after  this,  thanne  shul  ye  kepe  yow 
fro  alle  straunge  folk,  and  fro  lyeres,  and 
liavo  alwey  in  suspect  hir  companye.  / 
For  Piers  Alfonce  seith :  "  ne  tak  no 
companye  by  the  weye  of  a  straunge  man, 
but-if  so  be  that  thou  have  knowe  him  of 
a  longer  tyme.  /  And  if  so  be  that  he 
falle    in-to   thy    companye    paraventure 

2500  withouten  thj'n  assent,  /  enquere  thanne, 
as  subtilly  as  thou  mayst,  of  his  conversa- 
cioun  and  of  his  lyf  bifore,  and  feyne  thy 
wey ;  seye  that  thou  goost  thider  as  tliou 
wolt  nat  go ;  /  and  if  he  bereth  a  sxiere, 
hold  thee  on  the  right  syde,  and  if  he 
here  a  swerd,  hold  thee  on  the  lift  syde."  / 
And  after  this,  thanne  shul  ye  kepe  yow 
wysely  from  alle  swich  manere  pei)le  as  I 
have  seyd  bifore,  and  hem  and  hir  conseil 
eschewe.  /  And  after  this,  thanne  shul 
ye  kepe  yow  in  swich  manere,  /  that  for 
any  presumpcioun  of  your  strengthe,  that 
ye  ne  dispj-se  nat  ne  aconnte  nat  the  might  I 
of  your  adversarie  so  litel,  that  ye  lete  ! 
the  keping  of  your  persone  for  your  pre- 


sumpcioun ;  /  for  every  wys  man  dredeth  2505 
his  encmj\  /  And  Salomon  seith  :  "  weleful 
is  he  that  of  alle  hath  drede  ;  /  for  certes, 
he  that  thurghthe  hardinesse  of  his  herte 
and  thurgh  the  hardinesse  of  him-self 
hath  to  greet  presumpcioun,  him  shal 
yvel  bitjde."/  Thanne  shul  ye  evermore 
countrewayte  embusshements  and  alio 
espiaille.  /  For  Senek  seitli  :  tliat  "  the 
wyse  man  that  dredeth  harmes  eschewetli 
harmes;/  ne  ho  ne  falleth  in-to  perils, 
that  perils  escheweth."  /  And  al-be-it  so  2510 
that  it  seme  that  thou  art  in  siker  place, 
yet  shaltow  alwey  do  thy  diligence  in 
kepinge  of  thy  persone  ;  /  this  is  to  seyn, 
ne  be  nat  necligent  to  kepe  thy  persone, 
nat  only  fro  thy  gretteste  enemys  but  fro 
thy  leeste  enemy./  Senek  seith:  "a 
man  that  is  wel  avysed,  he  dredeth  his 
lesto  enemy."  /  Ovide  seitli :  that  "  the 
litel  wesele  wol  slee  the  grete  bole  and  the 
wilde  hert."  /  And  the  book  seith:  "a  2515 
litel  thorn  may  prikke  a  greet  king  ful 
soie  ;  and  an  hound  wpl  holde  the  wilde 
boor."  /  But  nathelees,  I  sey  nat  thou 
sluilt  be  so  coward  that  thou  donte 
ther  wher-as  is  no  drede.  /  The  book 
seith  :  that  "  somme  folk  han  greet 
lust  to  deceyve,  but  yet  they  dreden 
hem  to  be  decej-ved."/  Yet  shaltou 
drede  to  been  empoisoned,  and  kepe 
yow  from  the  companye  of  scomeres.  / 
For  the  book  seith :  "  with  scorneres 
make  no  companye,  but  flee  hir  wordes 
as  venim."  /  252c 

§  32.  Now  as  to  the  seconde  point, 
wher-as  your  wyse  conseillours  conseilled 
yow  to  warnestore  your  hous  with  grot 
diligence,  /  I  wolde  fayn  knowe,  how  that 
ye  understonde  thilke  wordes,  and  what 
is  your  sentence.'/ 

§  33.  Mehbeus  answerde  and  seyde, 
'  Certes  I  understande  it  in  this  wise ; 
that  I  shal  warnestore  myn  hous  with 
toures,  swiche  as  han  castelles  and 
othere  manere  edifices,  and  armure 
and  artelleries,  /  by  whiche  thinges  I 
may  my  persone  and  myn  hous  so 
kepen  and  defenden,  that  myne  enemys 
shul  been  in  drede  myn  hous  for  to 
approche.'  / 


§§  34-36.] 


B.    Z^t  Zak  of  (meftfieue. 


517 


§  34.  To  this  sentence  answerde  anon 
Prudence  ;  '  warnestoring,'  quod  she,  '  of 
heighe  toures  and  of  grete  edifices  apper- 
2525  teneth  som-tyme  to  pryde  ;  /  and  eek  men 
make  heighe  toures  and  grete  edifices 
with  grete  cost  ages  and  with  greet  tra- 
vaille  ;  and  whan  that  they  been  accorn- 
pliced,  yet  be  they  nat  worth  a  stree,  but-if 
they  be  defended  by  trewe  freendes  that 
been  olde  and  wyse.  /  And  understond 
wel,  that  the  gretteste  and  strongeste 
garnison  that  a  riche  man  may  have,  as 
wel  to  kepen  his  persone  as  hise  goodes, 
is  /  that  he  be  biloved  amonges  his  sub- 
gets  and  with  hise  neighebores.  /  For 
thus  seith  Tullius  :  that "  ther  is  a  manor 
garnison  that  no  man  may  venquisse  ne 
disconfite,  and  that  is,  /  a  lord  to  be 
biloved  of  hise  citezeins  and  of  his 
25,^0  peple."  / 

§  35.    Now  sir,  as  to  the  thridde  point ; 
wher-as  yonr  olde  and  wise  oonseillours 
seyden,  that  yow  ne  oghte  nat  sodeynly 
no  hastily  proceden  in  this  node,  /  but 
that  yow  oghte  purveyen  and  apparaillen 
yow  in  this  caas  with  greet  diligence  and 
"greet  deliberacioun  ;  /  trewely,   I  trowe 
that  they  seyden  right  wysly  and  right 
sooth.  /      For   Tullius   seith,    "  in   every 
node,  er  thou  biginne  it,  apparaille  thee 
with  greet  diligence."  /     Thanne  seye  I, 
that   in  vengeance-taking,  in   werre,  in 
2535  bataille,  and  in  warnestoring,  /  er  thow 
biginne,  I  redo  that  thou  apparaille  thee 
ther-to,  and  do   it   with   greet   delibera- 
cioun. /     For  Tullius  seith  :  that  "  long 
apparailling  biforn  the  bataille  maketh 
short  victorie. "  /     And  Cassidorus  seith  : 
"the   garnison   is    stronger   whan   it   is 
long©  tyme  avysed."  / 

§  36.  But  now  lat  us  spoken  of  the 
conseil  that  was  accorded  by  your  neighe- 
bores, swiche  as  doon  yow  reverence 
withouten  love,  /  your  olde  enemys  recon- 
2540  siled,  your  flatereres  /  that  conseilled  yow 
certeyne  thinges  prively,  and  openly  con- 
seilleden  yow  the  contrarie  ;  /  the  yonge 
folk  also,  that  conseilleden  yow  to  venge 
yow  and  make  werre  anon.  /  And  certos, 
sir,  as  I  have  seyd  biforn,  ye  han  greetly 
erred  to  han  cleped  swich  maner  folk  to 


your  conseil ;  /  which  conseillours  been 
y-nogh   repreved   by   the   resouns   aforc- 
seyd.  /     But   nathelees,  lat   us   now   de- 
sc'ende   to   the  special.      Ye   shuln  first 
procede  after  the  doctrine  of  Tullius.  /  2545 
Certes,  the  trouthe  of  this  niatere  or  of 
this    conseil   nedeth    nat   diligently    en- 
quere;/  for  it  is  wel  wist  whiche  they 
been  that  han  doon  to  yow  this  trespas 
and  vileinye,  /  and  how  manye  trespas- 
sours,  and  in  what  manere  they  han  to 
yow   doon   al   this    wrong    and    al    this 
vileinye.  /     And  after  this,  thanne  shul 
ye  examine  the  seconde  condicioun,  which 
"that   the    same   Tullius    addeth   in   this 
matere.  /     For  Tullius  put  a  thing,  which 
that  he  clepeth  "  consentinge,"  this  is  to 
seyn  ;  /  who  been  they  and  how  manye,  2550 
and  whiche  been  they,  that  consentodcn 
to  thy  conseil,  in  thy  wilfulnesse  to  doon 
hastif  vengeance.  /     And  lat  us  considere 
also  who  been  they,  and  how  manye  been 
they,  and  whiche  been  they,   that  con- 
senteden    to    your    adversaries.  /      And 
certes,   as  to  the  firste  poj-nt,   it  is  wel 
knowen  whiche  folk  been  they  that  con- 
senteden    to   your   hastif   wilfulnesse;/ 
for  trewely,   alio  tho  that   conseilleden 
yow  to  maken  sodeyn  werre  ne  been  nat 
your  freendes.  /     Lat  ns  now  considere 
whiche  been  they,  that  ye  holde  so  greetly 
your  freendes  as  to  your  persone.  /     For  2555 
al-be-it  so  that  ye  be  mighty  and  riche, 
certes  ye  ne  been  nat  but  allone.  /     For 
certes,  ye  ne  han  no  child  biit  a  doghter ;  / 
ne  ye  ne  han  bretheren  ne  cosins  ger- 
mayns,  ne  noon  other  neigh  kinrede,  / 
wherfore  that  your  enemys,   for   drede, 
sholde   stinte   to   plede   with  yow   or  to 
destroye    your    persone.  /      Ye    knowen 
also,  that  your  richesses  moten  been  dis- 
pended  in  diverse  parties  ;  /  and  whan  2560 
that  every  wight  hath  his  part,  they  ne 
wollen  taken  but  litol  reward  to  venge 
thy  deeth.  /      But  thyne   enemys  been 
three,    and    they    han    manie    chHdren, 
bretheren,  cosins,  and  other  ny  kinrede  ;  / 
and,  though  so  wore  that  thou  haddest 
slayn  of  hem  two  or  three,  yet  dwellen 
ther  y-nowe  to  wreken  hir  deeth  and  to 
sloe  "thy  persone.  /     And  though  so  be 


5«i 


B.    ZU  ^<»f^  of  (lUefi6eu0. 


[t.  §§  37-.^9- 


that  your  kinredo  be  more  siker  and 
stedeCast  than  the  kin  of  your  adver- 
sario,  /  yet  nathelees  j-our  kinredo  nis 
but  a  fer  kinrcde  ;  they  been  but  litel  sib 
to  yow,  /  and  the  kin  of  your  enemys 
been  ny  sib  to  hem.  And  certes,  as  in 
that,  liir  condicioun  is  bet  than  youres.  / 
Thanno  lat  us  considore  also  if  the  con- 
scilling  of  hem  that  conseilleden  yow  to 
taken  sodeyn  vcngeaunce,  whether  it 
accordo  to  rcsoun  ?  /  And  certos,  ye 
knowo  wel  "nay."  /  For  as  by  right  and 
resonn,  thor  may  no  man  taken  vengeance 
on  no  wight,  but  the  juge  that  hath  the 
jurisdiccioun  of  it,  /  whan  it  is  graunted 
him  to  take  thilke  vengeance,  hastily  or 

1  attemprely,  as  the  lawe  requireth.  /  And 
yet  more-over,  of  thilke  word  that  Tullius 
clcpeth  "  conscntinge,"  /  thou  slialt  con- 
sldere  if  thy  might  and  thy  power  may 
consenten  and  suffyso  to  thy  wilfulnesso 
and  to  thy  conseillours.  /  And  certes, 
thou  mayst  wel  sej-n  tliat  "nay."/  For 
sikerly,  as  for  to  speko  proprely,  we  may 
do  no-thing  but  only  swich  thing  as  we 
may  doon  rightfully.  /  And  certes,  right- 
fully no  mowo  yo  take  no  vengeance  as  of 

;  your  propre  auctoritee.  /  Tlianne  mowe 
ye  seen,  that  your  power  nc  consenteth 
nat  nc  accordeth  nat  with  your  wilful- 
nesso. /  Lilt  us  now  examine  the  thridde 
point  that  Tullius  clepeth  "consequent."/ 
Tliou  shalt  undorstonde  that  the  ven- 
geance that  thou  pnrj'osest  for  to  take 
is  the  consequent.  /  And  tlier-of  folweth 
another  vengeaunce,  peril,  and  werre ; 
and  othcro  damages  with-oute  nombre,  of 
whicho  we  be  nat  war  as  at  this  tyme.  / 
And  as  touchinge  the  fourthe  point,  that 

)  Tullius  clepeth  "  engendringe,"  /  thou 
shalt  considere,  that  this  wrong  which 
that  is  doon  to  thee  is  engendred  of  the 
hate  of  thyne  enemys ;  /  and  of  the 
vengeance-takinge  upon  that  wolde  en- 
gendre  another  vengeance,  and  muchel 
sorwe  and  wastinge  of  richesses,  as  I 
seydo.  / 

§  37.  Now  sir,  as  to  the  point  that 
Tullius  clcpeth  "  causes,"  which  that  is 
the  histc  point,  /  thou  shalt  imderstonde 
that  the  wrong  that  thou  hast  recej-\-ed 


hath  certeinc  causes,  /  whiche  that 
clerkes  clepen  Oriens  and  Efficiens,  and 
Causa  longinqiia  and  Causa  propinqua ; 
this  is  to  seyn,  the  fbr  cause  and  the  ny 
cause.  /  The  fer  cause  is  almighty  god,  2585 
that  is  cause  of  alio  thinges.  /  The  neer 
cause  is  thy  three  enemys.  /  The  cause 
accidental  was  hate.  /  The  cause  material 
been  the  fyve  woundes  of  thy  doghter.  / 
The  cause  formal  is  the  mancre  of  hir 
werkinge,  that  broghten  la<ldres  and 
cloumben  in  at  thy  windowes.  /  The  2590 
cause  final  was  for  to  sleo  thy  doghter ; 
it  letted  nat  in  as  muche  as  in  hem  was.  / 
But  for  to  spoken  of  the  for  cause,  as  to 
what  endo  they  shul  come,  or  what  shal 
finally  bitydo  of  hem  in  this  caas,  ne  can 
I  nat  dome  but  by  conjectinge  and  by 
supposinge.  /  For  we  shul  suppose  that 
they  shul  come  to  a  wikked  ondo,  /  by- 
causo  that  the  Book  of  Decrees  seith : 
"selden  or  with  greet  peyne  been  causes 
y-broglit  to  good  ende  whanno  they  been 
baddely  bigonne."  / 

§  38.  Now  sir,  if  men  wolde  axe  me, 
why  that  god  suffred  men  to  do  yow  this 
vileinye,  certes,  I  can  nat  wel  answere  as 
for  no  sotlifastnesso.  /  For  th'apostle  2595 
seith,  that  "  the  sciences  and  the  jiigge- 
mentz  of  our  lord  god  almighty  been  ful 
depe ;  /  ther  maj'  no  man  comprehende 
ne  serchcn  hem  suffisantly."  /  Nathe- 
lees, by  certoyne  presumpcions  and  con- 
jectinges,  I  holde  and  bileve  /  that  god, 
which  that  is  ful  of  justice  and  of  right- 
wisnosse,  hath  suflFred  this  bityde  by 
juste  cause  resonable.  / 

§  39.  Thy  name  is  Melibee,  this  is  to 
seyn,  "  a  man  that  drinketh  liony."  /  2600 
Thou  hast  y-dronke  so  muchel  hony  of 
swete  temporel  richesses  and  delices 
and  honours  of  this  world,  /  that  thou 
art  dronken ;  and  hast  forgeten  Jesu 
Crist  tliy  creatour ;  /  thou  ne  hast  nat 
doon  to  him  swich  honour  and  reverence 
as  thee  oughte.  /  Ne  thou  ne  hast  nat 
wel  y-taken  kepe  to  the  wordes  of  Ovide, 
that  seith:/  "under  the  hony  of  the 
godes  of  the  body  is  hid  the  venim  that 
sleeth  the  soule."  /  And  Salomon  seith,  2605 
"  if  thoii  hast  fouudeu  hony,  ete  of  it  that 


T.   §§  4C-42.] 


B.    ZU  Zcik  of  (ineftBeue. 


S19 


siiffyseth  ;  /  for  if  thou  ete  of  it  out  of 
niesure,  thou  slialt  spewe,"  and  he  nedy 
and  povre.  /  And  peraventure  Crist  hath 
thee  in  despit,  and  hath  turned  awey  fro 
thee  his  face  and  hise  eres  of  miseri- 
corde  ;  /  and  also  he  hath  sufFred  that 
thou  hast  been  punisshed  in  the  manere 
that  thow  hast  y-trespassed.  /  Thou  hast 
2610  doon  sinne  agayn  our  lord  Crist ;  /  for 
certes,  the  three  enemys  of  mankinde, 
that  is  to  seyn,  the  flessh,  the  feend,  and 
the  workl,  /  thou  hast  suflfred  hem  entre 
in-to  thyn  herte  wilfully  by  the  windowes 
of  thy  body,  /  and  hast  nat  defended  thy- 
self suffisantly  agayns  hir  assautes  and 
hir  tcmptaciouns,  so  that  they  han 
wounded  thy  soule  in  fyve  places  ;  /  this 
is  to  seyn,  the  deedly  sinnes  that  been 
cntred  in-to  thyn  herte  by  thy  fj've 
wittes.  /  And  in  the  same  manere  our 
lord  Crist  hath  wold  and  suffred,  that  thy 
three  enemys  been  entrcd  in-to  thyn  hous 

2t>i5  by  the  windowes,  /  and  han  y-wounded 
thy  doghter  in  the  fore-seyde  manere.'  / 

§  40.  '  Certes,'  quod  Melibee,  '  I  see  wel 
that  ye  enforce  yow  mvichel  by  wordes  to 
overcome  me  in  swich  manere,  that  I  shal 
nat  venge  me  of  myne  enemys  ;  /  shew- 
inge  me  the  perils  and  the  yveles  that 
mighten  falle  of  this  vengeance.  /  But 
who-so  wolde  considere  in  alle  vengeances 
the  perils  and  yveles  that  mighte  sewe  of 
vengeance-takinge,  /  a  man  wolde  never 

2620  take  vengeance,  and  that  were  harm ;  / 
for  by  the  vengeance-takinge  been  the 
wikked  men  dissevered  fro  the  gode 
men.  /  And  they  that  han  wil  to  do 
wildcednesse  restroyne  hir  wikked  purpos, 
whan  they  seen  the  punissinge  and  chas- 
tysinge  of  the  trespassours.'  /  [f  And  to 
this  answerde  dame  Prudence  :  '  Certes,' 
seyde  she,  'I  graunte  wel  that  of  ven- 
geaunce  cometh  muchel  y\-el  and  muchel 
good ;  /  but  vengeaunce-taking  aperteneth 
nat  unto  everichoon,  Ivat  only  unto  juges 
and  unto  hem  that  han  jurisdiccioun 
upon  the  trespassours.]  /  And  yet  seye  I 
more,  that  right  as  a  singuler  persone 
sinneth  in  takingo  vengeance  of  another 

2625  man,  /  right  so  sinneth  the  juge  if  he  do 
no   vengeance   of  hem   that   it   han   de- 


served. /  For  Senek  seith  thias  :  "  that 
maister,"  he  seith,  "  is  good  that  provetli 
shrewes."  /  And  as  Cassidore  seith  :  "  A 
man  dredeth  to  do  outrages,  whan  he 
woot  and  knoweth  that  it  displeseth  to 
the  juges  and  sovereyns."  /  And  another 
seith  :  "  the  juge  that  dredeth  to  do  right, 
maketh  men  shrewes."  /  And  Seint  Paule 
the  aiiostle  seith  in  his  epistle,  whan  he 
wryteth  un-to  the  Romayns  :  that  "  the 
juges  beren  nat  the  spere  with-outen 
cause  ;  "  /  but  they  beren  it  to  punisse  2630 
the  shrewes  and  misdoeres,  and  for  to 
defende  the  gode  men.  /  If  ye  wol  thanne 
take  vengeance  of  your  enemys,  ye  shtil 
rotourne  or  have  your  recours  to  the  juge 
that  hath  the  jurisdiccion  up-on  hem ;  / 
and  he  shal  punisse  hem  as  the  lawe 
axeth  and  requyreth.'  / 

§41.  'A!'  quod  Melibee,  'this  ven- 
geance lyketh  me  no-thing.  /  I  bithenke 
me  now  and  take  hede,  how  fortune  hath 
norissed  me  fro  my  childhede,  and  hath 
holi^en  me  to  passe  many  a  strong  pas.  /  2635 
Now  wol  I  assayen  hir,  trowinge,  with 
goddes  help,  that  she  shal  helpe  me  my 
shame  for  to  venge.'  / 

§42.  'Certes,'  quod  Prudence,  'if  ye 
wol  werke  by  my  conseil,  ye  shul  nat 
assaye  fortune  by  no  wey ;  /  ne  ye  shul 
nat  lene  or  bowe  unto  hir,  after  the  word 
of  Senek  :  /  for  "  tliinges  that  been  folily 
doon,  and  that  been  in  hope  of  fortune, 
shullen  never  come  to  good  ende."  /  And 
as  the  same  Senek  seith  :  "  the  more  cleer 
and  the  niore  shyning  that  fortune  is,  the 
more  brotil  and  the  sonner  broken  she 
is."  /  Trusteth  nat  in  hir,  for  she  nis  2640 
nat  stidefast  ne  stable  ;  /  for  whan  thow 
trowest  to  be  most  seur  or  siker  of  hir 
help,  she  wol  faille  thee  and  deceyve 
thee.  /  And  wheras  ye  seyn  that  fortune 
hath  norissed  yow  fro  your  childhede,  / 
I  seye,  that  in  so  muchel  shul  ye  the 
lasse  truste  in  hir  and  in  hir  wit.  /  For 
Senek  seith  :  "  what  man  that  is  norissed 
by  fortune,  she  maketh  him  a  greet 
fool."  /  Now  thanne,  sin  ye  desyre  and  2645 
axe  vengeance,  and  the  vengeance  that  is 
doon  after  the  lawe  and  bifore  the  juge 
ue  lyketh  yow  nat,  /  and  the  vengeance 


520 


B.    e0e  Zak  of  dUcfifieue. 


[t.  §§  43-46. 


that  is  (loon  in  hope  of  fortune  is  peril- 
ous and  \incertein,  /  thanne  have  ye 
noon  other  remedie  but  for  to  have  your 
recours  unto  the  sovereyn  jxige  that 
vengeth  alle  vUeinyes  and  -w-ronges  ;  / 
and  he  shal  venge  yow  after  that  him-self 
witnesseth,  wher-as  he  seith  :  /  "  leveth 

2650  the  vengeance  to  me,  and  I  shal  do  it." '  / 
§  43.  Melibee  answerde,  '  if  I  ne  venge 
me  nat  of  the  vileinye  that  men  han 
doon  to  me,  /  I  sompne  or  warne  hem 
that  han  doon  to  me  that  vileinye  and 
alle  othere,  to  do  me  another  vileinye.  / 
For  it  is  writen  :  "if  thou  take  no  ven- 
geance of  an  old  vileinye,  thou  sompnest 
thyne  adversaries  to  do  thee  a  newe 
vileinye."  /  And  also,  for  my  suffrance, 
men  wolden  do  to  me  so  muchel  vileinye, 
that  I  mighte  neither  here  it  ne  su.stene  ;  / 
and  so  sholde  I  been  put  and  holden  over 

2655  lowe.  /  For  men  seyn  :  "in  muchel 
suffringe  shul  manye  thinges  falle  tin-to 
thee  whiche  thou  shalt  nat  mowe 
suffre." '  / 

§  44.  '  Certes,'  quod  Prudence,  '  I 
graunte  yow  that  over  muchel  suffraunce 
nis  nat  good  ;  /  but  yet  ne  folweth  it  nat 
ther-of,  that  every  persone  to  whom  men 
doon  vileinye  take  of  it  vengeance  ;  /  for 
that  aperteneth  and  longeth  al  only  to 
the  juges,  for  they  shul  venge  the  vileinyes 
and  iniuries.  /  And  ther-fore  tho  two 
auctoritces  that  ye  han  seyd  above,  been 

2660  only  understonden  in  the  juges;/  for 
whan  they  sufFren  over  muchel  the 
■wronges  and  the  vileinyes  to  be  doon 
withouten  punisshinge,  /  they  sompne 
nat  a  man  al  only  for  to  do  newe  wronges, 
but  they  comanden  it.  /  Also  a  wys  man 
seith  :  that  "  the  juge  that  correcteth  nat 
the  sinnere  comandeth  and  biddeth  him 
do  sinne."  /  And  the  juges  and  sovereyns 
mighten  in  hir  land  so  muchel  sufFre  of 
the  shrewes  and  misdoeres,  /  that  they 
sholden  by  swich  suffrance,  by  proces  of 
tyme,  wexen  of  swich  power  and  might, 
that   they  sholden  putte  out   the  juges 

2565  and  the  sovereyns  from  hir  places,  /  and 
atte  laste  maken  hem  lesen  hir  lord- 
shipes.  / 

§  45.  But   lat   us   now   putte,  that  ye 


have  leve  to  venge  yow.  /  I  seye  ye  been 
nat  of  might  and  power  as  now  to  venge 
yow.  /  For  if  ye  wole  maken  comparisoun 
iin-to  the  might  of  your  adversaries,  ye 
shul  finde  in  manye  thinges,  that  I  have 
shewed  yow  er  this,  that  hir  condicioun 
is  bettre  than  youres.  /  And  therfore 
seye  I,  that  it  is  good  as  now  that  ye 
suffre  and  be  pacient.  /  2670 

§  46.  Forther-more,  ye  knowen  wel  that, 
after  the  comune  sawe,  "  it  is  a  woodnesse 
a  man  to  stryve  -with  a  strenger  or  a  more 
mighty  man  than  he  is  him-self;  /  and 
for  to  strj've  with  a  man  of  evene  strengthe, 
that  is  to  seyn,  with  ns  strong  a  man  as 
he,  it  is  peril ;  /  and  for  to  strj-ve  with  a 
weyker  man,  it  is  folie."  /  And  therfore 
sholde  a  man  flee  stryvinge  as  muchel  as 
he  mighte.  /  For  Salomon  seith  :  "  it  is 
a  greet  worship  to  a  man  to  kepen  him 
fro  noyse  and  stryf."  /  And  if  it  so  2675 
bifallc  or  hajipe  that  a  man  of  gretter 
might  and  strengthe  than  tliou  art  do 
thee  grevaunce,  /  studio  and  bisie  theo 
.  rather  to  stille  the  same  grevaunce,  than 
for  to  venge  thee.  /  For  Senek  seith  : 
that  "  he  putteth  him  in  greet  peril  that 
stryveth  with  a  gretter  man  than  he  is 
him-self."  /  And  Catoun  seith  :  "  if  a 
man  of  hyer  estaat  or  degree,  or  more 
mighty  than  thou,  do  thee  anoy  or  gre- 
vaunce, suffre  him ;  /  for  he  that  ones 
hath  greved  thee  may  another  tyme 
releve  thee  and  helpe."  /  Yot  sette  I  2680 
caas,  ye  have  bothe  might  and  licence  for 
to  venge  yow.  /  I  seye,  that  ther  be  ful 
manye  thinges  that  shul  re.strejaie  yow 
of  vengeance-takinge,  /  and  make  yow 
for  to  enclyne  to  suffre,  and  for  to  han 
pacienco  in  the  thinges  that  han  been 
doon  to  yow.  /  First  and  foreward,  if  ye 
wole  considere  the  defautes  that  been  in 
your  owene  persone,  /  for  whiche  defautes 
god  liath  suffred  yow  have  tliis  tribula- 
cioun,  as  I  have  seyd  yow  heer-bifom.  /  2685 
For  the  poete  seith,  that  "we  oghte 
paciently  taken  the  tribulacions  that 
comen  to  us,  whan  we  thinken  and  con- 
sideren  that  we  han  deserved  to  have 
hem."  /  And  Seint  Gregorie  seith  :  that 
'•whan  a  man  considereth  wel  tho  nombre 


§§  47,  4^-] 


ZU  ^<if^  of  QUefifieue. 


521 


of  liise  defautes  and  of  liis  siiines,  /  the 
peyiies  and  the  tribulaciouns  that  he 
suifreth  semen  the  lesse  un-to  hym ;  / 
and  in-as-muche  as  him  thinketh  hise 
sinnes  more  he\'y  and  grevous,  /  in-so- 
muche  semeth  his  peyne  the  lighter  and 

2690  the  esier  un-to  him."  /  Also  ye  owen  to 
enclyne  and  bowe  your  herte  to  take  the 
pacience  of  our  lord  Jesu  Crist,  as  seitli 
scint  Peter  in  hise  epistles  :  /  "  Jesu 
Crist,"  he  seith,  "hath  suffred  for  us, 
and  yeven  ensample  to  every  man  to 
folwe  and  sewe  him  ;  /  for  he  dide  never 
sinne,  ne  never  cam  ther  a  vileinous 
word  out  of  his  mouth  :  /  whan  men 
cursed  him,  he  cursed  hem  noght ;  and 
whan  men  betten  him,  he  manaced  hem 
noght."  /  Also  the  grete  pacience,  which 
the  seintes  that  been  in  paradj'S  han  had 
in  tribulaciouns  that  they  han  y-sulfred, 

2695  with-outen  hir  desert  or  gilt,  /  oghte 
nauchel  stiren  yow  to  pacience.  /  Forther- 
more,  ye  sholde  enforce  yow  to  have 
pacience,  /  consideringe  that  the  tribu- 
laciouns of  this  world  but  litel  whj-le 
endiire,  and  sone  passed  been  and 
goon.  /  And  the  joye  that  a  man 
seketh  to  have  by  pacience  in  tribu- 
laciovms  is  perdurable,  after  that  the 
apostle  seith  in  his  epistle:/  "the  joye 
of  god,"  he  seith,  "  is  perdurable,"  that  is 

2700  to  seyn,  everlastinge.  /  Also  troweth 
and  bileveth  stedefastly,  that  he  nis  nat 
wel  y-norissed  ne  wel  y-taught,  that  can 
nat  have  pacience  or  wol  nat  reoeyve 
pacience.  /  For  Salomon  seith :  that  "  the 
doctrine  and  the  wit  of  a  man  is  knowen 
by  pacience."  /  And  in  another  place  he 
seith  :  that  "  he  that  is  pacient  governeth 
him  by  greet  prudence."  /  And  the  same 
Salomon  seith  :  "the  angry  and  wrathful 
man  maketh  noyses,  and  the  pacient  man 
atempreth  hem  and  stilleth."  /  He  seith 
also;  "it   is   more  worth  to  be   pacient 

2705  than  for  to  be  right  strong ;  /  and  he  that 
may  have  the  lordshipe  of  his  owene 
herte  is  more  to  preyse,  than  he  that 
hy  his  force  or  strengthe  taketh  grete 
citees."  /  And  therfore  seith  seint  Jame 
in  his  epistle :  that  "  pacience  is  a  greet 
vertu  of  perfeccioun."  '  / 


§  47.  '  Certes,'  quod  Melibee,  '  I  graunte 
yow,  dame  Prudence,  that  pacience  is 
a  greet  vertu  of  perfeccioun  ;/  but  every 
man  may  nat  have  the  perfeccioun  that 
yo  selven ;  /  ne  I  nam  nat  of  the  uombre 
of  right  parfite  men,  /  for  myn  herte  may  2710 
never  been  in  pees  un-to  the  tyme  it  bo 
venged./  And  al-be-it  so  that  it  was 
greet  peril  to  mj-ne  enemys,  to  do  me 
a  vileinye  in  takiuge  vengeance  up-on 
me,  /  yet  token  they  noon  hede  of  the 
peril,  but  fiilfilledcn  hir  wikked  wil  and 
hir  corage.  /  And  therfore,  me  thinketh 
men  oghten  nat  repreve  me,  though  I 
putte  me  in  a  litel  peril  for  to  venge  me,  / 
and  though  I  do  a  greet  excesse,  that  is 
to  seyn,  that  I  venge  oon  outrage  by 
another.'  /  -715 

§  48.  '  A  ! '  quod  dame  Prudence,  '  ye 
sej'n  your  wil  and  as  yow  lyketh  ;  /  but 
in  no  caas  of  the  world  a  man  sholde  nat 
doon  outrage  no  excesse  for  to  vengen 
him.  /  For  Cassidore  seith  :  that  "  as 
yvel  doth  he  that  vengeth  him  by  outrage, 
as  he  that  doth  the  outrage."/  And 
therfore  ye  shul  venge  yow  after  the 
ordre  of  right,  that  is  fo  seyn  by  the  lawe, 
and  noght  by  excesse  ne  by  outrage.  / 
And  also,  if  ye  wol  venge  yow  of  the  out- 
rage of  your  adversaries  in  other  maner 
than  right  comandeth,  ye  sinnen  ;  /  and  2720 
therfore  seith  Senek  :  that  "  a  man  shal 
never  vengen  shrewednesse  by  shrewed- 
nesse."  /  And  if  ye  seye,  that  right  axetli 
a  man  to  defenden  violence  by  violence, 
and  fighting  by  fighting,  /  certes  ye  seye 
sooth,  whan  the  defense  is  doon  anon 
with-outen  intervalle  or  with-outen  tary- 
ing  or  delay,  /  for  to  defenden  him  and 
nat  for  to  vengen  him.  /  And  it  bihoveth 
that  a  man  putte  swich  attemperance 
in  his  defence,  /  that  men  have  no  2725 
cause  ne  matere  to  repreven  him  that 
defendeth  him  of  excesse  and  outrage  ; 
for  elles  were  it  agayn  reso^in.  /  Pardee, 
ye  knowen  wel,  that  ye  maken  no  de- 
fence as  now  for  to  defende  yow,  but  for 
to  venge  yow  ;  /  and  so  seweth  it  that  ye 
han  no  wil  to  do  your  dede  attemproly.  / 
And  therfore,  me  thinketh  that  pacience 
is  good.     For  Salomon  seith  :  that  "  he 


522 


B.    ^0e  Zdk  of  (mefi8eu6. 


[t.  §§  49-5 


that    is    nat    pacient    shal    have    greet 
harm." '  / 

§  49.  '  Certes,'  quod  Melibee,  '  I  graunte 
yow,  that  whan  a  man  is  inpacient  and 
■wroth,  of  that  that  toucheth  him  noght 
and  that  aperteneth  nat  iin-to  him,  though 
2730  it  harme  liim,  it  is  no  wonder.  /  For  the 
lawe  seith  :  that  "  he  is  coupable  that 
cntremettetli  ormedleth  with  swich  thyng 
as  aperteneth  nat  un-to  him."  /  And 
Salomon  seith :  that  '•  he  that  entre- 
metteth  liim  of  the  noyse  or  sti-yf  of 
another  man,  is  lyk  to  him  that  taketh 
an  hound  by  the  eres."  /  For  right  as  he 
that  taketh  a  straungc  liound  by  the  eres 
is  outherwhyle  biten  with  the  hound,  / 
right  in  the  same  •wyse  is  it  resoun  that  he 
have  harm,  that  by  his  ini>acience  med- 
leth  him  of  the  noyse  of  another  man, 
wher-as  it  apertenetli  nat  un-to  him.  / 
But  ye  knowen  wel  that  this  dede,  that  is 
to  seyn,  my  grief  and  my  disese,  toucheth 

2735  me  right  ny.  /  And  therfore,  though  I 
be  wroth  and  inpacient,  it  is  no  mer- 
veille.  /  And  savinge  your  grace,  I  can 
nat  seen  that  it  mighte  greetly  harme 
me  though  I  toke  vengeaunce  ;  /  for  I  am 
richer  and  more  mighty  than  mjTie  enc- 
mys  been.  /  And  wel  knowen  ye,  that 
by  moneye  and  by  havinge  grete  posses- 
sions been  all  the  thinges  of  this  world 
governed.  /      And   Siilomon  seith  :   that 

2740  "alle  thinges  obeyen  to  moneye."  '  / 

§  50.  Whan  Prudence  hadde  herd  hir 
housbonde  avanten  him  of  his  richesse 
and  of  his  moneye,  dispreisinge  the 
power  of  hise  adversaries,  she  spak,  and 
seyde  in  this  wyse  :  /  '  certes,  dere  sir,  I 
graunte  yow  that  ye  been  rich  and 
nnighty,  /  and  that  the  riehesses  been 
goode  to  hem  that  ban  wel  y-geten  hem 
and  wel  conne  usen  hem.  /  For  right  as 
the  body  of  a  man  may  nat  liven  with- 
oute  the  soule,  namore  may  it  live  with- 
outen  temporel  goodes.  /    And  by  riehesses 

2745  may  a  man  gete  him  grete  freendes.  / 
And  therfore  seith  Pamphilles  :  "  if  a  net- 
herdes  doghter,"  seith  he,  "  be  riche,  she 
may  chesen  of  a  thousand  men  which  she 
wol  take  to  hir  housbonde ;  /  for,  of 
a  thousand  naen,   oon  wol  nat  forsaken 


hir  ne  refusen  hir."/  And  this  Pam- 
philles seith  also :  "  if  thou  be  right 
liappj-,  that  is  to  seyn,  if  thou  be  right 
riche,  thou  shalt  find  a  greet  nombre  of 
felawes  and  freendes.  /  And  if  thy  for- 
tune change  that  thou  wexe  povre,  fare- 
wel  freendshijje  and  felaweshipe  ;  /  for 
thou  shalt  be  allone  with-outen  any  com- 
panye,  but-if  it  be  the  companye  of  povre 
folk."  /  And  yet  seith  this  Pamphilles  2750 
moreover  :  that  "  they  that  been  thralle 
and  bonde  of  linage  shullen  been  maad 
worthy  and  noble  by  the  riehesses."  / 
And  right  so  as  by  riehesses  ther  comen 
manye  goodes,  right  so  by  poverte  come 
ther  manye  harmes  and  yveles.  /  For 
greet  poverte  constreyneth  a  man  to  do 
manye  yveles.  /  And  therfore  clepeth 
Cassidore  poverte  "the  moderof  mine,"/ 
that  is  to  seyn,  tlie  moder  of  over- 
throwinge  or  fallinge  doun.  /  And  ther-  2755 
fore  seith  Piers  Alfonce  :  "  oon  of  the 
grettestc  adversitees  of  this  woidd  is  / 
whan  a  free  man,  by  kinde  or  by  burthe, 
is  constreyned  by  poverte  to  eten  the 
almesse  of  his  enemy."  /  And  the  same 
seith  Innocent  in  oon  of  hise  bokes ; 
he  seith  :  that  "  sorweful  and  mishappy 
is  the  condicioun  of  a  povre  begger  ;  / 
for  if  he  axe  nat  his  mete,  he  dyeth  for 
hunger ;  /  and  if  he  axe,  he  dyeth  for 
shame ;  and  algates  necessitee  constreyn- 
eth him  to  axe."/  And  therfore  seith  2760 
Salomon  :  that  "  bet  it  is  to  dye  than  for 
to  have  swich  poverte."  /  And  as  the 
same  Salomon  seith  :  "  bettre  it  is  to  dye 
of  bitter  deeth  than  for  to  liven  in  swich 
^vJ^se."  /  By  thise  resons  that  I  have 
seid  un-to  yow,  and  by  manye  othere 
resons  that  I  coude  seye,  /  I  graunte  yow 
that  riehesses  been  goode  to  hem  that 
geten  hem  wel,  and  to  hem  that  wel  usen 
tho  riehesses.  /  And  therfore  wol  I  shewe 
yow  how  ye  shul  have  yow,  and  how  ye 
shul  here  yow  in  gaderinge  of  riehesses, 
and  in  what  manere  ye  shul  usen  hem.  /   2765 

§  51.  First,  ye  shul  geten  hem  with- 
outen  greet  desyr,  by  good  leyser  sokingly, 
and  nat  over  hastily.  /  For  a  man  that 
is  to  desyringe  to  gete  riehesses  abaun- 
doneth  him  first  to   thefte  and  to   alle 


§  52.] 


B.    ZU  ^afe  of  (mefi6eu0. 


52- 


other  yveles.  /  And  therfore  seitli  Salo- 
mon :  "  he  that  hasteth  him  to  bisily  to 
wexe  riche  shal  be  noon  innocent."  /  He 
seith  also  :  that  "the  richesse  that  hastily 
cometh  to  a  man,  sone  and  lightly  gooth 
and  passeth  fro  a  man ;  /  but  that  richesse 
that  cometh  litel  and  litel  wexeth  alwey 

2770  and  multiplyeth."  /  And  sir,  ye  shiil 
geten  richesses  by  your  wit  and  by  your 
travaille  un-to  your  profit ;  /  and  that 
with-outen  wrong  or  harm-doinge  to  any 
other  persone.  /  For  the  la  we  seith  :  that 
"  ther  maketh  no  man  himselven  riche, 
if  he  do  harm  to  another  wight "  ;  /  this 
is  to  seyn,  that  nature  defendeth  and  for- 
bedeth  by  right,  that  no  man  make  him- 
self riche  tin-to  the  harm  of  another 
persone.  /  And  Tullius  seith  :  that  "  no 
sorwe  ne  no  drede  of  deeth,  ne  no-thing 

2775  that  may  falle  un-to  a  man  /  is  so  mixchel 
agayns  nature,  as  a  man  to  encresscn  his 
owene  profit  to  the  harm  of  another  man.  / 
And  though  the  grete  men  and  the  mighty 
men  goten  richesses  more  lightly  than 
thou,  /  yet  shaltou  nat  been  ydel  ne  slow 
to  do  thy  i^rofit ;  for  thou  shalt  in  alle 
wyse  flee  ydebiesse. "  /  For  Salomon 
seith  :  that  "ydelnesse  techeth  a  man  to 
do  manye  yveles."  /  And  the  same  Salo- 
mon seith  :  that  "  he  that  travailleth  and 
bisieth  him  to  tilien  his  land,  shal  eten 

27S0  breed  ;  /  but  he  that  is  ydel  and  casteth 
him  to  no  bisinesse  ne  occvipacioun,  shal 
falle  in-to  poverte,  and  dye  for  hunger."  / 
And  he  that  is  ydel  and  slow  can  never 
finde  covenable  tyme  for  to  doon  his 
profit.  /  For  ther  is  a  versifiour  seith  : 
that  "  the  ydel  man  exciiseth  hym  in 
winter,  by  cause  of  the  grete  cold  ;  and  in 
somer,  by  enchesoun  of  the  hete."  /  For 
thise  causes  seith  Caton  :  "  waketh  and 
enclyneth  nat  yow  over  muchel  for  to 
slope ;  for  over  muchel  reste  norisseth 
and  causeth  manye  vices."  /  And  ther- 
fore seith  seint  Jerome  :  "  doth  somme 
gode  dedes,  that  the  devel  which  is  oiir 

2785  enemy  ne  finde  yow  nat  unoccupied."  / 
For  the  devel  ne  taketli  nat  lightly  un-to 
his  werkinge  swiche  as  he  findeth  occu- 
pied in  gode  werkes."  / 
§  52.  Thanne  thus,  in  getinge  richesses. 


ye  mosten  flee  ydelnesse.  /  And  after- 
ward, ye  shul  use  the  richesses,  whiche  ye 
have  geten  by  your  wit  and  by  your 
travaille,  /  in  swich  a  manere,  that  men 
holde  nat  yow  to  scars,  ne  to  sparinge,  ne 
to  fool-large,  that  is  to  seyn,  over-large 
a  spender.  /  For  right  as  men  blamen 
an  avaricious  man  by-cause  of  his  scarsetee 
and  chincherye,  /  in  the  same  wyse  is  he  2790 
to  blame  that  spendeth  over  largely.  / 
And  therfore  seitli  Caton  :  "use,"  he  seith, 
"  thy  richesses  that  thou  hast  geten  /  in 
swich  a  manere,  that  men  have  no  mater e 
ne  cause  to  calle  thee  neither  wrecche  ne 
chinche  ;  for  it  is  a  greet  shame  to  a  man 
to  liave  a  povere  herte  and  a  riclie  purs."  / 
He  seith  also  :  "  the  goodes  that  thou  hast 
y-geten,  use  hem  by  mesure,"  that  is  to 
seyn,  spende  hem  mesurably  ;  /  for  they  2,-95 
that  folily  wasten  and  despenden  the 
goodes  that  they  han,  /  whan  they  han 
namore  propre  of  hir  owene,  they  shapen 
hem  to  take  the  goodes  of  another  man.  / 
I  seye  thanne,  that  ye  shul  fleen  avarice ;  / 
usinge  yoiir  richesses  in  swich  manere, 
that  men  seye  nat  that  your  richesses 
been  y-buried,  /  but  that  ye  have  hem  in 
your  might  and  in  your  weeldinge.  /  For  2800 
a  wys  man  repreveth  the  avaricious  man, 
and  seith  thus,  in  two  vers:/  "  wherto 
and  why  burieth  a  man  liise  goodes  by  his 
grete  avarice,  and  knoweth  wel  that  nedes 
moste  he  dye  ;  /  for  deeth  is  tlie  ende  of 
every  man  as  in  this  present  lyf."  /  And 
for  what  cause  or  enchesoun  joyneth  he 
him  or  knitteth  he  him  so  faste  nn-to 
hise  goodes,  /  that  alle  his  wittes  mowen 
nat  disseveren  him  or  departen  him  from 
hise  goodes  ;  /  and  knowetli  wel,  or  oghte  2805 
knowe,  that  whan  he  is  deed,  he  slial  no- 
thing here  with  him  out  of  this  world?/ 
And  ther-fore  seith  seint  Augustin  :  that 
"the  avaricious  man  is  likned  un-to 
helle  ;  /  that  the  more  it  swelwcth,  the 
more  desyr  it  hath  to  swelwe  and  de- 
voure. ' '  /  And  as  wel  as  ye  wolde  eschewe 
to  be  called  an  avaricious  man  or  chinche,  / 
as  wel  sholde  ye  kepe  yow  and  governe 
yow  in  swich  a  wyse  that  men  calle  yow 
nat  fool-large.  /  Therfore  seith  Tullius  :  2810 
"  the  goodes,"  he  seith,  "  of  thyn  hous  ne 


524 


B.    ZU  ^afe  of  (riUft6eu0. 


[t.  §  53. 


sholde  nat  been  liid,  ne  kept  so  cloos  but 
that  they  mighte  been  opened  by  pitee 
and  debonairetee  "  ;  /  that  is  to  seyn,  to 
yeven  part  to  hem  that  han  greet  nede ;  / 
"  ne  thy  goodes  shuUcn  nat  been  so 
opene,  to  been  every  mannes  goodes."  / 
Afterward,  in  gotinge  of  your  richesses 
and  in  iisinge  hem,  ye  shul  alwey  have 
three  thingcs  in  your  herte  ;  /  that  is  to 
seyn,  our  lord  god,  conscience,  and  good 

2815  name.  /  First,  ye  shul  have  god  in  your 
herte  ;  /  and  for  no  richessc  ye  shullen  do 
no-thing,  which  may  in  any  manere  dis- 
plcsegod,  that  isyourcreatour  and  maker./ 
For  after  the  word  of  Salomon  :  "  it  is 
bettre  to  have  a  litel  good  with  the  love  of 
god,  /  than  to  have  muchel  good  and 
tresour,  and  lese  the  love  of  his  lord  god."/ 
And  the  prophete  seith  :  that  "  bettre  it 
is  to  been  a  good  man  and  have  litel  good 

2SJ1)  and  tresour,  /  than  to  been  holden  a  shrewe 
and  have  grete  richesses."  /  And  yet 
seye  I  ferthermore,  that  ye  sholde  alwey 
doon your  bisinesse  to  goto yow  richesses,/ 
so  that  ye  gete  hem  with  good  consci- 
ence. /  And  th'apostlo  seith  :  that  "  ther 
nis  thing  in  this  world,  of  which  we 
sholden  have  so  greet  joye  as  whan  our 
conscience  bereth  us  good  witnesse."  / 
And  the  wyse  man  seith  :  "  the  substance 
of  a  man  is  ful  good,  whan  sinne  is  nat 

2825  in  mannes  conscience."  /  Afterward,  in 
getinge  of  your  richesses,  and  in  usinge 
of  hem,  /  yow  moste  have  greet  bisinesse 
and  greet  diligence,  that  your  goode  name 
be  alwey  kept  and  conserved.  /  For 
Salomon  seith  :  that  "  bettre  it  is  and 
more  it  availleth  a  man  to  have  a  good 
name,  than  tor  to  have  grete  richesses."  / 
And  therfore  he  seith  in  another  place  : 
"  do  greet  diligence,"  seith  Salomon,  "  in 
keping  of  thy  freend  and  of  thy  gode 
name ;  /  for  it  shal  lenger  abide  with  thee 

28,^0  than  any  tresour,  be  it  never  so  precious."  / 
And  certes  he  sholde  nat  be  called  a  gentil 
man,  that  after  god  and  good  conscience, 
alle  thinges  left,  ne  dooth  his  diligence 
and  bisinesse  to  kepen  his  good  name.  / 
And  Cassidore  seith  :  that  "  it  is  signe  of 
a  gentil  herte,  whan  a  man  loveth  and 
desyreth  to  han  a  good  name."  /    And 


therfore  seith  seint  Augustin  :  that  "  ther 
been  two  thinges  that  am  necessarie  and 
nedefulle,  /  and  that  is  good  conscience 
and  good  loos  ;  /  that  is  to  sejTi,  good 
conscience  to  tliyn  owene  persone  inward, 
and  good  loos  for  thy  neighebore  out- 
ward." /  And  he  that  trusteth  him  so  2835 
muchel  in  his  gode  conscience,  /  that  he 
displeseth  and  setteth  at  noglit  his  gode 
name  or  loos,  and  rekketh  noght  though 
ho  kepe  nat  his  gode  name,  nis  but  a  cruel 
cherl.  / 

§  53.  Sire,  now  have  I  shewed  yow  how 
ye  sliul  do  in  getinge  richesses,  and  how 
ye  shullen  usen  hem ;  /  and  I  see  wel, 
that  for  the  trust  that  ye  han  in  youre 
richesses,  ye  wole  moeve  werre  and 
bataille.  /  I  conseille  yow,  that  ye  bi- 
ginne  no  werre  in  trust  of  your  richesses  ; 
for  they  ne  suffysen  noght  werres  to  mayn- 
tene.  /  And  therfore  seith  a  philosophre  :  2840 
"  that  man  that  desj-reth  and  wole  algates 
han  werre,  shal  never  have  suffisaunce  ;  / 
.  for  the  richer  that  he  is,  the  gretter 
despenses  moste  he  make,  if  ho  wole  have 
worship  and  victorie."  /  And  Salomon 
seith  :  that  "  the  gretter  richesses  that 
a  man  hath,  the  mo  despendours  he 
hath."/  And  dere  sire,  al-be-it  so  that 
for  your  richesses  ye  mowe  have  muchel 
folk,  /  yet  bihoveth  it  nat,  ne  it  is  nat 
good,  to  biginne  werre,  where-as  ye  mowe 
in  other  manere  have  pees,  un-to  your 
worship  and  profit.  /  For  the  victories  2845 
of  batailles  that  been  in  this  world,  lyen 
nat  in  greet  nombre  or  multitude  of  the 
peple  ne  in  the  vertu  of  man  ;  /  but  it 
lyth  in  the  wil  and  in  the  hand  of  our 
lord  god  almighty.  /  And  therfore  Judas 
Machabeus,  which  was  goddes  knight,  / 
whan  he  sholde  fighte  agajTi  his  adver- 
sarie  that  hadde  a  greet  nombre,  and 
a  gretter  multitude  of  folk  and  strenger 
than  was  this  peple  of  Machabee,  /  yet 
he  reconforted  his  litel  compan3-e,  and 
seyde  right  in  this  wyse  :  /  "  als  lightly,"  2850 
quod  he,  "  may  our  lord  god  almighty 
yeve  victorie  to  a  fewe  folk  as  to  many 
folk  ;  /  for  the  victorie  of  bataile  cometh 
nat  by  the  grete  nombre  of  peple,  /  but  it 
cometh  from  our  lord  god  of  hevene. "  / 


T.  §§  54-58-] 


B.    ZU  ^<^f«  of  QH^fiB^we. 


525 


And  dere  sir    for  as  muchel  as  there  is  |  and  crye  hem  mercy?/    For  sothe,  that 
nrlarcert^h'Tf  he  be  worthy  that  god  |  were  nat  my  worship.  /     For  r.ght  asmen  .^75 


yeve  him  victorie,  [f  namore  than  ho  is 
"certein  whether  he  be  worthy  of  the  lovo 
of  god]  or  naught,  after  that  Salomon 
seith,  /  therfore  every  man  sholde  greetly 
2855  drede  werres  to  biginne.  /  And  by-cai^se 
that  in  batailles  fallen  manye  perils,  /  and 
happeth  outher-while,  that  as  sone  is  the 
grete  man  sleyn  as  the  litel  man  ;  /  and, 
as  it  is  written  in  the  seoonde  book  of 
Kinges,  "the  dedes  of  batailles  been 
aventurouse  and  nothing  certeyne  ;  /  for 
as  lightly  is  oon  hurt  with  a  spere  as 
another."  /  And  for  ther  is  gret  peril  in 
werre,  therfore  sholde  a  man  flee  and 
eschewe  werre,  in  as  muchel  as  a 
2860  man  may  goodly.  /  For  Salomon  seith  : 
"he  that  loveth  peril  shal  falle  in 
peril.'"  / 

§  54.  After  that  Dame  Pradence  haddc 
spoken  in  this  manere,  Melibee  answerde 
and  seyde,  /  '  I  see  wel,  dame  Prndence, 
that  by  your  faire  wordes  and  by  your 
resons  "that  ye  han  shewed  me,  that  the 
werre  lyketli  yow  no-thing  ;  /  but  I  have 
nat  yet  herd  your  conseil,  how  I  shal  do 
in  this  nede.'  / 

§  55.  '  Certes,'  quod  she,  '  I  conseille 
yow  that  ye  accorde  with  youre  adver- 
2865  saries,  and  that  ye  have  pees  with  hem.  / 
For  seint  Jame  seith  in  hise  epistles  :  that 
"  by  concord  and  pees  the  smale  richesses 
wexen  grete,  /  and  by  debaat  and  discord 
the  grete  richesses  fallen  doun."  /  And 
ye  knowen  wel  that  oon  of  the  gretteste 
and  most  sovereyn  thing,  that  is  in  this 
world,  is  imitee  and  pees.  /  And  ther- 
fore seyde  oure  lord  Jesu  Crist  to  hise 
apostles  in  this  wyse  :  /  "  wel  happy  and 
blessed  been  they  that  loven  and  pur- 
chacen  pees ;  for  they  been  called  children 
J870  of  god."  '  /  '  A  ! '  quod  Melibee,  '  now  see 
I  wel  that  ye  loven  nat  myn  honovir 
ne  my  worshipe.  /  Ye  knowen  wel  that 
myne  adversaries  han  bigonnen  this 
debaat  and  brige  by  hir  outrage  ;  /  and 
ye  see  wel  that  they  ne  requeren  ne 
preyen  me  nat  of  pees,  ne  they  asken  nat 
to  be  reconsQed.  /  Wol  ye  thanne  that 
I  go  and  meke  me  and  obeye  me  to  hem, 


seyn,  that  "over-greet  homlinesse  c^^- 
gendreth  dispreysinge,"  so  fareth  it  by  to 
greet  humylitee  or  mekenesse.'  / 

§  56.  Thanne  bigan  dame  Prudence  to 
maken  semblant  of  wratthe,  and  seyde,  / 
'  certes,  sir,  sauf  your  grace,  I  love  your 
honoiir  and  your  profit  as  I  do  myn 
owene,  and  ever  have  doon  ;  /  ne  ye  ne 
noon  other  syen  never  the  contrarie.  / 
And  yit,  if  I  hadde  seyd  that  ye  sholde 
han  purohaced  the  pees  and  the  recon- 
siliacionn,  I  ne  hadde  nat  muchel  mis- 
taken me,  ne  seyd  amis.  /  For  the  \vyse  2880 
man  seith :  "the  dissensiolin  biginneth  by 
another  man,  and  the  reconsiling  bi- 
ginneth by  thy-self "  /  And  the  prophcte 
seith  :  "  flee  shrewednesse  and  do  good- 
nesse ;  /  seke  pees  and  folwe  it,  as  muchel 
as  in  thee  is."  /  Yet  seye  I  nat  that  ye 
shul  rather  pursue  to  your  adversaries  for 
pees  than  they  shiiln  to  yow ;  /  for  T 
knowe  wel  that  ye  been  so  hard-herted, 
that  ye  wol  do  no-thing  fur  me.  /  And  2885 
Salonion  seith  :  "  he  that  hath  over-hard 
an  herte,  atte  laste  he  shal  mishappe  and 
mistyde."  '  / 

§  57.  Wlianne  Melibee  hadde  herd  dame 
Prudence  maken  semblant  of  wratthe,  he 
seyde  in  this  wyse,  /  '  dame,  I  prey  yow 
that  ye  be  nat  displesed  of  thinges  that  I 
seye  ;  /  for  ye  knowe  wel  that  I  am  angry 
and  wrooth,  and  that  is  no  wonder  ;  / 
and  they  that  been  wrothe  witen  nat  wel 
what  they  doon,  ne  what  they  seyn.  /  2890 
Therfore  the  propheto  seith:  that  "trou- 
bled eyen  han  no  cleer  sighte."  /  But 
seyeth  and  conseileth  me  as  yow  lyketh  ; 
for  I  am  redy  to  do  right  as  ye  wol 
desyre ;  /  and  if  ye  repreve  me  of  my 
folye,  I  am  the  more  holden  to  love  yow 
and  to  preyse  yow.  /  For  Salomon  seith  : 
that  "  he  that  repreveth  him  that  doth 
folye,  /  he  shal  finde  gretter  grace  than 
hethatdeceyvethhimbyswetewordes."'  /  2895 

§  58.  Thanne  seide  dame  Prudence,  '  I 
make  no  semblant  of  wratthe  ne  anger 
but  for  your  grete  profit.  /  For  Salomon 
seith  :  "  he  is  more  worth,  that  repreveth 
or  chydeth  a  fool  for  his  folye,  shewinge 


526 


B.    Z^t  Zak  of  (niefifieue. 


[t.  §§  59-65. 


him  semblant  of  wrattho,  /  than  ho  that 
supporteth  him  and  preyseth  him  in  his 
misdoinge,  and  hiugheth  at  his  folye."  / 
And  this  same  Salomon  seith  afterward  : 
that  "  by  the  sorweful  visage  of  a  man," 
that  is  to  sej-n,  by  the  sory  and  hev'y 
countonaimce  of  a  man,  /  "  the  fool  cor- 
2000  recteth  and  amendeth  him-self,"  '  / 

§  59.  Thanne  sej-de  Melibee,  '  I  slial 
nat  conne  answere  to  so  manye  faire 
resonns  as  ye  pntten  to  me  and  shewen.  / 
Seyetli  shortly  your  wil  and  your  conseil, 
and  I  am  al  ready  to  fulfille  and  par- 
fourne  it.'  / 

§  60.  Thanne  dame  Prudence  discovered 
al  hir  wil  to  him,  and  seyde,  /  '  I  conseille 
yow,'  quod  she, '  ahoven  alio  thinges,  that 
ye  make  pees  bitwone  god  and  yow ;  / 
and  beth  reconsiled  un-to  him  and  to  his 
2(X>5  grace.  /  For  as  I  have  scyd  yow  heer- 
biforn,  god  hath  snffred  yow  to  have  this 
tribulacioun  and  disese  for  your  sinnes.  / 
And  if  ye  do  as  I  sey  yow,  god  wol  sende 
your  adversaries  un-to  j'ow,  /  and  maken 
hem  fallen  at  your  feet,  rcdy  to  do  your 
wil  and  your  comandements.  /  For 
Salomon  seith  :  "  whan  the  condicioun 
of  man  is  plcsaxmt  and  likinge  to  god,  /  he 
chaungcth  the  hertes  of  the  mannes  adver- 
saries, and  constreyneth  hem  to  biseken 
2910  him  of  pees  and  of  grace."  /  And  I  prey 
yow,  lat  me  speke  -with  your  adversaries 
in  privee  place ;  /  for  they  shul  nat  knowe 
that  it  be  of  your  wil  or  your  assent.  / 
And  thanne,  whan  I  knowe  hir  wil  and 
liir  entente,  I  may  conseille  yow  the  more 
seurly.'  / 

§  61.    '  Dame,'    quod   Melibee,    '  dooth 
your  wil  and  your  lykinge,  /  for  I  putte 
me  hoolly  in  your  disposicioun  and  or- 
2915  dinaunce.'  / 

§  62.  Thanne  Dame  Prudence,  whan 
she  saugh  the  gode  wil  of  her  housbonde, 
delibered  and  took  avys  in  hir-self,  / 
thinkinge  how  she  niighte  bringe  this 
nede  un-to  a  good  conclnsioun  and  to 
a  good  ende.  /  And  whan  she  saugh  hir 
tyme,  she  sente  for  thise  adversaries  to 
come  un-to  hir  in-to  a  privee  place,  /  and 
shewed  wysly  un-to  hem  the  grete  goodes 
that    comen    of   pees,  /   and    the    grete 


harmcs  and  perils  that  been  in  werre  ;  /  2920 
and  seyde  to  hem  in  a  goodly  manere, 
how  that  hem  oughte  have  greet  repent- 
aunce  /  of  the  injurie  and  wrong  that 
they  hadden  doon  to  Melibee  hir  lord,  and 
to  hir,  and  to  hir  doghtcr.  / 

§  63.  And  whan  they  herden  the  good- 
liche  wordes  of  dame  Prudence,  /  they 
weren  so  surprised  and  ravisshed,  and 
hadtlen  so  greet  joye  of  hir,  that  wonder 
was  to  telle.  /  '  A  !  lady  ! '  quod  they, 
'  ye  han  shewed  un-to  us  "  the  blessingo 
of  swetnesse,"  after  the  sawe  of  David  the 
prophete  ;  /  for  the  reconsilinge  which  2925 
we  been  nat  worthy  to  have  in  no  manere,  / 
but  we  oghte  requeren  it  with  greet  con- 
tricioun  and  humilitee,  /  ye  of  your  grete 
goodnesse  have  presented  unto  us.  /  Now 
SCO  we  wel  that  the  science  and  the  con- 
ninge  of  Salomon  is  ful  trewe ;  /  for  he 
seith:  that  "swete  wordes  multiplyen 
and  encresen  freendes,  and  maken  shrewes 
to  be  debonaire  and  meke."  /  2930 

§  64.  Certes,'  quod  they,  '  we  putten 
our  dode  and  al  our  matere  and  cause  al 
hoolly  in  your  goode  wil ;  /  and  been  redy 
to  obeye  to  the  sjieche  and  comandement 
of  mj'  lord  Melibee.  /  And  therfore,  dere 
and  benigne  lady,  we  preyen  yow  and 
biscko  yow  as  mekely  as  we  conne  and 
mowen,  /  that  it  lyke  un-to  your  greto 
goodnesse  to  fulfillen  in  dede  your  good- 
liche  wordes  ;  /  for  we  consideren  and 
knowlichen  that  we  han  offended  and 
greved  my  lord  Melibee  out  of  mesure  ;  /  2935 
so  ferforth,  that  we  be  nat  of  power  to 
maken  hise  amendes.  /  And  therfore 
we  oblige  and  binden  us  and  our  freendes 
to  doon  al  his  wil  and  hise  comande- 
ments. /  But  peraventure  he  hath  swich 
hevinesse  and  swich  wratthe  to  us-ward, 
by-cause  of  our  offence,  /  that  he  wole 
enjoj-ne  us  swich  a  peyue  as  we  mowe  nat 
here  ne  sustene.  /  And  therfore,  noble 
lady,  we  biseke  to  your  wommanly  pitee,  /  2940 
to  taken  swich  avysement  in  this  nede, 
that  we,  ne  our  freendes,  be  nat  desherited 
ne  destroyed  thurgh  our  folye.'  / 

§  65.   '  Certes,'  quod  Prudence,  'it  is  an 

hard   thing   and   right   perilous,  /   that 

I  a  man  putte  him  al  outrely  in  the  arbi- 


§§  66-71.] 


B.    ZH  ^cik  of  (meft6eu0. 


527 


tracioim  and  juggement,  and  in  the  might 
and  power  of  hise  enemj'S.  /  For  Salomon 
seith  :  "  leveth  me,  and  yeveth  credence 
to  that  I  shal  seyn  ;  I  seye,"  quod  lie, 
"  ye  peple,  folk,  and  governoiirs  of  holy 
chirche,  /  to  thy  sone,  to  thy  wyf,  to  thy 
2945  freend,  ne  to  thy  brother  /  ne  yeve  thoix 
never  might  ne  maistrie  of  thy  body,  why! 
thou  livest."  /  Now  sithen  he  defendeth, 
that  man  shal  nat  yeven  to  his  brother  ne 
to  his  freend  the  might  of  his  body,  /  by 
astrenger  resoun  he  defendeth  and  for- 
bedeth  a  man  to  yeven  him-self  to  his 
enemy.  /  And  nathelees  I  conseille  you, 
that  ye  mistniste  nat  my  lord.  /  For 
I  woot  wel  and  knowe  verraily,  that  he  is 
2950  debonaire  and  meke,  large,  cnrteys,  /  and 
nothing  desyrons  ne  coveitous  of  good  ne 
richesse.  /  For  ther  nis  no-thing  in  this 
world  that  he  desyreth,  save  only  worship 
and  honour.  /  Foi-ther-more  I  knowe 
wel,  and  am  right  seur,  that  he  shal 
no-thing  doon  in  this  nede  with-outen 
my  conseil.  /  And  I  shal  so  werken  in 
this  cause,  that,  by  grace  of  our  lord 
god,  ye  shul  been  reconsiled  un-to  us.'  / 

§  C6.  Thanne  seyden  they  with  o  vois, 
'  worshipful  lady,  we  piitten  us  and  our 
goodes  al  fully  in  .your  wil  and  disposi- 
^955  cioun  ;  /  and  been  redy  to  comen,  what 
day  that  it  lyke  un-to  your  noblesse  to 
limite  us  or  assigne  us,  /  for  to  maken  our 
obligacioun  and  bond  as  strong  as  it 
lyketh  iin-to  your  goodnesse  ;  /  that  we 
mowe  fulfille  the  wille  of  yow  and  of  my 
lord  Melibee.'  / 

§  67.  ^Vhan  dame  Prudence  hadde  herd 
the  answeres  of  thise  men,  she  bad 
hem  goon  agayn  prively  ;  /  and  she  re- 
tourned  to  hir  lord  Melibee,  and  tolde 
him  how  she  fond  hise  adversaries  ful 
2560  repentant,  /  knowlechinge  ful  lowely  hir 
sinnes  and  trespas,  and  how  they  were 
redy  to  suffren  al  peyne,  /  requiringe 
and  preyinge  him  of  mercy  and  pitee.  / 

§  68.  Thanne  seyde  Melibee,  '  he  is  wel 
worthy  to  have  pardoun  and  foryifnesse 
of  his  sinne,  that  excuseth  nat  his  sinne,  / 
but  knowlecheth  it  and  repenteth  him, 
axingo  indiilgenoe.  /  For  Senek  seith  : 
"  ther  is  the  remissioiin  and  foryifnesse, 


whereas  confessioun  is  "  ;  /  for  confession  2965 
is  neighebore  to  innocence.  /  And  he 
seith  in  another  place:  "he  that  hath 
shame  for  his  sinne  and  knowlecheth  it, 
is  worthy  remissioun."  And  therfore  I 
assente  and  conferme  me  to  have  pees  ;  / 
but  it  is  good  that  we  do  it  nat  with-outen 
the  assent  and  wil  of  our  freendes.'  / 

§  69.  Thanne  was  Prudence  right  glad 
and  joyeful,  and  seyde,  /  '  Ceites,  sir,' 
quod  she,  'ye  han  wel  and  goodly  an- 
swered. /  For  right  as  by  the  conseil,  2970 
assent,  and  help  of  your  freendes,  ye  han 
been  stired  to  venge  yow  and  maken 
werre,  /  right  so  with-oiiten  hir  conseil 
shul  ye  nat  accorden  yow,  ne  have  pees 
with  your  adversaries.  /  For  the  lawe 
seith  :  "  ther  nis  no-thing  so  good  by  wey 
of  kinde,  as  a  thing  to  been  unbounde  by 
him  that  it  was  y-bounde."  '  / 

§  70.  And  thanne  dame  Prudence, 
with-outen  delay  or  taryinge,  sente  anon 
hir  messages  for  hir  kin,  and  for  hir  olde 
freendes  whiche  that  were  trewe  and 
wyse,  /  and  tolde  hem  by  ordre,  in  the 
presence  of  MeUbee,  al  this  matere  as  it 
is  aboven  expressed  and  declared ;  /  and  2975 
preyden  hem  that  they  wolde  yeven  hir 
avys  and  conseil,  what  best  were  to  doon 
in  this  nede.  /  And  whan  Melibees 
freendes  hadde  taken  hir  avys  and  de- 
liberacioun  of  the  forseide  matere,  /  and 
hadden  examined  it  by  greet  bisinesse 
and  greet  diligence,  /  they  yave  ful  conseil 
for  to  have  pees  and  reste  ;  /  and  that 
Melibee  sholde  receyve  with  good  herte 
hise  adversaries  to  foryifnesse  and  mercy./  2980 

§  71.  And  whan  dame  Prudence  hadde 
herd  the  assent  of  hir  lord  Melibee,  and 
the  conseil  of  hise  freendes,  /  accorde 
with  hir  wille  and  hir  entencioun,  /  she 
was  wonderly  glad  in  hir  herte,  and 
seyde  :  /  '  ther  is  an  old  proverbe,'  quod 
she,  'seith:  that  "the  goodnesse  that 
thou  mayst  do  this  day,  do  it  ;  /  and 
abyde  nat  ne  delaye  it  nat  til  to-morwe."  /  2985 
And  therfore  I  conseille  that  ye  sende 
your  messages,  swiche  as  been  discrete 
and  wyse,  /  un-to  your  adversaries  ;  tel- 
linge  hem,  on  your  bihalve,  /  that  if  they 
wole  trete  of  pees  and  of  accord,  /  that 


528 


B.    ZU  ^<if«  of  QUeftfieue. 


[t.  §§  72-77. 


they  sliape  hem,  -with-outen  delay  or 
tarying,  to  comen  un-to  us.'  /  Which 
2990  thing  parfoumed  was  in  dede.  /  And 
•whanne  thise  trespassours  and  repentinge 
folk  of  lur  folios,  that  is  to  sejTi,  the  ad- 
versaries of  Melibeo,  /  hadden  herd  what 
thise  messagers  sej'dcn  iin-to  hem,  /  they 
weren  right  glad  and  joyeful,  and  an- 
swereden  ful  mekoly  and  benigncly,  / 
yeldinge  graces  and  thankinges  to  hir 
lord  Melibee  and  to  al  his  companye  ;  / 
and  shopen  hem,  with-outen  delay,  to  go 
with  the  messagers,  and  obeye  to  the 
-995  comandement  of  hir  lord  Melibee.  / 

§  72.  And  right  anon  they  token  hir 
wey  to  the  court  of  Melibee,  /  and  token 
with  hem  somme  of  hir  trewe  freendes, 
to  maken  feith  for  hem  and  for  to  been 
hir  borwes.  /  And  whan  they  were 
comen  to  the  presence  of  Melibee,  he  seyde 
hem  thise  wordes  :  /  '  it  standeth  thus,' 
quod  Melibee,  '  and  sooth  it  is,  that 
ye,  /  causeless,  and  with-outen  skile  and 
3otx)  resoun,  /  han  doon  gretc  injuries  and 
wronges  to  me  and  to  my  -wyf  Prudence, 
and  to  my  doghter  also.  /  For  ye  han 
cntrcd  in-to  mj-n  hons  by  violence,  /  and 
liave  doon  swich  outrage,  that  alle  men 
knowen  wel  that  ye  have  deserved  the 
deeth  ;  /  and  therfore  wol  I  knowe  and 
wite  of  yow,  /  whether  ye  wol  puttc  the 
punissement  and  the  chastysinge  and  the 
vengeance  of  this  outrage  in  the  wil  of 
me  and  of  my  wyf  Prudence  ;  or  ye  wol 
3«i5  nat  ?  '  / 

§  73.  Thannc  the  wysestc  of  hem  three 
answerde  for  hem  alle,  and  seyde  :  / 
'  sire,'  quod  he,  '  we  knowen  wel,  that  wc 
been  unwortliy  to  comen  un-to  the  court 
of  so  greet  a  lord  and  so  worthy  as  ye 
been.  /  For  we  han  so  greetly  mistaken 
us,  and  han  offended  and  agilt  in  swich 
a  wj^se  agayn  your  heigh  lordshipe,  / 
that  trewely  we  han  deser\'ed  the  deeth./ 
But  yet,  for  the  grete  goodnesse  and 
debonairetee  that  all  the  world  witncsseth 
3010  of  your  persone,  /  we  submitten  us  to  the 
excellence  and  benignitee  of  your  gracious 
lordshipe,  /  and  been  redy  to  obeie  to  alle 
your  comandements ;  /  bisekinge  yow, 
that  of  your  merciable  pitee  je  wol  con- 


sidere  our  grete  repentaunce  and  lowc 
submissioun,  /  and  graunten  us  foryeve- 
nesse  of  our  outrageous  trespas  and  of- 
fence. /  For  wel  we  knowe,  that  yoiir 
liberal  grace  and  mercy  strecchcn  hem 
ferther  in-to  goodnesse,  than  doon  our 
outrageouse  giltes  and  trespas  in-to  wilc- 
kedncsse  ;  /  al-bo-it  that  cursedly  and  .^015 
dampnably  we  han  agilt  agaj-n  your 
heigh  lordshipe.'  / 

5j  74.  Thanne  Melibee  took  hem  up  fro 
the  ground  ful  benignely,  /  and  receyved 
hir  obligaciouns  and  hir  bondes  by  hir 
othcs  up-on  hir  plegges  and  borwes,  / 
and  assigned  hem  a  certej-n  day  to  re- 
tourne  un-to  his  court,  /  for  to  acccpte 
and  recey%-e  the  sentence  and  jugement 
that  Melibee  wolde  comande  to  be  doon 
on  hem  by  the  causes  afore-seyd ;  /  whiche  y>2a 
thinges  ordejTied,  every  man  retoumed  to 
his  hous.  / 

§  75.  And  whan  that  damo  Prudence 
saugh  hir  tyme,  she  freyned  and  axetl 
hir  lord  Melibee,  /  what  vengeance  ho 
thoughte  to  taken  of  hise  adversaries  ?  / 

§  76.  To  which  Melibee  answerde  and 
seyde,  '  certes,'  quod  he,  '  I  thinke  and 
purpose  me  fully  /  to  desherito  hem  of  al 
that  ever  they  han,  and  for  to  putte  hem 
in  exil  for  ever.'  /  ^025 

§  77.  '  Certes,'  qnod  dame  Pruaenco, 
'  this  were  a  cruel  sentence,  and  muchcl 
agayn  resoun.  /  For  ye  been  riche  y- 
nough,  and  han  no  nede  of  other  mennes 
good  ;  /  and  ye  mighte  lightly  in  this 
wyse  gete  yow  a  coveitous  name,  /  which 
is  a  vicious  thing,  and  oghte  been 
eschewed  of  every  good  man.  /  For  after 
the  sawe  of  the  word  of  the  apostle  : 
"  coveitise  is  rote  of  alle  harmes."  /  And  3030 
therfore,  it  were  bettre  for  yow  to  lose  so 
muchel  good  of  your  owene,  than  for  to 
taken  of  hir  good  in  this  manere.  /  For 
bettre  it  is  to  lesen  good  with  worshipe, 
than  it  is  to  winne  good  with  vileinye 
and  shame.  /  And  every  man  oghte  to 
doon  his  diligence  and  his  bisinesse  to 
geten  him  a  good  name.  /  And  yet  shal 
he  nat  only  bisie  him  in  kepinge  of  his 
good  name,  /  but  he  shal  also  enforcen 
him  alwey  to  do  som-thing  by  which  he 


T. 


§  78-] 


B.    tH  ^<ife  of  (meftfieug. 


529 


3035  may  renovelle  his  good  name ;  /  for  it  is 
writen,  that  "the  olde  good  loos  or  good 
name  of  a  man  is  sone  goon  and  passed, 
whan  it  is  nat  newed  ne  renovelled."  / 
And  as  tonchinge  that  ye  seyn,  ye  wole 
exile  your  adversaries,  /  that  thinketh 
me  muchel  agayn  resoun  and  out  of 
mesure,  /  considered  the  power  that  they 
han  yeve  yow  up-on  hem-self.  /  And  it 
is  writen,  that  "  he  is  worthy  to  lesen  his 
pi'ivilege  that  misiiseth  the  might  and 

3040  the  power  that  is  yeven  him."  /  And  I 
sette  cas  ye  mighte  enjoyne  hem  that 
peyne  by  right  and  by  lawe,  /  which  I 
trowe  ye  mowe  nat  do,  /  I  seye,  ye  mighte 
nat  putten  it  to  execucioun  per-aven- 
tnre,  /  and  thanne  were  it  lykly  to  re- 
tonrne  to  the  werre  as  it  was  biforn.  / 
And  therfore,  if  ye  wole  that  men  do  yow 
obeisance,    ye   moste    demen    more   cur- 

3045  teisly ;  /  this  is  to  seyn,  ye  moste  yeven 
more  esy  sentences  and  jugements.  / 
For  it  is  writen,  that  "  he  that  most 
curteisly  comandeth,  to  him  men  most 
obeyen."  /  And  therfore,  I  prey  yow 
that  in  this  necessitee  and  in  this  nede, 
ye  caste  yow  to  overcome  your  herte.  / 
For  Senek  seith  :  that  "  he  that  over- 
cometh  his  herte,  overcometh  twyes.''  / 
And   Tullius    seith:    "  ther   is   no-thing 

3050  so  comendable  in  a  greet  lord  /  as  whan 
he  is  debonaire  and  meke,  and  appeseth 
him  lightly."  /  And  I  prey  yow  that  ye 
wole  forbere  now  to  do  vengeance,  /  in 
swich  a  manere,  that  your  goode  name 
may  be  kept  and  conserved  ;  /  and  that 
men  mowe  have  cause  and  matere  to 
preyse  yow  of  pitce  and  of  mercy  ;  /  and 
that  ye  have  no  cause  to  repente  yow  of 

3"55  tiling  that  ye  doon.  /  For  Senek  seith  : 
"  he  overcometh  in  an  yvel  manere,  that 
repenteth  him  of  his  victorie."  /  Wher- 
fore  I  pray  yovi^,  hit  mercy  been  in  your 
minde  and  in  your  herte,  /  to  th'effect 


aiid  entente  that  god  almighty  have 
mercy  on  yow  in  his  laste  jugement.  / 
For  seint  Jame  seith  in  his  epistle : 
"jugement  withouten  mercy  shal  be 
doon  to  him,  that  hath  no  mercy  of 
another  wight."  '  / 

§  78.  Whanne  Melibee  hadde  herd  the 
grete  sidles  and  resouns  of  dame  Pru- 
dence, and  hir  wise  informaciouns  and 
techinges,  /  his  herte  gan  enclyne  to  the  .S"'^" 
wil  of  his  wyf,  consideringe  hir  trewe 
entente ;  /  and  conformed  him  anon, 
and  assented  fvilly  to  werken  after  hir 
conseil ;  /  and  thonked  god,  of  whom 
procedcth  al  vertu  and  alio  goodncsse, 
that  him  sente  a  wyf  of  so  greet  discre- 
eioun.  /  And  whan  the  day  cam  that 
hise  adversaries  sholde  apperen  in  his 
presence,  /  he  spak  iinto  hem  ful  goodly, 
and  seyde  in  this  wyse  :  /  '  al-be-it  so  that  3065 
of  your  pryde  and  presumpcioun  and 
folie,  and  of  your  necligence  and  un- 
conninge,  /  ye  have  misborn  yow  and 
trespassed  un-to  me  ;  /  yet,  for  as  much 
as  I  see  and  biholde  your  grete  humilitee,  / 
and  that  ye  been  sory  and  repentant  of 
your  giltes,  /  it  constreyneth  me  to  doon 
yow  grace  and  mercy.  /  Therfore  I  re-  3070 
ceyve  yow  to  my  grace,  /  and  foryeve 
yow  outrely  alio  the  offences,  injuries, 
and  wronges,  that  ye  have  doon  agayn 
me  and  mjTie  ;  /  to  this  effect  and  to  this 
ende,  that  god  of  his  endelees  mercy  / 
wole  at  the  tyme  of  our  dyinge  foryeven 
us  ovir  giltes  that  we  han  trespassed  to 
him  in  this  wrecched  world.  /  For  doute- 
lecs,  if  we  be  sory  and  repentant  of  the 
sinnes  and  giltes  whiche  we  han  tres- 
passed in  the  sighte  of  our  lord  god,  /  he  3075 
is  so  free  and  so  merciable,  /  that  ho 
wole  foryeven  tis  our  giltes,  /  and  bringen 
us  to  his  blisse  that  never  hath  ende. 
Amen.'  /  3078 


Here  is  ended  Chancers  Tale  of  Melibee  and  of  Dame  Prudence. 


THE    MONK'S    PROLOGUE. 


[t.  13895-13956-] 

The  mery  wordes  of  the  Host  to  the  Monk. 


W'liAX  ended  was  my  tale  of  Melibee, 
And  of  Prudence  and  hir  beni^nitee,   3080 
Our  hoste  seyde,  '  as  I  am  faithful  man, 
And  by  the  precious  corpus  Madi-ian, 
I  liadde  lever  than  a  barel  ale 
That  goode  lief  my  wyf  hadde  herd  this 

tale! 
For  she  nis  no-thing  of  swich  pacience 
As  was  this  Meliljeus  wj'f  Prudence.   3086 
By  goddes  bones  !  wban  I  bete  my  knaves, 
She  bringth  me  forth  the  grete  clobbed 

staves,  (10) 

And  crj-eth,  "slee  the  dogges  everichoon, 
And  brekhem,bothe  bak  and  everj'boon.  ' 
And  if  that  any  neighebor  of  mj-ne       3091 
Wol  nat  in  chirche  to  my  wj-f  enclyne, 
Or  be  so  hardy  to  hir  to  trespace. 
Whan  she  comth  hoom,  she  rampeth  in 

my  face,  3094 

Andcryeth,  "  false  coward,  wreekthywyf! 
By  corpus  bones  !  I  wol  have  thy  knj'f. 
And  thou  shalt  have  my  distaf  and  go 

spinne ! " 
Fro  day  to  night  right  thus  she  wol  bi- 

ginne  ; —  (20) 

"  Alias ! "  she  seith,  "  that  ever  I  was  shape 
To  wedde  a  milksop  or  a  coward  ape,  3100 
Tliat  wol  be  overlad  with  every  wight  ! 
Thou  darst  nat  stonden   by   thy  wyves 

right !  " 
This  is  my  lyf,  but-if  that  I  wol  fighte  ; 
And  out  at  dore  anon  I  moot  me  dighte, 
Or  elles  I  am  but  lost,  but-if  that  I      3105 
Be  lyk  a  wilde  leoun  fool-hardy. 
I  woot  wel  she  wol  do  me  slee  som  day 
Som  neighebor,  and  thanne  go  my  wey.  (30) 


For  I  am  perilous  with  knyf  in  honde, 
Al  be  it  that  I  dar  nat  hir  withstonde,  31 10 
For  she  is  big  in  armes,  by  my  feith, 
That  shal  he  finde,  that  hir  misdooth  or 

seith. 
But  lat  us  passe  awey  fro  this  matere. 
My  lord  the  Monk,'  quod  he,  '  be  mery 

of  chero  ; 
For  ye  shul  telle  a  tale  trewely.  31 15 

Lo  !  Rouchestre  stant  heer  faste  by  ! 
Eyd  forth,  myn  owene  lord,  brek  nat  our 

game,  (39) 

But,  bvmytrouthe,Iknowenatyourname, 
AVluT  shnl  I  ciille  yow  my  lord  dan  John, 
Or  dan  Thomas,  or  elles  dan  Albon?     3120 
Of  what  hous  be  ye,  by  your  fader  kin  ? 
I  vow  to  god,  thou  hast  a  ful  fair  skin. 
It  is  a  gentil  pasture  ther  thou  goost ; 
Tliou  art  nat  lyk  a  penaunt  or  a  goost. 
Upon  my  feith,  thou  art  som  officer,   3125 
Some  worthy  sexteyn,  or  som  celerer. 
For  by  my  fader  soule,  as  to  my  doom. 
Thou  art  a  maister  whan  thou  art  at  hoom; 
No  povre  cloisterer,  ne  no  novys,  (51) 

But  a  govemour,  wyly  and  wys.  3130 

And  therwithal  of  brawnes  and  of  bones 
A  wel-faring  persone  for  the  nones. 
I  pray  to  god,  yeve  him  confusioun 
Tliat  first  thee  broghte  un-to  religioun  ; 
Thou  woldest  han  been  a  trede-foul  aright. 
Haddestow  as  greet  a  leve,  as  thou  hast 

might  3,36 

To  parfourne  al  thy  lust  in  engendrure, 
Thou  haddest  bigeten  many  a  creature. 
Alas !  why  werestow  so  wyd  a  cope?      (61) 
God  yeve  me  sorwe !  but,  and  I  were  a  pope, 


I3957-I40I?-] 


ZH  (monftee  Cafe. 


531 


Notonly  thou,  but  every  mighty  man,  3141 
Thogh  he  were  shorn  i'ul  hye  v\pon  his  pan, 
Sholde  have  a  wjrf ;  for althe  world  islorn  ! 
Religioun  hath  take  up  al  the  corn  3144 
Of  treding,and  we  borel  men  ben  shrimpes ! 
Of  feble  trees  ther  conien  wrecched  impes. 
This   maketh    that  our  heires  been   so 

sclendre  (69) 

And  feble,  that  they  may  natwelcngendre. 
This  maketh  that  our  wyves  wol  assaye 
Religious  folk,  for  ye  may  bettre  paye  3150 
Of  Venus  payements  than  mowe  we  ; 
God  woot,  no  lussheburghes  payen  ye  ! 
But  be  nat  wrooth,  my  lord,  for  that  I 

pleye ; 
Ful  ofte  in  game  a  sooth  I  have  herd  seye.' 
This  worthy  monk  took  al  in  pacience, 
And  seyde,  '  I  wol  doon  al  my  diligence, 
As  fer  as  souneth  in-to  honestee,  3157 

To  telle  yow  a  tale,  or  two,  or  three.     (80) 
And  if  yow  list  to  herkne  hiderward, 
I  wol  yow  seyn  the  lyf  of  seint  Edward  ; 


Or  elles  first  Tragedies  wol  I  telle       3161 
Of  whiche  I  have  an  hundred  in  my  cello. 
Tragedie  is  to  seyn  a  certeyn  storie, 
As  olde  bokes  maken  us  memorie. 
Of  him  that  stood  in  greet  prosperitee  3165 
And  is  y-fallen  out  of  heigh  degree 
Into  miserie,  and  endeth  wrecchedly. 
And  they  ben  versifyed  comunly  (90) 

Of  six  feet,  which  men  clepe  exametron. 
In  prose  eek  been  endyted  many  oon,  3170 
And  eek  in  metre,  in  many  a  sondry  vsryse. 
Lo !  this  declaring  oughte  y-nough  sutfise. 
Now  h  erk  neth ,  if  yow  ly  keth  for  to  here ; 
But  first  I  yow  biseke  in  this  matere,  3174 
Though  I  by  ordre  telle  nat  thise  thinges. 
Be  it  of  popes,  emperours,  or  kinges, 
After  hir  ages,  as  men  writen  finde,  (99) 
But  telle  hem  som  bifore  and  som  bihinde. 
As  it  now  comth  un-to  my  remombraunce ; 
Have  me  excused  of  mynignoraunce.'  31S0 

Explicit. 


THE    MONKES    TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Menkes  Tale,  de  Casibus  Virorum  Illustrium. 


I  WOL  biwayle  in  maner  of  Tragedie 
Tlie  harm  of  hem  that  stode  in  heigh  de- 
gree. 
And  fiUen  so  that  ther  nas  no  remedie 
To  bringe  hem  out  of  hir  adversitee  ;    3 1 84 
For  certein,  whan  that  fortune  list  to  flee, 
Ther  may  no  man  the  cours  of  hir  with- 
holds ; 
Lat  no  man  truste  on  blind  prosperitee  ; 
Be  war  by  thise  ensamples  trewe  and  olde. 

Lucifer. 

At  Lucifer,  though  he  an  angel  were, 
And  nat  a  man,  at  him  I  wol  biginne ;  3190 
For,  thogh  fortune  may  non  angel  dere,  (11) 


From  heigh  degree  yet  fel  he  for  his  sinne 
Doun  in-to  helle,  wher  he  yet  is  inne. 
O  Lucifer  !  brightest  of  angels  alle, 
Now   artow   Sathanas,    that   maist   nat 
twinne  3195 

Out  of  miserie,  in  which  that  thou  art  falle. 

Adam. 

Lo  Adam,  in  the  feld  of  Damassene, 
With  goddes  owene  finger  wroght  was  he, 
And  nat  bigeten  of  mannes  sperme  un- 

clene, 
And  welte  al  Paradys,  saving  o  tree.     3200 
Had  never  worldly  man  so  heigh  degree 
As  Adam,  til  he  for  misgovernaunce     {22) 


532 


B.    Z^t  Qnenftee  Zak. 


[T. 


[4019-I4C94, 


Was  drive  out  of  his  liye  prosperitee 

To  labour,  and  to  lielle,  and  to  mescliaunce . 

Sampson. 

Lo  Sampson,  which  that  was  annunciat 
By  th'angel,  longe  er  his  nativitee,      3206 
And  was  to  god  almighty  consecrat, 
And  stood  in  noblesse,  whyl  he  mighte  see. 
Was  never  swich  another  as  was  he, 
To  spake  of  streng^he,  and  therwith  hardi- 

nesse;  3210 

But  to  his  wj'ves  tolde  he  his  secree,  (31) 
Through   which    he    slow    him-self,   for 

wrecchednesse. 

Sampson,  this  noble  almighty  champioun, 
Withouten  wepen  save  his  hondos  tweye, 
He  slow  and  al  to-rente  the  leoun,  3215 
Toward  his  wedding  walking  by  the  weye. 
His  false  ■w'yf  coude   him   so   plese   and 

preye 
TU  she  his  conseil  knew,  and  she  untrewe 
Un-tohisfooshisconseilganbiwreye,   3219 
And  him  forsook,  and  took  another  newe. 

Three  hundred  foxes  took  Sampson  for  ire, 
And  alle  hir  tayles  he  togider  bond,     (42) 
And  sette  the  foxes  tayles  alle  on  fire. 
For  lie  on  every  tayl  liad  knit  a  brond  ; 
And  they  brende  alle  the  comes  in  that 
lond,  3225 

And  alle  hir  oliveres  and  vynes  eek. 
A  thousand  men  he  slow  eek  with  his  bond. 
And  had  no  wepen  but  an  asses  cheek. 

"WHian  they  were  slayn,  so  thursted  him 
that  he  3229 

Was  wel  ny  lorn,  for  which  he  gan  to  preye 
That  god  wolde  on  his  peyne  han  som 
pitee,  (51) 

And  sende  him  drinke,  or  elles  moste  he 

deye; 
And  of  this  asses  cheke,  that  was  dreye. 
Out  of  a  wang-tooth  sprang  anon  a  welle, 
Of  which  he  drank  y-nogh,  shortly  to  seye. 
Thus  heelp  him  god,  as  Judicum  can  telle. 

By  verray  force,  at  Gazan,  on  a  night,  3237 
Maugree  Philistiens  of  that  citee, 
The  gates  of  the  toun  he  hath  up-plight. 
And  on  his  bak  y-caried  hem  hath  he  3240 


Hye  on  an  hille,  that  men  mighte  hem 
see.  (61) 

O  noble  almighty  Sampson,  leef  and  dere. 
Had  thou  nat  told  to  wommen  thy  secree, 
In  al  this  worlde  ne  hadde  been  thy  pere  ! 

This  Sampson  never  sicer  drank  ne  ^vyn, 
Ne  on  his  heed  cam  rasour  noon  ne  shere. 
By  precept  of  the  messager  divyn,  3247 
For  alle  his  strengthes  in  his  hores  were  ; 
And  full  J'  twenty  winter,  yeer  by  yere. 
He  hadde  of  Israel  the  governaunce.  3250 
But  sone  shal  he  wepen  many  a  tere,  (71) 
For  wommen  shal  him  bringen  to  mes- 
chaunce ! 

Un-to  his  lemman  Dalida  he  toldo 
That  in  -liis  heres  al  his  strength  e  lay. 
And  falsly  to  his  fo-men  she  him  solde. 
And  sleping  in  hir  barme  vip-on  a  day     3256 
She  made  to  clippe  or  shere  liis  heer  awey. 
And  made  his  fo-men  al  his  craft  espyen  ; 
And  whan  that  they  him  fonde  in  this 

•      array. 
They  bounde  him  fastc,  and  puttcn  out  liis 
yen.  3260 

But  er  liis  heer  were  clipi^ed  or  y-sliave,  (81) 
Ther  was  no  bond  with  wliich  men  might 

him  binde  ; 
But  now  is  he  in  prisouii  in  a  cave, 
"Wlier-as  they  made  him  at  the  querne 
grindo.  3264 

O  noble  Sampson,  strongest  of  mankinde, 
O  whj-lom  juge  in  glorie  and  in  richesse, 
Kow  maystow  wepen  with  t  hyn  yen  blinde, 
Sith  thou  fro  wele  art  falle  in  wrecched- 
nesse. 

Th'ende  of  this  caytif  was  as  I  shal  seye  ; 
His  fo-men  made  a  feste  upon  a  day,  3270 
And  made  himashir  foolbifore  hempleye, 
And  this  was  in  a  temple  of  greet  a^raJ^  (92) 
But  atte  last  he  made  a  foul  affray  ; 
For  he  two  pilers  shook,  and  raade  hem 
falle,  3274 

And  dounfil  temple  and  al,and  ther  it  lay, 
And  slow  him-self,  and  eek  his  fo-men  aUe. 

This  is  to  seyn,  the  princes  everichoon, 
And  eek  three  thousand  bodies  wer  ther 
slayn  (98) 


T.  14C95-14174.]  B.    ZU  QUonftee  ^ak. 


533 


With  falling  of  the  grete  temple  of  stoon. 
Of  Sampson  now  wol  I  na-more  seyn.  3280 
Beth  war  by  this  ensample  old  and  playn 
That  no  men  telle  hir  conseil  til  hir  wy  ves 
Of  swich  thmg  as  they  wolde  han  secree 

fayn, 
If  that  it  touche  hir  limmes  or  hir  lyves. 

Herccles. 
Of  Hercnles  the  sovereyn  conquerour  3285 
Singen  his  worltes  la\ide  and  heigh  renoun ; 
For  in  his  tyme  of  strengthe  he  was  the 

flour. 
He  slow,  and  rafte  the  skin  of  the  leoun  ; 
He  of  Centauros  leyde  the  boost  adoun  ; 
He  Ai-pics  slow,  the  cruel briddesfelle ;  3290 
He  golden  apples  rafte  of  the  dragoun ;  ( 1 1 1 ) 
He  drow  out  Cerberus,  the  hound  of  helle  : 

He  slow  the  cruel  tyrant  Busirus, 

And  made  his  hors  to  frete  him,  flesh  and 

boon  ; 
He  slow  tlic  firy  serpent  venimous ;     3295 
Of  Achelois  two  homes,  ho  brak  oon  ; 
And  he  slow  Cacus  in  a  cave  of  stoon  ; 
He  slow  the  goaunt  Antheus  the  stronge  ; 
He  slow  the  grisly  boor,  and  that  anoon. 
And  bar  the  heven  on  his  neltke  longe.  3300 

Was  never  wight,  sith  that  the  world 
bigan,  ('21) 

That  slow  so  many  monstres  as  dide  he. 

Thurgh-out  this  wyde  world  his  name  ran, 

"\\^iat  for  his  strengthe,  and  for  his  heigh 
bountee,  3304 

And  every  reaume  wente  he  for  to  see. 

He  was  so  strong  that  no  man  mighte  him 
lette  ; 

At  bothe  the  worldes  endes,  seith  Trophee, 

In  stede  of  boundes,  he  a  piler  sette. 

A  lemman  hadde  this  noble  champioun. 
That  highte  Dianira,  fresh  as  May  ;  3310 
And,  asthise  clerkes  maken  mencioun,  (131) 
She  hath  him  sent  a  sherte  fresh  and  gay. 
Alias  !  this  sherte,  alias  and  weylaway  ! 
Envenimed  was  so  subtilly  with-alle,  3314 
That,  er  that  he  had  wered  it  half  a  day. 
It  made  his  flesh  al  from  his  bones  fallc. 

But  nathelees  somme  clerkes  hir  excusen 
By  oon  that  highte  Nessus,  that  it  maked  ; 


Be  as  be  may,  I  wol  hir  noght  accusen  ; 
But  on  his  bak  this  sherte  he  wered  al 
naked,  332U 

Til  that  his  flesh  was  for  the  venimblaked. 
And  whan  he  sey  noon  otherremedye,  (142) 
In  bote  coles  he  hath  him-selven  raked. 
For  with  no  venim  deyned  him  to  dye. 

Tlius  starf  this  worthy  mighty  Hercules  ; 

Lo,  who  may  truste  on  fortune  any 
throwe  ?  33^6 

For  him  that  folweth  al  this  world  of  prees, 

Er  he  be  war,  is  ofte  y-leyd  ful  lowe. 

F\\\  wys  is  he  that  can  him-selven  knowe. 

Beth  war,  for  whan  that  fortune  list  to 
glose,  3330 

Than  wayteth  she  hir  man  to  overthrowe 

By  swich  a  wey  as  he  wolde  leest  sup- 
pose. (152) 

Nabugodonosor  (Nebuchadnezzar). 

The  mighty  trone,  the  precious  tresor, 
The  glorious  ceptre  and  royal  magestee 
That  hadde  the  king  Nabugodonosor,  3335 
With  tonge  unnethe  may  discryved  be. 
He  twyes  wan  Jerusalem  the  citee  ; 
The  vessel  of  the  temple  he  with  him  ladde. 
At  Babiloyne  was  his  sovereyn  see,      3339 
In  which  his  glorie  and  his  delyt  he  hadde. 

The  fairest  children  of  the  blood  royal  (161) 
Of  Israel  he  leet  do  gelde  anoon, 
And  maked  ech  of  hem  to  been  his  thral. 
Amonges  othere  Daniel  was  oon,  3344 

That  was  the  wysest  child  of  everichoon  ; 
For  he  the  dremes  of  the  king  expouned, 
Wher-as  in  Chaldey  clerk  ne  was  ther  noon 
That  wiste  to  what  fyn  his  dremes  souned. 


This  proude  Idng  leet  make  a  statue  of 
goldo,  3349 

Sixty  cubytes  long,  and  seven  in  brede. 
To  which  image  bothe  yonge  and  olde  (17O 
Comaunded  he  to  loute,  and  have  in  drede ; 
Or  in  a  fourneys  ful  of  fiambes  rede 
He  shal  be  brent,  that  wolde  noght  obeye. 
But  never  wolde  assente  to  that  dede  3355 
Daniel,  ne  his  yonge  felawes  tweye. 

Tliis  king  of  kinges  proud  was  and  elaat. 
He  wende  that  god,  that  sit  in  magestee. 


534 


B.    ZU  QUonftee  t<iU.         [t.  14175-74249. 


Ne  mighte  him  nat  bireve  of  his  estaat : 
But  sodeynly  he  loste  his  dignitee,      3360 
And  lyk  a  beste  him  semed  for  to  be,     (181) 
And  eet  hay  as  an  oxe,  and  lay  ther-oute  ; 
In  reyn  with  wilde  bestes  walked  he, 
Til  certein  tyme  was  y-come  aboute. 

And  lyk  an  egles  fetheres  wexe  his  heres. 
His  nayles  lyk  a  briddes  clawes  were  ;  3366 
Til  god  relessed  him  a  certein  yeres. 
And  yaf  him  -wit ;  and  than  with  many  a 

tere 
He  thanked  god,  and  ever  his  lyf  in  fere 
Was  he  to  doon  amis,  or  more  trespace,  3370 
And,  tU  that   tyme  he  leyd  was  on  his 

here. 
He  knew  that  god  was  ful  of  might  and 

grace.  (192) 

Balthasar  (Belshazzak). 
His  sone,  which  that  highte  Balthasar, 
That  heeld  the  regne  after  his  fader  day. 
He  by  his  fader  coude  nought  be  war,   3375 
For  proud  ho  was  of  herte  and  of  array ; 
And  eek  an  ydolastre  was  he  ay. 
His  hye  estaat  assured  him  in  pryde. 
But  fortune  caste  him  doun,  and  ther  he 

lay, 
And  sodeynly  his  regne  gan  divyde.    3380 

A  feste  he  made  un-to  his  lordes  alle   (201) 
Up-on  a  tyme,  and  bad  hem  blythe  be. 
And  than  his  officeres  gan  he  calle — ■ 
'  Goth,  bringeth  forth  the  vessels,'  [tho] 
quod  he,  3384 

'Which  that  my  fader,  in  his  prosperitee, 
Out  of  the  temple  of  Jerusalem  birafte, 
And  to  OUT  hye  goddes  thanke  wo 
Of  honour,  that  our  eldres  with  us  lafte.' 

His  wyf,  his  lordes,  and  his  concubynes 
Ay  dronken,  whyl  hir  appetytes  laste,  3390 
Out  of  thise  noble  vessels  sundry  wyues  ; 
And  on  a  wal  this  king  his  yen  caste,    (212) 
And  sey  an  hond  armlees,  that  wroot  ful 

faste. 
For  fere  of  which  he  quook  and  syked 

sore.  3394 

This  hond,  that  Balthasar  so  sore  agaste, 
Wroot  Mane,  techel,  phares,  and  na-more. 


In  al  that  lond  magicien  was  noon 
That    coude    expoune    what    this   lettre 

mente  ; 
But  Daniel  expouned  it  anoon,  3399 

And  seyde,  '  king,  god  to  thy  fader  lente 
Glorie  and  honour,  regne,  tresour,  rente 
And  he  was  proud,  and  no-thing  god  ne 

dradde,  (222) 

And  therfor  god  gret  wreche  up-on  him 

sento, 
And  him  birafte  the  regno  that  he  hadde. 

He  was  out  cast  of  mannes  companye, 
With  asses  was  his  habitacioun,  3406 

And  eet  hey  as  a  beste  in  weet  and  drye. 
Til  that  he  knew,  by  grace  and  by  resoun. 
That  god  of  heven  hath  dominacioun 
Over  every  regne  and  every  creature  ;  3410 
And  thanne  had  god  of  him  compassioun. 
And  him  restored  his  regne  and  his 
figure.  (232) 

Eek  thou,  that  art  his  sone,  art  proud  also. 
And  knowest  alle  thise  thinges  verraily. 
And  art  rebel  to  god,  and  art  his  fo.    3415 
Thou  drank  eek  of  his  vessels  boldely ; 
Thy  wyf  eek  and  thy  wenches  sinfully 
Dronke  of  the  same  vessels  sondry  wynes, 
And  heriest  false  goddes  cursedly  ;      3419 
Therfor  to  thee  y-shapen  ful  g^ret  iiyne  is. 

This  hand  was  sent  from  god,  that  on  the 

walle  (241) 

Wroot  mane,  techel,  phares,  truste  me  ; 
Thy  regne  is  doon,  thou  weyest  noght  at 

alle; 
Div>-ded  is  thy  regne,  and  it  shal  be  3424 
To  Medes  and  to  Perses  yeven,'  quod  he. 
And  thilke  same  night  this  king  was 

slawe. 
And  Darius  occupyeth  his  degree, 
Thogh   he   therto  had  neither  right  ne 

lawe. 

Lordinges,  ensample  heer-by  may  ye  take 
How    that    in    lordshipe    is    no    siker- 

nesse ;  •  3430 

For  whan  fortune  wol  a  man  forsake,  (251) 
She  beret  h  awey  his  regne  and  his  richesse, 
And  eek  his  freendes,  bothe  more  and 

lesse  ; 


T.  14: 


3,..]  B.    €H  Qnonftee  Zak. 


535 


For  what  man  that  hath  freendes  thtirgh 
fortune,  34,U 

Mishap  wol  make  hem  enemys,  I  gesse  : 
This  proverbe  is  fnl  sooth  and  ful  com- 


Cenobia  (Zenobia). 
Cenobia,  of  Palimerie  quene, 
As  writen  Persians  of  hir  noblesse, 
So  worthy  was  in  amies  and  so  kene,  3439 
That  no  wight  passed  hir  in  hardinesse, 
Ne  in  linage,  ne  in  other  gentillesse.  (261) 
Of  kinges  blode  of  Perse  is  she  descended ; 
I  seye  nat  that  she  hadde  most  fairnesss, 
But  of  hir  shape  she   mighte  nat  been 
amended.  3444 

From  hir  childhede  I  finde  that  she  fledde 
Office  of  wommen,  and  to  wode  she  wente ; 
And  many  a  wilde  hertes  blood  she  shedde 
With  arwes  brode  that  she  to  hem  sente. 
She  was  so  swift  that  she  anon  hem  hente, 
And  whan  that  she  was  elder,  she  wolde 
kille  3450 

Leouns,  lepardes,  and beres alto-rente,  (271) 
And  in  hir  armes  welde  hem  at  hir  wille. 

She  dorste  wilde  heestes  dennes  seke, 
And  rennen  in  the  montaignes  al  the 

night. 
And  slepen  under  a  bush,  and  she  coude 

eke  3455 

Wrastlen  by  verray  force  and  verray  might 
With  any  yong  man,  were  he  never  so 

wight ; 
Ther  mighte  no-thing  in  hir  armes  stonde. 
She   kepte    hir    maydenhod  from  every 

wight. 
To  no  man  deigned  hir  for  to  be  bonde.  3460 

But  atte  laste  hir  frendes  han  hir  maried 
To  Odenake,  a  prince  of  that  contree,  (282) 
Al  were  it  so  that  she  hem  longe  taried  ; 
And  ye  shiil  understonde  how  that  he 
Hadde  swiche  fantasyes  as  hadde  she.  3465 
But  nathelees,  whan  they  were  knit  in- 

fere, 
They  lived  in  joye  and  in  felicitee  ; 
For  ech  of  hem  hadde  other  leef  and  dere. 


Save  o  thing,  that  she  never  wolde 

By  no  wey,  that  he  sholde  by  hir  lye    3470 


But  ones,  for  it  was  hir  plej-n  entente  (291) 
To  have  a  child,  the  world  to  multiplye ; 
And  al-so  sone  as  that  she  mighte  espye 
That  she  was  nat  with  childe  with  that 

dede, 
Than  wolde  she  suffre  him  doon  his  fan- 

tasye  3475 

Eft-sone,  and  nat  but  ones,  out  of  drede. 

And  if  she  were  with  childe  at  thilke  oast, 
Na-more  sholde  he  pleyen  thilke  game 
Til  txiUy  fourty  dayes  weren  past  ; 
Than  wolde  she  ones  suffre  him  do  the 

same.  34^<> 

Al  were  this  Odenake  vsdlde  or  tame,  (301) 
He  gat  na-more  of  hir,  for  thus  she  seyde, 
'  It  was  to  wyves  lecherye  and  shame 
In   other   cas,    if  that    men    with    hem 

pleyde.'  3484 

Two  sones  by  this  Odenake  hadde  she. 
The  whiche  she  kepte  in  vertu  and  let- 

trure ; 
But  now  un-to  our  tale  tume  we. 
I  seye,  so  worshipful  a  creature. 
And  wys  therwith,  and  large  with  mesure. 
So  penible    in  the  werre,   and    curteis 

eke,  349" 

Ne  more  labour  mighte  in  werre  endure. 
Was  noon,  thogh  al  this  world  men  sholde 

seke.  (3'-^) 

Hir  riche  array  ne  mighte  nat  be  told 
As  wel  in  vessel  as  in  hir  clothing  ; 
She  was  al  clad  in  perree  and  in  gold,  3495 
And  eek  she  lafte  noght,  for  noon  hunting. 
To  have  of  sondry  tonges  ful  knowing. 
Whan  that  she  leyser  hadde,  and  for  to 

entende 
To  lernen  bokes  was  al  hir  lyking,      3499 
How  she  in  vertu  mighte  hir  lyf  dispende. 

And ,  shortly  of  this  storie  for  to  trete,  (32 1) 
So  doughty  was  hir  housbonde  and  eek 

she. 
That  they  conquered  many  regnes  grete 
In  th'orient,  with  many  a  fair  citee, 
Apertenaunt  tm-to  the  magestee  3505 

Of  Rome,  and  with  strong  hond  helde 

hem  ful  faste ; 
Ne  never  mighte  hir  fo-men  doon  hem  flee, 
A^y  whyl  that  Odenakes  dayes  laste. 


536 


Z^t  (monSee  Zak. 


[t.  14325- 


14702. 


Hir  batailes,  who-so  list  hem  for  to  redo, 
Agayn  Sapor  the  king  and  othere  mo,  3510 
And  how  that  al  this  proces  filindede,  (.^31) 
Why  she  conquered  and  what  title  had 

therto. 
And  after  of  hir  meschief  and  Mr  wo, 
How  that  she  was  l)isegcd  and  y-take. 
Let  him  un-to  my  maister  Petrark  go,  3515 
Tliat  writ  y-nough  of  this,  I  undertake. 

When  Odenake  was  deed,  she  mightily 
The  regnes  heeld,  and  with  hir  propre 

honde 
Agayn  hir  foos  she  faught  so  cruelly, 
That  thcr  nas  king  ne  prince  in  al  that 

londo  (340)  3520 

That  he  nas  glad,  if  that  he  grace  fonde, 
That  She  ne  wolde  up-on  his  lond  werreye  ; 
With  hir  they  made  alliaiinco  by  bonde 
To  been  in  pees,  and  lete  hir  rydo  and 

pleye. 
Tlie  cniperonr  of  Rome,  Claudius,        3525 
Ne  him  bifore,  the  Romayn  Galien, 
Ne  dorste  never  been  so  corageous, 
Ne  noon  Ermyn,  no  noon  Egipcicn, 
Ne  Surrien,  ne  noon  Arabien, 
Within  the  feld  that  dorste  with  hir  fighte 
Lest  that  she  wolde  hem  with  hir  bondes 

slcn  (351)  3531 

Or  with  hir  meynee  putten  hem  to  flighte. 

In  kinges  habit  wente  hir  sones  two, 
As  heires  of  hir  fadres  regnes  alle, 
And  Hermanno,  and  Thymalaii  3535 

Her  names  were,  as  Persiens  hem  calle. 
But  ay  fortune  hath  in  hir  bony  galle  ; 
This  mighty  quene  may  no  whyl  endure. 
Fortune  out  of  hir  regno  made  hir  falle 
Towrecchednesso  and  to  misa venture.  3540 

Aurelian,  whan  that  the  govemaunce  (361) 
Of  Eome  cam  in-to  his  hondes  tweye. 
He  shoop  np-on  this  queen  to  do  ven- 

geaunce, 
And  with  his  legiouns  he  took  his  weye 
Toward  Cenobie,  and,  shortly  for  to  seye. 
He  made  hir  flee,  and   atte    laste    hir 

hente,  3546 

And  fettred   hir,  and   eek   hir  children 

tweye, 
And  wan  the  lond,  and  hoom  to  Borne  he 

wente. 


Amonges  othere  thinges  tliat  he  wan, 
Hir  char,  that  was  with  gold  wrought  and 

perrco,  (370)  3550 

Tliis  grete  Romayn,  this  Anrclian, 
Hath  with  him  lad,  for  that  men  sholdo 

it  see. 
Biforen  his  triumphe  walketh  she 
With  gilte  chcynes  on  hir  nekke  hanging ; 
Corouned  was  she,  as  after  hir  degree,  3555 
And  ful  of  perree  charged  hir  clothing. 

Alias,  fortune  !  she  that  whylom  was 
Dredful  to  kinges  and  to  eniperoures. 
Now  gaureth  al  tlio  peple  on  hir,  alias  ! 
And   she    that    helmed    was    in    starke 

stonres,  (380)  3560 

And  wan   by  force   tounes   stronge  and 

toures, 
Shal  on  hir  heed  now  were  a  vitremyte  ; 
And  she    that    bar    the    ceptre    ful    of 

flourcs 
Shal  here  a  distaf,  hir  cost  for  to  quyte. 
[T.  14380 
(SKiiofollmcs  in  T.  ;  see  p.  537.) 

De  Pe-iro  Reos  Ispannie. 
O    noble,    o    worthy    Petro,    glorie    of 

Spayno,  [T.  14685 

Whom  fortune  heeld  so  by  in  magestee, 
Wei  oughten  men  thy  pitous  deeth  com- 

playne  !  35^7 

Out  of  thy  lond  thy  brother  made  thee  flee ; 
And  after,  at  a  sage,  by  subtiltee, 
Thou  were  bitrayed,  and   lad   un-to   his 

tente,  (39")  ^57<^ 

Wher-as  he  with  his  owene  bond  slow  thee, 
Succeding  in  thy  regne  and  in  thy  rente. 

The  feeld  of  snow,  with  th'egle  of  blak 
ther-inne,  [T.  14693. 

Caught  with  the  Ij-mrod,  coloured  as  the 
glede.  3574 

He  brew  this  cursednes  and  al  this  sinne. 
The  'wikked  nest' was  werker  of  this  nede; 
Noght  Charles  Oliver,  that  ay  took  hede 
Of  trouthe  and  honour,  but  of  Armorike 
Genilon  Oliver,  corrupt  for  mede,  3579 
Brogbte  this  worthy  king  in  swich  a  brike. 

De  Petro  Eeoe  de  Cipro. 
O  worthy  Petro,  king  of  Cypre,  also,  (401) 
That  Alisaundre  wan  by  heigh  maistrye, 


14703- 


-14382.]  B.    tee  QUonRee  Zak, 


537 


Fill  many  a  hethen  wroghtestow  ful  wo, 
Of  which  tliyn  owene  liges  hadde  envye, 
And,  for  no  thing  but  for  thy  chivali-j'e, 
They  in  thy  bedde  ban  slayn  thee  by  the 

morwe.  358° 

Thus  can  fortune  hir  wheel  goveme  and 

gj'e,  [T.  14707- 

And  out  of  joye  bringe  men  to  sorwe. 

De    BaRNABO    DE    LUMBARDIA. 

Of  Melan  grete  Barnabo  Viscounte,  35S9 
God  of  delyt,  and  scourge  of  Lumbardye, 
Why  sholde  I  nat  thyn  infortune  acounte, 
Sith  in  estaat  thou  clombe  were  so  hye  ? 
Thy  brother  sone,  that  was  thy  double 

allye,  (4'3-) 

For  he  thy  nevew  was,  and  sone-in-lawe, 
With-inne  his  prisoun  made  thee  to  dye  ; 
But  why,  ne  how,  noot  I  that  thou  were 

slawe.  3596 

De  HnoELiNO,  Comite  de  Pize. 
Of  the  erl  Hugelyn  of  Pyse  the  langour 
Ther  may  no  tonge  telle  for  pitee  ; 
But  Utel  out  of  Pyse  stant  a  tour, 
In  whichetour  in  prisoun  piit  was  he,  3600 
And  with   him   been   his  litel   children 

three.  (42') 

The  eldeste  scarsly  fyf  yeer  was  of  age. 
Alias,  fortune  !  it  was  greet  crueltee 
Swiche  briddes  for  to  putte  in  swiche  a 

cage !  3604 

Dampned  was  he  to  deye  in  that  prisoun. 
For  Roger,  which  that  bisshopwas  of  Pyse, 
Hadde  on  him  maad  a  fals  suggestioun, 
Thurgh  which  the  peple  gan  upon  him 

ryse,  (4^8) 

And  putten  him  to  prisoun  in  swich  wyse 
As  ye  han  herd,  and  mete  and  drink  he 

hadde  3610 

So  smal,  that  wel  unnethe  it  may  suffyse. 
And   therwith-al   it   was   ful  povre  and 

badde. 

And  on  a  day  bifil  that,  in  that  hour. 
Whan  that  his  mete  wont  was  to  be  broght. 
The  gayler  shette  the  dores  of  the  toiir. 
He  herde  it  wel,— but  he  spak  right  noght. 
And  in  his  herte  anon  ther  fil  a  thoght, 
That  they  for  hunger  wolde  doonhundyen. 


'AUas!'    quod   he,    'alias!    that   I   was 
wroght!'  (439)  3619 

Therwith  the  teres  fillen  from  his  yen. 

His  yonge  sone,  that  three  year  was  of  age, 
Un-to  him  seyde,  '  fader,  why  do  ye  wepe  ? 
Whan  wol  the  gayler  bringen  our  potage. 
Is  ther  no  mors  l  breed  that  ye  do  kepe  ? 
I  am  so  hungry  that  I  may  nat  slepe.  3625 
Now  wolde  god  that  I  mighte  slepen  ever  ! 
Tlian  sholde  nat   hunger  in  my  wombe 

crepe  ; 
Ther  is  no  thing,  save  breed,  that  me 

were  lever.' 

Thus  day  by  day  this  child  bigan  to  crye, 
Til  in  his  fadres  barme  adoun  it  lay,  3630 
And  seyde,  '  far-wel,  fader,  I  moot  dye,' 
And  kiste  his  fader,  and  deyde  the  same 
day.  (452) 

And  whan  the  woful  fader  deed  it  sey. 
For  wo  his  amies  two  he  gan  to  byte, 
And  seyde,  '  alias,  fortune !  and  weylaway ! 
Thy  false  wheel  my  wo  al  may  I  wyte  ! ' 

His  children  wende  that  it  for  hunger  was 
That  he  his  armes  gnow,  and  nat  for  wo, 
And  seyde,  '  fader,  do  nat  so,  aUas  ! 
But  rather  eet  the  flesh  upon  us  two  ;  3640 
Our  flesh  thou  yaf  us,  tak  our  flesh  us  fro 
And  eet  y-nough  : '  right  thus  they  to  him 

seyde,  (462) 

And  after  that,  with-in  a  day  or  two. 
They  leyde  hem  in  his  lappe  adoun,  and 

deyde.  3^44 

Him-self,  despeired,  eek  for  hunger  starf ; 

Thus  ended  is  this  mighty  Erl  of  Pyse  ; 

From  heigh  estaat  fortune  awey  him  carf. 

Of  this  Tragedie  it  oghte  y-nough  suffyse. 

Who-so  wol  here  it  in  a  lenger  wyse,  (469) 

Redeth  the  grete  poete  of  Itaille,         3650 

That  highte  Dant,  for  he  can  al  devyse 

Fro  point  to  point,  nat  o  word  wol  he  faille. 

[T.  1477^. 

{For  T.  14773,  see  p.  542  ;  for  T.  14380, 

see  p.  536). 

Nero. 

[T.  143S.. 
Al-though  that  Nero  were  as  vicious 
As  any  feend  that  lyth  ful  lowe  adoun, 


538 


B.    Zh  QUonftee  Zak. 


[t.  14383-14^62. 


Yet  lie,  as  telleth  us  Swetonius,  3655 

This  wj-de  world  hadde  in  subjeccionn, 
Both  Est  and  West,  -fSouth  and  Septem- 

trioun  ; 
Of  mbios,  saphires,  and  of  perles  whyte 
Were  alle  his  clothes  brouded  up  and  doun; 
For  ho  in  gemmes  greetly  gan  delyte.  3661) 

More  delicat,  more  pompous  of  array,  (481) 
More  proud  was  never  emperour  than  he  ; 
That  ilke  cloth,  that  he  had  wered  o  day, 
After  that  tyme  he  nolde  it  never  see. 
Nettes  of  gold-thred  hadde  he  gret  plentee 
To  fissho  in  Tybre,  whan  him  liste  pleye. 
His  lustes  were  al  lawo  in  his  decree, 
For  fortune  as  his  freend  him  wolde  obeye. 

He  Rome  brende  for  his  delicaoye  ; 
The  senatours  he  slow  up-on  a  day,     3670 
To  here  how  men  wolde  wepe  and  crye ; 
And  slow  his  brother,  and  by  his  sister 
lay.  (492) 

His  moder  made  he  in  pitous  array ; 
For  he  hir  wombe  slitte,  to  biholde 
"NMier  ho  concej-v-ed  was  ;  so  weilawey  ! 
That  he  so  litel  of  his  moder  tolde  !    3676 

No  tere  out  of  his  y6n  for  that  sighte 
Ne  cam,  but  seyde,  '  a  fair  womman  was 

she.' 
Gret  wonder  is,  how  that  he  coude  or 

mighte  (499) 

Be  domesman  of  hir  dede  beautee.      3680 
The  wyn  to  bringen  him  comaunded  he. 
And  drank  anon  ;  non  other  wo  he  made. 
A^lian  might  is  joyned  un-to  crueltee, 
Alias  !  to  depe  wol  the  venim  wade  !  3684 

In  yonthe  a  maister  hadde  this  emperour. 
To  teche  him  letterure  and  curteisye, 
For  of  moralitee  he  was  the  flour, 
As  in  his  tyme,  but-if  bokes  lye  ; 
And   whj-1   this   maister    hadde   of  him 
maistrye,  3689 

He  maked  him  so  conning  and  so  souple 
That  longe  tyme  it  was  er  tirannye  (51 1) 
Or  any  vyce  dorste  on  him  uncouple. 

This  Seneca,  of  which  that  I  devyse, 
By-caiise  Xero  hadde  of  him  swich  drede, 
For  he  fro  ^yces  wolde  him  ay  chastyse 
Discreetly  as  by  worde  and  nat  by  dede  ; — 


Sii-,'  wolde  he  seyn,  '  an  emperour  moot 


nede 


3697 


Be  vertuous,  and  hate  tirannye  — 

For  which  he  in  a  bath  made  him  to  blede 

On  botho  his  armes,  til  he  moste  dye. 

Tliis  Nero  hadde  eek  of  acustumaunce 
In  youthe  agejni  his  maister  for  to  ryse. 
Which  afterward  him  thonghte  a  greet 
gi-evaunce ;  (523) 

Therfor  he  made  him  deyen  in  this  wyse. 
But  natheles  this  Seneca  the  wyse      3705 
Chces  in  a  bath  to  deye  in  this  manere 
Rather  than  ban  another  tormentyse  ; 
And  thus  hath  Nero  slayn  his  maister  dere. 

Now  fil  it  so  that  fortune  list  no  lenger 
The  hye  pryde  of  Nero  to  cheryce  ;      3710 
For  though  that  ho  were  strong,  yet  was 

she  stronger ;  (531) 

She  thoughte  thus,  '  by  god,  I  am  to  nyco 
To  sette  a  man  that  is  fulfild  of  vyce 
In  heigh  degree,  and  emjierour  him  calle. 
By  god,  out  of  his  sete  I  wol  him  tryce ; 
•When  he  leest  wencth,  sonest  slial  ho 

falle.'  3716 

The  peplo  roos  np-on  him  on  a  night 
For  his  defaute,  and  whan  he  it  espyed, 
Out  of  his  dores  anon  he  luith  him  dight 
Alone,  and,  ther  he  wende  han  ben  allyed, 
He  knokked  faste,  and  ay,  the  more  he 

cryed,  (541)  3721 

The  faster  shette  they  the  dores  aUe ; 
Tho  wiste  he  wel  he  hadde  him-self  mis- 

gyed. 
And  wonte  his  wey,  no  lenger  dorste  he 

calle. 

Tlio  peple  crs'de  and  rombled  up  and  doun, 
That  with  his  eres  herde  he  how  they 

seyde,  3726 

'  Wher  is  this  false  tyraunt,  this  Neroun  ?' 
For  fere  almost  out  of  his  wit  he  breyde. 
And  to  his  goddes  pitously  he  preyde 
For  socour,  but  it  mighte  nat  bityde.  3730 
For  drede  of  this,  him  thoughte  that  he 

deyde,  (551) 

And  ran  in-to  a  gardin,  him  to  hyde. 

And  in  this  gardin  fond  he  cherles  tweye 
That  seten  by  a  fyr  ful  greet  and  reed. 


1^463-14542.] 


B.    ZU  QUottftee  Zak. 


539 


And  to  thise  cherles  two  he  gan  to  preye 
To  sleen  him,  and  to  girden  of  his  heed, 
That  to  his  body,  whan  tliat  he  were  deed, 
"Were  no  despyt  y-doon,  for  his  defame. 
Him-self  he  slow,  he  coude  no  better  reed, 
Of  which  fortune  lough,  and  hadde  a 
game.  374" 

De  Oloferno  (Holoferses). 

Was  never  oapitayn  under  a  king       (561) 
That  regnes  mo  putte  in  subjeccioun, 
Ne  strenger  was  in  feeld  of  alle  thing. 
As  in  his  tyme,  ne  gretter  of  renoun,  3744 
'Ne  more  pompous  in  heigh  presumpcioun 
Than  Oloferne,  which  fortune  ay  kiste 
So  lilterously,  and  ladde  him  up  and  doun 
Til  that  his  heed  was  of,  er  that  he  wiste. 

Xat  only  that  this  world  hadde  him  in 

awe 
For  lesinge  of  richesse  or  libertee,       3750 
But  he  made  every  man  reneye  his  lawe. 
'  Xabugodonosor  was  god,'  seyde  he,   (572) 
'  Noon  other  god  sholde  adoured  be.' 
Ageyns  his  heste  no  wight  dar  trespace 
Save  in  Bethulia,  a  strong  citee,  3755 

■^Tier  Eliachim  a  prest  was  of  that  place. 

But  tak  kepe  of  the  deeth  of  Olofern  ; 
Amidde  his  host  he  dronke  lay  a  night, 
With-inne  his  tente,  large  as  is  a  born, 
And  yit,  for  al  his  pompe  and  al   his 

might,  3760 

Jl^dith,  a  womman,  as  he  lay  upright, 
Sleping,  his  heed  of  smoot,  and  from  his 

tente  (582) 

Ful  prively  she  stal  from  every  wight, 
Aiid  with  his  heed  unto  hir  toun  she 

wente. 

De  Rege  AxTHiocno  illustri. 

^Miat  nedcth  it  of  King  Anthiochus  3765 
To  telle  his  hye  royal  magestee, 
His  hye  pryde,  liis  werkes  venimous  ? 
For  swich  another  was  ther  noon  as  he. 
Rede  which  that  he  was  in  Machabee, 
And  rede  the  proude  wordes  that  he  seyde. 
And  why  he  fil  fro  heigh  prosperitee,   (591) 
And  in  an  bil  how  wrechedly  he  deyde. 


Fortune  him  hadde  enhaiinced  so  in  pryde 
That  verraily  he  wende  he  mighte  attayne 
Unto  the  sterres,  upon  every  syde,  3775 
And  in  balance  we3-en  ech  montaj-ne. 
And  alle  the  flodes  of  the  see  restrayne. 
And  goddes  peple  hadde  he  most  in  hate, 
Hem  wolde  he  sleen  in  torment  and  in 

paj-ne, 
Wening  that  god  ne  mighte  his   pryde 

aljato.  (600)  37f^u 

And  for  that  Nichanor  and  Thimothee 
Of  Jewes  weren  venquisshed  miglitily, 
Unto  the  Jewes  swich  an  hate  hadde  he 
That  he  bad  greitho  his  char  ful  hastily. 
And  swoor,  and  seyde,  ful  despitouslj'. 
Unto  Jerusalem  he  wolde  eft-sone,      37S6 
To  wreken  his  ire  on  it  ful  cruelly  ; 
But  of  his  piirpos  he  was  let  ful  sone. 

God  for  his  manaoe  him  so  sore  smoot 
With  invisible  wounde,  ay  incurable,  3790 
That  in  his  guttes  carf  it  so  and  boot  (61 1) 
That  his  peynes  weren  importable. 
And  certeinly,  the  wreche  was  resonable, 
For  many  a  mannes  guttes  dide  he  pejaie  ; 
But  from  his  pvirpos  cursed  and  damp- 

nable  3795 

For  al  his  smert  he  wolde  him  nat  re- 

streyne  ; 

Biit  bad  anon  apparaillen  his  host, 
And  sodeynly,  er  he  of  it  was  war, 
God  daunted  al  his  pryde  and  al  his  host. 
For  he  so  sore  fil  out  of  his  char,         3800 
That  it  his  limes  and  his  skin  to-tar,  (621) 
So  that  he  neither  mighte  go  ne  ryde, 
Tint  in  a  chayer  men  aboute  him  bar, 
Al  for-brused,  bothe  bak  and  syde.      38^4 

The  wreche  of  god  him  smoot  so  cruelly 
That  thurgh  his  body  wikked  wormes 

crepte ; 
And  ther-with-al  he  stank  so  horribly. 
That  noon  of  al  his   meynee   that  him 

kepte, 
Wliether  so  he  wook  or  elles  slept  e,    3S09 
Ne  mighte  noght  for  stink  of  him  endure. 
In  this  mesohief  he  wayled  and  eek  wepte, 
And  knew  god  lord  of  every  creature. 

To  al  his  host  and  to  him-self  also       (633) 
Ful  wlatsom  was  the  stink  of  his  careyne  ; 


540 


B.    t^t  (ttlonftea  Zak.  [t.  14543-14618. 


No  man  ne  mighte  him  here  to  »e  fro. 
And    in    this    stink    and    this    horrible 

peyne  3816 

He  starf  ful  wrecchedly  in  a  monteyne. 
Thus  hath  this robbour  and  thishomicyde, 
That  many  a   man  made  to   wepe   and 

pleyne,  3819 

Swich  guerdon  as  bilongeth  unto  pryde. 

De  Alexaxdro. 

The  storie  of  Alisaundre  is  so  comune, 
Tliat  every  wight  that  hath  discrecioun 
Hath  herd  somwhat  or  al  of  his  fortune. 
This  wyde  world,  as  in  conclusioun,  (644) 
Ho   wan   by  strengthe,    or   for   his    hye 

renoun  3825 

Tliey  weren  glad  for  pees  un-to  him  sonde. 
The  pryde  of  man  and  beste  he  leyde 

adoun, 
Wher-so  he  cam,  un-to  the  worldes  ende. 

Comparisonn  might  never  yit  be  maked 
Bitwixe  him  and  another  conquerour  ; 
For  al  this  world  for  drede  of  him  hath 

quaked,  (651)  3831 

Ho  was  of  knighthode  andof  fredom  flour ; 
Fortune  him  made  the  heir  of  hir  honour  ; 
Save  wyn  and  wommen,  no-thing  mighte 

aswage 
His  hye  entente  in  armes  and  labour ; 
So  was  he  ful  of  leonyn  corage.  3836 

What  preys  were  it  to  him,  though  I  yow 

tolde 
Of  Darius,  and  an  hundred  thousand  mo. 
Of  kinges,  princes,  eries,  dukes  bolde, 
Wliiehe  he  conquered,  and  broghte  hem 

in-to  wo  ?  3840 

I  seye,  as  fer  as  man  may  ryde  or  go,  (661) 
The  world  was  his,  what  sholde  I  more 

devj^se  ? 
For  though  I  write  or  tolde  you  evermo 
Of  his  knighthode,  it  mighte  nat  sviffyse. 

Twelf  yeer  he  regned,  as  seith  Machabee  ; 
Philippes  sone  of  Macedoyne  he  was,  3846 
That  first  was  king  in  Grece  the  contree. 
O  worthy  gentil  Alisaundre,  alias  ! 
That  ever  slioWe  fallen  swich  a  cas  !  3849 
Empoisoned  of  thyn  owene  folk  thou  were ; 


Thy  s;/s  fortune  hath  turned  into  as^6ji) 
And  yit  for  thee  ne  weep  she  never  a  tere  ! 

Who  shal  me  yeven  teres  to  compleyne 
Thedeethof  gentillesse  and  of  fraunchyse, 
That  al  the  world  welded  in  his  demeyne, 
And    yit   him    thoughte   it    mighte   nat 
suffyse  ?  3856 

So  ful  was  his  corage  of  heigh  empryse. 
Alias  !  who  shal  me  helpe  to  endjfte 
False  fortune,  and  poison  to  despj'se. 
The  whiche  two  of  al  this  wo  I  wyte  ?  3860 


De  Julio  Cesare. 

Bj-  wisdom,  manhede,  and  by  greet  labour 
Fro  humble  bed  to  royal  magestce,     (6H2) 
Up  roos  he,  .Julius  the  conquerour. 
That  wan  al  th'occident  by  lond  and  see, 
By  strengthe  of  bond,  or  elles  by  tretee. 
And  un-to  Rome  made  hem  tributarie  ; 
And  sitthe  of  Rome  the  emperour  was  he, 
Til  that  fortune  wex  his  adversarie. 

0  mighty  Cesar,  that  in  Tliessalye 
Ageyu  Pompeius,  fader  thyn  in  lawe,  3870 
That  of  th'orient  hadde  al  the  chivalrye 
As  for  as  that  the  day  biginneth  dawc. 
Thou  thurgh  thy  knighthode  hast  hem 

take  and  slawe,  (^>9.?) 

Save  fewe  folk  that  with  Pompeius  fledde, 
Thurgh  which  thou  puttest  al  th'orient 

in  awe.  3875 

Tlianke  fortune,  that  so  wel  thee  spedde  .' 

But  now  a  litel  whyl  I  wol  biwaillo 

This  Pompeius,  this  noble  governour 

Of  Rome,  which  that  fleigh  at  this  bataille ; 

1  seye,  oon  of  his  men,  a  fals  traitonr,  (7(X)) 
His  heed  of  smoot,  to  winnen  him  favour 
Of  Julius,  and  him  the  heed  he  broghte. 
Alias,  Pompey,  of  th'orient  conquerour, 
Tliat    fortune    unto    swich   a   fyn    thee 

broghte ! 

To  Rome  ageyn  repaireth  Julius  3.885 

With  his  triumphe,  laureat  ful  hye, 
But  on  a  tyme  Brutus  Cassius, 
That  ever  hadde  of  his  hye  estaat  envye, 
Ful  prively  hatli  maad  consi:)iracye 
Ageins  this  Julius,  in  subtil  W5'se.       38.^0 


T.  1 46 1 9-14684.]  B.    ZU  QUonftee  ^afe. 


541 


And  cast  the  place,  in  whiche  he  sliolde 
dye  (711) 

With  boydekins,  as  I  shal  yow  devyse. 

This  Julivis  to  the  Capitolie  wente 
L'lion  a  day,  as  he  was  wont  to  goon, 
And  in  the  Capitolie  anon  him  hente  3895 
This  false  Brntus,  and  his  othere  foon, 
And  stikede  him  with  boydekins  anoon 
VVitli  many  a  wounde,  and  thus  they  lete 

him  lye  ; 
But  never  gronte  he  at  no  strook  hut  oon, 
Or  elles  at  two,  hut-if  his  storie  lye.    39(X) 

So  manly  was  this  Julius  at  herte       (721) 
And  so  wel  lovede  estaatly  honestee. 
That,  though   his   deedly  woundes  sore 

smerte. 
His  mantel  over  his  hippes  casteth  he, 
For  no  man  sholde  seen  his  privitee.  3905 
And,  as  he  lay  on  deying  in  a  traunce. 
And  wiste  verraily  that  deed  was  he. 
Of  honestee  yit  hadde  he  remembraunce. 

Lucan,  to  thee  this  storie  I  recomende, 
And  to  Sweton,  and  to  -f- Valerie  also,  3910 
That   of   this    storie    wryten    word    and 

ende,  (731) 

How  that  to  thise  grete  conqueroures  two 
Fortune  was  first  freend,  and  sithen  fo. 
No  man  ne  truste  up-on  hir  favour  longe. 
But  have  hir  in  awayt  for  ever-mo.     3915 
Witnesse    on    alle     thise     conqueroures 

stronge. 

Crksus. 
This  riche  Cresiis,  whylom  king  of  Lyde, 
Of  whiche  Cresus  Cyrus  sore  him  dradde, 
Yit  was  he  caught  amiddes  al  his  pryde, 
And  to  be  brent  men  to  the  fyr  him  ladde. 
But  swich  a  reyn  doun  fro  the  welkne 
shadde  (741)  3921 

That  slow  the  fyr,  and  made  him  to  escape ; 
But  to  be  war  no  grace  yet  he  hadde. 
Til  fortune  on  the  galwes  made  him  gape. 

Wlxan  he  escaped  was,  he  can  nat  stente 
For  to  biginne  a  newe  werre  agayn.     3926 


He  wende  wel,  for  that  fortune  him  sente 
Swich  hap,  that  he  escaped  thurgh  the 
rayn,  (748) 

That  of  his  foos  he  miglite  nat  be  slaj'n  ; 
And  eek  a  sweven  up-on  a  night  he  mette. 
Of  which  he  was  so  proud  and  eek  so  fayn. 
That  in  vengeaunce  he  al  his  herte  sette. 

Up-on  a  tree  he  was,  as  that  him  thoughte, 
Ther  .Juppiter  him  wesh,  bothe  bak  and 

syde,  (754) 

And   Phebus   eek    a    fair    towaille  him 

broughte  3935 

To  drye  him  with,  and  ther-for  wex  his 

pryde  ; 
And  to  his  doghter,  that  stood  him  bisj'de, 
Wliich   that  he  knew  in  heigh  science 

habounde. 
He  bad  hir  telle  him  what  it  signifyde. 
And  she  his  dreem  bigan  right  thus  ex- 

pounde.  3940 

'  The  tree,'  quod  she,   '  the  galwes  is  to 

mene,  (761) 

And  Juppiter  bitokneth  snow  and  reyn. 
And  Phebus,  with  his  towaille  so  clene, 
Tho  ben  the  sonne  stremes  for  to  seyn  , 
Thou  shalt  anhanged  be,  fader,  certeyn  ; 
Eeyn   shal  thee  wasshe,  and  Sonne  shal 

thee  drye ; '  3946 

Thus  warned  she  him  ful  plat  and  fnl 

pleyn. 
His    doughter,    which    that    called    was 

Phanye. 

Anhanged  was  Cresus,  the  proude  king. 
His  royal  trone  mighte  him  nat  availle. — ■ 
Tragedie  is  noon  other  maner  thing,  (771) 
Ne  can  in  singing  crye  ne  biwaille,     3952 
But  for  that  fortune  alwey  wol  assaille 
With  unwar  strook  the  regnes  that  ben 

proude ; 
For  when  men  trvisteth  hir,  than  wol  she 

faille,  395,1? 

And  covere  hir  brighte  face  with  a  cloude. 
[See  1.  3565  on  p.  536. 
Explicit  Tragedia. 


Here  stinteth  the  Knight  the  Monk  of  his  Tale. 


542 


B.    (ptofogue  of  t^t  (Uonne  (pvtiet    [t.  14773-14825. 


THE    PROLOGUE   OF   THE    NONNE 
PRESTES   TALE. 

The  prologue  of  the  Nonne  Preestes  Tale. 


'Ho!'    qnod   the  knight,    'good  sir,  na- 
more  of  this,  3957 

That  ye  han  seyd  is  riglit  y-nongh,  j--wis, 
And  mocliol  more  ;  for  litel  hovincsse 
Is  right  j--n<mgli  to  mochel  folk,  I  gesse. 
I  seyo  for  me,  it  is  a  greet  diseso  3<;6i 

Wher-as  men  han  ben   in  greet  welthe 

and  eso, 
To  hercn  of  liir  sodesTi  fal,  alias  ! 
And    the    contrarie    is  joie    and    greet 
solas,  3964 

As  whan  a  man  hath  been  in  povre  estaat, 
And  clymbeth  vip,  and  wexeth  fortunat, 
And  thor  abydcth  in  jirosperitee,  (11) 

Swich  thing  is  gladsom,  as  it  thinkoth  me. 
And  of  s\s-ich  tiling  were  goodly  for  to 

teUc' 
'  Ye,'  qxiod  our  lioste,  '  by  scint   Ponies 
belle,  3970 

Ye   seyo    right    sooth ;    this    monk,   he 

clappeth  loude, 
Ho  spak  how   "fortune  covered  with  a 

cloude  " 
I  noot  never  what,  and  als  of  a  "  Tragedie" 
Right   now  ye    herde,    and    parde !    no 

remcdie 
It  is  for  to  biwaille,  ne  compleyne      3975 
That  that  is  doon,  and  als  it  is  a  peyne, 
As  ye  han  seyd,  to  here  of  hevinesse.   (21) 
Sir  monk,  na-more  of  this,  so  god  yow 

blessB : 
Your  tale  anoyeth  al  this  companye  ; 
Swich  talking  is  nat  worth  a  boterflye  ; 
For  ther-in  is  ther  no  desport  ne  game. 
"Wherfor,  sir  Monk,  or  dan  Piers  by  your 
name,  3982 


I  preyc  yow  hertely,  telle  us  somwhat  elles. 
For  sikerly,  nero  clinking  of  your  belles. 
That  on  yotir  brydel  hango  on  every  syde. 
By  heven  king,  that  for  us  alio  dyde,  (30) 
I  sholde  or  this  han  fallen  doun  for  sleiie, 
Although  the  slough  had  never  been  so 

depo ;  3988 

Than  had  your  tale  al  be  told  in  vayn. 
For  certeinly,  as  that  t'nise  clerkes  seyn, 
"  Wher-as  a  man  may  have  noon  audience, 
Noght  helpeth  it  to  tellen  his  sentence." 
And  wel  I  woot  the  substance  is  in  me, 
If  any  thing  shal  wel  reported  be.  3994 
Sir,  sey  somwhat  of  hunting,  I  yow  preye.' 
'  Nay,'  quod  this  monk,  '  I  have  no  lust 

to  pleye  ;  (40) 

Now  let  another  telle,  as  I  have  told.' 
Than  spak  our  host,  with  rude  speche 

and  bold. 
And  seyde  un-to  the  Nonnes  Preest  anon, 
'  Com  neer,  thou  preest,  com  hider,  thou 

sir  John,  4000 

Tel  us  swich  thing  as  may  our  berths 

glade, 
Be  blythe,  though  thou  ryde  up-on  a  jade. 
Wliat  though  thya  hors  bo  bothe  foule 

and  lene,  (47) 

If  ho  wol  servo  thee,  rekke  nat  a  bene  : 
Look  that  thyn  herte  be  mery  evormo." 
'  Yis,  sir,'  quod  he,  '  jds,  host,  so  mote  I  go, 
But  I  bo  mery-,  y-wis,  I  wol  be  blamed  : ' — 
And  right  anon  his  tale  he  hath  attamed. 
And  thus  he  seyde  iin-to  us  everichon, 
This  swete  preest,  this   goodly  man,  sir 

John.  4010 

Explicit. 


T.  14827-14S92.]     B.    ZU  Qtonne  ^vuetie  Zak. 


543 


THE   NONNE    PREESTES   TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Nonne  Preestes  Tale  of  the  Cok  and  Hen, 
Chauntecleer  and  Pertelote. 


A  povRE  widwe,  somdel  stape  in  age, 
Was  whylom  dwelling  in  a  narwe  cotage, 
Bisyde  <i  grove,  stonding  in  a  dale. 
This  widwe,  of  which  I  telle  yow  my  tale, 
Sin  tliDke  day  that  she  was  last  a  wj'f. 
In  pacience  ladde  a  fiU  simple  Ij'f,      4U16 
For  litel  was  hir  catel  and  hir  rente  ; 
By  housbondrye,  of  such  as  God  hir  sente, 
She  fond  hir-self,  and  eek  hir  doghtren 

two. 
Three  large  sowes  hadde  she,  and  namo, 
Three  kyn,  and  eek  a  sheep  that  highte 

Malle,  (11)  4021 

Ful  sooty  was  hir  hour,  and  eek  hir  halle. 
In  which  she  eet  ful   many  a  sclendre 

meel. 
Of  poynaunt  sauce  hir  neded  never  a  deel. 
No  deyntee  morsel    passed    thurgh  hir 

throte ;  4025 

Hir  dyete  was  accorda,nt  to  hir  cote. 
Repleccioun  ne  made  hir  never  syk ; 
Attempree  dyete  was  al  hir  phisyk, 
And  exereyse,  and  hertes  suffisaunce.  4029 
The  goute  lette  hir  no-thing  for  to  daunce, 
N'apoplexye  shente  nat  hir  heed  ;  (21) 

No  -wyn  ne  drank  she,  neither  whyt  ne 

reed  ; 
Hir  bord  was  served  most  with  whyt  and 

blak, 
Milk  and  broun  breed,  in  which  she  fond 

no  lak, 
Seynd  bacoun,  and  somtyme  an  ey   or 

tweye,  4035 

For  she  was  as  it  were  a  maner  deye. 

A  yerd  she  hadde,  enclosed  al  aboute 
With  stikkes,  and  a  drye  dich  with-oute. 
In  which  she  hadde  a  cok,  hight  Chaun- 


tecleer, 


4039 


In  al  the  land  of  crowing  nas  his  peer.  (30) 
His  vois  was  merier  than  the  mery  orgon 
On  messe-dayes  that  in  the  chirche  gon  ; 


Wei  sikerer  was  his  crowing  in  his  logge. 
Than  is  a  clokke,  or  an  abbey  orlogge. 
By  nature  knew  he  ech  ascencioun     4045 
Of  equinoxial  in  thilke  touu  ; 
For  whan  degrees  flftene  were  ascended, 
Thanne  crew  he,  that  it  mighte  nat  ben 

amended.  (38) 

His  comb  was  redder  than  the  fyn  coral, 
And  batailed,  as  it  were  a  castel-wal.  4050 
His  bile  was  blak,  and  as  the  j  eet  it  slioon  ; 
Lyk  asur  were  his  legges,  and  his  toon  ; 
His  nayles  whj-tter  than  the  lilie  flour, 
And  lyk  the  burned  gold  was  his  colour. 
This  gentil  cok  hadde  in  his  governaunce 
Sevene  hennes,  for  to  doon  alhis  plesaunce, 
Whiche  were  his  sustres  and  his  para- 
mours, 41157 
And  wonder  lyk  to  him,  as  of  colours. 
Of  whichethe  faireste  hewed  on  liirthrote 
Was  cleped  faire  damoysele  Pertelote. 
Curteys  she  was,  discreet,  and  debonaire, 
And   compaignable,   and  bar  hir-self  so 

faire,  (52) 

Sin  thilke  day  that  she  was  seven  night 

old. 
That  trewely  she  hath  the  herto  in  hold 
Of  Chauntecleer  loken  in  every  lith  ;  4065 
He  loved  hir  so,  that  wel  was  him  ther- 

with. 
But  such  a  joye  was  it  to  here  hem  singe. 
Whan   that  the    brighte  Sonne   gan   to 

springe,  4068 

In  swete  accord,  'mylief  isfareninlonde.' 
For  thilke  tyme,  as  I  have  understonde, 
Bestes  and  briddes  coude  spoke  and  singe. 
And  so  bifel,  that  in  a  daweninge,  {62) 
As  Chauntecleer  among  his  wj^x>s  alle 
Sat  on  his  perche,  that  was  in  the  halle, 
And  next  him  sat  this  faire  Pertelote,  4075 
This    Chaujitecleer    gan    gronen    in    liis 

throte, 


i44 


B.    ZU  Qtonne  ^vueUti  Zak,    [t.  14893- 


r497r. 


As  man  that  in  his  dreem  is  drecched  sore. 
And  whan  that  Pertelote  thns  herde  him 

rore,  4078 

She  was  agast,  and  seyde,  '  O  hertc  dere, 
Wliat  ej-letl»  yow,  to  grone  in  this  manere? 
Ye  been  a  verray  sleper,  fy  for  shame  !'("') 
And     he     answerde     and    seyde     thns, 

'  madame, 
I  pray  yow,  that  ye  take  it  nat  a-grief : 
By  god,  me  mctte  I  was  in  swich  meschief 
Right  now,  that  yet  myn  hcrte  is  sore 

afright.  4085 

Xow  god,'  qnod  he,   '  my  swevene  recche 

aright, 
And  keep  my  body  out  of  foul  prisoun  ! 
Mo  motte,  how  that  I  romed  up  and  doun 
Withinne    ovx    yerde,    wher-as   I   saugh 

a  beste. 
Was  lyk  an  hound,  and  wolde  han  maad 

areste  4090 

ITjK>n  my  body,  and  wohle  han  had  me 

deed.  (81) 

His  colour  was  bitwixe  yelwe  and  reed  ; 
And  tipped  was  his  tail,  and  bothe  his  eres. 
With  blak,  unlyk  the  remenant  of  his 

heres  ; 
His  snowte    smal,   with   glowinge    eyen 

tweye.  4095 

Yet  of  his  look  for  fere  almost  I  deye  ; 
This  caused  me  my  groning,  doutelees.' 
'  Avoy ! '  quod  she,  '  fy  on  yow,  herte- 

lees! 
Alias  !'  qnod  she,  'for,  by  that  god  above. 
Now  han  ye  lost  myn  herte  and  al  my 

love  ;  4 ICO 

I  can  nat  love  a  coward,  by  my  feith.  (91) 
For  certes,  what  so  any  womman  seith, 
We  alle  desyren,  if  it  mighte  be. 
To  han  housbondes  hardy,  wyse,  and  free, 
And  secree,  and  no  nigard,  ne  no  fool,  4105 
Xe  him  that  is  agast  of  every  tool, 
Xe  noon  avauntour,  by  that  god  above  ! 
How  dorste  ye  seyn  for  shame  unto  your 

love. 
That  any  thing  mighte  make  yow  aferd  ? 
Have  ye  no  mannes  herte,  and  han  a  herd  ? 
Alias !  and  conne  ye  been  agast  of  swe- 

venis?  (101)    41 11 

No-thing,  god  wot,  hut  vanitee,  in  sweven 

is. 
Swevenes  engendren  of  replecciouns. 


And  ofte  of  fume,  and  of  complecciouns. 
Whan  humours  been  to  habundant  in  a 

wight.  4115 

Certes   this   dreem,    which   ye   han    met 

to-night, 
Cometh  of  the  grete  superfluitoo 
Of  yoiire  rede  colera,  pardee. 
Which  causeth   folk  to  dreden  in  here 

dremes  (109) 

Of  arwes,  and  of  fjrr  with  rede  lemes,  4120 
Of  grete  bestes,  that  they  wol  hem  byte. 
Of  contek,  and  of  whelpes  grete  and  Ij-te  ; 
Eight  as  the  humour  of  malencolj-e 
Causeth  ful  many  a  man,  in  sleep,  to  crye, 
For  fere  of  blake  beres,  or  boles  blake,  4125 
Or  elles,  blake  develes  wole  hem  take. 
Of  othere  humours  coudo  I  telle  also. 
That  werken  many  a  man  in  sleep  ful  wo; 
But  I  wol  passe  as  lightly  as  I  can. 

Lo   Catoun,    which    that   was    so   wys 

a  man,  4130 

Seyde   he   nat    thus,    ne   do   no    fors   of 

dremes?  (121) 

Now,  sire,'  quod  she,   '  whan  we  flee  fro 

the  hemes, 
For  Ooddes  love,  as  tak  som  laxatyf ; 
Up  peril  of  my  soule,  and  of  my  lyf,    4134 
I  counseille  yow  the  beste,  I  wol  nat  lye. 
That  bothe  of  colere  and  of  malencolye 
Ye  purge  yow  ;  and  for  ye  shul  nat  tarie. 
Though  in  this  toun  is  noon  ajjotecarie, 
I  shal  my  self  to  herbes  techen  yow. 
That  shul  ben  for  your  hele,  and  for  your 

prow ;  4140 

And  in  our  yerd  tho  herbes  shal  I  finde, 
The    whiche   han   of  hir  propretee,   by 

kinde,  (132) 

To  purgen  yow  binethe,  and  eek  above. 
Forget  not  this,  for  goddes  owene  love ! 
Ye  been  ful  colerik  of  compleccioun.  4145 
Ware  the  sonne  in  his  ascencioun 
Ne  fynde   yow  nat   repleet   of  humours 

hote ; 
And  if  it  do,  I  dar  wel  leye  a  grote. 
That  ye  shul  have  a  fevere  terciane. 
Or  an  agu,  that  may  be  youre  bane.    4i,so 
A  day  or  two  j'e  shul  have  digestyv'es  (141) 
Of  wormes,  er  ye  take  your  laxatyves. 
Of  lauriol,  centaure,  and  fumetere, 
Or  elles  of  ellebor,  that  groweth  there. 
Of  catapuce,  or  of  gaytres  beryis,         4155 


T.  14972-15056.]    B.    ZU  (Tlonne  (pvueUe  Zak, 


545 


Of  erbe  yve,  growing  in  our  yerd,  that 

mery  is ; 
Pekbe  hem  tip  right  as  they  growe,  and 

ete  hem  in. 
Be  mery,  housbond,  for  your  fader  kin  ! 
Dredeth  no  dreem  ;    I  can  say  yow  na- 

more.'  (149) 

'  Madame,'  quod  he,   '  graunt  mercy  of 

your  lore.  4160 

But  nathelees,  as  touching  daun  Catoun, 
That  hath  of  wisdom  sucli  a  greet  renoun, 
Though  that  he  bad  no  dremes  for  to 

dredo, 
By  god,  men  may  in'olde  botes  rede 
Of  many  a  man,  more  of  auctoritee     4165 
Than  ever  Catotin  was,  so  mote  I  thee. 
That  al  the  revers  seyn  of  his  sentence. 
And  ban  wel  founden  by  experience. 
That  dremes  ben  significaciouns, 
As  wel  of  joye  as  tribulaciouns  4170 

Tliat  folk  enduren  in  this  lyf  present.  (161) 
Ther  nedeth  make  of  this  noon  argument ; 
The  verray  preve  sheweth  it  in  dede. 
Oon  of  the  gretteste  auctours  that  men 

rede 
Seith    thus,   that    whylom    two  felawes 

wente  4175 

On  pilgrimage,  in  a  ful  good  entente  ; 
And  happed  so,  thay  come  into  a  toun, 
Wher-as  ther  was  swich  congregacioun 
Of  peple,  and  eek  so  streit  of  herbergage 
That  they  ne  founde  as  muche  as  o  cotage 
In  which  they  bothe  mighte  y-logged  be. 
AVherfor  thay  mosten,  of  necessitee,   (172) 
As  for  that  night,  departen  compaignye  ; 
And  ech  of  hem  goth  to  his  hostelrye. 
And  took  his  logging  as  it  wolde  falle.  4185 
That  oon  of  hem  was  logged  in  a  stalle, 
Fer  in  a  yerd,  with  oxen  of  the  plough  ; 
That  other  man  was  logged  wel  y-nough. 
As  was  his  aventure,  or  his  fortune,    4if?9 
That  us  governeth  alle  as  in  commune. 

And  so  bifel,  that,  longe  er  it  were  day, 
This  man  mette  in  his  bed,  ther-as  he  lay, 
How  that    his    felawe    gan  up-on   him 

calle,  (183) 

And  seyde,  "  alias  !  for  in  an  oxes  stalle 
This  night  I  slial  be  mordred  ther  I  lye. 
Now  help  me,  dere  brother,  er  I  dye;  4196 
In  alle  haste  com  to  me,"  he  sayde. 
This  man  out  of  his  sleep  for  fere  abraydo ; 


But  whan  that  he  was  wakned  of  his  sleep. 
He  turned  him,  and  took  of  this  no  keep  ; 
Him  thoughte  his  dreem  nas  but  avanitee. 
Thus  twyesin  his  slejiing  dremed  he.  (192) 
And  atte  thridde  tyme  yet  his  felawe 
Cam,  as  him  thoughte,  and  seide,  "  I  am 

now  slawe  ; 
Bihold  my  blody  woundes,  depe  and  wyde ! 
Arys  up  erly  in  the  morwe-tyde,  4206 

And  at  the  west  gate  of  the  toun,"  quod  he, 
"  A  carto  ful  of  dong  ther  shaltow  see. 
In  which  my  body  is  hid  ful  prively ; 
Do  thilke  carte  aresten  boldely.  4210 

My   gold   caused   my   mordre,    sooth    to 

sayn;"  (201) 

And  tolde  him  every  poynt  how  he  was 

slayn, 
With  a  ful  pitous  face,  pale  of  hewe. 
And  truste  wel,  his  dreem  he  fond  ful 

trewe  ; 
For  on  the  morwe,  as  sone  as  it  was  day. 
To  his  felawes  in  he  took  the  way  ;      4216 
And  whan  that  he  cam  to  this  oxes  stalle. 
After  his  felawe  he  bigan  to  calle. 

Tlie  hostiler  answered  him  anon. 
And  seyde,  "  sire,  your  felawe  is  agon,  4220 
As  sone  as  day  he  wente  out  of  the  toun." 
Tliis  man  gan  fallen  in  suspecioun,  (212) 
Remembring  on  his  dremes  that  he  mette, 
And  forth  he  goth,  no  lenger  wolde  he 

lette,  4224 

Unto  the  west  gate  of  the  toun,  and  fond 
A  dong-carte,  as  it  were  to  donge  lond. 
That  was  arrayed  in  the  same  wyse 
As  ye  ban  herd  the  dede  man  devyse  ; 
And  with  an  hardy  herte  he  gan  to  crye 
Vengeaunce  and  justice  of  this  felonye  : — 
"  My  felawe  mordred  is  this  same  night, 
And  in  this  carte  he  lyth  gapinge  upright. 
I  crye  out  on  theministres,"  quod  he,  (223) 
"  That  sholden  kepe  and  reulenthis  citee  ; 
Harrow !    alias !    her    lyth    lay    felawe 

slayn  ! "  4235 

What  sholde  I  more  un-to  this  tale  sayn  ? 
The  peple  out-sterte,  and  caste  the  cart  to 

grounde, 
And   in  the   middel  of   the   dong  they 

founde 
The  dede  man,  that  mordred  was  al  newe. 
O   blisful   god,    that   art   so    just   and 

trewe !  4240 


546 


B.    t^$e  (Uonne  (ptuaUa  Zak.     [t.  15057-15134- 


Lo,    how   that    thou    biwreyest    mordre 
alway !  (2.^0 

Mordre  wol  out,  that  see  we  day  by  day. 
Mordre  is  so  wlatsoni  and  abhominable 
To  god,  that  is  so  just  and  rosonable. 
That  he  ne  wol  nat  suflfre  it  heled  be ;  4245 
Thougli  it  abyde  a  yeer,  or  two,  or  three, 
Mordre  wol  out,  this  my  conclusioun. 
And  right  anoon,  ministres  of  that  tonn 
Han  bent  the  carter,  and  so  sore  him 
pyned,  (239) 

And  eek  the  hostiler  so  sore  engyned,  4250 
That  thaybiknewe  hirwikkednesse  anoon, 
And  were  an-hanged  by  the  nekke-boon. 
Here  may  men  seen  that  dremes  been 

to  drede. 
And  certes,  in  the  same  book  I  rede, 
Right  in  the  nexte  chapitre  after  this, 
(I  gabbe  nat,  so  have  I  joye  or  blis,)    4256 
Two  men  that  wolde  han  passed  over  see, 
For  certeyn  cause,  in-to  a  I'er  contree. 
If  that  the  wind  ne  hadde  been  contrarie. 
That  made  hem  in  a  citeo  for  to  tarie,  4260 
That   stix)d    ful    mery  upon  on  haven- 

syde.  (251) 

But  on  a  day,  agayn  the  even-tyde, 
The  wind  gan  chaunge,  and  blew  right 

as  hem  leste. 
Jolif  and  glad  they  wente  un-to  hir  reste. 
And  casten  hem  ful  erly  for  to  saille  ;  4265 
But  fto  that  00  man  fil  a  greet  mervaille. 
That  oon  of  hem,  in  sloping  as  he  lay. 
Him  mette  a  wonder  dreem,  agajTi  the 

day; 
Him  thoughte  a  man  stood  by  his  beddes 

syde, 
And    him    comaunded,   that  he  sholde 

abyde,  4270 

And  seyde  him  thus,  "if  thou  to-morwe 

wende,  (261) 

Thou  shalt  be  dreynt ;  my  tale  is  at  an 

ende." 
He  wook,  and  tolde  his  felawe  what  he 

mette, 
.4jid  preyde  him  his  viage  for  to  lette  ; 
As  for  that  da3-,  he  preyde  him  to  abyde. 
His  felawe,  that  lay  by  his  beddes  syde, 
Gan  for  to  laughe,  and  scorned  him  ful 

faste. 
"  Xo  dreem,"  quod  he,  "  may  so  myn  herte 

agaste, 


That  I  wol  Icttc  for  to  do  my  thinges. 
[  settc  not  a  straw  by  thy  dreminges,  4280 
For  swevenes  been  bvit  vanitees  and  japes. 
Men  dremo  al-day  of  owles  or  of  apes,  (272) 
And  eke  of  many  a  mase  therwithal ; 
Men  dreme  of  thing  that  never  was  no 

shah  4284 

But  sith  I  see  that  thou  wolt  heer  abyde, 
And  thus  for-sleuthen  wilfully  thy  tyde, 
God  wot  it  reweth  me ;    and  have  good 

day." 
And  thus  he  took  his  leve,  and  wento  his 

way. 
But   er   that  he  haddo   halfe   his   cours 

y-seyled, 
Noot  I  nat  why,  no  what  mischaunce  it 

eyled,  429" 

But  casuelly  the  shippea  botme  rente,  (281) 
And  ship  and  man  under  the  water  wento 
In  sighte  of  othere  shippes  it  byside. 
That  with  hem  seyled  at  the  same  tyde. 
And  therfor,  faire  Pertelote  so  dore,  4295 
By  swiche  ensamples  olde  maistow  lere, 
Tliat  no  man  sholde  been  to  recchelees 
Of  dremes,  for  I  scy  thee,  doutelees. 
That  many  a  dreem  ful  sore   is   for  to 

drede.  4299 

Lo,  in  the  lyf  of  seint  Kenelm,  I  rede, 
Tliat  was  Kenulphus  sone,  the  noble  king 
Of    Mercenrike,   how  Kenelm    mette    a 

thing ;  (292) 

A  lyte  er  he  was  mordred,  on  a  day. 
His  mordre  in  his  avisioun  he  say. 
His  norice  him  expouned  every  del     4305 
His  sweven,  and  bad  him  for  to  kepe  him 

wel 
For  traisoun  ;  but  ho  nas  but  seven  yeer 

old, 
And  therfore  litel  tale  hath  he  told 
Of  any  dreem,  so  holy  was  his  herte. 
By  god,  I  hadde  lever  than  my  sherte  4310 
That  ye  had  rad  his  legends,  as  have  I. 
Dame  Pertelote,  I  sey  yow  trewely,     (302) 
Macrobeus,  that  writ  th'avisioun 
In  Affrike  of  the  worthy  Cipioun, 
Affermeth   dremes,  and  seith  that  they 
been  4315 

Warning  of  thinges  that  men  after  seen. 
And  forther-more,   I  pray  yow  loketh 

wel 
In  th'olde  testament,  of  Daniel, 


I5I35-I5220 


.]     B.    ZH  (Uonne  (pvi^eka  Zak. 


547 


If  he  held  dremes  any  vanitee.  4319 

Reed  eek  of  Joseph,  and  ther  shul  ye  see 
Wher  dremes  ben  somtyme  (I  sey  nat  alle) 
Warning  of  thinges  that  shul  after  falle. 
Loke  of  Egipt  the  king,  daiin  Pharao,  (313) 
His  bakere  and  his  boteler  also,  4324 

Wher  they  ne  felte  noon  effect  in  dremes. 
Who-so  wol  seken  actes  of  sondry  remes, 
May  rede  of  dremes  many  a  wonder  thing. 
Lo  Cresus,  which  that  was  of  Lyde  king, 
Mette  he  nat  that  he  sat  upon  a  tree,  4329 
Which  signified  he  sholde  anhanged  ho  ? 
Lo  heer  Andromacha,  Ectores  wyf,  (321) 
That  day  tliat  Ector  sholde  lese  his  lyf, 
She  dremed  on  the  same  night  biforn. 
How  that  the  lyf  of  Ector  sholde  be  lorn. 
If  thilke  day  he  wente  in-to  bataille  ;  4335 
She  warned    him.   but    it    mighte    nat 

availle ; 
Ho  wente  for  to  flghte  nathelees, 
But  he  was  sla3ni  anoon  of  Achilles. 
But  thilke  tale  is  al  to  long  to  telle,    4339 
And  eek  it  is  ny  day,  I  m.ay  nat  dwelle. 
Shortly  I  seye,  as  for  conclusioun,       (331) 
That  I  shal  han  of  this  avisioun 
Adversitee  ;  and  I  seye  forther-more. 
That  I  ne  telle  of  laxatyves  no  store. 
For  they  ben  venimous,  I  woot  it  wel ;  4345 
I  hem  defye,  I  love  hem  never  a  del. 
Now  let  us  speke  of  mirthe,  and  stinte 
al  this ; 
Madame  Pertelote,  so  have  I  blis. 
Of  o  thing  god  hath  sent  me  large  grace ; 
For  whan  I  see  the  beautee  of  your  face, 
Ye  ben  so  scarlet-reed  about  your  yen, 
It  maketh  al  my  drede  for  to  dyen  ;  (342) 
For,  also  siker  as  In  principio, 
Mulier  est  liominis  confusio  ;  4354 

Madame,  the  sentence  of  this  Latin  is — 
Womman  is  mannes  joye  and  al  his  blis. 
For  whan  I  fele  a-night  yoixr  softe  syde, 
Al-be-it  that  I  may  nat  on  yovi  ryde, 
For  that  our  perche  is  maad  so  narwe, 

alas! 
I  am  so  ful  of  joye  and  of  solas  4360 

That  I  defye  bothe  sweven  and  dreem.' 
And  with  that  word  he  fley  doun  fro  the 
beem,  (352) 

For  it  was  day,  and  eek  his  hennes  alle  ; 
And  with  a  chuk  he  gan  hem  for  to  caUe, 
For  he  had  founde  a  com,  lay  in  the  yerd. 


Royal  he  was,  he  was  namore  aferd  ;  4360 
He  fathered  Pertelote  twenty  tyme, 
And  trad  as  ofte,  er  that  it  was  pryme. 
He  loketh  as  it  were  a  grim  leouu  ;  4369 
And  on  his  toos  he  rometh  up  and  doun, 
Him  deyned  not  to  sette  his  foot  to 
grounde.  (361) 

He    chukketh,   whan    he    hath  a    corn 

y-founde. 
And  to   him  rennen   thanne   his  wyves 

alle. 
Thus  royal,  as  a  prince  is  in  his  halle, 
Leve  I  this  Chauntecleer  in  his  pasture  ; 
And  after  wol  I  telle  his  aventi\re.      4376 
Wlian   that  the  month  in  which  the 
world  bigan, 
Tliat  highte  March,  whan  god  first  maked 

man. 
Was  complet,  and  [y]-passed  were  also, 
Sin  March  bigan,  thritty  dayes  and  two, 
Bifel  that  Chavmtecleer,  in  al  his  pryde, 
His  seven  wyves  walking  by  his  syde,  (372 1 
Caste  up  his  eyen  to  the  hrighte  sonne, 
That    in    the    signe    of    Taiirus    haddo 

y-ronne 
Twenty  degrees  and   oon,  and  somwhat 
more ;  4  3^5 

And  know  by  kynde,  and  hy  noon  other 

lore. 
That  it  was  pryme,  and  crew  witli  blisfnl 

stevene. 
'  The  Sonne,'  he  sayde,  '  is  clomben  ui>  t)n 

hevene 
Fourty  degrees  and  oon,  and  more,  y-wis. 
Madame  Pertelote,  my  yorldes  blis,   4390 
Herkneth  thise  blisful  briddes  how  they 
singe,  (381) 

And   see   the   fresshe   floures    how   they 

springe  ; 
Fill  is  myn  herte  of  revel  and  solas.' 
But  sodeinly  liim  fil  a  sorweful  cas  ; 
For  ever  the  latter  ende  of  joye  is  wo.  4395 
God  woot  that  worldly  joye  is  sone  ago  ; 
And  if  a  rethor  coude  faire  endyte. 
He  in  a  cronique  saufly  mighte  it  wryte. 
As  for  a  sovereyn  notabilitee.  4^99 

Now  every  wys  man,  lat  him  herkne  me; 
This  storie  is  al-so  trewe,  I  undertake,  (391) 
As  is  the  book  of  Launcelot  de  Lake, 
That  wommen  holde  in  ful  gret  reverence. 
Now  wol  I  tome  agayn  to  my  sentence. 


T  2 


548 


Z^i  (Uonne  ^viteUo  ZaU.     [t.  15221-^5300. 


A  col-fox,  ful  of  sly  iniqnitee,  4405 

That   in  the  grovo  hadde  woned  yeres 

three, 
By  heigh  imaginacioun  fom-cast, 
The  same  niglit  thurgh-out  the  hegges 

hrast 
Into  the  yerd,  ther  Chauntecleer  the  faire 
Was  wont,  and  cek  his  wy\-es,  to  repaire; 
And  in  a  bed  of  wortes  stille  he  lay,  (401) 
Til  it  was  passed  undem  of  the  day, 
Waj-ting  his  tyme   on  Chauntecleer  to 

fallo. 
As  gladly  doon  tliiso  homicydes  alle. 
That  in  awayt  liggen  to  mordre  men.  4415 
O  false  mordrer,  lurking  in  thy  den  ! 
O  newe  Scariot,  newe  Qenilon  ! 
False  dissimilour,  O  Greek  Sinon, 
That  broghtest  Troye  al  outrely  to  sorwe ! 

0  Chauntecleer,  acursed  be  that  morwe, 
Tliat  thou  into  that  yerd  flough  fro  the 

hemes !  (4i>)  44^1 

Thou    were    ful    wel    y-wamed    by  thy 

drcmes, 
That  thilko  day  was  perilous  to  thee. 
But  what  that  god  fi)rw<x)t  mot  nedes  bo. 
After  the  opinioun  of  certeyn  clerkis.  4425 
Witnesse  on  him,  that  any  perfit  clerk  is, 
Tliat  in  scolo  is  gret  altercacioun 
In  this  matere,  and  greet  disputisoun. 
And  hath  ben  of  an  hundred  thousand 

men. 
But  I  ne  can  not  bultc  it  to  the  bren,  4430 
As  can  the  holy  doctour  Augustyn,    (421) 
Or  Boece,  or  the  bishop  Bradwardyn, 
Whether  that  goddes  worthy  forwiting 
Streyneth  me  nedely  for  to  doon  a  thing, 
(Nedely  clepe  I  simple  necessitee) ;      4435 
Or  elles,  if  free  choys  be  graunted  me 
To  do  that  same  thing,  or  do  it  noght, 
Though  god  forwoot  it,  er  that  it  was 

wroght ; 
Or  if  his  witing  streyneth  nevere  a  del 
But  by  necessitee  condicionel.  4440 

1  wol  not  han  to  do  of  swich  matere  ;  (431) 
My  tale  is  of  a  cok,  as  ye  may  here. 
That  took  his  counseil  of  his  wyf,  with 

sorwe. 
To  walken  in  the  yerd  upon  that  morwe 
That  he  had  met  the  dreem,  that  I  yow 

tolde.  4445 

Wommennes  counseils  been  ful  ofte  colde ; 


Wommannes  counseil  broghte  us  first  to 

wo. 
And  made  Adam  fro  paradys  to  go, 
Ther-as  ho  was  ful  merj',  and  wel  at  ese. — 
But    for    I    noot,    to  whom   it  mighte 

displese,  4450 

If  I  counseil  of  wommen  wolde  blame,  (441) 
Passe  over,  for  I  seyde  it  in  my  game. 
Rede  auctours,  wher  they  trete  of  swich 

matere, 
And  what  thaj'  sejTi  of  wommen  ye  may 

here. 
Thiso  been  the  cokkes  wordes,  and  nat 

myne ;  4455 

I  can  noon  harm  of  nowomman  divyne. — 

Faire  in  the  sond,  to  bathe  hir  merily, 

Lyth  Pertelote,  and  alio  hir  sustresby, 

Agayn  the  sonno  ;  and  Chauntecleer  so 

free 
Song  merier  than  the  mermaydo  in  the 

see ;  4460 

For  Phisiologus  seith  sikerly,  (451) 

How  that  they  singen  wel  and  merily. 
And  so  bifel  that,  as  he  caste  ]iis  yS, 
Among  the  wortes,  on  a  boterflye,       4464 
Ho  was  war  of  this  fox  that  lay  ful  lowo. 
Xo-thing  ne  liste  him  thanne  for  to  crowe, 
But  cryde  anon,  '  cok,  cok,'  and  up  he 

sterte. 
As  man  that  was  affrayed  in  his  herte. 
For  naturelly  a  beest  desyreth  flee 
Fro  his  contrarie,  if  he  may  it  see,      4470 
Though  he  never  erst  had  seyn  it  with 

his  ye.  (461) 

This  Cliauntecleer,  whan  he  gan  him 

espye. 
He  wolde  han  fled,  but  that  the  fox  anon 
Seyde,  '  Gentil  sire,  alias !   wher  wol  ye 

gon? 
Be    ye    affrayed  of   me   that    am    your 

freend  ?  4475 

Now  certes,  I  were  worse  than  a  feend. 
If  I  to  yow  wolde  harm  or  vUeinye. 
I  am  nat  come  your  counseil  for  t'espye  ; 
But  trewely,  the  cause  of  my  cominge 
Was   only  for  to  herkne  how  that  ye 

singe.  (470)  4480 

For  trewely  ye  have  as  mery  a  stevene 
As  eny  aungel  hath,  that  is  in  hevene  ; 
Therwith  ye  han  in  musik  more  felinge 
Than  hadde  Boece,  or  any  that  can  singe. 


15301 


[5378]    B.    ZU  Qtonne  (JJreeefee  Zak. 


549 


My  lord  your  fader  (god  his  soule  blesse  !) 
And  eek  your  moder,  of  hir  gentilesse, 
Han  in  myn  hous  y-been,  to  my  gret  ese; 
And  certes,  sire,  ful  fayn  wolde  I  yow 

plese.  4488 

But  for  men  speke  of  singing,  I  wol  saye. 
So  mote  I  brouke  wel  myn  eyen  tweye, 
Save  yow,  I  herde  never  man  so  singe. 
As  dide  your  fader  in  the  morweninge  ; 
Certes,  it  was  of  herte,  al  that  he  song. 
And  for  to  make  his  voys  the  more  strong. 
He  wolde  so  peyne  him,  that  with  bothe 

his  yen  4495 

He  moste  winke,  so  loude  he  wolde  cryen. 
And  stonden  on  his  tiptoon  ther-with-al. 
And  strecche  forth  his  nekke  long  and 

smal. 
And  eek  he  was  of  swich  discrecioun. 
That  ther  nas  no  man  in  no  regioun  4500 
That   him   in   song    or   wisdom    mighte 

passe.  (491) 

I  have  wel  rad  in  daun  Burnel  the  Asse, 
Among  his  vers,  how  that  ther  was  a  cok. 
For  that  a  preestes  sone  yaf  him  a  knok 
Upon   his   leg,   whyl   he   was   yong   and 

nyce,  4505 

He  made  him  for  to  lese  his  benefyce. 
But  certeyn,  ther  nis  no  comparisoun 
Bitwix  the  wisdom  and  discrecioun 
Of  youre  fader,  and  of  his  subtiltee.   (499) 
Now  singeth,  sire,  for  seinte  Charitee,  4510 
Let  see,  conne  ye  your  fader  countrefete?' 
This  Chauntecleer  his  winges  gan  to  bete. 
As  man  that  coude  his  tresoun  nat  espye, 
So  was  he  ravisshed  with  his  flaterye. 

Alias  !  ye  lordes,  many  a  fals  flatour 
Is  in  your  courtes,  and  many  a  losengeour. 
That  plesen  yow  wel  more,  by  my  feith. 
Than  he  that  soothfastnesse  unto  yow 

seith. 
Redetli  Ecclesiaste  of  flaterye  ; 
Beth  war,  ye  lordes,  of  hir  trecherye.  4520 
This  Chauntecleer  stood  hye  up-on  his 

toos,  (511) 

Strecching  his  nekke,  and  heeld  his  eyen 

cloos. 
And  gan  to  crowe  loude  for  the  nones  ; 
And  daun  Russel  the  fox  sterte  up  at 

ones,  4S24 

And  by  the  gargat  hente  Chauntecleer, 
And  on  his  bak  toward  the  wode  him  beer. 


For  yet  ne  was  ther  no  man  that  him 

sewed. 
O  destinee,  that  mayst  nat  been  eschewed ! 
Alias,  that   Chauntecleer  fleigh  fro  the 

hemes !  4529 

Alias,  his  wyf  ne  roghte  nat  of  dremes  ! 
AndonaFridayfilalthismeschaunce.  (521) 
O  Venus,  that  art  goddesse  of  plesaunce, 
Sin  that  thy  servant  was  this  Chaunte- 
cleer, 
And  in  thy  service  dide  al  his  poweer. 
More  for  delyt,  than  world  to  multiplye. 
Why  woldestow  suffre  him  on  thy  day  to 

dye?  4536 

O  Gaufred,  dere  mayster  soverayn. 
That,   whan   thy  worthy   king   Richard 

was  slayn 
With   shot,    compleynedest   his  deth    so 

sore. 
Why  ne  hadde  I  now  thy  sentence  and 

thy  lore,  4540 

The  Friday  for  to  chyde,  as  diden  ye?  (531) 
(For  on  a  Friday  soothly  slayn  was  he.) 
Than  wolde  I  shewe  yow  how  that  I  coude 

pleyne 
For  Chauntecleres    drede,   and    for  his 

peyne. 
Certes,  swich  cry  ne  lamentacioun  4545 
Was  never  of  ladies  maad,  whan  Ilioun 
Was  wonne,  and  Pirrus  with  his  streite 

swerd. 
Whan  he  hadde  hent  king  Priam  by  the 

herd. 
And  slayn  him  (as  saith  us  Eneydos), 
As  maden  alle  the  hennes  in  the  clos,  4550 
Wlian  they  had  seyn  of  Chauntecleer  the 

sighte.  (541) 

But  sovereynlj'  dame  Pertelote  shrighte, 
Ful  louder  than  dide  Hasdrubales  wyf, 
Whan  that  hir  housbond  hadde  lost  his  lyf. 
And    that    the  Eomayns    hadde    brend 

Cartage ;  4555 

She  was  so  ful  of  torment  and  of  rage, 
That  wilfully  into  the  fyr  she  sterte, 
And  brend  e  hir-selven  with  a  stedfast 

herte. 
O  woful  hennes,  right  so  cryden  ye, 
As,  whan  that  Nero  brende  the  citee  4560 
Of  Rome,  cryden  senatoures  wyves,    (551) 
For  that  hir  housbondes  losten  alle  liir 

lyves; 


B.    Z^i  Qtonne  ^vUaUe  Cafe.     [t.  15379-15452. 


Witliouten  gilt  this  Nero  liatli  hem  slayn. 
Now  wol  I  tome  to  my  tale  agayn  : — 
This  sely  widwe,  and  eek  hir  doghtres 

two,  4565 

Harden  thise  hennes  crye  and  maken  wo, 
And  out  at  dores  sterten  they  anoon, 
And  syen  the  fox  toward  the  grove  goon. 
And  Ijar  upon  his  bak  the  cok  away ; 
And  crj'den,  '  Out  I  harrow  !  and  weyla- 

way !  45  ;o 

Ha,   ha,  the  fox  ! '    and   after  him   they 

ran,  (561) 

And  eek  with  staves  many  another  man; 
IJan   Colle  our   dogge,   and  Talbot,   and 

Gerland, 
And  Malkin,  with  a  distaf  in  hir  hand  ; 
Ran  cow  and  calf,  and  eek  the  verray 

hogges  4575 

So  were   they  fered  for  berking  of  the 

doggos 
.\jid  shouting  of  the  men  and  wimmen 

oke. 
They  ronne  so,  hem  thonghte  hir  herte 

breke. 
I'liej'  yelleden  as  feendes  doon  in  hello  ; 
The   dokes  cryden  as  men  wolde  hem 

quelle  ;  (571)  4580 

Tiie  gees  for  fere  flowen  over  the  trees  ; 
(lut  of  the  hyve  cam  the  swarm  of  bees ; 
So  hidous  was  the  noyse,  a  !  henedicite  ! 
Cortes,  he  Jakke  Straw,  and  his  mcynee, 
No  made  never  shoutes  half  goshrille,  4585 
Whan   that  they  wolden  any  Fleming 

kille, 
As  thilke  day  was  maad  upon  the  fox. 
Of  bras  thay  broghten  hemes,  and  of  box, 
Of  horn,  of  b<x)n,  in  whiche  they  blewo 

and  pouped. 
And  therwithal  thay  shrj-ked  and  they 

houped ;  4590 

It  semed  as  that  heven  sholde  falle.    (581) 
Now,  gode  men,  I  pray  yow  herkneth  alle ! 

Lo,  how  fortune  turneth  sodeinly 
The  hope  and  pryde  eek  of  hir  enemy  ! 
Tliis  cok,  that  laj-  upon  the  foxes  bak,  4595 
In  al  his  drede,  nn-to  the  fox  he  spak. 
And  seyde,  '  sire,  if  that  I  were  as  j-e. 
Yet  sholde  I  soyn  (as  wis  god  helpe  me), 
Tnrneth  agayn,  ye  proude  cherles  alle  ! 


A  verray  pestilence  up-on  yow  falle  !  4600 
Now  am  I  come  un-to  this  wodes  syde, 
Maugree  your  heed,  the  cok  shal  heer 

abyde ;  (592) 

I  wol  him  ete  in  feith,  and  that  anon.' — 
The  fox  answerde,   '  in  feith,  it  shal  be 

don ,' — 
And  as  he  spak  that  word,  al  sodeinly  4605 
This  cok  brak  from  his  mouth  deliverly. 
And  heighe  up-on  a  tree  ho  floigh  anon. 
And  whan   the  fox  saugh   that   he  was 

y-gon, 
'  Alias  ! '  quod  he, '  O  Chauntecleer,  alias ! 
I  have  to  yow,'  quod  he,  '  y-doon  trespas, 
In-as-muche  as  I  maked  yow  aferd,    (601) 
Whan  I  yow  hente,  and  broghte  out  of 

the  j^erd  ; 
But,  sire,  I  dide  it  in  no  wikke  entente  ; 
Com    doun,   and   I   shal   telle  yow  what 

I  mente. 
I  shal  seye  sooth  to  .vow,  god  help  me  so.' 
'  Nay  than,'  quotl  he,  '  I  shrewo  us  bothe 

two,  4616 

And  first  I  shrewo  my-self,  bothe  blood 

and  bones, 
If  thou  bigj-lc  me  ofter  than  ones. 
Thou  shalt  na-more,  thurgh  thy  flaterye. 
Do  me  to  singe  and  winke  with  myn  yii. 
For  he  that  winketh,  whan  he  sholde  see, 
Al  wilfullj",  god  lat  him  never  thee  !'  (612) 
'  Nay,'  quod  the  fox,  '  but  god  yeve  him 

meschaunce. 
That  is  so  undiscreet  of  govemaunce, 
That  jangleth  whan  he  sholde  holde  his 

pees.'  4625 

Lo,  swich  it  is  for  to  bo  recchelees. 
And  necligent,  and  tmste  on  flaterye. 
But  ye  that  holden  this  tale  a  folye, 
As  of  a  fox,  or  of  a  cok  and  hen, 
Taketh  the  moralitee,  good  man.         46^0 
For  seint  Paul  seith,  that  al  that  writ«n 

is,  (621) 

To  our  doctryne  it  is  y-write,  y-wis. 
Taketh  the  fruyt,  and  lat  the  chaf  be 

stiUe. 
Now,  gode  god,  if  that  it  be  thy  wille, 
As  seith  my  lord,  so  make  us  alle  good 

men ;  4635 

And  bringe  us  to  his  heighe  blisse.   Amen. 


Here  is  ended  the  Nonne  Preestes  Tale. 


[5453-1 1963.]   B.    6j>tPogtte  to  tU  dtonne  (pvueUe  tak.    Sc 


EPILOGUE   TO   THE    NONNE 
PREESTES   TALE. 


'  S:r  Nonnes  Freest,'  our  hoste  seyde  anoon, 
'  Y-blessed  be  thy  breche,  and  every  stoon ! 
This  was  a  mery  tale  of  Chauntecleer. 
Bvit,  by  my  troutlie,  if  thou  were  seculer, 
Thou  woldest  been  a  trede-foul  a-righ t.  464 1 
For,  if  thou  have  corage  as  thou   hast 

might, 
Thee  were  nede  of  hennes,  as  I  wenc, 
Ya,  mo  than  seven  tymes  seventene. 


See,    whiohe   braunes    hath  this    gentil 
Freest,  4^45 

So  greet  a  nekke,  and  swich  a  large  breest ! 
He  loketh  as  a  sperhauk  with  his  yen  ;  (11) 
Him  nedeth  nat  his  colour  for  to  dyen 
With  brasil,  ne  with  greyn  of  Portingale. 
Now  sire,  faire  falle  yow  for  youre  tale ! ' 

And  after  that  he,  with  ful  mery  ehere, 
Seide  to  another,  as  ye  shullen  here.  4652 


B.  4652  =  T.  15468  ;  C.  I  -  T.  1 1935. 


GROUP   C. 


THE    PHISICIENS   TALE. 


Here  folweth  the  Phisiciens  Tale. 


Ther  was,  as  telleth  Titus  Livius, 
A  knight  that  called  was  Virginius, 
Fulfild  of  honour  and  of  worthinesse. 
And   strong    of    freendes    and    of    greet 

richesse.  [T.  11938 

This  knight  a  doghter  hadde  by  his  wyf. 
No  children  hadde  he  mo  in  al  his  lyf.  6 
Fair  was  this  mayde  in  excellent  beautee 
Aboven  every  wight  that  man  may  see  ; 
For  nature  hath  with  sovereyn  diligence 
Y-formed  hir  in  so  greet  excellence,  10 
As  though  she  wolde  seyn,  '  lo !  I,  Nature, 
Thus  can  I  forme  and  peynte  a  creature. 
Whan  that  me  list ;  who  can  me  countre- 

fete? 
Figmalion  noght,  though  he  ay  forge  and 

bete, 


Or  grave,  or  peynte  ;  for  I  dar  wel  seyn,  15 
Apelles,  Zanzis,  sholde  werche  in  veyn, 
Outher  to  grave  or  peynte  or  forge  or  bete. 
If  they  presumed  me  to  countrefete. 
For  he  that  is  the  former  principal 
Hatli  maked  me  his  vicaire  general,       20 
To  forme  and  peynten  erthely  creaturis 
Eight  as  me  list,  and  ech  thing  in  my 

cure  is 
Under  the  mone,  that  may  wane  and  waxe. 
And  for  my  werk  right  no-thing  wol  I  axe ; 
My  lord  and  I  ben  ful  of  oon  accord  ;     25 
I  made  hir  to  the  worship  of  my  lord. 
So  do  I  alle  myne  othere  creatures, 
Wliat    colour   that    they    han,   or    what 

figures.' — 
Thus  semeth  me  that  Nature  wolde  scye. 


552 


c.    tU  (p^ieickne  Zak.         [t.  i  1964-1 2054, 


This  mayde  of  age  twelf  yeer  was  and 

tweye,  3° 

In  -which  that  Nature  hadde  swich  delyt. 
For  right  as  she  can  peynte  a  lilie  whyt 
And  reed  a  rose,  right  with  swich  peynture 
She  peynted  hath  this  noble  creature 
Er  she  were  bom,  up-on  hir  limes  free,  35 
Wher-as  by  right  swiche  colours  sholdebe ; 
And  Phebus  dyed  hath  hir  tresses  grete 
Lyk  to  the  stremes  of  his  burned  hete. 
And  if  that  excellent  was  hir  beautee, 
A  thousand-fold  more  vertuous  was  she.  40 
In  hir  ne  lakked  no  condiciovm. 
That  is  to  preyse,  as  by  discrecioun. 
As  wel  in  goost  as  body  chast  was  she ; 
For  which  she  floured  in  virginitee 
With  alle  humilitee  and  abstinence,       45 
With  alle  attemperaunce  and  pacience, 
With  mesure  eek  of  bering  and  array. 
Discreet  she  was  in  answering  alway ; 
Though  she  were  wys  as  Pallas,  dar  I  seyn, 
Hir  facound  eek  ful  wommanly and  pleyn, 
No  countrefetcd  termes  hadde  she  51 

To  seme  ^vys ;  hut  after  hir  degree 
She  spak,  and  alle  hir  wordes  more  and 

lesse 
Souninge  in  vertu  and  in  gentillesse. 
Shamfast  she  was  in  maydens  shamiiost- 

nesse,  55 

Constant  in  herte,  and  ever  in  bisinesse 
To  drx\'e  hir  out  of  ydel  slogardye. 
Bacus    hadde    of    hir    mouth    right    no 

maistrye ; 
For  wyn  and  youthe  doon  "Venus  encrece, 
As  men  in  fyr  wol  casten  oile  or  grece.  60 
And  of  hir  owene  vertu,  unconstreyned, 
She  hath  ful  ofte  tyme  syk  hir  feyned, 
For  that  she  wolde  fleen  the  companye 
Wher  lykly  was  to  treten  of  folye. 
As  is  at  festes,  revels,  and  at  daunces.   65 
That  been  occasions  of  daliaunces 
Swich  thinges  maken  children  for  to  be 
To  sone  rype  and  bold,  as  men  may  see, 
AVhich  is  ful  perilous,  and  hath  ben  yore. 
For  al  to  sone  may  she  lerne  lore  70 

Of  boldnesse,  whan  she  woxen  is  a  wyf . 

And  ye  maistresses  in  your  olde  lyf, 
That  lordes  doghtres  han  in  govemaunce, 
Ne  taketh  of  my  wordes  no  displesaunce  ; 
Thenketh  that  j-e  ben  set  in  govern  inges  75 
Of  lordes  doghtres,  only  for  two  thinges  ; 


Outher  for  ye  han  kept  your  honestee, 
Or  elles  ye  han  falle  in  freletee. 
And  knowen  wel  y-nough  the  olde  daunce, 
And  han  forsaken  fully  swich  meschaunce 
For  evermo  ;  therfore,  for  Cristes  sake,  81 
To  teche  hem  vertu  loke  that  ye  ne  slake. 
A  theef  of  venisoun,  that  hath  forlaft 
His  likerousnesse,  and  al  his  olde  craft. 
Can  kepe  a  forest  best  of  any  man.  85 

Now  kepeth  hem  wel,  for  if  ye  wol,  ye  can ; 
Loke  wel  that  ye  un-to  no  vice  assente. 
Lest  ye  be  dampned  for  your  wikke  en- 
tente ; 
For  who-so  doth,  a  traitour  is  certeyn. 
And  taketh  kepe   of  that   that    I  shal 
seyn ;  90 

Of  alio  tresons  sovereyn  pestilence 
Is  whan  a  wight  bitrayseth  innocence. 

Ye  fadres  and  ye  modrcs  eek  also. 
Though  ye  han  cliildren,  be  it  oon  or  two. 
Your  is  the  charge  of  al  hir  surveyaunce,  95 
AVhyl  that  they  been  under  your  govem- 
aunce. 
Beth  war  that  by  ensample  of  your  livinge, 
Or  by  j-our  necligence  in  chastisinge. 
That  they  ne  jjerisse  ;  for  I  dar  wel  seye, 
If  that  they  doon,  ye  shul  it  dere  abeye.  100 
Under  a  shepherde  softe  and  necligent 
The  wolf  hath  many  a  sheep  and  lamb 

to-rent. 
Suffyseth  oon  ensample  now  as  here, 
For  I  mot  turne  agayn  to  my  matere. 
This  mayde,  of  which  I  wol  this  tale 
expresse,  105 

So  kepte  hir-self,  hir  neded  no  maistresse ; 
For  in  hir  living  maydens  mighten  rede. 
As  in  a  book,  every  good  word  or  dede, 
That  longeth  to  a  mayden  vertuous ; 
She  was  so  prudent  and  so  bountevous.  1 10 
For  which  the  fame  out-sprong  on  every 

syde 
Bothe  of  hir  beautee  and  hir  bountee  wyde ; 
That  thurgh  that  land  they  preysed  hir 

echone, 
That  loved  vertu,  save  envye  allone, 
That  sory  is  of  other  mennes  wele,         1 15 
And  glad  is  of  his  sorwe  and  his  unhele  ; 
(The  doctour  maketh  this  descripcioun). 
This  mayde  up-on  a  day  wente  in  the  toun. 
Toward  a  temple,  with  hLr  moder  dere, 
As  is  of  j-onge  maydens  the  manere.     120 


T.  12055-12140.]        c,    ZH  (P3t0tcten0  Zait. 


553 


Now  was  ther  tlianne  a  justice  in  that 
tonn, 
That  governonr  was  of  that  regioun. 
And  so  bifel,  this  juge  his  eyen  caste 
Up-on  this  mayde,  avysinge  him  ful  faste, 
As  she  cam  forby  ther  this  jiage  stood.  125 
Anon  his  herte  channged  and  his  mood, 
So  was  he  caught  with  beautee  of  this 

mayde  ; 
And  to  him-self  ful  prively  he  sayde, 
'  This  mayde  shal  be  myn,  for  any  man.' 
Anon  the  feend  in-to  his  herte  ran,   130 
And  taughte  him  sodeynly,  that  he  by 

slighte 
The  mayden  to  his  purpos  winne  mights. 
For  certes,  by  no  force,  ne  by  no  mede. 
Him  though te,  he  was  nat  able  for  to  spede  ; 
For  she  was  strong  of  freendes,  and  eek  she 
Confermedwasinswiclisoveraynbountee, 
Tliat  wel  he  wiste  he  mighte  hir  never 
winne  '37 

As  for  to  make  hir  with  hir  body  sinne. 
For  which,  by  greet  deliberacioun, 
He  sente  after  a  cherl,  was  in  the  toun,  140 
Whicli  that  he  knew  for  subtil  and  for 

bold. 
This  juge  un-tothis  cherl  his  tale  hath  told 
In  secree  wyse,  and  made  him  to  ensiire, 
He  sholde  telle  it  to  no  creature. 
And  if  he  dide,  he  sholde  lese  his  heed.  145 
Wlian  that  assented  was  this  cursed  reed, 
Glad  was  this  juge  and  maked  him  greet 

chere. 
And  yaf  him  yiftes  preciouse  and  dere. 
Whan  shapen  was  al  hir  conspiracye 
Fro  point  to  point,  how  that  his  lecherye 
Parfourned  sholde  been  ful  stibtilly,      151 
As  ye  shul  here  it  after  openly, 
Hoom  gooth  the  cherl,  that  highte  Claxi- 

dius. 
This  false  juge  that  highte  Apius, 
So  was  his  name,  (for  this  is  no  fable,   155 
But  knowen  for  historial  thing  notable. 
The  sentence  of  it  sooth  is,  out  of  doute). 
This  false  juge  gooth  now  faste  aboute 
To  hasten  his  delyt  al  that  he  may. 
And  so  bifel  sone  after,  on  a  day,  160 

This  false  juge,  as  teUeth  us  the  storie. 
As  he  was  wont,  sat  in  his  consistorie, 
And  yaf  his  domes  up-on  sondry  cas. 
This  false  cherl  cam  forth  a  ful  greet  pas, 


And  seyde, '  lord,  if  that  it  be  your  wille,  165 
As  dooth  me  right  up-on  this  pitous  bille. 
In  which  I  pleyne  up-on  Virginitis. 
And  if  that  he  wol  seyn  it  is  nat  thiis, 
I  wol  it  preve,  and  finde  good  witnesse. 
That  sooth  is  that  my  bille  wol  expresse.' 
The  juge  answerde,    '  of  this,   in   his 
absence,  171 

I  may  nat  yeve  diflSnitif  sentence. 
Lat  do  him  calle,  and  I  wol  gladly  here  ; 
Thou  shalt  have  al  right,  and  no  wrong 
here.'  174 

Virginius  cam,  to  wite  the  juges  wille, 
And  right  anon  was  rad  this  cursed  bille  ; 
The  sentence  of  it  was  as  ye  shul  here. 
'  To  j'ow,  my  lord,  sire  Apius  so  dere, 
Sheweth  your  povre  servant  Claudius, 
How  that  a  linight,  called  Virginiiis,    180 
AgajTis  the  lawe,  agayn  al  equitee, 
Holdeth,  expres  agayn  the  wH  of  me, 
My  servant,  which  that  is  my  thral  by 

right, 
Wliich    fro   myn   hous   was  stole   up-on 

a  night, 
Whyl  that   she  was  ful  yong  ;  this  wol 
I  preve  1S5 

By  witnesse,  lord,  so  that  it  nat  yow  greve. 
She  nis  his  doghter  nat,  what  so  he  seye  ; 
Wherfore  to  yow,  my  lord  the  juge,  I  preye, 
Yeld  me  my  thral,  if  that  it  be  your  wille.' 
Lo  !  this  was  al  the  sentence  of  his  bille. 
Virginius  gan  up-on  the  cherl  biholde, 
But  hastily,  er  he  his  tale  tolde,  192 

And  wolde   have   preved   it,   as    sholde 

a  kniglit. 
And  eek  by  witnessing  of  many  a  wight, 
Tliat  it  was  fals  that  seyde  his  adversarie, 
Tliis  cursed  juge  wolde  no-thing  tarie,  196 
Ne  here  a  word  more  of  Virginius, 
But  yaf  his  jugement,  and  seyde  thus  : — 
'  I  deme  anon  this  cherl  his  servant  have ; 
Thou  shalt  no  lenger  in  thyn  hous  hir 
save.  200 

Go  bring  hir  forth,  and  put  hir  in  our 

warde. 
The   cherl   shal   have   his   thral,    this    I 
awarde.' 
And  whan  this  worthy  knight  Virginius, 
Tburgh  sentence  of  this  justice  Apius, 
Moste  by  force  his  dere  doghter  yiven  205 
Un-to  the  juge,  in  lecherye  to  liven, 


T   3 


554 


c.    ZU  (p^ickkne  Za(i.         [t.  12141-1: 


He  gooth  him  hoom,  and  sette  him  in  his 

haUe, 
And  leet  anon  his  dore  doghter  calle, 
And,  with  a  face  deed  as  asshen  colde, 
Upon  hir  humble  face  he  gan  biholde,  2io 
Withfadrespiteestikingthurgh  his herte, 
Al  wolde  he  from  his  purpos  nat  converte. 
'  Doghter,'  quod  he,  '  Virginia,  by  thy 

name, 
Ther  been  two  weyes,  outher  deeth  or 

shame, 
That  thou  most  suflFre  ;  alias  !  that  I  was 

bore  !  215 

For  never  thou  deservedest  wherfore 
To  dyen  with  a  swerd  or  with  a  knyf. 
O  dere  doghter,  ender  of  my  lyf, 
Wliich   I   have  fostred    up   with    swich 

l>lesaunce. 
That  thou  were  never  out  of  my  remem- 

braunce !  220 

O  doghter,  which  that  art  my  laste  wo. 
And  in  my  Ij'f  my  laste  joye  also, 
O  gemmo  of  chastitec,  in  pacience 
Take  thou  thy  deeth,  for  this  is  my  sen- 
tence. 
For  love  and  nat  for  bate,  thou  most  be 

deed ;  225 

My  pitous  hand  mot  smyten  of  thyn  heed. 
Alias  !  that  ever  Apius  thee  say  ! 
Thus  hath  he  falsly  juged  thee  to-day ' — 
And  tolde  hir  al  the  cas,  as  ye  bifore  229 
Han  herd  ;  nat  nedeth  for  to  telle  it  more. 
'  O  mercy,  dere  fader,'  quod  this  mayde, 
And  with  that  word  she  both  hir  annes 

layde 
About  his  nekke,  as  she  was  wont  to  do  : 
The  teres  broste  out  of  hir  eyen  two, 
And  seyde,  '  gode  fader,  shal  I  dye  ?      235 
Is  ther  no  grace  ?  is  ther  no  remedye  ? ' 
'  No,  certes,  dere  doghter  mj-n,'  quod  he. 
'Thanne  yif  me  leyser,  fader  myn,'  quod 

she, 
'  My  deeth  for  to  compleyne  a  litel  space  ; 
For  pardee,  Jepteyaf  his  doghter  grace  240 
For  to  compleyne,  er  he  hir  slow,  alias  ! 
And  god  it  woot,  no-tliing  was  hir  trespas. 
But  for  she  ran  hir  fader  first  to  see, 
To  welcome  him  with  greet  solempnitee.' 
And  with  that  word  she  fil  aswowne  anon, 
And  after,  whan  hir  swowning  is  agon,  246 
Here  endeth  the 


She  ryssth  up,  and  to  hir  fader  sayde, 
'  Blessed  be  god,  that  I  shal  dye  a  mayde. 
Yif  me  my  deeth,  er  that  I  have  a  shame  ; 
Doth  with  your  child  your  wil,  a  goddes 

name ! '  250 

And  with  that  word  she  preyed  him  ful 

ofte. 
That  with  his  swerd  he  wolde  smytesofte. 
And  with  that  word  aswowne  doun  she  fil. 
Hir  fader,  with  ful  sorweful  herte  and  wil, 
Hir  heed   of  smrxit,   and   by  the   top   it 

hente,  255 

And  to  the  juge  he  gan  it  to  presente. 
As  he  sat  yet  in  doom  in  consistorie. 
And  whan  the  juge  it  saugh,  as  seith  the 

storie, 
He  bad  to  take  him  and  anhange  him 

faste.  259 

But  right  anon  a  thousand  peple  in  thraste. 
To  save  the  knight,  for  routhe  and  for 

pitee. 
For  knowen  was  the  false  iniquitee. 
The  peple  anon  hath  suspect  of  this  thing. 
By  manere  of  the  cherles  chalanging, 
Tliat  it  was  by  th'assent  of  Apius  ;        2(^5 
Tliey  wisten  wel  that  he  was  lecherous. 
For  which  un-to  this  Aj^ius  they  gon, 
And  caste  him  in  a  prison  right  anon, 
Wher-as  he  slow  him-self ;  and  Claudius, 
That  servant  was  lan-to  this  Apius,        270 
Was  demed  for  to  hange  upon  a  tree  ; 
But  that  Virginius,  of  his  jiitee, 
So  preyde  for  him  that  he  was  exyled  ; 
And  elles,  certes,  he  had  been  bigyled. 
The  remenant  were  anhanged,  more  and 

lesse,  275 

That   were   consentant    of    this    cursed- 

nesse. — 
Heer  men  may  seen  how  sinne  hath  his 

meryte  ! 
Beth  war,  for  no  man  woot  whom  god 

wol  smyte 
In  no  degree,  ne  in  which  maner  wyse 
The  worm  of  conscience  may  agryse     280 
Of  wikked  lyf,  though  it  so  privee  be. 
That  no  man  woot  ther-of  but  god  and  he. 
For  be  he  lewed  man,  or  elles  lered. 
He  noot  how  sone  that  he  shal  been  afered. 
Therfore  I  rede  yow  this  conseil  take,  285 
Forsaketh  sinne,  er  sinne  yow  forsake. 
Phisiciens  Tale. 


c.     (^or^0  of  tU  15o0^- 


555 


WORDS   OF   THE    HOST. 


The  wordes  of  the  Host  to  the  Phisicien  and  the  Pardoner. 


Our    Hoste    gan   to  swere  as    he  were 

wood, 
'  Harrow  ! '  quod  he,  '  by  nayles  and  by 

blood ! 
This  was  a  fals  cherl  and  a  fals  justyse  ! 
As  shamful  deeth  as  herte  may  devyse  290 
Come  to  thise  juges  and  hir  advoeats  ! 
Algate  this  sely  mayde  is  slayn,  alias ! 
Alias  !  to  dere  boghte  she  beautee  ! 
Wherfore  I  seye  al  day,  as  men  may  see. 
That  yiftes  of  fortune  or  of  nature        295 
Ben  cause  of  deeth  to  many  a  creature.  (10) 
Hir  beautee  was  hir  deeth,  I  dar  wel  sayn  ; 
Alias  !  so  pitously  as  she  was  slayn  ! 
Of  bothe  yiftes  that  I  speke  of  now 
Men  han  ful  ofte  naore  harm  than  prow. 
Biit  trewely,  myn  owene  mayster  dere,  301 
This  is  a  pitous  tale  for  to  here. 
But  natheles,  passe  over,  is  no  fors  ; 
I  prey  to  god,  so  save  thy  gentil  cors,  304 
And  eek  thyne  urinals  and  thy  jordanes, 
Thyn  Ypocras,  and  eek  thy  Galianes,  (20) 
And  every  boist  ful  of  thy  letuarie  ; 
God  blesse    hem,   and    our  lady  seinte 

Marie  ! 
So  mot  I  theen,  thou  art  a  propre  man, 
And  lyk  a  prelat,  by  seint  Ronyan  !     310 


Seyde  I  nat  wel?     I   can   nat  speke  in 

terme  ; 
But  wel  I  woot,  thou  doost  my  herte  to 

erme. 
That  I  almost  have  caught  a  cardiacle. 
By  corpus  bones  !  but  I  have  triacle,     314 
Orelles  a  draught  of  moyste  and  corny  ale. 
Or  but  I  here  anon  a  mery  tale,  (30) 

Myn  herte  is  lost  for  pitee  of  this  mayde. 
Thou  bel  amy,  thou  Pardoner,'  he  seyde, 
'  Tel  us  som  mirthc  or  japes  right  anon.' 
'  It   shall   be   doon,'   quod  he,   '  by   seint 

Eonyon  !  320 

But   first,'   quod   he,   '  heer   at   this   ale- 
stake 
I  wol  both  drinke,  and  eten  of  a  cake.' 
But  right  anon  thise  gentils  gonne  to 

crye, 
'  Nay  !  lat  him  telle  us  of  no  ribaudye  ; 
Tel  lis  som  moral  thing,  that  we  may 

lere  325 

Som    wit,    and    thanne    wol   we   gladly 

here.'  (40) 

'  I  graunte,  y-wis,'  qiiod  he,  '  but  I  mot 

thinke 
Up-on   som   honest  thing,   whyl  that  I 

drinke.' 


T5 


;56 


c.     (pvoto^uz  of  tU  ^M^ontve  Zak,  [t.  i 2263-1 2322. 


THE     PROLOGUE    OF    THE 
PARDONERS    TALE. 

Here  folweth  the  Prologe  of  the  Pardoners  Tale. 

Jtadix  malonnn  est  Cupiditas :   Ad  Thimnthaim,  se.xUi. 


•LoRDiNos,'  quod  he,  '  in  ohirclies  whan  I 

preche, 
I  ijeyne  me  to  han  an  hauteyn  speche,  330 
And  ringe  it  out  as  round  as  gooth  a  belle, 
For  I  can  al  by  roto  that  I  telle, 
lly  theme  is  alwey  oon,  and  ever  was — 
■'Radix  malorum  est  Cupiditas." 

First  I  pronfmnce  whennes  that  I  come. 
And  than  my  buUes  shewe  I,  alle  and 

somme.  336 

Our  lige  lordes  seel  on  my  patente, 
That  shewe  I  first,  mybody  towarente,(io) 
That  no  man  be  so  bold,  ne  preest  ne  clerk, 
Me  to  destourbe  of  Cristes  holy  werk ;  340 
And  after  that  than  telle  I  forth  my  tales, 
Bulles  of  popes  and  of  eardinales. 
Of  patriarkes,  and  bishoppes  I  shewe  ; 
And  in  Latyn  I  spcke  a  wordes  fewe, 
To  saffron  -with  my  predicacioun,  345 

And  for  to  stire  men  to  devocioun.  (18) 
Than  shewe  I  forth  my  longe  cristal  stones, 
Y-crammed  ful  of  cloutes  and  of  bones  ; 
Eeliks  been  they,  as  wenen  they  echoon. 
Than  have  I  in  latovm  a  sholder-boon  350 
■Wliich  that  was  of  an  holy  Jewes  shepe. 
••  Good  men,"  seye  I,  "  tak  of  my  wordes 

kepe  ; 
If  that  this  boon  be  wasshe  in  any  welle. 
If  cow,  or  calf,  or  sheep,  or  oxe  swelle 
Tliat   any  worm   hath   ete,  or   worm  y- 

stonge,  355 

Tak  water  of  that  welle,   and   wash  his 

tonge. 
And  it  is  hool  anon  ;  and  forthei-more, 
Of  pokkes  and  of  scabbe,  and  every  sore  (30) 


Slial  every  sheep  be  hool,  that  of  this  welle 
Drinketh  a  draughte  ;  tak  kepe  eek  what 

I  telle.  360 

If  that  the  good-man,  that  the  bestes  oweth, 
AVol  everj'  wike,   er  that  the   cok  him 

croweth, 
Fastinge,  drinken  of  this  welle  a  draughte. 
As  thilke  holy  Jewe  our  eldres  taughte. 
His  bestes  and  his  stoor  shal  multiplye.  365 
And,  sirs,  also  it  hcleth  jalousyc  ; 
For,  though  a  man  bo  falle  in  jalous  rage. 
Let  maken  with  this  water  his  potage,  (40) 
And  never  shal  he  taora  his  wyf  mistriste, 
Though  ho  the  sooth  of  hir  defaute  wiste  ; 
Al  had  she  taken  preestes  two  or  three.  371 
Heer  is  a  miteyn  eek,  that  ye  may  see. 
He  that  his  bond  wol  putte  in  this  miteyn. 
He  shal  have  multipljang  of  his  greyn. 
Whan  he  hath  sowen,  be  it  whete  or  otes, 
So  that  he  offre  pens,  or  elles  grotes.     ^yC< 
Good  men  and  wommen,  o  thing  warni^ 

I  yow, 
If  any  wight  be  in  this  chirchc  now,   (50) 
That  hath  doon  sinne  horrible,  that  he 
Bar  nat,  for  shame,  of  it  y-shriven  be,  381  > 
Or  any  womman,  be  she  yong  or  old. 
That  hath  y-maad  hir  housbond  cokewold, 
S wich  folk  shul  have  no  jiower  ne  no  g^aco 
To  offren  to  mj'  reliks  in  this  place. 
And   who-so   findeth   him   out  of  s\vich 

blame,  385 

He  wol  com  up  and  offre  in  goddes  name, 

And  I  assoillc  him  by  the  auctoritee 

Wliich  that  by  bulle  y-graunted  was  to 

'  me."  (60) 


T.   12323-12 


396.]  c.    ^rofogue  of  tU  ^avionere  Cafe. 


557 


By  this  gaiide  have  I  wonne,  yeer  by 
yeer, 
An  hundred  mark  sith  I  was  Pardoner. 
I  stonde  lyk  a  clerk  in  my  piilpet,         391 
And  whan  the  lewed  loeple  is  doun  y-set, 
I  preohe,  so  as  ye  han  herd  bifore, 
And  telle  an  hundred  false  japes  more. 
Than  peyne  I  me  to  strecche  forth  tho 
nekke,  ?,95 

And  est  and  west  upon  the  peple  I  bekke, 
As  doth  a  dowve  sitting  on  a  heme.      (69) 
Myn  hondes  and  my  tonge  goon  so  yerne, 
That  it  is  joye  to  see  my  bisinesse. 
Of  avaryce  and  of  swicli  cursednesse    400 
Is  al  my  preching,  for  to  make  hem  free 
To  yeve  her  pens,  and  namely  un-to  me. 
For  my  entente  is  nat  but  for  to  winne, 
And  no-thing  for  correccionn  of  sinne.  404 
I  rekke  never,  whan  that  they  ben  beried. 
Though    that    her    soules   goon   a-blake- 

beried  ! 
For  certes,  many  a  predioacionn 
Comth  ofte  tyme  of  yvel  entencioun  ;  (80) 
Som  for  plesaunce  of  folk  and  flaterye, 
To  been  avaunced  by  ipocrisye,  410 

And  som  for  vey ne  glorie,  and  som  for  hate. 
For,  whan  I  dar  non  other  weyes  debate, 
Than  wol  I  stinge  him  with   my  tonge 

smerte 
In  preching,  so  that  he  shal  nat  asterte 
To  been  defamed  falsly,  if  that  he  415 

Hath  trespased  to  my  brethren  or  to  me. 
For,  though  I  telle  noght  his  propre  name. 
Men  shal  wel  knowethat  it  is  the  same  (90) 
By  signes  and  by  othere  circumstances. 
Thus  quyte  I  folk  that  doon  us  dis- 
plesances ;  420 

Thus  spitte  I  out  my  venim  under  hewe 
Of  holj-nesse,  to  seme  holy  and  trewe. 

But  shortly  myn  entente  I  wol  devyse  ; 
I  preche  of  no-thing  but  for  coveityse. 
Therfor  my  theme  is  yet,  and  ever  was — 


"  Radix  malorum  est  ciipiditas."  426 

Thus  can  I  preche  agayn  that  same  vyce 
Which  that  I  use,  and  that  is  avaryce.  (100) 
But,  though  my-self  be  gilty  in  that  sinne, 
Yet  can  I  maken  other  folk  to  twinne  430 
From  avaryce,  and  sore  to  repente. 
But  that  is  nat  my  principal  entente. 
I  preche  no-thing  but  for  coveityse  ; 
Of  this  matere  it  oughte  y-nogh  suffyse. 
Than  telle  I  hem  ensamples  many  oon 
Of  olde  stories,  longe  tyme  agoon  :        436 
For  lewed  peple  loven  tales  olde  ; 
Swich  thinges  can  they  wel  reporto  and 
holde.  (no) 

What?  trowe  ye,  the whyles  I  may  preche. 
And  winne  gold  and  silver  for  I  teche,  440 
That  I  wol  live  ia  povert  wilfully  ? 
Nay,  nay,  I  thoghte  it  never  trewely  ! 
For  I  wol  preche  and  begge  in  sondry 

londes ; 
I  wol  not  do  no  labour  with  myn  hondes, 
Ne  make  baskettes,  and  live  tlierbj',     445 
Because  I  wol  nat  beggen  ydellj'. 
I  wol  non  of  the  apostles  coimterfete  ; 
I  wol  have  money,  wolle,  chese,  and  whete, 
Al  were  it  yeven  of  tho  povi-est  page,  (121) 
Or  of  the  povrest  widwe  in  a  village,    450 
Al  sholde  hir  children  sterve  for  famyne. 
Nay  !  I  wol  drinke  licourof  the  vyne, 
And  have  a  joly  wenche  in  every  toun. 
But  herkneth,  lordings,  in  conclusioun  ; 
Your  lyking  is  that  I  shal  telle  a  tale.  455 
Now,  have  I  dronke  a  draughte  of  corny 

ale, 
By  god,  I  hope  I  shal  yow  telle  a  thing 
That  shal,  by  resoun,  been  at  your  lyking. 
For,    th<^vigh    myself    be    a    ful   vicious 

man, 
A  moral  tale  yet  I  yow  telle  can,  (132)  460 
Which  I  am  wont  to  preche,  for  to  winne. 
Now   holde    your   pees,    my   tale    I   wol 
beginne.' 


c.    Zh  {paviontve  Za(c.         [t. 


1239: 


2460. 


THE    PARDONERS   TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Pardoners  Tale. 


Is  Flawndres  wlij^lom  was  a  companye 
Of  yonge  folk,  that  haunteden  folye, 
As  ryot,  hasard,  stewcs,  and  tavernes,  465 
Wher-as,  wath  harpes,  li^tes,  and  giternes, 
They  daunce  and  pleye  at  dees  bothe  day 

and  night,  ('39) 

And  ete  also  and  drinken  over  hir  might, 
Thurgh  which  they  doon  the  devel  sacri- 

fysc 
With-in  that  develes  temple,  in  cursed 

•wj-so,  470 

By  sui>erflmtee  abhominable  ; 
Hir  othes  been  so  grete  and  so  dampnable. 
That  it  is  grisly  for  to  hero  hem  swore  ; 
Our  blissed  lordes  body  they  to-tere  ; 
Hem  thoughte  Jewes  rente   him  noght 

y-nough ;  475 

And  ech  of  hem  at  otheres  sinne  lough. 
And  right  anon  than  comen  tombesteres 
Fetys    and    smale,   and    yonge    firuytes- 

teres,  (150) 

Singers  with  harpes,  baudes,  wafereres, 
Whicho  been  the  verray  develes  officeres 
To  kindle  and  blowe  the  fyr  of  lecherye. 
That  is  annexed  un-to  glotonye  ;  482 

The  holy  writ  take  I  to  my  witnesse. 
That  luxurio  is  in  wyn  and  dronkenesse. 
Lo,  how  that  dronken  Loth,  unkindely, 
Lay  by  his  doghtres  two,  unwitingly  ;  4S6 
So  dronke   ho  was,   he    niste   what    he 

wroghte.  ( 159) 

Herodes,  (who-so  wel  the  stories  soghte), 
Whan  he  of  wjti  was  replet  at  his  feste, 
Eight  at  his  owene  table  he  yaf  his  haste 
To  sleen  the  Baptist  John  ful  giltelees.  491 
Senek  seith  eek  a  good  word  doutelees ; 
He  seith,  he  can  no  difference  finde 
Bitwix  a  man  that  is  out  of  his  minde 


And  a  man  which  that  is  dronkelewe,  495 
But  that  woodnesse,  y-fallen  in  a  shrewe, 
Persevereth  longer  than  doth  dronkenesse. 
O  glotonye,  ful  of  cursednesse,  (170) 

O  cause  first  of  our  confusioun, 
O  original  of  our  dampnacioun,  5(xi 

Til   Crist   had   boght  us  with  his  blood 

agayn  ! 
Lo,  how  dcre,  shortly  for  to  sayn, 
^Aboght  was  thilke  cursed  vileinye  ; 
Corrupt  was  al  this  world  for  glotonye ! 

Adam  our  fader,  and  his  wyf  also,     505 
Fro  Paradys  to  labour  and  to  wo 
Were  driven  for  that  vyce,  it  is  no  drede ; 
For  whyl  that  Adam  fasted,  as  I  rede,  (180) 
Ho  was  in  Paiadys  ;  and  whan  that  he 
Eet  of  the  Iruyt  defended  on  the  tree,  510 
Anon  he  was  out-cast  to  wo  and  peyne. 
O  glotonye,  on  thee  wel  oghte  us  pleyne! 
O,  wiste  a  man  how  many  maladyes 
Folwen  of  exoesse  and  of  glotonyes, 
He  wolde  been  the  more  mesurable       515 
Of  his  diete,  sittinge  at  his  table. 
Alias !    the    shorte    throte,    the    tendre 

mouth, 
Maketh  that,  Est  and  West,  and  North 

and  South,  (19") 

In  erthe,  in  eir,  in  water  men  to-swinke 
To   goto   a   glotoun    doyntee    mete    and 

drinke !  520 

Of  this  matere,  o  Paul,  wel  canstow  trete, 
'  Mete  un-to  wombe,  and  wombe  eek  un-to 

mete, 
Shal  god  destroyen  bothe,'  as  Paulus  seith. 
AUas  !  a  foul  thing  is  it,  by  my  feith,  524 
To  seye  this  word,  and  fouler  is  the  dede, 
Whan  man  so  drinketh  of  the  whyte  and 

rede, 


T.   I  2461 


c.    Z^t  ^at^oniv0  Cafe. 


559 


That  of  his  throte  he  maketh  his  privee, 
Thurgh  thilke  cursed  superfluitee.      (200) 

The  apostel  weping  seith  ful  pitously, 
'  Ther  walken  many  of  whiche  yow  told 

have  I,  530 

I  seye  it  now  weping  with  pitous  voys, 
[That]  they  been  enemys  of  Cristes  croys, 
Of  whiche  the  ende  is  deeth,  wombe  is 

her  god.' 
O  wombe  !  O  bely  !  O  stinking  cod, 
Fulfild  of  donge  and  of  corr\ipcioun  !    535 
At  either  ende  of  thee  foul  is  the  soun. 
How  greet  labour  and  cost  is  thee  to 

finde! 
Tliise  cokes,  how  they  stampe,  and  streyne, 

and  grinde,  (210) 

And  turnen  substatince  in-to  accident, 
To  falfillo  al  thy  likerous  talent !  540 

Out  of  the  harde  bones  knokke  they 
The  mary,  for  they  caste  noght  a-wey 
That  may  go  thurgh  the  golet  softe  and 

swote  ; 
Of  spicerye,  of  leef,  and  bark,  and  rote 
Shal  been  his  sauce  y-maked  by  delyt,  545 
To  make  him  yet  a  newer  appetyt. 
But  certes,  he  that  haunteth  swich  delyces 
Is  deed,  whyl  that  he  liveth  in  tho  vyces. 
A  lecherous  thing  is  wyn,  and  dronke- 

nesse  (221)  549 

Is  ful  of  stryving  and  of  wrecchednesse, 
O  dronke  man,  disfigured  is  thy  face, 
Sour  is  thy  breeth,  foul  artow  to  embrace. 
And  thurgh  thy  dronke  nose  semeth  the 

soun 
As  though  thou  seydest  ay  '  Sampsoun, 

Sampsoun  ' ; 
And  yet,  god  wot,  Sampsoun  drank  never 

no  wyn.  555 

Thou  fallest,  as  it  were  a  stiked  swyn  ; 
Thy  tonge  is  lost,  and  al  thyn  honest  cure  ; 
For  dronkenesse  is  verray  sepulture  (230) 
Of  mannes  wit  and  his  discrecioun.  559 
In  whom  that  drinke  hath  dominacioun, 
He  can  no  conseil  kepe,  it  is  no  drede. 
Now  kepe  yow  fro  the  wh3rte  and  fro  the 

rede. 
And  namely  fro  the  whyte  wyn  of  Lepe, 
That  is  to  seUe  in  Fish-strete  or  in  Chepe. 
This  wyn  of  Spayne  crepeth  subtilly     565 
In  othere  wynes,  growing  faste  by, 
Of  which  ther  ryseth  swich  fumositee. 


That  whan  a  man  hath  dronken  draughtes 

three,  (240) 

And  weneth    that    he    be   at    hoom   in 

Chepe, 
He  is  in  Spayne,  right  at  the  toune  of 

Lepe,  570 

Nat  at  the  Rochel,  ne  at  Burdeux  toun  ; 
And   thanne   wol  he    seye,    '  Sampsoun, 

Sampsoun.' 
But  herkneth,  lordings,  o  word,  I  yow 

preye. 
That  alle  the  sovereyn  actes,  dar  I  seye, 
Of  victories  in  th'olde  testament,  575 

Thurgh  verray  god,  that  is  omnipotent. 
Were  doon  in  abstinence  and  in  preyere  ; 
Loketh  the  Bible,  and  ther  ye  may  it 

lere.  (250) 

Loke,  Attila,  the  grete  conquerour, 
Deyde  in  his  sleep,  with  shame  and  dis- 
honour, 580 
Bledinge  ay  at  his  nose  in  dronkenesse  ; 
A  capitayn  shoiilde  live  in  sobrenesse. 
And  over  al  this,  avyseth  yow  right  wel 
What  was  comaunded  un-to  Lamuel — 
Nat  Samiiel,  but  Lamuel,  seye  I —         585 
Redeth  the  Bible,  and  finde  it  expresly 
Of  wyn-yeving  to  hem  that  han  justyse. 
Na-more  of  this,  for  it  may  wel  sufFyse.  (260) 
And  now  that  I  have  spoke  of  glotonye. 
Now  wol  I  yow  defenden  hasardrye.     590 
Hasard  is  verray  moder  of  lesinges. 
And  of  deceite,  and  cursed  forsweringes. 
Blaspheme   of  Crist,   manslaughtre,  and 

wast  also 
Of  catel  and  of  tyme  ;  and  forthermo. 
It  is  repreve  and  contrarie  of  honour   595 
For  to  ben  holdo  a  comraune  hasardour. 
And  ever  the  hyer  he  is  of  estaat. 
The  more  is  he  holden  desolaat.  (270) 

If  that  a  prince  useth  hasardrye. 
In  alle  governaiince  and  policye  600 

He  is,  as  by  commune  opinioun, 
Y-holde  the  lasse  in  repvitacioun. 

Stillion,  that  was  a  wys  embassadour. 
Was  sent  to  Corinthe,  in  ful  greet  honour. 
Fro  Lacidomie,  to  make  hir  alliaunce.  635 
And   whan   he   cam,    him   happede,  par 

chaunce, 
That  alle  the  grettest  that  were  of  that 

lond, 
Pleyinge  atte  hasard  he  hem  fond.      (28c) 


.->6o 


c.    tU  (pav^ontv6  Zak. 


2543-12626. 


For  which,  as  sone  as  it  mighte  be,      609 
He  stal  him  lioom  agaj-n  to  his  contree. 
And  seyde,  'ther  wol  I  nat  lese  my  name  ; 
N"  I  wol  nat  take  on  me  so  greet  defame, 
Yow  for  to  allyo  un-to  none  hasardours. 
Sendeth  othere  wyse  embassadours  ;     614 
For,  by  my  trouthe,  me  were  lover  dye, 
Than  I  yow  sholde  to  hasardours  allye. 
For  ye  that  been  so  glorious  in  honours 
Shul  nat  allyen  yow  with  hiisjirdours  (290) 
As  by  my  wil,  ne  as  by  my  tretee.' 
This  wyse  i)hilosoi)hre  thus  seyde  he.  620 

Loke  eek  that,  to  the  king  Demetrius 
The  king  of  I'arthes,  as  tlie  book  seith  us, 
Sente  him  a  paire  of  dees  of  gold  in  scorn, 
For  he  hadde  used  hasard  ther-bifom ; 
For    which  he   heeld  his  gloria   or  his 
renoiin  625 

At  no  value  or  reputacioun. 
Lordes  may  finden  other  maner  ploy 
Honeste  y-nough  to  di-yve  the  day  awey. 

Now  wol  I  speke  of  othes  false  and 
grete  (301) 

A  word  or  two,  as  olde  bokes  trete.        630 
Gret  swering  is  a  thing  abhominable, 
And  false  swering  is  yet  more  reprevable. 
The  heighe  god  forbad  swering  at  al, 
Witnesse  on  Mathew  ;  but  in  special 
Of  swering  seith  the  holy  Jeremye,       635 

•  Thou  shalt  seye  sooth  thyn  othes,  and 

nat  lye, 
.\xid  swerc  in  dome,  and  eek  in  rightwis- 

nesse ; ' 
But  ydel  swering  is  a  cursednesse.      (310) 
Bihold  and  see,  that  in  the  firste  table 
Of  heighe  goddes  hastes  honorable,      640 
Howthat  the  seoonde  hesteof  him  is  this — 

•  Tak  nat  my  name  in  ydel  or  amis.' 
Lo,  rather  he  forbedeth  swich  swering 
Than  homicyde  or  many  a  cursed  thing  ; 
I  seye  that,  as  by  ordre,  thus  it  stondeth  ; 
This    knowen,    that    his    hestes    under- 

stondeth,  646 

How   that  the  second    heste  of   god  is 

that. 
And  forther  over,  I  wol  thee  telle  al  plat. 
That  vengeance  shal  nat  parten  from  his 

hous,  (32,) 

That  of  his  othes  is  to  outrageous.         650 

•  By  goddes  precious  herte,   and  by  his 

nayles, 


And  by  the  blode  of  Crist,  that  it  is  in 

Hayles, 
Seven  is  my  chaunce,  and  thyn  is  cink 

and  treye ; 
By  goddes  armes,  if  thou  falsly  pleye. 
This  dagger  shal  thurgh-out  thyn  herte 

go '—  655 

This  fruyt  cometh  of  the  bicched  bones  two, 
Forswering,  ire,  falsnesse,  homicyde.  (329) 
Now,  for  the  love  of  Crist  that  for  us  dyde, 
Leveth  your  othes,  bothe  grete  and  smale  ; 
But,  sirs,  now  wol  I  telle  forth  nay  tale.  660 

TiiisE  ryotoures  three,  of  whiche  I  telle, 
Longe  erst  er  pryme  rong  of  any  belle. 
Were  set  hem  in  a  taveme  for  to  drinke ; 
And  as  they  satte,  they  herde  a  belle  clinke 
Biforn  a  cors,  was  caried  to  his  grave ;  665 
That  oon  of  hem  gan  callen  to  his  knave, 
'  Go  bet,'  quod  he,  '  and  axe  redily,  (339) 
What  cors  is  this  that  passeth  heer  forby ; 
And  look  that  thou  reporte  his  name  wel.' 
'  Sir,'  quod  this  boy,  '  it  nedeth  never- 
a^del.  670 

It  was  mo  told,  er  ye  cam  heer,  two  houres ; 
He  was,  pardee,  an  old  felawe  of  youres ; 
And  sodeynly  he  was  y-slayn  to-night, 
For-dronke,  as  he  sat  on  his  bench  up- 
right ; 
Ther  cam  a  privee  theef,  men  clepeth 
Deeth,  675 

That  in  this  contree  al  the  peple  sleeth. 
And  with  his  spere  he  smoot  his  herte 
a-two,  (349) 

.4jid  wente  his  wey  with-outen  wordes  mo. 
He  hath  a  thousand  slayn  this  pestilence  : 
And,  maister,  or  ye  come  in  his  i)resence. 
Me  thinketh  that  it  were  necessarie  681 
For  to  be  war  of  swich  an  adversarie  : 
Beth  redy  for  to  mete  him  evermore. 
Thus  taughte  me  my  dame,  I  sey  na-more.' 
'  By  seinte  Marie,'  seyde  this  taverner,  685 
'  The  child  seith  sooth,  for  he  hath  slayn 

this  yeer, 
Henne  over  a  myle,  with-in  a  greet  village, 
Both  man  and  womman,  child  and  hyne, 
and  page.  (360) 

I  trowe  his  habitacioun  be  there  ; 
To  been  avj^sed  greet  wisdom  it  were,  690 
Er  that  he  dide  a  man  a  dishonour.' 
'  Ye,  goddes  armes,'  quod  this  ryotour. 


T.  12627-12702.]         c.    ZU  (parbonetre  Zak. 


561 


'  Is  it  swich  peril  with  him  for  to  mete  ? 
I  shal  him  seke  by  wey  and  eek  by  strete, 
I  make  avow  to  goddes  digne  bones  !  695 
Herkneth,  felawes,  we  three  been  al  ones  ; 
Lat  ech  of  iis  holde  xip  his  hond  til  other, 
And  ech  of  us  bicomen  other  es  brother,  (3  70) 
And  we  wol  sleen  this  false  traytour  Deeth  ; 
He  shal  be  slayn,  which  that  so  many 

sleeth,  700 

By  goddes  dignitee,  er  it  be  night. ' 

Togidres  han  thise  three  her  trouthes 

plight, 
To  live  and  dyen  ech  of  hem  for  other, 
As  though  he  were    his   owene  y-boi'en 

brother. 
And  up  they  sterte  al  dronken,  in  this 

rage,  705 

And  forth  they  goon  towardes  that  village. 
Of  which  the  taverner  had  spoke  biforn. 
And  many  a  grisly  ooth  than  han  they 

sworn,  (380) 

And  Cristes  blessed  body  they  to-rente — 
'  Deeth  shal  be  deed,  if  that  they  may  him 

hente.'  710 

Whan  they  han  goon  nat  fully  half  a 

myle, 
Right  as  they  wolde  han  troden  over  a 

style, 
An  old  man  and  a  povre  with  hem  mette. 
This  olde  man  ful  mekely  hem  grette. 
And  seyde  thus,  '  now,  lordes,  god  yow 

see!'  715 

The  proudest  of  thise  ryotoures  three 
Answerde  agayn,  '  what  ?  carl,  with  sory 

grace,  (389) 

Why  artow  al  forwrapped  save  thy  face  ? 
Why  livestow  so  longe  in  so  greet  age  ? ' 

This  olde  man  gan  loke  in  his  visage,  720 
And  seyde  thus,  '  for  I  ne  can  nat  finde 
A  man,  though  that  I  walked  in-to  Inde, 
Neither  in  citee  nor  in  no  village. 
That  wolde  chaimge  his  youthe  for  myn 

age  ; 
And  therfore  moot  I  han  myn  age  stille. 
As  longe  time  as  it  is  goddes  wille.         726 
Ne  deeth,  alias  !  ne  wol  nat  han  my  lyf ; 
Thus  walke  I,  lyk  a  restelees  caityf,  (400) 
And  on  the  ground,  which  is  jny  modres 

gate, 
Iknokke  with  my  staf,  bothe  erly  and  late. 
And  seye,  "leve  moder,  leet  me  in  !      731 


Lo,  how  I  vanish,  flesh,  and  blood,  and 

skin  ! 
Alias  !  whan  shul  my  bones  been  at  reste  ? 
Moder,   with  yow  wolde  I  chaunge  my 

cheste,  734 

That  in  my  chambre  longe  tyme  hath  be. 
Ye  !  for  an  heyre  clout  to  wrappe  me  !  " 
But  yet  to  me  she  wol  nat  do  that  grace, 
For  which  ful  pale  and  welked  is  my  face. 
But,  sirs,  to  yow  it  is  no  curteisye  (411) 
To  speken  to  an  old  man  vileinye,  740 
But  he  trespasse  in  worde,  or  elles  in  dede. 
In  holy  writ  ye  may  your-self  wel  rede, 
"  Agayns  an  old  man,  hoorupon  his  heed, 
Ye  sholde  aryse;"   wherfor  I  yeve  yow 

reed, 
Ne  dooth  un-to  an  old  man  noon  harm 

now,  745 

Na-more  than  ye  wolde  men  dide  to  yow 
In  age,  if  that  ye  so  longe  abyde  ; 
And  god  be  with  yow,  wher  ye  go  or  ryde. 
I  moot  go  thider  as  I  liave  to  go.'         (421) 
'  Nay,  olde  cherl,  by  god,  thou  shalt  nat 

so,'  750 

Seyde  this  other  hasardour  anon  ; 
'  Thmx  partest  nat  so  lightly,  by  seint  .John ! 
Thou  spak  right  now   of  thilke  traitour 

Deeth, 
That   in   this   contree    alle    our  frendes 

sleeth. 
Have  heer  my  trouthe,  as  thou  art  his 

ftspye,  755 

Tel  wher  he  is,  or  thou  shalt  it  abye, 
By  god,  and  by  the  holy  sacrament  ! 
For  soothly  thou  art  oon  of  his  assent,  (430) 
To  sleen  us  yonge  folk,  thou  false  theef ! ' 
'  Now,  sirs, '  quod  he,  '  if  that  yow  be  so 

leef  760 

To  linde   Deeth,   turne   up  this    croked 

wey. 
For  in  that  grove  I  lafte  him,  hy  my  fey. 
Under  a  tree,  and  ther  he  wol  ahyde  ; 
Nat  for  your  boost  he  wol  him  no-thing 

hyde. 
See  ye  that  00k  ?  right  ther  yo  shul  him 

finde.  765 

God  save  yow,  that  boghte  agayn.  man- 

kinde. 
And  yow  amende  ! ' — thus  seyde  this  olde 

ni'in. 
And  everich  of  thise  ryotoures  ran,    (440) 


;62 


t^t  C<xnUv&\xt^  ^aUe.  [t.  12703-127; 


Til  he  cam  to  that  tree,  and  ther  they 

founde 
Of  florins  fyne  of  polde  y-coyned  rounde 
Wei    ny    an    eighte    busshels,    as    hem 

thoughte.  771 

Nolenger  thanne  after  Deeth  they  songhte, 
But  ech  of  licm  so  glad  was  of  that  siglite, 
For  that  the  florins  been   so  faire  and 

brighte, 
That  doun  they  sette  hem  by  this  precious 

hord.  775 

The  worste  of  hem  he  spake  the  firste  word. 

'  Brethren,'  quod  he,  '  tak  kepe  what  I 

seye ; 
My  wit  is  greet,  though  that  I  bourde  and 

plcye.  (450) 

This  tresor  hath  fortune  un-to  us  yiven. 
In  mirtlio  and  jolitee  our  lyf  to  liven,  780 
And  lightly  as  it  comth,  so  wol  we  spende. 
Ey  !  goddes  precious  dignitee !  who  wende 
To-day,  that  we  sliolde  han  so  fair  a  gfrace? 
But  mighto  this  gold  be  caried  fro  this 

place  784 

Hoom  to  myn  hous,  or  elles  un-to  yoares — 
For  wfl  ye  woot  that  al  this  gold  is  oures — 
Than  were  we  in  heigh  fclicitee. 
But  trewely,  by  dayo  it  may  nat  be ;  (460) 
Men   woldo    seyn   that  we  were  theves 

stronge,  789 

And  for  our  owene  tresor  doon  us  honge. 
This  tresor  moste  y-caried  be  by  night* 
As  wysly  and  as  slj-ly  as  it  mighte. 
Wherforo  I  rede  that  cut  among  us  alle 
Be  drawe,  and  lat  see  wher  the  cut  wol 

falle ; 
And  he  that  hath  the  cut  with  herte  blythe 
Shal  renne  to  the  toune,  and  that  ful 

swj-the,  796 

And  bringe  us  breed  and  wyn  ful  prively. 
And  two  of  us  shul  kepen  subtilly  (470) 
This  tresor  wel ;  and,  if  he  wol  nat  tarie. 
Whan   it  is  night,   we  wol   this  tresor 

carie  800 

By  oon  assent,  wher-as  us  thinketh  best.' 
That  oon  of  hem  the  cut  broughte  in  his 

fest. 
And  bad  hem  drawe,  and  loke  wher  it  wol 

falle  ; 
And  it  fil  on  the  yongeste  of  hem  aUe  ; 
And  forth  toward  the  toun  he  wente  anon. 
And  al-so  sone  as  that  he  was  gen,        806 


That  oon  of  hem  spak  thus  nn-to   that 

other, 
'  Thou  knowest  wel  thou  art  my  sworne 

brother,  (480) 

Thy  profit  wol  I  telle  thee  anon. 
Thou  woost  wel  that  our  felawe  is  agon  ; 
And   heer   is  gold,   and  that   ful   greet 

plentee,  811 

That  shal  departed  been  among  ns  three. 
But  natheles,  if  I  can  shape  it  so 
That  it  departed  were  among  us  two, 
Hadde  I  nat  doon  a  freendes  torn  to  thee?' 
That  other  answerde,  '  I  noot  how  that 

may  be ;  816 

He  woot  how  that  the  gold  is  with  us 

tweye, 
What  shal  we  doon,  what  shal  we  to  him 

seye?'  Uq:)) 

'  Shal  it  be  conscil  ? '  soyde  the  firste 

shrewe, 
'  And  I  shal  tellen  thee,  in  wordes  fewe. 
What  we  shal  doon,  and  bringe  it  wel 

about  e.'  821 

'  I  graunte,'  quod  that  other,   '  out  of 

doute. 
That,  by  my  trouthe,  I  wol  thee  nat  bi- 

wreye.' 
'  Now,'  quod  the  firste,  '  thou  woost  wel 

we  be  tweye,  824 

And  two  of  us  shul  stronger  be  than  oon. 
Look  whan  that  he  is  set,  and  right  anoon 
Arys,  as  though  thou  woMest  with  him 

pleye  ; 
And  I  shal  ryve  him  thurgh  the  sydes 

tweye  (5<x)) 

Whyl  that  thou  strogelest  with  him  as  in 

game. 
And  with  thy  dagger  look  thou  do  the 

same ;  830 

And  than  shal  al  this  gold  departed  be, 
My  dere  freend,  bitwixen  me  and  thee  ; 
Than  may  we  bothe  our  lustes  nl  fulfiUe, 
And  pleye  at  dees  right  at  our  owene 

wille.' 
And   thus    acorded   been   thise    shrewes 

tweye  8,^5 

To  sleen  the  thridde,  as  ye  han  herd  me 

seye. 
This  yongest,  which  that  wente  un-to 

the  toun, 
Pul  ofte  Ln  herte  ho  rolleth  up  and  doun 


T.  12773-126 


c.    ZU  (pavbonere  Zak. 


563 


The  beautee  of  thise   florins   newe   and 
brighte.  (51O 

'O  lord!'  quod   he,   'if  so   were   that  I 
mighte  ^-t" 

Have  al  this  tresor  to  my-self  allone, 
Ther  is  no  man  that  liveth  nnder  the  tronc 
Of  god,  that  sholde  live  so  mery  as  I ! ' 
And  atte  laste  the  feend,  our  enemy, 
Putte  in  his  thought  that  he  shold  poyson 
beye,  ^45 

With  which  he  mighte  sleen  his  felawes 

tweye  ; 
For-why  the  feend  fond  him   in   swich 
lyvinge,  (5 '9) 

That  he  had  leve  him  to  sorwe  bringe, 
For  this  was  outrely  his  fuUe  entente 
To  sleen  hem  bothe,  and  never  to  repento. 
And  forth  he  gooth,  no  lenger  wolde  he 
tarie,  *^5i 

Into  the  toun,  lui-to  a  pothecarie, 
And  preyed    him,   that    he   him  wolde 

selle 
Som  poyson,  that  he  mighte  his  rattes 

quelle  ; 
And  eek  ther  was  a  polcat  in  his  hawe. 
That,   as   he    seyde,  his    capouns   hadde 
y-slawc,  856 

And   fayn   he   wolde    wreko    him,  if  he 

mighte, 
On  vermin,  that  destroyed  him  by  nightc. 
The   pothecarie   answerde,   '  and   thou 
Shalt  have  (530 

A  thing  that,  al-so  god  my  soule  save,  860 
In  al  this  world  ther  nis  no  creature. 
That  ete  or  dronke  hath  of  this  confiture 
Noght  but  the  mountance  of  a  corn  of 

whete. 
That  he  ne  shal  his  lyf  anon  forlete  ; 
Ye,  sterve  he  shal,  and  that  in  lasse  whyle 
Than  thou  wolt  goon  a  paas  nat  but  a 
myle ;  ^<^<^ 

This  poyson  is  so  strong  and  violent.' 
This   cursed    man   hath    in    his   hond 
y-hent  (540) 

This  poyson  in  a  box,  and  sith  he  ran 
In-to  the  nexte  strete,  un-to  a  man,      870 
And  borwed  [ot]  him  large  hotels  three  ; 
And  in  the  two  his  poyson  poured  he  ; 
The  thridde  he  kepte  clene  for  his  drinke. 
For  al  the   night  he   shoop  him  for  to 
swinke  <'*74 


In  caryinge  of  the  gold  out  of  that  place. 
And  whan  this  ryotour,  with  sory  grace, 
Had  filled  with  wyn  his  grete  hotels  three, 
To  his  felawes  agayn  repairoth  he.  (550) 
What  nedeth  it  to  sermone  of  it  more  ? 
For  right  as  they  had  cast  his  deeth  bifore. 
Right  so  they  hau  him  slayn,  and  that 
anon.  881 

And  whan  that  this  was  doon,  thus  spak 

that  oon, 
'  Now  lat  us  sitte  and  drinke,  and  make 

us  merie. 
And  afterward  we  wol  his  body  berie.' 
And  with  that  word  it  happed  him,  par 
cas,  885 

To  take  the  hotel  ther  the  poyson  was. 
And  drank,  and  yaf  his  felawe  drinke  also, 
For  which  anon  they  storven  bothe  two. 

But,  certes,  I  suppose  that  Avicen     (561) 
Wroot  never  in  no  canon,  ne  in  no  fen, 
Mo  wonder  signes  of  empoisoning  891 

Than  hadde  thise  wrecches  two,  er  hir 

ending. 
Thus  ended  been  thise  homicydes  two, 
Aiid  eek  the  false  empoysoner  also. 

O  cursed  sinne,  ftil  of  cursednesse  !  895 
O  traytours  homicyde,  o  wikkednesse ! 
O  glotonye,  luxurie,  and  hasardrye  !  (569) 
Thou  blasphemour  of  Crist  with  vileinye 
And  othes  grete,  of  usage  and  of  pryde  ! 
Alias  !  mankindo,  how  may  it  bityde,  900 
That   to   thy   creatour  which   that  thee 

wroghte. 
And  with  his  precious  herte-blood  thee 

boghte, 
Thou  art  so  fals  and  so  unkinde,  alias  ! 
Now,  goode  men,  god  forgeve  yow  your 

trespas,  9^4 

And  ware  yow  fro  the  sinne  of  avaryce. 
MjTi  holy  pardoun  may  yow  alle  waryce, 
So  that  ye  offre  nobles  or  sterlinges. 
Or  elles  silver  broches,  spones,  ringes.  (580) 
Boweth  your  heed  under  this  holy  bidle  ! 
Cometh   up,   ye  wyves,   ofifreth   of  your 

woUe !  9'o 

Your  name  I  entre  hoer  in  my  roUe  anon  ; 
In-to  the  blisse  of  hevene  shul  ye  gon  ; 
I  yow  assoile,  by  myn  heigh  power, 
Yow  that  wol  offre,  as  clene  and  eek  as 

cleer 


o64 


ZU  CdnttvUv^  Zake. 


[t.   12S49-12902. 


As   ye   were   born ;  and,   lo,  sirs,   thus  I 

lireche.  915 

And  Jesu  Crist,  that  is  our  soules  leche. 
So  graunte  yow  his  pardon  to  recey  ve  ;        [ 
For  that  is  best ;  I  wol  yow  nat  deccyve.     [ 

But  sirs,  o  word  forgat  I  in  my  tale,  (591) 
I  have  relikes  and  pardon  in  my  male,  9J0  j 
As  faire  as  any  man  in  Engelond,  ; 

Whiche  were  meyeven  by  the  popes  hond. 
If  any  of  yow  wol,  of  devocioun,  ! 

Offren,  and  han  mjTi  absoluoioun, 
Cometh   forth  anon,   and   kneleth  lieer  | 

adoun,  925  | 

And  mekely  receyveth  my  pardoun  :  ! 

Or  eUes,  taketli  pardon  as  j-e  wende,  (599) 
Al  newe  and  fresh,  at  every  tounes  ende, 
So  that  ye  offren  alwey  newo  and  newe 
Xobles  and  pens,  which  that  be  gode  and 

trewe.  930 

It  is  an  honour  to  everich  that  is  heer. 
That  ye  mowe  have  a  sufhsant  pardoneer 
T'assoille  yow,  in  contreo  as  ye  rj-do, 
For  nventures  wliich  that  may  bityde. 
Pera venture  ther  may  falle  oon  or  two  935 
Doun  of  his  hers,  and  breke  hia  uekke 

atwo. 
Look  which  a  seviretee  is  it  to  yow  alle 
Tliat  I  am  inyourfelaweshipy-falle,  (610) 
That  may  assoille  yow,  bothe  more  and 

lassc. 
Whan  that  the  soulo  shal  fro  the  body 

passe.  940 

I  rede  that  our  hoste  heer  shal  biginne, 
For  he  is  most  envoluped  in  sinne. 
Com  forth,  sir  hoste,  and  offre  first  anon. 
And  thou  shalt  kisse  the  relikseverichon, 


Ye,  for  a  grote  !  unbokel  anon  tliy  purs.' 
•Nay,    nay,'   quod    he,    'than    have    I 

Cristes  curs !  046 

Lat   be,'   quod    he,    'it   shal    nat   be,    so 

thee'ch  ! 
Thou  woldest  make  me  kisse  thyn   old 

breech,  (620) 

And  swero  it  were  a  re'.ik  of  a  seint, 
Thogh  it  were  with  thy  fundement  de- 

peint !  950 

But  by  the  croys  which  that  seint  Eleyne 

fond, 
I  wolde  I  hadde  thy  coillons  in  niyn  hond 
In  stde  '>f  relikes  or  of  seintuarie  ; 
Lat  cutte  hem  of,  I  wol  thee  heljie  hem 

carie ; 
They  shul  be  shrj-ned  in  an  hogges  tord.' 
This  pardoner  answerde  nat  a  word  ;  956 
So  wrooth  he  was,  no  word  ne  wolde  he 

seye. 
'  Now,'  quod  our  host,  '  I  wol  no  lenger 

pleye  (630) 

With  thee,  ne  with  noon  otherangry  man.' 
But  right  anon  the  worthy  Knight  bigan, 
WTian  that  he  saugh  that  al  the  peple 

lough,  961 

'  Na-more  of  this,  for  it  is  right  y-nough  ; 
Sir  Pardoner,  be  glad  and  mery  of  chere ; 
And  ye,  sir  host,  that  been  to  mo  so  dere, 
I  prey  yow  that  ye  kisse  the  Pardoner.  965 
And  Pardoner,  I  prey  thee,  drawe  thee 

neer. 
And,   as   wo   diden,    lat    us    laughe   and 

pleyo.'  (639) 

Anon    they   kiste,    and   riden    forth   hir 

weye.  [T.  12902 


Here  is  ended  the  Pardoners  Tale. 

{For  T.  12903,  see  p.  492). 


T.  558.^-5636.]    D.    ■^^e  (JOife  of  (§a00  (profogue. 


r.6r 


GROUP  D. 


THE   WIFE   OF    BATH'S   PROLOGUE. 


The  Prologe  of  the  Wyves  Tale  of  Bathe. 


'  Experience,  though  noon  auctoriteo 
Were  in  this  world,  werj  right  y-nougb 

to  me 
To  speke  of  wo  that  is  in  mariage  ; 
For,  lordinges,  sith  I  twelf  yeer  was  of  age, 
Thonked  be  god  that  is  eterne  on  Ij^-e,    5 
Housbondes  at  chirche-dore  I  have  had 

fyve; 
For  I  so  ofte  have  y-wedded  be  ; 
And  alle  were  worthy  men  in  hir  degree. 
Bixt  me  was  told  certeyn,  nat  longe  agon  is. 
That  sith  that  Crist  ne  wente  never  biit 

onis  10 

To  wedding  in  the  Cane  of  Galilee, 
That  by  the  same  ensample  tanghte  he  me 
That  I  ne  sholde  wedded  be  but  ones. 
Herke  eek,  lo !  which  a  sharp  word  for 

the  nones 
BesyJe  a  welle  Tesus,  god  and  man,        15 
Spak  in  repreve  of  the  Samaritan  : 
"  Thou  hast  y-had  fj've  housbondes,"  qiiod 

he, 
"And  thilke  man,  the  which  that  hath 

now  thee, 
Is  noght  thyn  housbond  ;  "  thus  seyde  he 

certeyn ; 
What  that  he  mente  ther-by,  I  can  nat 

seyn ;  20 

But  that  I  axe,  why  that  the  flfthe  man 
Was  noon  housbond  to  the  Samaritan  ? 
How  manye  mighte  she  have  in  mariage? 
Yet  herde  I  never  tellen  in  myn  age 
Upon  this  nombre  diffinicioun  ;  25 

Men  may  devyne  and  glosen  up  and  doun. 
But  wel  I  woot  expres,  with-oute  lye, 
God  bad  us  for  to  wexe  and  multiplye  ; 
That  gentil  text  can  I  wel  imderstonde. 
Eek  wel  I  woot  he  seyde,  myn  housbonde 


Sholde   lete  fader  and  moder,  and  take 

me ;  }  i 

But  of  no  nombre  mencioun  made  ho, 
Of  bigamye  or  of  octogamye  ; 
Why  sholde  men  sijeko  of  it  vileinye  ? 

Lo,  here  the  wyse  king,  dan  Salomon ;  55 
I  trowe  he  hadde  wyves  mo  than  oon  ; 
As,  wolde  god,  it  leveful  were  to  me 
To  be  refresshed  half  so  ofte  as  he  ! 
Which  yifte  of  god  hadde  ho  for  alle  his 

wyvis  ! 
No  man  hath  swich,  that  in  this  world 

alyve  is.  40 

God  woot,  this  noble  king,  as  to  my  wit. 
The  firste  night  had  many  a  mery  fit 
With  ech  of  hem,  so  wel  was  him  on  lyvc ! 
Blessed  be  god  that  I  have  wedded  fj-vc !  * 
Welcome  the  sixte,  whan  that  ever  ho 

shal.  45 

For  sothe,  I  wol  nat  kope  me  chast  in  al ; 
V\nian  myn  housbond  is  fro  the   world 

y-gon, 
Som  Cristen  man  shal  weddo  me  anon  ; 
For  thanne  th'apostlo  seith,   that  I  am 

free 
To  wedde,  a  godd's  half,  whor  it  lyketh 

me.  51) 

He  seith  that  to  be  wedded  is  no  sinne  ; 
Bet  is  to  be  wedded  than  to  brinne. 
Wliat  rekketh  me,  thogh  folk  seye  vileinye 
Of  shrewed  Lameth  and  his  bigamye  ? 

•  Here  some  M.SS.  insert  Ihe  following  ricnmn\- 
(put  rejected)  lines  : — 

Of  whiche  I  have  y-piked  out  tlie  beste 
Bothe  of  hir  netlier  purs  and  of  }iir  cheste. 
Diverse  scoles  maken  parfit  clerkes, 
Divers  praktik,  in  many  8ondry  werkes, 
Maketh  the  werkraan  parfit  sekirly. 
Of  fyve  husbondes  soolering  am  I. 


566 


tr^e  tanttv&ut]^  Zah8. 


[t.  5637-5718. 


1  woot  wel  Abraham  was  an  holy  man,  55 
And  Jacob  eek,  as  iVrforth  as  I  can  ; 
And  cch  of  hem  hadde  wjn^es  mo  than 

two  ; 
And  many  another  holy  man  also. 
Whan  saugh  ye  ever,  in  any  maner  age. 
That  hye  god  defended  mariage  60 

By  e.xpres  word  ?    I  pray  j-ou,  telleth  me ; 
Or  whcr  comanded  he  virg^nitee  ? 
I  woot  as  wel  as  ye,  it  is  no  drede, 
Th'apostel,  whan  he  speketh  of  mayden- 

liede ; 
He  seydo,  that  precept  ther-of  hadde  he 

noon.  65 

Men  may  conseille  a  womman  to  been  oon, 
But  conseilling  is  no  comandement ; 
He  putte  it  in  our  owene  jugement 
For  hadde  god  comanded  maydenhede, 
Thanno  hadde  he  dampned  wedding  with 

the  dede  ;  70 

,\nd  ccrtes,  if  ther  were  no  seed  y-sowe, 
Virginitce,  wher-of  than  sholde  it  g^rowe? 
Foul  dorste  nat  comanden  atte  leste 
A  tiling  of  which  his  maister  yaf  noon 

heste. 
The  dart  is  set  np  for  virgfinitee  ;  75 

Cacche  who  so  may,  who  renneth  best  lat 

see. 
But  this  word  is  nat  take  of  every  wight, 
But  ther  as  god  list  give  it  of  his  might. 
I  woot  wel,  that  th'apostel  was  a  mayde  ; 
But  natheless,  thogh  that  he  wroot  and 

sayde,  80 

He  wolde  that  every  wight  were  swich  as 

ho, 
Al  nis  but  conseil  to  virginitee  ; 
And  for  to  been  a  wj-f,  he  yaf  me  leve 
Of  indulgence  ;  so  it  is  no  repreve 
To  wedde  me,  if  that  my  make  dye,        85 
With-oute  excepcioun  of  bigamye. 
Al  were  it  good  no  womman  for  to  toiiche. 
He  mente  as  in  his  bed  or  in  his  couche  ; 
For  peril  is  bothe  fyr  and  tow  t'assemble ; 
Ye    knowe    what    this    ensample    may 

resemble.  90 

This  is  al  and  som,  he  heeld  virginitee 
More  pariit  than  wedding  in  freletee. 
Freeltee  clepe  I,  but -if  that  he  and  she 
Wolde  leden  al  hir  lyf  in  chastitee. 

I  graunte  it  wel,  I  have  noon  envye,  95 
Thogh  maydenhede  preferre  bigamye ; 


Hem  lykcth  to  be  clene,  body  and  goost, 
Of  myn  estaat  I  nil  nat  make  no  boost. 
For  wel  ye  knowe,  a  lord  in  his  houshold. 
He  liath  nat  every  vessel  al  of  gold  ;     100 
Somme  been  of  tree,  and  doon  hir  lord 

servyse. 
God  clepeth  folk  to  him  in  sondry  wyse. 
And  everich  hath  of  god  a  propre  yifte, 
Som  this,  som  that, — as  him  lyketh  shifte. 
Virginitee  is  greet  perfeccioun,  105 

And  continence  eek  with  devocioun. 
But  Crist,  that  of  perfeccioun  is  welle. 
Bad  nat  every  wight  he  sholde  go  selle 
All  that  he  hadde,  and  give  it  to  the  pore, 
And  in  swich  wyse  folwe  him  and  his 

fore.  I H) 

He  spak  to  hem  that  wolde  live  parfitly ; 
And  lordinges,  by  your  leve,  that  am  nat  I. 
I  wol  bistowe  the  flour  of  al  myn  age 
In  th'  actes  and  in  fruit  of  mariage. 

Telle  me  also,  to  what  conclusioun    115 
Were  membres  maad  of  generacioun, 
And     for    what     profit    was    a    wight 

y-wroght  ? 
Trusteth  right  wel,  they  wer  nat  maad 

for  noght. 
Glose  who-so  wole,  and  seye  bothe  up  and 

doun. 
That  they  were  maked  for  purgacioun  120 
Of  urine,  and  our  bothe  thinges  smale 
Were    eek  to  Icnowe  a    femele  from  a 

male, 
And  for  noon  other  cause  :  sey  ye  no  ? 
The  e.xperience  woot  wel  it  is  noght  so ; 
So   that   the   clerkes    be    nat  with    me 

wrothe,  125 

I  sey  this,  that  they  maked  been  for  bothe, 
This  is  to  seye,  for  office,  and  for  ese 
Of  engendrure,  ther  we  nat  god  displese. 
Why  sholde  men  elles  in  hir  bokes  sette, 
That   man    shal    yelde   to    his    wyf  hir 

dette?  130 

Now    wher-with    sholde    he    make    his 

payement, 
If  he  ne  used  his  sely  instrument  ? 
Than  were  they  maad  up-on  a  creature. 
To  purge  tiiyne,  and  eek  for  engendrure. 
But  I  seye  noght  that  every  wight  is 

holde,  135 

That  hath  swich  liarneys   as  I  to  yow 

tolde. 


T.  5719-5798.]    B.    ZH  (^iU  ©f  (^ft^$'e  ^rofogu^. 


567 


To  goon  and  usen  hem  in  engendnire  ; 
Than  sholde  men  take  of  chastitee  no 

cure. 
Crist  was  a  mayde,  and  shapen  as  a  man, 
And  many  a  seint,  sith  that  the  world 
bigan,  14" 

Yet  lived  they  ever  in  parfit  chastitee. 
I  nil  envye  no  virginitee  ; 
Lat  hem  be  breed  of  pured  whete-seed, 
And  lat  us  wyves  hoten  barly-breed  ; 
And  yet  with  barly-breed,  Mark  telle  can, 
Our  lord  Jesu  refresshed  many  a  man.  146 
In  swich  estaat  as  god  hath  cleped  us 
I  wol  persevere,  I  nam  nat  precious. 
In  wyfhode  I  wol  use  myn  instrument 
As  frely  as  my  maker  hath  it  sent.        150 
If  I  be  daungerous,  god  yeve  me  sorwe  ! 
Myn  housbond  shal  it  have  bothe  eve  and 

morwe, 
Whan  that  him  list  com  forth  and  paye 

his  dette. 
An  housbonde  I  wol  have,  I  nil  nat  lette. 
Which  shal  be  bothe  my  dettour  and  my 
thral,  155 

And  have  his  tribulacioun  with-al 
Up-on  his  flessh,  whyl  that  I  am  his  wyf. 
I  have  the  power  duringe  al  my  lyf 
Up-on  his  propre  body,  and  noght  he. 
Eight  thus  th'apostfil  tolde  it  un-to  me  ; 
And  bad  oxa  housbondes  for  to  love  tis 
weeL  161 

Al  this  sentence  me  lyketh  every-deel ' — 
Ur  sterte  the  Pardoner,  and  that  anon, 
'  Now  dame,'  quod  he,   '  by  god  and   by 

seint  John, 
Ye  been  a  noble  prechour  in  this  cas  !  165 
I  was  aboute  to  wedde  a  wyf;  alias  ! 
What  sholde  I  bye  it  on  my  flesh  so  dere? 
Yet  hadde  I  lever  wedde  no  wyf  to-yere  ! ' 
'  Abyde  ! '  quod  she,  '  my  tale  is  nat 
bigonne ;  169 

Nay,  thou  shalt  drinken  of  another  tonne 
Er  that  I  go,  shal  savoure  wors  than  ale. 
And  whan  that  I  have  told  thee  forth 

my  tale 
Of  tribulacioun  in  mariage, 
Of  which  I  am  expert  in  al  myn  age, 
This    to    seyn,   my-self   have    been    the 
whippe  ; —  1 75 

Than  maystow  chese  whether  thou  wolt 
sippe 


Of  thilke  tonne  that  I  shal  abroche. 
Be  war  of  it,  er  thou  to  ny  approche  ; 
For  I  shal  telle  ensamples  mo  than  ten. 
Who-so  that  nil  be  war  by  othere  men,  180 
By  him  shul  othere  men  corrected  be. 
The  same  wordes  wrj-teth  Ptholomee  ; 
Rede  in  his  Almageste,  and  take  it  there.' 

'  Dame,  I  wolde  praye  yow,  if  your  wil 

it  were,' 

Seyde  this  Pardoner,  '  as  ye  bigan,        185 

Telle  forth  your  tale,  spareth  for  no  naan, 

And  teche  us  yonge  men  of  your  praktike.' 

'Gladly,'  quod  she,   'sith  it  may  yow 
lyke. 
But  yet  I  praye  to  al  this  companye. 
If  that  I  speke  after  my  fantasye,  190 

As  taketh  not  a-grief  of  that  I  seye  ; 
For  myn  entente  nis  but  for  to  pleye. 

Now  sires,  now  wol  I  telle  forth  my 

tale.— 

As  ever  mote  I  drinken  wyn  or  ale, 

I  shal  seye  sooth,  tho  housbondes  that 

I  hadde,  195 

As  three  of  hem  were  gode  and  two  were 


The  three  men  were  gode,  and  riche,  and 

olde  ; 
Unnethe  mighte  they  the  statut  holde 
In  which  that  they  were  bounden  un-to 

me.  199 

Ye  woot  wel  what  I  mene  of  tliis,  pardee ! 
As  help  me  god,  I  laughe  whan  I  thinke 
How  pitously  a-night  I  made  hem  swinke ; 
And  by  my  fey,  I  tolde  of  it  no  stoor. 
They  had  me  yeven  hir  gold   and  hir 

tresoor ; 
Me  neded  nat  do  lenger  diligence  205 

To  winne  hir  love,  or  doon  hem  reverence. 
They  loved  me  so  wel,  by  god  above, 
That  I  ne  tolde  no  deyntee  of  hir  love  ! 
A  wys  womman  wol  sette  hir  ever  in  oon 
To  gete  hir  love,  ther  as  she  hath  noon.  210 
But  sith  I  hadde  hem  hooUy  in  myn  bond, 
And  sith  they  hadde  me  yeven  all  hir 

lond. 
What  sholde  I  taken  hede  hem  for  to 

plese. 
But  it  were  for  my  profit  and  myn  ese  ? 
I  sette  hem  so  a-werko,  by  my  fey,         215 
That  many  a  night  they  songen  "  wei- 

lawey ! " 


568 


Z^i  tanUvBuvjf  ^afc6. 


[t.  5799-5S7? 


The  baconn  was  nat  fet  for  hem,  I  trowe, 
That  som  men  han  in  Essex  at  Dunmowe. 
I  governed  liem  so  wel,  alter  my  hvwe, 
That  ecli  of  hem  ful  Misful  was  and  fawe 
To  bringeme  gaye  tliingesfro  thefayre.  221 
They  were  ful  glad  whan  I  spak  to  hem 

fayre  ; 
For  god  it  woot,  I  chidde  hem  spitously. 

Now  herkneth,  how  I  bar  me  proprely, 

Ye  wyse  wyves,  that  can  tinderstonde.  225 

Thus  shul  j-e  speke  and  here  hem  wrong 

on  lionde ; 
For  half  so  boldely  can  ther  no  man 
Swere  and  lyen  as  a  womman  can. 
I  sey  nat  this  by  wyves  that  ben  wj'se, 
Bnt-if  it  be  whan  they  hem  misavyse.  2_^o 
A  wys  wyf,  if  that  she  can  hir  good, 
Shal  beren  him  on  hond  the  cow  is  wood, 
And  take  witnesse  of  hir  owene  mayde 
Of  hir  assent  ;  but  herkneth  how  I  sayde. 
"Sir  olde  kaynard,  is  this  thyn  array? 
WTiy  is  my  neighelK>res  wyf  so  gay  ?     236 
She  is  honoured  ovcral  ther  she  goth  ; 
I  sitte  at  hoom,  I  liavo  no  thrifty  cloth. 
What  dostow  at  my  neighelwres  hous? 
Is  slio  so  fair  ?  artow  so  amorous  ?         240 
■\Miat  rowne  ye  with  our  mayde?   ben'- 

cite  ! 
Sir  olile  lechonr,  lat  thy  japes  be  ! 
And  if  I  have  a  gossib  or  a  freend, 
With-outen  gilt,  thou  chydest  as  a  feend. 
If  that  I  walke  or  pleye  un-to  his  hous !  245 
Thou  comest  hoom  as  dronken  as  a  mous, 
And  prechest  on  thy  bench,  with  yvel 

preef ! 
Thou  seist  to  me,  it  is  a  greet  moschief 
To  wedde  a  povre  womman.  for  costage  ; 
And  if  that  she  bo  riche,  of  heigh  parage, 
Than  seistow  that  it  is  a  tormentrye     251 
To  suffre  hir  pryde  and  hir  malencolye. 
And  if  that  she  be  fair,  thou  verray  knave. 
Thou  seyst  that  everj^  holonr  wol  hir  have ; 
She  may  no  whyle  in  chastitee  abyde,  255 
That  is  assailled  up-on  ech  a  syde. 

Thou    seyst,   som  folk  desyre    us    for 

riehesse, 
Som  lor  our  shap,  and  som  for  our  fair- 

nesse ; 
And   som,  for  she  can  onther  singe  or 

daunce,  259 

And  som,  for  gentillesse  and  daliannce  : 


Som,  for  hir  handes  and  hir  amies  smale ; 
Thus  goth  al  to  the  devel  by  thy  tale. 
Tlion  seyst,  men  may  nat  kepe  a  castel- 

wal; 
It  may  so  longe  assailled  been  over-al. 
And  if  that  she  be  foul,  thou  seist  that 

she  265 

C!oveiteth  every  man  that  she  may  see  ; 
For  as  a  spaynel  she  wol  on  him  lepe, 
Til  that  she  finde  som  man  hir  to  chepe ; 
Ne  noon  so  grey  goos  goth  ther  in  the 

lake,  269 

As,  seistow,  that  wol  been  with-oute  make. 
And  seyst,  it  is  an  hard  thing  for  to  welde 
A  thing  that  no  man  wol,  his  thankes, 

helde. 
Thus  seistow,  lorel,  whan  thow  goost  to 

bedde ; 
And   that    no   wys   man    ncdoth    for   to 

wedde,  274 

Ko  no  man  that  entendeth  un-to  hevene. 
With  wilde  thonder-dint  and  liry  levene 
Mote  thy  welked  nckke  be  to-broke  ! 
*    Thow  seyst  that  dropping  houses,  and 

eek  smoke, 
And  chyding  -vryxcs,  maken  men  to  flee 
Out  of  hir  owene  hous ;  a  !  hen'rile  !      280 
What  eyleth  swicli  an  old    man    Ibr   to 

chyde  ? 
Tliow  seyst,  we  wyves  wol  our  vycos 

hj-de 
Til  wo  be  fast,  and  than  we  wol  hem 

shewe ; 
Wel  may  that  be  a  proverbo  of  a  shrewe '. 
Tliou  seist,  that  oxen,  asses,  hors,  and 

houndes,  285 

Tliey  been  assayed  at  diverse  Stoandes ; 
Bacins,  lavours,  er  that  men  hem  bye, 
Spones  and  stoles,  and  al  swich  hous- 

Ijondrye, 
And  so  been  pottes,  clothes,  and  array; 
But  folk  of  wyves  maken  noon  assay    290 
Til  they  be  wedded  ;  olde  dotard  shrewe  ! 
And   than,   seistow,   we  wol  onre  vices 

shewe. 
Thou  seist  also,  that  it  displeseth  me 
But-if  that  thon  wolt  preyse  my  beautee, 
And  but  thou   poure  alwey  up-on   mj' 

face,  295 

And    clepe     me    '  faire   dame '   in    everj- 

l)lace  ; 


T.  5879-594?-]    !>■    ^U  (P^tfe  of  (gat^'6  (profogue. 


569 


And   but  thou  make   a  feste   on  thilke 

clay 
That  1  was  born,  and  make  me  fresh  and 

gay, 
And  but  thou  do  to  my  norice  honour. 
And   to  my   chamberere   with-inne   my 

hour,  300 

And  to  my  fadres  folk  and  his  allyes ; — 
Thus  seistow,  olde  barel  ful  of  lyes  ! 

And  yet  of  our  apprentice  Janekyn, 
Poi-  his  crisp  heer,  shyninge  as  gold  sofyn, 
And  for  he  squiereth  me  bothe  up  and 

doun ,  305 

Yet  hastow  caught  a  fals  suspecioun  ; 
I  wol  hym  noght,  thogh  thou  were  deed 

to-morwe. 
But  tel  me  this,  why  hydestow,  with 

sorwe, 
The  keyes  of  thy  cheste  awey  fro  me  ? 
It  is  my  good  as  wel  as  thyn,  pardee.   310 
"WTiat  wenestow  make    an    idiot   of  our 

dame  ? 
Now  by  that   lord,   that  called   is  seint 

Jame, 
Thou  shalt  nat  bothe,  thogh   that  thou 

were  wood. 
Be  maister  of  my  body  and  of  my  good  ; 
That  oon  thou  shalt  forgo,  maugree  thyne 

yen ;  315 

What  nedeth  thee  of  me  to  enquere  or 

spygn? 
I  trowe,  thou  woldest  loke  me  in   thy 

cheste ! 
Thoii  sholdest  seye,  '  wyf,  go  wlier  thee 

leste, 
Tak  your  disport,  I  wol  nat  leve  no  talis; 
1  knowe  yow  for  a  trewe  wyf,  dame  Alls.' 
We  love   no  man  that  taketh  kepe  or 

charge  321 

Wher  that  we  goon,  we  wol  ben  at  our 

large. 
Of  alle  men  y-blessed  moot  he  be, 
The  wyse  astrologien  Dan  Ptholome,    324 
That  seith  this  proverbe  in  his  Almageste, 
'  Of  alle  men  his  wisdom  is  the  hyeste. 
That  rekketh  never  who  hath  the  world 

in  honde.' 
By  this  proverbe  thou  shalt  nnderstonde. 
Have  thou  y-nogh,  what  thar  thee  recche 

or  care 
How  merily  that  othere  folkes  fare  ?     330 


For  certeyn,  olde  dotard,  by  your  leve. 
Ye  shul  have  queynte  right  y-nough  at  eve. 
He  is  to  greet  a  nigard  that  wol  -werne 
A  man  to  lighte  his  candle  at  his  lanterne ; 
He    shal    have    never    the    lasse    light, 

pardee ;  335 

Have  thou  y-nough,  thee  thar  nat  plejTie 

thee 
Thou  seyst  also,  that  if  we  make  us  gay 
With  clothing  and  with  precious  array. 
That  it  is  peril  of  our  chastitce  ; 
And  yet,  with  sorwe,  thou  most  enforce 

thee,  .  340 

And   seye  thise  wordes  in  the   apostles 

name, 
'  In    habit,     maad    with    chastitee    and 

shame. 
Ye  wommen  shul  apparaille  vow,'  quod 

he, 
'  And   noght  in  tressed    heer  and    gay 

perree. 
As  perles,  ne  with  gold,  ne  clothes  riche ; ' 
After  thy  text,  ne  after  thy  rubriche    346 
I  wol  nat  wirche  as  muohel  as  a  gnat. 
Thou  seydest  this,  that  I  was  lyk  a  cat ; 
For  who-so  wolde  senge  a  cattes  skin, 
Thanne   wolde  the   cat  wel  dwellen  in 

his  in  j  350 

And  if  the  cattes  skin  be  slyk  and  gay. 
She  wol  nat  dwelle  in  house  half  a  da.y, 
But  forth  she  wole,  er  any  day  be  dawed. 
To  shewo  hir  skin,   and   goon    a-cater- 

wawed  ; 
This  is  to  seye,  if  I  be  gay,  sir  shrewe,  355 
I  wol  renne  out,  my  borel  for  to  shewe. 
Sire    olde  fool,    what    eyleth    thee  to 

spyen  ? 
Thogh     thou     preye     Argus,    with     his 

hundred  yen. 
To  be  my  warde-cors,  as  he  can  best. 
In   feith,  he  shal  nat  kepe  me  but  me 

lest ;  360 

Yet   coude   I  make  his   herd,    so    moot 

I  thee. 
Thou  seydest  eek,  that  ther  ben  thinges 

three, 
The  whiche  thinges  troublen  al  this  erthe. 
And  that  no  wight  ne  may  endure  the 

ferthe ; 
O  leve  sir  shrewe,  Jesu  shorte  thy  lyf !  365 
Yet  prechestow,  and  seyst,  an  hateful  wyf 


57° 


ZU  CantetBurp  Zake. 


[t.  5949-602^. 


Y-rekened  is  for  oon  of  thise  meschances. 
Been  ther  none    ©there    maner   resem- 
blances 
That  ye  may  lyUne  yonr  parables  to, 
But-if  a  sely  wyf  be  oon  of  tho  ?  371) 

Thou  lykcnost  wommanes  love  to  belle, 
To   barej-no   lond,    ther   water   may   not 

dwclle. 
Thou  lyknest  it  also  to  wilde  fyr  ; 
Tho  more  it  brenneth,  the  more  it  hath 

desyr 
To    consume    everj-    thing    that    brent 

wol  be.  ^75 

Thou  seyst,  that  right  as  wormes  shende 

a  tree, 
Right  so  a  wyf  destroyeth  hir  honsbonde ; 
This    knowo    they   that  been   to  wyves 

bondo." 
Lordinges,    right    thus,    as    ye    have 

understonde, 
Bar  I  stifly  mjnie  olde   housbondes  on 

honde,  380 

That  thus  they  seyden  in  hir  dronkenesso ; 
And  al  was  fals,  but  that  I  took  witnesse 
On  Janckin  and  on  my  nece  also. 

0  lord,  the  pej-ne  I  dide  hem  and  the  wo, 
Ful  gilteleos,  by  goddes  swete  pyne !  385 
For  as  an  hors  I  coudo  bj-te  and  whj-ne. 

1  coude  pleyne,   thogh   I   were  in    the 

gilt, 
Or  elles  often  tymo  hadde  I  ben  spilt. 
Who-so  that  first  to  mille  comth,  first 

grint  ; 
I  pleyned  first,  so  was  our  werre  y-stint. 
They  were   fvd   glad  t'excusen  hem  ful 

blyve  30' 

Of  thing  of  which  they  never  agilte  hir 

lyve. 
Of  wenches  wolde   I    beren    him    on 

honde, 
Whan  that  for  syk  unnethes  mighte  he 

stonde. 
Yet  tikled  it  his  herte,  for  that  he        395 
Wende   that   I   hadde  of  him  so  greet 

chiertee. 
I  swoor  that  al  my  walkinge  out  by  nighte 
Was  for  t'espye  wenches  that  he  dighte  ; 
Under  that  colour  hadde  I  many  a  mirthe. 
For  al  swich  wit  is  yeven  us  in  oar  birtlie ; 
Decoite,  weping,  spinning  go<l  hath  yive 
To  wommen  kindely,  whyl  the.y  may  live. 


And  thus  of  o  thing  I  avaunte  mo,  403 
Atte   ende   I   hadde   the   bettro   in   ech 

degree, 
By  sleighte,  or  force,  or  by  som  maner 

thing,  405 

As  by  continuel  murmur  or  grucching ; 
Namely  a-bedde  hadden  they  meschaunce, 
Ther  wolde   I   chyde  and   do    hem    no 

plesaunce ; 
I  wolde  no  lenger  in  the  bed  abyde. 
If  that  I  felte  his  arm  over  my  syde,    41a 
Til  he  had  maad  his  raunson  un-to  mo  ; 
Than  wolde  I  suflfre  him  do  his  nycetee. 
And  ther-fore  every  man  this  tale  I  telle, 
Winne  who-so  may,  for  al  is  for  to  selle. 
With  empty  hand  men  may  none  haukes 

hire;  415 

For  winning  wolde  I  al  his  lust  endure. 
And  make  me  a  fej-ned  appetyt ; 
And  yet  in  bacon  hmlde  I  never  delyt ; 
That   made  me  that  ever  I  wolde  hem 

chyde.  419 

For  thogh  the  pope  had  setcn  hem  bisyde, 
I  wolde  nat  spare  hem  at  hir  owene  bord. 
For  by  my  tronthe,  I  quitte  hem  word 

for  wf)rd. 
As  help  me  verray  go<l  omnipotent, 
Thogh   I   right    now    sholde    make    my 

testament, 
I  ne  owe  hem  nat  a  word  that  it  nis  quit. 
I  broghte  it  so  alx)ute  bj-  my  wit,  426 

That  they  moste  yeve  it  up,  as  for  the 

Ijeste  ; 
Or  elles  hadde  we  never  been  in  reste. 
For  thogh  he  loked  as  a  wood  leoun. 
Yet  sholde  he  faille  of  his  conclusioun.  430 
Thanne  wolde  I  seye,  "gode  lief,  tak 

keep 
How  mekely  loketh  Wilkin  oure  sheep  ; 
Com    neer,   my  spouse,   lat   me   ba  thy 

cheke ! 
Ye  sholde  been  al  pacient  and  meke. 
And  ban  a  swete  spyced  conscience,     435 
Sith  j-e  so  preche  of  Jobes  pacience. 
Suffreth  alwe.y,  sin  ye  so  wel  can  preche ; 
And   hut    ye   do,   certein  we  shal    yow 

teche 
That  it  is  fair  to  have  a  wyf  in  pees. 
Oon  of  us  two  moste  bowen,  doutelees ;  440 
And  sith  a  man  is  more  resonable 
Than  womman  is,  yo  moste  been  suffrablo. 


T.   602: 


-6110.]    D.    ZU  (PS)tfe  of  (gat^'e  ^tofogue. 


What  ej'leth  yow  to   grucche  thus  and 

grone  ? 
Is  it  for  ye  wolde  have  my  queynte  allone? 
Why  taak  it  al,  lo,  have  it  every-deel ;  445 
Peter !  I  shrewe  yow  hut  ye  love  it  weel ! 
For  if  I  wolde  selle  my  bele  chose, 
I  ooude  walke  as  fresh  as  is  a  rose  ; 
But  I  wol  kepe  it  for  yovir  owene  tooth. 
Ye  be  to  blame,  by  god,  I  sey  yow  sooth." 
Swiche    maner  wordes  hadde  we  on 
honde.  451 

Now  wol  I  speken  of  my  fourthe  hous- 
bonde. 
My  fourthe  housbonde  was  a  revelour, 
This  is  to  seyn,  he  hadde  a  paramour ; 
And  I  was  yong  and  ful  of  ragerye,      455 
Stiborn  and  strong,  and  joly  as  a  pye. 
Wei  coude  I  davince  to  an  harpe  smale, 
And  singe,  y-wis,  as  any  nightingale. 
Whan  I  had  dronke  a  draughte  of  swete 

■w-yn. 
Metellius,  the  foule  cherl,  the  swyn,    460 
That  with  a  staf  birafte  his  wyf  hir  lyf, 
For  she  drank  wyn,  thogh  I  hadde  been 

his  wyf. 
He  sholde  nat  ban  daunted  me  fro  drinke ; 
And,  after  wyn,  on  Venus  nioste  I  tliinke : 
For  al  so  siker  as  cold  engendreth  hayl, 
A  likerous  mouth  moste  ban  a  likerous 
tayl.  466 

In  womman  vinolent  is  no  defence. 
This  knowen  lechours  by  experience. 
But,  lord  Crist !  whan  tliat  it  remem- 
breth  me 
L'p-on  my  yowthe,  and  on  my  jolitee,  470 
It  tikleth  me  aboute  myn  herte  rote. 
Unto  this  day  it  dooth  myn  herte  bote 
That  I  have  had  my  world  as  in  my  tyme. 
But  age,  alias !  that  al  wol  envenyme,  474 
Hath  me  biraft  my  beautee  and  my  pith ; 
Lat  go,  fare-wel,  the  devel  go  therwith  ! 
The  flour  is  goon,  ther  is  na-more  to  teUe, 
The  bren,  as  I  best  can,  now  moste  I  selle ; 
But  yet  to  be  right  mcry  wol  I  fonde. 
Now  wol  I  tellen  of  my  fourthe    hous- 
bonde. 480 
I  seye,  I  hadde  in  herte  greet  despyt 
That  he  of  any  other  had  delyt. 
But   he  was  qiiit,   by  god  and   by  seint 

Joce  ! 
I  made  him  of  the  same  wode  a  croce  ; 


Nat  of  my  body  in  no  foul  nianere,        485 
But  certeinly,  I  made  folk  swich  chere. 
That  in  his  owene  grece  I  made  him  frye 
For  angre,  and  for  verray  jalousye. 
By  god,  in  erthe  I  was  his  purgatorie,  489 
For  which  I  hope  his  soule  be  in  glorie. 
For  god  it  woot,  he  sat  ful  ofte  and  song 
Whan    that  his   shoo  ful  bitterly  him 

wrong. 
Ther  was  no  wight,  save  god  and  he,  that 

wiste. 
In  many  wyse,  how  sore  I  him  twiste. 
He  deyde  whan  I  cam  fro  Jerusalem,  495 
And  lyth  y-grave  under  the  rode-beem, 
Al  is  his  tombe  noght  so  curious 
As  was  the  sepulcre  of  him,  Darius, 
Which  that  Appelles  wroghte  subtilly  ; 
It  nis  but  wast  to  burie  him  preciously.  500 
Lat  him  fare-wel,  god  yeve  his  soule  reste. 
He  is  now  in  the  grave  and  in  his  cheste. 
Now  of  my  fifthe  housbond  wol  I  teUe. 
God  lete  his  soule  never  come  in  helle  ! 
And  yet  was  he  to  me  the  moste  shrewe  ; 
That  fele  I  on  my  ribbes  al  by  rewe,     506 
And  ever  shal,  un-to  myn  ending-day. 
But  in  our  bed  he  was  so  fresh  and  gay. 
And  ther-with-al  so  wel  coude  he  me  glose, 
Whan  that  he  wolde  han  my  bele  chose,  510 
That  thogh  he  hadde  me  bet  on  every 

boon. 
He  coude  winne  agayn  my  love  anoon. 
I  trowe  I  loved  him  beste,  for  that  he 
Was  of  his  love  daungerous  to  me. 
We  wommen  han,  if  that  I  shal  nat  lye. 
In  this  matere  a  quej'nte  fantasye  ;       516 
Wayte  what  thing  we  may  nat  lightly 

have, 
Ther-after  wol  we  crye  al-day  and  crave. 
Forbede  us  thing,  and  that  desyren  we  ; 
Frees  on  us  faste,  and  thanne  wol  we  flee. 
With  daunger  oute  we  al  our  chaffare ;  521 
Greet  prees  at  market  maketh  dere  ware. 
And  to  greet  cheep  is  holde  at  litcl  prys ; 
This  knoweth  every  womman  that  is  wj-s. 
My  fifthe  housbonde,  god  his  soule 
blesse !  B^? 

Which    that   I   took    for    love    and    no 

richesse. 
He  som-tynae  was  a  clerk  of  Oxenford, 
And  had  left  scole,  and  wente  at  boom  to 
bord 


5/2 


Z^t  Canferfiurp  Zake. 


[t.  Ci 


-6i8S. 


AVith  my  gossib,  dwellinge  in  oure  toun, 
God    have    liir    soule !    hir    name  was 

Alisoun.  530 

She  knew  myn  herte  and  eek  my  privetee 
Bet  than   our  parisshe-preest,   so   moot 

I  thee  ! 
To  hir  biwrej'ed  I  my  conseil  al. 
For  had  myn  housbonde  pissed  on  a  wal, 
Or  doon  a  thing  that  sholde  han  cost  liis 

lyf,  535 

To  hir,  and  to  another  worthy  wyf, 

And  to  my  nece,   which  that  I    loved 

weel, 
I  wolde  han  told  his  conseil  every-deel. 
And  so  I  dide  ful  often,  god  it  woot. 
That  made  his  face  ful  often   reed  and 

hoot  540 

For  verray  shame,  and  blamed  him-self 

for  he 
Had  told  to  me  so  greet  a  privetee. 

And  so  bifel  that  ones,  in  a  Lente, 
(So  often  tymes  I  to  my  gossib  wente, 
For  ever  yet  I  lovede  to  be  g:aj',  545 

And  for  to  walke,  in  March,  Averille,  and 

May, 
Fro  hous  to  hons,  to  here  sondry  talis'. 
That  Jankin  clerk,  and  my  gossib  dame 

Alis, 
And  I  my-self,  in-to  the  feldes  wente. 
Myn  housbond  was  at  London  al  that 

Lente ;  550 

I  hndde  the  bettre  leyser  for  to  pleye. 
And  for  to  see,  and  eek  for  to  be  seye 
Of  lusty  folk  ;  what  wiste  I  wher  my  grace 
Was  shapen  for  to  be,  or  in  what  place  ? 
Therefore  I  made  my  visitaciouns,         555 
To  vigilies  and  to  processiouns. 
To  preching  eek  and  to  thise  pilgrimages. 
To  pleyes  of  miracles  and  mariages. 
And  wered  upon  my  gaye  scarlet  gytes. 
Thise  wormes,  ne  thise  motthes,  ne  thise 

mytes,  560 

Upon  my  peril,  frete  hem  never  a  deel ; 
And  wostow  why?    for  they  were  used 

weel. 
Now  wol  I  tellen  forth  what  happed  me. 
I  scye,  that  in  the  feeldes  walked  we, 
Til  trewely  we  hadde  swich  daliance,  565 
This  clerk  and  I,  that  of  my  purveyance 
I  spak  to  him,  and  seyde  him,  how  that  he, 
If  I  were  widwe,  sholde  wedde  me. 


For  certeinly,  I  sey  for  no  bobance, 
Yet  was  I  never  with-outen  purveyance 
Of  mariage,  n'of  othere  thinges  eek.      571 
I  holde  a  mouses  herte  nat  worth  a  leek. 
That  hath  but  oon  hole  for  to  stcrte  to, 
And  if  that  faille,  thanne  is  al  y-do. 
I   bar  him  on  honde,   he    hadde  en- 
chanted me ;  575 
My  dame  taughte  me  that  soutiltee. 
And  eek  I  seyde,  I  mette  of  him  al  night; 
He  wolde  han  slayn  me  as  I  lay  up-right, 
And  al  my  bed  was  lul  of  verray  blood, 
But   yet    I  hope   that    he   shal   do  me 

good ;  580 

For  blood  bitokeneth  gold,  as  me  was 

taught. 
And  al  was   fals,   I  dremed  of  it   right 

naught. 
But  as  I  folwed  ay  my  dames  lore. 
As  wel  of  this  as  of  other  thinges  more. 
But  now  sir,  lat  me  see,  what  I  shal 

seyn?  585 

AJ  ha !  by  god,  I  have  my  tale  ageyn. 
Whan  that  my  fourthe  housbond  was 

on  here, 
I  weep  algate,  and  made  sory  chere. 
As  wyves  moten,  for  it  is  usage. 
And  with    my   coverchief   covered    my 

visage ;  590 

But  for  that  I  was  purveyed  of  a  make, 
I  weep  but  smal,  and  that  I  iindertake. 
To  chirche   was   myn   housbond   born 

a-morwe 
With  neigheborcs,  that   for  him  maden 

sorwe  ; 
And  Jankin  oure  clerk  was  oon  of  tho.  595 
As  help  me    god,   whan  that    I  saugh 

him  go 
After  the  here,  me  though te  he  hadde  a 

paLre 
Of  legges  and  of  feet  so  clene  and  faire. 
That  al  myn  herte  I  yaf  un-to  his  hold. 
He  was,  I  trowe,  a  twenty  winter  old,  600 
And  I  was  fourty,  if  I  shal  seye  sooth  ; 
But  yet  I  hadde  alwey  a  coltes  tooth. 
Gat-tothed  I  was,    and   that   bicam   me 

weel ; 
I  hadde  the  prente  of  sgynt  Venus  seel. 
As  help  me  god,  I  was  a  lusty  oon,       605 
And  faire  and  riche,  and  yong,  and  wel 

bigoon ; 


T.  6189-6276.]    D.    tU  (^tfe  of  (^at^'e  (profo^ue. 


573 


And  trewely,  as  myne  housbondes  tolde 

me, 
I  had  the  beste  quoniam  mighte  be. 
Tor  certes,  I  am  al  Venerien  609 

In  felinge,  and  myn  herte  is  Marcien. 
Ventis  me  yaf  my  lust,  my  likerousnesse. 
And  Mars  yaf  me  my  sturdy  hardinesse. 
Myn  ascendent  was  Taur,  and  Mars  ther- 

inne. 
Alias  !  alias  !  that  ever  love  was  sinne  ! 
I  folwed  ay  myn  inclinacioun  615 

By  vertu  of  my  constellacioun  ; 
That  made  me  I  coude  noght  withdrawe 
My  chambre  of  Venus  from  a  good  felawe. 
Yet  have  I  Martes  mark  up-on  my  face. 
And  also  in  another  privee  place.  620 

For,  god  so  wis  be  my  savacioun, 
I  ne  loved  never  by  no  discreciouu, 
But  ever  folwede  myn  appetyt, 
Al  were  he   short  or  long,  or  blak   or 

whyt ; 
I  took  no  kepe,  so  that  he  lyked  me,     625 
How  pore  he  was,  ne  eek  of  what  degree. 
What  sholde  I  seye,  but,  at  the  monthes 

ende, 
This  joly  clerk  Jankin,  that  was  so  hende, 
Hath  wedded  me  with  greet  solempnitee. 
And  to  him  yaf  I  al  the  lond  and  fee   630 
That  ever  was  me  yeven  ther-bifore  ; 
But  afterward  repented  me  ful  sore. 
He  nolde  suffre  nothing  of  my  list. 
By  god,  he  smoot  me  ones  on  the  list. 
For  that  I  rente  out  of  his  book  a  leef,  635 
That  of  the  strook  myn  ere  wex  al  deef. 
Stiborn  I  was  as  is  a  leonesse. 
And  of  my  tonge  a  verray  jangleresse, 
And  walke  I  wolde,  as  I  had  doon  biforn, 
From  hous  to  hous,  al-though  he  had  it 

sworn.  640 

For  which  he  often  tymes  wolde  preche. 
And  me  of  olde  Romayn  gestes  teche, 
How  he,  Simplicius  Gallus,  lefte  his  wyf. 
And  hir  forsook  for  terme  of  al  his  lyf, 
Noght  but  for  open-heeded  he  hir  say  645 
Lokinge  out  at  his  dore  upon  a  day. 

Another  Romayn  tolde  he  me  by  name, 
That,  for  his  wyf  was  at  a  someres  game 
With-oute  his  witing,  he  forsook  hir  eke. 
And  than  wolde  he  up-on  his  Bible  seke 
That  ilke  proverbe  of  Ecclesiaste,  651 

Wher  he  oomandeth  and  forbedeth  faste. 


Man   shal   nat   suffre   his  wyf  go   roule 

aboute ; 
Than  wolde   he   seye   right   thus,    with- 

outen  doute, 
"Wlio-so  that  buildeth  his  hous  al  of 

salwes,  655 

And  priketh  his  blinde  hors  over  the 

falwes, 
And  suffreth  his  wyf  to  go  seken  halwes, 
Is  worthy  to  been  hanged  on  the  gal- 

wes ! " 
But  al  for  noght,  I  sette  noght  an  hawe 
Of  his  proverbes  n'of  his  olde  sawe,       660 
Ne  I  wolde  nat  of  him  corrected  be. 
I  hate  him  that  my  vices  telleth  me, 
And  so  do  mo,  god  woot !  of  vis  than  I. 
This  made  him  with  me  wood  al  outrely ; 
I  nolde  noght  for  here  him  in  no  cas.    665 
Now   wol  I  seye  yow   sooth,   by  seint 

Thomas, 
Wliy  that  I  rente  out  of  his  book  a  leef. 
For  which  he  smoot  me  so  that  I  was 

deef. 
He  hadde  a  book  that  gladly,  night  and 

day. 
For  his  desport  he  wolde  rede  alway.    670 
He  cleped  it  Valerie  and  Theofraste, 
At  whiche  book  he  lough  alwey  ful  faste. 
And  eek  ther  was  som-tyme  a  clerk  at 

Rome, 
A  cardinal,  that  highte  Seint  Jerome, 
That  made  a  book  agayn  Jovinian  ;       675 
In  whiche  book  eek  ther  was  Tertvilan, 
Crisippus,  Trotula,  and  Helowys, 
That  was  abbesse  nat  fer  fro  Parys  ; 
And  eek  the  Parables  of  Salomon, 
Ovydes  Art,  and  bokes  many  on,  680 

And  alle  thise  wer  bounden  in  o  volume. 
And  every  night  and  day  was  his  custume, 
Whan  he  had  leyser  and  vacacioun 
From  other  worldly  occupacioun,  684 

To  reden  on  this  book  of  wikked  wyves. 
He  knew  of  hem  mo  legendes  and  lyves 
Than  been  of  gode  wyves  in  the  Bible, 
For  trusteth  wel,  it  is  an  impossible 
That  any  clerk  wol  speke  good  of  wyves, 
But-if  it  be  of  holy  seintes  lyves,  690 

Ne  of  noon  other  womman  never  the  mo. 
Who  peyntede  the  leoun,  tel  me  who  ? 
By  god,  if  wommen  hadde  writen  stories, 
As  clerkes  han  with-inne  hir  oratories. 


ZU  CantivBuv^  Zake. 


[t.  6277-6354. 


They   wolde    han   writen   of    men    more 

wikkednesso  695 

Than  all  the  mark  of  Adam  may  redresse. 
The  chililren  of  Mercnrie  and  of  Venxia 
Been  in  hir  wirking  ful  contrarious  ; 
Mercuric  loveth  wisdom  and  science, 
And  Venus  loveth  ryot  and  dispence.  700 
And,  for  hir  diverse  disposicioun, 
Ech  falleth  in  otheres  exaltacioun  ; 
And  thus,  g<nl  woot !  Mercurie  is  desolat 
In  Pisces,  wher  Venus  is  exaltat ; 
And    Venus    falleth    ther    Mercurie     is 

reysed ;  705 

Therfore  no  womman  of  no  clerk  is  preysed. 
The  clerk,  whan  he  is  old,  and  may  noght 

do 
Of  Venus  werkes  worth  his  oldo  she, 
Than  sit  he  doun,  and  writ  in  his  dotage 
That  wommen  can  nat  kepe  hir  mariago  ! 

But  now  to  pnrpos,  why  1  tolde  thee 
That  I  was  beten  for  a  book,  pardee.     712 
I'p-on   a   night    Jankin,   that   was    our 

syre, 
Redde  on  his  book,  as  he  sat  by  the  fyre, 
Of  Eva  first,  that,  for  hir  wikkednesse. 
Was  al  mankinde  broght   to  wrecched- 

nesse,  716 

For  which  that  Jesu  Crist  him-self  was 

slayn. 

That  boghteuswithhis  herte-bloodagayn. 

Lo,  here  expres  of  womman  may  ye  finde. 

That  womman  was  the  los  of  al  mankinde. 

Tho  redde  he  me  how  Sampson  loste 

his  heres,  721 

Slepinge,  his  lemman  kitte  hem  with  hir 

sheres ; 
Thurgh  whiche  tresoun   loste   he  bothe 

his  yen. 
Tlio  rodde  he  me,  if  that  I  shal  nat  lyen, 
Of  Hercules  and  of  his  Dianyre,  725 

That  caused  him  to  sette  himself  a^fyre. 
No-thing  forgat  he  the  penannce  and 

wo 
That  Socrates  had  with  hise  wyves  two  ; 
How  Xantippa  caste  pisse  np-on  his  heed  ; 
This  sely  man  sat  stille,  as  he  were  deed  ; 
He  wyped  his  heed,  namore  dorste  he  seyn 
But   "er  that  thonder  stinte,  comth  a 

reyn."  732 

Of  Phasipha,   that   was  the  quene  of 

Crete, 


Eor  shrewednesse,  him  thoughte  the  tale 

swetc  ; 
Fy  !  spek  na-more — it  is  a  grisly  thing — 
Of  hir  horrible  lust  and  hir  lyking.       736 

Of  Clitemistra,  for  hir  lecherye. 
That  l;Usly  made  hir  housbond  for  to  dye. 
Ho  redde  it  with  fnl  g<x)d  devocioun. 

He  tolde  me  eek  for  what  occasioun   740 
Aiiiphiorax  at  Thebes  losto  his  lyf ; 
My  n  housbond  ha^lde  a  leg'endo  of  his  wyf, 
Eriphilem,  that  for  an  ouche  of  gold 
Hath  prively  un-to  tho  Grekes  told 
Wher  that  hir  housbonde  hidde  him  in  a 

place,  745 

For  which  he  hadde  at  Thebes  sory  grace. 

Of  Lyma  tolde  he  me,  and  of  Lucye, 
They  bothe  made  hir  housbondes  for  to 

dye; 
That  oon  for  love,  that  other  was  for 

hate ; 
Lyma  hir  housbond,  on  an  even  late,    750 
Empoysoned  hath,  for  that  she  was  his  fo. 
Lncya,  likerous,  loved  hir  housbond  so, 
That,  for  he  sholde  alwey  ui)-on  hir  thinke, 
.Slie  yaf  him  swich  a  maner  love-drinke, 
I  That  he   was   deed,   er  it  were  by  tho 

morwe ;  755 

And  thus  algates  housbondes  han  sorwe. 
Than  tolde  he  me,  how  oon  Latumius 
Compleyned  to  his  felawe  Arriua, 
That  in  his  gardin  growed  swich  a  tree. 
On  which,  he  seyde,  how  that  his  wyves 

three  760 

Hanged  hem-self  for  herte  despitous. 
"  O  leve  brother,"  quod  this  Arrins, 
"  Yif  me  a  plante  of  thilke  blissed  tree. 
And  in  my  gardin  planted  shal  it  be  ! " 
Of  latter  date,  of  wyves  hath  he  red. 
That  somme  han  slayn  hir  housbondes  in 

hir  bed,  766 

And  lete  hir  lechour  dighte  hir  al  the 

night 
Why!  that  the  corps  lay  in  the  floor  up- 
right. 
And  somme  han  drive  nayles  in  hir  brayn 
^^^lyl  that  they  slepte,  and  thus  they  han 

hem  slayn.  770 

Somme  han  hem  yeve  poysoun  in  hir 

drinkft 
He   spak  more  harm    than   herte  may 

bithinke. 


T.  6355-6438.]    D.    ZU  (?0tfe  of  (gat^'e  (ptofogue. 


575 


And    ther-with-al,    lie  knew  of  mo  pro- 

verbes 
Than  in  this  world  ther  growen  gras  or 

herbes. 
"  Bet  is,"  quod  he,  "  thyn  habitacioun  775 
Be  with  a  leonn  or  a  foul  dragoun, 
Than  with  a  womman  usinge  for  to  chyde. 
Bet  is,"  quod  he,  "hye  in  the  roof  abyde 
Than  with    an    angi-y  wyf  doun  in  the 

hous ; 
They  been  so  wikked  and  contrarious  ;  7S0 
They  haten  that  hir  housbondes   loveth 

ay." 
He  seyde,    "  a  womman  cast  hir  shame 

away. 
Whan  she  cast  of  hir  smok ; "  and  forther- 

mo, 
"  A  fair  womman,  but  she  be  chaast  also. 
Is  lyk  a  gold  ring  in  a  sowes  nose."  7^5 
Who  wolde  wenen,  or  who  wolde  suppose 
The  wo  that  in  myn  herte  was,  and  pyne  ? 
And  whan  I  saugh  he  wolde  never  fyne 
To  reden  on  this  cursed  book  al  night, 
Al  sodeynly  three  leves  have  I  plight  790 
Out  of  his  book,  right  as  he  radde,  and 

eke, 
I  with  my  fist  so  took  him  on  the  oheke. 
That  in  our  fyr  he  fil  Imkward  adoun. 
And  he  up-stirte  as  dooth  a  wood  leoun, 
And  with  his  fist  he  smoot  me  on  the 

heed,  795 

That  in  the  floor  I  lay  as  I  were  deed. 
And  when  he  saugh  how  stille  that  I  lay, 
He   was  agast,   and  wolde  han   fled   his 

way. 
Til  atte  laste  out  of  my  swogli  I  breyde  : 
"O!    hastow  slayn  me,  false  theef?"   I 

seyde,  800 

"  And  for  my  land  thus  hastow  mordred 

Er  I  be  deed,  yet  wol  I  kisse  thee." 

And  neer  he  cam,  and  kneled  faire 
adoun, 
And  seyde,  "  dere  suster  Alisoun,  804 
As  help  me  god,  I  shal  thee  never  smyte  ; 
That  I  have  doon,  it  is  thy-self  to  wyte. 
Foryeve  it  me,  and  that  I  thee  biseke  " — • 
And  yet  eft-sones  I  hitte  him  on  the  cheke. 
And  seyde,  "theef,  thus  mtichel  am  I 
wreke ;  809 

Now  wol  I  dye,  I  may  no  lenger  speke." 


But  atte  laste,  with  muchel  care  and  wo. 
We  fille  acorded,  by  us  selven  two. 
He  yaf  me  al  the  brydel  in  myn  hond 
To  han  the  governance  of  hous  and  lond. 
And  of  his  tonge  and  of  his  hond  also,  815 
And   made   him   brenne  his  book   anon 

right  tho. 
And  whan  that  I  hadde  geten  un-to  me. 
By  maistrie,  al  the  soveraynotee, 
And  that  he  seyde,  "  myn  owene  trewe 

wyf, 
Do  as  thee  lust  the  terme  of  al  thy  lyf, 
Keep  thyn  honoiir,   and   keep  eek  myn 

estaat" —  821 

After  that  day  we  hadden  never  debaat. 
God  helji  me  so,  I  was  to  hini  as  kinde 
As  any  wyf  from  Denmark  un-to  Inde, 
And  also  trewe,  and  so  was  he  to  me.  825 
I  prey  to  god  that  sit  in  magestee. 
So  blesse  his  soule,  for  his  mercy  dere ! 
Now  wol  I  seye  my  tale,  if  ye  wol  here.' 

Biholde  the  wordes  bitween  tlie 
Somonoiir  and  the  Frere. 

The  Frere  lough,  whan  he  hadde  herd 

al  this, 
'  Now,  dame,'  quod  he,  '  so  have  I  joye  or 

blis,  830 

This  is  a  long  preamble  of  a  tale  ! ' 
And  whan  the  Somnour  herde  the  Frere 

gale, 
'  Lo  ! '  quod  the  Somnour,  '  goddes  armes 

two! 
A  frere  wol  entremette  him  ever-mo. 
Lo,  gode  men,  a  flj'e  and  eek  a  frere     835 
Wol  falle  in  every  dish  and  eek  matere. 
What  spekestow  of  preambulacioun  ? 
What !   amble,  or  trotte,  or  pees,  or  go 

sit  doun  ; 
Thou  lettest  our  disport  in  this  manere.' 
'Ye,  woltow  so,  sir   Somnour?'    quod 

the  Frere,  840 

'  Now,  by  my  feith,  I  shal,  er  that  I  go, 
Telle  of  a  Somnour  swich  a  tale  or  two, 
That  alle  the  folk  shal  laughen  in  this 

place.' 
'Now    elles,     Frere,    I    bishrewe    thy 

face,' 
Quod  this  Somnour,  '  and  I  bishrewe  me, 
But-if  I  telle  tales  two  or  three  846 


576 


ZU  tanUvBuv^  t^afee. 


[t.  6429-6485. 


Do,    dame,  tel  forth  your  tale,  and  that 
is  best.' 
'  Al  redy,  sir,'  quod  she,  'right  as  yow 


Of  freres  er  I  come  to  Sidingborne, 
That  I  shal  make  thyn  herte  for  to  mome ; 
For  wel  I  woot  thy  pacienco  is  goon.' 

Our  hoste  cryde  '  pees  !  and  that  anoon ! ' 
And  seyde,   '  lat  the  womman  telle  hir  I  If  I  have  licence  of  this  worthy  Frere.' 

tale.  «5i   I       'Yis,  dame,'  quod  he,  'tel  forth,  and 

Ye  fare  as  folk  that  dronken  been  of  ale.  I  wol  here.'  856 


Here  endeth  the  Wyf  of  Bathe  hir  Prologe. 


THE  TALE  OF  THE  WYF  OF  BATHE. 


Here  biglnneth  the  Tale  of  the  Wyf  of  Bathe. 


In  th'olde  dayes  of  the  king  Arthour, 
Of   which    that    Britons    speken    greet 

honour, 
Al  was  this  land  fulfild  of  fayerye.        859 
The  elf-queen,  with  hir  joly  companye, 
Daunced  ful  ofte  in  many  a  grene  mede ; 
This  was  the  oldo  opinion,  as  I  rede. 
I  speke  of  manyo  hundred  yeres  ago ; 
But  now  can  no  man  see  none  elves  mo. 
For  now  the  grete  chariteo  and  prayeres 
Of  limitours  and  othere  holy  freres,      (10) 
That  serchen  every  lond  and  every  streem. 
As  thikke  as  motes  in  the  sonne-beem, 
Blessinge     halles,     chambres,    kichenes, 

boures, 
Citees,  burghes,  castels,  hye  toures,      870 
Thropes,  hemes,  shipnes,  dayeryes, 
This  maketh  that  ther  been  no  fayeryes. 
For  ther  as  wont  to  walken  was  an  elf, 
Ther  walketh    now   the    limitour    him- 
self 
In  undermeles  and  in  morweninges,     875 
And  seyth  his  matins  and  his  holy  thinges 
As  he  goth  in  his  limitacioun.  (21) 

Wommen  may  go  saufly  up  and  doun, 
In  every  bush,  or  under  every  tree  ; 
Ther  is  noon  other  incubus  but  he,       880 
And  he  ne  wol  doon  hem  but  dishonour. 
And  so  hifel  it,  that  this  king  Arthour 
Hadde  in  his  hous  a  lusty  bacheler, 


That  on  a  day  cam  rydinge  fro  river ; 
And    happed   that,   allone   as    she    was 

bom,  (29)  88s 

He  saugh  a  mayde  walkinge  him  biforn. 
Of  whiche  mayde  anon,  maugree  hir  heed, 
I  By  verray  force  he  rafte  hir  maydenheed  ; 
For  which  oppressioun  was  swich  clamour 
And  swich  pursute  un-to  the  king  Ar- 
thour, 890 
That  dampned  was  this  knight  for  to  be 

deed 
By  cours  of  lawe,  and  sholde  ban  lost  his 

heed 
Paraventure,  swich  was  the  statut  tho  ; 
But  that  the  quene  and  othere  ladies  mo 
So  longe  preyeden  the  king  of  grace,    895 
Til  he  his  lyf  him  graunted  in  the  place, 
And   yaf  him   to   the    quene   al    at    hir 

wille,  (41) 

To  chese,  whether  she  wolde  him  save  or 

spille. 
The  quene  thanketh  the  king  with  al 

hir  might,  899 

And  after  this  thus  spak  she  to  the  knight, 
Whan  that  she  saugh  hir  tyme,  up-on  a 

day: 
'  Thou  standest  yet,'  quod  she,  '  in  swich 

array, 
That  of  thy  lyf  yet  hastow  no  snretee. 
I  grante  thee  lyf,  if  thou  canst  tellen  me 


T.  6487-6565.]    D.    ZU  ^<»fe  of  t^i  (^^f  of  (gat2>t. 


577 


What  thing  is   it   that  wommen   most 

desyren  ?  9<^S 

Be  war,  and  keep  thy  nekke-boon  from 
yren.  (50) 

And  if  thou  canst  nat  tellen  it  anon, 
Yet  wol  I  yeve  thee  leve  for  to  gon 
A  twelf-month  and  a  day,  to  seche  and 

lere 
An  answere  suifisant  in  this  matere.     910 
And  siiretee  wol  I  han,  er  that  thou  pace. 
Thy  body  for  to  yelden  in  this  place.' 
Wo  was  this  knight  and  sorwefully  he 

syketh  ; 
But  what !  he  may  nat  do  al  as  him  lyketh. 
And  at  the  laste,  he  chees  him  for  to 

wende,  915 

And  come  agayn,  right  at  the  yeres  ende. 
With  swich  answere  as  god  wolde  him 

purveye ;  (61) 

And  taketh  his  leve,  and  wendeth  forth 

his  weye. 
He  seketh  every  hous  and  every  place, 
Wher-as  he  hopeth  for  to  finde  grace,  920 
To  lerne,   what    thing    wommen    loven 

most; 
But  he  ne  coude  arryven  in  no  cost, 
Wher-as  he  mighte  iinde  in  this  matere 
Two  creatures  accordinge  in-fere. 

Somme     seyde,    wommen    loven    best 

richesse,  925 

Somme  seyde,  honour,  somme  seyde,  joly- 

nesse ;  (70) 

Somme,  riche  array,  somme  seyden,  lust 

abedde. 
And  ofte  tyme  to  be  widwe  and  wedde. 
Somme    seyde,    that    our   hertes    been 

most  esed. 
Whan  that  we  been  y-flatered  and  y- 

plesed.  930 

He  gooth  ful  ny  the  sothe,  I  wol  nat  lye  ; 
A  man  shal  winne  us  best  with  flaterye  ; 
And  with  attendance,  and  with  bisinesse. 
Been  we  y-lymed,  bothe  more  and  lesse. 
And  somme  seyn,  how  that  we  loven 

best  935 

For  to  be  free,  and  do  right  as  us  lest,  (80) 
And  that  no  man  repreve  us  of  our  vyce, 
But  seye  that  we  be  wyse,  and  no-thing 

nyce. 
For  trewely,  ther  is  noon  of  us  alle,      939 
If  any  wight  wol  clawe  us  on  the  galle. 


That  we  nil  kike,  for  he  seith  vis  sooth  ; 
Assay,  and  he  shal  finde  it  that  so  dooth. 
For  be  we  never  so  vicious  with-inne. 
We  wol  been  holden  wyse,  and  clene  of 
sinne. 
And  somme  seyn,  that  greet  delyt  han 
we  (89)  945 

For  to  ben  holden  stable  and  eek  secree, 
And  in  o  purpos  stedefastly  to  dwelle. 
And  nat  biwreye  thing  that  men  us  telle. 
But  that  tale  is  nat  worth  a  rake-stele  ; 
Pardee,  we  wommen  conne  no-thing  hele  ; 
Witnesse  on  Myda  ;  wol  ye  here  the  tale  ? 

Ovj'de,  amonges  othere  thinges  smale, 
Seyde,  Myda  hadde,  under  his  longe  heres, 
Growinge  up-on  his  heed  two  asses  eres. 
The  whiche  vyce  he   hidde,  as   he   best 
mighte,  955 

Ful  subtiUy  from  every  mannes  sighte, 
That,  save  his  wyf,  ther  wiste  of  it  na- 
me. (lOl) 

He  loved  hir  most,  and  trusted  hir  also ; 
He  preyede  hir,  that  to  no  creature 
She  sholde  teUen  of  his  disfigure.  960 

She  swoor  him  '  nay,  for  al  this  world 
to  winne. 
She  nolde  do  that  vileinye  or  sinne. 
To  make  hir  housbond  han  so  foul  a  name ; 
She  nolde  nat  teUe  it  for  hir  owene  shame.' 
But  nathelces,  hir  thoughte  that  she  dyde. 
That  she  so  longe  sholde  a  conseil  hyde  ; 
Hir  thoughte  it  swal  so  sore  aboute  hir 
herte,  (ni) 

That  nedely  som  word  hir  moste  asterte ; 
And  sith  she  dorste  telle  it  to  no  man, 
Doun  to  a  mareys  faste  by  she  ran  ;      970 
Til  she  came  there,  hir  herte  was  a-fyre. 
And,  as  a  bitore  bombleth  in  the  myre. 
She  leyde  hir  mouth  un-to  the  water  doun : 
'  Biwreye  me  nat,  thou  water,  with  thy 
soun,'  (118)  974 

Quod  she,  '  to  thee  I  telle  it,  and  namo  ; 
Myn  housbond  hath  longe  asses  eres  two ! 
Now  is  myn  herte  all  hool,  now  is  it  oute  ; 
I  mighte  no  lenger  kepe  it,  out  of  doute.' 
Heer  may  ye  se,  thogh  we  a  tyme  abyde, 
Yet  out  it  moot,  we  can  no  conseil  hyde  ; 
The  remenant  of  the  tale  if  ye  wol  here, 
Eedeth  Ovyde,  and  ther  ye  may  it  lere. 
This  knight,  of  which  my  tale  is  spe- 
cially, 983 


U 


57^ 


Zl^t  CanterButrp  Zake. 


[t.  6566-6635. 


Whan  that  he  saugh  he  mighte  nat  come 

therby, 
This  is  to  seye,  what  wommen  loven  moost, 
With-inne  his  brest  ful  sorweful  was  the 

goost ;  (130)  986 

But    hoom    he    gooth,    he    mighte    nat 

sojourne. 
The  (lay  was  come,  that  hoomward  mosto 

he  tourne, 
And  in  his  wey  it  happed  him  to  ryde, 
In  al  this  care,  under  a  forest-syde,      990 
Wher-as  he  saugh  up-on  a  daunco  go 
Of  hidies  foure  and  twenty,  and  yet  mo ; 
Toward  the  whiche  daunce  he  drow  ful 

yerne, 
In  hope  that  som  wisdom  shoUle  he  leme. 
But  certcinly,  er  he  came  fully  there,  995 
Vanisshed  was  this  daunce,  he  nist«  where. 
No  creature  saugh  he  that  bar  lyf,  (141) 
Save  on  the  grene  he  saugh  sittinge  a  wyf ; 
A  fouler  wight  thor  may  no  man  dov-j-se. 
Agayn  the  knight  this  olde  wyf  gan  ryse, 
And  seyde,  '  six-  knight,  heer-forth  no  Ij-th 

no  wey.  looi 

Tel  me,  what  that  ye  seken,  by  your  fey? 
Paraventuro  it  may  the  bettre  be  ; 
Thise  olde  folk  can  mnchel  thing,'  quod 

she. 
'My  leve  mooder,'   quod  this  knight 

certej-n,  1005 

'  I  nam  but  deed,  but-if  that  I  can  Beyn 
AVhat  thing  it   is  that  wommen   most 

desyre;  (151) 

Coude  ye  me  wisse,  I  wolde  wel  quyte 

your  hyre." 
'Plight  me  thy  trouthe,  heer  in  myn 

hand,'  quod  she, 
'  The  nexte  thing  that  I  requere  thee,  loio 
Thou  slialt  it  do,  if  it  lye  in  thj-  might ; 
And  I  wol  telle  it  yow  er  it  be  night.' 
'  Have  heer  my  trouthe,'  quod  the  knight, 

'  I  grante.' 
'Thanne,'   quod   she,    'I   dar   me   wel 

avantc,  1014 

Thy  lyf  is  sauf,  for  I  wol  stondo  therby, 
Up-on  my  lyf,  the  queen  wol  seye  as  I. 
Lat  see  which  is  the  proudeste  of  hem 

aUe,  (161) 

That  wereth  on  a  coverchief  or  a  calle, 
That  dar  seye  nay,   of  that  I  shal  thee 

teche ; 


Lat  us  go  forth  with-outcn  longer  speche.' 
Tho  rf)uned  she  a  pistol  in  his  ere,  loji 
And  bad  him  to  be  glad,  and  have  no 

fere. 
AVhan  they  be  conien  to  the  court,  this 

knight 
Seyde,    'ho  had  holde    his    day,   as  he 

hadde  hight. 
And  redy  was  his  answere,'  as  he  sayde. 
Ful    many  a  noble  wj-f,   and    many   a 

mayde,  (170)  lojo 

And  many  a  widwe,  for  that   they  ben 

wyse, 
The  quene  hir-self  sittinge  as  a  justyse. 
Assembled  been,  his  answer©  for  to  here  ; 
And  afterward    this    knight    was    bodg 

appere.  1030 

To  every  wight  comanded  was  silence, 

And  that    the    knight    sholde    telle    in 

audience, 
What  thing  that  worldly  wommen  loven 

best. 
This  knight  ne  stood  nat  stillo  as  doth 

a  Ijcst, 
But  to  his  questioun  anon  answerde   1035 
With  manly  voys,  that  al  tho  court  it 

herdo :  (180) 

'  My  lige  lady,  generally,'  quod  he, 
'  Wommen  desyren  to  have  sovereyntee 
As  wel  over  hir  housbond  as  hir  love, 
And  for  to  been  in  maistrie  him  above ; 
This  is  your  moste  desyr,  thogh  ye  me 

kille,  1041 

Doth  as  yow  list,  I  am  heer  at  your  wille.' 

In  al  the  court  ne  was  ther  wyf  ne 

mayde, 
Ne  widwe,  that  contraried  that  he  sayde. 
But    seyden,    'he   was  worthy  han    his 

Ij-f.'  1045 

And  with  that  word  up  stirto  the  olde 

^Tf,  (190) 

Wliich  that  the  knight  saugh  sittinge  in 

the  grene : 
'  Mercy, '  quod  she,    •  my  sovereyn  lady 

quene ! 
Er  that  your  court  departe,  do  me  right. 
I  taughte  this  answere  un-to  the  knight ; 
For  which  he  plighte  me  his    trouthe 

there,  1051 

The  firste  thing  I  wolde  of  him  requere, 
He  wolde  it  do,  if  it  lay  in  his  might. 


T.  6636-6712.]    D.    ZH  Cafe  of  tU  (P?^f  of  ^at^t. 


579 


Bifore  the  court  than  preye   I   thee,  sir 

knight,' 
Quod  she,  '  that  thou  me  take  un-to  thy 

wyf ;  1055 

For  wel  thou  wost  that  I  have  kept  thy 

lyf.  (200) 

If  I  sey  fals,  sey  nay,  up-on  thy  fey  ! ' 
This    knight    answerde,    'alias!    and 

Aveylawey  ! 
I   woot   right   wel   that    swich   was    my 

hiheste.  1059 

For  goddes  love,  as  chees  a  newe  requeste ; 
Tak  al  my  good,  and  lat  my  body  go.' 
'  Nay   than,'   quod  she,  '  I  shrewe  us 

bothe  two ! 
For  thogh  that  I  be  foul,  and  old,  and 

pore, 
I  nolde  for  al  the  metal,  ne  for  ore, 
That  imder  erthe  is  grave,  or  lyth  above, 
But-if  thy   wyf  I    were,    and   eek   thy 

love.'  (210)  1066 

'  My  love  ? '  quod  he  ;  '  nay,  my  damp- 

nacioun  ! 
Alias  !  that  any  of  my  nacioun 
Sholde  ever  so  foule  disparaged  be  ! ' 
But  al  for  noght,  the  ende  is  this,  that  he 
Constreyned    was,   he    nedes   moste   hir 

wedde ;  1071 

And  taketh  his  olde.  wyf,  and  gooth   to 

bedde. 
Now  wolden  som  men  seye,  paraventure, 
That,  for  my  necligence,  I  do  no  cure 
To  tellen  yow  the  joye  and  al  th'array 
That  at  the  feste  was  that  ilke  day.    (220) 
To  whiche  thing  shortly  answero  I  shal ; 
I  seye,  ther  nas  no  joye  ne  feste  at  al, 
Ther  nas  but  hevinesse  and  muche  sorwe ; 
For  prively  he  wedded  hir  on  a  morwe, 
And  al  day  after  hidde  him  as  an  oule  ; 
So  wo  was  him,  his  wyf  looked  so  foule. 
Greet  was  the  wo  the  knight  hadde  in 

his  thoght, 
Whan  he  was  with   his  wyf  a-bodde  y- 

broght ;  1084 

He  walweth,  and  he  turneth  to  and  fro. 
His  olde  wyf  lay  smylinge  evermo,      (230) 
And  seyde,  'o  dere  housbond,  hen'cite! 
Fareth  every  knight  thus  with  his  wyf 

as  ye? 
Is  this  the  lawe  of  king  Arthures  hous  ? 
Is  every  knight  of  his  so  dangeroiis  ?  1090 


I  am  your  owene  love  and  eok  your  wyf; 
I  am  she,  which  that  saved  hath  your  Ij-f ; 
And  certes,  yet  dide  I  yow  never  unright ; 
\\Tiy  fare  ye  thus  with  me  this  firste  niglit  ? 
Ye  faren  lyk  a  man  had  lost  his  wit ;  1095 
WTiat  is  my  gilt?  for  godd's  love,  tel 
me  it,  (240) 

And  it  shal  been  amended,  if  I  may.' 
'  Amended  ?  '  quod  this  knight,  '  alias  ! 
nay,  nay  ! 
It  wol  nat  been  amended  never  mo ! 
Thou  art  so  loothly,  and  so  old  also,    noo 
And  ther-to  comen  of  so  lowe  a  kinde. 
That  litel  wonder  is,  thogh  I  walwe  and 

winde. 
So  wolde  god  myn  herte  wolde  breste  !  ' 
'Is  this,'  quod  she,  'the  cause  of  your 
unreste?'  1104 

'  Ye,  certainly,'  quod  he,  '  no  wonder  is.' 
'  Now,  sire,'  quod  she,  '  I  coude  amende 
al  this,  (250) 

If  that  me  liste,  er  it  were  dayes  three. 
So  wel  ye  mighte  here  yow  un-to  me. 

But  for  ye  speken  of  swich  gentillesse 
As  is  descended  out  of  old  richesse,      11 10 
That  therfore  sholden  ye  be  gentil  men, 
Swich  arrogance  is  nat  worth  an  hen. 
Loko  who  that  is  most  vertuous  alway, 
Privee  and  apert,  and  most  entendeth  ay 
To  do  the  gentil  dedes  that  he  can,      1 1 15 
And    tak   him    for   the    grettest    gentil 
man.  (260) 

Crist  wol,  we  clayme  of  him  our  gentil- 
lesse, 
Nat  of  our  eldres  for  hir  old  richesse. 
For  thogh  they  yeve  us  al  hir  heritage. 
For  which  we  clayme  to  been  of  heigh 
parage,  1120 

Yet  may  they  nat  biquethe,  for  no-thing, 
To  noon  of  us  hir  vertuous  living, 
Tliat  made  hem  gentil  men  y-caUed  be  ; 
And  bad  us  folwen  hem  in  swich  degree. 

Wel  can  the  wyse  poete  of  Florence, 
That  highte  Dant,  speken  in  this  sentence; 
Lo  in  swich  maner  rym  is  Dantes  tale  : 
"Ful  selde  up   ryseth   by  his  branches 
smalc  (272)1128 

Prowesse  of  man  ;  for  god,  of  his  good- 

nesse, 
Wol  that  of  him  we  clayme  our  gentil- 
lesse; "  1 130 


58o 


tU  ^ftttferBurp  ^afee. 


[t.  6713-6802. 


For    of    our    eldres    may    we    110-tliiug 
clayme  ii.^i 

But  temporel  thing,  that  man  may  hurte 
and  mayme. 

Eck  every  wight  wot  this  as  wel  as  I, 
If  gentillesse  were  planted  naturelly 
Un-to  a  certeyn  linage,  doun  the  lyne, 
Privee  ne  apert,  than  wolde  they  never 
fyne  (280)  1136 

To  doon  of  gentillesse  the  faire  oflfyce  ; 
They  mighte  do  no  vileinye  or  vyce. 

Tak  fyr,  and  ber  it  in  the  derkeste  hous 
Bitwix  this  and  the  mount  of  Caucasus, 
And   lat  men  shette  the  dores  and  go 
thenne ;  ii^i 

Yet  wol  the  f>-r  as  faire  lye  and  brenne, 
As  twenty  thousand  men  mighte  itbUiolde ; 
His  office  naturel  ay  wol  it  holde, 
Up  peril  of  my  lyf,  til  that  it  dye.         1145 

Heer  may  ye  see  wel,  how  that  genterye 
Is  nat  annexed  to  possessioun,  (291) 

Sith  folk  ne  doon  hir  operacioun 
Alwey,  as  dooth  the  fyr,  lo !  in  his  kinde. 
For,  god  it  woot,  men  may  wel  olten  finde 
A  lordes  sone  do  shame  and  vileinye  ;  1 151 
And  he  that  wol  han  prys  of  his  gentrye 
For  ho  was  boren  of  a  gentil  hous. 
And  hadde  hise  eldres  noble  and  vertuous, 
And  nil  him-selven  do  no  gentil  dedis,  1 155 
Ne  folwo  his  gentil  auncestre  that  deed  is. 
He  nis  nat  gentil,  be  he  duk  or  erl ;    (301) 
For  vileyns  sinful  dedes  make  a  cherl. 
For  gentillesse  nis  but  renomee  1 159 

Of  thyne  auncestres,  for  hir  heigh  bountee. 
Which  is  a  strange  thing  to  thy  persone. 
Thy  gentillesse  cometh  fro  god  allone ; 
Than  comth  our  verray  gentillesse  of  grace, 
It  was  no-thing  biquethe  us  with  our  place. 

Thenkoth  how  noble,  as  seith  Valerius, 
Was  thilke  TiUlius  HostQius,      (310)  1166 
Tliat  out  of  povert  roos  to  heigh  noblesse. 
Redeth  Senelc,  and  redeth  eek  Boece, 
Ther  shul  ye  seen  expres  that  it  no  drede  is, 
That  he  is  gentil  that  doth  gentil  dedis ; 
And  therfore,  leve  housbond,  I  thus  con- 
clude, 1 171 
Al  were  it  that  myne  auncestres  were  rude. 
Yet  may  the  hye  god,  and  so  hope  I, 
Grante  me  grace  to  liven  vertuously.  1174 
Thanne  am  I  gentil,  whan  that  I  biginne 
To  liven  vertuously  and  weyve  sinue.  (320) 


And  ther-as  ye  of  povert  me  repreve, 
The  hye  god,  on  whom  that  we  bileve. 
In  wilful  povert  chees  to  live  his  lyf   11 79 
And  certes  every  man,  mayden,  or  wyf, 
May  nnderstonde  that  Jesus,  hovone  king, 
Ne  wolde  nat  chese  a  vicious  living. 
Glad  povert  is  an  honest  thing,  certeyn  ; 
Tliis  wol  Senek  and  othere  clerkes  seyn. 
\Mio-so  that  halt  him  paj^d  of  his  poverte, 
I  holde  him  riche,   al  hadde   he   nat  a 

sherto.  (330)  1186 

He  that  coveyteth  is  a  povre  wight, 
For  he  wolde  han  that  is  nat  in  his  might. 
But  he  that  noght  hath,  ne  coveyteth  have, 
Is  riche,  al-though  ye  holde  him  but  a 

knave.  1 190 

Verray  povert,  it  singeth  proprely  ; 
Juvenal  seith  of  povert  merily  : 
"Tlie  povre  man,  whan  he  goth  by  the 

weye, 
Bifore  the  theves  he  may  singe  and  pleye." 
Povert  is  hateful  good,  and,  as  I  gesse,  1 195 
,  A  ful  greet  bringer  out  of  bisinesse  ;  (340) 
A  greet  amender  eek  of  sapience 
To  him  that  taketh  it  in  pacionce. 
Povert  is  this,  al-though  it  seme  elenge  : 
Possessioun,  that  no  wight  wol  chalenge. 
Povert  ful  ofte,  whan  a  man  is  lowe,  1201 
Maketh  his  god  and  eek  him-self  to  knowe. 
Povert  a  spectacle  is,  as  thinketh  me, 
Thurgh  which  he  may  his  verray  frendos 

see. 
And  therfore,  sire,  sin  that  I  noght  yow 

greve,  1205 

Of  my  povert  na-more  ye  me  repreve.  (350) 

Now,  sire,  of  elde  ye  rejireve  me  ; 
And  certes,  sire,  thogh  noon  auctoritee 
Were  in  no  book,  ye  gentils  of  honour 
Seyn  that  men  sholde  an  old  wight  doon 

favour,  1 2 10 

And  clepe  him  fader,  for  your  gentillesse  ; 
And  auctours  shal  I  finden,  as  I  gesse. 

Now  ther  ye  seye,  that  I  am  foul  and  old. 
Than  drede  you  noght  to  been  a  cokewold ; 
For  filthe  and  elde,  al-so  mote  I  thee,  1215 
Been  grete  wardeyns  up-on  chastitee.  (360) 
But  nathelees,  sin  I  knowe  your  delyt, 
I  shal  fuLfille  your  worldly  appetyt. 

Chees   now,'  quod  she,   'oon   of  thise 

thinges  tweye,  1219 

To  han  me  foul  and  old  til  that  I  deyc. 


T.  f;8o3-5862.]  D.    ZU  Svi&v'a  (Profogue. 


5«i 


And  be  to  yow  a  trewe  humble  wyf, 
And  never  yow  displese  in  al  my  lyf, 
Or  elles  ye  wol  han  me  yong  and  fair, 
And  take  yonr  aventiire  of  the  repair  1224 
That  shal  be  to  your  hoiis,  by-cause  of  me, 
Or  in  som  other  place,  may  wel  be.     (370) 
Now  chees  yoiir-selven,  whether  that  yow 

lyketh.' 
This    knight    avyseth    him    and    sore 

syketh. 
But  atte  laste  he  sej'de  in  this  manere, 
'  My  lady  and  my  love,  and  wyf  so  dere, 
I  put  me  in  your  wyse  governance  ;     1231 
Cheseth  your-self,  which   may  be  most 

plesance. 
And  most  honour  to  yow  and  me  also. 
I  do  no  fors  the  whether  of  the  two  ; 
For  as  yow  lyketh,  it  suffiseth  me.'       1235 
'  Thanne  have  I  gete  of  yow  maistrye,' 

quod  she,  (380) 

'  Sin  Imay  chese,  andgoveme  as  me  lest?' 

'  Ye,  certes,  wyf,'  quod  he,  '  I  holde  it 

best.' 
'  Kis  me,'  quod  she,  '  we  be  no  lenger 

wrothe ;  1239 

For,  by  my  trouthe,  I  wol  be  to  yow  bothe, 
This  is  to  seyn,  ye,  bothe  fair  and  good. 
I  prey  to  god  that  I  mot  sterven  wood. 


But  I  to  yow  be  al-so  good  and  trewe 
As  ever  was  wyf,  sin  that  the  world  was 

newe. 
And,  but  I  be  to-morn  as  fair  to  sene  1245 
As  any  lady,  emperyce,  or  quene,        (390) 
That  is  bitwixe  the  est  and  eke  the  west. 
Doth  with  my  lyf  and  deeth  right  as  yow 

lest. 
Cast  up  the  curtin,  loke  how  that  it  is.' 
And  whan  the  knight  satigh  verraily  al 

this,  1250 

That  she  so  fair  was,  and  so  yong  ther-to. 
For  joye  he  hente  hir  in  his  armes  two, 
His  herte  bathed  in  a  bath  of  blisse  ; 
A  thousand   tyme    a-rewe    he  gan    hir 

kisse. 
And  she  obeyed  him  in  every  thing     1255 
Tliat  mighte  doon  him  plesance  or  lyking. 
And   thus   they  live,   un-to   hir   lyves 

ende,  (401) 

In  parfit  joye  ;  and  Jesu  Crist  us  sende 
Housbondes  meke,  yonge,  and  fresshe  a- 


bedde. 


'-59 


And  grace  t'overbyde  hem  that  we  wedde. 
And  eek  I  preye  .Jesii  shorte  hir  lyves 
That  wol  nat  be  governed  by  hir  wyves  ; 
And  olde  and  angry  nigardes  of  dispence, 
God  sende  hem  sone  verray  pestilence. 


Here  endeth  the  Wyves  Tale  of  Bathe. 


THE    FRIAR'S    PROLOGUE. 


The  Prologe  of  the  Freres  tale. 


This  worthy  limitour,  this  noble  Frere,  1 265 
He  made  alwey  a  maner  louring  chere 
Upon  the  Somnour,  but  for  honestee 
No  vileyns  word  as  yet  to  him  spak  he. 
But  atte  laste  he  seyde  un-to  the  Wyf, 
'Dame,'  quod   he,    'god  yeve  yow  right 
good  lyf!  1270 

Ye  han  heer  touched,  al-so  mote  I  thee. 
In  scole-matere  greet  diflScultee  ; 


Ye  han  seyd  muchel  thing  riglit  wel,  I 
seye ;  (9) 

But  dame,  here  as  we  ryden  by  the  weye. 
Us  nedeth  nat  to  speken  but  of  game,  1275 
And  lete  auctoritees,  on  goddes  name, 
To  preching  and  to  scole  eek  of  clergj'e. 
But  if  it  lyke  to  this  companye, 
I  wol  yow  of  a  somnour  telle  a  game.  1279 
Pardee,  ye  may  wel  knowe  by  the  name. 


582 


ZU  CftnferBurp  Z<xke, 


[t.  6863-6917. 


That  of   a    somnour   may  no   good   be 

sayd  ; 
I  praye  that  noon  of  you  bo  yvel  apayd. 
A  somnour  is  a  renner  up  and  donn 
With  mandements  for  fornicacioun,     (20) 
And  is  y-bet  at  every  tounes  ende.'      1285 
Our  host  tho  simk,  'a!  sire,  ye  sholde 

be  hendo 
And  curteys,  as  a  man  of  your  estaat ; 
In  companye  we  wol  have  no  debaat. 
Telleth  your  tale,  and  lat  the  Somnour 

be.' 


'  Nay,'    quod   the    Somnour,    '  lat   him 
seye  to  me  1290 

What  so  him  list ;  whan  itcomth  to  my  lot, 
By  god,  I  shal  him  quyten  every  gi'ot. 
I  shal  him  tellen  whicli  a  greet  honour  (29) 
It  is  to  be  a  flateringe  limitonr  ;     [T.  6876 
And  his  offyce  I  shal  him  telle,  y-wis.' 

[T.  6879 
Our  host  answerde,  'pees,  na-more  of 
this.'  1296 

And  after  this  he  seyde  un-to  the  Frere, 
'  Tel  forth  your  tale,  leve  maister  deere.' 


Here  endeth  the  Prologe  of  the  Frere. 


THE    FRERES    TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Freres  tale. 


WuiLOM  ther  was  dwcllinge  in  my  contree 

An  erchedckcn,  a  man  of  heigh  degree. 

That  boldely  dide  exccucioun  1301 

In  punisshinge  of  fornicacioun. 

Of  wicchecraft,  and  eek  of  bauderye. 

Of  diffamacioun,  and  avoutrye, 

Of  chirche-reves,  and  of  testaments,    1305 

Of  contractes,  and  of  lakke  of  sacraments, 

And  eek  of  many  another  maner  cryme 

[T.  om. 
AMiich  nedeth  nat  rehercen  at  this  tyme  ; 
[T.  om. 
Of  usure,  and  of  symonye  also.  ( i : ) 

But  certes,  lechours  dide  he  grettest  wo ; 
Tliey  sholde   singen,  if  that   they  were 

hent ;  1311 

And  smale  tytheres  weren  foule  y-shent. 
If  any  jjersone  wolde  up-on  hem  plejme, 
Ther  mighte   asterte   him   no   pecunial 

peyne. 
For  smale  tythes  and  for  smal  offringe  13 15 
He  made  the  i)eple  pitously  to  singe. 
For  er  the  bisshop  caughte  hem  with  his 

hook, 


They  weren  in  the  erehedeknes  book.  (20) 
Thanne  hadde  he,  thurgh  his  jurisdic- 

cioun. 
Power  to  doon  on  hem  correccioun.     1320 
He  hadde  a  Somnour  redy  to  his  hond, 
A  slyer  boy  was  noon  in  Engelond ; 
For  subtilly  he  hadde  his  espiaille, 
That  taughte  him,  wher  that  him  mighte 

availle.  1324 

He  coude  spare  of  lechours  oon  or  two, 
To  techen  him  to  foure  and  twenty  mo. 
For  thogh  this  Somnour  wood  were  as  an 

hare, 
To  telle  his  harlotrye  I  wol  nat  spare  ;  (30) 
For  we  been  out  of  his  correccioun  ; 
Tliey  han  of  us  no  jurisdiccioun,  1330 

Ne  never  shullen,  terme  of  alle  hir  lyves. 
'Peter!   so  been  the  wommen  of  the 

styves,' 
Quod  the  Somnour,  '  y-put  out  of  my  cure ! ' 
'  Pees,  with  mischance  and  with  mis- 

aventure,' 
Thus  seyde  our  host,  'and  lat  him  telle 

his  tale.  1335 


r.  6918-6997.] 


D.    ZU  S^^vte  Zak. 


58: 


Xow  telleth  forth,  thogli  that  the  Som- 

noiir  gale, 
Nc-  spareth  nat,  myn  owene  maister  dere.' 
This  false  theef,   this   Somnour,   quod 
the  Frere,  (40) 

Hadde  alwey  baudes  redy  to  his  hond. 
As  any  hauk  to  lure  in  Engelond,       1340 
That  tolde  him  al  the  secree  that  they 

knewe ; 
For  liir  acqueyntance  was  nat  come  of- 

newe. 
They  weren  hise  approwours  prively  ; 
He  took  him-self  a  greet  profit  therby  ; 
His  maister  knew  nat  alwey  what  he  wan. 
With-outenmandement,  alewedmau  1346 
He  coude  somne,  on  peyne  of  Cristes  curs, 
And  they  were   gladde   for   to    fille   his 
purs,  (5") 

And  make  him  grete  festes  atte  nale. 
And  right  as  Judas  hadde  purses  smale, 
And  was  a  theef,  right  swich  a  theef  was 
he ;  1351 

His  maister  hadde  but  half  his  du6tee. 
He  was,  if  I  shal  yeven  him  his  laude, 
A  theef,  and  eek  a  Somnour,  and  a  baude. 
He  hadde  eek  wenches  at  his  retenue,  1355 
That,  whether  that  sir  Robert  or  sir  Huwe, 
Or  Jakke,  or  Ranf,  or  who-so  th.at  it  were. 
That  lay  by  hem,  tliey  tolde  it  in  his  ere ; 
Thus  was  the  wenche  and  he  of  oon  as- 
sent. (61) 
And  he  wolde  fecchc  a  feyned  mande- 
ment,                                                     1360 
And  somne  hem  to  the  chapitre  bothe  two. 
And  pile  the  man,  and  lete  the  wenche  go. 
■  Thanne  wolde  he  seye,  '  frend,  I  shal  for 
thy  sake                                             1363 
Do  strj'ken  hir  oi\t  of  our  lettres  blake ; 
Thee  tliar  na-more  as  in  this  cas  travaille  ; 
I  am  thy  freend,  ther  I  thee  may  availle.' 
Certeyn  he  knew  of  bryberyes  mo 
Than  possible  is  to  telle  in  yeres  two.  (70) 
For  in  this  world  nis  dogge  for  the  bo  we. 
That   can   an   hurt   deer   from   an    hool 
y-knowe,  1370 
Bet  than  this  Somnour  knew  a  sly  leohour. 
Or  an  avouter,  or  a  paramour. 
And,  for  that  was  the  fruit  of  al  his  rente, 
Therfore  on  it  he  sette  al  his  entente. 

And  so  bifel,  that  ones  on  a  day       1375 
This  Somnour,  ever  waiting  on  his  pray, 


Rood  for  to  somne  a  widwe,  an  old  ribybe, 
Feyninge  a  cause,  for  he  wolde  brybe.  (80) 
And  happed  that  he  saugh  bifore  him  rydo 
A  gay  yeman,  under  a  forest-syde.  1380 
A  bowe  he  bar,  and  arwes  brighte  and 

kene ; 
He  hadde  up-on  a  courtepy  of  grene  ; 
An  hat  up-on  his  heed  with  frenges  blake. 
'Sir,'  quod  this  Somnour,   '  hayl !  and 
wel  a-take ! ' 
'Wel-come,'  quod   he,    'and   every   good 
felawe !  13^5 

Wher  rj'destow  under  this  grene  shawe  ? ' 
Seyde  this  yeman,  '  wiltow  fer  to  day  ? ' 
This  Somnour  him  answerde,  and  seyde, 
'  nay ;  (9») 

Heer  faste  by,'  quod  he,  '  is  myn  entente 
To  rj'den,  for  to  reysen  up  a  rente  1390 
That  longeth  to  my  lordes  duetee.' 

'  Artow  thanne  a  bailly  ? '    '  Ye  ! '  quod 
he. 
He  dorste  nat,  for  verray  filthe  and  shame, 
Seye  that  he  was  a   somnour,   for   the 
name. 
^  DeiMi-dieiix,'  quod  this  yeman,  'dere 
brother,  13  95 

Thoii  art  a  bailly,  and  I  am  another. 
I  am  unknowen  as  in  this  contree  ;      (99) 
Of  thyn  aqueyntance  I  wolde  praye  thee. 
And  eek  of  brotherhede,  if  that  yow  leste. 
I  have  gold  and  silver  in  my  cheste  ;  1400 
If  that  thee  happe  to  comen  in  our  shyre, 
Al  shal  be  thyn,  right  as  thou  wolt  desyre.' 
'  Grantmercy,'  qviod  this  Somnour,  '  by 
my  feith ! ' 
Everich  in  otheres  hand  his  trouthe  leith. 
For  to  be  sworne  bretheren  tU  they  deye. 
In  daliance  they  rj'den  forth  hir  weye.  140O 
This  Somnour,  which  that  was  as  ful 
of  jangles, 
As  ful  of  venim  been  thise  wariangles,  (no) 
And  ever  enquering  up-on  every  thing, 
'  Brother,'  quod  he,  '  where  is  now  your 
dwelUng,  14 10 

Another  day  if  that  I  sholde  yow  seche  ? ' 
This   yeman    him    answerde   in    softe 
speche, 
'Brother,'    quod   he,    'fer   in   the   north 

contree, 
Wher,  as  I  hope,  som-tyme  I  shal  thee  see. 
Er  we  departe,  I  shal  thee  so  wel  wisse. 


584 


Z^t  CanferBur^  take. 


[t.  6998-7078. 


That   of  mjm    lious    ne    shaltow  never 

misse.'  i4'6 

'  Now,  brother,'  quod  this  Somnonr,  '  I 

yow  preye, 
Teche  me,  whyl  that  we  rj-den  by  the 

weye,  (120) 

Sin  that  ye  been  a  baillif  as  am  I, 
Som  subtiltee,  and  tel  me  feithfully    1420 
In  myn  ofFyce  how^  I  may  most  winne  ; 
And  spareth  nat  for  conscience  ne  sinne. 
But  as  my  brother  tel  me,  how  do  ye  ? ' 
'Now,  by  my  trouthe,  brother   dere,' 

seyde  he, 
'  As  I  shal  tellen  thee  a  feithful  tale,  1425 
My  wages  been  ful  streite  and  ful  smale. 
My  lord  is  hard  to  me  and  daungerous. 
And  myn  offyce  is  ful  laborous  ;  (130) 

And  therfore  by  extorcions  I  live. 
For  sothe,  I  take  al  that  men  wol  me 

yive ;  1430 

Algate,  by  sleyghte  or  by  violence. 
Fro  yeer  to  yeer  I  winne  al  my  dispence. 
I  can  no  bettre  telle  feitlifuUy.' 

'  Now,  certes,'  quod  this  Somnour,  '  so 

fare  I ; 
I  spare  nat  to  taken,  god  it  woot,         1435 
But-if  it  b«  to  hevy  or  to  hoot. 
What  I  may  gate  in  conseil  prively. 
No  maner  conscience  of  that  have  I ;  (140) 
Nere  myn  extorcioun,  I  mighte  nat  liven, 
Ne  of  swiche  japes  wol  I  nat  be  shriven. 
Stomak  ne  conscience  ne  knowe  I  noon  ; 
I  shrewe  thise  shrifle-fadres  everichoon. 
Wei  be  we  met,  by  god  and  by  seint 

Jame ! 
But,  leve  brother,  tel  me  than  thy  name,' 
Quod  this  Somnovir;   and  in  this   mene 

whyle,  1445 

This  yeman  gan  a  litel  for  to  smyle. 

'  Brother,'  quod  he,  'wiltow  that  I  thee 

teUe? 
I  am  a  foend,  my  dweUing  is  in  helle.  (150) 
And  here  I  ryde  about  my  purchasing, 
To  wite  wher  men  wolde  yeve  me  any 

thing.  1450 

My  purchas  is  th'effect  of  al  my  rente. 
Loke  how  thou  rydest  for  the  same  en- 
tente, 
To  winne  good,  thou  rekkest  never  how  ; 
Right  so  fare  I,  for  ryde  wolde  I  now 
Un-to  the  worldes  ende  for  a  preye.'    1455 


'  A,'  quod  this  Somnour,  '  ben'cite,  what 

sey  ye  ? 
I  wende  ye  were  a  yeman  trewely. 
Ye  han  a  mannes  shap  as  wel  as  I ;    (160) 
Han  ye  figiire  than  determinat 
In  helle,  therye  been  in  yourestat?'  1460 
'  Nay,  certeinly,'  quod  he,   '  ther  have 

we  noon  ; 
But  whan  xis  lyketli,  we  can  take  us  oon, 
Or  elles  make  yow  seme  we  ben  shape 
Som-tyme  lyk  a  man,  or  lyk  an  ape  ; 
Or  lyk  an  angel  can  I  ryde  or  go.         1465 
It  is  no  wonder  thing  thogh  it  be  so ; 
A  lousy  jogelour  can  deceyvo  tliee, 
And  pardee,  yet  can  I  more  craft  than 

he.'  (170) 

'  Why,'  quod   the   Somnour,   '  ryde  ye 

thanne  or  goon  1469 

In  sondry  shap,  and  nat  alwey  in  oon  ? ' 
'  For  we,'  quod  he,  '  wol  us  swich  formes 

make 
As  most  able  is  our  preyes  for  to  take.' 
'  What   maketh   yow  to   han    al  this 

labour?' 
'  Ful  many  a  cause,  leve  sir  Somnoxir,' 
Seyde  this  feend,  'but  alle  thing  hath 

tyme.  1475 

The  day  is  short,  and  it  is  passed  pryme, 
And  yet  ne  wan  I  no-thing  in  this  day. 
I  wol  entende  to  winnen,  if  I  may,      (180) 
And  nat  entende  our  wittes  to  declare. 
For,  brother  myn,  thy  wit  is  al  to  bare  1480 
To  understonde,  al-thogh  I  tolde  hem  thee. 
But,  for  thou  axest  why  labouren  we  ; 
For,   som-tyme,   we   ben   goddes    instru- 
ments. 
And  menes  to  don  his  comandements. 
Whan  that  him  list,  up-on  his  creatures, 
In  divers  art  and  in  divers  figures,      i486 
With-outen  him  we  have  no  might,  cer- 

tayn,  (189) 

If  that  him  list  to  stonden  ther-agayn. 
And  som-tyme,  at  our  prayere,  han  we  leve 
Only  the  body  and  nat  the  soule  greve ; 
Witnesse  on  Job,  whom  that  we  diden 

wo.  1 49 1 

And  som-tyme  han  we  might  of  bothe  two. 
This  is  to  seyn,  of  soule  and  body  eke. 
And  somtyme  be  we  sufifred  for  to  seke 
l^p-on  a  man,  and  doon  his  soule  unreste. 
And  nat  his  body,  and  al  is  for  the  beste. 


-079-7151 


D.     tU  5t«tr^0  Cafe. 


585 


\Mian  lie  withstandeth  our  temptacioun, 
It  is  a  cause  of  his  savacioun  ;  (200) 

Al-be-it  that  it  was  nat  oiu-  entente 
He  sholde  be  sauf,  but   that   we  wolde 
him  hente.  1500 

And  som-tyme  be  we  servant  un-to  man, 
As  to  the  erchebisshop  Seint  Dunstan 
And  to  the  apostles  servant  eek  was  I.' 
•  Yet  tcl  me,'  quod  the  Somnour,  '  feith- 
fuUy, 
Make  ye  yow  newe  bodies  thus  alway  1505 
Of  elements  ? '  the  feend  answerde,  'nay; 
Som-tyme  we   feyne,   and   som-tyme  we 

aryse 
With  dede  bodies  in  ftil  sondry  wj'se,  (210) 
And  speke  as  rcnably  and  faire  and  wel 
As  to  the  Phitonissa  dide  Samuel.        1510 
And  yet  wol  som  men  seye  it  was  nat  he  ; 
I  do  no  fors  of  your  divinitee. 
But  o  thing  warne  I  thee,  I  wol  nat  jape, 
Thou  wolt  algates  wite  how  we  ben  shape  ; 
Thou   shalt   her-afterward,   my   brother 
dere,  i5'S 

Com  ther  thee  nedeth  nat  of  me  to  lere. 
For  thou  shalt  by  thyn  owene  experience 
Conne  in  a  chayer  rede  of  this  sentence 
Bet  than  Virgyle,  whyl  he  was  on  lyve, 
Or  Dant  also  ;  now  lat  tis  ryde  bly\'e.  1520 
For  I  wol  holde  conipanye  with  thee  (223) 
Til  it  be  so,  that  thou  forsake  me.' 

•Nay,'  quod  this  Somnour,  'that  shal 
nat  bityde ; 
I  am  a  yeman,  knowen  is  ful  wyde  ; 
My  trouthe  wol  I  holde  as  in  this  cas.  1525 
For  though  thou  were  the  devel  Sathanas, 
My  trouthe  wol  I  holde  to  my  brother, 
As  I  am  sworn,  and  ech  of  us  til  other  (230) 
For  to  be  trewe  brother  in  this  cas  ; 
And  bothe  we  goon  abouten  our  purchas. 
Tiik  thou  thy  part,  what  that  men  wol 
thee  yive,  153 ' 

And  I  shal  myn  ;  thus  may  we  bothe  live. 
And  if  that  any  of  us  have  more  than 

other, 
Lat  him  be  trewe,  and  parte  it  with  his 
brother.' 
'  I  gratinte,'  quod  the  devel,  '  by  my  fey.' 
And  with  that  word  they  ryden  forth  liir 
wey.  1536 

And  right  at  the  entring  of  the  tonnes 
ende, 

U 


To  which  this  Somnour  shoop  him  for  to 

wende,  (240) 

They  saugh  a  cart,  that  charged  was  with 

liey, 

Which  that  a  carter  droof  forth  in  his  wey. 

Deep  was  the  wey,  for  which  the  carte 

stood.  1541 

The  carter  smoot,  and  cryde,  as  he  were 

wood, 
'  Hayt,  Brok  !  hayt,  Scot !  what  spare  ye 

for  the  stones  ? 
The  feend,'   quod  he,    'yow  fecche  body 

and  bones, 

As  ferforthly  as  ever  were  ye  foled  !     1545 

So  muche  wo  as  I  have  with  yow  tholed  ! 

The  devel  have  al,  bothe  hors  and  cart 

and  hey ! ' 

This    Somnovir    seyde,    'heer    shal   we 

have  a  pley  ; '  (250) 

And  neer  the  feend  he  drough,  as  noght 

ne  were, 
Ful  prively,  and  rouned  in  his  ere  :      1550 
'  Herkne,   my    brother,   herkne,   by  thy 

feith  ; 
Herestow  nat  how  that  the  carter  seith  ? 
Hent  it  anon,  for  he  hath  yeve  it  thee, 
Bothe  hey  and  cart,  and  eek  hise  caples 
three.' 
'  Nay,'  quod  the  devel,  '  god  wot,  never 
a  deel ;  155S 

It  is  nat  his  entente,  trust  me  wecl. 
Axe  him  thy-self,  if  thou  nat  trowest  me. 
Or  elles  stint  a  while,  and  thou   shalt 
see.'  (260) 

This  carter  thakketh  his  hors  upon  the 
crottpo, 
And  they  bigonne  drawen  and  to-stoupe  ; 
'Heyt,  now!'  quod  he,   'ther  Jesit  Crist 
yow  blesse,  1561 

And  al  his  handwerk,   bothe  more  and 

lesse ! 
That  was  wel  twight,  myn  owene  lyard 

boy! 
I  pray  god  save  thee  and  seynt  Loy  ! 
Now  is  my  cart  out  of  the  slow,  pardee  ! ' 
'  Lo  !   brother,'  quod  the  feend,   '  what 
toldelthee?  1566 

Heer  may  ye  see,  myn  owene  dere  brother. 
The  carl  spak  00  thing,  but  he  thoghte 
another.  (270) 

Lat  us  go  forth  abouten  our  viage  ; 


586 


^0e  CanterSutp  Zake. 


[t.  7152-7225. 


Heer  winne  I  no-thing  up-on  cariage.' 
Whan  that  they  comen  som-what  out 

of  toune,  1571 

This  Somnour  to  his  brother  gan  to  roune, 
'Brother,'  quod  he,  'heer  woneth  an  old 

rebekke, 
That  hadde  almost  as  lief  to  lese  hir  nekke 
As  for  to  yevc  a  peny  of  hir  good.         1575 
I  wol  han  twelf  pens,  though  that  she  be 

wood, 
Or  I  wol  sompne  hir  un-to  our  offyce  ; 
And  yet,  god  woot,  of  hir  knowe  I  no 

\'j'ce.  (280) 

But  for  thou  canst  nat,  as  in  this  contree, 
Winne  thy  cost,  tak  heer  ensample  of 

me.'  1580 

This  Somnour  clappeth  at  the  widwes 

gate. 
'  Com  out,'  quod  he,  'thou  olde  viritrate  ! 
I  trowe  thou  hast  som  frere  or  preest 

with  thee  ! ' 
'Who   clappeth?'    seyde  this   widwe, 

'  ben'cite  ! 
God  save  you,  sire,  what  is  your  swete 

wiUe?'  1585 

'  I  have,'  quod   he,    '  of  somonce  hero 

a  bille  ; 
I'p  poyne  of  cursing,  loke  that  thou  be 
To-mom  bifore  the  erchedekues  knee  (290) 
T'answere  to  the  court  of  certeyn  thinges.' 
'  Now,  lord,'  quod  she, '  Crist  Jesn,  king 

of  kinges,  1590 

So  wisly  helpe  me,  as  I  ne  may. 
I  have  been  syk,  and  that  ful  many  a  daj-. 
I  may  nat  go  so  fer,'  quod  she,  '  ne  rj-de. 
But  I  bo  deed,  so  priketh  it  in  my  syde. 
May  I  nat  axe  a  libel,  sir  Somnour,     1595 
And  answere  there,  by  my  procutour. 
To  swich  thing  as  men  wol  opposen  me  ? ' 
'Yis,'  quod  this  Somnour,  'pay  anon, 

lat  se,  (300) 

Twelf  pens  to  me,  and  I  wol  thee  acquyte. 
I  shall  no  profit  han  ther-by  but  lytc  ;  1600 
My  maister  hath  the  profit,  and  nat  I. 
Com  of,  and  lat  me  ryden  hastily ; 
Yif  me  twelf  pens,  I  may  no  lenger  tarie.' 
'  Twelf   pens,'    quod    she,    '  now    lady 

Seinte  Marie 
So  wisly  help  me  out  of  care  and  sinne, 
This  wyde   world   thogh   that   I    sholde 

winne,  1606 


Xe  have  I  nat  twelf  i>ens  with-inne  myn 

hold.  (309) 

Ye  knowen  wel  tliat  I  nm  povro  and  old ; 

Kythc  your  almesse  on  me  povre  wrecche.' 

'  Nay  than,'  quod  he,  '  the  foule  feend 

me  fecche  1610 

If  I  th 'excuse,  though  thou  shul  be  spilt ! ' 

'Alas,'  quod  she,  'god  woot,  I  have  no 

gilt.' 
'Pay  me,'  quod  he,   'or  by  the  swete 

seinte  Anne, 
As  I  wol  here  awey  thy  nowe  panne 
For  dette,  which  that  thou  owest  me  of 

old,  1615 

Whan  that  thou  madest  thyn  housbond 

cokewold, 
I  payde  at  boom  for  thy  correccioun.' 
'Thou  lixt,'  quod   she,   'by  my  sava- 

cioun !  (320) 

Ne  was  I  never  er  now,  widwe  ne  wyf, 
Somoned  un-to  your  court  in  al  my  lyf ; 
Ne  never  I  nas  but  of  my  lx)dy  trcwe  !  1621 
Un-to  the  dcvel  blak  and  rough  of  hewe 
Yeve  I  thy  lx)dy  and  my  panne  also  ! ' 

And  whan  the  devel  herdo  hir  cursen  so 

Up-on  hir  knees,  he  seyde  in  this  manere, 

'  Now  Mabely,  myn  owene  moder  dere,  1626 

Is  this  your  wil  in  ernest,  that  ye  seye?' 

'  The  devel,'  quod  she,  '  so  fecche  him 

er  he  deye,  (330) 

And  panne  and  al,  but  he  wol  him  re- 
pent e  ! '  1629 
'  Nay,  olde  stot,  that  is  nat  myn  entente,' 
Quod  this  Somnour,  '  for  to  repente  me. 
For  any  thing  that  I  have  had  of  thee  ; 
I   wolde    I   hadde   thy  smok   and   every 

clooth  ! ' 
'  Now,  brother,'  quod  the  devel,  '  be  nat 

wrooth  ; 
Thy  body  and  this  panne  ben  myne  by 

right.  1635 

Thou  shalt  with  me  to  helle  yet  to-night. 
Where  thou  shalt  knowen  of  our  privetee 
More  than  a  maister  of  divinitee  : '  (340) 
And  with  that  word  this  foule  feend  him 

hente ;  1639 

Body  and  soule,  he  with  the  devel  wente 
\Vher-as  that  somnours  han  hir  heritage. 
And  god,  that  maked  after  his  image 
Mankinde,  save  and   g3'de  us  alle  and 

some ; 


T.  7226-7278.]        D.    ZU  ^omnour'0  ^rofogue. 


587 


And    leve   this  Somnour  good    man  to 

bicome  ! 
Lordinges,  I  coude  han  told  yow,  quod 

this  Frere,  J 645 

Hadde  I  had  leyser  for  this  Somnour  here, 
After  the  text  of  Crist  [and]  Pouland  John, 
And  of  our  othere  doctours  many  oon, 
Swiche  peynes,  that  your  hertes  mighte 

agryse,  (35') 

Al-be-it  so,  no  tonge  may  devyse,         1650 
Thogh  that  I  mighte  a  thousand  winter 

telle, 
The  peyne  of  thilke  cursed  hous  of  heUe. 
But,  for  to  kepe  us  fro  that  ciirsed  place, 
Waketh,  and  prej-eth  Jesu  for  his  grace 


Sokepe  us  fro  the  temptour  Sathanas.  1655 
Herketh  this  word,  beth  war  as  in  this 

cas; 
The  leoun  sit  in  his  await  alway 
To  slee  the  innocent,  if  that  he  may.  (360) 
Disposeth  ay  your  hertes  to  withstonde 
The  feend,  that  yow  wolde  make  thral 

and  bonde.  1660 

He  may  nat  tempten  yow  over  your  might ; 
For   Crist  wol   be   your   champion   and 

knight. 
And  praj-eth  that  thise  Somnours  hem 

repente 
Of  hir  misdedes,  er  that  the  feend  hem 

hente. 


Here  endeth  the  Freres  tale. 


THE    SOMNOUR'S    PROLOGUE. 


The  prologe  of  the  Somnours  Tale. 


This  Somnour  in  his  stiropes  hye  stood  ; 
Up-on  this  Frere  his  herte  was  so  wood. 
That  lyk  an  aspen  leef  he  quook  for  yre. 
'  Lordinges,'  quod   he,   '  but   o  thing  I 
desyre  ; 
I  yow  biseke  that,  of  your  curteisye. 
Sin  ye  han  herd  this  false  Frere  lye,  1670 
As  suffereth  me  I  may  my  tale  telle  ! 
This  Frere  bosteth  that  he  knoweth  heUe, 
And  god  it  woot,  that  it  is  litel  wonder  ; 
Freres  and  feendes  been  but  lyte  a-sonder. 
For  pardee,  ye  han  ofte  tyme  herd  telle. 
How  that  a  frere  ravisshed  was  to  hcUe 
In  spirit  ones  by  a  visioun  ;  (:3)  1677 

And  as  an  angel  ladde  him  up  and  doun, 
To  shewen  him  the  peynes  that  ther  were, 
In  al  the  place  saugh  he  nat  a  frere  ;  1680 
Of  other  folk  he  saugh  y-nowe  in  wo. 
Un-to  this  angel  spak  the  frere  tho  : 


"  Now,  sir,"  quod  he,  "  han  freres  swich 

a  grace  ('9) 

That  noon  of  hem  shal  come  to  this  place  ?  " 

"  Yis,"  quod  this  angel,  "  many  a  mil- 

lioun  !  "  1685 

And  un-to  Sathanas  he  ladde  him  doun. 

"  And    now   hath    Sathanas,"   seith  he, 

"  a  tayl 
Brodder  than  of  a  carrik  is  the  sayl. 
Hold  up  thy  tayl,  thou  Sathanas  !  "  quod 
he,  1689 

"  Sh ewe  forth  thyn  ers,  and  lat  the  frere  see 
Wher  is  the  nest  of  freres  in  this  place  !" 
And,  er  that  half  a  furlong-wey  of  space. 
Right  so  as  bees  out   swarmen  from  an 

hyve, 
Out  of  the  develes  ers  thergonne  dryve  (30) 
Twenty  thousand  freres  in  a  route,     1695 
And  thurgh-out  heUe  swarmeden  aboute 


u  5 


588 


ZH  CmkvBm^  Zake. 


[t.  7279-7342. 


And  comen  agayn,  as  faste  as  they  may 

And  in  his  era  they  crepten  everichon. 
He  chipte  his  tayl  agayn,  and  lay  lul  stille. 
This  frere,  whan  ho  loked  hadde  his  fille 
Upon  the  torments  of  this  sory  place,  1701 
His  spirit  god  restored  of  his  grace 


Un-to  his  body  agayn,  and  he  awook  ; 
But  nntlieles,  for  fere  yet  ho  quook,     (40) 
So  was  the  develes  ers  ay  in  his  minde, 
That  is  his  heritage  of  verray  kinde.  1706 
God    save    yow    alle,   save   this   cursed 

Frere ; 
My  prologo  wol  I  ende  in  this  manere.' 


Here  endetb  the  Prologe  of  the  Somnours  Tede. 


THE    SOMNOURS   TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Somonour  his  Tale. 


LoBDiKGES,    thcr  is  in   Yorkshire,    as  I 

gesse, 
A  mersshy  contree  called  Holdemcsse, 
Inwhichtherwentoa  limitour  aboute,  1711 
To  preche,  and  eek  to  begge,  it  is  no  doute. 
And  so  bilel,  that  on  a  day  this  frere 
Had  preohed  at  a  chirche  In  his  manere. 
And  specially,  abovcn  everj'  thing,      1715 
Excited  he  the  peplo  in  his  preching 
To  t  rentals,  and  to  yeve,  for  goddes  sake, 
Wher-with    men   mighten   holy   houses 

make,  (10) 

Ther  as  i.li\'yne  service  is  honoured, 
Nat  ther  as  it  is  wasted  and  devoured,  1730 
Xe  ther  it  nedeth  nat  for  to  be  yive, 
As  to  possessioners,  that  mowen  live, 
Thanked  beg<xl,  inweleandhabundaunce. 
'Trentjvls,' seyde  he,  'deliveren  fro  pen- 

aunce  1724 

Hir  freendes  soules,  as  wel  olde  as  yonge. 
Ye,  whan  that  they  been  hastUy  y-songe  ; 
Nat  for  to  holde  a  prcest  joly  and  gay, 
He  singeth  nat  but  o  masse  in  a  day  ;  (20) 
Delivereth  out,'  quotl  ho,  'anon  the  soules; 
Ful  hard  it  is  with  fleshhook  or  with  oules 
To  been  y-clawed,  or  to  brenne  or  bake  ; 
Now  sjiede  j-ow  hastily,  for  Cristes  sake.' 
And  whan   this  frere  had  seyd  al  his 

entente, 
With  nui  cum  patre  forth  his  wey  he  wente. 


Whan  folk  in  chirche  had  j-eve  him 

what  hem  leste,  1735 

Ho  wente  his  wey,  no  longer  wolde  he 

reste. 
With  scrippo  and  tipped  staf,  y-tukked 

hye  ;  (29) 

In  every  hoas  he  gan  to  poure  and  prye, 
And  beggeth  mole,  and  chese,  or  olles  com. 
His  felawe  haddo  a  staf  tipped  with  horn, 
A  peyro  of  tables  al  of  yvory,  1741 

And  a  poyutel  polisshed  fetisly, 
And  wroot  the  names  alwey,  as  he  stood. 
Of  alle  folk  that  yaf  him  any  good,     1744 
Ascaunces  that  he  wolde  for  hem  preye. 
'  Yeve  us  a  busshel  whete,  malt,  or  reye, 
A  goddes  kechil,  or  a  trip  of  chese. 
Or  eUes  what  yow  list,  wo  may  nat  chese  ; 
A  goddes  halfpeny  or  a  masse-peny,    (41) 
Or  yeve  us  of  your  brawn,  if  ye  have  eny ; 
A  dagon  of  j-ovir  blanket,  leve  dame,    1751 
Oursuster  dere,  lo !  here  I  write  your  name ; 
Bacon  or  beef,  or  swich  thing  as  yo  findo.' 
A  sturdy  harlot  wente  ay  hem  bihinde, 
That  was  hir  hostes  man,  and  bar  a  sak. 
And  what  men  yaf  hem,  leyde  it  on  his 

bak.  1756 

And  whan  that  he  was  out  at  dore  anon, 
He  planed  awey  the  names  everichon  (50) 
That  he  bifom  had  writen  in  his  tables  ; 
He  served  hem  with  nyfles  and  with  fables. 


T.  7343-7420.] 


D.    ZU  ^ownoure  ZaU. 


589 


'Nay,  ther  thou  lixt,  thou  Somnoiir,' 

quod  the  Frere.  1761 

'Pees,'   quod    our    Host,    'for    Cristes 

moder  dere  ; 
Tel  forth  thy  tale  and  spare  it  nat  at  al.' 
Sothryvel,  quod  this  Somnour,  sol  shal. — 
So  longe  he  wente  hous  by  hous,  til  he 
Cam  tU  an  hous  ther  he  was  wont  to  be 
Eefresshed   more   than    in    an  hundred 

placis.  1767 

Sik  lay  the  gode  man,  whos  that  the  place 

is  ;  (60) 

Bedrede  up-on  a  couche  lowe  he  lay. 
'Deus  hie,'  quod  he, '  O  Thomas,  freend, 

good  day,'  1770 

Seyde  this  frere  curteisly  and  softs. 
'  Thomas,'  quod  he,  '  god  yelde  yow  !  ful 

ofte 
Have  I  up-on  this  bench  faren  ful  weel. 
Here  have  I  eten  many  a  mery  meel ; ' 
And  fro  the  bench  he  droof  awey  the  cat, 
And  leyde  adoiin  his  potente  and  his  hat. 
And  eek  his  scrippe,  and  sette  him  softe 

adoun.  1777 

His  felawe  was  go  walked  in-to  toun,  (70) 
Forth  with  his  knave,  in-to  that  hostelrye 
Wher-as  he  shoop  him  thilke  night  to  lye. 

'  O  dere  maister,'  quod  this  sykc  man, 
'  How  han  ye  fare  sith  that  March  bigan  ? 
I  saugh  yow  noght  this  fourtenight  or 

more.' 
'  God  woot,'  quod  he, '  laboured  have  I  ful 

sore  ; 
And  specially,  for  thy  savacionn  1785 

Have  I  seyd  many  a  precious  orisoun. 
And   for  our  othere  frendes,   god   hem 

blesse  ! 
I  have  to-day  been  at  your   chirohe  at 

messe,  (80) 

And  seyd  a  sermon  after  my  simple  wit, 
Nat  al  after  the  text  of  holy  writ ;       1790 
For  it  is  hard  to  yow,  as  I  suppose. 
And  therfore  wol  I  teche  yow  al  the  glose. 
Glosinge  is  a  glorious  thing,  certeyn, 
For  lettre  sleeth,  so  as  we  clerkes  seyn. 
Ther  have  I  taught  hem  to  be  charitable. 
And  spende  hir  good  ther  it  is  resonable. 
And  ther  I  saugh  our  dame ;    a  !  wher 

is  she?'  (89)1797 

'  Yond  in  the  yerd  I  trowe  that  she  be,' 

Seyde  this  man, '  and  she  wol  come  anon.' 


'  Ey,  maister  !  wel-come  be  ye,  by  seint 

John  ! '  1800 

Seyde  this  wyf,  '  how  fare  ye  hertely  ? ' 

Tlie  frere  aryseth  up  ful  curteisly, 
And  hir  embraceth  in  his  amies  narwe, 
And  kiste   hir  swete,   and   chirketh   as 

a  sparwe 
With  his  lippes  :  '  dame,'  quod  he,  '  right 

weel,  1S05 

As  he  that  is  your  servant  every  deel. 
Thanked  be  god,  that  yow  yaf  soxile  and  lyf, 
Yet  saugh  I  nat  this  day  so  fair  a  wyf  ( too) 
In  al  the  chirche,  god  so  save  me  ! ' 

'  Ye,  god  amende  defautes,  sir,'  quod  she, 
'  AJgates  wel-come  be  ye,  by  my  fey ! '  181 1 
'  Graunt  mercy,  dame,  this  have  I  founde 

alwey. 
But  of  your  grete  goodnesse,   by  your 

leve, 
I  wolde  prey  yow  that  ye  nat  yow  greve, 
I  wol  with  Thomas  speke  a  litel  throwe. 
Thisc  curats  been  ful  nocligent  and  slowe 
To  grope  tendi-ely  a  conscience.  (109)  1817 
In  shrift,  in  preching  is  my  diligence, 
And  studie  in  Petres  wordes,  and  in  Ponies. 
I  walke,  and  fisshe  Cristen  mennes  soules, 
To  yeldenJesu  Crist  his  propre  rente  ;  1821 
To  sprede   his  word  is  set   al  myn  en- 
tente.' 
'  Now,  by  your  leve,  o  dere  sir, '  quod  she, 
'  Chydeth  him  weel,  for  seinte  Trinitee. 
Ho  is  as  angry  as  a  pissemyre,  1825 

Though   that  he  have   al  that  he   f-an 

desyre. 
Though  I  him  wrye  a-night  and  make 

him  warm,  (119) 

And  on  hym  leye  my  leg  outher  myn  arm, 
He  groneth  lyk  our  boor,  Ij^h  in  our  sty. 
Other  desport  right  noon  of  him  have  I ; 
I  may  nat  plese  him  in  no  maner  cas.' 
'  O    Thomas !    Je    vous    dij,    Thomas ! 

Thomas  ! 
This  maketh  the  feend,  this  moste  ben 

amended. 
Ire  is  a  thing  that  hye  god  defended,  1834 
And  ther-of  wol  I  speke  a  word  or  two." 
'  Now  maister,'  quod  the  wyf,   '  er  that 

I  go, 
What  wol  ye  dyne  ?   I  wol  go  ther-ahoute.' 
'  Now  dame,'  quod  he,  '  Je  vous  dy  sanz 

doute,  (i?o) 


59° 


Z^t  tdnitviur^  ^afee. 


[t.  7421-750?- 


Have  I  nat  of  a  capon  but  the  livere, 
And  of  your  softe  breed  nat  but  a  shivore, 
And  after  that  a  rosted  pigges  heed,   1841 
(But  that  I  nolde  no  beest  for  me  were 

deed), 
Thanne  hadde  I  with  yow  hoomly  suffi- 

saunce. 
I  am  a  man  of  litel  sostenannce. 
My  spirit  hath  his  fostring  in  the  Bible. 
The  body  is  ay  so  redy  and  penyble    1846 
To  wake,  that  my  stomak  is  destroyed. 
I  prey  yow,  dame,  ye  be  nat  anoyed,('i4o) 
Tliough  I  so  freendly   yow   my  conseil 

shewe ;  1849 

By  god,  I  wolde  nat  telle  it  but  a  fewe.' 

'  Now,  sir,'  quod  she, '  but  o  word  er  I  go ; 
Jly  child  is  deed  witlv-inne  thise  wj-kes 

two, 
Sone  after  that  ye  wente  out  of  this  toun.' 
'  His  deeth  sangh  I  by  revelacioun,'  1854 
Seith  this  frere,  '  at  hoom  in  our  dortour. 
I  dar  wel  sej-n  that,  er  that  half  an  hour 
After  his  doeth,  I  saugh  him  bom  toblisse 
In  myn  avisioun,  so  god  me  wisse  !     (150) 
So  dido  our  sexteyn  and  our  fermerer, 
That  ban  been  trewe  freres  fifty  year ; 
They  may  now,  god  bo  thanked  of  his 

lone,  1S61 

Maken  hir  jubilee  and  walke  allone. 
Anil  up  I  roos,  and  al  our  covent  eke. 
With  many  a  tere  trikling  on  my  cheke, 
Withouten  noj-se  or  clateringe  of  belles  ; 
Te  detnn  was  our  song  and  no-thing  elles. 
Save  that  to  Crist  I  seyde  an  orisoun, 
Thankinge  him  of  his  revelacioun.      (160) 
For  sir  and  dame,  trusteth  me  right  weel, 
Our  orisons  been  more  cffectueel,         1870 
And  more  we  seen  of  Cristes  secree  thinges 
Than   burel  folk,  al-though  they  weren 

kinges. 
We  live  in  povert  and  in  abstinence. 
And  burel  folk  in  richesse  and  despence 
Of  mete  and  drinke,  and  in  hir  foul  delyt. 
We  han  this  worldes  lust  al  in  despyt. 
Lazar  and  Dives  liveden  diversly,        1877 
And  diverse  guerdon  haddenthej-ther-by. 
^^1lo-so  wol  preye,  he  moot  faste  and  be 

clene,  (171)  1879 

And  fat  te  h  is  soule  and  make  his  body  lene. 
We  fare  as  seith  th'apostle;  cloth  and  fode 
Suffysen  us,  though  they  be  nat  ful  gode. 


The  clennesse  and  the  fustinge  of  us  freres 

Maketh  that  Crist  acceptoth  our  preyeres. 

Lo,    Moyses   fourty   dayes   and   fourty 

night  1S85 

Fasted,  er  that  the  heighe  god  of  might 
Sjmk  with  him  in  the  mountain  of  Sinay. 
With  empty  wombe,  fastinge  many  a  day, 
Receyved  he  the  lawe  that  was  writen  (181) 
With   goddes  finger ;   and  Elio,  wel  ye 

witen,  1890 

In  mount  Oreb,  er  he  hadde  any  speche 
With  hye  god,  that  is  our  lyves  leche, 
He  fasted  longe  and  was  in  contemplaunee. 
Aaron,  that  hadde  the  temple  in  govern- 

aunce,  1894 

And  eek  the  othere  prcestes  everichon, 
In-to  the  temple  whan  they  sholde  gon 
To  preye  for  the  poplo,  and  do  servyse, 
They  nolden  drinken,  in  no  mancr  wyse. 
No  drinke,  which  that  mighto  heni  dronke 

make,  (191)  1899 

But  there  in  abstinence  preye  and  wake, 
Lest  that  they  deyden  ;  tak  heed  what 

I  seye. 
But  they  be  sobre  that  for  the  peple  preye, 
War  that  I  seye;  namore!  foritsuffyseth. 
Our  lord  Jesn,  as  holy  writ  devyseth,  1904 
Yaf  us  ensample  of  fastinge  and  preyeres. 
Therfor  we  mondinants,  we  sely  freres, 
Been  wedded  to  poverte  and  continence, 
To  charitee,  humblesse,  and  abstinence, 
To  persecucion  for  rightwisnesse,  (201)  1909 
To  wepinge,  misericorde,  and  clennesse. 
And  therfor  may  ye  see  that  our  preyeres — 
I  speke  of  us,  we  mendinants,  we  freres — 
Ben  to  the  hye  god  more  acceptable 
Than  youres,  with  your  festes  at  the  table. 
Fro  Paradys  first,  if  I  shal  nat  lye,       1915 
Was  man  out  chaced  for  his  glotonye  ; 
And  chaast  was  man  in  Paradys,  certeyn. 
But  herkne  now,  Thomas,  what  I  shal 

seyn.  (210) 

I  ne  have  no  text  of  it,  as  I  suppose, 
But  I  shall  finde  it  in  a  maner  glose,  1920 
That  specially  our  swete  lord  Jesus 
Spak  this  by  freres,  whan  he  seyde  thus  : 
"  Blessed  be  they  that  povre  in   spirit 

been." 
And  so  forth  al  the  gospel  may  ye  seen, 
Wher  it  be  lyker  our  professioun,         1925 
Or  hirs  that  swimmen  in  possessioun. 


T.  7?09-7586.] 


D.    ZU  ^omnoure  Zak. 


591 


Fy  on  liir  pompe  and  on  hir  glotonye  ! 
And  for  hir  lewednesse  I  hem  diffye.  (220) 

Me  thinketh  they  ben  lyk  Jovinian, 
Fat  as  a  whale,  and  walkinge  as  a  swan  ; 
Al  vinolent  as  hotel  in  the  spence.       1931 
Hir  preyer  is  of  ful  gret  reverence  ; 
Wlaan  they  for  soules  seye  the  psalm  of 

Davit, 
Lo,  "biif!"  they  seye,  ^' cor  meum  ernc- 

tavit !  " 
^^'^lo  folweth  Crlstes  gospel  and  his  fore, 
But  we  that  humble  been  and  chast  and 
pore,  1936 

Werkers  of  goddes  word,  not  auditours  ? 
Therfore,   right    as    an    hauk   up,   at   a 
sours,  (J30) 

Up  springeth  in-to  their,  right  so  prayeres 
Of  charitable  and  chaste  bisy  freres  1940 
Maken  hir  sours  to  goddes  ores  two. 
Thomas  !  Thomas  !  so  mote  I  ryde  or  go. 
And  by  that  lord  that  clepid  is  seint  Yve, 
Nere  thou  our  brother,  sholdestou  nat 
thryve  !  194+ 

In  our  chapitre  praye  we  day  and  night 
To  Crist,  that  he  thee  sende  hele  and 

might. 
Thy  body  for  to  welden  hastily.' 

'  God  woot,'  quod  he,  '  no-thing  ther-of 

fele  I ;  (240) 

As  help  me  Crist,  as  I,  in  fewe  yeres,  1949 

Han  spended,  up-on  dyvers  maner  freres, 

Ful  many  a  pound  ;  yet  fare  I  never  the 

bet. 
Certeyn,  my  good  have  I  almost  biset. 
Farwel,  my  gold  !  for  it  is  al  ago  ! ' 

The  frere  answerde, '  O  Thomas,  dostow 
so  ?  '  1954 

What  nedeth  yow  diverse  freres  seche  ? 
^\1lat  nedeth  him  that  hath  a  parfit  leche 
To  sechen  othere  leches  in  the  toun  ? 
Your  inconstance  is  your  confusioun.  (250) 
Holde  ye  than  me,  or  elles  our  covent. 
To  praye  for  yow  ben  insufficient  ?      i960 
Thomas,  that  jape  nis  nat  worth  a  myte  ; 
Your  maladj'e  is  for  we  han  to  lyte. 
"  A  !  yif  that  covent  half  a  quarter  otes ! " 
"  A  !   yif  that    covent  four  and   twenty 

grotes ! " 
"  A  !  yif  that  frere  a  peny,  and  lat  him 
go  !  "  1965 

Nay,  nay,  Thomas  !  it  may  no-thing  be  so. 


What  is  a  ferthing  worth  parted  in  twelve  ? 
Lo,  ech  thing  that  is  oned  in  him-selve 
Is    more    strong    than    whan    it   is   to- 
scatered.  (261) 

Thomas,   of  me  thou  shalt  nat  been   y- 
flatered ;  1970 

Thou  woldest  han  ovoc  labour  al  for  noght. 
The  hye  god,  that    al   this   world   hath 

wroglit, 
Seith  that  the  werkman  worthy  is  his 

hyre. 
Thomas  !  noght  of  your  tresor  I  desyre 
As  for  my-self,  but  that  al  our  covent  1975 
To  preye  for  yow  is  ay  so  diligent, 
And  for  to  builden  Cristes  owene  chirche. 
Thomas  !  if  ye  wol  lernen  for  to  wirche. 
Of    buildinge   up    of    chirches  may  ye 
finde  (271) 

If  it  be  good,  in  Thomas  lyf  of  Inde.  1980 
Ye  lye  heer,  ful  of  anger  and  of  yre, 
With    which    the    devel    set   j^our   herte 

a-fyre. 
And  chyden  heer  this  sely  innocent, 
Yoiir  wyf,  that  is  so  meke  and  pacient. 
And  therfor,  Thomas,  trowe  me  if  thee 
leste,  1985 

Ne  stryv'e  nat  with  thy  wyf,  as  for  thy 

beste  ; 
And  her  this  word  awey  now,  by  thyfeith, 
Touchinge  this  thing,  lo,  what  the  wyse 
seith  :  (280) 

"  With-in  thjTi  hous  ne  be  thou  no  leoun  ; 
To  thy  subgits  do  noon  oppressioun  ;  1990 
Ne  make  thjTie  aqiieyntances  nat  to  flee." 
And  Thomas,  .yet  eft-sonos  I  charge  thee. 
Be  war  from  hir  that  in  thy  bosom  slepeth  ; 
War  fro  the  serpent  that  so  slyly  crepeth 
Under  the  gras,  and  stingeth  subtilly.  1995 
Be  war,  my  sone,  and  herkne  paciently, 
That  twenty  thousand  men  han  lost  hir 

lyves. 
For  stryving  with  hir  lemmans  and  hir 
wyves.  (-9<'-) 

Now  sith  ye  han  so  holy  and  meke  a  wyf. 
What   nedeth   yow,  Thomas,  to  maken 
stryf?  2000 

Ther  nis,  y-wis,  no  serpent  so  cruel. 
Whan  man  tret  on  his  tayl,  ne  half  so  fel, 
As   womman  is,  whan  she  hath  caught 

an  ire  ; 
Vengeance  is  thanne  al  that  they  desyre. 


592 


Z^t  tanttviuv^  Zake. 


[t.  75S7-766S. 


Ire  is  a  sinnc,  oon  of  the  grete  of  sevene, 
Abhominablc  nn-to  the  god  of  hevene  ; 
And  to  him-self  it  is  destrwecion. 
This  every  Icwed  viker  or  person        (3ot)) 
Can  seye,  how  Ire  ongendreth  liomicyde. 
Ire  is,  in  sooth,  executour  of  pryde.    2010 
I  coude  of  Ire  seye  so  muchc  sorwe, 
lly  tale  shoUle  laste  til  to-morwe. 
And  therfor  preye  I  god  bothe  day  and 

night,  2013 

An  irons  man,  god  sende  him  litel  might ! 
It  is  greet  harm  and,  certes,  gret  pitee. 
To  sette  an  irons  nian  in  heigh  degree. 
"\^"Tiilom  ther  was  an  irons  potestat, 
As  seith  Senek,  that,  duringe  his  estaat, 
Up-on  a  day  out  riden  knightes  two,  (311) 
And  as  fortune  wolde  that  it  were  so,  2020 
That  oon  of  hem  cam  hoom.  that  other 

noght. 
Anon  the  knight  bifore  the  juge  is  broght. 
That  seyde  thus,  "  thou  hast  thy  felawe 

slayn. 
For  which  I  deme  thee  to  the  deeth,  cer- 

tayn." 
And  to  another  knight  comanded  he,  2025 
"  Goledehim  to  the  deeth,  I  charge  thee." 
And  happed,  as  they  wente  by  the  weye 
Toward  the  place  ther  he  sholde  deye. 
The  knight  cam,  which  men  wenden  had 

be  deed.  (321) 

Thanne  thoughte  they,  it  was  the  beste 

reed,  2030 

To  lede  hem  bothe  to  the  juge  agayn. 
They  seiden,  "  lord,  the  knight  ne  hath 

nat  slayn 
His  felawe  ;  here  he  standeth  hool  alyve." 
'•  Ye  shul  be  deed,"  quod  he,  "  so  moot  I 

thrjTe ! 
That  is  to  seyn,  bothe  oon,  and  two,  and 

three  !  "  2035 

And  to  the  firste  knight  right  thus  spak  he, 
"  I  dampned  thee,  thou  most  algate  be 

deed. 
And  thou  also  most  nedes  lese  thyn  heed. 
For  thon  art  cause  why  thy  felawe  deyth." 
And  to  the  thridde  knight  right  thus  he 

seyth,  (332)  2040 

"  Thou  hast  nat  doon  that  I  comanded 

thee." 
And  thus  he  dide  don  sleen  hem  alle  three. 
Irons  Cambyses  was  eek  dronkelewe, 


And  ay  delyted  him  to  been  a  shrewe. 
And  so  bifel,  a  lord  of  his  meynee,      2045 
Tliat  lovede  vertuous  moralitee, 
Seyde  on  a  day  bitwix  hem  two  right  thus : 
"  A  lord  is  lost,  if  he  be  \dcious  ;  (340) 

And  dronkenesse  is  eek  a  foul  record 
Of  any  man,  and  namely  in  a  lord.      2050 
Ther  is  ful  many  an  eye  and  many  an  ere 
Awaiting  on  a  lord,  and  he  noot  where. 
For  goddes  love,  drink  more  attcmprely ; 
Wyn  maketh  man  to  lesen  wrecchedly 
His  minde,  and  eek  his  limes  overichon." 
" Therevers  shaltouse,"quod  ho,  "  anon ; 
And  preve  it,  by  thyn  owene  experience. 
That    wyn    ne    dooth    to   folk   no  swich 

offence.  (350)  2o-;8 

Ther  is  no  wyn  bireveth  me  my  might 
Of  hand  ne  foot,  ne  of  myn  eyen  sight " — 
And,  for  despyt,  ho  drank  ful  muchel  more 
An  hondred  part  tlian  hehad  doon  bifore ; 
And  right  anon,  this  irons  cursed  wrecche 
Leet  this  knightes  sone  bifore  him  fecche, 
Comandinge   him   he  sholde  bifore  him 

stonde.  2065 

And  sodeynly  he  took  his  lx>wc  in  honde. 
And  up  the  strong  ho  pulled  to  his  ere, 
And  with  an  arwe  he  slow  the  child  right 

there :  (360) 

"  Now  whether  have  I  a  sikcr  hand  or 

noon  ?  " 
Quod  he,  "is  al  my  might  and  minde 

agoon  ?  2070 

Hath  wyn  bireved  me  myn  eyen  sight  ?  " 

What  sholde  I  telle  th'answerc  of  the 

knight? 
His  sone  was  slayn,  ther  is  na-more  to  seye. 
Beth  war  therfor  witli  lordes  howyepleye. 
Singeth  Placebo,  and  I  shal,  if  I  can,  2075 
But  if  it  be  un-to  a  jiovre  man. 
To  a  povre  man  men  sholde  hise  vyees  telle. 
But  nat  to  a  lord,  thogh  he  sholde  go  to 

helle.  (370) 

Lo  irons  Cirus,  thilke  Percien, 
How  he  destroyed  the  river  of  Gysen,  2080 
For  that  an  hors  of  his  was  dreynt  ther- 

inne, 
Whan  that  he  wente  Babiloigne  to  winne. 
He  made  that  the  river  was  so  smal. 
That  wommen  mighte  wade  it  over-al. 
Lo,  what  seyde  he,  that  so  wel  teche  can? 
"  Ne  be  no  felawe  to  an  irons  man,      2086 


T.  7669-774S.] 


D.    ^^e  ^ownoute  ^afe. 


593 


Ne  with  no  wood  man  walke  by  the  weye, 
Lest  thee  repente  ; "  ther  is  na^more  to 

seye.  (380) 

Now  Thomas,  leva  brother,  lef  thyn  ire ; 
Thou  shalt  me  finde  as  just  as  is  a  squire. 
Hokl  natthedevelesknyf  ayatthyn  herte ; 
Thyn  angre  dooth  thee  al  to  sore  smerte  ; 
But  shewe  to  me  al  thy  confessioun.' 
'  Nay,'  quod  the  syke  man,  '  by  Seint 

Simoun  !  2094 

I  have  be  shriven  this  day  at  my  curat ; 
I  liave  him  told  al  hooUy  myn  estat ; 
Nedeth  na-more  to  speke  of  it,'  seith  he, 
'  But  if  me  list  of  myn  humilitee.'       (390) 
'  Yif  me  thanne  of  thy  gold,  to  make 

our  cloistre,' 
Quod  he,  '  for  many  a  muscle  and  many 

an  oistre,  2100 

Whan  other  men  han  ben  ful  wel  at  eyse, 
Hath  been  our  fode,  our  cloistre  for  to  reyse. 
And  yet,  god  woot,  unnetho  the  fundement 
Parfourned  is,  ne  of  our  pavement  2104 
Nis  nat  a  tyle  yet  with-ijine  our  wones  ; 
By  god,  we  owen  fourty  pound  for  stones  ! 
Now  help,  Thomas,  for  him.  that  harwed 

helle  ! 
For  elles  moste  we  our  bokes  selle.  (400) 
And  if  ye  lakke  our  predicaoioun,  2109 
Than  gooth  the  world  al  to  destruccioun. 
For  who-so  wolde  us  fro  this  world  bireve, 
So  god  me  save,  Thomas,  by  your  leve. 
He  wolde  bireve  out  of  this  world  the  Sonne. 
For  who  can  teche  and  werchen  as  we 

conne?  21 14 

And  that  is  nat  of  litel  tyme,'  quod  he  ; 
'  But  sith  that  Elie  was,  or  Elisee, 
Han  freres  been,  that  flnde  I  of  record. 
In  charitee,  y-thanked  be  our  lord.    (410) 
Now  Thomas,  help,  for  seinte  Charitee  ! ' 
And  doun  anon  he  sette  him  on  his  knee. 
This  syke  man  wex  wel  ny  wood  for  ire  ; 
He  wolde  that  the  frere  had  been  on-fire 
With  his  false  dissimulacioun. 
'  Swioh  thing  as  is  in  my  possessioun,' 
Quod  he,    '  that  may  I  yeveu,  and  non 

other.  2125 

Ye  sey  me  thus,  how  that   I   am   yovir 

brother  ? ' 
'  Ye,  certes,'  quod  the  frere,  '  trusteth 

weel ;  , 
I  took  our  dame  ovir  lettre  with  our  seel.' 


'  Now  wel,'   qviod  he,    '  and   som-what 

shal  I  yive  (421) 

Un-to  your  holy  covent  whyl  I  live,  2130 
And  in  thyn   hand   thoii  shalt   it   have 

anoon  ; 
On  this  condicioun,  and  other  noon. 
That  thou  departe  it  so,  my  dere  brother, 
Tliat  every  frere  have  also  muche  as  other. 
This  shaltou  swere  on  thy  professioun, 
With-outen  fraude  or  cavillacioun.'    2136 
'  I  swere  it,'  quod  this  frere,  '  upon  my 

feith  ! ' 
And  ther-with-al  his  hand  in  his  he  leith  : 
'  Lo,  heer  my  feith  !  in  me  shal  be  no  lak.' 
'  Now  thanne,  put  thyn  hand  doun  by 

my  bak,'  (+32)  2140 

Seyde  this  man,  '  and  grope  wel  bihinde  ; 
Bynethe  my  buttok  ther  shaltow  finde 
A  thing  that  I  have  hid  in  privetee.' 
'  A  ! '  thoghte  this  frere,  '  this  shal  go 

with  me  ! ' 
And  doun  his  hand  he  launcheth  to  the 

clifte,  2145 

In  hope  for  to  iinde  ther  a  yifte.  (438) 

And  whan  this  syke  man  felte  this  frere 
Aboute  his  tuwel  grope  there  and  here, 
Amidde  his  hand  he  leet  the  frere  a  fart. 
Ther  nis  no  capul,  drawinge  in  a  cart,  2150 
That  mighte  have  lete    a  fart   of  swich 

a  soun. 
The  frere   up   stirte   as   doth    a   wood 

leoun  : 
'  A !    false  cherl,'   qiiod   he,    '  for   goddes 

bones, 
This  hastow  for   despyt  doon,    for   the 

nones  ! 
Thou  shalt  abye  this  fart,  if  that  I  may  ! ' 
His  meynee,  whiche  that  harden  this 

affray,  2156 

Cam  lepinge  in,  and  chacod  out  the  frere ; 
And  forth  he  gooth,  with  a  ful  angry 

chere,  (450) 

And  fette  his  felawe,  thar-as  lay  his  stoor. 
He  looked  as  it  were  a  wilde  boor  ;  2160 
He  grinte  with  his  teeth,  so  was  he  wrooth. 
A  sturdy  pas  doun  to  the  court  he  gooth, 
Wher-as   ther   woned    a    man    of   greet 

honour. 
To  whom  that  he  was  alwey  confessoiir ; 
This  worthy  man  was  lord  of  that  village. 
This  frere  cam,  as  he  were  in  a  rage,  2166 


594 


^6e  Canferfiutp  Znke. 


:^-  7749-78:0- 


A\'ber-as  this  lord  sat  eting  at  his  bonl. 
Unnethes  mightc  the  frere  speke  a  word, 
Til  atte  hvsto  he  seyde :  '  god  yow  see ! '  (461 ) 
This  lord  gan  loke,  and  seide,   '6en'- 

cite!  217" 

What,  frere  John,  what  manor  world  is 

this? 
I  see  wel  that  som  thing  ther  is  amis. 
Ye  loken  as  the  wode  were  ful  of  thevis, 
Sit  doun  anon,   and  tel   me  what   your 

greef  is, 
And  it  shal  been  amended,  if!  may.'  2175 

•  I  have,'  quod  he,  '  had  a  despyt  this  day. 
Trod  yelde  yow !  adoun  in  your  village, 
That  in  this  world  is  noon  so  povre  a  page, 
That  he  nolde  have  abhominacioun  (471) 
Of  that  I  have  receyved  in  sour  toim.  2180 
And  yet  ne  grevcth  me  no-thing  so  sore, 
As  that  this  olde  cherl,  with  lokkes  hore, 
Blaspliemed  hath  our  holy  covent  eke' 

'  Now,  maister,'  quod  this  lord,  '  I  yow 

biseke.' 
'  So  maister,  sire,'  quod  ho,  '  but  sorv-i- 
tour,  21S5 

Thogh  I  have  had  in  scole  swich  honour. 
God  lyketh  nat  that  "Raby  "  men  us  cAlle, 
Neither  in  market  ne  in  your  large  halle.' 
'  No  fors,'  quod  he,  '  but  tel  me  al  your 
grief.'  (481) 

'Sire,'  quod  this  frere,  'an  odious  mes- 
chief  2190 

This  day  bitid  is  to  myn  ordre  and  me, 
And  so  per  consequens  to  ech  degree 
Of  holy  chirche,  god  amende  it  sone  ! ' 

•  .Sir,'  quod  the  lord,  '  ye  woot  what  is 

to  done. 
Distempre  yow  noght,   j-e   be   my  con- 

fessour;  2195 

Ye  been  the  salt  of  the  erthe  and  the 

savour. 
For  goddes  love  your  pacience  ye  holde , 
Tel  me  your  grief : '    and  he  anon  him 

tolde,  (490) 

As  ye  han  herd  biforn,  ye  woot  wel  what. 

The  lady  of  the  hous  ay  stille  sat,    2200 

Til  she  had  herd  al  what  the  frere  sayde : 

'  Ey,   goddes  moder,'  quod   she,    '  blisful 

mayde ! 
Is  ther  oght  elles?  telle  me  fcithfully.' 

•  Madame,'  quod  he,  'how  thinketh  yow 

her-by?' 


'How  that  me  thinketli?'  quod  she; 
'  so  god  me  speede,  2205 

I  seye,  a  cherl  hath  doon  a  cherles  dede. 
AVTiat  shold  I  seye?  god  lat  him  never 

thee! 
His  syke  heed  is  ful  of  vanitee,  (500) 

I  hold  him  in  a  maner  frenesye.' 

'  Madame,'  quod  he,  '  by  god  I  shal  nat 
lye;  2210 

But  I  on  other  weyes  may  be  wreke, 
I  shal  diffame  him  over-al  ther  I  speke, 
Tliis  false  blasphemour,  that  charged  mo 
To  parte  that  wol  nat  departed  be. 
To  every  man  y-liche,  with  meschaunce  ! ' 

The   lord   sat   stille   as   he  were  in   a 
traunce,  2216 

And  in  his  herte  ho  rolled  up  and  doun, 
'  How  hadde  this  cherl  imaginacioun  (510) 
To  shewe  swich  a  probleme  to  the  frere? 
Never  erst  er  now  horde  I  of  swich  matere ; 
I  trowe  the  dovel  putte  it  in  his  minde. 
In  ars-mctryke  shal  ther  no  man  findo, 
Biforn  this  day,  of  swich  a  questioun. 
*V^nio  sholde  make  a  domonstracioun. 
That  every  man  sholde  have  y-liche  his 
part  2225 

As  of  the  soun  or  savour  of  a  fart  ?      (518) 

0  nyce  proude  cherl,  I  shrewe  his  face ! 
Lo,  sires,'  quod  the  lord,  with  harde  grace, 
'  Who  ever  herde  of  swich  a  thing  er  now? 
To  every  man  y-lyke  ?  tel  mo  how.       22:50 
It  is  an  inpossilile,  it  may  nat  be ! 

Ey,  nyce  cherl,  god  lete  him  never  thee  ! 
The  rumblinge  of  a  fart,  and  every  soun, 
Nis  but  of  eir  reverberacioun,  2234 

And  over  it  wasteth  Ij'te  and  lyte  awey. 
Ther  is  no  man  can  demon,  by  my  fey, 
If  that  it  were  departed  equally.  (529) 

What,  lo,  my  cherl,  lo,  yet  how  shrewedly 
Un-to  my  confessour  to-day  he  spak  ! 

1  holde  him  certeyn  a  demoniak !  2240 
Now  ete  your  mete,  and  lat  the  cherl  go 

pleye, 
Lat  him  go  honge  himself,  a  devel  weyc ! ' 
Now  stood  the  lordes  squyer  at  the  bord, 
That  carf  his  mete,  and  horde,  word  by 

word,  2244 

Of  alle  thinges  of  which  I  have  yow  sayd. 
'  My  lord,'  quod  he,  '  be  ye  nat  yvel  apayd ; 
I  eoude  telle,  for  a  goune-clooth, 
To  yow,  sir  frere,  so  ye  be  nat  wrootli,  (540) 


7831-7876.] 


D.    ^0e  ^omttoure  ^afe. 


59; 


How  that  this  fart  sholde  even  deled  be 
Among  your  covent,  if  it  lyked  me.'    2250 
'Tel,'  qnod  the  lord,   'and  thou  shalt 

have  anon 
A  goune-cloth,  by  god  and  by  Seint  John ! ' 
'My  lord,'  quod  he,   'whan   that   the 

weder  is  fair, 
With-otiten  wind  or  perturbinge  of  air, 
Lat   bringe  a  cartwheel  here  in-to  this 

halle,  2255 

But  loke  that  it  have  his  spokes  alle. 
Twelf  spokes  hath  a  cartwheel  comunly. 
And  bring  me  than  twelf  freres,  woot  ye 

why?  (550) 

For  thrittene  is  a  covent,  as  I  gesse. 
The  confessour  heer,  for  his  worthinesse, 
Shal   jjarfourne   up    the   nombre   of   his 

covent.  2261 

Tlian  shal  they  knele  doun,  by  oon  assent, 
And  to  every  si^okes  ende,  in  this  manere, 
Ful  sadly  leye  his  nose  shal  a  frere. 
Your  noble  confessour,  ther  god  him  save, 
Shal  holde  his  nose  upright,  under  the 

nave.  2266 

Than  shal  this  cherl,  with  bely  stif  and 

toght 
As  any  tabovir,  hider  been  y-broght ;  (560) 
And  sette  him  on  the  wheel  right  of  this 

cart,  2269 

Upon  the  nave,  and  make  him  lete  a  fart. 


Aiid  ye  shul  seen,  up  peril  of  my  lyf, 
By  preve  which  that  is  demonstratif. 
That  equally  the  soiin  of  it  wol  wende. 
And    eek   the   stink,    un-to    the    spokes 

ende  ; 
Save  that  this  worthy  man,    your   con- 
fessour, 2275 
By-cause  he  is  a  man  of  greet  honoiar, 
Shal  have  the  firste  fruit,  as  reson  is ; 
The  noble  usage  of  freres  yet  is  this,  (570) 
The  worthy  men   of  hem  shul   first   be 
served ;                                                  227-) 
And  certeinly,  he  hath  it  weel  deserved. 
He  hath  to-day  taught  us  so  muchel  good 
With  preching  in  the  pulpit  ther  he  stood. 
That  I  may  vouche-sauf,  I  sey  for  me. 
He  hadde  the  firste  smel  of  fartcs  three, 
And  so  wolde  al  his  covent  hard  ily  ;    2285 
He  bereth  him  so  faire  and  holily.' 

The  lord,  the  lady,  and  ech  man,  save 
the  frere,  i?/':!) 

Seyde  that  Jankin  spak,  in  this  matere, 
As  wel  as  Euclide  or  [as]  Ptholomee. 
Touchinge  this  cherl,  they  seyde,  subtiltee 
And  heigh  wit  made  him  speken  as  he 
spak ;  2291 

He  nis  no  fool,  ne  no  demoniak. 
And  Jankin  hath  y-wonne  a  newe  goune. — 
My  tale   is   doon      we    been    almost    at 
toune.  22^'4 


Here  endeth  the  Somnours  Tale. 


596 


ZU  tanUv&uv^  Zake. 


[t.  7877- 


GEOUP  E. 


THE    CLERK'S    PROLOGUE. 


Here  folweth  the  Prologe  of  the  Clerkes  Tale  of  Oxenford. 


'  Sin  clerk  of  Oxenford,'  our  hoste  sayde, 
'Ye  rjde  ns  coy  and  stille  as  dootb  a 

maj-de, 
Wore  ncwe  sponsed,  sitting  at  the  bord  ; 
This  day  ne  horde  I  of  jour  tonge  a  word. 
1  trowo  ye  studie  aboute  som  sophyme,   5 
But  Salomon  seith,  "every  thing  hath 

tyme." 
For  goddes  sake,  as  both  of  bettro  chore, 
It  is  no  tj-me  for  to  studien  hero. 
Tillo  ns  som  niorj-  tale,  by  your  fey  ; 
For  what  man  that  is  entrod  in  a  pley,  10 
Ho  nodes  moot  unto  the  pley  assentc. 
But  precheth  nat,  as  frores  doon  in  Lento, 
To  make  us  for  onr  olde  sinnos  wepe, 
Xo  that  thy  tale  make  us  nat  to  slope. 

Telle  ns  som  merj-  thing  of  avcntures ; — 
Yonr    termes,   your    colours,    and    your 

figures,  16 

Kcpe  hem  in  stoor  til  so  be  ye  endjrte 
Heigh  style,  as  whan  that  men  to  kinges 

wrj-te. 
Speketh  so  pleyn  at  this  tyme,  I  yow  preye. 
That  we  may  understonde  what  ye  seye.' 
This  worthy  clerk  benignely  answerde, 
'  Hoste,'  qnod  ho,  '  I  am  under  your  yerde  ; 
Ye  ban  of  us  as  now  the  govemaunce. 
And  therfor  wol  I  do  yow  obeisaunce, 
As  for  as  reson  axeth,  hardily.  25 

I  wol  yow  telle  a  tale  which  that  I 
Lerned  at  Padowe  of  a  worthy  clerk, 
As  proved  by  his  wordes  and  his  werk. 


He  is  now  deed  and  nayled  in  his  cheste, 
I  prey  to  god  so  yeve  his  soulo  roste !     30 

Franneej^  Petrark,  the  laureat  poete, 
Highto  this  clerk,  whos  rothoryke  sweete 
Enlumined  al  Itaillo  of  poetryo, 
As  Linian  dide  of  philosophj-e 
Or  lawe,  or  other  art  pnrticnlor  ;  35 

But  deeth,  that  wol  nat  suffro  us  dwellen 

heer 
But  as  it  were  a  twinkling  of  an  yS, 
Hem  bothe  hath  slaj-n,  and  alle  shul  we 
dye. 

But  forth  to  tellon  of  this  worthy  man, 
Tliat  tanghte  me  this  tale,  as  I  bigan,  40 
I  seyo    that  first  with    heigh    style   he 

cndj-teth, 
Er  he  the  body  of  his  tale  wryteth, 
A  proheme,  in  the  which  discrj-%'eth  he 
Pemond,  and  of  Saluces  the  contree,      44 
And  spoketh  of  Apennyn,  the  hilles  hye, 
That  been  the  boundes  of  West  Lum- 

bardye. 
And  of  Mount  Vesulus  in  special. 
Where  as  the  Poo,  out  of  a  wollo  smal, 
Taketh  his  firste  springing  and  his  sours, 
That  estward  ay  encresseth  in  his  cours  50 
To  Emolward,  to  Ferrare,  and  Venyse  : 
The  which  a  long  thing  were  to  devyse. 
And  trewely,  as  to  my  jugement. 
Me  thinketh  it  a  thing  impertinent. 
Save  that  he  wol  conveyon  his  matere  :  55 
But  this  his  tale,  which  that  ye  may  here.' 


T-  7933-:993-] 


ZU  CferSee  Zak. 


597 


THE    CLERKES    TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Tale  of  the  Clerk  of  Oxenford. 


TuER  is,  at  the  west  syde  of  Itaille, 
Doun  at  the  rote  of  Vesulus  the  colde, 
A  lusty  playne,  habundant  of  vitaille, 
'\^^le^  many  a  tour  and  toun  thou  mayst 
biholde,  60 

That  founded  were  in  tyme  of  fadres  olde, 
And  many  another  delitable  sights, 
And  Saluces  this  noble  contree  highte. 

A  marlds  whylom  lord  was  of  that  londe, 
As  were  his  worthy  eldres  him  bifore  ;  65 
And  obeisant  and  redy  to  his  honde  (10) 
Were  alle  his  liges,  bothe  lasse  and  more. 
Thus  in  delyt  he  liveth,  and  hath  don  yore, 
Biloved  and  drad,  thurgh  favour  of  for- 
tune, C9 
Bothe  of  his  lordes  and  of  his  commune. 

Therwith  he  was,  to  speke  as  of  linage, 

The  gentilleste  y-bom  of  Lumbardye, 

A  fair  persone,  and  strong,  and  yong  of 

age, 
And  ful  of  honour  and  of  curteisye  ; 
Discreet  y-nogh  his  contree  for  to  gyo,   75 
Save  in  sommo  thinges  that  he  was  to 

blame,  (20) 

And  Walter  was  this  yonge  lordes  name. 

I  blame  him  thus,  that  he  considereth 
uoght  78 

In  tj-me  cominge  what  mighte  him  bityde. 
But  on  his  lust  present  was  al  his  thoght, 
,\s  for  to  hauke  and  hunte  on  every  syde  ; 
Wei  ny  alle  othere  cures  leet  he  slyde. 
And  eek  he  nolde,  and  that  was  worst  of 
alle,  (27) 

Wedde  no  wyf,  for  noght  that  may  bifalle. 

Only  that  point  his  peple  bar  so  sore,  85 
That  flokmele  on  a  day  they  to  him  wente. 
And  oon  of  hem,  that  wysest  was  of  lore. 
Or  eUes  that  the  lord  best  wolde  assente 


That  he  sholdo  telle  him  what  his  peplo 
mento,  89 

Or  ellcs  coude  he  showe  wel  swich  matere. 
He  to  the  markis  seydo  as  ye  shul  here. 

'  O  noble  markis,  your  humanitee 
Assureth  us  and  yeveth  us  hardinesse. 
As  ofte  as  tyme  is  of  necessitee  94 

That  we  to  yow  mowe  telle  our  hevinesse  ; 
Accepteth,  lord,  now  for  your  gentillessc, 
That   we    with   pitous  herte   un-to   yow 
pleyne,  (41) 

And  lete  your  eres  nat  my  voys  disdeyne. 

Al  have  I  noght  to  done  in  this  matere 
More  than  another  man  hath  in  this  place. 
Yet  for  as  muche   as    ye,   my  lord   so 

dere,  loi 

Han  alwey  shewed  me  favour  and  grace, 
I  dar  the  better  aske  of  yow  a  space 
Of  audience,  to  shewen  our  requeste, 
And  ye,  my  lord,  to  doon  right  as  yow 

leste.  105 

For  certes,  lord,  so  wel  us  lyketh  yow  (50) 
And  al  your  werk  and  ever  han  doon, 

that  we 
Ne  coude  nat  us  self  devj'sen  how 
We  mighte  liven  in  more  felicitee. 
Save  o  thing,  lord,  if  it  your  willo  be,  no 
That  for  to  been  a  wedded  man  yow  leste. 
Than  were  your  peple  in  sovereyn  hertes 

reste. 

Boweth  your  nekke  under  that  blisful  yok 
Of  soveraynetee,  noght  of  servyse, 
Which   that  men  clepeth  spousaille  or 

wedlok  ;  1 15 

And  thenketh,  lord,  among  your  thoghtes 

wyse,  (60) 

How  that  our  dayes  passe  in  sondry  wyse  ; 


598 


Z^t  Canierfiutp  t^afee. 


[t.  7994-S069. 


For  though  we  slepe  or  wake,  or  rome,  or 

ryde, 
Ay  fleeth  the  tyme,  it  nil  no  man  abyde. 

And  though  yoiir  grene  yonthe  floiire  as 
yit,  iM 

lu  crepeth  age  alwoy,  as  stille  as  stoon, 
And  deeth  manaceth  every  ago,  and  smit 
In  ech  estaat,  for  tlier  escapeth  noon  : 
And  al  so  ccrtein  as  we  knowo  echoon 
That  we  shnl  deye,  as  uncertcyn  we  alle 
Been  of  that  day  whan  deeth  shal  on  us 
faUe.  (70)  126 

Accepteth  than  of  us  the  trewe  entente, 
That  never  yet  refuseden  your  hestc, 
And  we  wol,  lord,  if  that  ye  wol  assente, 
Chese  yow  a  wyf  in  short  tyme,  attc  leste, 
Born  of  the  gentillcste  and  of  the  meste 
Of  al  this  lond,  so  that  it  oglite  seme 
Honour  to  god  and  yow,  as  we  can  deme. 

Deliver  us  out  of  al  this  bisy  drede, 
And  tak  a  wyf,  for  hye  goddes  sake  ;     135 
For  if  it  so  bifelle,  as  god  forbede,        (80) 
That    thnrgh    your  deeth    your    linage 

sholde  slake, 
And  that  a  straunge  successour  sholde 

take 
Your  heritage,  o  !  wo  were  us  alyve  ! 
Wherfor  we  pray  you  hastily  to  wyve.'  140 

Hir  meke  preyere  and  hir  pitous  chere 

Made  the  markis  herte  han  pitee. 

'  Ye  wol,'   quod  he,    '  myn  owene   peple 

dere, 
To  that  I  never  erst  thoghte  streyne  me. 
I  me  rejoysed  of  my  libertee,  145 

That  seldetyme  is  founde  in  mariage  ;  (90) 
Ther  I  was  free,  I  moot  been  in  servage. 

But  nathelees  I  see  your  trewe  entente, 
And  truste  upon  your  wit,  and  have  don  ay ; 
Wherfor  of  my  free  wil  I  wol  assente    150 
To  wedde  me,  as  sone  as  ever  I  may. 
But  ther-as  ye  han  prof  red  rue  to-day 
To  chese  me  a  wyf,  I  yow  relesse 
That  choys,  and  prey  yow  of  that  profre 
cesse.  154 

For  god  it  woot,  that  children  ofte  been 
Unlyk  her  worthy  eldres  hem  bifore  ;  (100) 


Bountee  comth  al  of  god,  nat  of  tlie  streen 
Of  which  they  been  engendred  and  y-bore; 
I  truste  in  goddes  bountee,  and  therfore 
My  mariage  and  myn  estaat  and  reste  160 
I  him  bitake  ;  he  may  don  as  him  leste. 

Lat  me  alone  in  chesinge  of  my  wyf, 
Tliat  charge  up-on  my  bak  I  wol  endure  ; 
But  I  yow  preyo,  and  charge  up-on  your  lyf. 
That  what  vi-yf  that  I  take,  ye  mo  assure 
To  worshipe  hir,  why!  that  hir  lyf  may 

dure,  (no)  166 

In  word  and  werk,  bothe  here  and  cverj-- 

where, 
As  she  an  cmperoures  doghter  were. 

And  forthermore,  this  shal  ye  swere,  that 

ye 
Agayn  my  choys  shul  neither  gruccho  ne 

stryve  ;  170 

For  sith  I  shal  forgoon  my  libertee 
At  your  requeste,  as  e^■o^  moot  I  thryve, 
Ther  as  mj-n  herte  is  set,  ther  wol  I  wyve  ; 
And  but  ye  wole  assente  in  swicli  manere, 
I   prey  yow,   speketh    na-more    of   this 

matere.'  (119)  175 

With  hertlywil  they  sworen,  and  assenten 
To  al  this  thing,  therseyde  no  wight  nay ; 
Bisekinge   him    of  grace,  er   that   they 

wcnten, 
That  he  wolde  graunten  hem  a  certein  day 
Of  his  spousaille,  as  sone  as  ever  ho  may  ; 
For  yet  alwey  the  pople  som-what  dredde 
Lest  that  this  markis  no  wyf  wolde  wedde. 

He  grauntcd  hem  a  da.y,  swich  as  him 

leste. 
On  which  he  woldo  be  we<lded  sikerly,  184 
And  seyde,  he  dide  al  this  at  hir  requeste  ; 
And  they,  with  humble  entente,  buxomly, 
Knelinge  up-on  her  knees  ful  reverently 
Him  thanken  alle,  and  thus  they  han  an 

ende       .  (132) 

Of  hir   entente,   and   lioom   agayn   they 

wende. 

And  heer-up-on  he  to  his  officeres         190 
Comaundeth  for  the  festc  to  purveye. 
And  to  his  privee  knightes  and  squyeres 
Swich  charge  yaf,  .as  him  liste  on  hem  leye  ; 


T.  8070-8 1 5 1.] 


E.    ZU  CkvUe  Za?t. 


599 


And  they  to  liis  comandement  obeye, 
And  ech  of  hem  doth  al  his  diligence   19S 
To  doon  im-to  the  feste  reverence.      (140) 

Explicit  prima  pars. 

Incipit  secunda  pars. 
Noght  fer  fro  thilke  paleys  honurahle 
Ther-as  this  markis  shoop  his  mariage, 
Ther  stood  a  throp,  of  site  delitable, 
In  which  that  povre  folk  of  that  village  20<5 
Hadden  hir  testes  and  hir  herbergage, 
And  of  hir  labour  took  hir  sustenance 
After  that  th'erthe  yaf  hem  habundance. 

Amonges   thise   povre   folk   ther   dwelte 

a  man 
Which  that  was  holden  povrest  of  hen?. 

alle ;  205 

But  hye  god  som  tyme  senden  can      (150) 
His  grace  in-to  a  litel  oxes  stalle  : 
Janicula  men  of  that  throp  him  oalle. 
A  doghter  hadde  he,  fair  y-nogh  to  sighto, 
And  Grisildis  this  youge  mayden  highte. 

But  for  to  speke  of  vertuous  beautee,  211 
Than   was   she   oon   the    faireste    under 

Sonne ; 
For  povreliche  y-fostred  up  was  she, 
No   likerous  lust  was  thurgh  hir  herte 

y-ronne  ;  (158)  214 

Wei  ofter  of  the  welle  than  of  the  tonne 
She  drank,  and  for  she  wolde  vertu  plese. 
She  knew  wel  labour,  but  non  ydel  ese. 

But  thogh  this  mayde  tendre  were  of  age. 

Yet  in  the  brest  of  hir  virginitee 

Ther  was  enclosed  ryi^e  and  sad  corage  ; 

And  in  greet  reverence  and  charitee     221 

Hir  olde  povre  fader  fostred  she ; 

A  fewe  sheep  spinning  on  feeld  she  kepte, 

She  wolde  noght  been  ydel  til  she  slepte. 

And  whan  she  hoomward  cam,  she  wolde 

bringe  225 

Wortes  or  othere  herbes  tymes  ofte,    (170) 

The  whiche  she  shredde  and  seeth  for  hir 

livinge. 
And  made  hir  bed  ful  harde  and  no-thing 

softe ; 
And  ay  she  kepte  hir  fadres  lyf  on-lofte 
With  everich  obeisaunce  and  diligence  230 
That  child  may  doon  to  fadres  reverence. 


Up-on  Grisilde,  this  jiovre  creature, 
Ful  ofte  sythe  this  markis  sette  his  ye 
As  he  on  hunting  rood  paraventure  ;    2  :;4 
And  whan  it  fil  that  he  mighte  hir  espye. 
He  noght  with  wantouii  loking  of  folye 
His  yen  caste  on  hir,  but  in  sad  wyse(i8i) 
Up-on  hir  chere  he  wolde  him  ofte  avyse, 

Commending  in  his  herte  hir  womman- 

hede. 
And  eek  hir  vertu,  passing  any  wight  240 
Of  so  yong  age,  as  wel  in  chere  as  dede. 
For  thogh  the  peple  have  no  greet  insight 
In  vertu,  he  considered  ful  right 
Hir  bountee,  and  disposed  that  he  wolde 
Wedde  hir  only,  if  ever  he  wedde  sholde. 

The  day  of  wedding  cam,  but  no  wight 
can  (190)  246 

Telle  what  womman  that  it  sholde  be  ; 
For  which  merveillewondrednianyanian. 
And  seyden,  whan  they  were  in  privetee, 
'  Wol  nat  our  lord  yet  leve  his  vanitoe  ?  250 
Wol  he  nat  wedde  ?  alias,  alias  the  whyle  ! 
Why  wol  he  thus  him-self  and  us  bigyle  ?  ' 

But  natheles  this  markis  hath  don  make 
Of  gemmes,  set  in  gold  and  in  asure, 
Broches  and  ringes,  for  Grisildis  sake,  255 
And  of  hir  clothing  took  he  the  mesure 
By  a  mayde,  lyk  to  hir  stature,  ■  (201) 

And  eek  of  othere  ornamentes  alle 
That  un-to  swich  a  wedding  sholde  falle. 

The  tyme  of  undern  of  the  same  day    260 
Approcheth,  that  this  wedding  sholde  be  ; 
And  al  the  paleys  put  was  in  array, 
Bothe   halle   and   chambres,   ech   in  his 

degree ; 
Houses  of  office  stuffed  with  plcntee     264 
Ther  maystow  seen  of  deyntevous  vitaille. 
That  may  be  founde,  as  fer  as  last  Itaille. 

This  royal  markis,  richely  arrayed,     (211) 
Lordes  and  ladyes  in  his  companye, 
The  whiche  unto  the  feste  were  y-prayed. 
And  of  his  retenue  the  bachehye,  270 

With  many  a  soun  of  sondry  melodye, 
Un-to  the  village,  of  the  which  I  tolde. 
In  this  array  the  righte  wey  han  holde. 

Grisilde  of  this,  god  woot,  ixd  innocent, 
That  for  hir  shapen  was  al  this  array,  275 


6oo 


ZH  Conferfiurp  Zakc. 


[t.  8 1 


«23i. 


To  fecchen  -water  at  a  -wcllo  is  went,  (2-'o) 
And  Cometh  hoom  .-us  sone  as  ever  she  may. 
For  wel  she  haddo  herd  seyd,  that  thilke 

day 
The    markis   sholde   wedde,  and,  if  she 

mighte. 
She  wohle  fayn  han  seyn  som  of  that 

sighte.  280 

She  thoghto,  '  I  wol  with  othere  maydens 

stonde, 
That  been  my  felawos,  in  our  dore,  and  see 
Tlie  markisessc,  and  thcrfor  wol  I  fonde 
To  doon  at  ho<im,  as  sone  as  it  maj'  l)e, 
The  labour  which  that  longeth  un-to  me  ; 
And  than  I  may  at  leyser  hir  biholde,  286 
If  she  this  wey  un-to  the  castol  holdo.'  (231) 

And  as  she  wolde  over  hir  threshfold  goon, 
The  markis  cam  and  gan  hir  for  to  calle  ; 
And  she  set  doun  hir  water-i>ot  anoon  290 
Bisyde  the  threshfold,  in  au  oxes  stalle, 
And  doun  iip-on  hir  knees  she  gan  to  falle, 
And  with  sad  contenance  kneleth  stille 
Til  she  had  herd  what  was  the  lordes  wille. 

This  thoghtful  markis  spak  nn-to  this 
mayde  (239)  295 

Ful  sobrely,  and  seyde  in  this  manere, 
'  Whor  is  your  fader,  Grisildis  ? '  he  sayde. 
And  she  with  reverence,  in  humble  chere, 
Auswerile,  '  lord,  he  is  al  rody  here.' 
And  in  she  gouth  with-outcn  lenger  lette, 
And  to  the  markis  she  hir  fader  fette.  30: 

He  by  the  hond  than  took  this  olde  man, 
And   scyde   thus,  whan    he  him   hadde 

asyde, 
'  Janicula,  I  neither  may  no  can  304 

Lenger  the  plesanco  of  myn  herte  hyde. 
If  that  thou  vouche-sauf,  what-so  bityde. 
Thy  doghter  wol  I  take,  er  that  I  wende, 
As  for  my  wyf,  un-to  hir  lyves  ende.  (252) 

Thou  lovest  me,  I  woot  it  wel,  certeyn, 
And  art  my  feithful  lige  man  y-bore  ;  310 
And  al  that  lyketh  me,  I  dar  wel  seyn. 
It  lyketh  thee,  and  specially  therfore 
Tel  me  that  poynt  that  I  have  seyd  bifore. 
If  that  thou  wolt  un-to  that  purpos  drawe, 
To  take  me  as  for  thy  sone-in-lawe  ?  '    315 


This  sodeyn  cas  this  man  astoned  so,  (260) 
That  reed  he  wex,  abayst,  and  al  quaking 
Ho  stood  ;  iinnethes  seyde  ho  wordes  mo, 
But  only  thus  :  '  lord,'  quod  he, '  my  wil- 
ling 
Is  as  ye  wole,  ne  ayeines  your  lyking  320 
I  wol  no-thing  ;  yo  be  my  lord  so  dere ; 
Right  as  yow  lust  goverueth  this  matere.' 

'  Yet  wol  I,'  quod  this  markis  softely, 
'  That  in  thy  chambre  I  and  thou  and  she 
Have  a  collacion,  and  wostow  why  ?      325 
For  I  wol  axe  if  it  hir  wille  be  (270) 

To  be  my  wj'f,  and  reule  hir  after  mo ; 
And  al  this  shal  be  doon  in  thy  presence, 
I  wol  noght  siJeko  out  of  thyn  audience. ' 

And  in   the    chambre    whyl    they  were 
aliouto  330 

Hir  tret  is,  which  as  ye  slial  after  hero, 
Tlie  peplo  cam  un-to  the  hous  with-oute, 
And  wondred  hem  in  how  honest  manere 
And  tentifly  she  kepte  hir  fader  dere.  (278) 
But  outerly  Grisildis  wondro  mighte,  335 
For  never  erst  ne  saugh  she  swich  a  sighte. 

No  wonder  is  thogh  that  she  were  astoned 
To  seen  so  greet  a  gest  come  in  that  place  ; 
She  never  was  to  swiche  gestes  woned. 
For  which  she  loked  with  fill  i^ale  face. 
But  shortly  forth  this  tale  for  to  chace, 
Thise  am  the  wordes  that   the   markis 
sayde  342 

To  this  benigne  verray  feithful  mayde. 

'  Grisilde,'  he  seyde,  '  j'e  shul  wel  under- 

stonde 
It  lyketh  to  your  fader  and  to  me        345 
That  I  yow  wedde,  and  eek  it  may  so 

stonde,  (290) 

As  I  suppose,  ye  wol  that  it  so  be. 
But  thise  demandes  axe  I  first,'  quod  he, 
'  That,  sith  it  shal  be  doon  in  hastif  wyse, 
Wol  ye  assente,  or  elles  jow  avyse  ?      350 

I  seye  this,  be  ye  redy  with  good  herte 

To  al  my  lust,  and  that  I  frely  may. 

As  me  best  thinketh,  do  yow  laughe  or 

smerte. 
And  never  ye  to  grucche  it,  night  ne  day  ? 
And  eek  whan  I  sey  "ye,"  ne  sey  nat 

"nay,"  355 


T.  S 232-8305.] 


E.    ZH  tkvUe  Zc^k. 


601 


Neither  by  word  ne  frowning  contenance  ; 
Swer  this,  and  here  I  swere  our  alliance.' 

Wondring  npon  this  word,  quaking  for 
drede,  (302) 

She  seyde,  '  lord,  undigne  and  unworthy 
Am  I  to  thilke  honour  that  ye  me  bede ;  360 
But  as  ye  wol  your-self,  right  so  wol  I. 
And  heer  I  swere  that  never  willingly 
In  werk  ne  thoght  I  nil  yow  disobeye, 
For  to  be  deed,  though  me  were  looth  to 
deye.'  (308)  364 

'  This  is  y-nogh,  Grisilde  myn  ! '  quod  he. 
And  forth  he  gooth  with  a  ful  sobre  chere 
Out  at  the  dore,  and  after  that  cam  she, 
And  to  the  peple  he  seyde  in  this  manere, 
'  This  is  my  wyf,'  quod  he,  '  that  standeth 

here.  3^'9 

Honoureth  hir,  and  loveth  hir,  I  preye, 
Wlio-so  me  loveth  ;    ther  is  na-more   to 

seye.' 

And  for  that  no-thing  of  hir  olde  gere 
She  sholde  bringe  in-to  his  hous,  he  bad 
That  wommen  sholde  dispoilen  hir  right 
there  ;  (318)  374 

Of  which  thise  ladyes  were  nat  right  glad 
To  handle  hir  clothes  vher-in  she  was  clad. 
But  natheles  this  niayde  bright  of  hewe 
Fro  foot  to  heed  they  clothed  han  al  newe. 

Hir  heres  han  they  kembd,  that  lay  un- 

tressed 
Ful  rudely,  and  with  hir  fingres  smale  380 
A  corone  on  hir  heed  they  han  y-dressed, 
And  sette  hir  fid  of  nowches  grete  and 

smale  ; 
Of  hir  array  what  sholde  I  make  a  tale  ? 
Unnethe  the  peple  hir  knew  for  hir  fair- 

nesse, 
Whan  she  translated  was  in  swich  rich- 


Tliis  markis  hath  hir  spoused  with  a  ring 
Broght  for  the  same  cause,  and  than  hir 
sette  (331) 

I'p-on  an  hors,  snow-whyt  and  wel  am- 
bling, 
And  to  his  paleys,  cr  he  lenger  lette, 
With  joyful   peple   that   hir   ladde   and 
mette,  3';o 


Conveyed   hir,    and    thus   the   day   they 

spende 
In  revel,  til  the  sonne  gan  descende. 

And  shortly  forth  this  tale  for  to  chace, 
I  seye  that  to  this  newe  markisesse 
God  hath   swich  favour  sent  hir  of  his 
grace,  395 

That  it  ne  semed  nat  by  lyklinesse      (34") 
That  she  was  born  and  fed  in  rudenesse, 
As  in  a  cote  or  in  an  oxe-stalle. 
But  norished  in  an  emperoures  halle. 

To  every  wight  she  woxen  is  so  dere  400 
And  worshipful,  that  folk  ther  she  was 

bore 
And  from  hir  birtho  knewo  hir  j'eer  by 

yere, 
Unnethe    trowed   they,    but   dorste   han 

swore 
Tliat  to  .Janicle,  of  which  I  spak  bifore. 
She  doghter  nas,  for,  as  by  conjecture,  405 
Hem  thoughte  she  was  another  creature. 

For  thogh  that  ever  vertuous  was  she,  (351) 
She  was  encressed  in  swich  excellence 
Of  thewes  gode,  y-set  in  heigh  bountee. 
And  so  discreet  and  fair  of  eloquence,  410 
So  benigne  and  so  digne  of  reverence. 
And  coude  so  the  peples  herte  embrace, 
That  ech  hir  lovede  that  loked  on  hir  face. 

Noght  only  of  Saluces  in  the  toun 
Publiced  was  the  bountee  of  hir  name,  415 
But  eek  bisyde  in  many  a  regioun,  (360) 
If  oon  seyde  wel,  another  seyde  the  same  ; 
So  spradde  of  hir  heigh  bountee  the  fame, 
That  men  and  wommen,  as  wel  yonge  as 

olde, 
Gon  to  Saliice,  upon  hir  to  biholde.      420 

Thus  Walter  lowly,  nay  but  royally. 
Wedded  with  fortunat  honestetee. 
In  goddes  pees  liveth  fvil  esily 
At  hoom,  and  outward  grace  y-nogh  had 
he;  (368)   4^4 

And  for  he  saugh  that  under  low  degree 
Was  ofte  vertu  hid,  the  peple  him  helde 
A  prudent  man,  and  that  is  seyn  ful  selde. 

Nat  only  this  Grisildis  thurgh  hir  wit 
Coude  al  the  feet  of  wyfly  hoomlinesse. 


6o2 


^6e  C&nitvBuv^  ^afee. 


[t.  8306-8376. 


But  eek,  •whan  that  the  cas  requyred  it, 
The  commiino  profit  conde  she  redresse. 
Ther  iias  discord,  rancour,  ne  hevinesse 
In  al  tliat  lend,  that  she  ne  coudo  apese. 
And  \<'jsly  bringe  hem  alle  in  reste  and 
ese. 

Though  that  hir  housbonde  absent  were 
anoon,  435 

If  gentil  men,  or  otherc  of  hir  contree 
Were  wrothe,   she  wolde   bringen  hem 
atoon ;  (381) 

So  wyse  and  rype  wordes  hadde  she. 
And  jugouients  of  so  greet  equitee, 
That  she  from  heven  sent  was,  as  men 
wende,  440 

Peple  to  save  and  every  wrong  t'amende. 

Nat  longe  tyme  after  that  this  Grisild 
Was  wedded,  she  a  doughter  hath  y-bore, 
Al  had  hir  lever  have  born  a  knave  child. 
Glad  was  tliis  markis  and  the  folk  ther- 

fore ;  445 

For  though  a  maj-de  child  come  al  bifore. 
She  may  unto  a  knave  child  attcyne  (391) 
By  lyklihed,  sin  she  nis  uat  burcyne. 
Explicit  secunda  pars. 
Incipit  tercia  pars. 
Ther  fil,  as  it  bifalleth  tymes  mo, 
^^^lan  that  this  child  had  soaked   but 

a  throwe,  450 

This  markis  in  his  herte  longeth  so 
To  tempte  his  wyf,  hir  sadnesse  for  to 

knowe. 
That  he  ne  mighte  out  of  his  herte  throwe 
This  merveillous  desyr,  his  wyf  t'assaye. 
Needless,  god  woot,  he  thoughte  hir  for 

faffraye.  455 

He  hadde  assayed  hir  y-nogh  bifore,  (400) 
And  fond  hir  ever  good  ;  what  neded  it 
Hir  for  to  tempte  and  alwey  more  and 

more? 
Though  som  men  preise  it  for  a  snBtU.  wit. 
But  as  for  me,  I  seye  that  y^-el  it  sit    460 
T'assaye  a  wj-f  whan  that  it  is  no  node. 
And  putten  her  in  anguish  and  in  drede. 

For  which  this  markis  \*Toghte  in  this 

manere  ; 
He  cam  alone  a-night,  ther  as  she  lay. 


With  steme  face  and  with  ful  trouble 
chere,  465 

And  seyde  thus,  '  Grisild,'  quod  he,  '  that 
day  (410) 

That  I  yow  took  out  of  your  povre  array. 
And  putte  yow  in  estaat  of  heigh  noblesse, 
Ye  have  nat  that  forgeten,  as  I  gesse. 

I  seye,  Grisild,  this  present  dignitee,  470 
In  which  that  I  have  put  yow,  as  I  trowe, 
Makoth  yow  nat  foryetful  for  to  be 
That  I  yow  took  in  povre  estaat  ful  lowe 
For  any  wele  ye  moot  your-selven  knowe. 
Tak  hede  of  every  word  that  I  yow  seye, 
Ther  is  no  wight  that  hereth  it  but  we 
tweye.  (420)  476 

Ye  woot  your-self  wel,  how  that  yo  cam 

here 
In-to  this  hous,  it  is  nat  longe  ago, 
And  though  to  me  that  ye  bo  lief  and 

dere, 
Un-to  my  gentils  ye  be  no-thing  so  ;     480 
They  seyn,  to  hem  it  is  greet  shame  and 

wo 
For  to  be  subgets  and  ben  in  servage 
To  thee,  that  bom  art  of  a  smal  village. 

And  namely,  sith  thy  doghter  was  y-bore, 
Thise  wordes  han  they  spoken  doutelees ; 
But  I  desyre,  as  I  have  doon  bifore,  (430) 
To  live  my  lyf  with  hem  in  reste  and 

pees; 
I  maj'  nat  in  this  caas  be  recchelees. 
I   moot  don  with  thy  doghter  for  the 

beste, 
Nat  as  I  wolde,  but  as  my  peple  leste.  490 

And  yet,  god  wot,  this  is  ful  looth  to  me ; 
But  nathelees  with-oute  your  witing 
I  wol  nat  doon,  but  this  wol  I,'  quod  he, 
'  That  ye  to  me  assente  as  in  this  thing. 
Shewe  now  your  pacience  in  your  werking 
That  ye  me  highte  and  swore  in  your 
vUlage  (440)  496 

That  day  that  maked  was  our  mariage.' 

■\Vhan  she  had  herd  al  this,  she  noght 

ameved 
Neither  in   word,  or   chere,  or  counten- 

aunce  ; 
For,  as  it  semed.  she  was  nat  agreved  :  500 


T.  8377-S45'^-] 


E.    ZU  Cfetrftee  Cafe. 


603 


She  seyde,    'lord,   al   lytli   in  j-our   plcs- 

aunce, 
My  child  and  I  with  hertly  obeisaunce 
Ben  yovires  al,  and  ye  mowe  save  or  spUle 
Your  owene  thing ;    werketh  after  your 

wdUe.  504 

Ther  may  no-thing,  god  so  my  soule  save, 
Lyken  to  yow  that  may  displese  me  ;  (450) 
No  I  desyre  nothing  for  to  have, 
Xe  drede  for  to  lese,  save  only  ye  ; 
This  wil  is  in  myn  herte  and  ay  shal  be. 
No  lengt-he  of  tyme  or  deeth  may  this 
deface,  S'o 

Ne  chaunge  my  corage  to  another  place.' 

Glad  was  this  markis  of  hir  answering, 
But  yet  he  feyned  as  he  were  nat  so ; 
Al  drery  was  his  chere  and  his  loking 
^^^^an  that  he  sholde  out  of  the  chambre 
go.  5 '5 

Soue  after  this,  a  furlong  wey  or  two,  (4.60) 
He  prively  hath  told  al  his  entente 
Tn-to  a  man,  and  to  his  wyf  him  sente. 

A  maner  sergeant  was  this  x^rivee  man, 
The  which  that  fcithful  ofte  he  founden 

hadde  520 

In  thinges  grete,  and  eek  swich  folk  wel 

can 
Don  execvicioun  on  thinges  badde. 
The  lord  knew  wel  that  he  him  loved  and 

dradde  ; 
And  whan  this  sergeant  wiste  his  lordes 

wille, 
In-to  the   chambre   he   stalked  hini   ful 

stille.  525 

'  Madame,'  he  seyde,  '  ye  mote  foryeve  it 

me,  (470) 

Thogh  I  do  thing   to  which    I  am   con- 

streyned ; 
Ye  ben  so  wys  that  ful  wel  knowe  ye 
That  lordes  hestes  mowe  nat    been    y- 

feyned  ; 
They  mowe  wel  been  biwailled  or  com- 

pleyned,  530 

But  men  mot  nede  un-to  her  lust  obeye. 
And  so  wol  I ;  ther  is  na-more  to  seyo. 

This  child  I  am  comanded  for  to  take ' — 
And  spak  na-more,  bi^t  out  the  child  he 
hente 


Despitously,  and  gan  a  chero  make       535 
As  though  ho  woldo  han  slayn  it  er  he 
wente.  (4S0) 

Grisildis  mot  al  suffren  and  consente  ; 
And  as  a  lamb  she  sitteth  meke  and  stille, 
And  leet  this  cruel  sergeant  doon  his  wille. 

Suspecious  was  the  diffame  of  this  man. 
Suspect  his  face,  suspect  his  word  also ;  541 
Suspect  the  tyme  in  which  he  this  bigan. 
Alias  !  hir  doghter  that  she  lovede  so 
She  wende  he  woldc  han  slawen  it  right 
tho.  544 

But  natheles  she  neither  weep  ne  syked. 
Consenting  hir  to  that  the  markis  lyked. 

But  atte  laste  speken  she  bigan,  (491) 

And  mekely  she  to  the  sergeant  preyde. 
So  as  he  was  a  worthy  gentil  man. 
That  she  moste  kisse  hir  child  er  that  it 
deyde ;  550 

And  in  her  barm  this  litel  child  she  leyde 
With  ful  sad  face,  and  gan  the  child  to  kisso 
And  lulled  it,  and  after  gan  it  blisse. 

And  thus  she  seyde  in  hir  benigne  voys, 
'  Far  weel,   my  child ;  I  shal  thee  never 

see ;  •  555 

But,  sith  I  thee  have  marked  with  the 

croys,  (500) 

Of  thUke  fader  blessed  mote  thou  be. 
That  for  us  deyde  up-on  a  croys  of  tree. 
Thy  soule,  litel  child,  I  him  bitake. 
For  this  night  shaltow  dyen  for  my  sake.' 

I  trowe  that  to  a  norico  in  this  cas        561 
It  had  ben  hard  this  rewthe  for  to  so  ; 
Wel  mighte  a  mooder  than   han   cryed 

'  alias  ! ' 
But  nathelees  so  sad  stedfast  was  she. 
That  she  endured  all  adversitee,  565 

And  to  the  sergeant  mekely  she  sayde,  (510) 
'  Have  heer  agayn  your  litel  yonge  mayde. 

Goth   now,'    qiiod    she,    '  and   dooth   my 

lordes  heste, 
But  o  thing  wol  I  prcye  yow  of  your  grace. 
That,  but  my  lord  forbad  yow,  atte  leste 
Burieth  this  litel  body  in  som  place  571 
That  bestes  ne  no  briddes  it  to-race.' 
But  he  no  word  wol  to  that  pixrpos  seye, 
But  took  the  child  and  weuto  upon  his 

weye. 


6o4 


C0e  CantcrButp  ^afee. 


[t.  845 


This  sergeant  cam  un-tohis  lord  age.vii,575 
And  of  Grisildis  wordes  and  hir  chare  (520) 
He  tolde  him  point  for  point,  in  short  and 

playn, 
And   him   presenteth   with    his   doghter 

dere. 
Somwhat  this  lord  hath  rewthe   in   his 

manere  ; 
Bat  nathelees  his  pnrpos  heeld  he  stille, 
As  lordes  doon,  whan  they  wol  han  hir 

wiUe ;  58" 

And  ha<l  his  sergeant  that  he  prively 
Sholde   this    child   ful   softs   winde   and 

wTappo 
With  alle  circumstances  tendrely, 
And  carie  it  in  a  cofre  or  in  a  lappe  ;    585 
But,    iip-on   peyne   his    lieed    of    for   to 

swappe,  (53") 

Tliat  no  man  sholde  knowe  of  his  entente, 
Ne  whenne  he  cam,  ne  whider  that  he 

wente ; 

But  at  Boloigne  to  his  snster  dere. 

That  thilke  tyme  of  Pnnik  was  countesse, 

He   sholde  it  take,  and  shewe  hir  this 

matere,  591 

Bisekinge  hir  to  don  hir  hisinesse 
Tliis  child  to  fostre  in  alle  gentilesse  ; 
And  whos  child  that  it  was  he  batl  hir 

liyde 
From    every  wight,   for   oght   that   may 

bityde.  595 

The  sergeant  gooth,  and  hath  fulfild  this 
thing ;  (540) 

But  to  this  markis  now  retourne  we  ; 
For  now  goth  he  ful  faste  imagining 
If  by  his  wyves  chere  he  might©  see, 
Or  by  hir  word  aperceyve  that  she       600 
Were  channged ;  but  he  never  hir  coude 

finde 
But  ever  in  oon  y-lyke  sad  and  kinde. 

As  glad,  as  hiimble,  as  bisy  in  servyse, 
And  eek  in  love  as  she  was  wont  to  be, 
Was  she  to  him  in  every  maner  wyse  ;  605 
Xe  of  hir  doghter  noght  a  word  spak  she. 
Non  accident  for  noon  adversitee         (551) 
Was  seyn  in  hir,  ne  never  hir  doghter 

name 
Xe  nempned  she.  in  emest  nor  in  game. 
Explicit  tercia  pars. 


Sequitur  pars  quarta. 
In    this   estaat   ther   passed  been   fonre 

yeer 
Er  she  with  childe  was  ;  but,  as  god  wolde, 
A  knavo  child  she  bar  by  this  Walter, 
Ful  gracious  and  fair  for  to  biholde. 
And  whan  that  folk  it  to  his  fader  tolde, 
Xat  only  he,  but  al  his  contree,  merie  615 
Whs  for  this  child,  and  god  they  thanke 

and  herie.  (560) 

Wlian  it  was  two  yeer  old,  and  fro  the 

brest 
Departed  of  his  norice,  on  a  day 
This  markis  caughto  yet  another  lest 
To  tempto  his  wj-f  yet  ofter,  if  lie  may.  620 

0  needles  was  she  tempted  in  assay  ! 
But  wedded  men  ne  knowe  no  mesure. 
Whan  that  they  finde  a  pacient  creature. 

'  Wyf,'  quod  this  markis,  '  ye  ban  herd  er 

this, 
My  peple  sikly  berth  our  mariage,         62^ 
And  nanielj-,  sith  my  sone  y-boren  is,  C570) 
X'ow  is  it  worse  than  ever  in  al  our  age. 
The  murmur  sleeth  myn  liertc  and  my 

corage ; 
For   to   myne   eres    comth    tlie   voys   so 

smerte, 
That  it  wel  ny  destroyed  hath  myn  herte. 

Now  sey  they  thus,    "whan  Walter   is 

agoon,  rui 

Then  shal  the  blood  of  Janicle  succede 

[  And  been  our  lord,   for   other  have  we 

'  noon  ;  " 

Swiche   wordes   seith   my   peple,   out    <>f 

drede. 

Wel  oughte  I  of  swich   murmur   taken 

I  hede ;  635 

For  certeinly  I  drede  swich  sentence,  ^580) 

Though  they  nat  plejTi   speke  in   myn 

audience. 

1  wolde  live  in  pees,  if  that  I  mighte  ; 
■Wherfor  I  am  disposed  outerly, 

As  I  his  suster  servede  by  nighte,  640 

Right  so  thenke  I  to  serve  him  prively  ; 
This  wame  I  yow,  that  ye  nat  sodeynly 
Out  of  j-onr-self  for  no  wo  sholde  oiitraye; 
Beth  pacient,  and  ther-of  I  yow  preye.' 


S52I-S593.] 


E.    ZH  tkvUa  ZAk, 


6o- 


•  I  have,'  quod  she,  '  seycl  thus,  and  ever 
shal,  (589)  645 

I  wol  no  thing,  ne  nil  no  thing,  certayn, 

Bnt  as  yow  list ;  noght  greveth  me  at  al, 

Thogli  that  my  doghter  and  my  sone  be 
slayn. 

At  yonr  comandement,  this  is  to  sayn. 

I  have  noght  had  no  part  of  children 
twejTie  650 

But  first  siknesse,  and  after  wo  and  peyne. 

Ye  been  our  lord,  doth  with  your  owene 

thing 
Right  as  yow  list ;  axeth  no  reed  at  me. 
For,  as  1  lefte  at  hoom  al  my  clothing. 
Whan  I  first  cam  to  yow,  right  so,'  quod 

she,  65s 

'  Lefte  I  my  wil  and  al  my  libertee,  (600) 
And  took  your  clothing ;  wherfor  I  yow 

preye, 
Doth  your  plesaunce,   I  wol    your  lust 

obeye. 
And  certes,  if  I  hadde  prescience 
Your  wil  to  knowe  er  ye  your  lust  me 

tolde,  660 

I  wolde  it  doon  with-outen  necligence  ; 
But  now  I  woot  your  lust  and  what  ye 

wolde, 
Al    your    plesaunce    ferme    and    stable 

I  holde  ; 
For  wiste  I  that  my  deeth  wolde  do  yow 

ese,  664 

Eight  gladly  wolde  I  dyen,  yow  to  plese. 

Detli  may  noght  make  no  comparisoun 
Un-to  your  love  : '  and,  whan  this  markis 

sey  (611) 

The  Constance  of  his  wyf,  he  caste  adoun 
His  yen  two,  and  wondreth  that  she  may 
In  pacience  suffre  al  this  array.  670 

And  forth  he  gootli  with  drery  conten- 

aunce, 
But  to  his  herte  it  was  fvd  greet  plesaunce. 

This  ugly  sergeant,  in  the  same  wyse 
That  he  hir  doghter  caughte,  right  so  he, 
Or  worse,  if  men  worse  can  devyse,       675 
Hath   hent    hir    sone,    that    ful   was    of 
beautee.  (620) 

And  ever  in  oon  so  pacient  was  she. 
That  she  no  chere  made  of  hevinesse. 
But  kiste  hir  sone,  and  after  gan  it  blesse ; 


Save  this;  she  preyed  him  that,  if  lie 
mighte,  680 

Hir  litel  sone  he  wolde  in  erthe  grave, 

His  tendre  limes,  delicat  to  sighte. 

Fro  foules  and  fro  bestes  for  to  save. 

Biit  she  non  answer  of  him  mighte  have. 

He  wente  his  wey,  as  him  no-thing  ne 
roghte  ;  6S5 

But  to  Boloigne  he  tendrely  it  broghte. 

This  markis  wondreth  ever  lenger  the 
more  (631) 

Up-on  hir  pacience,  and  if  that  he 
Ne  hadde  soothly  knowen  ther-bifore, 
That  parfitly  hir  children  lovede  she,  690 
He  wolde  have  wend  that  of  som  subtiltee, 
And  of  malice  or  for  cruel  corage. 
That  she  had  suffred  this  with  sad  visage. 

But  wel  he  knew  that  next  him-self, 
certayn,  694 

She  loved  hir  children  best  in  every  vryse. 
But  now  of  wommen  wolde  I  axen  fayn. 
If  thise  assayes  mighte  nat  suflfyse  ?    (641) 
What    coude   a   sturdy   housbond    more 

devyse 
To   preve   hir  wyfhod   and  hir  stedfast- 
nesse,  699 

And  he  continuing  ever  in  sturdinesse  ? 

But  ther  ben  folk  of  swich  condicioun. 
That,  whan  they  have  a  certein  purpos 

take, 
They  can  nat  stinte  of  hir  entencioun, 
But,    right    as    they  were    bounden    to 

a  stake, 
They  wol  nat  of  that  firste  purpos  slake. 
Eight  so  this  markis  fulliche  hath  jjvir- 

posed  ((550)  706 

To  tempte  his  wyf,  as  he  was  first  disposed. 

He  waiteth,  if  by  word  or  contenance 
That  she  to  him  was  changed  of  corage  ; 
But  never  coude  he  finde  variance  ;  710 
She  was  ay  oon  in  herte  and  in  visage  ; 
And  ay  the  forther  that  she  was  in  age. 
The  more  trewe,  if  that  it  were  possible, 
She  was  to  him  in  love,  and  more  penible. 

For  which  it  semed  thus,  that  of  hem  two 
Ther  nas  but  o  wil ;  for,  as  Walter  leste, 
The  same  lust  was  hir  plesance  also,  (661) 


6o6 


ZU  CanferBurp  Zake. 


[t.  8594-S672. 


And,  god  be  thanked,  al  fil  for  the  beste. 
She  shewed  wel,  for  no  worldly  unreste 
A  wj'f,  as  of  hir-self,  no-tliing  ne  sholde 
Wille  in  effect,  but  as  hir  housbond  wolde. 

The  sclanndre  of  Walter  ofte  and  wyde 
spraddo,  -722 

That  of  a  cruel  herte  ho  wikkedly, 
For  he  a  povre  womman  wedded  hadde, 
Hatli  mordred  bothe  his  children  prively. 
Swich  murmur  was  among  hem  comunly. 
Xo  wonder  is,  for  to  the  peples  ere  (671) 
Ther  cam  no  word  but  that  they  mordred 
were. 

For  which,  wher-as  his  peple  ther-bifore 
Had  loved  him  wel,  the  sclaundre  of  his 
diffamo  730 

Made  hem  that  they  him  hatede  therfore ; 
To  been  a  mordrer  is  an  liateful  name. 
But  nathelos,  for  emest  ne  for  game 
He  of  his  cruel  purpos  noldo  stente  ;      734. 
To  tempte  his  wyf  was  set  al  his  entente. 

Whan  that  his  doghter  twelf  yeer  was  of 
ago,  (680) 

He  to  the  court  of  Eome,  in  subtil  wyse 
Enformed  of  his  wil,  sente  his  message, 
Comannding  hem  swiche  bulles  to  de%-yse 
As  to  his  cruel  purpos  may  suffyse,       740 
How  that  the  pope,  as  for  his  peples  reste, 
Bad  him  to  wedde  another,  if  him  leste. 

I  seye,  he  bad  they  sholde  countrefete 
The  popes  bulles,  making  mencioun 
That  he  hath  leve  his  firste  Avyf  to  lete,  745 
As  by  the  popes  dispensacioun,  (690) 

To  stinte  rancour  and  dissencioun 
Bitwixe  his  peple  and  him ;  thus  seydo 

the  bulle, 
The  which  they  han  publiced  atte  fulle. 

The  rude  peple,  as  it  no  wonder  is,  750 
Wenden  ful  wel  that  it  had  been  right  so ; 
But  whan  thise  tydinges  cam  to  Grisildis, 
I  deme  that  hir  herte  was  ful  wo. 
But  she,  y-lyke  sad  for  evermo, 
Disposed  was,  this  humble  creature,  755 
Th'adversitee  of  fortune  al  fendure.  (700) 

Abyding  ever  his  lust  and  his  plesaunce. 
To  whom  that  she  was  yeven,  herte  and  al,   I 
-A^  to  hir  verray  worldly  suifisaunce  ;  i 


But  shortly  if  this  storic  I  tellen  shal,  -60 
This  markis  writen  hath  ip  special 
A  lettre  in  which  ho  shcwoth  his  entente, 
And  secrely  he  to  Boloigno  it  sente. 

To  th'erl  of  Panik,  which  tliat  hadde  tho 
Wedded  his  suster,  preydo  he  specially  765 
To  bringen  hoom  agaj-n  his  children  two 
In  lionurablc  estaat  al  openly.  (711) 

But  o  thing  he  him  preyede  outerly, 
That  he  to  no  wight,  though  men  wolde 

enquere, 
Sholde  nat  telle,  whos  children  that  they 

were,  770 

But  seye,  the  mayden  sholde  y-wedded  be 
Un-to  the  markis  of  Saluce  anon. 
And  as  this  erl  was  preyed,  so  dide  he ; 
For  at  day  set  he  on  his  wey  is  goon 
Toward  Saluce,  and  lordes  many  oon,  775 
In  richo  array,  this  mayden  for  to  gyde  ; 
Hir  j-onge  brother  ryding  hir  bisyde.  {721) 

^rrayed  was  toward  hir  mariage 

This  frcsshe  mayde,  ful  of  gemmes  clere  ; 

Hir  brother,  which  that  seven  yeer  was  of 

age,  780 

Arrayed  eek  ful  fresh  in  his  manere. 
And  tlius  in  greet  noblesse  and  with  glad 

chere, 
Toward  Saluces  shaping  hir  journey. 
Fro  day  to  day  they  rj'den  in  hir  wey. 
Explicit  quarta  pars. 
Seqiiitur  quinta  pars. 
Among  al  this,  alter  his  wikke  usage,  785 
Tliis  markis,  yet  his  wj-f  to  tempte  more 
To  the  uttereste  preve  of  hir  corage,  (73 1) 
Fully  to  han  experience  and  lore 
If  that  she  were  as  stedfast  as  bifore, 
He  on  a  day  in  open  audience  790 

Ful  boistously  hath  seyd  hir  this  sentence : 

'Certes,  GrisUde,  I  hadde  y-nough  ples- 
aunce 

To  han  yow  to  my  wyf  for  your  goodnesse, 

As  for  your  trouthe  and  for  your  obeis- 
aunce, 

Nought  for  your  linage  ne  for  yoiir 
richesse ;  795 

But  now  knowe  I  in  verray  soothfast- 
nesse  (740) 


T.  8673-8754.] 


k  CUvUb  Zak. 


607 


That  in  gret  lordshipe,  if  I  wel  avyse, 
Ther  is  gret  servitute  in  sondry  wyse. 

I  may  nat  don  as  every  plo-\vman  may ; 
My  peple  me  constreyneth  for  to  take  800 
Another  wyf,  and  cryen  day  by  day ; 
And  eek  the  pope,  rancour  for  to  slake, 
Consenteth  it,  that  dar  I  undertake  ; 
And  treweliche  thus  muche  I  wol  yow 

seye, 
My  newe  wyf  is  coming  by  the  weye.    805 

Be  strong  of  herte,  and  voyde  anon  hir 
place,  (750) 

And  thilke  dower  that  ye  broghten  me 
Tak  it  agayn,  I  graunte  it  of  my  grace  ; 
Eetourneth  to  your  fadres  hous,'  quod  he ; 
'No  man  may  alwey  han  prosperitee  ;  810 
With  evene  herte  I  rede  yow  t'endure 
The  strook  of  fortune  or  of  aventure.' 

And  she  answerde  agayn  in  pacience, 
'  My  lord,'  quod  she,  '  I  woot,  and  wiste 

alway 
How  that  bitwixen  your  magnificence  815 
And  my  poverte  no  wight  can  ne  may  (760) 
Maken  comparison  ;  it  is  no  nay. 
I  no  heeld  me  never  digne  in  no  manere 
To  be  your  wyf,  no,  ne  your  chamberere. 

And  in  this  hous,  ther  ye  me  lady  made — 
The  heighe  god  take  I  for  my  witnesse,  821 
And  also  wisly  he  my  soule  glade — • 
I  never  heold  me  lady  ne  maistresse. 
But  humble  servant  to  your  worthinesse. 
And  ever  shal,  whyl  that  my  lyf  may 
dure,  825 

Aboven  every  worldly  creature.  (770) 

That  ye  so  longe  of  your  benignitee 
Han  holden  me  in  honour  and  nobleye, 
Wher-as  I  was  noght  worthy  for  to  be. 
That  thonke  I  god  and  yow,  to  whom 
I  preye  830 

Foryelde  it  yow  ;  there  is  na-more  to  seye. 
Un-to  my  fader  gladly  wol  I  wende. 
And  with  him  dwelle  un-to  my  lyves  ende. 

Ther  I  was  fostred  of  a  child  ful  smal. 
Til  I  be  deed,  my  lyf  ther  wol  I  lede     835 
A  widwe  clene,  in  body,  herte,  and  al.  (780) 
For  sith  I  yaf  to  yow  my  maydenhede, 
.A.nd  am  your  trewe  wyf,  it  is  no  drede. 


God  shilde  swich  a  lordes  wyf  to  take 
Another  man  to  housbonde  or  to  make.  840 

And  of  your  newe  wyf,  god  of  his  grace 
So  graunte  yow  wele  and  px-osperitee  : 
For  I  wol  gladly  yelden  hir  my  place, 
In  which  that  I  was  blisfol  wont  to  be. 
For  sith  it  lyketh  yow,   my  lord,'  quod 

she,  845 

'  That  whylom  weren  al  mj-n  hertes  reste, 
Tliat  I  shal  goon,  I  wol  gon  whan  yow 

leste.  (791) 

But  ther-as  ye  me  profre  swich  dowaire 
As  I  first  brogh^  it  is  wel  in  my  niinde 
It   were  my  wrccched   clothes,  no-thing 

faire,  S50 

The  which  to  me  were  hard  now  for  to 

finde. 
O  gode  god  !  how  gentil  and  how  kinde 
Ye  semed  by  your  specho  and  your  visage 
The  day  that  maked  was  our  mariage  ! 

But  sooth  is  seyd,  algate  I  findo  it  trewe — 
For  in  effect  it  proved  is  on  me —  (800)  856 
Love  is  noght  old  as  whan  that  it  is  newe. 
But  certes,  lord,  for  noon  adversitee, 
To  dyen  in  the  cas,  it  shal  nat  be  859 

That  ever  in  word  or  werk  I  shal  repents 
That  I  yow  yaf  myn  herte  in  hool  entente. 

My  lord,  ye  woot  that,  in  my  fadres  place, 
Ye  dede  me  strepe  out  of  my  povre  wede. 
And  richely  me  cladden,  of  your  grace. 
To  yow  broghte  I  noght  elles,  out  of  drede. 
But  feyth  and  nakednesse  and  mayden- 
hede. (810)  866 
And  here  agayn  my  clothing  I  restore, 
And  eek  my  wedding-ring,  for  evermore. 

The  remenant  of  your  jewels  redy  be    869 
In-with  your  chambre,  dar  I  saufly  sayn ; 
Naked  out  of  my  fadres  hous,'  quod  she, 
'  I  cam,  and  naked  moot  I  turne  agayn. 
Al  your  plesaunce  wol  I  folwen  fajm  ; 
But  yet  I  hope  it  be  nat  your  entente  874 
That  I  smoklees  out  of  your  paleys  wente. 

Ye  coude  nat  doon  so  dishoneste  a  thing. 

That  thilke  wombe  in  which  your  children 

leye  (X21) 

Sholde,  biforn  the  peple,  in  my  walking, 


6o8 


Z^t  Canferfiurp  ZaUe. 


[t.  8755-8831 


Be  seyn  al  bare  ;  wherfor  I  jow  preye, 
Lat  me  nat  lyk  a  worm  go  by  the  weye.  880 
Remembre  yow,  myn  owene  lord  so  dere, 
I  was  your  ^^-j-f,  thogh  I  unworthy  were. 

■\Vhcrfor,  in  fjuerdon  of  my  maydenhede, 
AVhich  that  I  broghte,  and  noght  iigajn 

I  here,  884 

As  voucheth  sauf  to  yeve  me,  to  my  mede, 
But  swicli  a  smok  as  I  was  wont  to  were, 
That  I  therwith  may  wrye  the  wombe  of 

here  (831) 

That  was  your  wyf ;  and  heer  take  I  my 

leve  ^ 

Of  yow,  myn  owene  lord^st  I  yow  greve.' 

'The  smok,'  quod  he.  '  that  thou  hast  on 
thy  bak,  890 

Lat  it  be  stille,  and  ber  it  forth  with  thee.' 
But  wel  unnethes  thilke  word  he  spak, 
But  wente  his  wey  for  rewthe  and  for 

pitee. 
Bifom  the  folk  hir-selven  strepeth  she. 
And  in  hir  smok,  with  heed  and  foot  al 
bare,  (839)  H95 

Towartl  hir  fader  hous  forth  is  she  fare. 

The  folk  hir  folwe  wepinge  In  hir  weye. 
And  fortune  ay  thej*  cursen  as  they  goon ; 
But  she  fro  wejjing  kepte  hir  yOn  dreye, 
Xe  in  this  tyme  word  ne  spak  she  noon.  900 
Hir  fader,  that  this  tyding  herde  anoon, 
Curseth  the  day  and  tyme  that  nature 
Shoop  him  to  been  a  ly\-es  creature. 

For  out  of  donte  this  olde  povre  man 
Was  ever  in  suspect  of  hir  mariage  ;     905 
For  ever  he  demed,  sith  that  it  bigan,(85o) 
That  whan  the  lord  fulfild  had  his  corage, 
Him  wolde  thinke  it  were  a  disparage 
To  his  estaat  so  lowe  for  t'alighte, 
And  voyden  hir  as  sone  as  ever  he  mighte. 

Agaj-ns  his  doghter  hastilich  goth  he,  91 1 
For  he  by  noyse  of  folk  knew  hir  cominge. 
And  with  hir  olde  cote,  as  it  mighte  be. 
He  covered  hir,  ful  sorwefnlly  wepinge  ; 
But  on  hir  body  mighte  he  it  nat  briuge. 
For  rude  was  the  cloth,  and  more  of  age 
By  dayes  fele  than  at  hir  mariage.      (861) 

Thus  with  hir  fader,  for  a  certeyn  space, 
Dwelleth  this  flour  of  wyfly  pacience, 


That  neither  by  hir  wordcs  ne  hir  face  920 
Bifom  the  folk,  ne  cek  in  hir  absence, 
Xe  shewed  she  that  hir  was  doon  offence ; 
Ne  of  hir  heigh  estaat  no  remembraunce 
Ne  hadde  she,  as  by  hir  countenaunce. 

No  wonder  is,  for  in  hir  grete  estaat    925 
Hir  goost  was  ever  in  plejni  humyliteo  ; 
No  t«ndre  mouth,  non  hcrto  dclicaat,  (871) 
No  pompc,  no  semblant  of  royaltee, 
But  ful  of  pacient  benignitee. 
Discreet  and  prydelos,  ay  honurable,    930 
And   to  hir  housbonde   ever   meko  and 
stable. 

Men  speke  of  Job  and  most  for  his  hum- 

blesse, 
As  clerkes,  whan  hem  list,  can  wel  endyte, 
Namely  of  men,  but  as  in  soothfastnesse, 
Thogh   clerkes    preyse  wommen    but    a 

lyte,  935 

Ther  can  no  man  in  homblesse  him  ac- 

qujtc  (880) 

As  womman  can,  ne  can  ben  half  so  trewe 
As  wonuneu  been,  but  it  be  falle  of-newe. 


[Pars  Sexta.] 

Fro  Boloigne  is  this  erl  of  Panik  come, 
Of  which  the  fame  up-sprang  to  more  and 

lessc,  94a 

And  in  the  peples  eres  alle  and  some 
Was  couth  eek,  that  a  newe  markisesse 
He  with  him  broghte,  in  swich  pompe  and 

richesse. 
That  never  was  ther  seyn  with  mannes  y6 
So  noble  array  in  al  West  Lumbardye.  945 

The  markis,  which  that  shoop  and  knew 
al  tliis,  (890) 

Er  that  this  erl  was  come,  sen  tehis  message 

For  thilke  sely  povre  Grisildis  ; 

And  she  with  humble  herte  and  glad 
visage,  949 

Nat  with  no  swollen  thoght  in  hir  corage, 

Cam  at  his  heste,  and  on  hir  knees  hir 
sette. 

And  reverently  and  wysly  she  him  grette. 

'  Grisild,'  quod  he,  '  my  wille  is  outerly, 
This  mayden,  that  shal  wedded  been  to  me, 
Eeceyved  be  to-morwe  as  royally  955 


SS32-S910.] 


E.    ZH  tkvUe  Zak. 


609 


As  it  possible  is  in  myn  hoiis  to  be.     (900) 
And  eek  that  everj'  wight  in  his  degree 
Have  his  estaat  in  sitting  and  sen'yse 
And  heigh  plesaunce,  as  I  can  best  de\-yse. 

I  have  no  wonimen  snffisannt  certayn  960 
The  chambres  for  t'arraye  in  ordinaunce 
Alter  my  hist,  and  therfor  wolde  I  fayn 
That  thjTi  were  al  swich  maner  govern- 

aunce ; 
Til  oil  knowest  eek  of  old  al  my  plesaunce  ; 
Though   thyii   array  be  badde  and  yvel 

biseye,  965 

I)o  thou  tliy  devoir  at  the  leeste  weye.'  (910) 

'Xat  only,  lord,  that  I  am  glad,'  quod  she, 
'  To  doou  yotir  lust,  but  I  desyre  also 
Yow  for  to  serve  and  plese  in  my  degree 
AVith-outenfeynting.and  shalevermo.  970 
Ne  never,  for  no  wele  ne  no  wo, 
Ne  slial  the  gostwith-in  myn  hertestente 
To  love  yow  best  with  al  my  trewe  entente. ' 

And  with  that  word  she  gan  the  hous  to 

dighte, 
And  tables  for  to  sette  and  l)eddes  make  ; 
And   peyned    hir    to   doon   al   that    she 

niighte,  (920)  976 

Preying  the  chamibereres,  for  goddes  sake, 
To  hasten  hem,  and  faste  swepe  and  shake ; 
And  she,  the  moste  servisable  of  alle, 
Hathevei-ychambre  arrayed  and  hishalle. 

Abouten  undern  gan  this  erl  alighte,   981 

That  with  liim  broghte  tliise  noble  child- 
ren tweye. 

For  which  the  pepleran  to  seen  the  sighte 

Of  hir  an-ay,  so  richely  liiseye ; 

And  than  at  erst  amonges  hem  theyseye, 

That  Walter  was  no  fool,  thogh  that  him 
leste  (930)  986 

To  chaunge  his  wyf,  for  it  was  for  the  beste. 

For  she  is  fairer,  as  they  demen  alle, 
Thau  is  Grisild,  and  more  tendre  of  age. 
And    fairer    fruit    bitwene  hem    sholde 

falle,  990 

And  more  plesant,  for  hir  heigh  linage  ; 
Hir  brother  eek  so  fair  was  of  visage. 
That  hem  to  seen  the  peple  hath  caught 

plesaunce. 
Commending    now   the    markis    govern- 

aunce. — 


Avctor.  '  O  stormy  i^eiile  !  tmsad  and  ever 
untrewe  !  (939)  995 

Ay  rmdiscreet  and  chaunging  as  a  vane, 

Delyting  ever  in  rumbel  that  is  newe. 

For  lyk  the  mone  ay  wexe  ye  and  wane  ; 

Ay  fill  of  clapping,  dere  y-nogh  a  jane  ; 

Your  doom  is  fals,  your  Constance  yvel 
preveth,  ioo<> 

A  ful  greet  fool  is  he  that  on  yow  leveth ! ' 

Thus  seyden  sadde  folk  in  that  citee, 
WTian  that  the  pejile  gazed  up  and  doun. 
For  they  were  glad,  right  for  the  noveltee. 
To  ban  a  newe  lady  of  hir  toun.  1005 

Na-more  of  this  make  I  now  mencioun  ; 
But  to  Grisilde  agayn  wol  I  me  dresse,  (951) 
And  telle  hir  Constance  and  hir  bisinesse. — 

Ful  bisy  was  Grisilde  in  every  thing 
That  to  the  feste  was  apertinent ;         loio 
Right  noghtwas  she  abaystof  hir  clothing, 
Though  it  were  rude  and  somdel  eek  to- 
rent. 
But  with  glad  chere  to  the  yate  is  went. 
With  other  folk,  to  grete  the  naarkisesse, 
And  after  that  doth  forth  hir  bisinesse.  1015 

With  so  glad  chere  hisgestes  she  receyveth , 
And  conningly,  everich  in  his  degree,  (961) 
That  no  defaute  no  man  apercej'veth  ; 
But  ay  they  wondren  what  she  mighte  be 
That  in  so  po^Te  array  was  for  to  see,  1020 
And  coude  swich  honour  and  reverence  ; 
And  worthily  they  preisen  hir  prudence. 

In  al  this  mene  whyle  she  ne  stente 
This  mayde  and  eek  hir  brother  to  com- 

mende 
With  al  hir  herte,  in  ful  benigne  entente, 
So   wel,    that   no    man    coude    hir  prys 

amende.  (970)  1026 

But  atte  laste,  whan   that  thise  lordes 

wende 
To  sitten  doiin  to  mete,  he  gan  to  calle 
Grisilde,  as  she  was  bisy  in  his  halle. 

'  Grisilde,'  quod  he,  as  it  were  in  his 
pley,  1030 

'  How  lyketh  thee  my  wyf  and  hir  beautee  ? ' 

'Right  wel,'  quod  she,  'my  lord;  for,  in 
good  fey, 

A  fairer  say  I  never  noon  than  she. 

I  prey  to  god  yeve  hir  i^rosperitee  ;      1034 


6io 


ZH  Can^erfiurp  ^afee. 


[t.  89 1] 


And  so  hope  I  that  he  wol  to  yow  seiide 
Plesance  y-nogh  un-to  your  lyves  ende. 

0  thing  biseke  I  yow  and  warne  also,  (981) 
That  ye  ne  prilvke  with  no  tormentinge 
This  tendre  niayden,  as  ye  han  don  mo; 
For  she  is  fostred  in  hir  norishinge     1040 
More  tcndrely,  and,  to  my  snpposinge, 
She  coude  nat  adversitee  endure 

As  coude  a  povre  fostred  creature.' 

And  whan  this  Walter  say  hir  pacience, 
Hir  glade  chere  and  no  malice  at  al,  1045 
And  he  so  ofte  had  doon  to  hir  ofFence,(99o) 
And  she  ay  sad  and  constant  as  a  wal, 
Continuing  ever  hir  innocence  overal, 
This  sturdy  markis  gan  his  herte  dresse 
To  rewen  up-on  liir  %vj'fly  stedfastnesse.  1050 

'This  is  y-nogh,  Grisilde  myn,'  qtiod  he, 
'  Be  now  na^niore  agast  ne  yvel  apayed  ; 

1  have  thy  feith  and  thy  benignitee, 
As  wel  as  ever  womman  was,  assayed, 

In  greet  estaat,  and  povreliche  arrayed.  1055 
Now  knowe  I,    dere  wyf,    thy  stedfast- 
nesse,'—  ( 1000) 
And  hir  in  armes  took  and  gan  hir  kesse. 

And  she  for  wonder  took  of  it  no  keep  ; 
She  herde  nat  what  thing  he  to  hir  seyde ; 
She  ferde  as  she  had  stert  out  of  a  sleep. 
Til  she  out  of  hir  masednesse  abreyde.  io6i 
'Grisilde,'  quod  he,  'by  god  that  for  us 

deyde, 
Thou  art  my  wyf,  ne  noon  other  I  have, 
Ne  never  hadde,  as  god  my  soule  save ! 

This  is  thy  doghter  which  thou  hast  sup- 
posed 1065 

To  be  my  'wyf ;  that  other  feithfully  (loio) 

Shal  be  myn  heir,  as  I  have  ay  purposed  ; 

Thou  bare  him  in  thy  body  trewely. 

At  Boloigne  have  I  kept  hem  prively ;  1069 

Tak  hem  agayn,  for  now  maystow  nat 
seye 

That  thou  hast  lorn  non  of  thy  children 
tweye. 

And  folk  that  otherweyes  han  seyd  of  me, 
I  warne  hem  wel  that  I  have  doon  this 

dede 
For  no  malice  ne  for  no  crueltee,         10-4 


But  for  t'  assaye  in  thee  thy  wommanhede. 
And  nat  to  sleen  my  children,  god  for- 
bede !  (1020) 

But  for  to  kepe  hem  prively  and  stille, 
Til  I  thy  purpos  knewe  and  al  thy  wille.' 

Whan  she  this  herde,  aswowne  doun  she 

falleth  1079 

For  pitous  joye,  and  after  hir  swowninge 

She  bothe  hir  yonge  children  un-to  hir 

calleth, 
And  in  hir  armes,  pitously  wepinge, 
Embraceth  hem,  and  tendrely  kissinge 
Ful  lyk  a  mooder,  with  hir  Siilte  teres  10S4 
She  batheth  bothe  hir  visage  and  hir  heres. 

O,  which  a  pitous  thing  it  was  to  see  (1030) 
Hir  swowning,  and  hir  humble  voys  to 

here  ! 
'  Grauntmercy,  lord,  that  thankc  I  yow,' 

quod  she, 
'  That  ye  han  saved  me  my  children  dere ! 
Now  rekke  I  never  to   ben   deed  right 

here ;  1090 

Si  th  I  stonde  in  your  love  and  in  your  grace, 
No  fors  of  deeth,  ne  whan  my  spirit  pace! 

O  tendre,  o  dere,  o  yonge  children  myne, 
Your  woful  mooder  wende  stedfastly  1094 
That  cruel  houndes  or  som  foul  vermyne 
Hadde  eten  j'ow  ;  but  god,  of  his  mercy. 
And  your  benigne  fader  tendrely  (1041) 
Hath  doon  yow  kept ; '  and  in  that  same 

stounde 
Al  sodeynly  she  swapte  adoun  to  grounde. 

And  in  her  swough  so  sadly  holdeth  she 

Hir  children  two,  whan  she  gan  hem 
t'embrace,  iioi 

That  with  greet  sleighte  and  greet  diffi- 
cult ee 

The  children  from  hir  arm  they  gonne 
arace.  (1047) 

O  many  a  teer  on  many  a  pitous  face  11 04 

Doun  ran  of  hem  that  stoden  hir  bisyde  ; 

Unnethe  abouten  hir  miglite  they  abyde. 

Walter  hir  gladeth,  and  hir  sorwe  slaketh; 
She  ryseth  up,  abaysed,  from  hir  traunce, 
And  every  wight  hir  joye  and  feste  maketh. 
Til  she  hath  caught  agayn  hir  conten- 
aunce.  1 1 10 


8987-9058-] 


E.    ZU  Cferftes  Zdk. 


611 


Walter  hir  dooth  so  feitlifiiUy  plesaimce, 
That  it  was  deyntee  for  to  seen  the  chere 
Bitwixehemtwo,nowtheybenmety-fere. 

Thise  ladyes,  whan  that  they  hir  tyme  say, 
Han  taken  hir,  and  in-to  ohambre  goon. 
And  strepen  hir  out  of  hir  rude  array,  ( 1060 ) 
And  in  a  cloth  of  gold  that  brighte  shoon. 
With  a  coroune  of  many  a  riche  stoon 
Vp-on  hir  heed,  they  in-to  haUe  hir 
broghte,  '"9 

And  ther  she  was  honoured  as  hir  oghte. 

Thus  hath  this  pitotis  day  a  blisful  ende. 
For  every  man  and  womman  dooth  his 

might 
This  day  in  murthe  and  revel  to  dispende 
Til  on  the  welkne  shoon  the  sterres  light. 
For  more  solempne  in  every  mannes  sight 
This  teste  was,  and  gretter  of  costage,  1 126 
Than  was  the  revel  of  hir  mariage.    (1071 ) 

Ful  many  a  yeer  in  heigh  prosperitee 
Liven  thise  two  in  concord  and  in  reste. 
And  richely  his  doghter  maried  he      1 130 
Un-to  a  lord,  oon  of  the  worthieste 
Of  al  ItaiUe  ;  and  than  in  pees  and  reste 
His  wyves  fader  in  his  court  he  kepeth, 
Til  that  the  sonle  out  of  his  body  crepeth. 

His  sone  succedeth  in  his  heritage       1135 
In  reste  and  pees,  after  his  fader  day ;  (1080) 
And  fortunat  was  eek  in  mariage, 
Al  piitte  he  nat  his  wyf  in  greet  assay. 
This  world  is  nat  so  strong,  it  is  no  nay. 
As  it  hath  been  in  olde  tymes  yore,     1140 
And  herkneth  what  this  auctour  seith 
therfore. 

This  storie  is  seyd,  nat  for  that  wyves 

sholde 
Folwen  Grisdde  as  in  humilitee, 
For  it  were  importable,  though  they  wolde ; 
But  for  that  every  wight,  in  his  degree,  1 145 
Sholde  be  constant  in  adversitee  (1090) 
As  was  GrisUde ;  therfor  Petrark  wryteth 
This  storie,   which  with  heigh  style   he 

endyteth. 

For,  sith  a  womman  was  so  pacient     11 49 
Un-to  a  mortal  man,  wel  more  us  oghte 
Keceyven  al  in  gree  that  god  us  sent ; 


For  greet  skile  is,  heprevethat  he  wroghte. 
But  he  ne  temptethno  man  that  heboghte, 
As  seith  seint  Jame,  if  ye  his  pistel  rede  ; 
He  preveth  folk  al  day,  it  is  no  drede,   1 155 

And  stiffreth  i\s,  as  for  our  excercyse,(  1 100) 
With  sharpe  scourges  of  adversitee 
Fill  ofte  to  be  bete  in  sondry  wyse  ; 
Nat  for  to  knowe  our  wil,  for  certes  he, 
Er  we  were  born,  knew  al  our  freletee ;  1 160 
And  for  our  beste  is  al  his  governaunce  ; 
Lat  us  than  live  in  vertuous  suffraunce.* 

But  o  word,  lordinges,  herkneth  er  I  go : — 
It  were  ful  hard  to  flnde  now  a  day es  ( 1 108) 
In  al  a  toun  Grisildes  three  or  two  ;  1 165 
For,  if  t  hat  they  were  put  to  swich  e  assayes, 
The  gold  of  hem  hath  now  so  badde  alayes 
With  bras,  that  thogh  the  coyne  be  fair 

•■it  ye. 

It  wolde  rather  breste  a-two  than  plye. 

For  which  heer,  for  the  wyves  love  of 
Bathe,  "7^ 

I  Whos  lyf  and  al  hir  secte  god  mayntene 
In  heigh  maistrye,  and  elles  were  it  scathe, 
I  wol  with  lusty  herte  fresshe  and  grene 
Seyn  yow  a  song  to  glade  yow,  I  wene. 
And  lat  us  stinte  of  ernestful  matere  :— 
Herkneth  my  song,  that  seith  in  this 
manere.  (n-!")  "76 

Lenvoy  de  Chaucer. 
Grisilde  is  deed,  and  eek  hir  pacience. 
And  bothe  atones  buried  in  ItaUle  ; 
For  which  I  crye  in  open  avidience. 
No  wedded  man  so  hardy  be  t'assaille  1 180 
His  wyves  pacience,  in  hope  to  findc 
Grisildes,  for  in  certein  he  shall  faille  ! 


*  It  seems  to  have  been  Oiaucer's  intention, 
in  the  first  instance,  to  end  this  Tale  here.  Ifem-e, 
we  find.  In  JISS.  B.  Hn.  Cm.  Dd.,  the  followiwj 
genuine,  but  rejected  stanza,  suitable /or  insertion 
at  this  point :  — 

Bihold  the  merye  wordes  of  the  Hoste. 

This  worthy  Clerk,  whan  ended  was  his  tale, 

Oiir  hoste  seyde,  and  swoor  by  goddes  bones, 

'  Me  were  lever  than  a  barel  ale 

My  wyf  at  hoom  had  herd  this  legende  ones ; 

This  is  a  gentil  tale  for  the  nones, 

As  to  my  purpos,  ^viste  ye  my  wille  ; 

But  tiling  that  wol  nat  be,  lat  it  be  stille.' 
Here  endeth  the  Tale  of  the  Clerk 
of  Oxenford. 


ZU  Canfetfiurp  Zake. 


[t.  9059-9120. 


O  noble  wyves,  ful  of  heigh  pnnleuce, 
Lat  noon  hiiniilitee  your  tonge  iiaille,  1 184 
Ne  lat  no  clerk  have  eaiise  or  diligence 
To  wrj'tc  of  yow  a  storie  of  swicli  mervaille 
As  of  Grisildis  pacient  and  kinde  ;  ( 1 13 1 ) 
Lest  Chichevacbe  yow  swelwe  in  hit  en- 
traille  ! 

Folweth  Ekko,  that  holdeth  no  silence, 
But  evere  answereth  at  the  conntretaille  ; 
Beth  nat  bidaffed  for  your  inu(x;ence,  1 191 
But  sharply  tak  on  yow  the  govemaille. 
Emx^rintetb  wel  this  lesson  in  your  minde 
For  comnxune  profit,  sith  it  may  availle. 

Ye  archewj'ves,  stondeth  at  defence,  1 195 
Sinye  be  st  ronge  as  is  a  greet  camaille;  ( 1 140) 
Nesuffreth  nat  that  men  yow  doon  offence. 
And  sclendre  wyvcs,  feblo  as  in  bataille. 


Beth  egre  as  is  a  tygre  yond  in  Inde  ; 
Ay  elappeth  as  a  mille,  I  yowconsaille.  1200 

Ne  dreed  hem  nat,  do  hem  no  reverence  ; 
For  though  thyu  housbonde  armed  be  in 

niaille, 
The  arwes  of  thy  crabbed  eloquence 
Shal  perco  his  In-est,  and  eek  hisaventaille ; 
In  jalousye  I  rede  eek  thou  him  biude,  1205 
And  thou  shalt  make  him  couche  as  dooth 

a  quaille.  (1150) 

Tf  thou  be  fair,  ther  folk  ben  in  presence 
Shew  thou  thy  visage  and  thj-n  apparaille ; 
If  thou  be  foul,  be  free  of  thy  dispence,i209 
To  gete  thee  freendes  aj*  do  thy  travaillo  ; 
Be  ay  of  chere  as  light  as  leef  on  liude. 
And  lat  him  care,  and  wepe,  and  wringe, 
and  waille  !  (1156) 


Here  endeth  the  Clerk  of  Oxonford  his  TaJe. 


THE    MERCHANT'S    PROLOGUE. 


The  Prologe  of  the  Marchantes  Tale. 


'Weping  and  wayling,  care,  and   other 

sorwe 
I  know  y-nogh,  on  even  and  a-morwe,' 
Quod  the  Marchaant,  '  and  so  don  othere 

mo  1215 

That  wedded  been,  I  trowe  that  it  be  so. 
For,  wel  I  woot,  it  fareth  so  with  me. 
I  have  a  wyf,  the  worste  that  may  be  ; 
For  thogh  the  feend  to  hir  y-coupled  were. 
She  wolde  him  overmacche,  I   dar  wel 

swere.  1220 

What  sholde  I  yow  reherce  in  special 
Hir  hye  malice?  she  is  a  shrewe  at  al.  (10) 
Ther  is  a  long  and  large  difference 
Bitw'ix  Grisildis  grete  pacience 
And  of  my  wyf  the  passing  crueltco.    1225 
Were  I  unbounden,  al-so  moot  I  thee  ! 
I  wolde  never  eft  comen  in  the  snare. 
We  wedded  men  live  in  sorwe  and  care  ; 


Assaye  who-so  wol,  and  he  shal  finde 
I  seye  sooth,  by  seint  Thomas  of  Inde,  1230 
As  for  the  more  part,  I  sey  nat  alle. 
God  shilde  that  it  sholde  so  bifalle  !    (20) 

A  !  good  sir  boost !  I  have  y-wedded  be 
Thise  monthestwo,  and  more  nat,pardee; 
And  yet,  I  trowe,  he  that  all  his  lyve  1235 
Wyfleeshath  been,  though  that  men  wolde 

him  ryve 
Un-to  the  herte,  ne  coude  in  no  manere 
Tellen  so  muchel  sorwe,  as  I  now  here 
Coude  teUen  of  my  wyves  cursednesse  ! ' 

'  Now,'  quod  our  hoost,  '  Marchaunt,  so 
god  yow  blesse,  1340 

Sin  ye  so  muchel  knowen  of  that  art, 
Ful  hertely  I  pray  yow  telle  us  part.'  (30) 

'  Gladly,'  quod  he,  '  but  of  myn  owene 
sore. 
For  sory  herte,  I  telle  may  na-more.'  1244 


T.  912I-918S.] 


E.    ZH  (nXatc^anfee  Cafe. 


613 


THE    MARCHANTES    TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Marchantes  Tale. 


WHYLOMtherwasdwellinge  in  Lmiibanlye 
A  worthy  knight,  that  born  was  of  Pavye, 
In  which  he  lived  in  greet  prosperitee  ; 
And  sixty  yeer  a  wyflees  man  was  he, 
And  folwed  ay  his  bodily  delyt 
On  wommen,  ther-as  was  his  appetyt,  1250 
As  doon  thise  foles  that  ben  seciUeer. 
And  whan  that  he  was  passed  sLxty  yeer, 
Were  it  for  hoUnesse  or  for  dotage, 
lean  natseye,bnt  swich  a  greet  corage,  (10) 
Hadde  this  knight  to  been  a  wedded  man, 
That  day  and  night  he  dooth  al  that  he  can 
T'espyeu  where  he  mighte  wedded  be ; 
Preyinge  our  lord  to  granten  him,  that  he 
Mighte  ones  knowe  of  tliilke  blisful  lyf 
That  is  bitwLxe  an  housbond  and  his  wyf ; 
And  for  to  live  under  that  holy  bond     1261 
With   which    that    first    god    man    and 

womman  bond. 
•  Non  other  lyf,'  seyde  he,  'is  worth  a  bene ; 
For  wedlok  is  so  esy  and  so  clene,         (20J 
That  in  this  world  it  is  a  paradys.'       1265 
Thus  seyde  this  olde  knight,  that  was  so 
wys. 
And  certeinly,  as  sooth  as  god  is  king. 
To  take  a  wyf,  it  is  a  glorioiis  thing, 
And  namely  whan  a  man  is  old  and  hoor ; 
Thanne  is  a  wyf  the  fruitof  his  tresor.  1270 
Than  shold<fhe  take  a  yong  wj^'  and  a  feir. 
On  which  he  mighte  engendren  him  an 

heir. 
And  lede  his  lyf  in  joye  and  in  solas, 
Wher-as  thise  bacheleres  singe  'alias,'  (30) 
Whau  that  they  finden  any  adversitee  1275 
In  love,  which  nis  but  childish  vanitee. 
And  trewely  it  sit  wel  to  be  so. 
That  bacheleres  have  often  peyneandwo; 
On  brotel  ground  theybuilde,  and  brotel- 
nesse  '■^79 

They  finde,  whan  they  wene  sikernesse. 


They  live  biit  as  a  brid  or  as  a  beste. 
In  Ubertee,  and  under  non  areste, 
Ther-as  a  wedded  man  in  his  estaat 
Livetli  a  lyf  blisful  and  ordinaat,         (40) 
Under  the  yok  of  mariage  y-bounde  ;    1 285 
Wel  may  his  herte  in   joye  and  bUsse 

habounde. 
For  who  can  be  so  buxom  as  a  wyf? 
Who  is  so  trewe,  and  eek  so  eutentyf 
To  kepe  him,  syk  and  hool,  as  is  his  make  ? 
For  wele  or  wo,  she  wol  him  nat  forsake. 
She  nis  nat  wery  him  to  love  and  serve, 
Thogh  that  he  lye  bedrede  til  ho  sterve. 
And  yet  somme  clerkes  seyn,  it  nis  nat  so. 
Of  whiche  he,  Theofraste,  is  oon  of  th<x  (50) 
What  force  thoughTheofrasteUste  lye  ?  1 295 
'Ne  take  no  wyf,'  quod  he,   'for  hous- 

bontlrye. 
As  for  to  spare  in  houshold  thy  dispence ; 
A  trewe  servant  dooth  more  diligence, 
Thy  good  to  kepe,  than  thyn  owene  wyf. 
I  For  she  wol  clayme  half  part  al  hii-  lyf ;  i  ioo 
And  if  that  thou  be  syk,  so  god  me  save. 
Thy  verray  frendes  or  a  trewe  knave 
Wol  kepe  thee  bet  than  she  that  waiteth  ay 
After  thy  good,  and  hath  don  many  a  day.' 
And    if   thou    take    a  wyf   un-to  thj-n 
hold,  (61)  [T.  om. 

Ful    lightly    maystow     been     a     coke- 
wold.  1306  [T.  om. 
This  sentence,  and  an  hundred  thinges 

worse, 
Wryteth  this  man,  ther'god  his  bones 

corse  ! 
But  take  no  kepe  of  al  swich  vanitee  ; 
Deffye  Theofraste  and  herke  me.  1310 

A  wyf  is  goddes  yifte  verraily  ; 
AUe  other  maner  yiftes  hardily. 
As  londes,  rentes,  pastui-e,  or  commune, 
Or  moebles,  alle  ben  yiftes  of  fortune,    (70) 


Z^t  CftttferBurp  Zake. 


[t.  9iS9-,:,274. 


That  passen  as  a  shartwe  upon  a  wal.    1315 
But  dredelees,  if  plejaily  speke  I  sbal, 
A  wyf -wol  lastp,  and  iu  tliyii  lious  endure, 
Wei  longer  than  tlieo  list,  paraventure. 

Manage  is  a  ful  gret  sacrement ; 
He  which  that  hath  no  ■wj-f,  I  liolde  him 

shent ;  1320 

He  liveth  helplees  and  al  desolat, 
I  speke  of  folk  in  seculer  estaat. 
And  herke  why,  Iscy  nat  thisfornoght.C-g) 
That  womman  isfor  manneshelpy-viToght. 
The  hye  god,  whan  he  hadde  Adam  maked. 
And  saugh  him  al  allone,  hely-naked,  1326 
God  of  his  grete  goodnesse  seyde  than, 
'Lat  ns  now  make  an  help  un-to  this  man 
Lyk  to  him-self;'   and  thanne  he  made 

him  Eve.  1329 

Heer  may  ye  se,  and  heer-by  may  ye  preve. 
That  wj-f  is  mannes  help  and  his  confort, 
His  paradys  terrestre  and  his  disport 
So  buxom  and  so  vertuous  is  she. 
Tliey  moste  nedcs  live  in  unitee.  (90)  1334 
O  flesh  they  lieen,  and  o  flesh,  as  I  gesse. 
Hath  but  on  herte,  in  wele  and  in  distresse. 

A  wyf !  a  !  Seinte  Marie,  hen'cite  ! 
How  mighte  a  man  ban  any  adversitee 
That  hath  a  w>-f ?  certes,  I  can  nat  seye.  1339 
The  blisse  which  that  isbitwixe  bemtweye 
Ther  may  no  tonge  telle,  or  herte  thinke. 
If  be  be  j)ovTe,  she  belpetb  him  to  swinke ; 
She  kepeth  his  good,  and  wasteth  never 

a  deel ; 
Al  that  bir  housbonde  lust,  hir  Ij'keth 

weel;  (k«) 

She  seitli  not  ones  '  nay,'  when  he  seith 

'.ve.'  1345 

'Do  this,'  seith  he ;  'al  redy,  sir,'  seitb  she. 
O  blisful  ordre  of  wedlok  precious. 
Thou  art  so  mery,  and  eek  so  vertuous. 
And  so  commended  and  apprevcd  eek. 
That  every  man  that  halt  him  worth  a 

leek,  1350 

Up-ou  his  bare  knees  oghte  al  his  lyf 
Tbanken  bis  god  that  him  bath  sent  a 

wyf; 
Or  elles  preye  to  god  him  for  to  sende 
A  ■wyf,  to  laste  un-to  his  lyves  ende.   (no) 
For  thanne  bis  lyf  is  set  in  sikernesse  ;  1355 
He  may  nat  be  deceyved,  as  I  gesse, 
So  that  be  werke  after  bis  wyves  reed  ; 
Than  may  he  boldly  beren  up  bis  heed. 


Thej'  been  so  trewe  and  ther-witb-al  so 

wyse  ; 
For  which,  if  thou  wolt  werken  as  the 
wyse,  1360 

Do  alwey  so  as  wommen  wol  thee  rede. 

Lo,  how  that  Jacob,  as  tbise   clerkes 
rede, 
By  good  conseil  of  bis  moder  Eebekke, 
Bond  the  kidos  skin  aboute  his  nekke ;  (120) 
Tburgh  wliich  bis  fadres  l)enisoun  be  wan. 

Lo,  .Tuditb,  as  the  storie  eek  telle  can, 
By  wj-s  conseil  she  goddes  peple  kepte. 
And  slow  him,  Olofernus,  wbyl  he  slepte. 

Lo  Abigayl,  by  good  conseil  how  she  13(19 
Saved  bir  housbond  Nabal,  whan  that  li« 
Sholde  ban  be  slayn  ;  and  loke.  Ester  also 
By  good  conseil  delivered  out  of  wo 
The  peple  of  god,  and  made  bini,  Mar- 

dochee, 
Of  Assuere  enbaunced  for  to  be.  (130) 

Ther  nis  no-thing  in  gree  superlatyf.  1375 
As  seith  Senek,  above  an  humble  wj'f. 

Suffre  thy  WJ'^•es  tonge,  as  Caton  bit ; 
She  sbal  comande,  and  thou  sbalt  suffren 

it; 
And  yet  she  wol  obeye  of  curteisye. 
A  wj-f  is  keper  of  tli  j-n  housbondrye  ;  1380 
Wei  may  the  syke  man  biwaille  and  wepe, 
Ther-as  ther  nis  no  wj-f  the  bous  to  kepe. 
I  wame  thee,  if  wysly  thou  wolt  wircbe, 
Love  wel  thy  wyf,  as   Crist  lovetb  bis 
cbircbe.  (140)  1384 

If  thou  lovest  thy-self,  tboiilovest  thj-  wyf; 
Xo  man  hateth  his  flesh,  but  in  his  lyf 
He  fostreth  it,  and  tberfore  bidde  I  thee, 
Cherisse  tby^vyf,o^  thou  shalt  never  tbee. 
Houslx>nd  and  wyf,  what  so  men  jape  or 

pleye. 
Of  worldly  folk  holden  the  siker  weye  ;i390 
They  been  so  knit,  ther  may  noon  barm 

bityde  : 
And  namely,  up-on  the  wyves  syde. 
For  which  this.Januarie,  of  whom  I  tolde. 
Considered  bath,  in  with  his  dayes  olde,(i5o) 
The  lusty  lyf,  the  vertiious  quiete,        1395 
That  is  in  mariage  bony-swete  ; 
And  for  bis  freendes  on  a  day  he  sente. 
To  teUen  hem  tb'effect  of  bis  entente. 

With  face  sad,  his  tale  he  bath  hem 
told  ;  1399 

He  seyde,  '  freendes,  I  am  boor  and  old, 


T.  9275-9362. 


E.    ZH  (marc^anfee  Zak. 


615 


And  almost,  god  wot,  on  my  pittes  brinke  ; 
Up-on  my  soule  somwhat  moste  I  tliinke. 
I  have  my  body  folily  ilespended  ;        (159) 
Blessed  be  god,  that  it  shal  been  amended  ! 
For  I  wol  be,  certeyn,  a  wedded  man,  1405 
And  that  anoon  in  al  the  haste  I  can, 
Un-to  som  mayde  fair  and  tendre  of  age. 
I  prey  yow,  shapeth  for  my  mariage 
Al  sodeyiily,  for  I  wol  nat  abyde  ; 
And  I  wolfonde  t'espyen,  on  my  syde,  1410 
To  whom  I  may  be  wedded  hastily. 
But  for-as-muche  as  ye  ben  mo  than  I, 
Ye  shullen  rather  swich  a  thing  espyen 
Thau  I,  and  wher  me  liest  were  to  allyen. 
But  o  thing  wame  I  yow,  my  freendes 
dere,  (171)  '4i5 

I  wol  non  old  wyf  han  in  no  manere. 
She  shal  nat  passe  twenty  yeer,  certayn  ; 
Old  fish  and  yong  flesh  wolde  I  have  ful 

fayu. 
Bet  is,'  quod  he,  '  a  pyk  than  a  pikerel ; 
And  bet  than  old  boef  is  the  tendre  veel. 
I  wol  no  womman  thrittyyeer  of  age,  142 1 
It  is  but  bene-straw  and  greet  forage. 
And  eek  thise  olde  widwes,  god  it  woot, 
They  conne  so  muchel   craft  on  Wades 
boot,  (180) 

So  muchel  broken  harm,  whan  that  hem 
leste,  1425 

That  with  hem  sholde  I  never  live  in  reste. 
For  sondry  sooles  maken  sotil  clerkis  ; 
Womman  of  manye  sooles  half  a  clerk  is. 
But  certeynly,  a  yong  thing  may  men  gye, 
Right  as  men  may  warm  wex  with  handes 
plye.  1430 

Wlierfore  I  sey  yow  pleynly,  in  a  clause, 
I  wol  non  old  wyf  han  right  for  this 
cause.  (188) 

For  if  so  were,  I  hadde  swich  mischaunce, 
That  I  in  hir  ne  coude  han  no  plesaunce, 
Thanne  sholde  I  lede  my  lyf  in  avoutrye. 
And  go  streight  to  the  devel,  whan  I  dye. 
Ne  children  sholde  I  none  up-on  hir  geten; 
Yet  were  me  lever  houndes  had  me  eten, 
Thau  that  myii  heritage  sholde  falle  1439 
In  straunge  hand,  and  this  I  tell  yow  alle. 
I  dote  nat,  I  woot  the  cause  why 
Jlen  sholde  wedde,  and  forthermore  wot  I, 
Ther  speketh  many  a  man  of  mariage. 
That  woot  na-more  of  it  than  woot  my 
page,  (200)  1444 


For  whiche  causes  man  sholde  take  a  wyf. 
If  he  ne  may  nat  liven  chast  his  lyf, 
Take  him  a  wyf  with  greet  devocioun. 
By-cause  of  levefiil  procreacioun 
Of  children,  to  th'onour  of  god  above. 
And  nat  only  for  paramour  or  love  ;     1450 
And  for  they  sholde  lecherye  eschu.e. 
And  yelde  hir  dettes  whan  that  they  ben 

due  ; 
Or  for  that  ech  of  hem  sholde  helpeu 
other  (209) 

In  meschief,  as  a  suster  shal  the  brother ; 
And  live  in  chastitee  ful  holily.  1455 

But  sires,  by  yoiir  leve,  that  am  nat  I. 
For  god  be  thanked,  I  dar  make  avaunt, 
I  fele  my  limes  stark  and  suffisaunt 
To  do  al  that  a  man  bilongeth  to  ; 
I  woot  my-selven  best  what  I  may  do.  1460 
Though  I  be  hoor,  I  fare  as  dooth  a  tree 
That  blosmeth  er  that  fruyt  y-woxen  be ; 
A  blosmy  tree  nis  neither  drye  ne  deed. 
I  fele  me  nowher  hoor  biit  on  myn  heed  ; 
Myu   lierte   and   alle   my  limes  been  as 
grene  (221)  1465 

As  laurer  thurgh  the  yeer  is  for  to  sene. 
And  sin  that  ye  han  herd  al  myn  entente, 
I  prey  yow  to  my  wil  ye  wole  assente.' 

Diverse  men  diversely  liim  tolde 
Of  mariage  manye  ensamples  olde.      1470 
Somme  blamed   it,   somme    preysed    it, 

certeyn  ; 
But  atte  laste,  shortly  for  to  seyn, 
As  al  day  falleth  altercacioun  1473 

Bitwixen  freendes  in  disputisoun,       (230) 
Ther  fil  a  stryf  bitwixe  his  bretheren  two, 
Of  whiche  that  oon  was  cleped  Plafifilio, 
Justinus  soothly  called  was  that  other. 
Placebo  seyde,  '  o  Januarie,  brother, 
Ful  litel  nede  had  ye,  my  lord  so  dere, 
Conseil  to  axe  of  any  that  is  here  ;       1480 
But  that  ye  been  so  ful  of  sapience, 
That    yow  ne  lyketh,   for  your    heighe 

prudence, 
To  weyven  fro  the  word  of  Salomon. 
This  word  seyde  he  un-to  us  everichon : 
"  Wirk  alle  thing  by  conseil,"  thus  seyde 
he,  (241)  1485 

"  And  thanne  shaltow  nat  repente  thee." 
But  though  that  Salomon    spak  swich 

a  word, 
Myn  owene  dere  brother  and  my  lord. 


6i6 


ZU  tanUt&uv^  Zaize, 


[t.  9363-9450. 


So  wisly  god  my  soiile  bringe  at  reste, 
I  hold  your  owene  conseil  is  the  beste.  1490 
For  brother  niyn,  of  mo  tak  this  motyf, 
I  have  now  been  a  court-man  al  my  lyf. 
And  god  it  woot,  though  I  unworthy  be, 
I  have  stonden  in  fal  greet  degree       (250) 
Abouten  lordes  of  ful  heigh  estaat ;      1495 
Yet  hadde   I  never  with   noon  of  hem 

debaat. 
I  never  hem  contraried,  trewcly; 
I  woot  wel  that  my  lord  can  more  than  I. 
What  that  he  seith,  I  holde  it  ferme  and 

stable ; 
I  seye  the  same,  or  elles  thing  semblable. 
A  ful  gret  fool  is  any  conseillour,          1501 
That  ser\'eth  any  lord  of  heigh  honour, 
That  <hir  presume,  or  elles  thenken  it, 
That  his  conseil  sholde  passe  his  lordes 

wit.  (260) 

Nay,  lordes  been  no  foles,  by  my  fay ;  1505 
Ye  han  your-selven  shewed  heer  to-<la}' 
So  heigh  sentence,  so  holily  and  weel. 
That  I  consente  and  conferme  everj-ileel 
Your  wordes  alle,  and  your  opinioun.  isotj 
By  god,  ther  nis  no  man  in  al  this  toun 
N'in  al  Itidlle,  that  conde  bet  han  sayd  ; 
Crist  halt  him  of  this  conseil  wel  apayd. 
And  trewely,  it  is  an  heigh  corage 
Of  any  man,  that  stapen  is  in  age,      (270; 
To  take  a  yong  wyf ;  by  my  fader  kin, 
Your  herte  hangeth  on  a  joly  pin.        1516 
Doth  now  in  this  matere  right   as  yow 

leste, 
For  finally  I  holde  it  for  the  beste.' 

Justinus,  that  ay  stille  sat  and  herde. 
Right  in  this  wj'se  to  Placebo  answerde  : 
'  Now  brother  myn,  be  pacient,  I  preye. 
Sin  ye  han  seyd,  and  herkneth  what  I 

seye.  1522 

Senek  among  his  othere  wordes  wyse 
Seith,  that  a  man  oghte  him  right  wel 

avyse,  (280) 

To   whom   he    yeveth    his   lond    or   his 


cateL 


•525 


And  sin  I  oghte  avyse  me  right  wel 
To  whom  I  yeve  my  good  awey  fro  me, 
Wel  muchel  more  I  oghte  avysed  be 
To  whom  I  yeve  my  boily  ;  for  alwey 
I  wame  yow  wel,  it  is  no  childes  pk-y  1530 
To  take  a  ^^■yf  with-oute  a\-ysement. 
Men  moste  enquere,  this  is  mj-n  assent, 


Wlier  she  be  wys,  or  sobre,  or  dronke- 

lewe,  (289) 

Or  proud,  or  elles  other-weys  a  shrewe  ; 
A  chydester,  or  wastour  of  thy  good,   1535 
Or  riche,  or  poore,  or  elles  mannish  wood. 
Al-be-it  so  that  no  man  finden  shal 
Noon   in   this  world  that  trotteth  hool 

in  al, 
Ne  man  ne  beest,  swioh  as  men  coude 

devyse ; 
But  nathelees,  it  oghte  y-nough  sufiise  1540 
With  any  W3^,  if  so  were  that  she  hadde 
Mo  gode  thewes  than  hir  vyces  badde  : 
And  al  this  axeth  leyser  for  fenquere. 
For  god  it  woot,  I  have  wept  many  a  tere 
Ful  prively,  sin  I  have  had  a^v•yf.  (301)  1545 
Prcyse  who-so  wole  a  wedded  mannes  lyf, 
Certein,  I  finde  in  it  but  cost  and  care, 
And  observances,  of  alle  blisses  bare.  1548 
And  yet,  god  woot,  my  neigliebores  aboute, 
And  namely  of  wommen  many  a  route, 
SejTi  that  I  have  the  moste  stedefiist  wyf, 
And  eek  the  mekeste  oon  that  bereth  lyf. 
But  I  wot  best  wher  wringeth  me  my 

sho.  (309) . 

Ye  mowe,  for  me,  right  as  yowlyketh  do; 
Avj'seth  yow,  ye  been  a  man  of  age,     1555 
How  that  ye  entren  in-to  manage. 
And  namely  with  a  yong  wj-f  and  a  fair. 
By  him  that  made  water,  erthe,  and  air, 
The  j-ongest  man  that  is  in  al  this  route 
Is  bisy  y-nogh  to  l)ringen  it  aboute      1560 
To  han  his  wyf  allone,  trusteth  me. 
Ye  shul  nat  plese  hir  fully  yeres  three. 
This  is  to  seyn,  to  doon  hir  ful  plesaunce. 
A  wyf  axeth  fulmany  an  observaunce.  (320) 
I  prey  yow  that  ye  be  nat  y\'cl  apayd.' 
'  Wel,'  quod  this  Januarie,  '  and  hastow 

sayd  ?  1566 

Straw  for  thy  Senek,  and  for  thy  pro- 

verbes, 
I  counte  nat  a  panier  ful  of  herbes 
Of  scole-termes  ;  wyser  men  than  thow. 
As  thou  hast  herd,  assenteden  right  now 
To  my  puriJos  ;  Placebo,  what  sey  ye  ?' 
'  I  seye,  it  is  a  cursed  man,'  quod  he,^ 
'That  lett€th  matrimoine,  sikerly.'     (329) 
And  with  that  word  they  rysen  solle^^^lJy, 
And  been  assented  fully,  that  he  sholde 
Be  wedded  whanne  him  list  and  wher  he 

wolda  1576 


T.  9451-9524.] 


E.    ZH  QUatrc^anfee  Zak. 


617 


Heigh  fautasye  and  ciirious 
Fro  day  to  day  gan  in  the  sonle  impresse 
Of  Jauuarie  aboute  his  niariage. 
Many  fair  shap,  and  naany  a  fair  visage 
Ther  passeth  thurgh  his  herte,  night  by 

night.  (337)  1581 

As  who-so  toke  a  mirour  polished  briglit, 
And  sette  it  in  a  commune  market-place, 
Thau  sholde  he  see  many  a  fig^ure  pace 
By  his  mironr  ;  and,  in  the  same  wyse, 
Gan  Januarie  inwith  his  thoght  devyse 
Of  maj-dens,  whiche  that   dwelten  him 

bisyde.  1587 

He  wiste  nat  wher  that  he  mighte  abyde. 
For  if  that  oon  have  beautee  in  hir  face, 
Another  stant  so  in  the  peples  grace  1590 
For  hir  saduesse,  and  hir  benignitee, 
That  of  the  peple  grettest  voys  hath  she. 
And  somme  were  riche,  and  hadden  badtle 

name.  (349) 

But  nathelees,  bitwixe  ernest  and  game. 
He  atte  lasto  apoynted  him  on  oon,      1595 
And    leet  alle    othere    from    his    herte 

goon. 
And  chees  hir  of  his  owene  aiictoritee  ; 
For  love  is  blind  al  day,  and  may  nat  see. 
And   whan   that   he  was   in   his   lied   y- 

broght. 
He  purtreyed,  in  his   herte    and    in  his 

thoght,  1600 

Hir  fresslie  beautee  and  hir  age  tendre, 
Hir  myddel  sraal,  hir  armes  longe   and 

sclendre, 
Hir  wyse  governaunce,  hir  gentillesse, 
Hir  wommanly  beringe  and  hir  sadnesse. 
And   whan    that    ho  -on    hir   was    con- 
descended, (361)  1605 
Him  thoughte  his  chois  mighte  nat  ben 

amended. 
Fiir  whan   that  he   him-self   concluded 

hadde. 
Him  thoughte  ecli  other  mannes  wit  so 

badde. 
That  inpossible  it  were  to  replye 
Agayn  his  chois,  this  was  Ixis  fantasye.  1610 
His  freendes  sente  he  to  at  his  instaunce. 
And  preyed  hem  to  doon  him  that  ples- 

aunce. 
That  hastily  they  wolden  to  him  come  ; 
He   wolde   abregge   hir  labour,  alle  and 

some.  (370)  1614 


Nedeth  na-more  for  him  to  go  ne  ryde, 
^He  was  apoynted  ther  he  wolde  abyde. 

Placebo  cam,  and  eek  his  freendes  sone, 
And  alderfirst  he  bad  hem  alle  a  bone. 
That  noon  of  hem  none  argumentes  make 
AgajTi  the  purpos  which   that  he  hath 

take ;  i6jo 

'  Which  puriios  was  plesant  to  god,'seyde 

he, 
'  And  verray  ground  of  his  prosperitee.' 
He  seyde,  ther  was  a  mayden  in  the 

toun, 
WTiich  that  of  beautee  hadde  greet  re- 
noun,  (,Ko) 
Al  were  it  so  she  were  of  smal  degree  ;  1625 
Suffyseth  him  hir  youthe  and  hir  beautee. 
Which  mayde,  he  seyde,  he  wolde  han  to 

his  wyf , 
To  lede  in  ese  and  holinesse  his  lyf. 
And  thanked  god,  that  he  mighte  han 

hire  al,  ,629 

That  no  wight  of  his  blisse  parten  shal. 
And  preyde   hem  to    labouren    in    this 

nede. 
And  shapen  that  he  faille  nat  to  spede  ; 
For  thanne,  he  seyde,  his  spirit  was  at  ese. 
'  Thanne  is,'  quod  he,  '  no-thing  may  me 

displese,  (390)  1634 

Save  o  thing  priketh  in  my  conscience. 
The  which  I  wol  reherce  in  your  pi-esence. 
I  have,'  qaod  he,  '  herd  seyd,  ful  yore 

ago, 
Ther  may  no  man  han  parfite  blisses  two. 
This  is  to   seye,   in    erthe   and   eek    in 

hevene. 
For  though  he  kepe  him  fro  the  sinnes 

sevene,  1641) 

And  eek  from    every  branche  of  thilke 

tree. 
Yet  is  ther  so  parfit  felicitee. 
And  so  greet  ese  and  lust  in  marlage,  (399) 
That  ever  I  am  agast,  now  in  myn  age. 
That  I  shal  lede  now  so  mery  a  lyf,     1645 
So  delicat,  with-outen  wo  and  stryf, 
That  I  shal  have  myn  hevene  in  erthe 

here. 
For  sith  that  verray  hevene  is  boght  so 

dere. 
With  tribulacioun  and  greet  penaunce, 
How  sholde  I  thanne,  that  live  in  swich 

plesaunce  1650 


^3 


6i8 


ZU  CanierBurp  take. 


[t.  9525-9608. 


As  alle  wedded  men  dou  with  Jiir  wyvis, 
Come  to  the  blisse  ther  Crist  eteme  01^ 

ly\-e  is  ? 
This  is  my  drede,  and  ye,  my  bretheren 

tweye,  (409) 

Assoilleth  me  this  questioun,  I  preye.' 

Jiistinus,  which  that  hated  his  folye,  1655 
Answerde  anon,  right  in  his  japerj'e  ; 
And  for  he  wolde  his  longe  tale  ahregge, 
He  woldo  noon  auctoritee  allegge,        1O5.S 
But  seyde,  '  sire,  so  tlier  be  noon  obstacle 
Other  than  this,  god  of  his  hye  miracle 
And  of  his  mercy  may  so  for  yow  wirche, 
Tliat,   er  ye    have  your    right    of   holy 

chirche,  (41X) 

Ye  may  repente  of  wedded  mannes  lyf, 
In  which  j-e  seyn  ther  is  no  wo  ne  stryf. 
And  elles,  god  forbede  but  he  sente     1665 
A  wedtled  man  him  grace  to  repente 
Wei  ofte  rather  than  a  songle  man  ! 
And  therfore,  sire,  the  beste  reed  I  can, 
Dispeire  yow  noght,   but  have   in  your 

mcmorie,  1669 

Parauntcr  she  may  be  your  purgatorie  ! 
She  may  be  gofldes   mene,  and   goddes 

whippe ; 
Than  shal  your  soule  up  to  hcvene  skippe 
Swifter  than  dooth   an  arwe  out  of  the 

bowe  !  (429) 

I  hope  to  god,  her-after  shul  ye  knowe. 
That  their  nis  no  so  greet  felicitee       1675 
In  mariage,  ne  ncver-mo  shal  be, 
That  yow  shal  lette  of  your  savacionn. 
So  tliat  ye  use,  as  skile  is  and  resoun. 
The  lustes  of  your  wyf  attemprely,      1679 
And  that  ye  plese  hir  nat  to  amorously. 
And  that  ye  kepe  yow  eek  from  other 

siiine. 
My  tiilp  is  doon: — for  my  wit  is  thinnc. 
Beth  nat  agast  her-of,  my  brother  dere.' — 
(But  lat  us  waden  out  of  this  matere.  C440) 
The  AVvg^iJi-BHtte,  if  yehan  understoude. 
Of  manage",  which  we  have  on  honde,  i(>86 
Declare<l  hath  ful  wel  in  litel  space). — 
'Fareth  now  wel,   god  have  yow  in  his 

grace.' 
And  with  this  word  this  .lustin  and  his 

brother 
Han  take  hir  leve,   and  ech   of  hem   of 

other.  i6(x) 

For  whan  they  sawe  it  moste  nedes  be, 


They  wroghten  so,  by  sly  and  wj-s  tretee. 
That  she,  this  mayden,  which  that  Mains 

highte. 
As  hiistily  as  ever  that  she  mighte,     1450) 
Shal  wedded  be  \Tn-to  this  .Tanuarie.    1695 
I  trowe  it  were  to  longc  yow  to  tarie, 
If  I  yow  tolde  of  every  scrit  and  bond. 
By  which  that  she  was  fefFed  in  his  lond; 
Or  for  to  herknen  of  hir  riche  array. 
But  finally  y-comen  is  the  day  1700 

That  to  tlie  chirche  Ixithe  lie  they  went 
For  to  receyve  the  holy  sacrement. 
Forth  cfimth  the  preest,  with  stole  aboute 

his  nekke,  (459) 

And  bad  hir  be  lyk  Sarra  and  Rebekke, 
In  wisdom  and'in  trouthe  of  mariage  ; 
.\nd  seyde  his  orisons,  as  is  nsago,       1706 
And  crouched  hem,  and  bml  god  sholde 

hem  blesso. 
And  made  al  siker  y-nogh  with  holinesso. 
Tlius  been   they  wedded  with  solcmp- 

nitce. 
And  at  the  feste  sitteth  he  a)i<l  she      1710 
With  other  worthy  i'olk  up-on  the  deys. 
Al  ful  of  joye  and  blisse  is  the  paleys, 
And  ful  of  instruments  and  of  vitaille, 
The  moste  deyntevons  of  al  Itaille.      (470) 
Biforn  hem  stoode  swiche  instruments  of 

soun,  1715 

That  Oipheus,  ne  of  Thebes  Amphiotin, 
Ne  maden  never  swich  a  melodye. 

At  every  cours  than  cam  lond  minstral- 

cye, 
That  never  tromped  Joab,  for  to  here. 
Nor  he,  Theodomas,  yet  half  so  clere,  1720 
At  Tliebes,  whan  the  citee  was  in  doute. 
Bacus  the  wj-n  hom  skinketh  al  aboute. 
And  Venus  langheth  np-on  every  wight. 
For  .Tanuarie  was  bicome  hir  knight,  (480) 
And  wolde  bothc  assayen  his  orage    1725 
In  Hbertee,  and  eek  in  mariage  ; 
And  with  hir  fyrbrond  in  hir  hand  aboute 
Daunceth  bifom  the  bryde  and  al  the 

route. 
And  certeinly,  I  dar  right  wel  sejTi  this, 
Ymeneus,  that  god  of  wedding  is,         1730 
Saugh  never  his  lyf  so  mery  a  wedded 

man. 
Hold  thou  thy  pees,  thou  poete  Marcian, 
That  wrytest  us  that  ilke  wedding  murie 
Of  hir,  Philologye,  and  him.  Mercuric, 


T.  9609-9 


ZH  (matc6an(e0  Zak. 


619 


And  of  the  songes  that  the  Muses  songe. 
To  smal  is  bothe  thy  penne,  and  eek  thy 

tonge,  (49-')  '736 

For  to  descryven  of  this  mariage. 
Whan  tendre  youthe  hath  wedded  stoup- 

ing  age, 
Ther  is  swich  inirthe  that  it  may  nat  be 

writen ; 
Assayeth  it  your-self,  than  may  ye  witen 
If  that  I  lye  or  noon  in  tliis  matere.  1741 
Mains,  that  sit  with  so  benigne  a  chere, 
Hir  to  bDiolde  it  semed  fayerye  ;  (499) 
Quene  Ester  loked  never  with  swich  an  yti 
On  Assuer,  so  meke  a  look  hath  she.  1745 
I  may  yow  nat  devyse  al  hir  beantee  ; 
But  thus  muche  of  hir  beautee  telle   I 

may, 
That  she  was  lyk  the  brighte  morwe  of 

May, 
Fulfild  of  alle  beautee  and  plesaunce. 

This  Januarie  is  ravisshed  in  a  traunce 
At  every  time  he  loked  on  hir  face  ;     1751 
But  in  his  herte  he  gan  hir  to  manace, 
That  he  tliat  night  in  armes  wolde  hir 

streyne 
Harder  than  ever  Paris  elide  Eleyne.  (510) 
But  nathelees,  yet  hadde  he  greet  pitee. 
That  thilke  night  offenden  hir  moste  he  ; 
And  though te,  'alias  !  o  tendre  creature! 
Now  wolde  goil  yo  miglite  wel  endure 
Al  my  corage,  it  is  so  sharp  anil  kenc  ; 
I  am  agast  ye  shul  it  nat  sustene.         iy(n) 
But  god  tbrbede  that  I  dide  al  my  might ! 
Now  wolde  gO(.l  that  it  were  woxen  night, 
And  that  the  night  wolde  lasten  evermo. 
I  wolde  that  al  this  peple  were  ago.'  (520) 
And  finally,  he  doth  al  his  labour,       1765 
As  he  best  mighte,  savinge  his  honour, 
To  haste  hem  fro    the    mete  in   subtil 

wyse. 
The  tyme  cam  that  reson  was  to  ryse  ; 
And  after  that,  men  daunce  and  drinken 

faste,  1769 

And  spyces  al  aboute  the  hous  they  caste  ; 
And  ful  of  joye  and  blisse  is  every  man  ; 
All  but  a  squyer,  liighte  Damian, 
Which  carf  biforn  the  knight  ful  many 

a  day. 
He  was  so  ravisshed  on  his  lady"  May,  (530) 
That  for  the  verray   peyne   he    was   ny 


Almost  he  swelte  and  swowned  ther  he 

V      stood. 

So  sore  hath  Venus  hui-t  him  with  hir 

brond, 
-■Vs  that    she    bar  it    daunsinge    in  hir 

bond. 
And  to  his  bed  he  wente  him  hastily ; 
Nivmore  of  liim  as  at  this  tyme  speke  I. 
But  ther  I  lete  him  wepe  y-nough  and 

pleyne,  (537)  1781 

Til  fresshe  May  wol  rewen  on  his  peyne. 

O  perilous  fyr,  that  in   the  bedstraw 

bredeth !  Auctor. 

O  famulier  foo,  that  his  servyce  bedeth  ! 
O  servant  traitoui-,  false  hoomly  hewe,  1 785 
Lyk  to  the  naddre  in  bosom  sly  untrewe, 
God  shilde  us  alle  from  your  aqueynt- 

aunce ! 
O  Januarie,  dronken  in  plesaiince 
Of  mariage,  see  how  thy  Damian, 
Thyn  owene  squyer  and  thy  borne  man, 
Entendeth  for  to  do  thee  vileinye.        1791 
God  graunte  thee  thyn  hoomly  fo  t'espye. 
For  in  this  world  nis  worse  pestilence  (549) 
Than  hoomly  too  al  day  in  thy  presence. 
Parfourned  hath  the    sonne    his  ark 

diurne,  1795 

No  lenger  may  the  body  of  him  sojurne 
On  th'orisonte,  as  in  that  latitude. 
Night  with  his  mantel,  that  is  derk  and 

rude, 
Gan  oversprede  the  hemisperie  aboute  ; 
F<u-  which  departed  is  this  lusty  route 
Fro  Januarie,  with  thank  on  every  syde. 
Horn  to  hir  houses  lustily  they  ryde,  1802 
Wher-as  they  doon  hir  thinges  as  hem 

leste, 
And  whan  they  sye  hir  tyme,  goon  to 

reste.  (560) 

Sone  after  that,  this  hastif  Januarie  1805 
Wolde  go  to  bedde,  he  wolde  no  lenger 

tarie. 
He  drinketh  ipocras,  clarree,  and  vernage 
Of  spyces  hote,  t'encresen  his  corage  ; 
And  many  a  letu.arie  hadde  he  ful  fjm, 
Swiche  as  the   cursed  monk  dan   Con- 

stantyn  1810 

Hath  writen  in  his  book  de  C'oitu  ;  (567) 
To  eten  hem  alle,  he  nas  no-thing  eschu. 
And  to  his  privee  Ireendes  thus  seyde  he  : 
'  For  goddes  love,  as  sone  as  it  may  be, 


X  5 


620 


ZH  t&ntiviw^  Zaks. 


[t.  9689-9766. 


Lat  voydeu  al  tliis  lious  iu  curteys  wj-se.' 
And  thej'  bail   doon  right    as    he   wul 

de\-j-se.  1816 

Men  drinken,  and  the  travers  drawe  anon : 
The  brj-de  was  broght  a-bedde  as  stille  as 

stoon  ; 
And  whan  the  bed  was  with  the  preest 

y-blessed, 
Out  of  the  chambre  hath   evei-y  wight 

him  dressed.  1820 

And  Janviaric  hath  faste  in  armes  take 
His  fresshe  May,  his  paradys,  his  make. 
Ho  lulleth  hir,  he  kisseth  hir  fiU  ofte 
With  thikke  bristles  of  his  herd  luisofte, 
Lyk  to  the  skin  of  houndfish,  sharp  as 

brere,  (581)  1825 

For  he  was  shave  al  uewe  in  his  manere. 
He  rubbeth  hir  aboute  hir  tendre  face, 
And  seyde  thus,  '  alias  !  I  moot  trespace 
To  yow,  my  spouse,  and  yow  gretly  ofFende, 
Er  tj-me  come  that  I  wil  douu  descende. 
But  nathelees,  considercth  this,'  quod  he, 
'  Ther  nis  no  workman,  what-so-ever  he  be, 
That  may  bothe  werke  wel  and  hastily ; 
This  wol  be  doon  at  lej-ser  parfitly.    (590) 
It  is  no  fors  how  longe  that  we  pleye  ;  1835 
In  trewe  wedlok  wedded  be  we  tweye  ; 
And  blessed  be  the  yok  that  we  been 

inne. 
For  in  our  actes  we  mowe  do  no  sinnc. 
A  man  may  do  no  sinne  with  his  wyf, 
Ne  hurte  him-solven  with  his  owene  kuyf ; 
For  wo   ban    leve    to  pleye   us  by  the 

la  we.'  184 1 

Thus  laboureth  he  til  that  the  day  gan 

dawe  ; 
And  than  he  taketh  a  sop  in  fj-n  clarree. 
And  upright  in  his  bed  than  sitteth  he. 
And  after  that   he  sang  ful  loude  and 

clere,  (601)  1845 

And  kiste  his  wyf,  and  made  wantoun 

chere. 
He  was  al  coltish,  ful  of  ragerj-e. 
And  ful  of  jargon  as  a  flekked  pye. 
The  slakke  skin  aboute  his  nekke  shaketh, 
Whyl  that  he  sang  ;  so  chaunteth  he  and 

craketh.  1850 

But  god  wot  what  that  May  thoughte  in 

hir  herte, 
^^^lan  she  him  saiigh  up  sittinge  in  his 

sherte, 


In  his  uight-cappe,  and  with  his  nekke 

lene  ; 
She  preyseth  nat   his   ploying  worth   a 

bene.  (610)  1854 

Than  seide  he  thus,  '  my  reste  wol  I  take  ; 
Now  day  is  come,  I  may  no  longer  wake.' 
And  doun  he  leyde  his  heed,  and  sleep 

til  j)r>-me.  ' 

And  afterward,  whan  that  he  saugh  his 

tyme, 
Up  ryseth  Januarie  ;  but  fresshe  May 
Holdeth  hir  chambre  un-to  the  fourthe 

day,  i86o 

As  usage  is  of  wyvos  for  the  beste. 
For    every  labour  som-tyme   moot  ban 

reste, 
Or  elles  longo  may  he  nat  endure  ; 
This  is  to  sej-n,  no  \y\'es  creature,       (620) 
Be  it  offish,  or  brid,  or  beest,  or  man.  1865 
Auctor. 
Now  wol  I  spoke  of  woful  Da  mi  an, 
That  languissheth  for  love,  as  ye  shut 

here  ; 
Therfbre  I  spoke  to  him  in  this  manere  : 
I  seye,  '  O  sely  Damian,  alias  ! 
Answere  to  my  domaundo,  as  in  this  cas, 
How  shaltow  to  thy  lady  fresshe  May  i8;i 
Telle  thj-wo?  She  wolo alwey  seye  "nay"; 
Eek  if  tliou  si>oke,  she  wol  thy  wo  bi- 

wreye ;  (62()) 

God  be  thyn  help,  I  cau  no  bettre  seye. 

This  syke  Damian  in  Venus  fyr       1875 
So  bronneth,  that  ho  dyetli  for  desyr ; 
For  which  ho  putte  his  l.^vf  in  aventure. 
No  longer  mighte  he  in  this  wyso  endure  ; 
But  prively  a  penner  gan  he  borwe, 
And  in  a  lettre  wroot  he  al  his  Sf)rwc,  i8<So 
In  manere  of  a  complej-nt  or  a  lay, 
Vn-t<.  his  fairo  fresshe  lady  Maj-. 
And  in  a  purs  of  silk,  hong  on  bis  sliertc. 
He  hath   it   put,   and     leyde    it  at   his 

herto.  (640)  1884 

The  mono  that,  at  noon,  was,  thilke  day 

That  Januarie  hath  wedded  fresshe  May, 

In  two  of  Taur,  was  in-to  Cancre  gliden  ; 

So  longe    hath  Maius   in  hir  chambre 

biden. 
As  custume  is  un-to  thise  nobles  alle. 
A  brj-do  shal  nat  eten  in  the  halle,      1890 
Til  dayes  foure  or  three  dayes  atte  leste 
Y-passed  been  ;  than  lat  hir  go  to  feste. 


L\   9767-9848.] 


E.    ZU  (n\arc^attte0  Zak. 


621 


Tlie  tbiirthe  day  compleet   fro  noon   to 
noon,  (^H9) 

Whan  tliat  the  heighe  masse  was  y-doon, 
In  halle  sit  this  Januarie,  and  May     1S95 
As  fresh  as  is  the  brighte  someres  day. 
And  so  bifel,  how  that  this  gode  man 
Remembred  him  upon  this  Daniian, 
And seyde,  'Seinte Marie !  howmaythisbe, 
That  Damian  entendeth  nat  to  me  ?   1900 
Is  he  ay  syk,  or  how  may  this  bityde  ?  ' 
His  squyeres,  whiche   that   stoden   ther 
bisyde,  (^'SS) 

Exc\ised  him  by-cause  of  his  siknesse, 
Which  letted  him  to  doon  his  bisinesse  ; 
Noon  other  cause  mighte  make  him  tarie. 
'  That  me  forthinketh,'  quod  this  .Jan- 


uarie, 


1906 


'  He  is  a  geutil  squyer,  by  my  trouthe  ! 
1 1  that  he  deyde,  it  were  harm  androuthe 
He  is  as  wys,  discreet,  and  as  secree 
As  any  man  I  woot  of  his  degree  ;       1910 
And  ther-to  manly  and  eek  servisable, 
And  for  to  been  a  thrifty  man  right  able. 
But  after  mete,  as  sone  as  ever  I  may, 
I  wol  my-self  visyte  him  and  eek  May, 
To  doon  him  al  the  contort  that  I  can.' 
And  for  that  word  him  blessed  every  man, 
That,  of  his  bountee  and  his  gentillesse. 
He  wolde  so  conforteu  in  siknesse      (674) 
His  squyer,  for  it  was  a  gentil  dede. 
Dame,'  quod  this   Januarie,   '  tak  goo'd 
hede,  "y-" 

At-after  mete  ye,  with  yoiir  wommen  alle, 
Wlian  ye  han   been  in  chambre  out  of 

this  halle, 
Tliat  alle  ye  go  see  this  Damian : 
Doth  him  disport,  he  is  a  gentil  man  ;  (080; 
And  teUeth  him  that  I  wol  him  visyte, 
Have  I  no-thmg  but  rested  me  a  lyte  ; 
And  spedc  yow  faste,  for  I  wole  abyde 
Til  that  ye  slepe  faste  by  my  syde.' 
And  with  that  word  he  gan  to  him  to  calle 
A  squyer,  that  was  marchal  of  his  halle. 
And  tolde  him  certeyn  thinges,  what  he 
wolde.  '93> 

This  fresshe  May  hath  strei^ht  hir  wey 
y-holde. 
With  alle  hir  wommen,  un-to  Damian. 
Doun  by  his  beddes  syde  sit  she  than,  (Oyo) 
Confortinge  him  as  goodly  as  she  may. 
This  Damian,  whan  that  his  tyme  he  say. 


In  secree  wise  his  purs,  and  eek  his  bille, 
In   which  that    he  y-writen  hadde  his 
wille,  '  1938 

Hath  put  in-to  hir  hand,  with-outen  more, 
Save  that  he  syketh  wonder  depe  and  sore. 
And  sottely  to  hir  right  thus  seyde  he  : 
'  Mercy  !  and  that  ye  nat  discovere  me  ; 
For  I  am  deed,  if  that  this  thing  be  kid.' 
This  purs  hath  she  inwith  hir  bosom  hid, 
And  wente  hir  wey ;  ye  gete  namore  of  me. 
But  un-to  Januarie  y-comen  is  she,     1946 
That  on  his  beddes  syde  sit  ful  softe.  (703) 
He  taketh  hir,  and  kisseth  hir  ful  ofte, 
And  leyde  him  doun  to  slepe,  and  that 

anon. 
She  feyned  hir  as  that  she  moste  gon  1950 
Ther-as  ye  woot  that   every  wight  mot 

uede. 
And  wlian  she  of  this  bille  hath  talcen 

hede. 
She  rente  it  al  to  cloutes  atte  laste. 
And  in  the  privee  softely  it  caste.       (710) 
Who  studieth   now   but  faire  fresshe 
May?  >955 

Adoun  by  olde  Januarie  she  lay. 
That  sleep,  til  that  the  coughe  hath  him 

awaked ; 
Anon  he  preyde  hir  strepen  hir  al  naked ; 
He  wolde  of  hir,  he  seyde,  han  som  ple- 

saunce. 
And  seyde,  hir  clothes  diile  him  encom- 
braunce,  '9^" 

And  she  obeyeth,  be  hir  lief  or  looth. 
But  lest  that  precious  folk  be  with  me 

wrooth. 
How  that  be  wroghte,  I  dar  nat  to  yow 

telle ; 
Or  wliether  hir  thoughte  it  paradys  or 
helle ;  (720) 

But  here  I  lete  hem  werken  in  hir  wyse 
Til  evensong  rong,  and  that  they  moste 
aryse.  '966 

Were  it  by  destinee  or  aventure, 
Were  it  by  inflxience  or  by  nature, 
Or  constellacion,  that  in  swicli  estat 
The  hevene  stood,  that  tyme  fortunat  1970 
Was  for  to  putte  a  bille  of  Venus  werkes 
(For  alle  thing  hath  tyme,  as  seyn  thise 

clerkes) 
To  any  womman,  for  to  gete  hir  love, 
I  can  nat  seye  ;  but  grete  god  above,  (730) 


622 


^0e  CanterBurp  Za^tc. 


[t.  98^9-99.^^0. 


That  knoweth  that  non  act  is  canselees, 
He  deme  of  al,  tor  I  wol  holde  my  pees. 
But  sooth  is  this,  how  that  this  fresshe 

May  1077 

Hath  take  swich  impression  that  day, 
For  i)itee  of  this  syke  Pamian, 
That  from  hir  herte  she  ne  dryve^  can  1980 
The  rememhrannce  for  to  doon  liini  ese. 
'  Certeyn,'  tho^lite  she,  '  whom  that  this 

thing  displese, 
T  reUke  noght,  for  here  I  him  assnre, 
To  love  him  best  of  any  creature,        (740) 
Though  hena-morehaddethanhissherte.' 
Lo,  pitee  rennetli  sone  in  gentU  herte. 

Heer  may  ye  se  how  excellent  franchyse 
In  wommen  is,  .whan  they  hem   narwe 

avyse.  1988 

Som  tyrant  is,  as  ther  he  many  con, 
That  hath  an  herte  as  hard  as  any  stoon, 
Wliich  wolde   han  lete  him  sterven  in 

the  place  lOQt 

Wei  rather  than  han  grannted  liim  hir 

grace ; 
And  liem  rejoysen  in  hir  cruel  pryde. 
And  rekke  nat  to  been  an  homicyde.  (750) 
Tliis  gentil  May,  fulfilled  of  pitee,   1995 
Right  of  hir  hande  a  lettre  made  she, 
In  which  she  graunteth  him  hir  verray 

grace ; 
Ther  lakketh   noght   but  only  day  and 

place, 
Wlier  that  she   mighte  nn-to  his   hist 

suflfyse  : 
For  it  shal  be  right  as  he  wol  de\-yse.  2000 
And  whan  she  saugh  hir  time,  np-on  a  day, 
To  visite  this  Damian  goth  May, 
And  sotilly  this  lettre  doun  she  threste 
I'nder  his  pilwe,  rede  it  if  him  leste.  (760) 
She  taketh  him  by  the  hand,  and  barde 

him  twiste  2005 

So  secrely,  that  no  wight  of  it  wiste. 
And  bad  him  been  al  hool,  and  forth  she 

wente 
To  Januarie,  whan  that  he  for  hir  sente. 

Up  ryseth  Damian  the  nexte  morwe, 
Al  passed  was  his  siknesse  and  his  sorwe. 
He  kembeth  him,  he  proyneth  him  and 

pyketh,  201 1 

He  dooth  al  that  his  lady  Inst  and  lyketh  ; 
And  eek  to  Januarie  he  gooth  as  lowe 
As  ever  dide  a  dogge  for  the  bowe.      (770) 


He  is  so  plesant  un-to  every  man,        2015 
(For  craft  is  al,  who-so  that  do  it  can) 
That  every  wight  is  fayn  to  speke  him 

good  ; 
And  fully  in  his  lady  grace  he  stood. 
Thus  lete  I  Damian  aboute  his  nede. 
And  in  my  tale  forth  I  wol  proeede.   2020 

Somme  clerkes  holden  that  folicitee 
Stant  in  del.vt,  and  therefor  certeyn  he. 
This  noble  Januarie,  with  al  his  might, 
In  honest  wyse,  as  longeth  to  a  knight, 
Shoop  liim  to  live  ful  deJiciously.  (781)  2025 
His  housinge,  his  array,  as  honestly 
To  his  degree  was  maked  as  a  kinges. 
Amonges  othere  of  his  honest  thinges. 
He  made  a  gardin,  walled  al  with  stoon  ; 
So  fair  a  gardin  woot  I  nowher  noon.  20V) 
For  out  of  doute,  I  vcrraily  suppose. 
That  he  tliat  wroot  the  Romance  of  the 

Rose 
Ne  coude  of  it  the  beautee  wel  devyse  ; 
Ne  Priapus  ne  mighte  nat  snffyse,      (790) 
.Though   he    be   god   of   gardins,   for  to 

telle  20.^5 

The  beautee  of  the  gardin  and  the  welle, 
That  stood  under  a  laurer  alwe.v  grene. 
Ful  ofte  tj-me  he,  Pluto,  and  his  quene, 
Proseiriua,  and  al  hir  fayerye 
Disporten  hem  and  maken  meloilye    2040 
Abonte  that  welle,  and  daunced,  as  men 

tolde. 
This  nobleknigbt.  this  Januarie theolde, 
Swich  deintee  hath  in  it  to  walke  and 

pleye,  (799) 

That  he  wol  no  wight  suffren  here  the  keye 
Save  he  hinvself ;  for  of  the  smale  wiket 
He  bar  alwey  of  silver  a  smal  cliket,  2046 


I  With  which,  whan  that  him  leste,  he  it 
nnshette. 
And  whan  he  wolde  paye  his  wyf  hir  dette 
In  somer  seson,  thider  wolde  he  go, 
And  May  his  wyf,  and  no  wight  but  they 
two ;  2050 

And  thinges  whiche  that  were  nat  doon 

a-bedde, 
He  in  the  gardin  parfourned  hem   and 
I  spedde. 

And  in  this  wyse,  many  a  merj^  day. 
I  Lived  this  Januarie  and  fresshe  May.  (8ioj 
!   But  worldly  joye  may  nat  alwey  dure  2055 
To  J.anuarie,  ne  to  no  creature. 


T.  9931- 


E0014.]         E.    ZU  QUavc^ftnfee  tak. 


623 


Auctor. 
O  sodeyn  hap,  o  thou  fortune  instable, 
Lyk  to  the  scorpioun  so  deceivable. 
That  flaterest  with  thyn  lieed  when  thou 

wolt  stinge  ; 
Thy  tayl  is  deeth,  thurgh  thyn  enveni- 


mmge. 


2060 


O  brotil  joye  !  o  swete  venini  queynte  ! 
O  monstre,  that  so  subtilly  canst  peynte 
Thy  yiftes,  iinder  hewe  of  stedfastnesse, 
That  thoii  deceyvest  bothe  more  and  lesse  ! 
Wliy  hastow  Januarie  thus  deoeyved,  (821 ) 
That  haddest  him  for  thy   ful  frend  re- 

ceyved  ?  2066 

And  now  thou  hast  biraft  him  bothe  hise 

yen, 
For  sorwe  of  which  desyreth  he  to  dyen. 

Alias  !  this  nfible  Januarie  free, 
Amidde  liis  lust  and  his  prosperitee,  2070 
Is  woxen  blind,  and  that  al  sodeynly. 
He  wepeth  and  he  wayleth  pitously  ; 
And  ther-with-al  the  fyr  of  jalousye,  (829) 
Lest  that  his  wyf  sholde  falle  in  som  folye. 
So  1  >rente  his  herte,  that  he  wolde  fayn  2075 
That  som  man  bothe  him  and  hir  had 

slayn. 
F'^r  neither  after  his  deeth,  nor  in  his  lyf, 
Ne  wolde  he  that  she  were  love  ne  wyf. 
But  ever  live  as  wi<lwe  in  clothes  blake. 
Si  ml  as  the  turtle  that  lost  hath  hir  make. 
But  atte  laste,  after  a  monthe  or  tweye, 
His  sorwe  gan  as  wage,  sooth  to  seye  ;  2082 
For  whan  he  wiste  it  may  noon  other  be. 
He  paciently  took  liis  adversitee  ;       (840) 
Save,  out  of  dovite,  he  may  nat  forgoon 
That  he  nas  jalous  evermore  in  oon  ; 
■\^^lich  jalousye  it  was  so  outrageous. 
That  neitherinhalle,  ii'in  noon  other  hous, 
Ne  in  noon  other  place,  never-the-mo, 
He  nolde  suffre  hir  for  to  ryde  or  go,  2090 
But-if  that  he  had  hand  on  hir  alway  ; 
For  which  ful  ofte  wepeth  fresshe  May, 
That  loveth  D^mian  so  benignely. 
That  she  mot  outher  dyen  sodeynly,  (850) 
Or  elles  she  mot  han  him  as  hir  leste  ;  2095 
She  wayteth  whan  hir  herte  wolde  breste. 

Up-on  that  other  syde  Damian 
Bicomen  is  the  sorwefulleste  man 
That  ever  was ;  for  neither  night  ne  day 
Ne  mighte  he   spoke  a  word  to  fresshe 
May,  2HXJ 


As  to  his  purpos,  of  no  swich  matere, 
But-if  that  Januarie  moste  it  here. 
That  hadde  an  hand  up-on  hir  evermo. 
But  nathelees,  by  wryting  to  and  fro  (860) 
And    privee    signes,  wiste    he  what    she 
mente ;  2105 

And  she  knew  eek  the  fyn  of  his  entente. 
Auctor. 
O  Janiiarie,  what  mighte  it  thee  availle. 
Thou  mightest  see  as  fer  as  shippes  saille  ? 
For  also  good  is  blind  deceys-ed  be. 
As  be  deceyved  whan  a  man  may  see.  21 10 
Lo,  Argus,  which  that  hadde  an  hondred 

yen. 
For  al  that  ever  he  coude  poure  or  pryen, 
Yet  was  he  blent ;  and,  god  wot,  so  ben 

nao. 
That  wenen  wisly  that  it  be  nat  so.     (870) 
Passe  over  is  an  ese,  I  sey  na-more.     21  ig 
This  fresshe  May,  that   I  spak  of  so 
yore. 
In  warme  wex  hatli  emprented  the  cliket, 
That  Januarie  bar  of  the  sniale  wiket, 
By  which  in-to  his  gardin  ofte  he  wente. 
And  Damian,  that  knew  al  hir  entente,- 
The  cliket  countrefeted  prively  ;  2121 

Ther  nis  na-more  to  seye,  but  hastily 
Som  wonder  by  this  cliket  shal  bityde, 
Which  ye  shul  heren,  if  ye  wole  abyde. 
O  noble  0\'yde,  ful  sooth  seystou,  god 
woot !  Anctor. 

Wliat  sleighte  is  it,  thogh  it  be  long  and 
hoot,  (882)  2126 

That  he  nil  finde  it  out  in  som  manere  ? 
By  Piramus  and  Tesbee  may  men  lere  ; 
Thogh  they  were  kept  ful  longe  streite 

overal. 

They  been  accorded,  rouninge  thurgh  a 

wal,  2130 

Ther  no  wight  coude   han  founde    out 

swich  a  sleighte.  (887) 

But  now  to  piirpos ;  er  that  dayes  eighte 

Were  passed,  er  the  monthe  of  Juil,  bifil 

That  Januarie  hath  caught  so  greet  a  wil, 

Thurgh  egging  of  his  wyf,  him  for  to  pleye 

In  his  gardin,  and  no  wight  but  they  tweye, 

That  in  a  morwe  iin-to  this  May  seith  he  : 

'  Eys  up,  my  wyf,  my  love,  tny  lady  free  ; 

The  turtles  vois  is  herd,  my  douve  swete ; 

The  winter  is  goon,  with  alle  his  reynes 

wete ;  2140 


624 


ZU  Canttv&w^  'Zake.  [t.  10015- 


Com  forth  now,  withthyneyen  colnmb>-u  ! 
How  fairer  been  thybrestes  than  is  wyn  ! 
The  gardin  is  enclosed  al  aboute  ; 
Com  forth,   my  whyte    spouse ;    out    of 

doute,  (9<x)) 

Thou   hast  me  wounded  in  myn  herte, 

owyf!  2145 

No  spot  of  thee  ne  knew  I  al  my  lyf. 
Com  forth,  and  lat  us  taken  our  disport ; 
I  chees  thee  for  my  wyf  and  my  contort.' 

Swiche  olde  lewed  wordes  used  he  ; 
On  Damian  a  signe  matle  she,  2150 

That  he  sholde  go  biforen  with  his  cliket  : 
TJiis  Damian  thanne   hath  opened   the 

wiket, 
.^d  in  he  stirte,and  thatinswich  manere, 
That  no   wight   mighte    it    see    neither 

y-here ;  (910) 

And  stille  he  sit  under  a  biish  anoon.  2155 

This  Januarie,  as  blind  as  is  a  stoon. 
With  Mains  in  his  hand,  and  no  wight  mo, 
In-to  his  fresshe  gardin  is  ago. 
And  claptc  to  the  wiket  sodeynly. 

'  Now,  wyf,'  quod  he,  '  heer  nis  hut  thou 
•     and  I,  2160 

That  art  the  creature  that  I  best  love. 
For,  by  that  lord  that  sit  in  heven  above. 
Lever  ich  hadde  dyen  on  a  knyf, 
Than  thee  offende,  trewe  dere  wyf!    (920'] 
For  goddes  sake,  thenk  how  I  thee  chees, 
Noght  for  no  coveityse,  doutelees,        2166 
But  only  for  tlie  love  I  had  to  thee. 
And  though  that  I  be  old,  and  may  natsee, 
Beth  to  me  trewe,  andlshaltelleyowwhy. 
Three  thinges,  certes,  shul  ye  winne  ther- 

by ;  2170 

First,  love  of  Crist,  and  to  your-self  honour, 
And  al  myn  heritage,  toun  and  tour ; 
I  yeve  it  yow,  maketh  chartres  as  yow 

leste ;  ^929) 

This  shal  be  doon  to-morwe  er  sonne  reste. 
So  wisly  god  my  soule  bringe  in  blisse,  21 75 
I  prey  yow  first,  in  covenant  ye  me  kisse. 
Andthogh  that  I  be  jalous,  -wj-te  me  noght. 
Ye  been  so  depe  enprented  in  my  thoght, 
That,  whan  that  I  considere  y<:'nr  beautee, 
And  tller-w^th-al  the  imlykly  elde  of  me 
I  may  nat,  certes,  thogh  I  sholde  dye, 
Forbere  to  been  out  of  j-our  companye 
For  verray  love  ;  this  is  with-outen  doute. 
Now  kis  me.  wyf,  and  lat  us  rome  aboute.' 


This  fresshe  May,  whan  she  thise  wordes 
herde,  (941)  2185 

Benignely  to  Januarie  answerde. 
But  iirst  and  forward  she  bigan  to  wepe, 
'  I  have,'  quod  she,  '  a  soule  for  to  kepe 
As  wel  as  ye,  and  also  myn  honour, 
Andof  my  wythod  thilke  tcndre  flour,  2190 
Which  that  I  have  assured  in  yourhond, 
Whan  that  the  preest  to  yow  my  body 

bond ; 
WTierfore  I  wole  answere  in  this  manere 
By  the  leve  of  yow,  my  lord  so  dere  :  (950) 
I  prey  to  god,  that  never  dawe  the  day  2 1 95 
That  I  ue  sterve,  as  foule  as  womman  may. 
If  ever  I  do  un-to  my  kin  that  shame. 
Or  elles  I  empeyre  so  my  name, 
That  I  be  this  ;  and  if  I  do  that  lakke, 
Do  strepe  me  and  put  me  in  a  sakke,  221K) 
And  in  the  nexte  river  do  me  drenche. 
I  am  a  gentil  womman  and  no  wenohe. 
Why  speke  ye  thus  ?  but  men  ben  ever 
imtrewe,  (959) 

^nd  wommen  have  repreve  of  yow  ay  newe. 
Ye  han  non  other  contenance,  I  leve,  2205 
But  speke  to  us  of  untrust  and  repreve.' 
And  with  that  word  she  saugh  wher 
Damian 
Sat  in  the  bush,  and  coughen  she  bigan, 
And  with  hir  finger  signes  made  she, 
That  Damian  sholde  climbe  up-on  a  tree, 
That  charged  was  with  fruit,  and  iip  he 
wente  ;  2211 

For  verraily  he  knew  al  hir  entente. 
And  everj'  signe  that  she  coude  make 
Wel  bet  than  Januarie,  hir  owene  make. 
For  in  <a  lettre  she  had  told  liim  al      2215 
Of  this  matere,  how  he  werchen  shal.  (972) 
And  thiis  I  lete  him  sitte  up-on  the  pyrie, 
And  Januarie  and  May  rominge  myrie. 
Bright  was  the  day,  and  blew  the  firma- 
ment, 
Phebus  of  gold  his  stremes  doun  hath 
sent.  2220 

To  gladen  every  flour  with  his  warmnesse. 
He  was  that  tyme  in  Geminis,  as  I  gesse. 
But  litel  fro  his  declinacioiin 
Of  Cancer,  Jovis  exaltacioun.  (980) 

And  so  bifel,  that  brighte  morwe-tyde,  2225 
That  in  that  gardin,  in  the  ferther  syde, 
Pluto,  that  is  the  king  of  fayerye. 
And  many  a  lady  in  his  companye. 


10103-10187.]         E.    ZU  (DUrc6ani«e  Zak. 


625 


Folwinge  hiS'  wyf,  the  queue  Proserpyne, 
Ecli  after  other,  right  as  any  lyne—   2230 
Whyl  that  she  gadered  floiires  in  the  mede, 
In  Clatidian  ye  may  the  story  rede, 
How  in  his  grisly  carte  he  hir  fette  : — 
This  king  of  fairye  thanne  adoun  him 

sette  (990)  2234 

Up-on  a  bench  of  turves,  fresh  and  grene. 

And  right  anon  thus  seyde  he  to  his  qviene. 

•  My  \vyf,'  quod  he,  '  ther  may  no  -waght 

sey  nay ;     . 
Th'experience  so  preveth  every  day 
The  treson  whiche  that  wommen  doon  to 

man.  2239 

Ten  hondred  thousand  [stories]  telle  I  can 
Notable  of  your  untroutheandbrotilnesse. 
O  Salomon,  wys,  richest  of  richesse,  2242 
Fulfild  of  sapience  and  of  worldly  glorie, 
Ful  worthy  been  thy  wordes  to  memorie 
To  every  wight  that  wit  and  reson  can. 
Thus  preiseth  he  yet  the  bountee  of  man  : 
"  Amonges  a  thousand  naen  yet  fond  loon, 
But  of  wommen  alle  fond  I  noon."  (1004) 
Thus  seith  the  liing  that  knoweth  yovir 

wikkednesse  ; 
And  Jesws /ilius  Syrak^  as  I  gesse,       2250 
Ne  speketh  of  yow  bvit  selde  reverence. 
A  wilde  fyr  and  corrupt  pestilence 
So  falle  vip-on  your  bodies  yet  to-night! 
Ne  see  ye  nat  thishonwrable  knight,  (loio) 
By-cause,  alias !  that  he  is  blind  and  old. 
His  owene  man  shal  make  him  cokewold  ; 
Lo  heer  he  sit,  the  lechour,  in  the  tree.  2257 
Now  wol  I  graunten,  of  my  magestee, 
Un-to  this  Okie  blinde  worthy  knight 
That  he  shal  have  ayeyn  his  eyen  sight,  2260 
Whan  that  his  wyf  wold  doon  him  vileinye ; 
Than  shal  he  knowen  al  hir  harlotrye 
Both  in  repreve  of  hir  and  othere  mo.' 

'  Ye  shal,'  quod  Proserpyne,  '  wol  ye  so  ; 
Now,  by  my  modres  sires  soule  I  swere. 
That  I  shal  yeven  hir  siiffisant  answere. 
And  alle  wommen  after,  for  hir  sake  ; 
That,  though  they  be  in  any  gilt  y-take, 
With    face    bold    they    shulle    hem-self 

exci^se. 
And  here  hem  doun  that  wolden  hem 

accuse.  2270 

For  lakke  of  answer,  noon  ofliem  shal  dyen. 
Al  hadde  man  seyn  a  thing  with  bothe  his 

yen,  (1028) 


Yit  shiil  we  wommen  visage  it  hardily. 
And  wepe,  and  swere,  and  chyde  subtilly, 
So  that  ye  men  shul  been  as  lewed  as  gees. 
What  rekketh  me  of  your  auctoritees? 

I  woot  wel  that  this  .Tew,  this  Salomon, 
Fond  of  us  woninien  foles  many  oon. 
Biit  though   that  he  ne  fond   no   good 

womman,  2279 

Yet  hath  ther  founde  many  another  man 
Wommen  ful  trewe,  ful  gode,  and   ver- 

tuous. 
Witnesse  on  hem  that  dwelle  in  Cristes 

hous. 
With  martirdom  they  preved  hir  con- 
stance.  (1039) 
The  Eomayn  gestes  maken  remembrance 
Of  many  a  verray  trewe  wyf  also.  2285 
But  sire,  ne  be  nat  wrooth,  al-be-it  so. 
Though  that  he  seyde  he  fond  no  good 

wonaman, 
I  prey  yow  take  the  sentence  of  the  man ; 
He  mente  thus,  that  in  soverejni  bontee 
Nis  noon  but  god,  that  sit  in  Trinitee.  2290 

Ey  !  for  verray  god,  that  nis  but  oon. 
What  make  ye  so  muche  of  Salomon  ? 
Wliat  though  he  made  a  temple,  goddes 

hous?  (k'49) 

What  though  he  were  riche  and  glorious  ? 
So  made  he  eek  a  temple  of  false  goddis, 
How  mighte  he  do  a  thing  that  more  for- 

bode  is  ?  2296 

Pardee,  as  faire  as  ye  his  name  emplastre, 
He  was  a  lechour  and  an  ydolastre  ; 
And  in  his  elde  he  verray  god  forsook. 
And  if  that  god  ne  hadde,  as  seith  the  book, 
Y-spared  him  for  his  fadres  sake,  he  sholde 
Have  lost  his  regne  rather  than  he  wolde. 
I  sette  noght  of  al  the  vileinye,  (1059) 

That  ye  of  wommen  wrj-te,  a  boterflye. 
I  am  a  womman,  nedes  moot  I  speke,  2305 
Or  elles  swelle  til  myn  herte  breke. 
For  sithen  he  seyde   that  we  ben  jan- 

gleresses, 
As  ever  hool  I  mote  brouke  my  tresses, 
I  shal  nat  spare,  for  no  curteisye,        2309 
Tospeke  him  harm  that  wolde  iis  vileinye.' 
'  Dame,'  quod  this  Pluto,  '  be  no  lenger 

wrooth  ; 
I  yeve  it  up  ;  but  sith  I  swoor  myn  ooth 
That  I  wolde  graunten   him    his    sighte 

ageyn,  (io6y) 


626 


Z^t  Canferfiurp  Zake. 


[t.  10188-10262. 


My  word  slialstoutle,  I  warneyow,  certeyii. 
I  am  a  king,  it  sit  me  noght  to  lye.'     2,^15 
'  And  I,'  quod  she,  '  a  qiieene  of  fayerj^e. 
Hir  answere  shal  she  have,  I  undertake  ; 
Lat  lis  iia-more  wordos  heer-of  make. 
For  sothe,  I  vol  no  lenger  yow  contrarie.' 
Now  lat  us  turne  agayn  to.Tanuarie,  2320 
That  in  the  gardin  with  his  faire  May 
Singcth,  lul  merior  than  the  papejay, 
'  Yow  love  I  best,  and  shal,  and  other 

noon.' 
So  longe  aboute  the  aleyes  is  he  goon,  (1080) 
Til  he  was  come  agaynes  thilke  p.vrie,  2325 
Wher-as  this  Damian  sitteth  ful  myrie 
An  heigh,  among  the  fresshe  leves  grene. 
This  fresshe  May,  that  is  so  bright  and 

shene, 
Gan  for  to  syke,  and  seydo,  '  alias,  my 

sydo  ! 
Now  sir,'  qiiod  she,  '  for  awght  that  may 

bityde,  2.1^0 

I  mosto  han  of  the  pores  that  I  see, 
Or  I  mot  dye,  so  sore  longeth  me 
To  eten  of  the  smale  peres  grone.      (1089) 
Help,  for  hir  love  that  is  of  hevene  quene  ! 
I   telle    yow    wel,   a   womman     in    my 

pl.vt  2335 

May  han  to  fruit  so  greet  an  apjietj-t, 
That  she  may  dyen,  but  she  of  it  liave.' 
'  Alias  ! '  quod  he,  '  that  I  ne  had  heer 

a  knave 
That  coude  climbe ;  alias!  alias! '  qnod  he, 
'That  I  am  blind.'       'Ye,   sir,  no  fors,' 

quod  she  :  2340 

'  But  wolde  ye   vouche-sauf,  for  goddes 

sake, 
The  pjTie  inwith  your  armes  for  to  take, 
(For  wel  I  woot  that  ye  mistruste  me) 
Thanne  sholde  I  climbe  wel  y-nogh,'  quod 

she,  (iioo) 

'  So  I  my  foot  mighte  sette  upon  your  bale' 

'  Certes,'  quod  he,  '  ther-on  shal  be  no 

lak,  2346 

Mighte  I  yow  helpen  with   myn    herte 

blood.' 
He  stoupeth  doun,  and  on  his  bak  she  stood, 
And  caughte  hir  by  a  twiste,  and  ui)  she 

gooth. 
Ladies,  I  prey  yow  that  ye  be  nat  wrooth  ; 
I  can  nat  glose,  I  am  a  rude  man.        2351 
Aiid  sodeynly  anon  this  Damian 


Gan  pullen  up  the  smok,  and  in  he  throng. 
And  whan  that  Pluto  saugh  this  grete 

wrong,  (ii'o) 

To  Januarie  he  gaf  agayn  his  sighte,  2355 
And  made   him  see,  as  wel  as  ever  he 

mighte. 
And  whan   that   he    hadde   caught  his 

sighte  agayn, 
Ne  was  ther  never  man  of  thing  so  fayn. 
But  on  his  wj-f  his  thoght  was  evermo  ; 
Up  to  the  tree  he  caste  his  eyen  two,  2360 
And   saugh   that   Damian   his  wyf  had 

dressed 
In    swieh    manere,    it   may  nat   ben   ex- 
pressed 
But  if  I  wolde  speke  uncurteisly  : 
And  up  ho  yaf  a  roringand  a  cry      (1120) 
As  doth  the  moder  whan  the  child  shal 

dye  :  2365 

'  Out !  helii !  alias !  harrow ! '  he  gan  to  crye, 
'  O  stronge  lady  store,  what  dostow?' 
And  she  answerde,  '  sir,  what   oyleth 

yow  y 
'Have  pacience,  and  reson  in  your  minde, 
I  have  yow  holpe  on  bothe  your  eyen 

blinde.  2370 

Up  peril  of  my  soule,  I  shal  nat  lyen. 
As  me  was  taught,  to  hele  with  your  yen. 
Was  no-thing  bet  to  make  yow  to  see 
Thanstruglewithamanup-onatree.  (1130) 
God  woot,  I  dide  it  in  ful  good  entente.' 
'  Stmgle  ! '  quod  he,   '  ye,  algate  in  it 

wente !  2376 

God  yeve  yow  bothe  on  shames  deeth  to 

dyen! 
He  swyved  thee,  I  saugh  it  with  myne  yen. 
And  elles  be  I  hanged  Ijy  the  hals  ! ' 
'  Thanne  is,'  quod  she,  '  my  medicyne 

al  fals  ;  2380 

For  certeinly,  if  that  ye  mighte  see. 

Ye  wolde  nat  seyn  thise  wordos  un-to  mc  ; 

Ye  han  som  glimsing  and  no  parfit  sighte.' 

'  I   see,'   quod  he,    '  as   wel  as  ever  I 

mighte,  (1140) 

Thonked  be  god  !  with  lx)the  myne  eyen 

two,  2385 

And  by  my  trouthe,  me  thoughte  he  dide 

thee  so.' 
'  Ye  maze,  maze,  gode  sire,'  quod  she, 
'  This  thank  have  I  for  I  have  maad  yow 

see : 


T.  10263-314.]    E.  6ptfo3ue  to  t^t  QUdrc^aneee  Zak. 


627 


Alias!'   quod  she,   'that    ever   I   was  so 

kinde  !'' 
'  Now,  dame,'  quod  he,  '  lat  al  passe  out 

of  minde.  2390 

Cora  dou.n,  my  lief,  and  if  I  have  missayd, 
God  help  me  so,  as  I  am  yvel  apayd. 
But,  by  my  fader  soule,  I  wende  han  seyn. 
How  that  this  Damian  had  by  thee  leyii, 
And  that  thy  smok  had  leyn  x^p-on  his 

brest.'  ('151)  2395 

'Ye,  sire,'  quod  she,  'ye  may  wene  as 

yow  lest ; 
But,  sire,  a  man  that  waketh  out  of  his 

sleep, 
He  may  nat  sodeyuly  wel  taken  keep 
Up-on  a  thing,  ne  seen  it  parfitly. 
Til  that  he  be  adawcd  verraily  ;  2400 

Bight  so  a  man,  that  longe  hath  blind  y-be, 
Ne  may  nat  sodeynly  so  wel  y-see. 


First  whan  his  sighte  is  newe  come  ageyn. 
As  he  that  hath  a  day  or  two  y-seyn,  (i  160) 
Til  that  your  sighte  y-satled  be  a  whyle, 
Ther  may  ful  many  a  sighte  yow  bigyle. 
Beth  war,   I  prey  yow;  for,   by  hevene 

king,  2407 

Ful  many  a  man  weneth  to  seen  a  thing, 
And  it  is  al  another  than  it  semetli. 
He  that  misconceyveth,  he  misdemeth.' 
And  with  that  word  she  leep  doun  fro  the 

tree.  241 1 

This  Januarie,  who  is  glad  but  he  ? 
Ho  kisseth  hir,  and  clippeth  hir  ful  ofte, 
And  on  hir  wombe  he  stroketh  hir  ful 

softe,  (1170) 

And  to  his  palays  hoom  he  hath  hir  lad. 
Now,  gode  men,  I  pray  yow  to  be  glad.  2416 
Thus  endeth  heer  my  tale  of  Januarie  ; 
God  blesse  us  and  his  moder  Seinte  Marie  ! 


Here  is  ended  the  Marchantes  Tale  of  Januarie. 


EPILOGUE    TO    THE    MARCHANTES 
TALE. 


'  Ey  !  goddes  mercy ! '  seyde  our  Hoste  tho, 
'  Now  swich  a  wyf  I  pray  god  kepe  me  fro ! 
Lo,  whiclie  sleightes  and  subtilitees    2421 
In  wommeu  been  !  for  ay  as  bisy  as  bees 
Ben  they,  us  sely  men  for  to  deceyve. 
And  frona  a  sothe  ever  wol  they  weyve  ; 
By  this  Marchauntes  Tale  it  preveth  weel. 
But  doutelees,  as  trewe  as  any  steel    2426 
I  have  a  wyf,  though  that  she  po\Te  be  ; 
But  of  hir  tonge  a  labbing  shrewe  is  she. 
And  yet  she  hath  an  heep  of  vyces  mo ;  (11) 
Ther-of  no  fors,  lat  alle  swiche  thinges  go. 


But,  wite  ye  what  ?  in  conseil  be  it  seyd. 
Me  reweth  sore  I  am  un-to  hir  teyd.  2432 
For,  and  I  sholde  rekenen  every  vyce 
Which  that  she  hath,  y-wis,  I  were  to 

nyce. 
And  cause  why  ;  it  sholde  reported  be  2435 
And  told  to  hir  of  somme  of  this  meynee  ; 
Of  whom,  it  nedeth  nat  for  to  declare. 
Sin  wommen  connen  outen  swich  chaf- 

fare ;  (20) 

And  eek  my  wit  suffyseth  nat  ther-to 
To  tellen  al ;  wherfor  my  tale  is  do.'  2440 


628 


ZU  Canfcrfiurp  Zake. 


[t.  I0315-10384, 


GROUP   F. 


THE    SOUIERES    TALE. 


The  Squire's  Prologue. 
'  Sqcier,  com  neer,  if  it  your  wille  be, 
And  sey  somwbat  of  love  ;  for,  oertes,  ye 
Connen  ther-on  as  muche  as  any  man.' 
'  Xay ,  sir,'  quod  he,  '  but  I  wol  seye  as  I  can 
With  liertly  wille  ;  for  I  wol  nat  rebelle  5 
Agayn  your  lust ;  a  tale  wol  I  telle. 
Have  me  excused  if  I  speke  amis, 
Sly  wil  is  good  ;  and  lo.  my  tale  is  this.' 

Here  biginneth  the  Squieres  Tale. 
At  Sarray,  in  the  lan<l  of  Tartaryo,         (i) 
Ther  dwelte  a  king,  that  werroycd  Russye, 
Thurgh  which  ther  deyde  many  a  doughty 

man.  1 1 

Tliis  noble  king  was  cleped  Cambinskan, 
Which  in  his  tyme  was  of  so  greet  renoun 
That  ther  nas  ntvwher  in  no  regioun 
So  excellent  a  lord  in  alle  thing  ;  15 

Hun  lakked  noght  that  longeth  to  a  king. 
As  of  the  secte  of  which  that  he  was  bom 
He  kepte  his  lay,  to  which  that  he  was 

sworn  ;  (lo) 

And  ther-to  he  was  hardy,  wj-s,  and  riche, 
And  f  pietous  and  just,  alwey  y-liche  ;   20 
Sooth  of  his  word,  benigne  and  honurable, 
Of  his  corage  as  any  centre  stable  ; 
Yong,  fresh,  and  strong,  in  amies  desirous 
As  any  bacheler  of  al  his  hous. 
A  fair  persone  he  was  and  fortnnat,       25 
And  kepte  alwey  so  wel  royal  estat, 
That  ther  was  nowher  swich  another  man. 
This  noble  king,  this  Tartre  Cambinskan 
Hadde  two  sones  on  Elpheta  his  wj-f,  (21; 
Of  whiche  th'eldeste  highte  Algarsj'f,    30 
That  other  sone  was  cleped  Cambalo. 
A  doghter  hadde  this  worthy  king  also, 
That  yongest  was,  and  highte  Canaeee. 
But  for  to  telle  yow  al  hir  beaut  ee, 


It  l.\'th  nat  in  my  tonge,  n'in  my  conning  ; 
I  dar  nat  undertake  so  heigh  a  thing.    36 
Myn  English  eek  is  insufficient ; 
It  moste  been  a  rethor  excellent,  (30) 

Tliat  coude  his  colours  longing  for  that  art, 
If  he  sholde  hir  diseryven  every  part.  40 
I  am  non  swich,  I  moot  speke  as  I  can. 

And  so  bifel  that,  whan  tliis  Cambinskan 
Hath  twenty  winter  born  his  diademe, 
As  he  was  wont  fro  yeer  to  yeer,  I  deme. 
He  leet  the  festo  of  his  nativitee  45 

'Don  cryen  thurghout  Sarray  his  citee, 
The  last  Idns  of  March,  after  the  yeer. 
Phebus  the  sonne  ful  joly  was  and  cleer ; 
For  he  was  neigh  his  exaltacioun  (41) 

In  Martes  face,  and  in  his  mansioun      50 
In  Aries,  the  colerik  hote  signe. 
Ful  lusty  was  the  weder  and  benigne, 
For  which  the  foules,  agayn  the  sonne 

shene, 
Wliat  for  the  seson  and  the  yonge  grene, 
Ful  loude  songen  hir  affecciouns  ;  55 

Hom  semed  han  geten  hem  protecciouns 
AgajTi  the  swerd  of  winter  kene  and  cold. 
Tliis  Cambinskan,  of  which  I  have  yow 

told,  (50) 

In  royal  vestiment  sit  on  his  deys. 
With  diademe,  ful  heighe  in  his  paleys, 
And  halt  his  feste,  so  solempne  antl  so 

riche  61 

That  in  this  world  ne  was  ther  noon  it 

liche. 
Of  which  if  I  shal  tellen  al  th'array. 
Than  wolde  it  occupye  a  someres  day ; 
And  eek  it  nedeth  nat  for  to  devyse        65 
At  every  cours  the  ordre  of  hir  servyse. 
I  wol  nat  tellen  of  hir  strange  sewes,  (59) 
Xe  of  hir  swannes,  ne  of  hir  heronsewes. 
Eek  in  that  lond,  as  tellen  knightes  olde, 
Ther  is  som  mete  that  is  ful  deyntee  holde. 


T.  I0385-IO469. 


P.    ZH  ^quteree  Zak. 


629 


That  in  this  lond  men  recche  of  it  but 

smal ;  71 

Ther  nis  no  man  that  may  reporten  al. 
I  wol  uat  tarien  yow,  for  it  is  pryme, 
And  for  it  is  no  fri\it  but  los  of  tyme  ; 
Un-to  my  firste  I  wol  have  my  recours.  75 
And  so  bifel  that,  after  the  thridde  cours, 
Wliylthat  this  king  sit  thus  in  his  nobleye, 
Herkninge  his    minstralles    hir    thinges 

pleye  (70) 

Biforn  him  at  the  bord  deliciously, 
In  at  the  halle-dore  al  sodeyuly  80 

Ther  cam  a  knight  up-on  a  stede  of  bras, 
And  in  his  hand  a  brood  mirour  of  glas. 
Upon   his  thombe   he  hadde   of  gold  a 

ring, 
And  by  his  syde  a  naked  swerd  hanging  ; 
And  up  he  rydeth  to  the  heighe  bord.    85 
In  al  the  halle  ne  was  ther  spoke  a  word 
For  merveille  of  this  knight ;  him  to  bi- 

holde 
Ful  bisily  ther  wayten  yonge  and  olde. 
This  strange  knight,  that   cam    thus 

sodeyuly,  (81) 

Al  armed  save  his  heed  ful  richely,        90 
Salueth  king  and  queen,  and  lordes  alle, 
By  ordre,  as  they  seten  in  the  halle, 
With  so  heigh  reverence  and  obeisaunce 
As  wel  in  speche  as  in  contenaunce. 
That  Gawain,  with  his  olde  cnrteisye,    95 
Though  he  were  come  ageyn  out  of  Fairye, 
Xe  coude  him  nat  amende  with  a  word. 
And  after  this,  biforn  the  heighe  bord,  (90) 
He  with  a  manly  voys  seith  his  message. 
After  the  fornae  used  in  his  langage,     loo 
With-outen  vyce  of  sillable  or  of  lettre  ; 
And,  for  his  tale  sholde  seme  the  bettre. 
Accordant  to  his  wordes  was  his  chere, 
As  techeth  art.  of  speche  hem  that  it 

lere; 
Al-be-it  that  I  can  nat  soune  his  style,  105 
Ne  can  nat  climben  over  so  heigh  a  style, 
Yet  seye  I  this,  as  to  commune  entente, 
Thus  muche  amounteth  al  that  ever  he 

mente,  (luo) 

If  it  so  be  that  I  have  it  in  minde. 

He  seyde,  '  the  king  of  Arable  and  of 

Inde,  1 10 

Mj-  lige  lord,  on  this  solempne  day 
SaUieth  yow  as  he  best  can  and  may, 
And  sendeth  yow,  in  honour  of  your  feste. 


By  me,  that  am  al  redy  at  your  heste. 
This  stede  of  bras,  that  esily  and  wel    1 15 
Can,  in  the  space  of  o  day  naturel, 
This  is  to  seyn,  in  foure  and  twenty  houres, 
WTier-so  yow  list,  in   droghte    or   elles 

shoures,  (no) 

Beren  your  body  in-to  every  place 
To  which  yovir  herte  wilneth  for  to  pace 
With-outen  wem  of  j'ow,  thiirgh  foul  or 

fair ;  i..i 

Or,  if  yow  list  to  fleen  as  hye  in  the  air 
As  doth  an  egle,  whan  him  list  to  sore, 
This  same  stede  shal  here  yow  ever-more 
With-outen   harm,   til   ye  be  ther  yow 

leste,  125 

Though  that  ye  slepen  on  his  bak  or  reste  ; 
And  turne  ayeyn,  with  wrything  of  a  pin. 
He  that  it  wroghte  coude  ful  many  a  gin  ; 
He  waj-ted  many  a  constellacioun  (121) 
Er  he  had  doon  this  operacioun  ;  130 

And  knew  ful  many  a  seel  and  many 

a  bond. 
Tliis  mirour  eek,  that  I  have  in  myn 

hond. 
Hath  swich  a  might,  that  men  may  in  it 

see 
Whan  ther  shal  fallen  any  adversitee 
Un-to  your  regne  or  to  yoivr-self  also ;    135 
And  openly  who  is  yoxvc  freend  or  foo. 
And  over  al  this,  if  any  lady  bright 
Hath  set  hir  herte  on  any  maner  wight. 
If  he  be  fals,  she  shal  his  treson  see,     (131) 
His  newe  love  and  al  his  subtiltee         140 
So  openly,  that  ther  shal  no-thing  hyde. 
Wherfor,  ageyn  this  lusty  someres  tyde. 
This  miroiu-  and  this  ring,  that  ye  may  see, 
He  hath  sent  to  my  lady  Canacee, 
Yoiir  exceUente  doghter  that  is  here.    145 

The  vertu  of  the  i"ing,  if  ye  wol  here. 
Is  this  ;  that,  if  hir  lust  it  for  to  were  (139) 
Up-on  hir  thombe,  or  in  hir  purs  it  here, 
Ther  is  no  foul  that  fleeth  under  the 

hevene 
That  she  ne  shal  wel  understonde  his 

stevene,  150 

And  knowe  his  mening  openly  and  plejni. 
And  auswere  him  in  his  langage  agejoi. 
And  every  gras  that  groweth  up-on  rote 
She  shal  eek  Itnowe,  and  whom  it  wul  do 

bote, 
Al  be  his  woundes  never  so  depe  and  wyde. 


630 


ZU  Canfetrfiur^  Zake. 


[t.  1047C-I0550 


This  naked  swerd,  that  hangeth  by  mj' 

syde,  i5(> 

Swich  vertu  hath,  that  what  man  so  yc 

smj-te, 
Thurgh-iiut  his  armuro  it  wol  kerve  and 

byte,  (150; 

Were  it  as  thikke  as  is  a  branched  cwk  ; 
And  what  man  that  is  wounded  with  the 

strook  if)0 

Shal  never  be  hool  til  that  yow  list,  of 

grace, 
To  stroke  him  with  the  platte  in  thilke 

jilace 
Ther  he  is  hurt :  this  is  as  muche  to  seyn 
Ye  mote  with  the  platte  swerd  ageyn 
Stroke  him  in  the  wounde,  and  it  wol 

close ;  i<>5 

This  is  a  verray  sooth,  with-outen  glosc. 
It  t'ailleth  nat  whyl  it  is  in  your  lioM.' 
And  whan  this  knight  hath  thus  his 

tale  told,  iii<o) 

He  rydeth  out  of  halle,  and  doun  he  lighte. 
His  stede,   which   that  shoon  as  sonno 

briglitc,  i;o 

Stant  in  the  court,  as  stille  as  any  stoon. 
This  knight  is  to  his  chiunbre  lad  anon, 
And  is  unarmed  and  to  mete  y-set. 

The  presents  been  ful  royally  y-fet, 
Tliis  is  to  seyn,  the  swerd  and  the  mirour. 
And  born  anon  in-to  the  heighe  tour  176 
AVith  ccrteine  officers  ordeyned  therfore  ; 
And  un-to  Canacee  this  ring  was  bore  O70) 
Solcmpnely,  ther  she  sit  at  the  table. 
But  sikerly,  with-outen  any  fable,  180 
The  hors  of  bras,  that  may  nat  be  remewed. 
It  stant  as  it  were  to  the  ground  y-glewed. 
Ther  may  no  man  out  of  the  place  it  dryve 
For  noon  engyn  of  windas  or  jwlyve  ;  184 
And  cause  why,  for  they  can  nat  thecrait. 
And  therefore  in  the  place  they  han  it 

laft 
Til  that  the  knight  hath  taught  hem  the 

manere 
To  voyden  him,  as  ye  shal  after  here.  ( 180) 
Greet  was  the  prees,  that  swarmeth  to 

and  fro,  189 

To  gauren  on  this  hors  that  stondeth  so ; 
For  it  so  heigh  was,  and  so  brood  and  long. 
So  wel  proporcioned  for  to  ben  strong, 
Right  as  it  were  a  stede  of  Lumbardye  ; 
Ther-with  so  horsly,  and  so  quik  of  ye 


'   As  it  a  geutil  Poileys  courser  wore.        195 
For  certes,  fro  his  tayl  un-to  his  ere, 
Nature  ne  art  ne  coude  him  nat  amende 
j  In  no  degree,  as  al  the  peplo  wende.  (190) 
But  evermore  hir  mosto  wonder  was. 
How   that    it  coude  goon,   and   was    »>f 

bras ;  200 

It  was  of  Fairye,  as  the  peple  semed. 
Diverse  folk  diversely  they  demed  ; 
As  many  hetles,  as  many  wittes  ther  been. 
They  murmureilen  as  dooth  a  swarm  of 

been, 
And  macien  skiles  alter  hir  fantasyes,    205 
Rehersingo  of  thise  oldo  poetryes, 
-Ajid  seyden,  it  was  lyk  the  Pegasec, 
The  hors  that  hadde  winges  for  to  flee ;  {200) 
Or  elles  it  was  the  Grekes  hors  Synon, 
That  broght«  Troye  to  destruccion,        jio 
As  men  may  in  thise  olde  gestes  rede. 
'  Myu  lierte,'  quod  oon,  'is  evermore  in 

drede  ; 
I  trowe  som  men  of  armes  been  ther-iune, 
That  shapen  hem  this  citee  for  to  winne. 
It  were  right  g<x)d  that  al  swich  thing 

were  knowe.'  ^15 

Another  rowned  to  his  felawo  lowe, 
And  seyde,  '  he  lyeth,  it  is  rather  lyk 
An  apparence  y-maad  by  som  magyk,  (jig) 
As  jogelours  pleyen  at  thiso  festes  grete.' 
Of  sondry  doutes   thus  they  jangle  and 

trete,  220 

As  lewed  peple  demeth  comunly 
Of  t hinges  that  ben  maad  more  snbtilly 
Than  they  can  in  her  lewednes  compre- 

hende ; 
They  demen  gladly  to  the  badder  ende. 
And  somme  of  hem  wondred  on  the 

mirour,  225 

That  bom  was  up  in-to  the  maister-tour. 
How  men  mighte  in  it  swiche  thinges  see. 
Another  answerde,  and  seyde  it  mighte 

wel  be  {220) 

Naturelly,  by  composicioons 
Of  angles  and  of  slye  reflexiouns,  230 

And  seyden,  that  in  Rome  was  swich  oon. 
They  speken  of  Alocen  and  Vitulou, 
.\nd  Aristotle,  that  writen  in  hir  lyves 
Of  quejTite  mirours  and  of  prospectyves, 
As  knowen  they  that  han  hir  bokes  herd. 
And  othere  lolk  hanwondred  on   the 

swerd  236 


10551-1063^.] 


p.    ZU  ^qutme  Zak, 


63) 


That woldepercenthtirgh-outevery-thmg ;  | 
And  fille  in  speche  of  Thelophusthe  king,   I 
And  of  Achilles  with  his  queynte  spere, 
For  he  coude  with  it  bothe  hele  and  dere, 
Right  in  swich  Avyse  as  men  may  with  tlie 

swerd  (233)  241 

Of  which  right  now  ye  han  your-selven 

herd. 
They  speken  of  sondry  harding  of  metal, 
And  speke  of  medicynes  ther-with-al, 
And  how,  and  whanne,  it  sholde  y-harded 

be ;  24s 

Which  is  nnknowe  algates  unto  me. 

The  speke  they  of  Canacees  ring. 
And  seyden   alle,  that  swich   a  wonder 

thing  (240) 

Of  craft  of  ringes  herde  they  never  non, 
Save  that  he,  Moyses,  and  king  Salomon 
Hadde  a  name  of  kenning  in  swich  art.  251 
Tlius  seyn  the   peple,   and  drawen   hem 

apart. 
But  nathelees,  somme  seyden  that  it  was 
Wonder  to  maken  of  fern-asshen  glas. 
And  yet  nis  glas  nat  lyk  asshen  of  fern  ; 
But  for  they  hiin  y-knowcn  it  so  fern,  256 
Thertore  cesseth  her  jangling  and   her 

wonder. 
As    sore  womlren    somme    on    cause   of 

thonder,  (250) 

On  ebbe,  on  flood,  on  gossomer,  and  on 

mist,  259 

And  alle  thing,  til  that  the  cause  is  wist. 
Tlius  jangle  they  an<l  demen  and  devyse, 
Til  that  the  king  gan  i'ro  the  bord  aryse. 
Phebus  hath  laft  the  angle  meridional. 
And  yet  ascending  was  the  beest  royal, 
The  gentil  Leon,  with  his  Aldiran,  265 
^Vhan  that  this  Tartre  king,  this  Cam- 

binskan,  (258) 

Roos  fro  his  bord,  ther  that  he  sat  ful  hye. 
Tofom  him  gooth  the  loude  minstralcye. 
Til  he  cam  to  his  chambre  of  parements, 
Ther  as  theysownen  diverse  instruments, 
That  it  is  lyk  an  heven  for  to  here.  271 
Now  dauncen  lusty  Venus  children  dere. 
For  in  the  Fish  hir  lady  sat  ful  hye, 
,^d  loketh  on  hem  with  a  freendly  ye. 

This  noble  Iting  is  set  up  in  his  trone.  275 
This  strange  knight  is  let  to  him  ful  sone. 
And  on  the  daunce  he  gooth  with  Canacee. 
Heer  is  the  revel  and  the  jolitee  (270) 


That  is  nat  able  a  dul  man  to  devyse.  279 
Hemoste  han  knowen  love  and  his  servyse, 
And   been   a  festlich   man    as  fresh    as 

May, 
That  sholde  yow  devysen  swich  array. 
Who   coude   telle    yow    the    forme   of 

daunces. 
So  uncouthe  and  so  fresshe  contenaunces, 
Swich  subtil  loking  and  dissimiilinges  2S5 
For  drede  of jalouse  mennes  apercey^dnges '? 
No  man  but  Launcelot,  and  he  is  deed. 
Therefor  I  passe  of  al  this  lustiheed  ;  (280) 
I  seye  na^more,  but  in  this  jolynesse 
I  lete  hem,  til  men  to  the  soper  dresse.  290 

The  sty\vard  bit  the  spyces  for  to  hye, 
And  eek  the  wyn,  in  al  this  melodye. 
The  tisshers  and  the  squyers  ben  y-goon  ; 
The  spyces  and  the  wyn  is  come  anoon. 
They  ete  and  drinke ;  and  whan  this  hadde 

an  ende,  295 

Un-to   the  temple,    as   reson    was,    they 

wende. 

The  sei-vice  doon,  they  soupen  al  by  day. 

What  nedeth  yow  reheicen  hir  array ?(2<)<>) 

Ech  man  wot  wel,  that  at  a  kinges  feesto 

Hath  plentee,  to  the  moste  and  to  the 

leeste,  vx) 

And    deyntees    mo    tlian    been    in     my 

knowing. 
At-alter  soper  gooth  this  noble  king 
To  seen  this  horsof  bras,  with  al  the  route 
Of  lordes  and  of  ladyes  him  about  e. 

Swich  wondring  was  ther  on  this  hors 

of  bras  305 

That,  sin  the  grete  sege  of  Troye  was, 
Ther-as  men  wondreden  on  an  hors  also, 
Ne  was  ther  swich  a  wondring  as  was  tlio. 
But fynally  the  king  axeth  this  kn ight  (301) 
The  vertu  of  this  courser  and  the  might. 
And  preyede  him  to  telle  his  governaunce. 
This  hors  anoon  bigan  to  trippe  and 

daunce,  312 

Whan  that  this  knight  leyde  hand  up-on 

his  reyne, 
And  seyde,  '  sir,  ther  is  na-more  to  seyne. 
But,  whan  yow  list  to  ryden  any-where,3i5 
Ye  moten  trille  a  jjin,  stant  in  his  ere, 
Wliich  I  shall  telle  yow  bitwLx  vs  two.  (309) 
Ye  mote  nemj^ne  laim  to  what  place  also 
Or  to  what  contreethat  yow  list  to  ryde.319 
And  whan  ye  come  ther  as  yow  list  abyde, 


632 


^^e  Canterfiutp  take.  [t.  10635-10712. 


Biclcle  him  descende,  and  trille  another  pin, 
For  ther-in  l>-tli  the  eftuct  of  al  the  gin, 
And  he  wol  doun  descende  and  doon  your 

wille  ; 
And  in  that  place  he  wol  abyde  stille, 
Though  al  the  world  the  contrarie  hadde 

y-swore  ;  ?^5 

He  shal   nat  thennes  ben  y-drawe    n'y- 

bore. 
Or.  if  yow  liste  bidde  him  thennes  goon, 
Trille  this  pin,  and  lie  wol  vanishe  anoon 
Out  of  the  sighte  of  every  manerwight,(32i) 
And  come  agaj-u,  be  it  by  day  or  night,  330 
Wlien  that  yow  list  to  clepen  him  ageyn 
In  swich  a  gjse  as  I  shal  to  yow  seyn 
Bitwise  yow  and  me,  and  that  ful  sone. 
Byde  whan  yow  list,  ther  is  na-more  to 

done.' 
Enformed  whan  the  king  was  of  that 

knight,  335 

And  hath  concejn'ed  in  his  wit  aright 
The  maner  and  the  forme  of  al  this  thing. 
Thus  glad  and  blj'the,  this  noble  doughty    , 

king  (330) 

Repeireth  to  his  revel  as  biforu. 
The  brydel  is  un-to  the  tour  y-born,      340 
And  kept  among   his   jewels  leve    and 

dere. 
Thehors  vanisshed,  I  noot  in  what  manere. 
Out  of  hir  sighte  ;  ye  gete  na-more  of  me. 
But  thus  I  lete  in  lust  and  lolitee 
This  Cambynskan  his  lordes  festeyinge,345 
Til  wel  ny  the  day  bigan  to  springe. 
Explicit  prima  pars. 
Sequitur  pars  seciinda. 
The  norice  of  digestioun,  the  slepe, 
Gan  on  hem  winke,  and  Imd  hem  taken 

kepe,  (34") 

That  muchel  drink  and  labour  wolde  han 

reste ; 
And  with  a  galping  mouth  hem  alle  he 

keste,  350 

And  seyde,  '  it  was  tyme  to  lye  adoun, 
For  blood  was  in  his  dominacioun  ; 
Cherissheth  blood,  natures  freend,'  quod 

he. 
They  thanken  him  galpinge,  by  two,  by 

three, 
And  every  wight  gan  drawe  him  to  his 

reste,  355 


As  slepe  hem  bad ;  they  toke  it  for  the 

beste. 
Hir  dremes  shul  nat  been  y-told  for  me  ; 
Fill  were  hir  hedes  of  fumositee,  (350) 

That  causeth  dreem,  of  which  ther  nis  no 

charge.  359 

They  slepen  til  that  it  was  pryme  large, 
The  moste  part,  but  it  were  Canacee  ; 
She  was  ful  mesurable,  as  wommen  be. 
For  of  hir  fader  hadde  she  take  leve 
To  gon  to  reste,  sone  after  it  was  eve  ; 
Hir  liste  nat  appalled  for  to  be,  365 

Nor  on  the  morwe  unfestlich  for  to  see  ; 
And  slepte  hir  firste  sleep,  and  thanne 

awook.  (359) 

For  swich  a  joye  she  in  hir  herte  took 
Both  of  hir  queynte  ring  and  hir  mirour, 
That  twenty  tyme  she  changed  hir  colour  ; 
And  in  hir  slepe,  right  for  impressioun  371 
Of  hir  mirour,  she  hadde  a  visioun. 
Wlierfore,  er  that  the  Sonne  gan  up  glyde, 
She  cleped  on  hir  maistresse  hir  bisyde. 
And  sej-de,  that  hir  liste  for  to  rj-se.       375 
Thise  olde  wommen  that  been  gladly 

wTse, 
As  is  hir  maistresse,  answerde  hir  anoon, 
And    seyde,    '  madame,   whider  wil    ye 

goon  (370) 

Thus  erly  ?  for  the  folk  ben  alle  on  reste.' 

'  I  wol,'  quod  she,  '  arj-se,  for  me  leste  380 

No  lenger  for  to  slepe,  and  wallve  aboute.' 

Hir  maistresse  clepeth  wommen  a  gret 

route. 
And  lip  they  rysen,  wel  a  ten  or  twelve  ; 
Up  ryseth  fresshe  Canacee  hir-selve. 
As  rody  and  bright  as  dooth  the  yonge 

Sonne,  385 

That  in  the  Ram  is  four  degrees  up-ronne  ; 
Noon  hyer  was  he,  whan  she  redy  was ; 
And  forth  she  walketh  esily  a  pas,      (380) 
Arrayed  after  the  lusty  seson  sote         389 
Lightly,  for  to  plej-e  and  walke  on  fote  ; 
Nat  but  with  fyve  or  si.x  of  hir  mcynee  ; 
And  in  a  trench,  forth  in  the  park,  goth 

she. 
The  vapour,  which  that  fro  the  erthe  glood. 
Made  the  sonne  to  seme  rody  and  brood  ; 
But  nathelees,  it  was  so  fair  a  sighte  395 
That  it  made  alle  hir  hertes  for  to  lighte, 
^Vhat  for  the  seson  and  the  morweninge. 
And  for  the  foules  that  she  herde  singe  ; 


T.   1071  3-10796.  J 


F.    ZU  ^quiere©  Zak. 


633 


r;;^^^;;h^^;^;^e  wiste  what  they  mente  ]  And  to  the  tree  ^^^^  f^^}]^^^^^^^ 
Right  byhir  song,  and  knewal  hir  entente.      And  on  this  taucon  loketh  pitoxTslj ,      440 


The  knotte,  why  that  every  tale  is  told, 
If  it  be  taried  til  that  lust  he  cold  | 

Of  hem  that  han  it  after  herkned  yore,  | 
The  savour  passeth  ever  lenger  the  more,  j 
For  fulsomnesse  of  his  prolixitee.  405 

And  by  the  same  reson  thiuketh  me, 
I  sholde  to  the  knotte  condescende, 
And  maken    of    hir  walking    sone    an 
eude.  (+"") 

Amidde  a  tree  fordrye,  as  whyt  as  chalk, 
As  Canacee  was  pleying  in  hir  walk,     410 
Ther  sat  a  faucon  over  hir  heed  ful  hye, 
Tliat  with  a  pitous  voys  so  gan  to  crye 
That  all  the  wode  resouned  of  hir  cry. 
Y-beten  hath  she  hir-self  so  pitously     414 
With  bothe  hir  winges,  til  the  rede  blood 
Ran  endelong  the  tree  ther-as  she  stood. 
And  ever  in    oon    she  cryde   alwey   and 

shrighte. 
And    with    hir    beek    hir-selven   so   she 
prighte,  (410) 

Tliat  ther  nis  tygre,    ne   noon    so 


cruel 


That  dwelleth  either  in  wode  or  in  foreste 

That  nolde  han    wept,  if  that  he  w.'pe 

coude,  421 

For  sorwe  of  hir,  she  shrighte  alwey  so 

loude. 
For  ther  nas  never  yet  no  man  on  ly^'e — 
If  that  I  coude  a  faucon  wel  discrjrve— 
That  herde  of  swich  another  of  fairnesse, 
As  wel  of  plumage  as  of  gentillesse  426 
Of  shap,  and  al  that  mighte  y-rekened  be. 
A  faucon  peregryn  than  semed  she  (420) 
Of  fremde  land  ;   and  evermore,  as  she 

stood, 
She  swowneth  now  and  now  for  lakke  of 
blood,  430 

Til  wel  neigh  is  she  fallen  fro  the  tree. 

This  faire  kinges  doghter,  Canacee, 
That  on  hir  finger  bar  the  queynte  ring, 
Thurgh  which  she  understood  wel  every 

thing 
That  any  foiU  may  in  his  ledene  seyn,  435 
And   coude  answere  liim  in  his  ledene 

ageyn. 
Hath  understonde  what  this  faucon  seyde. 
And  wel  neigh  for  the  rewthe  almost  she 
deyde.  <4^ol 


And  heeld  hir  lappe  abrood,  for  wel  she 

wiste 
The  faucon  moste  fallen  fro  the  twiste. 
When  that  it  swowned  next,  for  lakke  of 

blood. 
A  longe  while  to  wayten  hir  she  stood 
Till  atte  laste  she  spak  in  this  manere  445 
Un-to  the  hauk,  as  ye  shul  after  here. 

'  What  is  the  cause,  if  it  be  for  to  telle, 
That  ye  be  in  this  fnrial  pyne  of  helle  ?' 
Quod  Canacee  un-to  this  havUi  above.  (441) 
'  Is  til  is  for  sorwe  of  deeth  or  los  of  love? 
For,  as  I  trowe,  thise  ben  causes  two    451 
That  causen  moost  a  gentil  lierte  wo  ; 
Of  other  harm  it  nedeth  nat  to  speke. 
For  ye  your-self  upon  you  r-self  yow  wreke, 
Which  proveth  wel,  that  either  love  or 
drede  4.S5 

Mot  been  encheson  of  your  cruel  dede. 
Sin  that  I  see  non  other  wight  yow  chace. 
For  love  of  god,  as  dooth  your-selven  grace 
Or  what  may  ben  your  help  ;  for  west  nor 
eest  (451) 

Ne  sey  I  never  er  now  no  brid  ne  beest 
That  ferde  with  him-self  so  pitously.    461 
Ye  slee  nie  with  your  sorwe,  verraily  ; 
I  have  of  yow  so  gret  compassioun. 
For  goddes  love,  com  fro  the  tree  adoun ; 
And,  as  I  am  a  kinges  doghter  trewe,  463 
If  that  I  verraily  the  cause  knewe 
Of  your  disese,  if  it  lay  in  my  might, 
I  wolde  amende  it,  er  that  it  were  night, 
As  wisly  lielpe  me  gret  god  of  kinde  !  (461) 
And  herbes  shal  I  right  y-nowe  y-finde 
To  hele  with  your  hurtes  hastily.'  471 

Tho  shrighte  this  faucon  more  pitously 
Than  ever  she  dide,  and  fil  to  grounde 

anoon, 
And  lyth  aswowne,  deed,  and  lyk  a  stoon, 
Til  Canacee  hath  in  hir  lappe  hir  take  475 
Un-to  the  tyme  she  gan  of  swough  awake. 
And,  after  that  she  of  hir  swough  gan 

breyde. 
Eight  in   hir    haukes    ledene  thus    she 
seyde  : —  "^4  70) 

'  That  pitee  renneth  sone  in  gentil  lierte, 
Feling  his  similitude  in  peynessmerte,  480 
Is  preved  al-day,  as  men  may  it  see. 
As  wel  by  werk  as  by  auctoritee  ; 


^34 


Zh  tanhviuv^  Zake. 


[t.  10797-10880. 


For  gentil  herte  kytheth  gentillesse. 
I  see  wel,  that  ye  han  of  my  distresse 
Compassioiin,  my  faire  Canacee,  485 

Of  verray  wommanly  benignitee 
That  nature  in  your  principles  hath  set. 
Biit  for  non  hope  for  to  fare  the  l)et.  (48*1) 
But  for  to  obeje  un-to  your  herto  free, 
And  for  to  makeu  other  he  -war  by  me, 
As  by  the  whelp  chasteJ  is  the  leoun,  491 
Right  for  that  cause  and  that  conclusioun, 
"Whyl  that  I  have  a  leyseraud  a  space, 
M.m  harm  I  wol  confessen,  er  I  pace.' 
Ami  ever,  whyl  that  oon  hirsorwe  tolde, 
That  other  weep,  as  she  to  water  wolde. 
Til  that  the  faucon  bad  hir  to  be  stille ; 
And,  with  a  syk,  right  thus  she  senile  hir 

wiUe.  (490)  498 

'  Ther   I  was  bred  (alias  !   that  harde 

day !) 
And  fostred  in  a  roche  of  marbul  gray 
So  tendrely,  that  nothing  eyled  me,      501 
I  niste  nat  what  was  adversitee. 
Til  I  coude  flee  fill  hye  under  the  sky. 
Tho  dwclte  a  tercelet  me  faste  by. 
That  semed  welle  of  alle  gentillesse  ;    505 
Al  were  he  ful  of  treson  and  falsnesse, 
It  was  so  wrapped  under  humble  chere, 
And  under  hewe  of  troathe    in    swich 

manere,  (500) 

Under  plesance,  and  under  bisy  peyne. 
That  no  wight  coude  han  wend  he  coude 

feyne,  510 

So  depe  in  greyn  he  dyed  his  coloures. 
Right  as  a  serpent  hit  him  under  floiires 
Til  he  may  seen  his  tyme  for  to  byte. 
Right  so  this  god  of  love,  this  ypocr,\-te. 
Doth  so  his  cerimonies  and  obeisaunces. 
And  kepeth  in  semblant  alle  his  obser- 
vances 516 
That  sowneth  in-to  gentillesse  of  love. 
As  in  a  toumbe  is  al  the  faire  above,  (510) 
And  under  is  the  corps,  swich  as  ye  woot, 
Swich  was  this  ypocryte,  l>othe  cold  and 

hoot,  5io 

And  in  this  wyse  he  served  his  entente. 
That  (save  the  feend)  non  wiste  what  he 

mente. 
Til  he  so  longe  had  wopen  and    com- 

pleyned, 
And  many  a  yeer  his  service  to  me  feyned. 
Til  that  myn  herte,  to  pitous  and  to  nyce, 


I  Al  innocent  of  his  crouned  malice,       526 
For-fered  of  his  deeth,  as  thoughte  me, 
Vpon  his  othes  and  his  seuretee,         (520) 
Graunted  him  love,  on  this  condicioun. 
That  evermore  myn  honour  and  renoun 
Were  saved,  bothe  privee  and  apert ;    531 
This  is  to  seyn,  that,  after  his  desert, 
I  yaf  him  al  myn    herte   and    al    my 

thoght— 
God  woot  and  he,  that  otherwyse  noght — 
And  took  his  herte  in  chaunge  for  myn 

for  ay.  535 

But  sooth  is  seyd,  gon  sithen  many  a  day, 
"  A  trew  wight  and  a  theef  thonken  nat 

oon." 
And,  whan  he  saugh   the   thing  so   fer 

y-goon,  (530) 

That  I  had  gratmted  him  fully  my  love. 
In  swich  a  gyse  as  I  have  seyd  above,  540 
And  yeven  him  my  trewe  herto,  as  free 
As  he  swoor  he  his  herte  yaf  to  me  ; 
Anon  this  tygre,  ful  of  doublenesse, 
Fil  on  his  knees  with  so  devout  hum- 

blesse. 
With  so  heigh  reverence,  and,  as  by  his 

chere,  545 

So  lyk  a  gentil  lovere  of  manere. 
So  ravisshed,  as  it  semed,  for  the  joye. 
That  never  Jason,  ne  Parj's  of  Troye,  (540) 
.Tason  ?  certes,  ne  non  other  man. 
Sin  Lameth  was,  that  aldorfirst  liigan  550 
To  loven  two,  as  writen  Iblk  biforn, 
Ne  never,  sin  the  firste  man  was  born, 
Ne  coude  man,  by  twenty  thousand  part, 
Coiintrefete  the  sophimes  of  his  art ; 
Ne  were  worthy  unbokele  his  galoche,  555 
Ther  douWenesse  or  feyning  sholde  ap- 

proche, 
Ne  so  coude  thanke  a  wight  as  he  did  me  ! 
His  naaner  was  an  lieven  for  to  see     (550) 
Til  any  womman,   were    she    never   so 

wys; 
So  peynted  he  and  kembde  at  point-devys 
As  wel  his  wordes  as  his  contenaunce.  561 
And  I  so  lovede  him  for  his  obeisaunce, 
And  for  the  troiithe  I  demed  in  his  herte. 
That,   if  so  were  that    any  thing    him 

smerte, 
Al  were  it  never  so  lyte,  and  I  it  wiste,  565 
Me  thoughte,   I  felte  deeth  myn  herte 

twiste. 


T.   10881-10956.] 


F.    ZU  ^C|utere0  Zak. 


635 


And   shortly,   so  ferfortli   this  thing  is 

went,  (559) 

That  my  wil  was  his  willes  instmment ; 
Tliis  is  to  seyn,  nay  wil  obeyed  his  wil 
In  alle  thing,  as  fer  as  reson  fil,  570 

Keping  the  bonndes  of  my  worship  ever. 
Ne  never  hadde  I  thing  so  leef,  ne  lever. 
As  him,  god  woot  !  ne  never  shal  na-mo. 
This  lasteth  lenger  than  a  yeer  or  two. 
That  I  supposed  of  him  noght  btit  good. 
But  fynally,  thus  atte  laste  it  stood,      576 
That  fortune  wolde  that  he  nioste  twinne 
Out  of  that  place  which  that  I  was  inne. 
■\^lier  me  was  wo,  that  is  no  questioun  ; 
I  can  nat  make  of  it  discripcioun  ;        580 
For  o  thing  dar  I  tellen  boldely,  (573) 

I  knowe  what  is  the  pejTie  of  deth  ther-by ; 
Swich  harm   I   felte   for  he   ne  mighte 

bileve. 
So  on  a  day  of  me  he  took  his  leve. 
So  sorwefully  eek,  that  I  wende  verraily 
That  he  had  felt  as  muche  harm  as  I,  586 
■Wlian  that  I  herde  him  speke,  and  saugli 

his  hewe.  (579) 

But  nathelees,  I  thoughte  he  was  so  trewe, 
And  eek  that  he  repaire  sholde  ageyn 
With-iune  a  litel  wh  j-le,  sooth  to  seyn  ;  590 
And  reson  wolde  eek  that  he  moste  go 
For  his  honour,  as  ofte  it  happeth  so, 
Tliat  I  made  vertu  of  necessitee, 
And  took  it  wel,  sin  that  it  moste  be. 
As   I  best   mighte,  I  hidde  fro  him  my 

sorwe,  595 

And  took  him  by  the  bond,  seint  John  to 

borwe, 
And  seyde  him  thus  :  "  lo,  I  am  youres  al ; 
Beth  swich  as  I  to  yow  have  been,  and 

shal."  (590) 

\\Tiat  he  answerde,  it  nedeth  noght  re- 

herce, 
Who  can  sey  bet  than  he,   who  can  do 

werse  ?  600 

"V^Hian  he  hath  al  wel  seyd,  thanne  hath 

he  doon. 
"Therfor  bihoveth  him  a  ful  long  spoon 
That  shal  ete  with  a  feend,"  thus  herde 

I  seye. 
So  atte  laste  he  moste  forth  his  weye, 
And  forth  he  fleeth,  til  he  cam  ther  him 

leste.  605 

Whan  it  cam  him  to  piarpos  for  to  reste, 


I  trowe  he  hadde  thilke  text  in  miude. 
Tliat  "  alle  tiling,  repeiring  to  his  kinde. 
Gladeth  him-self '' ;  thus  seyu  men,  as  I 

gesse ;  (601) 

Men  loven  of  propre   kinde   newfangel- 

nesse,  610 

As  briddes  doon  that  men  in  cages  fede. 
For  though  thou  night  and  day  take  of 

hem  hede, 
And  strawe  hir  cage  faire  and  softe  as 

silk. 
And  yeve  hem  sugre,  hony,  breed  and 

milk, 
Yet  right  anon,  as  that  his  dore  is  uppe, 
He  with  his  feet  wol  spume  adoun  his 

cuppe,  616 

And  to  the  wode  he  wol  and  wormes  ete  ; 
So  newefangel  been  they  of  hir  mete,  (610) 
And  loven  novelryes  of  propre  kinde  ; 
No  gentiUesse  of   blood    [ne]  may  hem 

biude.  6.;o 

So  ferde  this  tercelet,  alias  the  day  ! 
Though  he  were  gentil  born,  and  fresh 

and  gay. 
And  goodly  for  to  seen,  and  humble  and 

free. 
He  saugh  up-on  a  tyme  a  kyte  flee. 
And  sodejnily  he  loved  this  kj-te  so,      625 
That  al  his  love  is  clene  fro  me  ago, 
And  hath  his  troiitlie  falsed  in  tliis  wyse ; 
Thus  hath  the  kyte  my  love  in  hir  ser- 

vyse,  (6j()) 

And  I  am  lorn  with-outen  remedye  ! ' 
And  with  that  word  this  faucon  gan  to 

crye,  6^0 

And  swowned  eft  in  Canacees  barme. 
Greet  was  the  sorwe,  for  the  haukes 

harme. 
That  Canacee  and  alle  hir  wommen  made  ; 
They  niste  how  they  mighte  the  faiicon 

glade.  ~-  634 

But  Canacee  horn  bereth  hir  in  hir  lappe. 
And  softely  in  piastres  gan  hir  wrappe, 
Ther  as  she  with  hir  beek  had  hurt  hir- 

selve.  (629) 

Now  can  nat  Canacee  but  herbes  delve 
Out  of  the   grounde,   and    make   salves 

uewe 
Of  herbes  precious,  and  fyne  of  hewe,  640 
To  helen  with  this  hauk  ;  fro  day  to  night 
She  dooth  hir  bisinesse  and  al  hir  might. 


636 


ZU  Ccinkv&ut^  Z&ke. 


[T. 


10957- 


And  by  hir  beddes  lieed  she  made  a  mewe, 

And  covered  it  with  vehiettes  blewe, 

In  signe  of  trouthe  that  is  in  wommen 

sene.  645 

And  al  with-onte,  the  mewe  is  peynted 

grene, 
In  which  were  peynted  alle  thise  false 

foules,  (639) 

As  beth  thise  tidifs,  tercelets,  and  oules, 
Right  for  despyt  were  peynted  hem  bisyde, 
And  pyes,  on  hem  for  to  crj-e  and  chyde. 
Thus  lete  I  Canacee  hir  hauk  keping ; 
I  wol  na-more  as  now  speke  of  hir  ring, 
Til  it  come  eft  to  purpos  for  to  seyn 
How  that  this  faucon  gat  liir  love  ageyn 
Repentant,  as  the  storie  telleth  ufi,        655 
By  mediacioun  of  Cambalus, 
The  kinges  sone,  of  whiche  I  yow  tolde. 
Biit  hennes-forth  I  wol  my  proces  holde 
To  speke  of  aventures  and  of  batailles. 
That  never  yet  was  herd  so  greto  mer- 

vailles.  (652)  660 

First  wol  I  telle  yow  of  Cambinskan, 
That  in  his  tyme  many  a  citee  wan  ; 
And  after  wol  I  speke  of  ,\]garsj^'. 
How  that  he  wan  Theo<lora  to  his  wyf. 
For  whom  ful  ofte  in  greet  peril  he  was, 
Ne  hadde  he  ben  holpen  by  the  stede  of 

bras ;  660 

And  aftor  wol  I  speke  of  Cambalo, 
That  faught  in  listes  with  the  bretheren 

two  (660) 

For  Cauacee,  erthat  he  mighte  hir  winne. 

And  ther  I  lefte  I  wol  ageyn  liiginne.  670 

Explicit  secunda  pars. 

Incipit  pars  tercia. 

Appollo  whirleth  uji  his  char  so  hye, 

[T.  om. 
Til  that  the   god    Mercurius    hous    the 

slyc—  [T.  om. 

(UnfinLihfi<1.) 

Here  folwen  the  wordes  of  the  Frankelin 

to  the  Squier,  and  the  wordes  of  the 

Host  to  the  Frankelin. 

'  In  feith,   Sqiuer,   thou  hast    thee   wel 

y-qnit, 


And  gentilly  I  preise  wel  thy  wit,' 

Quod  the  Frankeleyn,  '  considering  thy 

youthe,  675 

So  feelingly  thou  spekest,    sir,   I  allow 

the! 
As  to  my  doom,   there  is  non   that   is 

here 
Of  eloquence  that  shal  be  thy  pere, 
If  that  thou  live  ;    god  yeve  thee  good 

chaunce,  679 

And  in  vertu  sende  theo  continiiaunce  ! 
For  of  thy  speche  I  have  greet  deyntee. 
I  have  a  sono,  and,  by  the  Trinitee,      (10) 
I  hadde  lever  than  twenty  pound  worth 

lond, 
Though  it  right  now  were  fallen  in  mjni 

hond. 
He  were  a  man  of  swich  discrecioun    685 
As  that  ye  been  !  fy  on  possessioun 
But-if  a  man  be  vertuous  with-al. 
I  have  my  sone  snibbed,  and  yet  shal, 
For  he  to  vertu  listeth  nat  entende  ; 
But  for  t«)  pleye  at  dees,  and  to  despende, 
And  lese  al  that  ho  hath,  is  his  usage.  691 
And  he  hath  lever  talken  with  a  juigefzo) 
Than  to  comune  with  any  gentil  wight 
Ther  he  mighte  leme  gentillesse  aright.' 
'Straw  for  your  gentillesse,'  quod  our 

host ;  695 

'  What,  frankeleyn  ?  pardee,  sir,  wel  thou 

wost 
That  eche  of  yow  mot  tellen  atte  leste 
A  tale  or  two,  or  breken  his  biheste.' 
'That    knowe    I  wel,    sir,'   quod    the 

frankeleyn ; 
'  I  prey  yow,  haveth  me  nat  in  desdeyn 
Though  to  this  man  I  speke  a  word  or 

two.'  701 

'  Telle  on  thy  tale  with-outen  wordes 

mo.'  (30) 

'  Gladly,  sir  host,'  quod  he,  '  I  wol  obeye 
Un-to    your    wil;    now    herkneth   what 

I  seye. 
I  wol  yow  nat  contrarien  in  no  wyse     705 
As  fer  as  that  my  wittes  wol  suffyse  ; 
I  prey  to  god  that  it  may  plesen  yow, 
Than  woot  I  wel  that  it  is  good  y-now.' 


1064. 


F.    ZH  -^vanMin'e  ^rofogue. 


637 


THE    FRANKLIN'S    PROLOGUE. 


The  Prologe  of  the  Frankeleyns  Tale. 


Thise  olde  gentil  Britons  in  hir  dayes 
Of  diverse  aventures  maden  layes,         710 
Rymeyed  in  hir  firste  Briton  tonge  ; 
Which  layes  with  hir  instruments  they 

songe,  (40) 

Or  elles  redden  hem  for  hir  plesannce  ; 
And  oon  of  hem  have  I  in  remembraunce, 
Which  I  shal  seyn  with  good  wil  as  I 

can.  715 

But,  sires,  by-cause  I  am  a  bixrel  man. 
At  my  biginning  first  I  yow  biseche 
Have  me  excused  of  my  rude  speche  ; 


I  lerned  never  rethoryk  certeyn  ; 

Thing  that  I  speke,  it  moot  be  bare  and 

pleyn.  720 

I  sleep  never  on  the  mount  of  Pernaso, 
Ne  lerned  Marcus  Tullius  Cithero.        (50) 
Colours  ne    knowe   I    none,    with-outen 

drede. 
But  swiche  colours  as  growen  in  the  mede. 
Or  elles  swiclie  as  men  dye  or  poynte.  725 
Colours  of  rethoryk  ben  me  to  queynte  ; 
My  spirit  feleth  noght  of  swich  matere. 
But  if  yow  list,  my  tale  shul  ye  here. 


THE    FRANKELEYNS    TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Frankeleyns  Tale. 


In  Armorik,  that  called  is  Britayne, 
Ther  was  a  knight  that  lovetl  and  dide 

his  payne  730 

To  serve  a  lady  in  his  beste  wyse  ; 
And  many  a  labour,  many  a  greet  empryse 
He  for  his  lady   wroghte,  er   she   were 

wonne. 
For  she  was  oon,  the  faireste  under  sonne, 
And  eek  therto  come  of  so  heigh  kinrede, 
That  wel  unnethes  dorste  this  knight,  for 

drede,  736 

Telle    hir    his   wo,   his  peyne,   and    his 

distresse. 
But  atte  laste,  she,  for  his  worthinesse,  (10) 
And  namely  for  his  meke  oljeysaunce, 
Hath  swich  a  pitee  caught  of  his  pen- 
unce,  740 


That  prively  she  fil  of  his  accord 

To  take  hini  for  hir  housbonde  and  hir 

lord, 
Of  swich  lordshipe  as  men  han  over  hir 

wyves; 
And  for  to  lede  the  more  in   blisse  hir 

ly^'es,  ^  744 

Of  his  free  wil  he  swoor  hir  as  a  knight, 
That  never    in  al  his    lyf  he,    day  ne 

night, 
Ne  sholde  up-on  him  take  no  maistrye 
Agayn  hir  wil,  ne  kythe  hir  jalousye,  (20) 
But  hir  obeye,  and  folwe  hir  wil  in'  al 
As  any  lovere  to  his  lady  shal ;  750 

Save  that  the  name  of  soveraynetee, 
Tliat  wolde  he   have  for  shame  of  his 

degree. 


638 


Zh  CmUvUv^  Zake.  [t. 


1065- 


m- 


She  thanked  him,  and  with  ful  gi-eet 

humblesse 
She  seyde,  '  sii-e,  sith  of  j-our  geutillesse 
Ye  profre  me  to  have  so  large  a  reyne,  755 
Ne  wolde  never  god  bitwixe  us  twejme, 
As  in  my  gilt,  were  outher  werre  or  stryf. 
Sir,  I  wol  be  your  humble  trewe  ■wyf,  (30) 
Have  heer  my  trouthe,  til  that  myn  herte 

breste.' 
Thus  been  they  bothe  in  (juiete  and  in 

reste.  760 

For  o  thing,  sires,  saufly  dar  I  seye, 
That  frendes  everich  other  moot  obeye, 
If'  thej-  wol  longe  holden  companye. 
Love  wol  nat  ben  constreyned  by  mais- 

trye ; 
^^^lan  maistne  comth,  the  god  of  love 

anon  765 

Beteth  hise  winges,  and  farewel !    he  is 

gon  ! 
Love  is  a  thing  as  any  spirit  free  ; 
Wommen  of  kinde  desiren  libertee,      (4") 
And  nat  to  ben  constrej-ned  as  a  thral ; 
And  so  don  men,  if  I  soth  seyen  shal.  770 
Loke  who  that  is  most  pacient  in  love, 
He  is  at  his  avantage  al  above. 
Pacience  is  an  heigh  vertu  certejai ; 
For  it  venquisseth,  as  thise  clerkes  seyn, 
Thinges  that  rigour  sholde  never  atteyne. 
For  every  word  men  may  nat  chyde  or 

plej-ne.  776 

Lerneth  to  suflfre,  or  elles,  so  moot  I  goon, 
Ye  shnl  it  leme,  wher-so  ye  wole  or  noon. 
For  in  this  world,  certein,  ther  no  wight 

is,  (51; 

That  he  ne  dooth  or  seith  som-tyme  amis. 
Ire,  sikuesse,  or  constellacioun,  781 

Wyn,  wo,  or  chaunginge  of  comijlexioun 
Causeth  ful  ofte  to  doon  amis  or  speken. 
On  every  wrong  a  man  may  nat  be  ^vreken ; 
After  the  tyme,  moste  be  temperaunce  785 
To  every  wight  that  can  on  govemaunce. 
And    therfore    hath    this    wyse   worthy 

knight, 
To  live  in  ese,  suflfrance  hir  bihight,     (60) 
And  she  to  him  ful  wisly  gan  to  swere 
That  never  sholde  ther  be  defaute  in  here. 
Heer  may  men  seen  an   humble  wys 

accord ;  791 

Thus  hath  she  take  hir  servant  and  hir 

lord, 


Servant  in  love,  and  lord  in  mariage  ; 
Than   was    he    bothe    in    lordship    and 

servage ; 
Servage  ?  nay,  but  in  lordshipe  above,  795 
Sith  he  hath  bothe  his  lady  and  his  love; 
His  lady,  certes,  and  his  wyf  also, 
The  which  that  lawe  of  love  acordeth  to. 
And  whan  he  was  in  this  prosperitee,  (71) 
Hoom   with    his   wyf  he    gooth    to    his 

contree,  800 

Nat  fer  fro  Penmark,  ther  his  dwelling 

was, 
Wlier-as  he  liveth  in  blisse  and  in  solas. 

Who  coude  telle,  but  he  had  wedded  be, 
The  joye,  the  ese,  and  the  prosperitee 
That  is  bit\vixe  an  housboude  and  his  wyf? 
A  yeer  and  more  lasted  this  blisful  Ij-f,  806 
Til  that  the  knight  of  which  I  speke  of 

thus, 
That  of  Kaym^d  was  cleped  Arveragus,  (80) 
Shoop  him  to  goon,  and  dwelle  a  yeer  or 

twej'ne 
Jn  Engelond,  that  cleped  was  eek  Britejue, 
To  seke  in  armcs  worship  and  honour;  8n 
For  al  his  lust  he  sette  in  swich  labour ; 
And  dwelled  ther  two  yeer,  the  book  seith 

thus. 
Xow  wol  I  stinte  of  this  Arveragus, 
And  speken  I  wole  of  Dorigene  his  wyf,8i5 
That  loveth  hir  housbonde  as  hir  hertes 

lyf. 

For  his  absence  wepeth  she  and  syketh, 
As   doon  thise  noble  wyves  whan  hem 

lyketh.  (90) 

She  moometh,  waketh,  wayleth,  fasteth, 

pleyneth ;  819 

Desyr  of  his  presence  hir  so  distreyneth. 
That  al  this  wyde  world  she  sette  at  noght. 
Hir  frendes,  whiche  that  knewe  hir  he%'y 

thoght, 
Conforten  hir  in  al  that  ever  they  may  ; 
They  prechen   hir,  they  telle  hir  night 

and  day. 
That  causelees  she  sleeth  hir-self,  alias !  825 
And  every  contort  possible  in  this  cas 
They  doon  to  hir  -wdth  al  hir  bisinesse, 
Al  for  to  make  hir  leve  hir  hevinesse.  (100) 

By  proces,  as  ye  knowen  everichoon, 
Men  may  so  longe  graven  in  a  stoon,    830 
Til  som  figure  ther-inne  emprented  be. 
So  longe  han  they  conforted  hir,  til  she 


14?- 


ZU  5^anftefepn0  Zak. 


639 


Eeceyved  hath,  by  hope  and  by  resoiiu, 
Th'emprenting  of  hir  consolacioun,       834 
Thurgh  which  hir  grete  sorwe  gan  aswage ; 
She  may  nat  alwey  duren  iu  swich  rage. 

And  eek  Arveragus,  in  al  this  care, 

Hath  sent  hir  lettres  hoom  of  his  welfare. 

And  tliat  he  wol  come  hastily  agayu  ;  (i  1 1) 

Or  elles  hadde  this  sorwe  hir  herte  slayii. 

Hir  freendes  sawe  hir  sorwe  gan  to 

slake,  iS4i 

And  preyede  hir  on   knees,  for  goddes 

sake, 
To  come  and  romen  hir  in  companye, 
Awey  to  di-yve  hir  derke  fautasye. 
And  finally,  she  graunted  that  requeste  ; 
For  wel  she  sangh  that  it  was  for  the 

beste.  (ii8)  846 

Now  stood  hir  castel  faste  by  the  see. 
And  often  with  hir  freendes  walketh  she 
Hir  to  disporte  up-on  the  bank  an  heigh, 
Wlier-as  she  many  a  ship  and  barge  seigh 
Seilinge  hir  conrs,  wher-as  hem  liste  go  ; 
But  than  was  tliat  a  parcel  of  hir  wo. 
For  to  hir-self  ful  ofte  '  alias  ! '  seith  she, 
'  Is  ther  no  ship,  of  so  manye  as  I  see, 
AVol  bringen  hom   my  lord  ?    than  were 

raya  herte  855 

Al  warisshed  of  his  bittre  peynes  smerte.' 

Another  tyme  ther  wolde  she  sitte  and 

thinke. 
And   caste  hir   eyen   doiinward  fro  the 

brinke.  (130) 

But  whan  she  saugh  the  grisly  rokkes 

blake. 
For  verray  fere  so  wolde  hir  herte  quake, 
That  on  hir  feet  she  mighte  hir  noght 

sustene.  86i 

Than  wolde  she   sitte  adoun   upon  the 

grene. 
And  pitously  in-to  the  see  biholde. 
And  sej-n  right  thus,  with  sorweful  sykes 

colde  : 
'Eterne  god,  that  thurgh  thy  purvey- 

aunce  S65 

Ledest  the  world  by  certein  governaunce. 
In  ydel,  as  men  seyn,  ye  no-thing  make  ; 
But,   lord,   tliise    grisly  feendly    rokkes 

blake,  (140) 

That  semen  rather  a  foul  confusioun 
Of  werk  than  any  fair  creacioun  870 

Of  swich  a  parfit  wys  god  and  a  stable. 


Why  hau  ye  wroght  this  werk  unreson- 

able? 
For  by  this  werk,  soiith,  north,  ne  west, 

ne  eest, 
Ther  nis  y-fostred  man,  ne  brid,  ne  beest ; 
It  dooth  no  good,  to  my  wit,  biit  anoyeth. 
See    ye    nat,    lord,    how    mankiude    it 

destroyeth  ?  876 

An  hundred  thousand  bodies  of  mankinde 
Han  rokkes  slayn,  al  be  they  nat  in  minde, 
Which  manliinde  is  so  fair  part  of  thy 

werk  (151) 

That  thou  it  madest  lyk  to  thyn  oweue 

merk.  880 

Than  semed  it  ye  hadde  a  greet  chiertee 
Toward  mankinde  ;    but  how  than  may 

it  be 
That  ye   swiche   menes  make   it  to  de- 

stroyen, 
Whiche  menes    do    no   good,   but    ever 

anoyen '? 
I  woot  wel   clerkes  wol    seyn,    as  hem 

leste,  885 

By  arguments,  that  al  is  for  the  beste, 
Though  I  ne  can  the  causes  nat  y-knowe. 
But  thilke  god,  that  made  wind  to  blowe, 
As  kepe  my  lord  !  this  my  conclusioun  ; 
To  clerkes  lete  I  al  dispittisoun.    (162)  890 
But  wolde  god  that  alle  thise  rokkes  blake 
Were  sonken  in-to  helle  for  his  sake  ! 
Thise  rokkes  sleen  myn  herte  for  the  fere.' 
Thus  wolde  she  seyn,  with  many  a  pitous 

tere. 
Hir  freendes  sawe  that  it  was  no  disport 
To  romen  by  the  see,  but  disconfort ;  S96 
And  shopen  for  to  pleyen  somwher  elles. 
They  leden  hir  by  riveres  and  by  welle.s. 
And  eek  in  othere  places  delitables  ;  (171) 
They  dauncen,  and  they  pleyen  at  dies 


and  tables. 


900 


So  on  a  day,  right  in  the  morWe-tyde, 
Tn-to  a  gardiu  that  was  ther  bisyde, 
In  which  that  they  had  maad  hir  ordin- 

aunce 
Of  vitaille  and  of  other  purveyaunce. 
They  goon  and  pleye  hem  al  the  longe 

day.  905 

And  this  was  on  the  sixte  morwe  of  May, 
Which  May  had  peynted  with  his  softe 


This  gardin  fiUof  leves  andof  floures;  (180) 


640 


tU  CanterBurj  Zake. 


[221-11302. 


And  craft  of  mannes  haml  so  cnrionsly 
Arrayed  haildo  tliis  ganlin,  trewely,     010 
Tliat  never  was  ther  gardin  of  swich  prj-s,  j 
Bnt-if  it  wore  the  verray  jiaradys.  I 

Til'  odour  of  floures  and  the  fresshe  sighte 
Wolde  han  maad  any  hert«  for  to  lighte 
Tliat  ever  was  bom,  but-if  to  (fret  sik- 

nesso,  915 

Or  to  grot  sorwe  helde  it  in  distresso ; 
So  fill  it  was  of  l>eautee  with  plesannce. 
At-altor  diner  gonne  they  to  dannce,  (100^ 
And  singe  also,  save  Dorigen  allone, 
^\niich  made  alwoy  hir  compleint  and  hir 

nione ;  920 

For  she  ne  saugh  him  on  the  daunoe  go, 
That  was  hir  honslionde  and  liir  love  also. 
But  nathelpos  she  mosto  a  tyme  abvde. 
And  witli  good  hope  lete  hir  sorwe  slyde. 
Up-on  this  daunce,  umongos  othere  men, 
Daiuiced  a  s<inyer  l>iforen  Dorigen,       02<> 
That  fressher  was  and  jolyer  of  array. 
As  to  my  doom,  than  is  the  monthe  of 

May.  (200)' 

Ho  singeth,  dannreth,  passinge  any  man 
That  is,  or  was,  sith  that  the  world  liigan. 
Ther-with   he   was,   if  men   sholde   him 

discr>-\-e,  O.u 

Oon  of  the  best«  faringe  man  on-l.yve  ; 
Yong,  strong,  right  vertuons,  and  riohe 

and  wys, 
And  wel  biloved,  and  holden  in  gret  prys. 
And  shortly,  if  the  sothe  I  tellen  shal,  935 
Unwiting  of  this  Dorigen  at  al, 
This  lusty  sqnyer,  servant  to  Venus, 
\^^lich  that  y-cleped  was  Aurelius,     ^210) 
Had  loved  hir  best  of  any  creatiire 
Two  yeer  and  more,  as  was  his  aventure, 
But  never  dorste  he  telle  hir  his  gre- 

vaunce ;  94 1 

With-outen  coppe  he  drank  al  his  pen- 

aunce. 
He  was  despeyred,  no-thing  dorste  he  seye, 
Save  in  hissonges  somwhat  wolde  he  wreye 
His  wo,  as  in  a  general  compleyning  ;  945 
He  seyde  he  lovede,  and  was  biloved  no- 
thing. (218) 
Of  swich  matere  made  he  manye  layes, 
Songes,  compleintes,  roundels,  virela.ves, 
How  that  he  dorste  nat  his  sorwe  telle, 
But  languissheth,  as  a  furie  dooth  in  helle : 
And  dye  lie  moste,  he  seyde,  as  dide  Ekko 


For  Narcisus.  that  dorste  nat  telle  hir  wo. 
In  other  maucre  than  ,ve  here  me  se.ve, 
Ne  dorste  he  nat  to  hir  his  wo  biwre.ve  ; 
Save     that,    paraventure,    som-t.vme    at 

daunces,  955 

Ther  yonge  folk  kepen  hir  observaunces. 
It  ma.v  wel  be  he  loked  on  hir  face 
In  swich  a  wj-se,  as  man  that  asketh  grace ; 
But  no-thing  wiste  she  of  his  entente.  (2.41) 
Nathelees,  it   happed,   er  they   thennes 

wente,  960 

By-cause  that  he  was  hir  neighebour, 
And  was  a  man  of  worsliip  and  lionour. 
And  liadde  y-knowen  him  of  t.vme  yore, 
They  fiUe  in  speche  ;  and  forth  more  and 

more 
Un-to  his  purjvw  drongli  Aurelius,        965 
And  whan  he  saugh  his  t.vme,  he  seyde 

thus  : 
'Madame,'  quod  he,  'b.v  god  that  this 

world  made, 
So  that    I   wisto   it  mighto    vour  herte 

glade.  (240) 

I  wolde,  that  ilay  that  your  Arveragns 
Wente  over  the  see,  tliat  I,  Aurelius,   970 
Had  went  ther  never  I  sholde  have  come 

agJi.vn  ; 
For  wel  I  woot  my  service  is  in  vayn. 
M.v  gfiierdon  is  but  bresting  of  myn  herte  ; 
Madame,  reweth  uix>n  my  pe.vnes  smerte  ; 
For  with  a  word  ye  may  me  sleen  or  save, 
Heer  at  your  feet  god  wolde  that  I  were 

grave !  976 

I  ne  have   as  now   no   le.vser   more   to 

seye  ; 
Have  mercy,  swete,  or  ye  wol  do  me  deye  ! ' 
She  gan  to  loke  ui>on  Aurelius  :      (2.^1) 
'  Is  this  your  wil,'  quod  she,  '  and  sey  .ye 

thus  ?  980 

Never  erst,'  quo<l  she,  'ne  wiste  I  what 

ye  mente. 
But  now,  Aurelie,  I  knowe  your  entente. 
By  thilke  god  that  yaf  me  soule  and  lyf. 
Ne  shal  I  never  been  untrewe  wyf        984 
In  word  ne  werk,  as  fer  as  I  have  wit : 
I  wol  ben  his  to  whom  that  I  am  knit ; 
Tak  this  for  fjnial  answer  as  of  me.' 
But  afler  that  in  pley  thus  seyde  she :  (260) 
•  Aurelie, '  quod  she,    '  by   heiglie  god 

above.  989 

Yet  wolde  I  graunte  yow  to  been  .your  love, 


T.  1 1303-1 1 387.]        F.    ZU  ^vanUk^m  Zak. 


641 


Sin  I  yow  see  so  pitously  complajaie  ; 
Loke  what  clay  that,  endelong  Britayne, 
Yeremoeve  alle  the  rokkes,stoonbystoon, 
That  they  ne  lette  ship  ne  boot  to  goon — 
I  seye,  whan  ye  hau  maad  the  coost  so 

clene  995 

Of  rokkes,  that  ther  nis  no  stoon  y-sene, 
Than  wol  I  love  yow  best  of  any  man  ; 
Have  heer  my  trouthe  in  al  that  ever  I 

can.'  (270) 

'  Is  ther  non  other  grace  in  yow? '  quod  he. 
'  No,  by  that  lord,'  quod  she,  '  that  maked 

me !  .  1000 

For  wel  I  woot  that  it  shal  never  bityde. 
Lat  swiche  folies  out  of  your  herte  slyde. 
What  deyntee  sholde  a  man  han  in  his  lyf 
For  to  go  love  another  mannes  wyf, 
That  hath  hir  body  whan  so  that  him 

lyketh  ? '  1005 

Aurelius  ful  ofte  sore  syketh  ; 
Wo  was  Aurelie,  whan  that  he  this  herde. 
And  with  a  sorweful  herte  he  thus  an- 

swerde :  (280) 

'  Madame,'  qnod  he,  '  this  were  an  in- 
possible  !  1009 
Thau  moot  I  dye  of  sodein  deth  horrible.' 
And  with  that  word  he  turned  him  anoon. 
Tho  come  hir  othere  freendes  many  oon, 
And  in  the  aleyes  romeden  up  and  doun, 
And  no-thing  wistc  of  this  conclusioun. 
But  sodeinly  bigonne  revel  newe  1015 
Til  that  the  brighte  Sonne  loste  his  hewe  ; 
For  th'orisonte  hath  reft  the  Sonne  his 

light ;  (289) 

This  is  as  muche  to  seye  as  it  was  night. 
And  hoom  they  goon  in  joye  and  in  solas. 
Save  only  wrecche  Aurelius,  alias  !  1020 
He  to  his  hous  is  goon  with  sorweful  herte ; 
He  seeth  he  may  nat  fro  his  deeth  asterte. 
Him  semed  that  he  felte  his  herte  colde  ; 
Up  to  the  hevene  his  handes  he  gan  holde. 
And  on  his knowes bare  hesettehim  doun. 
And  in  his  raving  seyde  his  orisoun.  1026 
For  verray  wo  out  of  his  wit  he  breyde. 
He  niste  what  he  spak,  but  thus  he  seyde ; 
Witli   pitous  herte  his  pleynt  hath  he 

bigonne  (301) 

Un-to    the   goddes,    and    first   un-to   the 

Sonne :  1030 

He  seyde,  '  AppoUo,  god  and  governour 
Of  every  plaunte,  herbe,  tree  and  flour. 


That  yevest,  after  thy  declinacioun. 
To  ech  of  hem  his  tyme  and  his  sesoun, 
As  thyn  herberwe  chaungeth  lowe  or  hye, 
Lord  Phebus,  cast  thy  merciable  ye    1036 
On  wrecche  Aurelie,  which  that  am  but 

lorn.  (309) 

Lo,  lord  !  my  lady  hath  my  deeth  y-sworn 
W^ith-oute  gilt,  but  thy  benignitee  1039 
Upon  my  dedly  herte  have  som  i)itee  ! 
For  wel  I  woot,  lord  Phebus,  if  yow  lest. 
Ye  may  me  holpen,  save  my  lady,  best. 
Now  voucheth  sauf  that  I  may  yow  devyse 
How  that  I  may  been  holpe  and  in  what 

wyse.  1044 

Your  blisful  suster,  Lucina  the  shene, 
That  of  the  see  is  chief  goddesse  and  queue, 
Though  Neptunus  have  deitee  in  the  see, 
Yet  emperesse  aboven  him  is  she  :      (320) 
Ye  knowen  wel,  lord,  that  right  as  hir 

desyr  1049 

Is  to  be  quiked  and  lightned  of  your  fyr, 
For  which  she  folwoth  yow  ful  bisily. 
Right  so  the  see  desyreth  naturelly 
To  folwen  hir,  as  she  that  is  goddesse 
Bothe  in  the  see  and  riveres  more  and 

lesse. 
Wherfore,  lord   Phebus,   this  is  my  ro- 

queste —  1055 

Do  this  miracle,  or  do  myn  herte  breste — 
That  now,  next  at  this  opposicioun,    (329) 
Which  in  the  signe  shal  be  of  the  Leoun, 
As  preyeth  hir  so  greet  a  flood  to  bringe, 
That  fyve  fadnae  at  the  leeste  it  overspringo 
The  hyeste  rokke  in  Armorik  Briteyne ; 
And  lat  this  flood  endure  yeres  tweyne  ; 
Than  certes  to  my  lady  may  I  seye  : 
"Holdeth  your  heste,  the   rokkes  been 

aweye."  1064 

Lord  Phebus,  dooth  this  miracle  for  me ; 
Preye  liir  she  go  no  faster  cours  than  ye ; 
I  seye,  preyeth  your  suster  that  she  go 
No  faster  cours  than  ye  thiso  yeres  two. 
Than  shal  she  been  evene  atte  fuUe  alway. 
And  spring-flood  laste  bothe  night  and 

day.  (342)  1070 

And,  but  she  vouche-sauf  in  swiche  manerc 
To  gravxnte  me  my  sovereyn  lady  derc. 
Prey  hir  to  sinken  every  rok  adoun 
In-to  hir  owene  derke  regioun 
Under  the  ground,  ther   Pluto  dwelleth 

inne,  1075 


Y 


642 


Z^t  4^anfcr8urp  Zati6.  [t.  11388-11471. 


Or  never-mo  sbal  I  my  lady  winno. 
Thy  temple  in  Delphos  wol  I  biirel<Ji>t  si-ko ; 
Lord  Phebus,  see  the  teres  on  my  cheke, 
And  of  my  peyne  have  som  compassioun.* 
And  with  that  word  in  swowne  he  111 
adonn,  ( .\S')  "*> 

And  longo  tyme  he  lay  forth  in  a  tmunr*. 
His  brotlier,  which   that  knew  of  ki« 
penaiince, 
Up  caughto  him  and  to  beUde  he  hath 

him  V>roght. 
Dispeyred  in  this  torment  and  thia  tho^ht 
Lete  I  this  woful  creature  lye  ;  ii>8.s 

Chese  he,  for  me,  whether  ho  wol  live  or 
dye.  I 

Ar\'eragu8,  with  hole  and  (jreot  honour, 
As  he  that  was  of  chivalr>'o  the  flour,  (n^t)  < 
Is  comen  hcx»m,  and  othero  worthy  men. 
O  blisful  artow  now,  th">u  l)<>rijfen,      u»)ii 
That  hast  tby  lusty  hoasbondt-  in  thyno 

armes. 
The  fresshe  knight,  the  worthy  man   "f 

armes. 
That  lovoth  thcc,  as  his  owene  hortoa  lyf 
No-thing  list  him  to  Ixjen  imaftinatj-f 
If  any  wight   had   spoke,   whyl   he   was 
oute,  IC1Q5 

To  hire  of  love  ;  he  hadde  of  it  no  dontf. 
He  noght  entendeth  to  no  swich  matere. 
But  daunceth,  justeth,  nxaketh  hir  g<M>d 
chere ;  <  1701 

-Vnd  thus  in  joye  and  blisse  I  lete  hem 

dwelle, 
And  of  the  syke  Aurclius  wol  I  telle.  1 100 

In  langour  and  in  torment  furious 
Two  yeer  and  more  lay  wrecche  Aurelins, 
Er  any  foot  he  mighte  on  erthe  goon  ; 
Ne  confort  in  this  tyme  hadde  he  noon, 
Saveof  his  brother,  which  that  wasaclerk ; 
He  knew  of  al  this  wo  and  al  thia  werk. 
For  to  non  other  creature  certeyn       1 107 
Of  this  matere  he  dorste  no  word  seyn. 
Under  his  brest  he  bar  it  more  secree  (^i) 
Than  ever  dide  Pamphilus  for  Cralathee. 
His  brest  was  hool,  with-oute  for  to  sone. 
But  in  his  herte  ay  was  the  arwe  kene. 
And  wel  ye  knowe  that  of  a  sursanore 
In  surgerye  is  perilous  the  cure. 
But  men  mighte  touche  the  arwe,  or  come 
therby.  ,,,- 

His  brother  weep  and  wayled  prively. 


Til  iitte  lii«t««  him  fil  in  romembraanoe. 
That  whyl  he  was  at  Orlii-na  in  Fraonce, 
Aa  j-onge  rUTk<«,  that  \m.vi\  liki<roua  (^91) 
To  reden  art««  that  Iwn  rurioii*.         iiio 
Sekon  in  every  halko  and  ovcry  hrrno 
Particuler  n-ionrt-*  fur  t«i  lome, 
He  him  remenibr«Hl  that,  up-in  a  day. 
At  Orlicns  in  ■tntUe  a  l««ik  h«  say 
Of  maifik  naturol,  whuh  liia  ttlawe,   1115 
That  wa<»  that  tymo  a  »«<hi.I.'r  ..f  lawo, 
Al  were  ho  ther  to  Icme  nnitthcr  crm/l. 
Had  privuly  U|i<)n  hia  dnak  y-laft  ;       ^400) 
Which  U>«>k  H|«ak  muchcl  of  the  opcnt- 

riunna, 
TonchinKo  the  eiKhto  and  twi«nty  man- 

siimna  iijo 

That  longpn  t<>  the  mono,  and  awich  foly«, 
Aa  in  oar  •Inyoa  ia  nat  worth  a  flyo ; 
For  ht.ly  rhirthi'a  feith  in  our  bilera 
Xe  auffrrth  noon  illuaion  tu  t<>  unr*. 
And  whan  thia  book  waa  in  hia  ramsm- 


»«JS 


.ly; 
Hit) 


ployn. 


braanc<«, 
An"n  fur  joyo  hia  h<rt<-  prtn  t- 
Antl  to  hiniHH'lf  III'  '•' 
'  My  brother  ahnl  N 
For  I  am  aikiT  th;«t 
Ily  whicho  n 
.Swichu  aa  1  i 
For  ofte  at  i.  — .vo, 

That  tregt'tours,  with  iiun  an  bulb'  lamro. 
Have  niaad  come  in  a  water  and  a  liartc<>, 
And  in  the  hallo  rowen  np  and  doan.  1 145 
Somtyme  hath  scme<l  come  a  grim  looan  ; 
And  somt>-ine  flouresspringeoain  a  nie<le; 
Somtj-mo  a  %->-nc,  and  grape*  whyt«  and 

re«le ;  (4J0) 

Somtymo  a  caatcl,  al  of  lym  and  atoon  ; 
And  whan  horn  lyked.  voyded  it  anoon. 
Thtia  aemed  it  to  every  mannea  aiffhte. 
Now  than  conclado   I  thtia,  that  if  I 

mighte  1 154 

At  Orliena  aom  old  felawe  y-flnde, 

I  That  hadde thiamonea  manaionain  minda. 

Or  other  magik  naturol  above,  1155 

He  sholde  wol  make  my  brother  hma  his 

love. 
For  with    an    apparcnce    a  clerk  may 

make 
To  mannes  sighte.   that  alle  the  roklcM 

blake  C4J0) 

Of  Britaigne  weren  y-voyded  ovcrichon. 


T.  11472-1 1  $4J-]         F-     ^3e  franftcfcpne  Zak. 


643 


Ami  8liij>p«8  by  the   brinke   comou  iiiul 
jfon,  iKxj 

Ami  in  swich  forme  endare  a  day  or  two  ; 
T)mn  were  my  brother  warisshed  of  his  1 
wo.  I 

Than  moste  she  nedcs  holden  hir  bihest«. 
Or  <lKs  he  shal  shame  hir  atte  leste.'  , 

What  sholde  I  make  a  lenger  tale  of 
this?  nt>S 

Un-to  liis  bnrtheres  bed  he  comen  is,  , 

And  swiih  con  fort  ho  yaf  him  for  to  jfon 
To  Orliens,  that  he  np  stirto  anon,  1440) 
And  on  liis  wpy  forthwanl  thanne  is  ho  . 

fare. 

In  ho|>o  for  to  ben  liaso<I  of  his  care.   1171)  ' 

Whan  they  were  come  almost  to  that 

ritee,  j 

Biit-if  it  were  a  two  fnrlonf;  or  throft,  ] 

A  yonff  clerk  rominge  by  bim-self  they 

motto. 

Which  that  in  Latin  thriftily  hom  (fretto. 

And  after  that  he  Sfydo  a  wonder  thinir  : 

•  I  knowc,'  «ju«l  lie,   '  the  cause  of  your 

coming '  ;  "P' 

\nil  cr  th.y  ferther  any  foto  went«,  U40> 

He  tolde  hem  al  that  was  in  hir  entente. 

This  Driton  clerk  him  oskoil  of  felawcs 

The  whicho  that  he  bad  knowo  in  <ddo 

dawes;  nHu 

And  ho  annwortle  him  that  t hey  dede  were, 

For  whi<'h  lie  weep  fnl  «irto  many  a  tere. 

Doiin  of  Ills  hors  Aurolitifi  lighto  anon, 

And  forth  with  this  magicicn  is  ho  jfon 

Hoom  to  his  hous,  and  made  hem  wel  at 

ese.  1 185 

Hem  lakked  no  vitaille  that  mighto  hem 

jiK-se ; 
So  wel  arrayed  hons  as  ther  was  oon 
Aorelias  in  his  Ij-f  sangh  novor  noon.  (46cj) 
He  shewed  him,  er  he  wcnte  to  sopeer, 
Forostos,  parkcs  fnl  of  wilde  deer ;       1  iqo 
Thor   snugh   ho   bert«s  with   hir  homos 

hye, 
Tlio  grcttoste  that  over  were  seyn  with  yC 
Ho  wingh  of  hom  an  hondred  slayn  with 

houndes. 
And  sommo  with  arwes  bledo  of   liittre 

wonndos. 
Ho  saugh,  whan  voided  wore  thiso  wilde 
■  Uor,  IKJ5 

Thiso  fauconcrs  ixjion  a  fair  river. 


That    with   hir  haakes  han    the   heron 

slayn. 
Tho  snugh  ho  knightes  justing  in  a  playn  : 
And  after  this,  ho  dide  him  swich  plo- 
sannce,  (47') 

That  ho  him  shewed  his  la4y  on  a  daunce 
On  which  him-self  ho  dannced,  as  him 
thouglito.  iJ<'i 

And  whan  this  maistor,  tliat  this  magik 

wroughto, 
Saogh  it  was  tymo,  ho  clnpfo  his  liandos 

two, 
And  farcwol  !  ol  onr  revel  was  ago. 
And  yet  remoeved  they  never  o»it  of  tho 
hooB,  i«)5 

Wbylt  hoy  laugh  althissightomor\-oillon8, 
But  in  his  Rtudio,  th.-r-aw  IiIh  lMM>k«'«  1)0, 
They  sot<?n  stille,  and  no  wight  but  they 
three.  (4S'0 

To  him  this  maistor  called  his  sijuyer. 
And  soyde  him  thus  :  '  is  rotly  our  soper? 
Almost  an  houre  it  is,  I  undertake,     iiii 
Sith  I  yow  bad  our  sojHjr  for  to  make, 
Whan  that   this©  worthy   men    wenton 

with  me 
In-to  my  studio,  thor-as  my  l)ookes  be." 
'Sirc,'«|uo<l  thissqnyor,  '  whan  it  lykolh 
yow,  lii.e 

It  is  al  ro«ly,  though  ye  wol  right  now." 
'  Oo  wo  than  soupe,'  quod  ho,  '  ns  for  tho 

Ix'sto  ; 
This  amorous  folk   som-tyme  moto   han 
roste.'  (4<A" 

At-aft«r  sopor  fillo  thoy  in  trotoo, 
What  Bomme  sholde  this  maistros  guer- 
don be,  i'^> 
To  remoeven  alio  the  rokkes  of  Britayne. 
And  oek  from  Oeroundc  to  tho  mouth  of 
Sayne. 
Ho  made  it  straungo,  an<l  swoor,  so  g<Kl 
him  save, 
I.rft8so  than  a  thousand  ]>ound  ho  woldo 

nat  have, 

Ne  gln<lly  for  that  sommo  ho  wolde  nat 

g<x>n.  131$ 

Aurclius,  with  blisful  horto  anoon, 

Answordo  thus, '  fy  on  a  thousond  pound  ! 

This  wydo  world,  which  that  men  seyo  it 

round,  ($f>>* 

I  wolde  it  yevo,  if  I  were  lord  of  it.      1229 

This  bargayn  is  ful  drive,  for  we  ben  knit. 


644 


Z^t  Canferfiurp  Zake. 


[t.  11543-11622. 


Ye  slial  be  payed  trewely,  by  my  troutlie  ! 
But   loketh   now,    for    no   necligence   or 

slouthe, 
Ye  tarie  us  heer  no  lenger  than  to-morwe.' 
'  Nay,'  quod  this  clerk,  '  have  heer  my 

feith  to  borwe.' 

To  bedde  is  goon  Aurelius  whan  him 

leste,  1235 

And  wel  ny  al  that  night  he  hadde  his 

reste ;  (SoS) 

What  for  his  labour  and  his  hope  of  blisse. 

His  woful  herte  of  penaunce  hadde  a  lisse. 

Upon  the  morwe,  whan  that  it  was  day, 

To  Britaigne  toke  they  the  righte  way,  1240 

Aurelius,  and  this  magicien  bisyde. 

And  been   descended    ther    they  wolde 

abyde ; 
And  this  was,  as  the  bokes  me  remembre, 
The  colde  frosty  seson  of  Decembre. 

Phebus  wex  old,  and  hewed  lyk  latoun, 
That  in  his  hote  declinacioun  1246 

Shoou  as  the  burned  gold  with  stremes 
brighte ;  (519; 

But  now  in  Capricorn  adoun  he  lighte, 
AVher-as  he  shoon  ful  pale,  I  dar  wel  seyn. 
The  bittre  frostes,  with  the  sleet  and  reyn. 
Destroyed  hath  the  grene  in  every  yerd. 
Janus  sit  by  the  fyr,  with  double  herd. 
And  drinketh  of  his  bugle-horn  the  wyn. 
Biforn   him  stant  braun   of  the   tusked 
swyn,  1254 

And  '  Nowel '  cryeth  every  lusty  man. 

Aurelius,  in  al  that  ever  he  can. 
Doth  to  his  maister  chere  and  reverence. 
And  preyeth  him  to  doon  his  diligence 
To  bringen  him  out  of  his  peynes  smerte. 
Or  with  a  swerd  that  he  wolde  slitte  his 
herte.  (532)  1260 

This  subtil  clerk  swich  routhe  had  of 
this  man. 
That  night  and  day  he  spedde  him  that 

he  can. 
To  wayte  a  tyme  of  his  conclusioun  ; 
This  is  to  seye,  to  make  illusioun. 
By  swich  an  apparence  or  jogelrye,     1265 
I  ne  can  no  termes  of  astrologye. 
That  she  and  every  wight  sholde  wene 
and  seye,  (539) 

That  of  Britaigne  the  rokkes  were  aweye. 
Or  elles  they  were  sonken  under  grounde. 
So  atte  laste  he  hath  his  tyme  y-foiinde 


To  maken  his  japes  and  his  wrecched- 

nesse  1271 

Of  swich  a  supersticious  cursednesse. 
His  tables  Toletanes  forth  he  broght, 
Ful  wel  corrected,  ne  ther  lakked  noght. 
Neither  his  collect  ne  his  expans  yeres, 
Ne  his  rotes  ne  his  othere  geres,  1276 

As  been  liis  centres  and  his  arguments, 
And  his  proporcionels  convenients     (550) 
For  his  equacions  in  everj'  thing. 
And,  by  his  eighte  spere  in  his  wirking. 
He  knew  ful  wel  how  fer  Alnath  was 

shove  1 28 1 

Fro  the  heed  of  thilke  fixe  Aries  above 
That  in  the  ninthe  speere  considered  is  ; 
Ful  subtilly  he  calculed  al  this. 

Wlian  he  had  founde  his  firste  man- 

sioun,  1285 

He  knew  the  remenant  by  proporcioun  ; 
And    knew  the    arysing    of   his    mone 

weel, 
And  in  whos  face,  and  terme,  and  every- 

deel;  (560) 

And  knew  ful  weel  the  mones  mansioun 
Acordaunt  to  his  operacioun,  1290 

And  knew  also  his  othere  observaunces 
For  swiche  illusiouns  and  swiche  mes- 

chaunces 
As  hethen  folk  used  in  thilke  dayes ; 
For  which  no  lenger  maked  he  delayes, 
But  thurgh  his  magik,  for  a  wyke  or 

tweye,  1295 

It  semed  that  alle  the  rokkes  were  aweye. 

Aurelius,  which  that  yet  despeired  is 
Wher  he  shal  han  his  love  or  fare  amis, 
Awaiteth  night  and  day  on  this  miracle  ; 
And  whan  he  knew  that  ther  was  noon 

obstacle,  (572)  1300 

That  voided  were  thise  rokkes  everichon, 
Donn  to  his  maistres  feet  he  fll  anon. 
And  seyde,  '  I  woful  wrecche,  Aurelius, 
Thanke  yow,  lord,  and  lady  myn  Venus, 
That  me  han  holpen  fro  my  cares  colde  :' 
And  to  the  temple  his  wey  forth  hath  he 

holde,  1306 

Wher-as  he  knew  he  sholde  his  lady  see. 
And  whan  he  saugh  his  tyme,  anon-right 

te,  (580) 

With  dredful  herte  and  with  ful  humble 

chere, 
Salewed  hath  his  soverej-n  lady  dere :  1310 


T.  1 1 62  3-1 1 698.]        F.    ZU  ^^anftefe^ne  ^afe. 


Chi 


'  My  righte  lady,'  quod  this  woful  man, 
'  Whom  I  most  drede  and  love  as  I  test 

can, 
And  lothest  were  of  al  this  world  displese, 
Nere  it  that  I  for  yow  have  swich  disese. 
That   I   moste   dyen  heer  at    your  foot 
anon,  13 '5 

Noght  wolde  I  telle  how  me  is  wo  higon  ; 
But  certes  outher  moste  I  dye  or  pleyne  ; 
Ye  slee  me  giltelees  for  verray  pejoie.  (590) 
But  of  my  deeth,  thogh  that  ye  have  no 

routhe, 
Avyseth    yow,    er    that    ye    hreke    your 
trouthe.  ij-'o 

Eepenteth  yow,  for  thilke  god  above, 
Er  ye  me  sleen  by-cause  that  I  yow  love. 
For,  madame,  wel  ye  woot  what  ye  han 

hight ; 
Nat  that  I  chalange  any  thing  of  right 
Of  yow  my  sovereyn  lady,  but  your  grace ; 
But  in  a  gardin  yond,  at  swich  a  place. 
Ye  woot  right  wel  what  ye  bihighten  me  ; 
And  in  myn  hand  your  trouthe  plighten 
ye  (600) 

To  love  me  best,  god  woot,  ye  seyde  so, 
Al  be  that  I  unworthy  be  therto.          1330 
Madame,  I  speke  it  for  the  honour  of  yow. 
More  than  to  save  myn  hertes  lyf  right 

now ; 
I  have  do  so  as  ye  comanded  me  ; 
And  if  ye  vouche-sauf,  ye  may  go  sec. 
Doth  as  yow  list,  have  your  biheste  in 
minde,  i335 

For  quik  or  deed,  right  ther  ye  shul  me 

finde; 
In  yow  lyth  al,  to  do  me  live  or  deye ; — 
But  wel  I  woot  the  rokkes  been  aweye  ! ' 
He  taketh  his  leve,  and  she  astonied 
stood,  (611) 

In  al  hir  face  nas  a  drope  of  blood  ;     1340 
She  wende  never  han  come  in  swich  a 

trappe  : 
'Alias  ! '  quod  she,  '  that  ever  this  sholde 

happe ! 
For  wende  I  never,  by  possibilitee, 
Tliat  swich  a  monstre  or  merveille  mightc 

be! 
It  is  agayns  the  proces  of  nature  : '       1345 
And  hoom  she  gooth  a  sorweful  creature. 
For  verray  fere  unnethe  may  she  go. 
She  wepeth,  wailleth,  al  a  day  or  two,  (620) 


And  swowneth,  that  it  routhe  was  to  see ; 
But  why  it  was,  to  no  wight  tolde  she ;  1350 
For  out  of  to\ine  was  goon  Arveragus. 
But  to  hir-self  she  spak,  and  seyde  thus. 
With   face  pale   and  with  fnl  sorweful 

chere. 

In  hir  compleynt,  as  ye  shul  after  here  : 

'  Alias,'   quod  she,   '  on  thee,  Fortune, 

I  pleyne,  1355 

That   unwar   wrapped   hast    me    in    thy 

cheyne ; 
For  which,  t'oscape,  woot  I  no  socour 
Save  only  deeth  or  eUes  dishonour  ;    (630) 
Oon  of  thise  two  bihoveth  me  to  chese. 
But  nathelees,  yet  have  I  lover  lese     1360 
My  lyf  than  of  my  body  have  a  shame, 
Or  knowe  my-selven  fals,  or  lese  my  name. 
And  with  my  deth  I  may  be  quit,  y-wis. 
Hath  ther  nat   many  a  noble  wyf,   er 
this,  1364 

And  many  a  mayde  y-slayn  hir-self,  alias ! 
Rather  than  with  hir  body  doon  tresiias '? 
Yis,  certes,  lo,  thise  stories  beren  wit- 
nesse ; 
Whan   thretty   tyraunts,    ful   of  cursed- 
nesse,  (640) 

Had  slayn  Phidoun  in  Athencs,  atte  feste, 
They  comanded  his  doghtres  for  t'areste. 
And  bringen  hem  biforn  hem  in  despyt 
Al  naked,  to  fulfille  hir  foul  delj-t,       1372 
And  in  hir  fadres  blood  they  made  hem 

daimce 
Upon  the  pavement,  god  yeve  hem  mis- 

chaunce ! 
For  which  thise  woful   maydens,   ful  of 
drede,  i3/5 

Eather  than  they  wolde  lese  hir  mayden- 

hede. 
They  prively  ben  stirt  in-to  a  welle. 
And   dreynte  hem-selven,  as  -the  bokes 
telle.  (650) 

They  of  Messene  lete  enquere  and  seke 
Of  Lacedomie  fifty  maydens  eke,  1380 

On  whiche  they  wolden  doon  hir  lecherye ; 
But  was  ther  noon  of  al  that  companye 
That   she   nas    slayn,    and   with   a   good 

entente 
Chees  rather  for  to  dye  than  assente 
To  been  oppressed  of  hir  maydenhede.  13S5 
Why  sholde   I   thanne   to   dye   been    in 
drede  ? 


646 


tU  tanttvUt^  Za(t0. 


[t.  ii699-ii77f5. 


Lo,  eek,  the  tiraunt  Aristoclides  (659) 
That  loved  a  mayden,  heet  Stimphalides, 
Whan  that  hir  fador  slayn  was  on  a  night, 
Un-to  Dianes  temple  g"tl»  -^o  right,  1390 
And  hente  the  imago  in  hir  handes  two. 
Fro  which  imago  wolde  sho  never  go. 
No  wight  ne  mighte  hir  handes  of  it  arace. 
Til  she  was  slayn  right  in  the  selve  place. 
Now  sith  that  maydens  hadden  swich 

despyt  139s 

To  been  defouled  with  mannes  foul  delyt, 
Wei  oghte  a  wyf  rather  hir-selven  slee 
Than  be  defouled,  as  it  thinketh  me.  (670) 

■\^^^at  shal  I  seyn  of  Hasdru bales  wyf, 
That  at  Cartage  birafte  hir-self  hir  lyf  ? 
For  whan  sho  saugh  that  Eomayns  wan 

the  toim,  140' 

Sho  took  hir  children  alls,  and  skipto 

adoun 
In-to  the  fyr,  and  chees  rather  to  dye 
Than  any  RomajTi  dide  hir  vUeinye. 
Hath    nat    Lucresse    y-slayn    hir-self, 

alias !  i4"5 

At  Rome,  whanne  she  oppressed  was 
Of   Tarquin,    for    hir    thoughte    it  was 

a  shame 
To  liven  whan  she  hadde  lost  hir  name? 
The  seveno  maj-dens  of  Milesie  also  (681) 
Han  slayn  hem-self,  for  verray  drede  and 

wo,  1410 

Eather  than  folk  of  Gaule  hem  sholde 

oppresse. 
Mo  than  a  thousand  stories,  as  I  gesse, 
Coude    I  now    telle    as    touchinge    this 


Whan  Habradate  was  slayn,  his  wyf  so 

dere 
Hirselven  slow,   and  leet  hir    blood  to 

glyde  14 15 

In  Habradates  woundes  depe  and  wyde. 
And  seyde,  "  my  body,  at  the  leeste  way, 
Ther  shal  no  wight  defoulen,  if  I  may." 
What  sholde  I  mo  ensamples  heer-of 

sayn,  (691)  1419 

Sith  that  so  manye  han  hem-selven  slayn 
Wei  rather  than  they  wolde  defouled  be  ? 
I  wol  conclude,  that  it  is  bet  for  me 
To  sleen  my-self,  than  been  defouled  thus. 
I  wol  be  trewe  un-to  Arveragus, 
Or  rather  sleen  my-self  in  som.  manere, 
As  dide  Demociones  doghter  dere,       1426 


By-cause  that  she  wokle  nat  defouled  be. 
O  Cedasus  !  it  is  ful  greet  pitee,        (7<k>) 
To  reden  how  thy  doghtren  deyde,  alias ! 
That  slowe  hem-selven  for  swich  maner 
cas.  1430 

As  greet  a  pitee  was  it,  or  wel  more, 
Tlie  Thoban  mayden,  that  for  Nichanore 
Hir-selven  slow,  right  for  swich  maner 
wo. 
Another  Theban  mayden  dide  right  so  ; 
For  oon  of  Macedoine  hadde  hir  oppressed, 
Sho  with  hir  deeth  hir  maydenhede  re- 
dressed. 1436 
What  shal  I  seye  of  Nicerates  w^'f, 
That  for  swich  cas  birafte  hir-self  hir  lyf? 
How  trewe  eek  was  to  Alcebiades     171 1) 
His  love,  that  rather  for  to  dyon  choes  14411 
Than  for  to  suffre  his  body  unburied  be  ! 
Lo  which  a  wyf  was  Alcesti^,'  quod  sho. 

'  What  seith  Omer  of  gode  Penalopee  ? 
Al  Grece  knoweth  of  hir  chastitce. 

Pardee,  of  Laodomya  is  writen  thus,  1445 
That  whan  at  Troj'e  was  slayn  Prothe- 

selans. 
No  lenger  wolde  she  live  after  his  day. 

The  same  of  noble  Porcia  telle  I  may ; 
With-outo  Brutus  coude  she  nat  live,  (721) 
To  whom  sho  hadde  al  hool  hir  herte 
yive.  i45'> 

The  parfit  wyfhod  of  Arthemesye 
Honoured  is  thurgh  al  the  Barbarj-e. 

O  Teuta,  queen  !  thy  wyfly  chastitee 

To  alio  wyves  may  a  niirour  be.  1454 

The  same  thing  I  seye  of  Bilia,        [T.  om. 

Of  Eodogone,  and  eek  Valeria.'        [T.  om. 

Thus  pleyned  Dorigene  a  day  or  tweye, 

Parposinge  ever  that  she  wolde  deye.  (730) 

But  nathelees,  upon  the  thridde  night, 

Horn  cam  Ar\'eragus,  this  worthy  knight, 

And  asked  hir,   why  that   she  weep   So 

sore?  146" 

And  she  gan  wepen  ever  lenger  the  more. 

'  Alias  ! '    quod    she,    '  that    ever    was 

I  born  ! 

Thus  have  I  seyd,'  quod  she,  '  thus  have 

I  sworn ' — 
And  told  him  al  as  ye  han  herd  bifore ;  1465 
It  nedeth  nat  rcherce  it  yow  na-more. 
This    housbond    with    glad    chere,    in 
freendly  wyse, 
Answerde  and  seyde  as  I  shal  yow  devyse  : 


T.  11779-11846.J        F.    t-H  fvanhk^ne  Zak. 


647 


'Is  ther  oglit  elles,  Dorigen,  btit  this  ? '  (741 ) 
'  Nay,  nay,'  quod  she,  '  god  help  me  so, 

as  wis ;  1470 

This  is  to  muche,  and  it  were  goddes  wille.' 

'  Ye,  wyf,'  quod  he,  '  lat  slepen  that  is 

stille  ; 
It  may  be  wel,  jiaraventure,  yet  to-day. 
Ye  shul  yonr  troiithe  holden,  by  my  fay  ! 
For  god  so  wisly  have  mercy  on  me,     1475 
I  hadde  wel  lever  y-stiked  for  to  be, 
For  verray  love  which  that  I  to  yow  have, 
But-if  ye  sholde  your  trouthe  kepe  and 

Bare.  (750) 

Trouthe  is  the   hyeste  thing  that  man 

may  kepe  : ' — 
But   with   that  word   he   brast  anon   to 

wepe,  1480 

And  seyde,  '  I  yow  forbede,  up  peyne  of 

deeth, 
That  never,   whyl  thee  lasteth    ]3rf   ne 

breeth. 
To  no  wight  tel  thou  of  this  avonture. 
As  I  may  best,  I  wol  my  wo  endure, 
Ne  make  no  contenance  of  hevinesse,  1485 
That  folk  of  yow  may  demen   harm  or 

gesse.' 
And    forth    ho    cleped   a   squyer    and 

a  mayde  : 
'  Goth    forth    anon    with    Dorigen,'    he 

sayde,  (760) 

'And    bringeth     hir    to    swich    a   place 

anon.' 
Tliey  take  hir  leve,  and  on  hir  wey  they 

gon ;  1490 

But  they  ne  wiste  why  she  thider  wcnte. 
He  nolde  no  wight  tellen  his  entente.  (764) 
Paraventure  an  heep  of  yow,  y-wis, 

[T.  OTO. 

Wol  holden  him  a  lewed  man  in  this, 

[T.  om. 
That  he  wol  putte  his  wyf  in  jupartye  ; 

[T.  om. 
Herkneth  the  tale,  er  ye  up-on  hir  crye. 

[T.  om. 

She  may  have  bottro  fortiine  than  yow 

semeth ;  [T.  om. 

And  whan  that  ye  han  herd  the  tale, 

demeth.  [T.  0711. 

Tliis  sqnyer,  which  that  highte  Aurelius, 

On  Dorigen  that  was  so  amorous,  (772)  1500 

Of  aventure  happed  hir  to  mete 


Amidde  the  tonn,  right  iii  the  quikkest 

strete. 
As  she  was  boun  to  goon  the  wey  forth- 
right 
Toward  the  gardin  ther-as  she  had  hight. 
And  he  was  to  the  gardinward  also  ;    1505 
For  wel  he  spyed,  whan  she  wolde  go 
Out  of  hir  hous  to  any  maner  jilace. 
But    thus    they   mette,   of   aventure   or 

grace ;  (780) 

And  he  saleweth  hir  with  gLad  entente, 
And  asked  of  hir  whiderward  she  wento  ? 
And  she  answerde,  half  as  she  were  mad, 
'  Un-to  the  gardin,  as  myn  housbond  bad, 
My  trouthe  for  to  holde,  alias  !  alias  ! ' 

Aurelius  gan  wondren  on  this  cas. 
And  in  his  herte  had  greet  compassioun 
Of  hir  and  of  hir  lamentacioun,  1516 

And  of  Arveragus,  the  worthy  knight, 
That   bad   hir   holden    ul  that   she   had 

hight,  (7Q,>) 

So  looth  him  was  his  wyf  sholde  breke 

hir  trouthe  ; 
And  in  his  herte  he  caughto  of  this  greet 

routhe,  1520 

Consideringe  the  beste  on  every  syde. 
That  fro  his  hist  yet  were  him  lever  abyde 
Than  doon  so  heigh  a  cherlish  wrecched- 

nesse 
Agayns  franchyse  and  alle  gentillesse  ; 
For  which  in  fewe  wordes  seyde  he  thus : 
'  Madame,  seyth  to  your  lord  Arveragus, 
That  sith  I  see  his  greto  gentillesse  (800) 
To  yow,  and  eek  I  see  wel  your  distresse. 
That  him  were  lever  han  shame  (and  that 

were  routhe) 
Than  ye  to  me  sholde  breke  thus  your 

trouthe,  1530 

I  have  wel  lever  ever  to  suffre  wo 
Than  I  departe  the  love  bitwix  yow  two. 
I  yow  relesse,  madame,  in-to  your  hond 
Quit  every  surement  and  every  bond,  1534 
That  ye  han  maad  to  me  as  heer-biforn, 
Sith  thilke  tyme  which  that  ye  were  born. 
My  trouthe  I  plighte,  I  shal  yow  never 

repreve 
Of  no  biheste,  and  here  I  take  my  leve. 
As  of  the  treweste  and  the  beste  wyf  (811) 
Tliat  ever  yet  I  knew  in  al  my  lyf.       1540 
But  every  wyf  be-war  of  hir  biheste. 
On  Dorigene  remembreth  atte  leste. 


648 


h  Can^erfiurp  ^afee. 


[t.   11847-11928. 


Thus  can  a  squyer  doon  a  gentil  dede, 
As  well  as  can  a  knight,  with-outen  drede.' 

She  thonketh  him  up-on  hir  knees  al 
bare,  1545 

And  hoom  un-to  hir  housbond  is  she  fare, 
And  tolde  him  al  as  ye  ban  herd  me  sayd ; 
And  be  ye  siker,  be  was  so  weel  apayd,  (820) 
That  it  were  inpossible  me  to  wryte  ; 
What  sholde  I  lenger  of  this  cas  endyte  ? 

Arveragus  and  Dorigene  bis  -n-yf      155 1 
In  sovereyn  blisse  leden  forth  hir  lyf. 
Never  eft  ne  was  ther  ang^e  hem  bitwene  ; 
He   cherissetb   hir   as  thotigb   she  were 
a  quene  ;  1554 

And  she  was  to  him  trewe  for  evermore. 
Of  tbise  two  folk  ye  gete  of  me  na-more. 

Aurelius,  that  bis  cost  hatb  al  forlorn, 
Curseth  the  tjone  that  ever  be  was  born  : 
'  Alias,'  quod  he,  '  alias  !  that  I  bibighte 
Of   pured    gold    a    thousand    pound    of 
wighte  (832)  1560 

Un-to  this  pbilosophre  !  how  shal  I  do  ? 
I  see  na-more  but  that  I  am  fordo. 
Myn  heritage  moot  I  nedes  selle, 
And    been  a  begger ;    beer   may  I   nat 

dwelle, 
And  shamen  al  my  kinrede  in  tliis  place, 
But  I  of  him  may  gete  bettre  grace.     1566 
But  natbelees,  I  wol  of  him  assaye,     (839) 
At  certeyn  dayes,  yeer  by  yeer,  to  paye. 
And  thanke  him  of  his  grete  curteisj'e ; 
My  trouthe  wol  I  kepe,  I  wol  nat  lye.'  1570 

With  berte  soor  be  g(X)th  un-to  his  cofre, 
And  broghte  gold  un-to  this  pbilosophre, 
The  value  of  fyve  hundred  pound,  I  gesse, 
And  him  biseeheth,  of  his  gentillesse. 
To  graunte  him  dayes  of  the  remenaunt, 
And  seyde,  'maister,  I  dar  wel  make 
avaunt,  1576 

I  failled  never  of  my  trouthe  as  yit ; 
For  sikerly  my  dette  sbal  be  quit         (850) 
Towardes  yow,  bow-ever  that  I  fare 
To  goon  a-begged  in  my  kirtle  bare.     1580 
But  wolde  ye  vouche-sauf,  up-on  seurtee. 
Two  yeer  or  three  for  to  respyten  me, 
Than  were  I  wel ;  for  elles  moot  I  solle 
Myn  heritage  ;  ther  is  na-more  to  telle.' 
This  pbilosophre  sobrely  ans^verde,  1585 


And  seyde  thus,  whan  he  tbise  wordes 

berde  :  (858) 

'  Have  I  nat  bolden  covenant  un-to  thee?' 
'  Yes,  certes,  wel  and  trewely,'  quod  lie. 
'  Hastow  nat  bad  thy  lady  as  thee  ly  keth  ? ' 
'  Xo,    no,'   quod    he,   and    sorwefully   be 

syketh.  1590 

'  What  was  the  cause  ?  tel  me  if  thou  can.' 
Aurelius  his  tale  anon  bigan, 
And  tolde  him  al,  as  ye  ban  herd  bifore ; 
It  nedeth  nat  to  yow  reherce  it  more. 

Heseide,  'Arveragus,  of  gentillesse,  1595 
Had  lever  dye  in  sorwe  and  in  distresse 
Than   that  his  wyf  were  of  hir  trouthe 

fals.'  (869) 

The  sorwe  of  Dorigen  be  tolde  him  als. 
How  lootb  hir  was  to  been  a  wikked  wyf, 
And  that  she  lever  had  lost  that  day  hir 

lyf,  i(x)o 

And  that  hir  trouthe  she  swoor.  thurgh 

innocence  : 
'  She  never  erst  berde  speke  of  apparence ; 
That  made  me  ban  of  hir  so  greet  pitee. 
And  right  as  frely  as  he  sente  hir  me, 
As  frely  sente  I  hir  to  him  ageyn.         1605 
This  al  and  som,  ther  is  na-more  toseyn.' 
This      pbilosophre      answerde,      'leva 

brother, 
Everich  of  yow  dide  gentilly  til  other.  (880) 
Thou  art  a  squyer,  and  be  is  a  knight ; 
But  god  forbede,  for  his  blisful  might,  1610 
But-if  a  clerk  coude  d<K>n  a  gentil  dede 
As  wel  as  any  of  yow,  it  is  no  drede  ! 

Sire,  I  relesse  thee  thy  thousand  pound. 
As  thou  right  now  were  cropen  out  of  the 

ground,  1614 

Xe  never  er  now  ne  haddest  knowen  me. 
For  sire,  I  wol  nat  take  a  peny  of  thee 
For  al  my  craft,  ne  noght  for  my  travaille. 
Thou  liast  y-payed  wel  for  my  vitaille ;  (890) 
It  is  y-nogh,  and  farewel,  have  good  day:' 
And  took  bis  bors,  and  forth  he  gooth 

his  way.  1620 

Lordinges,  this  question  wolde  I  aske 

now, 
Which  was  the  moste  free,as  thinketh  yow? 
Xow  telletb  me,  er  that  ye  farther  wende. 
I  can  na-more,  my  tale  is  at  an  ende.  (896) 


Here  is  ended  the  Frankeleyns  Tale. 
T)i£  six  lines,  numbered  11929-34  in  Tyrwbitt's  text,  are  spurious;  for  his 
11-  1193S-12902,  see  pp.  551-564  ;  for  11.  12903-15468,  see  pp.  492-551 


[5469- 


.]    G.    ZU  ^econie  (llonnee  Zcik. 


649 


GROUP  G. 


THE    SECONDE    NONNES    TALE. 


The  Prologe  of  the  Seconde  Nonnes  Tale. 


The  ministre  and  the  norico  tm-to  vyces, 
\Vliich  that  men  elepe  in  English  yclel- 

nesse, 
That  porter  of  the  gate  is  of  delyces, 
T'eschue,  and   by  hir   contrarie   hir   op- 


That  is  to  seyn,  by  levefiil  bisinesse,  5 

Wei  oghten  we  to  doon  al  otir  entente, 
Lest  that  the  feend  thiirgh  ydelnesse  us 
hente. 

For  he,  that  with  his  thoiisand  cordes  slye 
Continuelly  us  waiteth  to  biclai)pe. 
Whan  he  may  man  in  ydelnesse  espye,  10 
He  can  so  lightly  cacche  him  in  his  trappe. 
Til  that  a  man  be  hent  right  by  the  lappa. 
He  nis  nat  war  the  feend  hath  him  in 

honde ; 
Wei  oughte  us  werche,  and  ydelnes  with- 

stonde. 

And  thoiigh  men  dradden  never  for  to  dye, 
Yet  seen  men  wel  by  reson  doutelees,     16 
That  ydelnesse  is  roten  slogardye. 
Of  which    ther    never    comth    no   good 

encrees  ; 
And  seen,  that  slouthe  hir  holdeth   in 

a  lees 
Only  to  slepe,  and  for  to  ete  and  drinke, 
And  to  devouren  al  that  othere  swinke.  21 

And  for  to  putte  us  fro  swich  ydelnesse. 
That  cause  is  of  so  greet  confusioun, 
I  have  heer  doon  my  feithful  bisinesse. 
After  the  legend©,  in  translacioun  25 

Right  of  thy  glorious  lyf  and  passioun. 
Thou  with   thy  garland  wroght  of  rose 

and  lilie  ; 
Thee  mene   I,  mayde  and  martir,  seint 

Cecilie ! 


Inuocacio  ad  Mariam. 
And  thou  that  flour  of  virgines  art  alio, 
Of  whom    that   Bernard   list   so   wel   to 

wryte,  ^o 

To  thee  at  my  biginning  first  I  calle  ; 
Thou  comfort    of   us  wrecches,    do    me 

endyie 
Thy  maydens  deeth,  than  wan  thurgh  hir 

meryte 
Tlie  eternal  lyf,  and  of  the  feend  viotorie, 
As  man  may  after  reden  in  hir  storie.    35 

Tliou  mayde  and  mooder,  doghter  of  thy 

sone, 
Thoti  welle  of  mercy,  sinful  soules  cure. 
In  whom  that  god,  for  bountee,  chees  to 

wone. 
Thou    humble,    and    heigh    over    every 

creatvire, 
Thou  nobledest  so  ferforth  our  nature,  40 
That   no  desdeyn  the  maker  hadde  of 

kinde, 
His  sone  in  blode  and  flesh  to  clothe  and 

winde. 

Withinne  the  cloistre  blisful  of  thy  sydos 
Took  mannes  shap  the  eternal  lovo  and 

pees. 
That  of  the  tryne  compas  lord  and  gyde 

is,  45 

Whom  erthe  and  see  and  heven,  out  of 

relees. 
Ay  herien  ;  and  thou,  virgin  wemmelees, 
Bar  of  thy  body,  and  dweltest  mayden 

pure. 
The  creatour  of  every  creature. 

Assembled  is  in  thee  magnificence  50 

With  mercy,  goodnesse,  and  with  swich 
pitee 

3 


650 


ZU  €antetr6uvp  Zake. 


[t.  [5520-155! 


That  thou,  that  art  the  sonne  of  excel- 
lence, 
Nat  only  helpest  hem  that  preyen  thee, 
But  ofte  tyme,  of  thy  henignitee,  54 

Pul  frely,  er  that  men  thyn  help  hiseche, 
Thou  goost  biforn,  and  art  hir  lyves  leche. 

Now  help,  thou  meke  and  blisful  fayre 

mayde. 
Me,  flemed  wrecche,  in  this  desert  of  galle  ; 
Think  on  the  womman   Cananee,   that 

sayde 
That  whelpes  eten  somme  of  the  crommes 

alle  60 

That  from  hir  lordes  table  been  y-falle  ; 
And  thoitgh  that  I,  unworthy  sone  of  Eve, 
Be  sinful,  yet  accepte  my  bileve. 

And,  for  that  feith   is   deed  with-outen 

werkes, 
So  for  to  werken  yif  me  wit  and  space,  65 
That  I  be  quit  fro  thennes  that  most  derk 

is! 
O  thou,  that  art  so  fayx  and  ful  of  grace, 
Be  myn  advocat  in  that  heighe  place 
Ther-as  withouten  ende  is  songe  'Osanne,' 
Thou   Cristes    mooder,    doghter    dere   of 

Anne !  70 

And  of  thy  light  my  soule  in  prison  lighte. 

That  troubled  is  by  the  contagioun 

Of  my  body,  and  also  by  the  wighte 

Of  erthly  luste  and  fals  affeccioun  ; 

O  haven  of  refut,  o  salvacioun  75 

Of  hem  that  been  in  sorwe  and  in  dis- 

tresse. 
Now  help,  for  to  my  werk  I  wol  me  dresse. 

Yet  preye  I  yow  that  reden  that  I  wrj'te, 
Foryeve  me,  that  I  do  no  diligence 
This  ilke  storie  subtilly  to  endyte  ;  80 

For  both  have  I  the  wordes  and  sentence 
Of  hixn  that  at  the  seintes  reverence 
The  storie  wroot,  and  folwe  hir  legende, 
And   prey  yow,    that    ye   wol   my  werk 
amende. 

Jnterpretacio  nominis  Cecilie,  quam  ponit 
frater  lacobus  lanuensis  in  Legenda 
Aurea. 

First  wolde  I  yow  the  name  of  seint 
Cecilie  85 

Expoune,  as  men  may  in  hir  storie  see, 


It  is  to  seye  in  English  '  hevenes  lilie,' 
For  pure  chastnesse  of  virginitee  ; 
Or,  for  she  whyinesse  hadde  of  honestee. 
And   grene  of  conscience,    and   of  good 
fame  90 

The  sote  savour,  '  lilie '  was  hir  name. 

Or  Cecile  is  to  seye  '  the  wey  to  blinde,' 
For  she  ensample  was  b3'  good  techinge ; 
Or  elles  Cecile,  as  I  writen  finde, 
Is  joyned,  by  a  maner  conjoininge  95 

Of  '  hevene  '   and    '  Lia ' ;    and    heer,    in 

figuringe. 
The  '  heven  '  is  set  for  thoght  of  holinesse, 
And  '  Lia '  for  hir  lasting  bisinesse. 

Cecile  may  eek  be  seyd  in  this  manerc, 
'  Wanting   of  blindnesse,'  for   hir   grete 

light  100 

Of  sapience,  and  for  liir  thewes  clere  ; 
Or  elles,  lo !  this  maydens  name  bright 
Of  '  hevene '  and  '  leos '  comth,  for  which 

by  right 
Men  mighte  hir  wel  '  the  heven  of  peple ' 

calle,  104 

Ensample  of  gode  and  wyse  werkes  alle. 

For  '  leos '  '  peple  '  in  English  is  to  seye. 
And  right  as  raen  may  in  the  hevene  see 
The  Sonne  and  mone  and  sterres  every 

weye, 
Right  so  men  gostly,  in  this  mayden  free, 
Seyen  of  feith  the  magnanimitee,  no 

And  eek  the  eleernesse  hool  of  sapience. 
And  sondry  werkes,  brighte  of  excellence. 

And  right  so  as  tluse  philosophres  wryte 
That  heven  is  swift  and  round  and  eek 

brenninge, 
Eight  so  was  fayre  Cecilie  the  whj'te  115 
Ful  swift  and  bisy  ever  in  good  werkinge, 
And  round  and  hool  in  good  perseveringe. 
And  brenning  ever  in  charitee  ful  brighte ; 
Now  have  I  yow  declared  what  she  highte. 
Explicit. 

Here  biginneth  the  Seconde  Nonnes 
Tale,  of  the  lyf  of  Seinte  Cecile. 

This  mayden  bright  Cecilie,  as  hir  lyf 
seith,  120 

Was  comen  of  Eomayns,  and  of  noble 
kinde. 


1559C-15666.]    G.    ^^e  ^econbe  Qtonnee  Zak. 


And  from  hir  cradel  up  fostred  in  the 

feith 
Of  Crist,  and  bar  his  gospel  in  hir  minde ; 
She  never  cessed,  as  I  writen  flnde, 
Of  hir  preyere,  and  god  to  love  and  drede, 
Biseking  him  to  kepe  hir  maydenhede.  126 

And  when  this  mayden  sholde  unto  a  man 
Y-wedded  be,  that  was  ful  yong  of  age, 
Which  that  y-cleped  was  Valerian, 
And  day  was  comen  of  hir  mariage,  130 
She,  ful  devoiit  and  humble  in  hir  eorage, 
Under  hir  robe  of  gold,  that  sat  ful  fayre. 
Had  next  hir  flesh  y-clad  hir  in  an  heyre. 

And  whyl  the  organs  maden  melodye. 
To  god  alone  in  herte  thus  sang  she  ;     135 
'  O  lord,  my  soule  and  eek  my  body  gye 
Unwemmed,  lest  that  I  confounded  be  : ' 
And,  for  his  love  that  deyde  upon  a  tree, 
Every  seconde  or  thridde  day  she  faste, 
Ay  biddinge  in  hir  orisons  ful  faste.      140 

The  night  cam,  and  to  bedde  moste  she 

gon 
With  hir  housbonde,  as  ofte  is  the  manere, 
And  prively  to  him  she  seyde  anon, 
'  O  swete  and  wel  biloved  spouse  dere, 
Ther  is  a  conseil,  and  ye  wolde  it  here, 
Which  that  right  fain  I  wolde  unto  yow 

seye,  146 

So  that  ye  swere  ye  shul  me  nat  biwreye.' 

Valerian  gan  faste  unto  hir  swere. 
That  for  no  cas,  ne  thing  that  mighte  be, 
He  sholde  never-mo  biwreyen  here  ;      150 
And  thanne  at  erst  to  him  thus  seyde  she, 
'  I  have  an  angel  which  that  loveth  me, 
That  with  greet  love,  wher-so  I  wake  or 

slepe. 
Is  redy  ay  my  body  for  to  kepe.  154 

And  if  that  he  may  felen,  out  of  drede. 
That  ye  me  touche  or  love  in  vileinye, 
He  right  anon  wol  slee  yow  with  the  dede. 
And  in  your  yowthe  thus  ye  shulden  dye ; 
And  if  that  ye  in  clene  love  me  gye, 
He  wol  yow  loven  as  me,  for  your  clen- 

nesse,  160 

And  shewen  yow  his  joye  and  his  bright- 

nesse.' 


Valerian,  corrected  as  god  wolde, 
Answerde  agayn,  '  if  I  shal  trusten  thee, 
Lat  me  that  angel  see,  and  him  biholde  ; 
And  if  that  it  a  verray  angel  be,  165 

Than  wol  I  doon  as  thou  hast  preyed  me  ; 
And  if  thou  love  another  man,  for  sothe 
Right  with  this  swerd  than  wol  I  slee  yow 
bothe.' 

Cecile  answerde  anon  right  in  this  wyse, 
'  If  that  yow  list,  the  angel  shul  ye  see,  170 
So  that  ye  trowe  on  Crist  and  yow  bap- 

tyse. 
Groth  forth  to  Via  Apia,'  quod  she, 
'  That  fro  this  toun  ne  stant  but  myles 

three. 
And,  to  the  povre  folkes  that  ther  dwelle, 
Sey  hem  right  thus,  as  that  I  shal  yow 

telle.  175 

Telle  hem  that  I,  Cecile,  yow  to  hem  sente, 

To  shewen  yow  the  gode  Urban  the  olde. 

For  secree  nedes  and  for  good  entente. 

And  whan  that  ye  seint  Urban  han  bi- 
holde. 

Telle  him  the  wordes  whiche  I  to  yow 
tolde;  180 

And  whan  that  he  hatli  purged  yow  fro 
sinne, 

Thanne  shul  ye  see  that  angel,  er  ye 
twinne.' 

Valerian  is  to  the  place  y-gon. 

And   right   as   him   was    taught   by   his 

lerninge, 
He  fond  this  holy  olde  Urban  anon        185 
Among  the  seintes  buriels  lotLnge. 
And  he  anon,  with-outen  taryinge, 
Dide  his  message ;  and  whan  that  he  it 

tolde. 
Urban  for  joye  his  hondes  gan,  up  holde. 

The  teres  from  his  yen  leet  he  falle —  190 
'  Almighty  lord,  O  Jesu  Crist,'  quod  he, 
'  Sower  of  chast  conseil,  herde  of  us  alle. 
The  fruit  of  thilke  seed  of  chastitee 
That  thou  hast  sowe  in  Cecile,  tak  to  thee ! 
Lo,  lyk  a  bisy  bee,  with-outen  gyle,        195 
Thee  serveth  ay  thyn  owene  thral  Cecile  ! 

For  thilke  spouse,  that  she  took  biit  now 
Fvil  lyk  a  iiers  leoun,  she  sendeth  here, 


Y    5 


652 


tU  CanUvBuv^  Zake.  [t.  15667-15736. 


As  meke  as  ever  was  any  lamb,  to  yow  ! ' 
And    with   that    worde,    anon    ther   gau 

appere  2cx) 

An  old  man,  clad  in  whyto  clothes  clere, 
That  hadde  a  book  with  lettre  of  golde  in 

honde, 
And  gan  bifom  Valerian  to  stonde. 

Valerian  as  deed  fil  doun  for  drede 
Whan  he  him  saugh,  and  he  up  hente 

him  tho,  2i>5 

And  on  his  book  right  thus  he  gan  to 

rede — 
'  Oo  Lord,  00  feith,  oo  god  with-outen  mo, 
Oo  Cristendom,  and  fader  of  alle  also, 
Aboven  alle  and  over  al  everywhere ' — 
Thise  wordes  al  with  gold  y-writen  were. 

Whan  this  was  rad,  than  seyde  this  olde 
man,  211 

'  Leveitow  this  thing  or  no  ?  sey  ye  or 
nay.' 

■  I  leve  al  this  thing,'  quod  Valerian, 

'  For  sother  thing  than  this,  I  dar  wel  say. 
Under  the  heveno  no  wight  thinke  may.' 
Tho   vanisshed    th'olde    man,    he    niste 

where,  216 

And  pope   Urban    him  cristened    right 

there. 

Valerian  goth  hoom,  and  fint  Cecilie 
With-inne   his   chambre  with   an   angel 

stonde  ; 
This  angel  hadde  of  roses  and  of  lilie    220 
Corones  two,  the  which  he  bar  in  honde  ; 
And  first  to  Cecile,  as  I  understonde. 
Ho  yaf  that  oon,  and  after  gan  he  take 
That  other  to  Valerian,  hir  make. 

•  With  body  clene  and  with  unwemmed 
thoght  225 

Kepeth  ay  wel  thise  corones,'  quod  he  ; 

■  Fro  Paradys  to  yow  have  I  hem  broght, 
Ne  never-mo  ne  shal  they  roten  be, 

Xe  lese  her  sote  savour,  tmsteth  me  ; 
Ne  never  wight  shal  seen  hem^  with  his  ye. 
But  he  be  chaast  and  hate  vileinye.       231 

And  thou,  Valerian,  for  thou  so  sone 
Assentedest  to  good  conseil  also, 
Sey  what  thee  list,  and  thou  shalt  han 
thy  bone.' 


'  I  have  a  brother,'  quod  Valerian  tho,  235 
'  That  in  this  world  I  love  no  man  so. 
I  pray  yow  that  my  brother  may  han 

grace 
To  knowe  the  trouthe,  as   I  do  in  this 

place.' 

The  angel  seyde,  'god  lyketh  thy  requeste. 
And  bothe,  with  the  palm  of  martirdom. 
Ye  shuUen  come  unto  his  blisful  feste.' 
And  with  that  word  Tiburce  his  brother 

com. 
And  whan  that  he  the  savour  undernom 
Which  that  the  roses  and  the  lilies  caste, 
With-inne  his  herte   he  gan  to  wondro 

fivsto,  245 

And  sr-yde,   '  I  wondro,  this  tymo  of  the 

yeer, 
■\Vhennes  that  sote  savour  cometh  so 
Of  rose  and  lilies  that  I  smello  heer. 
For  though  I  hadde  hem  in  myn  hondes 

two,  249 

The  savour  mighte  in  me  no  depper  go. 
Tho  sote  smel  that  in  myn  herte  I  finde 
Hath  chaunged  me  al  in  another  kinde.' 

Valerian  seyde,  '  two  corones  han  we, 
Snow-whyte  and  rose-reed,  that  shyneu 

clere, 
Whiche  that  thyn  yen  han  no  might  to 

see ;  255 

And   as   thou   smellest  hem  thurgh  my 

preyere. 
So  shaltow  seen  hem,  leve  brother  dere. 
If  it  so  be  thou  wolt,  withouten  slouthe, 
Bileve  aright  and  knowen  verray  trouthe.' 

Tiburce  answerde,  '  seistow  this  to  me  260 
In  soothnesse,  or  in  dreem  I  herkne  this?' 
'  In  dremes,'  quod  Valerian,  'han  we  be 
Unto  this  tyme,  brother  myn,  y-wis. 
But  now  at  erst  in  trouthe  our  dwelling  is.' 
'  How  woostow  this,'  quod  Tiburce,  '  in 
what  wyse  ? '  265 

Quod  Valerian,  '  that  shal  I  thee  devyse. 

The  angel  of  god  hath  me  the  trouthe 

y-taught 
Which  thou  shalt  seen,  if  that  thou  wolt 

reneye 


T.  15737-15808.]    G.    ZU  ^uonU  (Uonne©  Zak. 


653 


The    ydoles    and    be     clone,    and    elles 
naught.' —  269 

And  of  the  miracle  of  thise  corones  tweye 
Seint  Ambrose  in  his  preface  list  to  sej'e  ; 
Solempnely  this  noble  doctour  dere 
Commendeth  it,  and  seith  in  this  manere: 

The  palm  of  martirdom  for  to  recey  ve, 
Seinte  Cecile,  fiUfild  of  goddes  yifte,      275 
The  world  and  eek  hir  chambre  gan  she 

■weyve ; 
Witnes  Tyburces  and  fValerians  shrifte. 
To   whiche    god    of    his   bountee   wolde 

shifte 
Corones  two  of  flourcs  wel  smellinge, 
And  made  his  angel  hem  the   corones 

hringe :  280 

The   mayde   hath   broght   thise   men    to 

blisse  above  ; 
The  world  hath  wist  what  it  is  worth, 

certeyn, 
Devocioun  of  chastitee  to  love. — 
Tho  shewede  him  Cecile  al  open  and  plejm 
That  alle  ydoles  nis  but  a  thing  in  veyn  ; 
For  they  been  dombe,  and  therto  they 

been  deve,  286 

And  charged  him  ?iis  ydoles  for  to  leve. 

'Who  so  that  troweth  nat  this,  a  beste 

he  is,' 
Quod  tho  Tiburce,  '  if  that  I  shal  nat  lye.' 
And  she  gan  kisse  his  brest,  that  herde 

this,  290 

And  was  ful  glad  he  coude  trouthe  espye. 
'  This  day  I  take  thee  for  myn  allye,' 
Seyde  this  blisfvil  fayre  mayde  dere  ; 
And  after  that  she  seyde  as  ye  may  here  : 

'  Lo,   right  so  as  the  love  of  Crist,'  quod 

she,  295 

■  Made   me   thy  brotheres  wyf,  right  in 

that  wyse 
Anon  for  myn  allye  heer  take  I  thee, 
Sin  that  thou  wolt  thyn  ydoles  despyse. 
Go  with  thy  brother  now,  and  thee  bap- 

tyse. 
And  make  thee  clene  ;  so  that  thou  mowe 

biholde  .^i)o 

The   angels   face   of  which   thy   brother 

tolde.' 


Tiburce    answerde    and   seyde,    'brother 

dere. 
First  tel  me  whider  I  shal,  and  to  what 

man  ? ' 
'To  whom?'  qiiod  he,   'com  forth  with 

right  good  chere, 
I  wol  thee  lede  unto  the  pope  Urban.'  ,^05 
'  TU  Urban  ?  brother  myn  Valerian,' 
Quod  tho  Tiburce,  '  woltow  me  thider  lede  ? 
Me  thinketh  that  it  were  a  wonder  dede. 

Ne  menestow  nat  Urban,'  quod  he  tho, 
'  That  is  so  ofte  dampned  to  be  deed,    310 
And  woneth  in  halkes  alwey  to  and  fro. 
And  dar  nat  ones  putte  forth  his  heed  ? 
Men  sholde  him  brennen  in  a  fyr  so  reed 
If  he  were  founde,  or  that  men  mighte  him 

spye; 
And  we  also,  to  here  Mm  companye —  315 

And  whyl  we  seken  thilke  divinitee 
That  is  y-hid  in  hevene  prively, 
Algate  y-brend  in  this  world  shul  we  be  ! ' 
To  whom  Cecile  answerde  boldely,         319 
'  Men  mighten  dreden  wel  and  skilfully 
This  lyf  to  lese,  myn  owene  dere  brother, 
If  this  were  livinge  only  and  non  other. 

But  ther  is  better  lyf  in  other  place. 
That  never  shal  be  lost,  ne  drede  thee 

noght. 
Which  goddes  sone  us  tolde  thiirgh  his 

grace ;  3,^5 

That  fadres  sone  hath  alle  thinges  wroght ; 
And  al  that  wroght  is  with  a  skilful  thoght, 
The  goost,  that  fro  the  fader  gan  procede, 
Hath  sowled  hem,  withouten  any  drede. 

By  word  and  by  miracle  goddes  sone,  330 
Whan  he  was  in  this  world,  declared  here 
That  ther  was  other  lyf  the^  men  may 

wone.' 
To  whom  answerde  Tiburce, '  O  suster  dere, 
Ne  seydestow  right  now  in  this  manere, 
Ther  nis  but  o  god,  lord  in  soothfastnesse : 
And   now  of  three   how   maystow   here 

witnesse?'  3.?6 

'  That  shal  I  telle,'  quod  she,  '  er  I  go. 
Eight  as  a  man  hath  sapiences  three,. 
Memorie,  engyn,  and  intellect  also, 
So,  in  o  being  of  divinitee,  340 


654 


Z^i.  tmUvUv^  ZakQ. 


[t.  1 5809-1 58 78. 


Three  persones  may  tlier  right  wel  be.' 
Tho  gan  she  him  fal  bisily  to  preche 
Of  Cristes  come  and  of  his  peynes  teche, 

And  many  pointes  of  his  passiouu  ; 
How  goddes  sone  in  this  world  was  witli- 

holde,  345 

To  doon  mankinde  pleyn  remissioun, 
That  was  y-bounde  in  siune  and  cares 

colde  : 
Al  this  thing  she  unto  Tiburce  tolde. 
And  after  this  Tiburce,  in  good  entente, 
Witli  Valerian  to  pope  Urban  he  wente, 

That  thanked  god  ;  and  with  glad  herte 
and  light  35i 

He  cristned  him,  and  made  him  in  that 
place 

Parfit  in  his  leminge,  goddes  knight. 

And  after  this  Tiburce  gat  swich  grace. 

That  every  day  he  saugh,  in  tyme  and 
space,  355 

The  angel  of  god  ;  and  every  maner  bone 

That  he  god  axed,  it  was  sped  ful  sone. 

It  were  ful  hard  by  ordi-e  for  to  seyn 
How    many    wondres     Jesus     for    hem 

wroghte ; 
But  atte  laste,  to  tellen  short  and  pleyn, 
The  sergeants  of  the  toun  of  Eome  hem 

soghte,  361 

And   hem   biforn   Almache    the    prefect 

broghte, 
Which   hem  apposed,  and   knew  al  hir 

entente, 
And  to  the  image  of  Jupiter  hem  sente. 

And  seyde,  '  who  so  wol  nat  sacrifyse,  365 
Swap  of  his  heed,  this  is  my  sentence 

here.' 
Anon  thise  martirs  that  I  yow  devyse, 
Oon  Maximus,  that  was  an  officere 
Of  the  prefectes  and  his  corniculere, 
Hem   hente ;    and   whan    he    forth    the 

seintes  ladde,  370 

Him-self  he  weep,  for  pitee  that  he  hadde. 

^'S'lian  Maximus  had  herd  the  seintes  lore. 
He  gat  him  of  the  tormentoures  leve. 
And   ladde   hem   to   his    hous   withoute 
more ;  374 

\iu\  with  hir  preching,  er  that  it  were  eve, 


They  gonnen  fro  the  tormentours  to  reve, 
And  fro  Maxime,  and  fro  his  folk  echone 
The  false  feith,  to  trowe  in  god  allone. 

CeciUe  cam,  whan  it  was  woxen  night. 
With  preestes   that    hem    cristned   alle 

y-fere ;  380 

And   afterward,    whan    day    was   woxen 

light, 
Cecile  hem  seyde  witli  a  ful  sobre  chere, 
'  Now,   Cristes  owene  knightes  leve  and 

dere. 
Caste  alle  awey  the  werkes  of  derknesse. 
And  armeth   yow  in  armvire  of  bright- 

nesse.  3*^5 

Ye  han  for  sotho  y-doon  a  greet  bataille, 
Your  cours  is  doon,  your  feith  han  ye 

conserved, 
Goth  to  the  corone  of  lyf  that  may  nat 

faille ; 
The   rightfvil  juge,   which   that   ye   han 

served,  3*^9 

Shall  yeve  it  yow,  as  ye  han  it  deserved.' 
And  whan  this  thing  was  seyd  as  I  devyse. 
Men  ladde  hem  forth  to  doon  the  sacriiyse. 

But  whan  they  weren  to  the  place  broght. 
To  tellen  shortly  the  conclusioun, 
They   nolde    encense   ne   sacrifice    right 
noght,  395 

But  on  hir  knees  the.v  setten  hem  adoun 
With  humble  herte  and  sad  devocioun. 
And  losten  bothe  hir  hedes  in  the  place. 
Hir  soules  wenten  to  the  king  of  grace. 

This   Maximus,   that    sangh   this    thing 
bityde,  400 

With  pitous  teres  tolde  it  anon-right, 
That  he  hir  soules  saugh  to  heven  glyde 
With  angels  ful  of  cleemesse  and  of  light. 
And  with  his  word  converted   many  a 

wight ; 
For  which  Almachius  dide  him  so  to-bete 
With  whippe  of  leed,  til  he  his  lyf  gan 
lete.  ^06 

Cecile  him  took  and  buried  him  anoon 
By  Tiburce  and  Valerian  softely, 
Withinne  hir  bvirying-place,  under  the 

stoon. 
And  after  this  Almachius  hastily         4^° 


,5879-15953-]    ^     ^h  ^econbe  Qlonnee  Zak, 


655 


Bad  his  ministres  fecchen  openly 
Cecile,  so  that  she  mighte  in  his  presence 
Doon  sacrifyce,  and  Jiipiter  encense. 

But  they,  converted  at  hir  wyse  lore, 
Wepten  ful  sore,  and  yaven  ful  credence 
Unto  hir  word,    and   cryden   more   and 

more,  4^6 

'  Crist,  goddes  sone  withouten  difference. 
Is  verray  god,  this  is  al  our  sentence. 
That  hath  so  good  a  servant  him  to  serve ; 
This  with   o  voys  we  trowen,  thogh  we 

sterve ! '  420 

Almachius,  that  herde  of  this  doinge, 
Bad  fecchen  Cecile,  that  he  might  hir  see. 
And  alderflrst,  lo  !  this  was  his  axinge, 
'  What  maner  womman  artow  ? '  tho  quod 
he.  424 

'  I  am  a  gentil  womman  born,'  quod  she. 
'  I  axe  thee,'  quod  he,  '  thogh  it  thee  greve, 
Of  thy  religioun  and  of  thy  bileve.' 

'  Ye  han  bigonne  your  question  folily,' 
Quod    she,   'that   wolden   two   answeres 

conclude 
In  00  demande  ;  ye  axed  lewedly.'        43° 
Almache  answerde  \into  that  similitude, 
'  Of  whennes  comth  thyn   answering  so 

rude?' 
'  Of  whennes  ? '  quod  she,  whan  that  she 

was  freyned, 
'  Of  conscience    and   of    good   feith   un- 
434 


Almachius  seyde,  '  ne  takestow  non  hede 
Of  my  power?'    and  she  answerde  him 

this — 
'  Your  might,'  quod  she,  '  ful  litel  is  to 

drede ; 
For  every  mortal  mannes  power  nis 
But  lyk  a  bladdre,  ful  of  wind,  y-wis.  439 
For  with  a  nedles  poynt,  whan  it  is  blows. 
May  al  the  boost  of  it  be  leyd  ful  lowe.' 

'  Ful  wrongfully  bigonne  thou,'  quod  he, 
'  And  yet  in  wrong  is  thy  perseveraunce  ; 
Wostow  nat  how  our  mighty  princes  free 
Han   thus   comanded   and   niaad   ordin- 

aunce,  445 

That  every  Cristen  wight  shal  han  pen- 

aiince 


But-if  that  he  his  Cristendom  withseye. 
And  goon  al  quit,  if  he  wol  it  reneye  ? ' 

'  Your  princes  erren,  as  your  nobley  dooth,' 
Quod    tho    Cecile,     'and    with    a    wood 
sentence  45" 

Ye  make  us  gilty,  and  it  is  nat  sooth  ; 
For  ye,  that  knowen  wel  our  innocence. 
For  as  muche  as  we  doon  a  reverence 
To  Crist,  and  for  we  bere  a  Cristen  name. 
Ye  putte  on  us  a  cryme,  and  eek  a  blame. 

But  we  that  knowen  thilke  name  so    456 
For  vertuous,  we  may  it  nat  withseye.' 
Almache  answerde,  '  chees  oon  of  thise 

two. 
Do  sacrifyce,  or  Cristendom  reneye. 
That   thou   mowe  now  escapen  by  that 

weye.'  460 

At  which  the  holy  blisful  fayre  mayde 
Gan  for  to  laughe,  and  to  the  juge  seyde, 

'  O  juge,  confus  in  thy  nycetee, 
Woltow  that  I  reneye  innocence,  464 

To  make  me  a  wikked  wight  ? '  quod  she  ; 
'  Lo  !  he  dissimuleth  here  in  audience. 
He  stareth  and  woodeth  in  his  advertence ! ' 
To  whom  Almachius,  '  unsely  wrecche, 
Ne  woostow  nat  how  far  my  might  may 
strecche  ? 

Han   noght   our   mighty  princes   to   me 
yeven,  47" 

Ye,  bothe  power  and  auctoritee 
To  maken  folk  to  dyen  or  to  liven  ? 
Why  spekestow  so  proudly  than  to  me  ?' 
'  I  speke  noght  but  stedfastly,'  quod  she, 
'  Nat  proudly,  for  I  seye ,  as  for  my  syde, 
We  haten  deedly  thilke  vyce  of  pryde. 

And  if  thou  drede  nat  a  sooth  to  here, 
Than  wol  I  shewe  al  openly,  by  right. 
That  thou  hast  maad  a  ful  gret  lesing  here. 
Thou  seyst,  thy  princes  han  thee  yeven 

might  4S0 

Bothe  for  to  sleen  and  for  to  quiken  a 

wight ; 
Thou,  that  ne  mayst  but  only  lyf  bireve, 
Thou  hast  non  other  power  ne  no  leve  ! 
But   thou  mayst   seyn,  thy  princes   han 

thee  maked  4^4 

Ministre  of  deeth  ;  for  if  thou  speke  of  mo. 


6n6 


^^e  (CantetrButj  ^afee.  [t. 


15954- 


Thou  lyest,  for  thy  power  is  fol  naked.' 
'  Do  wey  thy  boldnes,'  seyde  Almachius 

tho, 
'  And  sacrifyce  to  otir  goddes,  er  thou  go ; 
I  recche  nat  what  wrong  that  thou  me 

profre, 
For  I  can  suffre  it  as  a  philosophre  ;    490 

But  thilke  wTonges  may  I  nat  endure 
That  thou  spekest  of  our  goddes  here,' 

quod  he. 
Cecilo  answerede,  '  O  nyce  creature, 
Thou  seydest  no  word  sin  thou  spak  to  me 
That  I  ne  knew  therwith  thy  uycetee ;  495 
And   that  thou  were,   in    every  maner 

wyse, 
A  lewed  officer  and  a  veyn  justyse. 

Thar  hikketh  no-thing  to  thyn  utter  yen 
That  thou  nart  blind,  for  thing  that  we 

seen  alle  499 

That  it  is  stoon,  that  men  may  wel  espyen. 
That  ilke  stoon  a  god  thou  wolt  it  calle. 
I  rede  thee,  lat  thjoi  hand  upon  it  falle. 
And  taste  it  wel,  and  stoon  thou  shalt  it 

iinde. 
Sin  that  thou  seest  nat  with  thyn  yen 

blinde. 

It  is  a  shame  that  the  peple  shal  505 

So  scorne  thee,  and  laughe  at  thy  folye  ; 
For  comunly  men  woot  it  wel  overal, 
That  mighty  god  is  in  his  hevenes  bye. 
And  thise  images,  wel  thou  mayst  espye. 
To   thee   ne   to   hem-self  mowe    nought 
profyte,  510 

For  in  effect  they  been  nat  worth  a  myte.' 

Thise  wordes  and  swiche  othere  seyde  she, 
And  he  weex  wroth,  and  bad  men  sholde 

hir  lede 
Hom  til  hir  hous,  '  and  in  hir  hous,'  quod 

he, 
'  Brenno  hir  right  in  a  bath  of  flambes 


rede.' 


515 


And  as  he  bad,  right  so  was  doon  in  dede ; 
For  in  a  bath  they  gonne  hir  faste  shetten. 
And  night  and  day  greet  fyr  they  under 


The  longe  night  and  eek  a  day  also. 
For  al  the  fyr  and  eek  the  bathes  bete, 
She  sat  al  cold,  and  felede  no  wo,  521 

It  made  hir  nat  a  dropo  for  to  swete. 
But  in  that  bath  hir  lyf  she  moste  lete  ; 
For  ho,  Almachius,  with  fnl  wikko  entente 
To  sleen  hir  in  the  bath  liis  sonde  sente. 

Three  strokes  in  the  nekke  he  smoot  hir 

tho,  526 

The  tormentour,  but  for  no  maner  chaunce 
He   mighte    noght  smyte   al   hir   nekke 

a-two  ; 
And  for  ther  was  that  tyme  an  ordin- 

aunce, 
That  no   man    sholde   doon   man   swich 

penaunce  530 

The  ferthe  strook  to  smyten,  softe  or  sore, 
This  tormentour  ne  dorste  do  na-more. 

But  half-deed,  with  hir  nekke  y-corven 

there, 
_He  lefte  hir  lye,  and  on  his  wey  is  went. 
The  Cristen  folk,  which  that  aboute  hir 

■were,  535 

With  shetes  han  the  blood  ful  faire  y-hent. 
Three  dayes  lived  she  in  this  torment, 
.\nd  never  ccssed  hem  the  feith  to  teche  ; 
That  she  hadde  fostred,  hem  she  gan  to 

preche ; 

And  hem  she  yaf  hir   moebles  and  hir 
thing,  540 

And  to  the  pope  Urban  bitook  hem  tho. 
And  seyde,  '  I  axed  this  at  hevene  king, 
To  han  respyt  three  dayes  and  na-mo. 
To  recomende  to  yow,  er  that  I  go, 
Thise  soules,   lo !    and  that  I  mighte  do 
werche  545 

Here  of  myn  hous  perpetuelly  a  oherche.' 

Seint  Urban,  with  his  deknes,  prively 
The  body  fette,  and  buried  it  by  nighte 
Among  his  othere  seintes  honestly. 
Hir   hous   the   chirche    of    seint   Cecilie 
highte  ;  550 

Seint  Urban  halwed  it,  as  he  wel  mighte ; 
In  which,  into  this  day,  in  noble  wyse. 
Men  doon  to  Crist  and  to  his  seint  servyse. 


Here  is  ended  the  Seconde  Nonnes  Tale. 


T.  16022-16087.]   G.  ■^^e  £;anott'0  '^eowan'e  (profo^ue. 


657 


THE  CANON'S  YEOMAN'S  PROLOGUE. 


The  prologe  of  the  Chanons  Yemannes  Tale. 


Whan  ended  was  the  lyf  of  seint  Cecyle, 
Er  we  had  riden  fully  fyve  myle,  555 

At  Boghton  under  Blee  us  gan  atake 
A  man,  that  clothed  was  in  clothes  blake, 
And  tindernethe  he  hadde  a  whyt  surplys. 
His  hakeney,  that  was  al  pomely  grys, 
So  swatte,  that  it  wonder  was  to  see ;  560 
It  semed  he  had  priked  myles  three. 
The  hors  eek  that  his  yeman  rood  upon 
So  swatte,  thatunnethe  mighte  it  gon.  (10) 
Aboute  the  peytrel  stood  the  foom  ful  hye, 
He  was  of  fome  al  flekked  as  a  pye.       565 
A  male  tweyfold  on  his  croper  lay, 
It  seniod  that  he  caried  lyte  array. 
Al  light  for  somer  rood  this  worthy  man, 
And  in  myn  herte  wondren  I  bigan 
What  that  he  was,  til  that  I  understood 
How  that  his  cloke  was  sowed  to  his 

hood ;  571 

For  whifh,  when  I  had  longe  avysed  me, 
I  demed  him  som  chanon  for  to  be.  (20) 
His  hat  heng  at  his  bak  doun  by  a  laas. 
For  he  had  riden  more  than  trot  or  paas ; 
He  had  ay  priked  lyk  as  he  were  wood. 
A  clote-leef  he  hadde  under  his  hood  577 
For  swoot,  and  for  to  kepe  his  heed  from 

hete. 
But  it  was  joye  for  to  seen  him  swete  ! 
His  forheed  dropped  as  a  stillatorie,      580 
Were  ful  of  plantain  and  of  paritorie. 
And  whan  that  he  was  come,  he  gan  to 

crye, 
'  God  save,'  quod  he,  '  this  joly  companye ! 
Faste  have  I  priked,'  quod  he,  '  for  your 

sake,  (3,) 

By-cause  that  I  wolde  yow  atake,  585 

To  ryden  in  this  mery  companye.' 
His  yeman  eek  was  ful  of  curteisye. 
And  seyde,  '  sires,  now  in  the  morwe-tyde 
Out  of  your  hostclrye  I  saugh  you  ryde. 


And    warned    heer    my    lord     and     my 

soverayn,  590 

Which  that  to  ryden  with  yow  is  ful  fayn, 
For  his  desport ;  he  loveth  daliaunce.' 
'  Freend,  for  thy  warning  god  yeve  thee 

good  chaunce,'  (40) 

Than  seyde  our  host,  '  for  certes,  it  wolde 

seme 
Thy  lord  were  wys,   and  so   I  may  wel 

deme ;  595 

He  is  ful  jocund  also,  dar  I  leye. 
Can  he  oght  telle  a  mery  tale  or  tweye. 
With  which  he  glade  may  this  companye  ? ' 
'  Who,  sire  ?  my  lord '?  ye,  ye,  withouten 

lye, 
He  can  of  murthe,  and  eek  of  jolitee     600 
Nat  but  ynough  ;  also  sir,  trusteth  me. 
And  ye  him  knewe  as  wel  as  do  I, 
Ye  wolde  wondre  how  wel  and  craftily  (50) 
He  coude  werke,  and  that  in  sondry  wyse. 
He    hath    take    on    him    many   a   greet 

empryse,  605 

Which   were   ful   hard   for   any   that   is 

here 
To  bringe  aboute,  but  they  of  him  it  lere. 
As  homely  as  he  rit  amonges  yow. 
If  ye  him  knewe,   it  wolde  be  for   your 

prow ;  6c  9 

Ye  wolde  nat  forgoon  his  aqueyntaunce 
For  mochel  good,  I  dar  leye  in  balaunce 
Al  that  I  have  in  my  possessioun. 
He  is  a  man  of  heigh  discrecioun,         (60) 
I  warne  you  wel,  he  is  a  passing  man.' 
'  Wel,'  quod  our  host,  '  I  pray  thee,  tel 

me  than,  615 

Is  he  a  clerk,  or  noon  ?  tel  what  he  is.' 

'Nay,  he  is  gretter  than  a  clerk,  y-wis,' 
Sey.le  this  yeman,  '  and  in  wordes  fewe, 
Host,  of  his  craft  som-what  I  moI  yow 

shewe.  619 


6n8 


^$e  (tantetrfiurp  Zake.  [t.  16088-1C170. 


I  seye,  my  lord  can  swich  svibtilitee — 
(But  al  his  craft  ye  may  nat  wite  at  me  ; 
Andsom-whathelpelyettohiswerking) — 
That  al  this  ground  on  which  we  been 

i-yding,  (70) 

Til  that  we  come  to  Caunterbury  toun, 
He  coude  al  clene  turne  it  np-so-doun,    625 
And  pave  it  al  of  silver  and  of  gold.' 

And  whan  this  yeman  hadde  thus  y-told 
Unto  ovir  host,  he  sej'de,  '  ben'cite  ! 
This  thing  is  wonder  merveillous  to  me, 
Sin  that  thy  lord  is  of  so  heigh  pnxdence. 
By-cause  of  which  men  sholde  him  rever- 
ence, 631 
That  of  his  worship  rekketh  he  so  lyte  ; 
His  oversloppe  nis  nat  worth  a  myte,  (80) 
As  in  effect,  to  him,  so  mote  I  go  ! 
It  is  al  bandy  and  to-tore  also.  635 
Why  is  thy  lord  so  sluttish,  I  thee  preye, 
And  is  of  power  better  cloth  to  beye. 
If  that  his  dede  accorde  with  thy  speche? 
Telle  me  that,  and  that  I  thee  biseche.' 
'  Why  ? '  quod  this  yeman,  '  wherto  axe 

ye  me  ?  640 

God  help  me  so,  for  he  shal  never  thee  ! 
(But  I  wol  nat  avowe  that  I  seye. 
And  therfor  kepe  it  secree,  I  yow  preye). 
He  is  to  wys,  in  feith,  as  I  bUeve  ;         (91) 
That  that  is  overdoon,  it  wol  nat  preve  645 
Aright,  as  clerkes  seyn,  it  is  a  vyce. 
Wherfor  in  that  I  holde  him  lewed  and 

nyce. 
For  whan  a  man  hath  over-greet  a  wit, 
Ful  oft  him  happeth  to  misusen  it ; 
So  dooth  my  lord,  and  that  me  greveth 

sore.  650 

God  it  amende,  I  can  sey  yow  na-more.' 
'  Ther-of  no  fors,  good  yeman,'  quod  our 

host ; 
'  Sin    of  the   conning   of  thy  lord  thou 

wost,  (loo) 

Tel  how  he  dooth,  I  pray  thee  hertely, 
Sin  that  he  is  so  crafty  and  so  sly.         655 
^\Tier  dwellen  ye,  if  it  to  telle  be  ? ' 

'  In  the  siiburbes  of  a  toun,'  quod  he, 
'  Lurkinge  in  hemes  and  in  lanes  blinde, 
■^^lier-as  thise  robbours  and  thise  theves 

by  kinde 
Holden  hir  privee  fereful  residence,     660 
As  they  that  dar  nat  shewen  hir  presence  ; 
So  faren  we,  if  I  shal  seye  the  sothe.' 


'  Now,'  qviod  our  host,  'yit  lat  me  talke 

to  the  ;  (no) 

ANTiy  artow  so  discoloured  of  thy  face  ? ' 
'  Peter  ! '  quod  he,  '  god  yeve  it  harde 

grace,  665 

I  am  so  used  in  the  fyr  to  blowe. 
That  it  hath  chaunged  my  colour,  I  trowe. 
I  am  nat  wont  in  no  mirour  to  prye, 
But  swinke  sore  and  lerne  multiplye. 
We  blondren  ever  and  pouren  in  the  fyr, 
And  for  al  that  we  fayle  of  our  desyr,     C71 
For  ever  we  lakken  our  conclusioun. 
To  mochel  folk  we  doon  illusioun,       (120) 
And  borwe  gold,  be  it  a  pound  or  two, 
Or  ten,  or  twelve,  or  many  sommes  mo,  675 
And  make  hem  wenen,  at  the  leeste  weye. 
That  of  a  pound  wo  coude  make  tweye  ! 
Yet  is  it  fals,  but  ay  we  han  good  hope 
It  for  to  doon,  and  after  it  we  grope. 
But  that  science  is  so  fer  us  biforn,       680 
We  mowen  nat,  al-though  we  hadde  it 

sworn, 
It  overtake,  it  slit  awey  so  faste  ; 
It  wol  us  maken  beggers  atte  laste.'    (130) 
Whyl   this    yeman   was    thus   in    his 

talking. 
This  chanoun  drough  him  neer,  and  herds 

al  thing  685 

Which  this  yeman  spak,  for  suspecioun 
Of  mennes  speche  ever  hadde  this  cha- 
noun. 
For  Catoun  seith,  that  he  that  gilty  is 
Demeth  al  thing  be  spoke  of  him,  y-wis. 
That  was  the  cause  he  gan  so  ny  him  drawe 
To  his  yeman,  to  herknen  aJ  his  sawe.  691 
And  thus  he  seyde  \in-to  his  yeman  tho, 
'  Hold  thou  thy  pees,  and  spek  no  wordes 

mo,  (140) 

For  if  thou  do,  thou  shalt  it  dere  abye  ; 
Thou  sclaundrest  me  heer  in  this  com- 

panye,  695 

And  eek  discoverest  that  thou  sholdest 

hyde.' 
'  Ye,'  quod  our  host,  '  telle  on,  what  so 

bityde ; 
Of  al  his  threting  rekke  nat  a  myte  ! ' 
'  In  feith,'  quod  he,  '  namore  I  do  but  lyte." 
And  whan  this  chanon  saugh  it  wolde 

nat  be,  700 

But  his  yeman  wolde  telle  his  privetee, 
He  fledde  awey  for  verray  sorwe  an d  shame. 


T.  i6i 71-16235.]    G.  ZU  €6anoun0  'X)emattne6  Zain. 


659 


'  A  ! '  quod  the  yeman,  '  heer  shal  aryse 
game,  (150) 

Al  that  I  call  anon  now  wol  1  telle.  704 
Shi  he  is  goon,  the  foule  feend  him  quelle  ! 
For  never  her-after  wol  I  with  him  mete 
For  peny  ne  for  pound,  I  yow  bihete  ! 
He  that  me  broghte  first  unto  that  game, 
Er  that  he  dye,  sorwe  have  he  and  shame  ! 
For  it  is  ernest  to  me,  by  my  feith  ;  710 
That  fele  I  wel,  what  so  any  man  seith. 


And  yet,   for  al  my  smerte   and  al  my 

grief, 
For  al  my  sorwe,  labour,  and  meschief, 
I  coude  never  leve  it  in  no  wyse.         (161) 
Now  wolde  god  my  wit  mighte  suffyse  715 
To  tellen  al  that  longeth  to  that  art  ! 
But  natheles  yow  wol  I  tellen  part  ; 
Sin  that  my  lord  is  gou,  I  wol  nat  spare  ; 
Swicli  thing  as  that  I  knowe,  I  wol  de- 
clare.'—  719 


Here  endeth  the  Prologe  of  the  Cbanotms  Yemannes  Tale. 


THE    CHANOUNS   YEMANNES    TALE. 


Here  big^nneth  the  Chanouns  Yeman  his  Tale. 


[Prima  Pars.] 

With  this  chanoun  I  dwelt  have  seven 
yeer,  720 

And  of  his  science  am  I  never  the  neer. 
Al  that  I  hadde,  I  have  y-lost  tlier-by ; 
And  god  wot,  so  hath  many  mo  than  I.  (170) 
Ther  I  was  wont  to  be  right  fresh  and  gay 
Of  clothing  and  of  other  good  array,  725 
Now  may  I  were  an  hose  upon  myn  heed  ; 
And  wher  my  colour  was  bothe  fresh  and 

reed. 
Now  is  it  wan  and  of  a  leden  hewe  ; 
Who-so  it  viseth,  sore  shal  he  rewe. 
And  of  my  swink  yet  blered  is  myn  yii,  730 
Lo !  which  avantage  is  to  multiplye  ! 
That  slyding  science  hath  me  maadsobare. 
That  I  have  no  good,  wher  that  ever  I  fare ; 
And  yet  I  am  endetted  so  ther-by        (181) 
Of  gold  that  I  have  borwed,  trewely,     735 
That  whyl  I  live,  I  shal  it  qnyte  never. 
Lat  every  man  be  war  by  me  for  ever  ! 
What  maner  man  that  casteth  him  ther-to, 
If  he  continue,  I  holde  his  thrift  y-do. 
So  helpe  me  god,  ther-by  shal  he  nat  winne , 
But  empte  his  purs,  and  make  his  wittes 
thinne.  (188)  741 

And  whan  lie,thurgh  his madnes and  folye. 


Hath  lost  his  owene  good  thurgh  jupartye, 
Tlianne  he  e.xcyteth  other  folk  ther-to. 
To  lese  hir  good  as  he  him-self  hath  do.  745 
For  unto  shrewes  joye  it  is  and  ese 
To  have  hir  felawes  in  peyne  and  disese  ; 
Thus  was  I  ones  lerned  of  a  clerk. 
Of  that  no  charge,  I  wol  speke  of  our  werk. 
Whan  we  been  ther  as  we  sliul  exercyse 
Our  elvish  craft,  we  semen  wonder  wyse, 
Our    ternies    been     so    clergial    and    so 
queynte,  (199)  752 

I  blowe  the  fyr  til  that  myn  lierte  feynte. 

Wliat  sholde  I  tellen  ech  proporcioun 
Of  thinges  whichc  that  we  werche  upon, 
As  on  fyve  or  sixe  ounces,  may  wel  be,  756 
Of  silver  or  som  other  quantit^e, 
And  hisie  me  to  telle  yow  the  names 
Of  orpiment,  brent  bones,  yren  squames. 
That  into  poudre  grounden  been  ful  smal  ? 
And  in  an  erthen  potte  how  put  is  al.  761 
And  salt  y-put  in,  and  also  papeer,     (209) 
Biforn  tliise  poudres  that  I  apeke  of  heer, 
And  wel  y-covered  with  a  lampe  of  glas, 
And  mochel  other  thing  which  that  ther 
was  ?  765 

And  of  the  pot  and  glasses  enluting, 
Thatof  the  eyre  mighte  passe  out  no-thingf 


66o 


ZU  tanttv&uv^  Zake. 


[t.   I  62 36-1 63 2  7. 


And  of  the  esy  i'yr  and  smart  also, 
Which  that  was  maad,  and  of  the  care 

and  wo  769 

Tliat  we  hadde  in  our  matires  sublyming, 
And  in  amalgaming  and  calcening 
Of  qnik-sUver,  y-clept  Mercurie  crude  ? 
For  alle  our  sleightes  we  can  nat  con- 
ckide.  (220) 

Our  orpiment  and  sublymed  Mercurie, 
Our  groitnden  litarge  cek  on  the  porphurie, 
Of  ech  of  thise  of  ounces  a  certeyn        776 
Nought  holiieth  us,  our  labour  is  in  veyu. 
Ne  eek  our  spirites  ascencioun, 
Ne  our  mate  res  that  lyen  al  fixe  adoun, 
Mowe  in  our  working  no-thing  us  avayle. 
For  lost  is  al  onr  labour  and  travayle,     781 
And  al  the  cost,  a  twenty  devel  weye, 
Is  lost  also,  which  we  upon  it  leye.      (230) 

Ther  is  also  ful  many  another  thing 
That  is  unto  our  craft  apertening ;         785 
Though  I  by  ordre  hem  nat  reherce  can, 
By- cause  that  I  am  a  lewed  man. 
Yet  wol  I  telle  hem  as  they  come  to  minde. 
Though  I  ne  can  nat  sette  hem  in  hir 

kinde  ; 
As  bole  armoniak,  verdegrees,  boras,    790 
And  sondry  vessels  maad  of  erthe  and  glas, 
Our  urinales  and  our  descensories, 
Violes,  croslets,  and  subljnaaatories,     (240) 
Cucurbites,  and  alembykes  eek, 
And  othere  swiche,  dere  y-nough  a  leek. 
Nat  nedeth  it  for  to  reherce  hem  alle,     796 
Watres  mbifying  and  boles  galle, 
Arsenik,  sal  armoniak,  and  brimstoon  ; 
And  herbes  coude  I  telle  eek  many  oon. 
As  egremoine,  valerian,  and  lunarie,    800 
And  othere  swiche,  if  that  me  liste  tarie. 
Our  lampesbrenning  bothe  night  and  day. 
To  bringe  aboute  our  craft,  if  that  we 

may.  (250) 

Onr  foumeys  eek  of  calciaacioun. 
And  of  watres  albificacioun,  805 

Unslekked  lym,  chalk,  and  gleyre  of  an  ey, 
Poudres  diverse,  asshes,  dong,  pisse,  and 

eley, 
Cered  pokets,  sal  peter,  vitriole  ; 
And  divers  fyres  maad  of  wode  and  cole  ; 
Sal  tartre,  alkaly,  and  sal  preparat,      810 
And  combust  materes  and  coagulat, 
Cley  maad  with  hors  or  mannes  heer,  and 

oile 


Of  tartre,  alum,  glas,   berm,   wort,   and 

argoUe,  (260) 

Resalgar,  and  our  materes  enbibing ; 
And  eek  of  our  materes  encorporing,     815 
And  of  our  silver  citrinacioun. 
Our  cementing  and  fermontacioun. 
Our  ingottes,  testes,  and  many  mo. 

I  wol  yow  telle,  as  was  me  taught  also. 
The  foure  spirites  and  the  bodies  sevene. 
By  ordre,  as  ofte  I  herde  my  lord  hem 

nevene.  821 

The  firste  spirit  quik-silver  culled  is,  (269) 
The  second  orpiment,  the  thridde,  y-wis, 
Sal  armoniak,  and  the  ferthe  brimstoon. 
The  bodies  sevene  eek,  lo !  hem  heer  anoon  : 
Sol  gold  is,  and  Luna  silver  we  threpe,  826 
Mars  yren,  Mercurie  quik-silver  we  clepe, 
Satumus  leed,  and  Jupiter  is  tin. 
And  Venus  coper,  by  my  fader  kin  !      829 

This  cursed  craft  who-so  wol  exercyse, 
He  shal  no  good  han  that  him  may  suflfyse ; 
.  For  al  the  good  he  spendeth  ther-aboute, 
He  lese  shal,  thcr-of  have  I  no  doute.  (280) 
Who-so  that  listcth  outen  his  folye,      834 
Lat  him  come  forth,  and  lerne  multiplye ; 
And  every  man  that  oght  hath  in  his  cofre, 
Lat  him  appere,  and  wexo  a  philosofre. 
Ascaunce  that  craft  is  so  light  to  lere  ? 
Nay,  nay,  god  woot,  al  be  he  monk  or 

frere. 
Freest  or  chanoun,  or  any  other  wight,  840 
Though  he  sitte  at  his  book  bothe  day  and 

night, 
In  lernyng  of  this  elvish  nyce  lore, 
Al  is  in  veyn,  and  parde,  mochel  more  ! 
To  lerne  a  lewed  man  this  subtiltee,   (291) 
Fy !  spek  nat  ther-of,  for  it  wol  nat  be ;  845 
Al  conne  he  letterure,  or  conne  he  noon, 
As  in  effect,  he  shal  finde  it  al  oon. 
For  bothe  two,  by  my  savacioun, 
Concluden,  in  multiplicacioun, 
Y-lyke  wel,  whan  they  han  al  j'-do ;      850 
This  is  to  seyn,  they  faylen  bothe  two. 

Yet  forgat  I  to  maken  rehersaille 
Of  watres  corosif  and  of  limaille,         (300) 
And  of  bodyes  mollificacioun. 
And  also  of  hir  induracioun,  855 

Oiles,  ablucions,  and  metal  fusible. 
To  tellen  al  woldo  passen  any  bible 
That  o-wher  is ;  wherfor,  as  for  the  beste. 
Of  alle  thise  names  now  wol  I  me  reste. 


[6328--I6409.J   G.  ZU  €3anoutt6  '^ewannee  Zak. 


66 1 


For,  as  I  trowe,  I  have  yow  told  y-uowe  860 
To  reyse  a  feend,  al  loke  lie  never  so  rowe. 
A  !  nay  !  lat  be  ;  the  philosoijhres  stoon, 
Elixir  clept,  we  sechen  faste  echoon  ;  (310) 
For  hadde  w^e  him,  than  were  we  siker 

y-now. 
But,  unto  god  of  heven  I  make  avow,  865 
For  al  our  craft,  whan  we  han  al  y-do. 
And  al  oiir  sleighte,  he  wol  nat  come  us  to. 
He  hath  y-maad  us  spend  en  mochel  good, 
For  sorwe  of  which  almost  wo  wexen  wood, 
But  that  good  hope  crepeth  in  our  herte, 
Supposinge  ever,  though  we  sore  smerte, 
To  be  releved  by  him  afterward  ;  872 

Swich  supposing  and  hope  is  sharp  and 
hard ;  (320) 

I  warne  yow  wel,  it  is  to  seken  ever  ; 
That  futur  temps  hath  maad  men  to  dis- 
sever, 875 
In  trust  ther-of,  from  al  that  ever  they 

hadde. 
Yet  of  that  art  they  can  nat  wexen  sadde. 
For  unto  hem  it  is  a  bitter  swete  ; 
So  semeth  it ;  for  nadde  they  but  a  shete 
Which  that  they  mighte  wrappe  hem  inne 
a-night,  880 

And  a  bak  to  wallien  inne  by  day-light, 
They  wolde  hem  selle  and  spenden  on  this 
craft ;  (329) 

They  can  nat  stinte  til  no-thing  be  laft. 
And  evermore,  wher  that  ever  they  goon. 
Men  may  hem  knowe  by  smel  of  brim- 
stoon ;  885 

For  al  the  world,  they  stinken  as  a  goot ; 
Her  savour  is  so  rammish  and  so  hoot, 
That,  though  a  man  from  hem  a  niyle  be, 
The  savour  wol  infeote  him,  trusteth  me; 
Lo,  thus  by  smelling  and  threedbare  array. 
If  that  men  liste,  this  folk  they  knowe  may. 
And  if  a  man  wol  aske  hem  i^rively,  892 
Why  they  been  clothed  so  unthriftily,  (340) 
They  right  anon  wol  rovirnen  in  his  ere. 
And  seyn,  that  if  that  they  espyed  were. 
Men  wolde  hem  slee,  by-cause  of  hir 
science ;  896 

Lo,  thus  this  folk  bitrayen  innocence  ! 
Passe  over  this  ;  I  go  my  tale  un-to. 
Er  than  the  pot  be  on  the  fyr  y-do, 
Of  metals  with  a  certein  quantitee,       900 
My  lord  hem  tempreth,  and  no  man  but 
he— 


Now  ho  is  goon,  I  dar  seyn  boldely — 
For,  as  men  sejTi,he  can  don  craftily  ;  (350) 
Algate  I  woot  wel  he  hath  swich  a  name, 
And  yet  ful  ofte  he  renneth  in  a  blame ;  905 
And  wife  ye  how  ?  ful  ofte  it  happeth  so, 
The  pot  to-breketh,  and  farewel !  al  is  go  ! 
Thise  nietals  been  of  so  greet  violence, 
Ourwalles  mowe  nat  make  hem  resistence, 
Bi\t  if  they  weren  wroght  of  lym  an  d  stoon ; 
They  percen  so,  and  thurgh  the  wal  they 
goon,  911 

And   somme    of    hem   sinken    in-to   the 
ground —  (359) 

Thus  han  we  lost  by  tymes  many  a  pound — 
And  somme  are  scatered  al  the  floor  aboute, 
Somme  lepe  in-to  the  roof;    with-oviten 
doiite,  9'5 

Though  that  the  feend  noght  in  our  sighte 

him  shewe, 
I  trowe  he  with  us  be,  that  ilke  shrewe ! 
In  belle  wher  that  he  is  lord  and  siro, 
Nis  ther  more  wo,  ne  naore  rancour  ne  ire. 
Whan  that  our  pot  is  broke,  as  I  have 
sayd,  920 

Every  man  chit,  and  halt  him  yvel  apayd. 
Som  seyde,  it  was  long  on  the  fyr- 
making,  (369) 

Som  seyde,  nay  !  it  was  on  the  blowing ; 
(Than  was  I  fered,  for  that  was  myn  office) ; 
'  Straw ! '  quod  the  thridde,  'ye  been  lewed 
and  nyce,  925 

It  was  nat  tempred  as  it  oghte  be.' 
'  Nay ! '  quod  the  ferthe, '  stint,  and  herkne 

me  ; 
By-cause  our  fyr  ne  was  nat  maad  of  beech , 
That  is   the   cause,   and   other   noon,   so 

theech ! ' 
I  can  nat  telle  wher-on  it  was  long,       930 
But  wel  I  wot  greet  stryf  is  us  among. 
'  What ! '  quod  my  lord,  '  ther  is  na^more 
to  done. 
Of  thise  perils  I  wol  be  war  eft-sone  ;  (380) 
I  am  right  siker  that  the  pot  was  erased. 
Be  as  be  may,  be  ye  no-thing  amased  ;  935 
As  usage  is,  lat  swepe  the  floor  as  swythe, 
Plukke  up  your  hertes,  and  beth  gladde 
and  blythe.' 
The  mullok  on  an  hepe  y-sweped  was, 
And  on  the  floor  y-cast  a  canevas, 
And  al  this  mullok  in  a  sive  y-throwe,  940 
I  And  sifted,  and  y-piked  many  a  throwe. 


662 


ZU  C(XnUv&w^  Zdke.  [t.  16410-16493. 


'  Pardee,'  quod  oon.   '  somwhat  of  otir 

metal 
Yet  is  therheer,  though  that  we  han  nat  al. 
Al-though  this  thing  mishapped  have  as 

now,  (391) 

Another  tyme  it  may  be  wel  y-now,      945 
Us  moste  putte  our  good  in  aventure  ; 
A  marchant,  parde  !  may  nat  ay  endnre 
Trusteth  me  wel,  in  liis  prosperitee  ; 
Somtyme  his  good  is  drenched  in  the  see. 
And   somtym    comth   it   sauf  un-to   the 

londe.'  950 

'  Pees ! '  quod  my  lord,  '  the  next  tyme 

I  wol  fonde  (398) 

To  bringe  our  craft  al  in  another  plyte  ; 
And  but  I  do,  sirs,  lat  me  han  the  wyte  ; 
Ther  was  defaute  in  som-what,  wel  I  woot.' 
Another  seyde,  the  fyr  was  over  hoot : — 
But,  be  it  hoot  or  cold,  I  dar  seye  this,  956 
That  we  concluden  evermore  amis. 
We  fayle  of  that  which  that  we  wolden 

have, 
And  in  our  madnesse  evermore  we  rave. 
And  whan  we  been  togidres  everichoon. 
Every  man  semeth  a  Salomon.  961 

But  al  thing  which  that  shyneth  as  the 

gold  (409) 

Nis  nat  gold,  as  that  I  have  herd  it  told  ; 
Xe  every  appel  that  is  fair  at  ye 
Xe  is  nat  good,  what-so  men  clappe  or 

crye.  965 

Right  so,  lo !  fareth  it  amonges  us  ; 
He  that  semeth  the  wysest,  by  Jesus  ! 
Is  most  fotd,  whan  it  cometh  to  the  preef ; 
And  he  that  semeth  trewest  is  a  theef ; 
That  shul  ye  knowe,  er  that  I  fro  yow 

wende,  970 

By  that  I  of  my  tale  have  maad  an  ende. 
Explicit  prima  pars. 
Et  sequitur  jyars  secunda. 
Ther  is  a  chanoun  of  religioun 
Amonges  us,  wolde  infecte  al  a  toun,  (420) 
Though  it  as  greet  were  as  was  Xinivee, 
Home,  Alisaundre.Troye,  and  othere  three. 
His  sleightes  and  his  infinit  falsnesse     976 
Ther  coude  no  man  wrj-ten.  as  I  gesse, 
Thogh  that  he  mighte  liven  a  thousand 

yeer. 
In  al  this  world  of  falshede  nis  his  peer  ; 
For  in  his  termes  so  he  wolde  him  winde. 


And  speke  his  wordes  in  so  sly  a  kinde,  981 
Whan  he  commune  shal  with  any  wight, 
That  he  wol  make  him  doten  anon  right. 
But  it  a  feend  be,  as  liim-selvcn  is.  (431) 
Ful  many  a  man  hath  ho  bigj'lcd  er  this. 
And  wol,  if  that  he  live  may  a  whyle  ;  986 
And  yet  men  rj-de  and  goon  ful  many  a 

myle 
Him  for  to  seke  and  have  his  aqueynt- 

aunce, 
Noght  knowinge  of  his  false  governaimce. 
And  if  yow  list  to  yeve  me  audience,    990 
I  wol  it  tellen  heer  in  your  presence. 
But  worshipful  chanouns  religious, 
Ne  demeth  nat  that  I  sclaundre  your  hous, 
Al-though  my  tale  of  a  chanoun  be.    (441 ) 
Of  every  ordre  som  shrewe  is,  parde,     995 
And  go<l  forbede  that  al  a  companye 
Sholde  rewe  a  singiiler  mannes  folyo. 
To  sclanndre  yow  is  no-tliingmyn  entente. 
But  to  correcten  that  is  mis  I  mente. 
.This  tale  was  nat  only  told  for  yow,    1000 
But  eek  for  othere  mo  ;  ye  woot  wel  how 
That,  among  Cristes  apostelles  twelve, 
Ther  nag  no  traytour  but  Judas  him-selve. 
Than  why  sholde  al  the  remenant  have 

blame  (451) 

That  giltlees  were?  by  yow  I  seye  the  same. 
Save  only  this,  if  ye  wol  herkne  me,    ioc6 
If  any  Judas  in  your  covent  be, 
Remeveth  him  bitymes,  I  yow  rede. 
If  shame  or  los  may  causen  any  drede.  1009 
And  beth  no-thing  displesed,  I  yow  preye, 
But  in  this  cas  herkneth  what  I  shal  seye. 

In  London  was  a  preest,  an  annueleer, 
That  therin  dwelled  hadde  many  a  yeer. 
Which  was  so  plesaunt  and  so  servisablc 
Unto  the  wyf,  wher-as  he  was  at  table,  (462) 
That  she  wolde  suffire  him  no-thing  for  to 
paye  i<'i6 

For  bord  ne  clothing,  wente  he  never  so 

gaye  ; 
And  spending-silver  hadde  he  right  y-now. 
Therof  no  fors  ;  I  wol  procede  as  now,   1019 
And  telle  forth  my  tale  of  the  chanoun. 
That  broghte  this  preest  to  confusioun. 

This  false  clianoun  cam  up-on  a  day 
Unto  this  preestes  chambre,  wher  he  lay, 
Biseching  him  to  lene  him  a  certeyn  (471) 
Of  gold,  and  he  wolde  quyte  it  him  ageyn. 


r6494-i<557fi-]  <^-  '^6^  €$anoutt0  'X)etnanne6  Zak. 


663 


'  Lene  me  a  mark,'  quod  he,  '  but  dayes 
three,  1026 

And  at  my  day  I  wol  it  quyten  thee. 
And  if  so  be  that  thou  me  finde  f'als, 
Another  day  do  hange  me  by  the  hals  ! ' 
This  preest  him  took  a  mark,  and  that 
as  swythe,  1030 

And  this  chanoun  him  thanked  ofte  sy the, 
And  took  his  leve,  and  wente  forth  his 
weye,  (4  79) 

And  at  the  thridde  day  broghtehis  moneye, 
And  to  the  preest  he  took  his  gold  agayn, 
Wherof  this  preest  was  wonder  glad  and 
fayn.  1035 

'  Certes,'  quod  he,  'no-thing  anoyeth  me 
To  lene  a  man  a  noble,  or  two  or  three. 
Or  what  thing  were  in  my  possessioun, 
Whan  he  so  trewe  is  of  condioioun. 
That  in  no  wyse  he  breke  wol  his  day ;  1040 
To  swich  a  man  I  can  never  seye  nay.' 
'  Wliat  !'  quod  this  chanoun,  '  sholde  I 
be  untrewe  ?  (489) 

Nay,  that  were  thing  y-fallen  al  of-newe. 
Trouthe  is  a  thing  that  I  wol  ever  kepe 
Un-to  that  day  in  which  that  I  shal  crepe 
In-to  my  grave,  and  elles  god  forbede ;  1046 
Bileveth  this  as  siker  as  is  your  crede. 
God  thanke  I,  and  in  good  tyme  be  it  sayd, 
That  ther  was  never  man  yet  j'vel  apayd 
For  gold  ne  silver  that  he  to  me  lente,  1050 
Ne  never  falshede  in  myn  herte  I  mente. 
And  sir,'  quod  he,  '  now  of  my  privetee. 
Sin  ye  so  goodlich  han  been  un-to  me,  (500) 
And  kythed  to  me  so  greet  gentillesse,  1054 
Somwhat  to  quyte  with  your  kindenesse, 
I  wol  yow  shewe,  and,  if  yow  list  to  lere, 
I  wol  yow  teche  pleynly  the  manere, 
How  I  can  werken  in  philosophye. 
Taketh  good  heed,  ye  shul  wel  seen  at  ye, 
Tliat  I  wol  doon  a  maistrie  er  I  go.'     1060 
'  Ye,'  quod  the  preest,  '  ye,  sir,  and  wol 
ye  so? 
Marie  !  ther-of  I  pray  yow  hertely ! '  (509) 

'  At  your  comandement,  sir,  trewely,' 
Quod  the  chanoun, '  and  elles  god  forbede  ! ' 
Lo,  how  this  theef  coude  his  servyse 
bede !  1065 

Ful  sooth  it  is,  that  swich  profred  servyse 
Stinketh,  as  witnessen  thise  olde  wyse  ; 
And  that  ful  sone  I  wol  it  verifye 
In  this  chanoun,  rote  of  al  trecherye,  1069 


That  ever-more  dely t  hath  and  gladnesse — 
Swich  feendly  thoughtes  in  his  herte  im- 

presse — 
How  Cristes  peple   he  may  to  mesohief 
bringe  ;  (519) 

God  kepe  us  from  his  fals  dissimulinge  ! 
Noght  wiste  this  preest  with  whom  that 
he  delte, 
Ne  of  his  harm  cominge  he  no-thing  felte. 
O  sely  preest !  O  sely  innocent !  1076 

With  coveityse  anon  thou  shalt  be  blent ! 
O  gracelees,  ful  blind  is  thy  conceit, 
No-thing  ne  artow  war  of  the  deceit 
Which  that  this  fox  y-shapen  hath  to  thee ! 
His  wyly  wrenches  thou  ne  mayst  nat  flee. 
Wherfor,  to  go  to  the  conclusioun  1082 
That  refereth  to  thy  confusioun,  (530) 

Unhappy  man  !  anon  I  wol  me  hye 
To  tellen  thyn  unwit  and  thy  folye,     1085 
And  eek    the    falsnesse    of    that    other 

wrecche. 
As   ferforth   as   that   my    conning    may 
strecche. 
This  chanoun  was  my  lord,  ye  wolden 
wene '? 
Sir  host,  in   feith,  and  by  the  hevenes 

qiiene, 
It  was  another  chanoun,  and  nat  he,  1090 
That  can  an  hundred  fold  more  subtiltee ! 
He  hath  bitrayed  folkes  many  tyme  ; 
Of  his  falshede  it  dulleth  me  to  ryme.  (540) 
Ever  whan  that  I  speke  of  his  falshede. 
For  shame  of  him  my  chekes  wexen  rede  ; 
Algates,  they  biginnen  for  to  glowe,    1096 
For  reednesse  have  I  noon,  right  wel  I 

knowe, 
In  my  visage  ;  for  fumes  dyverse 
Of  metals,  which  ye  han  herd  me  reherce, 
Consumed  and  wasted  han  my  reednesse. 
Now  tak  heed  of  this   chanouns  cursed- 
nesse !  "oi 

'  Sir,'  qviod  he  to  the  preest,  '  lat  your 
man  gon  (549) 

For  quik-silver,  that  we  it  hadde  anon  ; 
And  lat  him  bringen  ounces  two  or  three  ; 
And  whan  he  comth,  as  faste  shul  ye  see 
A  wonder  thing,  which  ye  saugh  never  er 
this.'  ""6 

'  Sir,'  quod  the  preest,  '  it  shal  be  doon, 
y-wis.' 
He  bad  his  servant  fecchen  him  this  thing. 


664 


ZU  tantttiuv^  ZaUe. 


[t.  i6k 


.6656. 


And  he  al  rody  was  at  his  bidding. 

And   wente   him   fortli,    and   cam   anon 

agayn  1 1 10 

With  this  qnik-silver,  soothly  for  to  sayn, 
And  took  thise  ounces  three  to  the  cha- 

novin ;  (559) 

And  he  hem  leyde  fayre  and  wel  adoun, 
And  bad  the  servant  coles  for  to  bringe, 
That  he  anon  mighte  go  to  his  werkinge. 
The  coles  right  anon  weren  j-  fet,     11 16 
And  this  chanoun  took  out  a  crossclet 
Of  his  bosom,  and  sliewed  it  the  preest. 
'This  instrument,'  quod  he,  'which  that 

thoii  seest, 
Tak  in  thyn  hand,  and  put  thy-self  thcr- 

inne  11 2" 

Of  this  quik-silver  an  oiince,  and  beer  bi- 

ginne. 
In  the  name  of  Crist,  to  wexe  a  philosofre. 
Ther  been  ful  fewe,  whiche  that  I  wolde 

profre  (57°) 

To  shewen  hem  thus  muche  of  my  science. 
For  ye  shul  seen  heer,  by  experience,  1125 
That  this  quik-silver  wol  I  mortifyo 
Right  in  your  sighte  anon,  witliouten  lye, 
And  make  it  as  good  silver  and  as  fyn 
As  ther  is  any  in  your  purs  or  myn, 
Or  clloswher,  and  make  it  malliable  ;  1 130 
And  elles,  holdeth  mo  fals  and  unable 
Amonges  folk  for  ever  to  appere  !        (579) 
I  have  a  poudre  heer,  that  coste  me  dere, 
Shal  make  al  good,  for  it  is  cause  of  al 
My  conning,  which   that  I  yow  shewen 

shal.  U35 

Voydeth  your  man,  and  lat  him  be  ther- 

oute, 
And  shet  the  dore,  whyls  we  been  aboute 
Our  privetee,  that  no  man  us  espye 
■Wliyls  that  we  werke  in  this  philosophye.' 
Al  as  he  bad,  fulfilled  was  in  dede,      1140 
This  ilke  servant  anon-right  out  yede, 
And  his  maister  shette  the  dore  anon, 
And  to  hir  labour  speedily  they  gon.  (59c) 
This  preest,  at  this  cursed  chanouns 

bidding, 
Up-on  tlie  fyr  anon  sette  this  thing,   1145 
And  blew  the  fyr,  and  bisied  him  ful  faste ; 
And  this  chanoun  in-to  the  croslet  caste 
A  poiidre,  noot  I  wher-of  that  it  was 
Y-maad,  other  of  chalk,  other  of  glas. 
Or  som-what  elles,  was  nat  worth  a  flye 


To  blynde  with  the  iDreest ;  and  bad  him 

hyo  1 151 

The  coles  for  to  couchen  al  above       (599) 
The  croslet;     'for,   in   tokening  I  thee 

love,' 
Quod  this  chanoun,  '  thj-n  owene  hondes 

two 
Shul  werche  al  thing  which  that  shal  heer 

be  do.'  1 155 

'  Graunt  mercy,'  quod  the  preest,  and 

was  ful  glad. 
And  couched  coles  as  the  chanoun  bad. 
And    whyle    ho    bisy   was,   this   feendly 

wreccho. 
This  fals  chanoun,  the  foule  feend  him 

fecche  ! 
Out  of  his  bosom  took  a  bechen  cole,  1160 
In  which  ful  subtilly  was  maad  an  hole, 
And  ther-in  put  was  of  silver  lymaillo 
An  ounce,  and  stopped  was,  with-outen 

fayle,  (610) 

The  hole  with  wex,  to  kepe  the  lymail  in. 
And  xinderstondeth,  that  this  false  gin 
Was  nat  maad  ther,  but  it  was  maad 

bifore ;  1166 

And  othero  thinges  I  shal  telle  more 
Herafterward,  which  that  he  with   him 

broghte  ; 
Er  he  cam  ther,  him  to  bigyle  he  thoghte, 
And    so  he    dide,    er   that   they   wente 

a-twinne ;  1170 

Til  he  had  terved  him,  coude  ho  not  blinne. 
It  dulleth  me  whan  that  I  of  him  speke, 
On  his  falshede  fayn  wolde  I  me  wreke, 
If  I  wiste  how  ;  but  he  is  heer  and  ther  : 
He  is  so  variaunt,  he  abit  no-wher.      1175 
But  taketh  heed  now,  sirs,  for  goddes 

love !  (623) 

He  took  his  cole  of  which  I  spak  above, 
And  in  his  hond  he  baar  it  prively. 
And  whyls  the  preest  couchede  busily 
The  coles,  as  I  tolde  yow  er  this,  1180 

This  chanoun  seyde, '  freend,  ye  doon  amis ; 
This  is  nat  couched  as  it  oghte  be  ; 
But  sone  I  shal  amenden  it,'  quod  he.  (630) 
'  Now  lat  me  medle  therwith  but  a  whyle, 
For  of  yow  have  I  pitee,  by  seint  Gyle !  1 185 
Ye  been  right  hoot,  I  see  wel  how  ye  swete, 
Have  heer  a  cloth,  and  wype  awey  the 

wete.' 
And  whylesthat  the  preest  wyped  his  face, 


T.  16657-16737.]   G-.  'C^e  t^AMune  'tjcmannte  tak. 


66t 


This  chanorm  took  his   cole  with   harde 

grace,  1 189 

And  leyde  it  ahove,  up-on  the  middeward 
Of  the  croslet,  and  blew  wel  afterward, 
Til  that  the  coles  gonne  faste  brenne. 
'  Now  yeve  us  drinke,'  quod  the  chanoun 

thenne,  (640) 

'  As  swythe  al  shal  be  wel,  I  undertake  ; 
Sitte  we  doun,  and  lat  us  mery  make.'  1 195 
And  whan  that  this  chanounes  bechen 

cole 
Was  brent,  al  the  lymaille,  out  of  the  hole, 
Into  the  croslet  fil  anon  adoun  ; 
And  so  it  moste  nedes,  by  resoun, 
Sin  it  so  even  aboven  couched  was  ;     1200 
Butther-of  wiste  the  preest  no-thing,  alas! 
He  demed  alle  the  coles  j'-liohe  good. 
For  of  the  sleighte  he   no-thing  under- 
stood. (650) 
And  whan  this  alkamistre  saugh  his  tyme, 
'  Rys  up, '  quod  he, '  sir  preest,  and  stondeth 

by  me  ;  1205 

And  for  I  woot  wel  ingot  have  ye  noon, 
Goth,  walketh  forth,  and  bring  us  a  chalk- 

stoon  ; 
For  I  wol  make  oon  of  the  same  shap 
That  is  an  ingot,  if  I  may  han  hap. 
And  bringeth  eek  with   yow  a  bolle  or 

a  panne,  1210 

Ful  of  water,  and  ye  shul  see  wel  thanne 
How  that  our  bisinesse  shal  thryve  and 

preve. 
And  yet,  for  ye  shul  han  no  misbileve  (660) 
Ne  wrong  conceit  of  me  in  your  absence, 
Ine  wol  nat  been  out  of  your  presence,  1215 
But  go  with  yow,  and  come  with  yow 

ageyn.' 
The  chambre-dore,  shortly  for  to  seyn. 
They  opened  and  shette,  and  wente  hir 

weye. 
And  forth  with  hem  they  carieden  the 

keye,  1219 

And  come  agayn  with-outen  any  delay. 
What  sholde  I  tarien  al  the  longe  day  ? 
He  took  the  chalk,  and  shoop  it  in  the 

wyse 
Of  an  ingot,  as  I  shal  yow  devyse.       (670) 

I  seye,  he  took  out  of  his  owene  sieve 
A  teyne  of  silver  (j^vele  mote  he  clieve  !) 
Which  that  ne  was  nat  but  an  ounce  of 

weighte ;  1226 


And    taketh    heed    now    of    his    cvirscd 

sleighte  ! 
He  shoop  his  ingot,  in  lengthe  and  eek 

in  brede, 
Of  this  teyne,  with-outen  any  drede, 
So  slyly,  that  the  preest  it  nat  espyde  ;  1230 
And  in  his  sieve  agayn  he  gan  it  hyde  ; 
And  fro  the  fj-r  he  took  up  his  matere. 
And  in  th 'ingot  patte  it  with  mery  chere. 
And  in  the  water-vessel  he  it  caste     (681) 
Whan  that  him  luste,  and  bad  the  preest 

as  faste,  1235 

'  Look  what  ther  is,  put  in  thyn  hand  and 

grope, 
Thow  finde  shalt  ther  silver,  as  I  hope ; 
What,  devel  of  helle  !  sholde  it  elles  be  ? 
Shaving  of  silver  silver  is,  pardee  ! ' 
He  putte  his  bond  in,  and  took  up  a  teyne 
Of  sUver  fyn,  and  glad  in  every  veyne  1241 
Was  this  preest,  whan  he  saugh  that  it 

was  so. 
'  Goddes  blessing,  and  his  modres  also,  (690) 
And  alle  halwes  have  ye,  sir  chanoun,' 
Seyde  this  preest, '  and  I  hir  malisoun,  1245 
But,  and  ye  vouche-sauf  to  techen  me 
This  noble  craft  and  this  sub.tilitee, 
I  wol  be  youre,  in  al  that  ever  I  may  ! ' 

Quod  the  chanoun, '  yet  wol  I  make  assay 
The  second  tyme,  that  ye  may  taken  hede 
And  been  expert  of  this,  and  in  your  nede 
Another  day  assaye  in  myn  absence  1252 
This  disciplyne  and  this  crafty  science. 
Lat  take  another  ounce,'  quod  he  tho,  (701) 
'  Of  quik-silver,  with-outen  wordes  mo,  1255 
And  do  ther-with  as  ye  han  doon  er  this 
With  that  other,  which  that  now  silver  is.' 
This  preest  him  bisieth  in  al  that  he  can 
To  doon  as  this  chanoun,  this  cursed  man, 
Comanded  him,  and  faste  he  blew  the  fyr, 
For  to  come  to  th'effect  of  his  desyr.  1261 
And  this   chanoun,  right   in    the    mene 

whyle, 
Al  redy  was,  the  preest  eft  to  bigyle,  (710) 
And,  for  a  countenance,  in  his  hande  he  bar 
An  holwe  stikke  (tak  keep  and  be  war  !) 
In   the    ende    of   which    an    ounce,  and 

na-more,  1266 

Of  silver  lymail  put  was,  as  bifore 
Was  in  his  cole,  and  stopped  with  wex 

weel 
For  to  kepe  in  his  lymail  every  deel. 


666 


ZU  CanfevButrp  Zcike. 


[t.  16738-16817. 


And  -whyl  this  proest  was  in  his  bisinesse, 
This  chanoun  with  his  stilike  gan  him 

dresse  1271 

To  him  anon,  and  his  ponder  caste  in  (719) 
As  he  did  or  ;  (the  devel  out  of  his  skin 
Him  terve,  I  pray  to  god,  for  his  falshede  ; 
For  he  was  ever  fnls  in  thoght  and  dode)  ; 
And  with  this  stikke,  above  the  croslet, 
TImt  was  ordeyned  with  that  false  get, 
He  stired  the  coles,  til  relente  gan 
The  wex  agayn  the  fyr,  as  every  man, 
But  it  a  fool  be,  woot  wel  it  mot  nedo,  12&1 
And  al  that  in  the  stikko  was  out  yede, 
And  in  the  croslet  hastily  it  fel.  (729) 

Now  gode  sirs,  what  wol  ye  bet  than  wel  ? 
AVhan  that  this  preest  thus  was  bigyled 

ageyn,  1284 

Supposing  noght  but  tronthe,  soth  to  sejTi, 
Ho  was  so  glad,  that  I  can  nat  expresse 
In  no  manere  his  mirthe  and  his  glad- 

nesse ; 
And  to  the  chanoun  he  profred  eftsone 
Body  and  good;  'ye,' quod  the  chanoun 

sone, 
'  Though  povre  I  be,  crafty  thou  shalt  me 

findo  ;  1290 

I  wame  thee,  yet  is  ther  more  bihinde. 
Is  ther  any  coper  her-inne  ?  '  seyde  he. 
'Ye,'  quod  the  preest,  'sir,  I  trowe  wel 

ther  be.'  (740) 

'  Elles  go  bye  us  som,  and  that  as  swythe, 
Now,    gode    sir,    go   forth   thy   wey   and 

hy  the.' 
He  wente  his  wey,  and  with  the  coper 

cam,  1296 

And  this  chanoun  it  in  his  handes  nam. 
And  of  that  coper  weyed  out  but  an  ounce. 
Al  to  simple  is  my  tonge  to  pronounce, 
As  ministre  of  my  wit,  the  doublenesse 
Of  this  chanoun,  rote  of  al  cursednesse.  1301 
He  semed  freendly  to  hem  that  knewe 

him  noght. 
But  he  was  feendly  bothe  in  herte  and 

thoght.  (750) 

It  werieth  me  to  telle  of  his  falsnesse. 
And  nathelees  yet  wol  I  it  expresse,     1305 
Tothentente  that  men  may  be  war  therby. 
And  for  noon  other  cause,  trewely. 

He  putte   his  ounce   of  coper   in   the 

croslet. 
And  on  the  fyr  as  swji;he  he  hath  it  set. 


And  caste  in  poudre,  and  made  the  preest 

to  blowe,  1310 

And  in  his  werking  for  to  stoupe  lowe, 
As  he  dide  er,  and  al  nas  but  a  jape  ; 
Right  as  him  liste,  the  preest  he  made 

his  ape  ;  (760) 

And  afterward  in  th'ingot  he  it  caste, 
And  in  the  panne  putte  it  at  the  laste  13 15 
Of  water,  and  in  he  putte  his  owene  bond. 
And  in  his  sieve  (as  yo  bifom-hond 
Herde  me  telle)  he  hadde  a  silver  teyne. 
He  slj'ly  took  it  otit,  this  cursed  heyne — 
Unwiting  this  preest  of  his  false  craft — 
And  in  the  pannes  botme  ho  hath  it  laft ; 
And  in  the  water  rombled  to  and  fro, 
And  wonder  prively  took  up  also         (770) 
The   coper  teyne,   noght    knowing    this 

preest, 
And  hidde  it,  and  him  hente  by  the  breest, 
And  to  him  spak,  and  thus  seyde  in  his 

game,  1326 

,  '  Stoupeth  adoun,  by  god,  ye  be  to  blame, 
Helpeth  me  now,  as  I  dide  yow  whyl-er, 
Putte  in  your  hand,  and  loketh  what  is 

ther.'  1329 

This  preest  took  up  this  silver  teyne  anon. 
And  thanne  seyde  the  chanoun,  '  lat  us 

gon 
With  thise  three  teynes,  which  that  we 

ban  wroght. 
To  som  goldsmith,  and  wite  if  they  been 

oght.  (780) 

For,  by  my  feith,  I  nolde,  for  myn  hood, 
But-if  that   they   were    silver,    fyn   and 

good,  133s 

And  that  as  swythe  preved  shal  it  be.' 
Un-to  the  goldsmith  with  thise  teynes 

three 
They  wente,  and  putte  thise  teynes  in  assay 
To  fyr  and  hamer ;  mighte  no  mansey  nay, 
But  that  they  weren  as  hem  oghte  be. 
This    sotted    preest,  who  was    gladder 

than  he  ?  1341 

Was  never  brid  gladder  agayn  the  day, 
Ne  nightingale,  in  the  sesoun  of  May,  (790) 
Nas  never  noon  that  luste  bet  to  singe  ; 
Ne  lady  lustier  in  carolinge  1345 

Or  for  to  speke  of  love  and  wommanhedc, 
Ne  knight  in  armes  to  doon  an  hardy  dede 
To  stonde  in  grace  of  his  lady  dere. 
Than  had  this  preest  this  sory  craft  to  lere; 


T.  16818-16895.]  G.  t^t  t^anourxe  •petnannee  ^afe. 


667 


And  to  the  chanoun  thtis  he   spak  and 

seyde,  1350 

'  For  love  of  god,  that  for  us  alle  deyde, 
And  as  I  may  deserve  it  un-to  yow, 
What  shal  this  receit  coste  ?  telletli  novv' ! ' 
'  By  our  lady,'  quod  this  chanoun,  '  it  is 

dere,  (80:) 

I  warne  yow  wel ;  for,  save  I  and  a  frere. 
In  Engeloud  ther  can  no  man  it  make.' 
'  No  fors,'  qiiod  he,  '  now,  sir,  forgoddes 

sake,  1357 

What  shal  I  paye  ?  telleth  me,  I  preye.' 

'  Y-wis,'  quod  he,  '  it  is  ful  dere,  I  seye  ; 
Sir,  at  o  word,  if  that  thee  list  it  have. 
Ye  shul  paye  fourty  pound,   so  god  me 

save !  1361 

And,  nere  the  freendship  that  ye  dide  er 

this 
To  me,  ye  sholde  paye  more,  y-wis.'     (810) 
This  preest  the  somme  of  fourty  pound 

anon 
Of  nobles  fette,  and  took  hem  everichon 
To  this  chanoun,  for  this  iike  receit ;  1366 
Al  his  werking  nas  but  fraude  and  deceit. 
'  Sir  preest,'  he  seyde, '  I  kepe  han  no  loos 
Of  my  craft,  for  I  wolde  it  kept  were  cloos ; 
And  as  ye  love  me,  kepeth  it  secreo ;  1370 
For,  and  men  knewe  al  my  subtiLitee, 
By  god,  they  wolden  han  so  greet  envye 
To  me,  by-cause  of  my  philosophye,    (820) 
I  sholde  be  deed,   ther  were   non   other 

weye.' 
'  God    it    forbede ! '    quod    the   preest, 

'  what  sey  yc  ?  '  1375 

Yet  hadde  I  lever  spcnden  al  the  good 
Which  that  I  have  (and  elles  wexe  I  wood !) 
Than  that  ye  sholden  falle  in  swich  mes- 

cheef.' 
'  For  your  good  wil,  sir,  have  ye  right 

good  preef,' 
Quod  the  chanoun,   '  and  far-wel,   grant 

mercy ! '  1380 

He  wente  his  wey  and  never  the  preest 

him  sy 
After  that  day ;  and  whan  that  this  preest 

sholde  (829) 

Maken  assay,  at  swich  tyme  as  he  wolde. 
Of  this  receit,  far-wel  !  it  wolde  nat  be  ! 
Lo,  thus  byjaped  and  bigylcd  was  he  !  1385 
Thus  maketh  he  his  introduccioun 
To  bringe  folk  to  hir  destruecioun. — 


Considereth,    sirs,    how    that,  in    ech 

estaat, 
Bitwixe  men  and  gold  ther  is  debaat 
So  ferforth,  that  unnethes  is  ther  noon. 
This  multiplying  blent  so  many  oon,    1391 
That  in  good  feith  I  trowe  that  it  be 
The  caiLse  grettest  of  swich  scarsetee.  (840) 
Philosophres  speken  so  mistily 
In  this   craft,  that  men   can  nat  come 

therby,  1395 

For  any  wit  that  men  han  now  a-dayes. 
They  mowe  wel  chiteren,  as  doon  thise 

jayes. 
And  in  her  termes  sette  hirlust and peyne, 
But  to  hir  purpos  shul  they  never  atteyne. 
A  man  may  lightly  lerne,  if  he  have  aught. 
To    multiplye,  and    bringe    his   good   to 

naught !  (848)  1401 

Lo  !  swich  a  lucre  is  in  this  lusty  game, 
A  mannes  mirthe  it  woltorne  un-to  grame. 
And  empten  also  grete  and  hevy  purses. 
And  maken  folk  for  to  purchasen  curses 
Of  hem,  that  han  hir  good  therto  y-lent. 
O !  fy  !  for  shame  !   they  that  han  been 

brent,  1407 

Alias  !  can  they  nat  flee  the  fyres  hete  ? 
Ye  that  it  use,  I  redo  ye  it  lete, 
Lest  ye   lese   al ;    for  bet  than   never  is 


late. 


1410 


Never  to  thryve  were  to  long  a  date. 
Though  ye  prolle  ay,  ye  shul   it   never 

finde  ;  (S59) 

Ye  been  as  bolde  as  is  Bayard  the  blinde. 
That  blvindreth  forth,  and  peril  casteth 

noon  ; 
He  is  as  bold  to  renne  agayn  a  stoon  1415 
As  fur  to  goon  besydes  in  the  weye. 
So  faren  ye  that  multiplye,  I  seye. 
If  that  your  yen  can  nat  seen  aright,^ 
Loke  that  your  minde  lakke  nought  his 

sight.  (866) 

For,  though  ye  loke  never  so  brode,  and 

stare,  1420 

Ye  shul  nat  winne  a  myte  on  that  chafFare, 
But  wasten  al  that  ye  may  rape  and  renne. 
Withdrawe  the  fyr,  lest  it  to  laste  brenne ; 
Medleth  na-more  with  that  art,  I  mene. 
For,  if  ye  doon,   your  thrift  is  goon  ful 

clene.  1425 

And  right  as  swytho  I  wol  yow  tellen  here, 
What  philosophres  seyn  in  this  matcre. 


668 


ZU  i^rnkviw^  Zakti. 


[t.  1 6896-1 6949. 


Lo,  thus  seith  Arnold  of  the  Ncwe  Toun, 
'As  his  Rosarie  maketh  mencioun  ; 
He  seith  right  thus,  with-outen  any  lye, 
'Ther  may  no  man  Mercuric  mortifye,  1431 
But  it  he  with  his  brother  knowleching. 
How  that  he,  which  that  first  seyde  this 

thing,  (880) 

Of  philosophres  fader  was,  Hermes; 
He  seith,  how  that  the  dragoun,  doutelees, 
Ne  deyeth  nat,  but-if  that  he  be  slayn  1436 
With  liLs  brother  ;  and  that  is  for  to  sayn, 
By  the  dragoun,  Mercurieand  noon  other 
He    understood  ;    and    brimstoon   by  his 

brother, 
That  out  of  sol  and  luna  were  y-drawe. 
And  therfor,'  seyde  he,  '  tak  heed  to  my 

sawe,  1441 

Let  no  man  bisy  him  this  art  for  to  sechc, 
But-if  that  he  th'entencioun  and  speche 
Of  ijhilosfiphres  understonde  can  ;  (891) 
And  if  ho  do,  ho  is  a  lewed  man.  1445 

For  th  is  science  and  this  conning,' quod  he, 
'  Is  of  the  secree  of  secrees,  parde.' 
Also  ther  was  a  disciple  of  Plato, 
That  on  a  tyme  seyde  his  maister  to, 
As  liis  book  Senior  wol  here  witnesse,  1450 
And  this  was  his  demande  in  soothfast- 

nesse  : 
'  Tel  me  the  name  of  the  privy  stoon  ?  ' 
And  Plato  answerde  unto  him  anoon, 
'  Tak  the  stoon  that  Titanos  men  name.' 
'  Wliich  is  that?'  quod  he.     'Magnesia 

is  the  same,'  (902)  1455 


Seyde  Plato.     '  Ye,  sir,  and  is  it  thus  ? 

This  is  itfnotnm  per  iynotiiia. 

"What  is  Magnesia,  good  sir,  lyowpreye?' 

'  It  is  a  water  that  is  maad,  I  seye, 

Of  elementes  foure,'  quod  Plato.  1460 

'  Tel  me  the  rote,  good  sir,'  quod  he  tho, 

'  Of  that  water,  if  that  it  he  your  wille  ?  ' 

'  Nay,  naj^,'  quod  Plato,  '  certein,  that 

I  nille.  (910) 

The  philosophres  sworn  were  everichoon. 
That    they    sholden   discovere    it  im-to 

noon,  1465 

Ne  in  no  book  it  wryte  in  no  manere  ; 
For  un-to  Crist  it  is  so  Icef  and  dere 
That  he  wol  nat  that  it  discovered  be, 
But  wher  it  lyketli  to  his  dcitee 
Man  for  t'enspyre,  and  eek  for  to  defende 
Whom  that  him  lyketli  ;  lo,  this  is  the 

ende.'  1471 

Thanne  conclude   I  thus  ;  sith  god  of 

hevene 
Ne  wol  nat  that  the  philosophres  nevene 
How  that  a  man  shal    come    \in-to  this 

stoon,  (921) 

I  rede,  as  for  the  beste,  lete  it  goon.     1475 
For  who-so  maketh  god  his  adversarie. 
As  for  to  werken  any  thing  in  contrarie 
Of  his  wil,  certes,  never  shal  he  thryve, 
Thogh   that   he   multiplye   terme  of  hig 

lyve. 
And  ther  a  poynt ;  for  ended  is  my  tale  ; 
God  sende   every  trewe  man  bote  of  his 

bale! — Amen.  (928)1481 


Here  is  ended  the  Chanouns  Yemannes  Tale. 


T.  1695C-17009.]      H.    ZU  Qllancipfe'e  (ptofogue. 


669 


GROUP  H. 


THE    MANCIPLE'S    PROLOGUE. 

Here  folweth  the  Prologe  of  the  Maunciples  Tale. 


WiTE  ye  nat  wlier  ther  stant  a  litel  toun 
Which  that  y-cleped  is  Bob-up-and-doun, 
Under  the  Blee,  iu  Caunterbury  weye  ? 
Ther  gan  oiir  hostc  for  to  jape  and  pleye, 
And  seyde,    '  sirs,   what !  Dun  is  iu  the 

myre  !  5 

Is  ther  no  man,  for  preyere  ne  for  hyre. 
That  wol  awake  our  felawe  heer  bihinde  ? 
A  theef  mighte  him  ful  lightly  robbe  and 

binde. 
See  how  he  nappeth  !  see,  for  cokkes  bones. 
As  he  wol  falle  from  his  hors  at  ones.     10 
Is   that   a   cook  of  Londoun,  with  mes- 

chaunce  ? 
Do  him  come  forth,  he  knoweth  his  pen- 

aunce. 
For  he  shal  telle  a  tale,  by  my  fey  ! 
Al-though  it  be  nat  worth  a  hotel  hey. 
Awake,  thou  cook,'  quod  he,   '  god  yeve 

thee  sorwe,  15 

What  eyleth  thee  to  slepe  by  the  morwe  ? 
Hastow   had    ileen    al    night,    or   artow 

dronke. 
Or  hastow  with  som  quene  al  night  y- 

swonke. 
So  that  thou  mayst  nat  holden  up  thyn 

heed  ? ' 
This  cook,   that  was  ful  pale  and  no- 
thing reed,  20 
Seyde  to  our  host,  'so  god  my  soule  blesse. 
As  ther  is  falle  on  me  swich  hevinesse, 
Noot  I  nat  why,  that  me  were  lever  slepe 
Than  the  beste  galoun  wyn  iu  Chepe.' 
'  Wei,'  quod  the  maunoiple,  '  if  it  may 

doon  ese  25 

To  thee,  sir  cook,  and  to  no  wight  displese 
Which  that  heer  rydeth  in  this  companye. 
And  that  our  host  wol,  of  his  curteisye, 
I  wol  as  now  excuse  thee  of  thy  tale  ; 
For,  iu  good  feith,  thy  visage  is  ful  pale, 


Thyn  yen  dasweii  oek,  as  that  me 
thinketh,  3 1 

And  wel  I  woot,  thy  breetli  i'lxl  soiire 
stinketh. 

That  sheweth  wel  thou  art  not  wel  dis- 
posed ; 

Of  me,  certein,  thou  shalt  nat  been 
y-glosed. 

Se  how  he  ganeth,  lo,  this  dronken  wight, 

As  though  he  wolde  us  swolwe  anou-right. 

Hold  cloos  thy  mouth,  man,  by  thy  fader 


kin  ! 


37 


The  devel  of  helle  sette  his  foot  ther-in  ! 
Thy  cursed  breeth  infecte  wol  its  alle  ; 
Fy,  stinking  swyn,  fy !  foule  moot  thee 

faUe !  40 

A  !  taketh  heed,  sirs,  of  this  lusty  man. 
Now,  swete  sir,  wol  ye  justen  atte  fan  ? 
Ther-to  me  thinketh  ye  been  wel  y-shape  ! 
I  trowe  that  yo  dronken  han  wyn  ape, 
And   that    is  whan    men   pleyen  with  a 

straw.'  45 

And  with  this  speche  the  cook  wex  wrooth 

and  wraw, 
And  on  the  maunciiile  he  gan  nodde  faste 
For  lakke  of  speche,  and  doun  the  hors 

him  caste, 
Wlier  as  he  lay,  til  that  men  up  him  took  ; 
This  was  a  fayr  chivachee  of  a  cook  !  50 
Alias  !  he  nadde  holde  him  by  his  ladel ! 
And,  er  that  he  agajai  were  iu  his  sadel, 
Ther  was  greet  showving  bothe  to  and  fro, 
To  lifte  him  up,  and  muchel  care  and  wo, 
So  unweldy  was  this  sory  palled  gost.  55 
And  to  the  maunciple  thanne  spak  our 

host, 
'  By-ca\ise  drink  hath  dominacioun 
Upon  this  man,  by  my  savacioun 
I  trowe  he  lewedly  wolde  telle  his  tale. 
For,  were  it  wyn,  or  old  or  moysty  ale,  60 


670 


Z^i  Canferfiutp  Zak6. 


[T. 


r  7065. 


That  he  hath  ilronke,  he  spoketh  in  his 

nose, 
And  fneseth  faste,  and  eek  he  hath  the 

pose. 
He  hath  also  to  do  more  than  y-nough 
To  kepo  liim  and  his  capcl  out  of  slough  ; 
And,  it'  he  fallo  from  his  capel  eft-sone,  65 
Than  shul  we  alle  have  y-nougii  to  done, 
In  lifting  up  his  he\-j'  dronken  cors. 
Telle  on  thy  tale,  of  him  make  I  no  fors. 
But  yet,  maunciple,  in  feith  thou  art  to 

nyce, 
Thus  openly  repreve  him  of  his  vyce.     70 
Another  day  he  wol,  peraventure, 
Koclayme  thee,  and  bringe  thee  to  lure  ; 
I  mene,  he  speke  wol  of  smale  thinges. 
As  for  to  pinchon  at  thy  rekeninges. 
That  wer  not  honeste,  if  it  cam  to  preef.' 
'  No,'  quod  the  maunciple,   '  that  were 

a  greet  mescheef !  76 

So  mighte  he  lightly  bringe  me  in  the 

snare. 
Yet  hadde  I  lever  payen  for  the  mare 
A\liich  he  rit  on,  than  he  sholde  with  me 

stry\-e  ;  79 

I  wol  nat^vTatthe  him,  al-so  mote  I  thryve ! 
That  that  I  spak,  I  seyde  it  in  my  bourde  ; 
And   wite   ye    what  ?    I    have    heer,    in 

a  gourde. 


A  draught  of  wyn,  ye,  of  a  rype  grape. 
And  right  anon  ye  shul  seen  a  good  jape. 
This  cook  shal  drinke  ther-of,  if  I  may  ;  85 
Up  peyne  of  deeth ,  he  wol  nat  seye  me  nay ! ' 

And  certeinly,  to  tellen  as  it  was. 
Of  this  vessel  the  cook  drank  faste,  alias  ! 
What   neded    him  ?   he    drank    y-nough 

bifom. 
An<l  whan  he  hadde  pouped  in  this  horn, 
To  the   maunciple  he  took   the   gourde 

agayn  ;  91 

And  of  that  drinke  the  cook  was  wonder 

fayn. 
And  thanked  him  in  swich  wyse  as  he 

coude. 
Tlian  gan  our  host  to  laughen  wonder 

loude, 
And  seyde,  '  I  see  wel,  it  is  necessarie,  95 
Wher  that  we  goon,  good  drink  we  with 

us  carie ; 
For  that  wol  turne  rancour  and  disese 
T'acord  and  love,  and  many  a  wrong  apese. 
O  thou  Bachus,  y-blessed  be  thy  name, 
That  so  canst  tumen  emest  in-to  game  ! 
Worship  and  thank  be  to  thy  deitoe  !   loi 
Of  that  matere  ye  geto  na^more  of  me. 
Tel  on  thy  tale,  maunciple,  I  thee  preye.' 
'  Wel,    sir,'    quod    he,    '  now   herkneth 

what  I  seye.' 


Thus  endeth  the  Prologe  of  the  Manciple. 


THE    MAUNCIPLES    TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Maunclples  Tale  of  the  Crowe. 


Whan  Phebus  dwelled  here  in  tliis  erthe 
adoun,  105 

As  olde  bokes  maken  mencioun. 
He  was  the  moste  lusty  bachiler 
In  al  this  world,  and  eek  the  beste  archer  ; 
He  slow  Phitouu,  the  serpent,  as  he  lay 
Slepinge  agayn  the  Sonne  upon  a  day;  no 


And  many  another  noble  worthy  dede 
He  with  his  bowe  wroghte,  as  men  may 
rede. 
Pleyen  he  coude  on  every  minstralcye, 
And  singen,  that  it  was  a  melodye,  (10) 
To  heren  of  his  clere  vois  the  soun.  115 
Certes  the  king  of  Thebes,  Amphioun, 


1.17066-17153-]        H.    '^6^  QUaunct|>fe5  ^afe. 


671 


That  with  his  singing  walled  that  citee, 
Coude  never  singen  half  so  wel  as  he. 
Therto  he  was  the  semelieste  man          119 
That  is  or  was,  sith  that  the  world  bigan. 
What  nedeth  it  his  fetnres  to  discryve  ? 
Tor  in  this  world  was  noon  so  fair  on  lyve. 
He  was  ther-with  fulfild  of  gentUlesse, 
Of  honour,  and  of  parfit  worthinesse.  (20) 

This  Pliebus,  that  was  flonr  of  bachelrye, 
As  wel  in  fredom  as  in  chivalrye,  126 

For  his  desport,  in  signe  eek  of  victorie 
Of  Phitoun,  so  as  telleth  us  the  storie, 
Was  wont  to  beren  in  his  hand  a  bowe. 

Now  had  this  Phebus  in  his  hous  a  crowe, 
Wliich  in  a  cage  he  fostred  many  a  day. 
And  taughte  it  speken,  as  men  teohe  a  jay. 
Whyt  was  this  crowe,  as  is  a  snow-whyt 
swan,  (29) 

And  countrefete  the  speche  of  every  man 
He  coude,  whan  he  sholde  telle  a  tale.  135 
Ther-with  in  al  tliis  world  no  nightingale 
Ne  coude,  by  an  hondred  thousand  deel, 
Singen  so  wonder  merUy  and  weel. 

Now  had  this  Phebus  in  his  hous  a  wyf, 
Wliioh  that  he  lovede  more  than  his  lyf. 
And  night  and  day  dide  ever  his  diligence 
Hir  for  to  plese,  and  doon  hir  reverence, 
Save  only,  if  the  sothe  that  I  shal  sayn, 
Jalous  he  was,  and  wolde  have  kept  hir 
fayn ;  (40) 

For  him  were  looth  by-japed  for  to  be.  145 
And  so  is  every  wight  in  swich  degree  ; 
But  al  in  ydel,  for  it  availleth  noght. 
A  good  wyf,  that  is  clene  of  werk  and 

thoght, 
Sholde    nat    been  kept  in  noon   await, 

certayn ; 
And  trewely,  the  labour  is  in  vayn        150 
To  kepe  a  shrewe,  for  it  wol  nat  be. 
This  holde  I  for  a  verray  nycetee. 
To  spille  labour,  for  to  kepe  wy  ves  ; 
Thus  writen  olde  clerkes  in  hir  lyves.  (50) 

But  now  to  purpos,  as  I  first  bigan  :  155 
This  worthy  Phebus  dooth  all  that  he  can 
To  plesen  hir,  weninge  by  swich  plesaimce, 
And  for  hismanhedeandhis  governaunce. 
That  no  man  sholde  han  put  him  from 

hir  grace. 
But  god  it  woot,  ther  may  no  man  embrace 
As  to  destreyne  a  thing,  which  that  nature 
Hath  natureUy  set  in  a  creature.  162 


Tak  any  brid,  and  put  it  in  a  cage. 
And  do  al  thyn  entente  and  thycorage(6o) 
To   fostre    it    tendrely   with    mete    and 

drinke,  165 

Of  alle  deyntees  that  thou  canst  bithinke. 
And  keep  it  al-so  clenly  as  thou  may  ; 
Al-though  his  cage  of  gold  be  never  so  gay, 
Yet  hath  this  brid,  by  twenty  thousand 

fold. 
Lever  in  a  forest,  that  is  mde  and  cold,  170 
Gon  ete  wormes  and  swich  wrecchednesse. 
For  ever  this  brid  wol  doon  his  bisinesse 
To  escape  out  of  his  cage,  if  he  may  ; 
His  libertee  this  brid  desireth  ay.  (70) 
Lat  take  a  cat,  and  fostre  him  wel  with 

milk,  175 

And  tendre  flesh,  and  make  his  couche 

of  silk, 
And  lat  him  seen  a  mous  go  by  the  wal ; 
Anon  he  weyveth  milk,  and  flesh,  and  al, 
And  every  deyntee  that  is  in  that  hous, 
Svsdch  appetyt  hath  he  to  ete  a  moiis.    180 
Lo,  here  hath  lust  his  dominacioun, 
And  appetyt  flemeth  discreciou^n. 

A  she-wolf  hath  also  a  vileins  Icinde  ; 

The  lewedeste  wolf  that  she  may  finde,  (80) 

Or  leest  of  reputacion  wol  she  take,      185 

In  tyme  whan  hir  lust  to  han  a  make. 

Alle  thise  ensamples  speke  I  by  thise 

men 
That  been  untrewe,  and  no-thing  by  wom- 

men. 
For  men  han  ever  a  likerous  apjietyt 
On  lower  thing  to  parfourne  hir  delyt  190 
Than  on  hir  wy  ves,  be  they  never  so  faire, 
Ne  never  so  trewe,  ne  so  debonaire. 
Flesh  is  so  newefangel,  with  meschaunce. 
That  we  ne  conne  in  no-thing  han  ple- 

saunce  (90) 

That  sotineth  in-to  vertu  any  whyle.    195 

This  Phebus,  which  that  thoghte  upon 

no  gyle, 
Deceyved  was,  for  al  his  jolitee  ; 
For  under  him  another  hadde  she, 
A  man  of  litel  reputacioun,  199 

Noght  worth  to  Phebus  in  comparisoun. 
The  more  harm  is  ;  it  liappeth  ofte  so. 
Of  which  ther  com.eth  muchel  harm  and 

wo. 
And  so  bifel,  whan  Phebus  was  absent, 
His  wyf  anon  hath  for  hir  leniman  sent ; 


672 


ZH  CanUviuv^  Zake. 


I7IC4-I7233- 


Hir  lemman  ?    certes,   this  is  a  knavish 

speche  !  (loi)  205 

Forj'eveth  it  me,  and  that  I  yow  biseche. 

The  wyse  Plato  seith,  as  ye  may  rede, 
The  word  mot   nede   accorde    with  the 

dede. 
If  men  shal  telle  proprely  a  thing. 
The  word  mot  cosin  be  to  the  werking.  210 
I  am  a  boistoxis  man,  right  thus  seye  I, 
Thcr  nis  no  difference,  trewely, 
Bitwixe  a  wyf  that  is  of  heigh  degree, 
If  of  hir  body  dishonest  she  be,  (no) 

And  a  povre  wenche,  other  than  this — 
If  it  so  be,  they  werke  bothe  amis —     216 
But  that  the  gentile,  in  estaat  above. 
She  shal  be  clcped  his  lady,  as  in  love  ; 
And  for  that  other  is  a  povre  womman, 
She  shal   be  cleped   his  wenche,  or   his 
lemman,  220 

And,  god  it  woot,  myn  owene  dere  brother. 
Men  leyn  that  oon  as  lowe  as  lyth  that 
other. 
Eight  so,  bitwixe  a  titlelees  tiraunt 
And  an  outlawe,  or  a  theef  erraunt,   (120) 
The  same  I  seye,  ther  is  no  difference.  225 
To  Alisaundre  told  was  this  sentence  ; 
That,  for  the  tyrant  is  of  gretter  might, 
By  force  of  meynee  for  to  sleen  doun-right, 
And  brennen  hons  and  hoom,  and  make 

al  plain, 
Lo  !  therfor  is  he  cleped  a  capitain  ;     230 
And,  for  the  outlawe  hath  but  smal  mey- 
nee, 
And  may  nat  doon  so  greet  an  harm  as  he, 
Xe  bringe  a  contree  to  so  greet  mescheef. 
Men  clepen  him  an  outlawe  or  a  theef. 
But,  for  I  am  a  man  noght  textuel,      235 
I  wol  noght  telle  of  textes  never  a  del ; 
I  wol  go  to  my  tale,  as  I  bigan.  (133) 

Whan  Phebus  wyf  had  sent  for  hir  lem- 
man. 
Anon  they  wroghten  al  hir  lust  volage. 
The  whyte  crowe,  that  heng  ay  in  the 
cage,  240 

Biheld  hir  werk,  and  seyde  never  a  word. 
And  whan  that  hoom  was  come  Phebus, 

the  lord. 
This    crowe    sang    '  cokkow  !      cokkow ! 
cokkow  ! ' 
'What,    brid?'    qiiod    Phebus,    'what 
song  singestow  ?  ( 140) 


Xe  were  thow  wont  so  merily  to  singe  245 
That  to  myn  herte  it  was  a  rejoisinge 
To  here  thy  vois?  alias !  what  song  is  this?' 

'  By  god,'  quod  he,  '  I  singe  nat  amis ; 
Phebus,'  quod  he,  '  for  al  thy  worthinesse, 
For  al  thy  beautee  and  thy  gentilesso,  250 
For  al  thy  song  and  al  thy  minstralcye, 
For  al  thy  waiting,  blered  is  thyn  ye 
With  oon  of  litel  rcputacioun,  ('49) 

Noght  worth  to  thee,  as  in  comparisoun, 
The  mountance  of  a  gnat ;  so  mote  I  thry  ve ! 
Foronthybed  thy  wyf  Isaugh  himswj-ve.' 
What  wol  ye  more?  the  crowe  anon 

him  tolde,  257 

By  sadde  tokenes  and  by  wordes  bolde, 
How  that  his  wyf  had  doon  hir  lecherye, 
Him  to  gret  shame  and  to  gret  vileinye  ; 
And  tolde  him  ofte,  he  saugh  it  with  his 

yi^n.  261 

This  Phebus  gan  aweyward  for  to  wryen, 
Him  thoughte  his   sorweful  herte   brast 

a-two ; 
His  bowe  he  bente,  and  sette  ther-inuo 

a  flo,  (160) 

And  in  his  ire  his  wyf  thanne  hath  he 

slayn.  265 

This  is  th'effect,  ther  is  na-more  to  sayn  ; 
For  sorwe  of  which  he   brak  his  min- 
stralcye, 
Bothe  harpe,  and  lute,  and  giteme,  and 

sautrye ; 
And  eek  he  brak   his  arwes    and    his 

bowe. 
And  after  that,  thus  spak  he  to  the  crowe : 
'Traitour,'   quod   he,    'with   tonge   of 

scorpioun,  271 

Thou  hast  me  broght  to  my  confusioun  ! 
Alias!    that  I  was  wroght !  why  nere  I 

deed? 
O  dere  wyf,  O  gemme  of  lustiheed,     (170) 
That  were  to  me  so  sad  and  eek  so  trewe, 
Xow  lystow  deed,  with  face  pale  of  hewe, 
Ful  giltelees,  that  dorste  I  swere,  y-wis  ! 
O  rakel  hand,  to  doon  so  foule  amis  ! 
O  trouble  wit,  O  ire  recchelees. 
That  unavysed  smj-test  giltelees  !  280 

O  wantrust,  ful  of  fals  suspecioun, 
Where  was  thy  wit  and  thy  discrecioun  ? 
O  every  man,  be-war  of  rakelnesse, 
Xe  trowe  no-thing  with-outen  strong  wit- 

nesse ;  (180; 


T.  17234- 


7311.]        H.    ZU  (yjlftunetpfee  Zak, 


673 


Smyt  nat  to  sone,  er  that  ye  witen  why, 
And  beeth  avysed  wel  and  sobrely        286 
Er  ye  doon  any  execucioun, 
Up-on  your  ire,  for  suspecioun. 
Alias  !  a  thousand  folk  hath  rakel  ire  289 
Fully  fordoon,  and  broght  hem  in  the  mire. 
Alias  !  for  sorwe  I  wol  my-selven  slee  ! ' 
And  to    the   crowe,    'O   false    theef!' 

seyde  he,  (188) 

'  I  wol  thee  quyte  anon  thy  false  tale  ! 
Thou  songe  whylom  lyk  a  nightingale  ; 
Now  shaltow,  false  theef,  thy  song  forgon, 
And  eek  thy  whyte  fetheres  everichon, 
Ne  never  in  al  thy  lyf  no  shaltou  speke. 
Thus  shal  men  on  a  traitour  been  awreke  ; 
Thou  and  th j-n  of-spring  ever  shul  be  blake, 
Ne  never  swete  noise  shul  ye  make,      300 
But  ever  crye  agayn  tempest  and  rayn. 
In  tokeninge  that  thurgh  thee  my  wj-f  is 

slayn.' 
And  to  the  crowe  he  stirte,  and  that  anon. 
And  pulled  his  whyte  fetheres  everichon. 
And  made  him  blak,  and  refte  him  al  his 

song,  (201)  305 

And  eek  his  speche,  and  out  at  dore  him 

slong 
Un-to  the  devel,  which  I  him  bitake ; 
And  for  this  caas  ben  alle  crowes  blake. — 
Lordings,  by  this  ensample  I  yow  preye, 
Beth  war,  and  taketh  kepe  what  I  seye  : 
Ne  teUeth  never  no  man  in  your  lyf     311 
Howthat  another  man  hath  dight  hiswjnf; 
He  wol  yow  haten  mortally,  certeyn. 
Daun  Salomon,  as  wyse  clerkes  seyn,  (2ni) 
Techeth  a  man  to  kepe  his  tonge  wel ;  315 
But  as  I  seyde,  I  am  noght  textiiel. 
But  nathelees,  thus  taughte  me  my  dame : 
'  My  sone,  thenk  on  the  crowe,  a  goddes 

name ; 
My  sone,  keep  wel  thy  tonge  and  keep 

thy  freend. 
A  wikked  tonge  is  worse  than  a  feend.  320 
My  sone,  from  a  feend  men  may  hem 

blesse  ; 
My  sone,  god  of  his  endelees  goodnesse 
Walled  a  tonge  with  teeth  and  lippes  eke, 
For  man  sholde  him  avyse  what  he  speke. 
My  sone,  ful  ofte,  for  to  muche  speche, 


Hath  many  a  man  beu  spilt,  as  clerkes 
teche ;  (222)  326 

But  for  a  litel  speche  a\'ysely 
Is  no  men  shent,  to  speke  generally. 
My  sone,  thy  tonge  sholdestow  restreyne 
At  alle  tyme,  but  whan  thou  doost  thy 
peyne  330 

To  speke  of  god,  in  honour  and  preyere. 
The  firste  vertu,  sone,  if  thou  wolt  lere. 
Is  to  restreyne  and  kepe  wel  thy  tonge. — 
Thus  leme  children  whan  that  they  ben 

yonge. —  (230)  334 

My  sone,  of  miichel  sj)eking  yvel-avysed, 
Ther  lasse  speking  hadde  y-nough  suffysed, 
Comth  muchel  harm,  thus  was  me  told 

and  taught. 
In  muchel  speche  sinne  wanteth  naught. 
Wostow  wher-of  a  rakel  tonge  serveth  ? 
Right  as  a  swerd  forcvitteth  and  forkerveth 
An  arm  a-two,  my  dere  sone,  right  so  341 
A  tonge  cutteth  frendship  al  a-two. 
A  j  angler  is  to  god  abhominable  ;         (239) 
Reed  Salomon,  so  wys  and  honurable  ; 
Reed  David  in  his  psalmes,  reed  Senekke. 
My  sone,  spek  nat,  but  with  thyn  heed 

thou  bekke.  346 

DissLmule  as  thou  were  deef,  if  that  thou 

here 
A  jangler  speke  of  perilous  matere. 
The  Fleming  seith,  and  leme  it,  if  thee 

leste,  349 

That  litel  jangling  causeth  muchel  reste. 
My  sone ,  if  thou  no  wikked  word  hast  seyd, 
Thee  tliar  nat  drede  for  to  be  biwreyd  ; 
But  he  that  hath  misseyd,  I  dar  wel  sayn. 
He  may  by  no  wey  clepe  his  word  agayn. 
Thing  that  is  seyd,  is  seyd ;  and  forth  it 

gooth,  (251)  355 

Though  him  repente,  or  be  him  leef  or 

looth. 
He  is  his  thral  to  whom  that  he  hath  sayd 
A  tale,  of  which  he  is  now  yvel  apayd. 
My  sone,  be  war,  and  be  non  avictour  newe 
Of  tytlinges,  whether  they  ben  false  or 

trewo.  360 

Wher-so  thou  come,  amonges  hye  or  lowe, 
Kepe  wel  thy  tonge,  and  thenk  up-on  the 

crowe.' 


Here  is  ended  the  Maunciples  Tale  of  the  Crowe. 
Z 


674 


Z^t  CanUt&uv^  Zake.  [t.  1731 


GEOUP  I. 

THE    PARSON'S    PROLOGUE. 

Here  folweth  the  Prologe  of  the  Persones  Tale. 


By  that  the  maunciplo  haddo  his  tide  al 

ended, 
The  Sonne  fro  the  south  lyne  was  de- 
scended 
So  lowe,  that  he  nas  nat,  to  my  sightc, 
Degree's  nyne  and  twenty  as  in  highte.  4 
Foure  of  the  clokke  it  was  tho,  as  I  pcsse : 
For  eleven  foot,  or  litcl  more  or  Icsse, 
My  shadwe  Wiis  at  thilke  tyme,  as  there, 
Of  swich  feet  as  my  lengthe  parted  were 
In  six  foot  equal  of  proporcioun. 
Ther-with  the  mones  exaltacioun,  10 

I  mene  Libra,  alwey  gan  ascende. 
As  we  were  entringe  at  a  thropes  cnde  ; 
For  which  our  host,  as  he  was  wont  to  g>-o,' 
As  in  this  caas,  our  joly  companye, 
Seydo  in  this  wj-se,  '  lordings  everichoon. 
Now  lakketh  us  no  tales  mo  than  oon.  16 
Fulfild  is  my  sentence  and  my  decree  ; 
I  trowe  that  we  han  herd  of  ech  degrea 
Almost  fulfild  is  al  myn  ordinaunce  ; 
I  prey  to  god,  so  yeve  him  right  good 
chaunce,  ao 

Tliat  telloth  this  tale  to  us  lustily. 
Sir  preest,'  quod  he,  '  artow  a  vicary  ? 
Or  art  a  person  ?  sey  sooth,  by  thy  fey  ! 
Be  what  thou  be,  ne  breke  thou  nat  our 

ploy; 
For  every  man,  save  thou,  hath  told  his 


tale, 


Unbokel,  and  shewe  us  what  is  in  thy  male 
For  trewely,  me  thinketh,  by  thy  chore. 
Thou  sholdest  knitte  up  wel  a  greet  matere, 
Tel  us  a  tale  anon,  for  cokkes  bones  ! ' 

This  Persone  him  answerde,  al  at  ones, 
'  Thou  getest  fable  noon  y-told  for  me  ;  31 
For  Paul,  that  wryteth  unto  Timothee, 
Eepreveth  hem  that  wejrven  soothfast- 

nesse, 

And  tellen  fables  and  swich  wrecched- 

nesse.  34 

Why  sholde  I  sowen  draf  out  of  my  fest. 

Whan  I  may  sowen  whete,  if  that  me  lest  ? 


For  which  I  scye,  if  that  yow  list  to  here 
Moraliteo  and  vertuous  matere. 
And  thanno  that  ye  wol  yeve  me  audience, 
I  wol  ful  fayn,  at  Cristcs  reverence,        40 
Do  yow  plesannco  leefful,  as  I  can. 
But  trusteth  wel.  I  am  a  Southron  man. 
I  can  nat  gcsto — rum.  ram,  ruf — by  lettre, 
Ne,  god  wot,  rym  holde  I  but  litel  bettre  ; 
And  tlierfor,  if  yow  list,  I  wol  nat  glose. 
I  wol  yow  telle  a  merj-  tale  in  prose       46 
To  knitte  up  al  this  feeste,  and  make  an 

ende. 
And  Jesu,  for  his  grace,  wit  mo  sonde 
To  shewe  yow  the  w-ey,  in  this  viage, 
Of  thilke  parfit  glorious  pilgrimage        50 
That  highte  Jerusalem  celestial. 
And,  if  yo  voucho-sauf,  anon  I  shal 
Biginno  upon  my  tale,  for  whiche  I  preye 
Telle  your  avys,  I  can  no  bottro  seyo. 
But  nathelces,  this  meditacioun  '55 

I  putte  it  ay  under  corroccionn 
Of  clerkes,  for  I  am  nat  textuel ; 
I  take  but  the  sontons,  trusteth  weL 
Therfor  I  make  protestacioim 
That  I  wol  stonde  to  correccioun.'  60 

Up-on  this  word  we  han  assented  soue. 
For,  as  us  somed,  it  was  for  to  done. 
To  enden  in  som  vertuous  sentence, 
And  for  to  yeve  him  space  and  audience  ; 
And   bede   our  host  he  sholde   to  him 

seye,  65 

That  alio  we  to  telle  his  tale  him  preye. 

Our  host  haddo  the  wordes  for  us  alio  : — 
'Sir  preest,'  quod   he,   'now  fayre  yow 

bifalle ! 
Sey  what  yow  list,  and  we  wol  gladly 

here ' — 
And  with  that  word  he  seydo   in  this 

manere —  70 

'  Telloth,'  quod  he,  '  your  meditacioun. 

But  hasteth  yow,  the  Sonne  wol  adoun  ; 

Beth  fmctuous,  and  that  in  litel  siiace, 

And  to  do  wel  god  sende  yow  his  grace  ! ' 

Explicit  prohemium. 


25 


T.  § 


I.    ZU  (P^teontB  Zak, 


675 


THE   PERSONES    TALE. 


Here  biginneth  the  Persones  Tale. 


Jer.  6°.  State  super  vias  et  videte  et  inter- 
rogate de  viis  antiquis,  que  sit  via  bona; 
et  ambulate  in  ea,  et  inuenietis  refrigerium 
animabus  vestris,  dc. 

§  1.  Our  swete  lord  god  of  hevene,  that 
no  man  wol  perisse,  but  ■wole  that  we 
comen  alle  to  tho  knowoleche  of  him, 
75  and  to  the  blisful  lyf  that  is  perdurable,  / 
amonesteth  us  by  the  projihete  Jeremio, 
that  seith  in  tliis  wyso  :  /  '  stondeth  iipon 
the  weyes,  and  seeth  and  axeth  of  olde 
pathes  (that  is  to  sejm,  of  olde  sentences) 
■which  is  the  goode  wey ;  /  and  walketh 
in  that  wej%  and  ye  shul  finde  refressh- 
inge  for  your  soules,'  &o.  /  Manye  been 
the  weyes  espirituels  that  leden  folk  to 
oure  Lord  Jesu  Crist,  and  to  the  regne  of 
glorie.  /  Of  whiche  weyes,  ther  is  a  ful 
noble  wey  and  a  ful  covcnable,  which 
may  nat  faile  to  man  ne  to  womman, 
that  thurgh  sinne  hath  misgoon  fro  the 
80  righte  wey  of  Jerusalem  celestial ;  /  and 
this  wey  is  cleped  Penitence,  of  which 
man  sholde  gladly  herkncn  and  enquero 
with  al  his  herte  ;  /  to  witen  what  is 
Penitence,  and  whennes  it  is  cleped  Peni- 
tence, and  in  how  manye  maneres  been 
the  accions  or  werkinges  of  Penitence,  / 
and  how  manye  spyces  ther  been  of  Peni- 
tence, and  whiche  thinges  apertenen  and 
bihoven  to  Penitence,  and  whiche  thinges 
destourben  Penitence.  / 

§  2.  Seint  Ambrose  seith,  that  '  Peni- 
tence is  the  pleyninge  of  man  for  the 
gilt  that  he  hath  doon,  and  na-more  to 
do  any  thing  for  which  him  oghte  to 
(10)  plejTie.'  /  And  som  doctour  seith  :  '  Peni- 
tence is  the  waymontinge  of  man,  that 
sorweth  for  his  sinne  and  pyneth  him- 
85  self  for  he  hath  misdoon.'  /  Penitence, 
with  certejme  circumstances,  is  verray 
repentance  of  a  man  that  halt  him-self 
Z 


in  sorwe  and  other  peyne  for  hise  giltcs.  / 
And  for  he  shal  be  verray  penitent,  he 
shal  first  biwailen  the  sinnes  that  he 
hath  doon,  and  stidcfastly  purposcn  in 
his  herte  to  have  shrift  of  mouthe,  and 
to  doon  satisfaccioun,  /  and  never  to  doon 
thing  for  which  him  oghte  more  tobiwayle 
or  to  complcyne,  and  to  continue  in  goode 
werkes  :  or  elles  his  repentance  may  nat 
availle.  /  For  as  seith  seint  Isidre  :  '  he  is 
a  japer  iind  a  gabber,  and  no  verray  repen- 
tant, tliat  eftsoono  dooth  thing,  for  which 
hini  oghte  repente.'/  Wcpingo,  and  nat  for 
to  stinte  to  doon  sinne,  may  nat  avaylle.  /  9^^ 
But  natlielees,  men  shal  hope  that  everj' 
tyme  that  man  falleth,  be  it  never  so 
ofte,  that  he  may  arise  thurgh  Penitence, 
if  he  have  grace  :  but  certeinly  it  is  greet 
doute.  /  For  as  seith  Seint  Gregorie  ;  '  un- 
nethe  aryseth  ho  out  of  sinne,  that  is 
charged  with  the  charge  of  yvel  usage.'  / 
And  therfore  repentant  folk,  that  stinte 
for  to  sinne,  and  forlete  sinne  er  that 
sinne  forlete  hem,  holy  chirche  holdeth 
heni  siker  of  hir  savacioun.  /  And  he 
that  sinneth,  and  verraily  repenteth  him 
in  his  laste  ende,  holy  chirche  yet  hopeth 
his  savacioun,  by  the  grete  mercy  of  oure 
lord  Jesu  Crist,  for  his  repentaunce  ;  but 
tak  the  siker  wey.  /  (20) 

§  3.  And  now,  sith  I  have  declared 
yow  what  thing  is  Penitence,  now  shul 
ye  understonde  that  ther  been  three 
accions  of  Penitence.  /  The  firste  accion  95 
of  Penitence  is,  that  a  man  be  baptized 
after  that  he  hath  sinned.  /  Seint  Au- 
gustin  seith  :  '  but  he  be  penitent  for  his 
olde  sinful  lyf,  he  may  nat  biginne  the 
newe  clene  lif.'  /  For  certos,  if  he  be 
baptized  withouten  penitence  of  his  olde 
gilt,  ho  receiveth  the  mark  of  baptisme, 
but  nat  the  grace  ne  the  remission  of  his 
sinnes,  til  he  have  repentance  verray.  / 


676 


t^t  Cdnkviuv^  ^afee. 


[t.  §§  4-r. 


Another  Jefauto  is  this,  that  men  iloon 
deedly  sinne  after  that  they  han  received 
baptisme.  /  The  thridde  defauto  is,  that 
men    fallen   in   venial  sinnes   after  hir 

io(>  baptisme,  fro  day  to  day.  /  Ther-of  seith 
Seint  Aug^nstin,  that  'penitence  of  goode 
and  humble  folk  is  the  penitence  of  every 
day.'  / 

§4.  The  spycesofPenitence  been  three. 
That  oon  of  hem  is  solempne,  another  is 
commune,  and  the  thridde  is  privee.  / 
Thilke  penance  that  is  solempne,  is  in 
two  maneres ;  as  to  be  put  out  of  holy 
chirche  in  lente,  for  slaughtre  of  children, 
and  swich  maner  thing.  /  Another  is, 
whan  a  man  hath  sinned  openly,  of  which 
sinne  the  fame  is  openly  spoken  in  the 
contree ;  and  thanne  holy  chirche  by 
jugement  destreineth  him  for  to  do  open 

(.10)  penaunce.  /  Commune  penaunco  is  that 
preestos  enjoinen  men  comunly  in  certejTi 
oaas  ;  as  for  to  goon,  peravcnture,  naked 

105  in  pilgrimages,  or  bare-foot.  /  Privee 
penaunce  is  thilke  that  men  doon  alday 
for  privee  sinnes,  of  whiche  wo  shryve  us 
prively  and  receyve  privee  penaunce.  / 

§  5.  Now  shaltow  understande  what  is 
bihovely  and  necessarie  to  verray  parfit 
Penitence.  And  this  stant  on  three 
thinges ;  /  Contricioun  of  herto,  Con- 
fessioun  of  Mouth,  and  Satisfaccioun.  / 
For  which  seith  Seint  John  Crisostom  : 
'  Penitence  destreyneth  a  man  to  accepte 
benignely  every  pe.vne  that  him  is  en- 
joyned,  with  contricion  of  herte,  and 
shrift  of  mouth,  with  satisfaccion  ;  and 
in  werkinge  of  alle  maner  humilitee.'  / 
And  this  is  fruitful  Penitence  agayn 
three  thinges  in  whicho  we  wratthe  oure 

1 10  lord  Jesu  Crist :  /  this  is  to  seyn,  by  delyt 
in  thinkinge,  by  recchelesnesse  in  spek- 
inge,  and  by  -wikked  sinful  werkinge.  / 
And  agayns  thise  wikkede  giltes  is  Peni- 
tence, that  may  be  lykned  nn-to  a  tree.  / 
§  6.  The  rote  of  this  tree  is  Contricion, 
that  hydeth  him  in  the  herte  of  him  that 
is  verray  repentant,  right  as  the  rote  of 
a  tree  hydeth  him  in  the  erthe.  /  Of  the 
rote  of  Contricion  springeth  a  stalke, 
that  bereth  braunches  and  leves  of  Con- 

(40)  fession,  and  fruit  of  Satisfaccion.  /     For 


which  Crist  seith  in  his  gospel:  '  dooth 
digne  fruit  of  Penitence ' ;  for  by  this 
fruit  may  men  knowe  this  tree,  and  nat 
by  the  rote  that  is  hid  in  the  herto  of 
man,  ne  by  the  braunches  ne  by  the 
leves  of  Confession.  /  And  therefore  1 15 
oure  Lord  Jesu  Crist  seith  thus  :  '  by  the 
fruit  of  hem  ye  shul  knowen  hem.'/  Of 
this  rote  cek  springeth  a  seed  of  g:race, 
the  which  seed  is  moder  of  sikernosse, 
and  tliis  seed  is  egre  and  hoot.  /  The 
grace  of  this  seed  springeth  of  god, 
thurgh  remembrance  of  the  day  of  dome 
and  on  the  peynes  of  helle.  /  Of  this 
matere  seith  Salomon,  that  '  in  the  dredo 
of  god  man  forleteth  his  sinne.'  /  The 
hete  of  this  seed  is  the  love  of  god,  and 
the  desiring  of  the  joye  perdurable.  /  120 
This  hete  draweth  the  herte  of  a  man  to 
god,  and  dooth  him  haten  his  sinne.  / 
For  soothl}-,  ther  is  no-thing  that  savour- 
eth  so  wel  to  a  child  as  the  milk  of  his 
norico,  ne  no-thing  is  to  him  more  abho- 
minablo  than  thilko  milk  whan  it  is 
medled  with  other  mete.  /  Right  so  the 
sinful  man  that  loveth  his  sinne,  him 
semeth  that  it  is  to  him  most  sweto  of 
any-thing ;  /  but  fro  that  tj-me  that 
he  loveth  sadly  our  lord  Jesu  Crist,  and 
desireth  the  lif  perdurable,  ther  nis  to 
him  no-thing  more  abhominaltle.  /  For  (50) 
soothly,  the  lawo  of  god  is  the  love  of 
god  ;  for  which  David  the  prophete  seith  : 
'  I  have  loved  thy  lawe  and  hated  wikked- 
nessc  and  hate ' ;  he  that  loveth  god 
kepeth  his  lawe  and  his  word.  /  This  125 
tree  sangh  the  prophete  Daniel  in  spirit, 
np-on  the  avision  of  the  king  Nabugo- 
donosor,  whan  he  conseiled  him  to  do 
penitence.  /  Penaunce  is  the  tree  of  lyf 
to  hem  that  it  receiven,  and  he  that 
holdeth  him  in  verray  penitence  is 
blessed  ;  after  the  sentence  of  Salomon.  / 
§  7.  In  this  Penitence  or  Contricion 
man  shal  understonde  foure  thinges, 
that  is  to  seyn,  what  is  Contricion  :  and 
whiche  been  the  causes  that  moeven  a 
man  to  Contricion  :  and  how  he  sholde 
be  contrit :  and  what  Contricion  availleth 
to  the  soule.  /  Thanne  is  it  thus  :  that 
Contricion   is  the   verray   sorwe   that    a 


§§  8,  9-] 


I.    ZH  (pcreonee  Zait. 


677 


man  reoeiveth  in  his  herte  for  his  sinnes, 
with  sad  purjios  to  shryve  him,  and  to 
do  penannce,  and  nevermore  to  do  sinne./ 
And  this  sorwe  shal  been  in  this  manere, 
as  seith  seint  Bernard :  '  it  shal  been 
he^'y  and  gxevons,  and  ful  sharpe  and 
130  poinant  in  herte.'  /  First,  for  man  hath 
agilt  his  lord  and  his  creatour  ;  and  more 
sharpe  and  poinant,  for  he  hath  agilt  his 
fader  celestial ;  /  and  yet  more  sharpe 
and  poinant,  for  he  hath  -vvrathed  and 
agilt  him  that  boghte  him  ;  which  with 
his  precious  blood  hath  delivered  vis  fro 
the  bondes  of  sinne,  and  fro  the  cruel- 
tee  of  the  devel  and  fro  th«  peynes  of 
helle.  / 

§  8.  The  causes  that  oghte  moeve  a 
man  to  Contricion  been  six.  First,  a 
man  shal  remcmbre  him  of  hise  sinnes  ;  / 
but  loke  he  that  thilke  remembrance  ne 
be  to  him  no  delyt  by  no  wey,  but  greet 
shame  and  sorwe  for  his  gilt.  For  Job 
seith  :  '  sinful  men  doon  werkes  worthy 

(60)  of  Confession.'  /  And  therfore  seith 
Ezcchie  :  '  I  wol  remembre  me  alle  the 
yeres  of  my  lyf,   in   bitternesse  of  mj-n 

135  herte.'  /  And  god  seith  in  the  Apocalips  : 
'  remembreth  yow  fro  whennes  that  ye 
been  falle ' ;  for  biforn  that  tyme  that  ye 
sinned,  ye  were  the  children  of  god,  and 
limes  of  the  regno  of  god  ;  /  but  for  your 
sinne  ye  been  woxen  thral  and  foul,  and 
membres  of  the  feend,  hate  of  aungels, 
sclaundre  of  holy  chirche,  and  fode  of 
the  false  serpent ;  perpetual  matere  of 
the  fyr  of  helle.  /  And  yet  more  foul 
and  abhominable,  for  j-e  trespassen  so 
ofte  tyme,  as  doth  the  hound  that  re- 
tourneth  to  eten  his  spewing.  /  And 
yet  be  ye  fouler  for  your  longe  con- 
tinuing in  sinne  and  your  sinful  iisage, 
for  which  ye  be  roten  in  your  sinne, 
as  a  beest  in  his  dong.  /  Swiche  manere 
of  thoghtes  maken  a  man  to  have  shame 
of  his  sinne,  and  no  delyt,  as  god  seith 

140  by  the  prophete  Ezechiel :  /  'ye  shal 
remembre  yow  of  youre  weyes,  and  they 
shuln  displese  yow.'  Sothly,  sinnes  been 
the  weyes  that  leden  folk  to  helle.  / 

§  9.  The  seconde  cause  that  oghte  make 
a  man  to  have  desdeyn  of  sinne  is  this  : 


that,  as  seith  seint  Peter,  'who-so  that 
doth  sinne  is  thral  of  sinne  ' ;  and  sinne 
put  a  man  in  greet  thraldom.  /  And 
therfore  seith  the  prophete  Ezechiel : 
'  I  wente  sorweful  in  desdayn  of  my-self ' 
And  certes,  wel  oghte  a  man  have  des- 
dayn of  sinne,  and  withdrawe  him  from 
that  thraldom  and  vileinye./  And  lo,  what 
seith  Seneca  in  this  matere.  He  seith 
thus  :  '  though  I  wiste  that  neither  god 
ne  man  ne  sholde  nevere  knowe  it,  yet 
wolde  I  have  desdayn  for  to  do  sinne.'/  (70) 
And  the  same  Seneca  also  seith  :  '  I  am 
born  to  grettcr  thinges  than  to  be  thral 
to  my  body,  or  than  for  to  maken  of  my 
body  a  thral.'/  Ne  a  fouler  thral  may  HH 
no  man  ne  womman  maken  of  his  body, 
than  for  to  yeven  his  body  to  sinne.  / 
Al  were  it  the  fouleste  cherl,  or  the  foul- 
este  womman  that  liveth,  and  leest  of 
value,  yet  is  he  thanne  more  foule  and 
more  in  servitute.  /  Evere  fro  the  hyer 
degree  that  man  falleth,  the  more  is  he 
thral,  and  more  to  god  and  to  the  world 
vile  and  abhominable.  /  O  gode  god, 
wel  oghte  man  have  desdayn  of  sinne ;  sith 
that,  thurgh  sinne,  ther  he  was  free,  now 
is  he  maked  bonde.  /  And  therfore  sej'th 
Seint  Augustin  :  '  if  thou  hast  desdayn 
of  thy  servant,  if  he  agilte  or  sinne, 
have  thou  thanne  desdayn  that  thou 
thy-selfsholdest  do  sinne.'/  Take  reward  150 
of  thy  value,  that  thou  ne  be  to  foul  to 
thy-self.  /  Alias !  wel  oghten  they  thanne 
have  desdayn  to  been  servauntz  and 
thralles  to  sinne,  and  sore  been  ashamed 
of  hem-self,  /  that  god  of  his  endelees 
goocbiesse  hath  set  hem  in  heigh  estaat, 
or  yeven  hem  wit,  strengthe  of  body,  hele, 
beautee,  prosperitee,  /  and  boghte  hem 
fro  the  deeth  with  his  herte  blood,  that 
they  so  unkindely,  agayns  his  gentilesse, 
quyten  him  so  vileinsly,  to  slaughtre  of 
hir  owene  soules.  /  O  gode  god,  ye  (So) 
wommen  that  been  of  so  greet  beaivtee, 
remembreth  yow  of  the  proverbe  of 
Salomon,  that  seith  :  /  'he  lykneth  a  155 
fair  womman,  that  is  a  fool  of  hir  body, 
lyk  to  a  ring  of  gold  that  were  in  the 
gro.-vTi  of  a  sowe.'  /  For  right  as  a  sowe 
wroteth   in   everich   ordure,    so   wrototh 


678 


TU  C&nkv&uv^  Zaktf. 


[t.  § 


she  bir  beautee  in  the  stuikinge  orduro 
of  sinne.  / 

§  10.  The  thridde  cause  that  oghto 
nioeve  a  man  to  Contricion,  is  drede  of 
the  day  of  dome,  and  of  the  horrible 
peynes  of  belle.  /  For  as  scint  Jerome 
soith  :  '  at  every  tymo  that  mo  remem- 
breth  of  the  day  of  dome,  I  quake  ;  /  for 
whan  I  ete  or  drinke,  or  vbat-so  that 
I  do,  evere  semeth  mo  that  the  trompe 

i(»i  sowuetb  in  myn  ere :  /  riscth  up,  ye  that 
been  dede,  and  cometh  to  the  jugement.'/ 
O  godo  god,  muchel  ogbte  a  man  to  drede 
swich  a  jugement,  '  ther-as  we  shullen 
been  alle,'  as  seint  Poul  soith,  '  bifom  the 
sete  of  ouro  lord  Jesu  Crist ' ;  /  wlier-os 
he  shal  make  a  general  congregacion, 
wher-as  no  man  may  been  absent.  /  For 
ccrtes,  there  availleth  noon  essoyno  no 
(90)  excusacion.  /  And  nat  only  that  oure 
dcfautes  sbullen  be  juged,  but  eck  that 

165  alio  oure  werkes  shullen  openly  be  knowo.  /. 
And  as  seith  Seint  Bernan.1  :  '  tiier  ne 
shal  no  pledinge  availle,  no  no  sleighte  ; 
wo  shullen  yevon  rekeningo  of  everich 
ydel  word.'/  Ther  shul  wo  han  a  jugo 
that  may  nat  been  deceived  no  corrupt. 
And  why?  For,  ccrtes,  alio  our  thoghtcs 
been  discovered  as  to  him  ;  ne  for  preyere 
no  for  mede  he  shal  nat  been  corrupt.  / 
And  therfore  seith  Salomon :  'the  wratthe 
of  god  ne  wol  nat  spare  no  wight,  for 
preyere  ne  for  yifte ' ;  and  therfore,  at 
the  day  of  doom,  ther  nis  noon  hope  to 
escape.  /  Wherfore,  as  seith  Seint 
Anselm  :  '  ful  greet  angwissh  shul  the 
sinful  folk  liavo  at  that  tyme ;  /  ther 
shal  the  sterne  and  wrotho  jugo  sitto 
above,  and  under  him  the  horrible  put 
of  belle  open  to  destroyen  him  that  moot 
biknowen  hise  sinnes,  whiche  sinnes 
openly  been  shewed  bifom  god  and  bi- 

170  fom  every  creature.  /  And  on  the  left 
sydo,  mo  develes  than  herte  may  bithinke, 
for  to  harie  and  drawe  the  sinful  soules 
to  the  pjTie  of  belle.  /  And  witb-inne 
the  hertes  of  folk  shal  be  the  bytingo 
conscience,  and  with-oute-forth  shal  be 
the  world  al  brenninge.  /  \\Tiider  shal 
thanne  the  wreccbed  sinful  man  flee  to 
hyden  him  ?    Certes,  he  may  nat  hyden 


him  ;  he  moste  come  forth  and  shewen 
him.'/  For  certes,  as  seith  seint  Jerome: 
'the  erthe  shal  casten  him  out  of  him, 
and  the  see  also ;  and  the  cyr  also,  that 
shal  be  ful  of  thondcr-clappcs  and  light- 
ningcs.'/  Now  sothly,  wliivso  wel  re- (100) 
mombreth  him  of  thiso  thinges,  I  gesse 
that  his  sinno  shal  nat  turno  him  in-to 
delj-t,  but  to  greet  sorwe,  for  drede  of  tho 
pcyno  of  belle.  /  And  therfore  seith  Job  175 
to  god  :  '  suffre,  lord,  that  I  may  a  whyle 
biwaillo  and  wepo,  or  I  go  with-oute 
returning  to  tho  derke  lond,  covered  with 
tho  derknesse  of  deeth  ;  /  to  tho  lond  of 
misese  and  of  derknesse,  whcre-as  is  the 
shadwc  of  deeth  ;  where-as  ther  is  noon 
ordro  or  ordinance,  but  grisly  drede  that 
evere  shal  laste.'  /  Lo,  hero  may  ye  seen, 
that  Job  preydo  re-spyt  a  wliylo,  to  biwepe 
and  waille  his  trespas  ;  for  soothly  oon 
day  of  respyt  is  bettre  than  al  the  tresor 
of  tho  world.  /  And  for-as-mucho  as 
a  man  may  acquiten  him-self  bifom  god 
by  penitence  in  this  world,  and  nat  by 
tresor,  therfore  sholdo  he  preye  to  god 
to  yevo  him  respj-t  a  whyle,  to  biwepe 
and  biwaillen  his  trespas.  /  For  certes, 
al  the  sonvG  that  a  man  mighte  make 
fro  the  beginning  of  the  world,  nis  but 
a  litel  thing  at  regard  of  the  sorwe  of 
helle.  /  The  cause  why  that  Job  clepeth  180 
belle  'the  lond  of  derknesse';  /  xinder- 
stondeth  that  he  clepeth  it  'londe'  or 
erthe,  for  it  is  stable,  and  nevere  shal 
faille  ;  '  derk,'  for  he  that  is  in  belle  hath 
defauto  of  light  material.  /  For  certes, 
the  derke  light,  that  shal  como  out  of  the 
fyr  that  evere  shal  brenne,  shal  tume 
him  al  to  peyne  that  is  in  belle  ;  for  it 
sheweth  him  to  the  horrible  develes  that 
him  tormenten.  /  '  Covered  with  the 
derknesse  of  deeth  ' :  that  is  to  seyn,  that 
he  that  is  in  helle  shal  have  defaute  of 
the  sighte  of  god ;  for  certes,  tho  sighte 
of  god  is  the  lyf  perdurable./  'The  (no) 
derknesse  of  deeth  '  been  the  sinnes  that 
the  wreccbed  man  hath  doon,  whiche 
that  destourben  him  to  see  the  face  of 
god  ;  right  as  doth  a  derk  cloude  bitwise 
us  and  the  Sonne.  /  '  Lond  of  misese ' :  /  '85 
by- cause  that  ther  been  three  maneres 


I.    ZU  (pereonee  Zak. 


679 


of  defautes,  agayn  three  thinges  that  folk 
of  this   world   han   in  this  present   Ij-f, 
that   is   to   seyn,   honours,    delyces,    and 
richesses.  /     Agayns  honour,   have   they 
in  helle  shame  and  confusion.  /     For  wel 
ye  woot  that  men  clepen  'honour'  the 
reverence  that  man  doth  to  man  ;  hut  in 
helle  is  noon  honour  ne  reverence.     For 
certes,  na-more  reverence   shal  be  doon 
there  to  a  king  than  to  a  knave.  /     For 
which  god  seith  by  the  prophete  Jeremye : 
'  thilke  folk  that  me  despysen  shul  been 
in   despj^:.'  /     '  Honour '    is    eek    cleped 
greet  lordshipe  ;  ther  shal  no  man  serven 
other  but  of  harm  and  torment.   '  Honour' 
is  eek  cleped  greet  dignitee  and  heigh- 
nesse  ;  but   in  helle  shul  they  been  al 
190  fortroden  of  develes.  /     And  god   seith : 
'the   horrible    develes   shuUe   goon   and 
comen  up-on  the  hevedes  of  the  dampned 
folk.'     And  this  is  for-as-muohe  as,  the 
hyer  that  they  were  in  this  present  lyf, 
the   more  shuUe  they  been   abated   and 
defouled  in  helle.  /    Agayns  the  richesses 
of  this  world,  shul  they  han  misese  of 
poverte  ;   and  this  poverto  shal  been  in 
foure  thinges  :  /  in  defante  of  tresor,  of 
which  that  David  seith  ;  'the  riche  folk, 
that  embraceden  and  oneden  al  hir  herte 
to  tresor  of  this  world,  shul  slepe  in  the 
slepinge  of  deeth  ;  and  no-thing  ne  shul 
they  finden    in    hir    handes   of   al  hir 
tresor.'  /     And  more-over,  the  miseise  of 
heUe  shal  been  in  defaute  of  mete  and 
(120)  drinke.  /     For  god  seith  thus  by  Moyses  ; 
'  they  shul  been  wasted  with  hunger,  and 
the  briddes  of  helle  shul  devouren  hem 
with  bitter  deeth,  and  the  galle  of  the 
dragon   shal   been   hir   drinke,  and   the 
195  venim  of  the  dragon  hir  morsels.'  /     And 
forther-over,    hir  miseiso    shal    been    in 
defaute  of  clothing:    for  they  shullo  be 
naked  in  body  as  of  clothing,  save  the  fyr 
in  which  they  brenne  and  othere  fUthes ;  / 
and  naked  shul  they  been  of  soule,  of  alle 
manere  vertucs,  which  that  is  the  cloth- 
ing of  the  soule.    Where  been  thanne  the 
gaye  robes  and  the  softe  shetes  and  the 
smale  shertes  ?  /     Lo,  what  seith  god  of 
hem  by  the  prophete  Isaye  :  '  that  under 
hem  shul  been  strawed  motthes,  and  hir 


covertures    shulle    been    of   wormes    of 
helle.'  /     And   forther-over,    hir   miseise 
shal  been  in  defaute  of  freendes  ;  for  he 
uis  nat  povre  that  hath  goode  freendes, 
but  there  is  no  freend  ;  /  for  neither  god 
ne  no  creature  shal  been  freend  to  hem, 
and  everich   of  hem   shal  hat  en    other 
with  deedly  hate.  /     '  The  sones  and  the  200 
doghtren  shuUen  rebellen   agayns  fader 
and  mooder,  and  kinrede  agayns  kinrede, 
and  chyden  and  despysen  everich  of  hem 
other,'  bothe  day  and  night,  as  god  seith 
by  the  prophete    Michias.  /      And    the 
lovinge   children,   that  whylom  loveden 
so  fleshly  everich  other,   wolden  everich 
of  hem  oten  other  if  they  mighte.  /     For 
how  sholden  they  love  hem  togidre  in  the 
peyne  of  helle,  whan  they  hated  ech  of 
hem  other  in  the  prosperitee  of  this  lyf?  / 
For  trl^ste  wel,  hir  fleshly  love  was  deedly 
hate  ;  as  seith  the  prophete  David :  '  who- 
so that  loveth  wikkcdnesse  he  hateth  his 
soule.'  /     And  who-so  hateth  his  owene  (130) 
soule,   certes,   he   may  love   noon   other 
wight   in  no   manere.  /     And  therefore,  205 
in  helle  is  no  solas  ne  no  frendshipe,  but 
evere  the  more  fleshly  kinredes  that  been 
in  helle,  the  more  cursinges,  the  more 
chydinges,  and  the  more  deedly  hate  ther 
is  among  hem.  /     And  forther-over,  they 
shul  have  defaute  of  alle  manere  delyces  ; 
for  certes,  delyces  been  after  the  appc- 
tytes  of  the  fj-ve  wittes,  as  sighte,  heringe, 
smcUinge,    savoringe,    and    touchinge.  / 
But   in   helle   hir  sighte  shal  be  ful   of 
derknesse  and  of  smoke,  and  therfore  ful 
of  teres  ;    and  hir   heringe,  ful  of  way- 
mentingo  and  of  grintinge  of  teeth,  as 
seith  Jesu  Crist ;  /  hir  nosethirles  shuUen 
be  ful  of  stinkinge  stink.     And  as  seith 
Isaye  the  prophete :    '  hir  savoring  shal 
be  ful  of  bitter  galle.'  /     And  touchinge 
of  al  hir  body,  y-covered  with  '  fyr  that 
nevere  shal  quenche,  and  with  wormes 
that  nevere  shul  dycn,'  as  god  seith  by 
the  mouth  of  Isaye.  /     And  for-as-muche  210 
as  they  shi\l  nat   wene  that  they  may 
dyen   for   peyne,  and   by  hir  deeth  flee 
fro  peyne,  that  may  they  understonden 
by  the  word  of  Job,  that  seith  :  '  ther-as 
is  the   shadwe    of    deeth.'  /      Certes,   a 


68o 


ZU  Cankviut^  Zake. 


[t-  § 


shadwe  hath  the  lyknesse  of  the  thing 
of  whidi  it  is  shadwe,  hut  shadwe  is  nat 
the  same  thing  of  which  it  is  shadwe.  / 
Right  so  fareth  the  peyno  of  lielle ;  it  is 
lyk  deeth  for  the  horrible  ang^issh,  and 
why?  For  it  pej-neth  hem  evere,  as 
though  they  sholde  dye  anon  ;  but  certes 
they  shal  nat  dye.  /  For  as  seith  .Seint 
Gregorie :  'to  wrecche  caytives  shal  bo 
deeth  with-oute  deeth,  and  ende  with- 
outen  ende,  and  defauto  with-oute  fail- 
(140)  inge.  /  For  hir  deeth  sliul  alwey  liven, 
and  hir  ende  shal  everemo  biginno,  and 
215  hir  defaute  shal  nat  faille.'  /  And  ther- 
fore  seith  Seint  John  the  Evangelist : 
'they  shuUen  folwe  deeth,  and  they  shul 
nat  finde  him  ;  and  they  shul  desyren 
to  dye,  and  deeth  shal  flee  fro  hem.'  / 
And  eek  Job  seith :  that  '  in  helle  is 
noon  ordre  of  rule.'  /  And  al-be-it  so 
that  god  hath  creat  alio  thinges  in  right 
ordre,  and  no-thing  with-onten  ordre, 
but  alio  thinges  been  ordej-ned  and  nom- 
bred  ;  yet  nathelees  thoy  that  been 
dampned  been  no-thing  in  ordre,  ne 
holden  noon  ordre.  /  For  the  ertho  ne 
shal  bore  hem  no  fruit.  /  For,  as  the 
prophete  David  seith  :  '  god  shal  destro,ve 
the  fruit  of  the  erthe  as  fro  hem  ' ;  ne 
water  ne  shal  yeve  hem  no  moisture  ;  ne 
320  the  eyr  no  refresshing,  ne  fyr  no  light.  / 
For  as  seith  seint  BasiLie :  '  the  brenninge 
of  the  fyr  of  this  world  shal  god  yeven  in 
helle  to  hem  that  been  dampned  ;  /  but 
the  light  and  the  cleernesse  shal  be  yeven 
in  hevene  to  hise  children  ';  right  as  the 
gode  man  yeveth  flesh  to  liise  children, 
and  bones  to  his  houndes.  /  And  for 
they  shullen  have  noon  hope  to  escape, 
seith  seint  Job  atte  laste :  that  'ther 
shal  horrour  and  grisly  drede  dwellen 
with-outen  ende.'  /  Horrour  is  alwey 
drede  of  harm  that  is  to  come,  and  this 
drede  shal  evere  dwelle  in  the  hertes  of 
hem  that  been  dampned.  And  therefore 
han  they  lorn  al  hir  hope,  for  sevene 
(150)  causes.  /  First,  for  god  that  is  hir  juge 
shal  be  with-outen  mercy  to  hem  ;  ne 
they  may  nat  pleso  him,  ne  noon  of  hise 
halwes  ;  ne  they  ne  may  yeve  no-thing 
2-25  for  hir  raunson  ;  /  ne  thej-  have  no  vols 


to  speke  to  him  ;  ne  they  may  nat  flee 
fro  peyne  ;  no  they  have  no  goodnesse  in 
hem,  that  they  mowe  shewo  to  delivere 
hem  fro  pejTie.  /  And  therfore  seith 
Salomon:  'the  wikked  man  dyeth  ;  and 
whan  he  is  deed,  he  shal  have  noon  hope 
to  escape  fro  pejTie.'  /  Who-so  thanne 
wolde  wel  understande  these  peynes,  and 
bithinke  liim  wool  that  he  hath  deserved 
thilke  peynes  for  his  sinnes,  certes,  he 
shohle  have  more  talent  to  syken  and  to 
wepe  than  for  to  singen  and  to  pleye.  / 
For  as  that  seith  Salomon  :  '  who-so  that 
hadde  the  science  to  knowe  the  peynes 
tliat  been  estnblissed  and  ordeyned  for 
siuno,  ho  woldo  make  sorwe.'  /  '  Thilke 
science,' as  seith  seint  Augustin,  '  maketh 
a  man  to  waymenton  in  his  herte. '  /  2.v> 

§  11.  The  fourthe  point,  that  oghte 
maken  a  man  to  have  contricion,  is  the 
sorweful  remembrance  of  the  good  that 
,  he  hath  left  to  doon  here  in  ertho  ;  and 
eek  the  good  that  he  hatli  lorn.  /  Soothly, 
the  gode  werkes  that  he  hath  left,  outher 
they  been  the  godo  werkes  that  he 
wroghte  cr  he  fel  in-to  deedly  sinne,  or 
elles  the  gode  werkes  that  ho  wroghte 
while  ho  lay  in  sinne.  /  Soothly,  the 
godo  werkes,  that  he  dido  biforn  that  he 
fil  in  sinne,  been  al  mortified  and  astoned 
and  dulled  by  the  ofte  sinning.  /  The 
othero  gode  werkes,  that  ho  wroghte 
whyl  he  lay  in  deedly  sinne,  they  been 
outrely  dedo  as  to  tho  lyf  perdurable  in 
hevene.  /  Thanne  thilke  gode  werkes  (160) 
that  been  mortified  by  ofto  sinning, 
whiche  gode  werkes  he  dide  whyl  he  was 
in  charitee,  ne  mowe  nevere  quiken  agayn 
with-outen  verray  penitence.  /  And  ther-  235 
of  seith  god,  by  the  mouth  of  Ezechiel: 
that,  '  if  the  rightful  man  returne  agayn 
from  his  rightwisnesse  and  werke  wikked- 
nesse,  shal  he  live?'  /  Nay;  for  alle  tho 
gode  werkes  that  he  hath  wroght  ne  shul 
nevere  been  in  remembrance  ;  for  he  shal 
dyen  in  his  sLnno.  /  And  up-on  thilke 
chapitro  seith  seint  Gregorie  thus  :  '  that 
we  shulle  understonde  this  principally;  / 
that  whan  we  doon  deedly  sinne,  it  is 
for  noght  thanne  to  rehercen  or  drawen 
in-to  memorie  the  gode  werkes  that  we 


T.    §    12.] 


ZU  (per0one0  Zak. 


68i 


ban  wroght  biforn.'  /  For  certes,  in  tbe 
werkinge  of  the  deedly  sinne,  tber  is  no 
trvist  to  no  good  werk  tbat  we  ban  doon 
biforn  ;  tbat  is  to  seyn,  as  for  to  bave 

240  tberby  tbe  lyf  perdurable  in  bevene.  / 
But  natbelees,  tbe  gode  werkes  quiken 
agaj-n,  and  comen  agayn,  and  belpen, 
and  availlen  to  bave  tbe  lyf  perdurable 
in  bevene,  wban  we  ban  contricion.  / 
But  sootbly,  tbe  gode  werkes  that  men 
doon  wbyl  they  been  in  deedly  sinne, 
for-as-mucbe  as  they  were  doon  in  deedly 
sinne,  they  may  nevere  quiken  agayn.  / 
For  certes,  thing  tbat  nevere  hadde  Ij-f 
may  nevere  quikene ;  and  natbelees,  al- 
be-it  that  they  ne  availlo  nogbt  to  ban 
the  lyf  perdurable,  yet  avaUlen  they  to 
abregge  of  tbe  peyne  of  belle,  or  elles  to 
geten  temporal  ricbesse,  /  or  eUes  that 
god  wole  the  rather  enlumine  and  ligbtno 
tbe   berte   of    tbe   sinful  man    to    have 

(170)  rei^entance;  /  and  eek  they  availlen  for 
to  nsen  a  man  to  doon  gode  werkes,  tbat 
tbe  feend  have  tbe  lasse  power  of  his 
245  soule.  /  And  thus  tbe  curteis  lord  Jesu 
Crist  wole  that  no  good  werk  be  lost  ; 
for  in  somwbat  it  sbal  availle.  /  But 
for-as-mucbe  as  tbe  gode  werkes  that 
men  doon  wbyl  they  been  in  good  lyf, 
been  al  mortified  by  sinne  folwinge  ;  and 
eek,  sitb  that  alle  the  gode  werkes  tbat 
men  doon  wbyl  they  been  in  deedly 
synne,  been  outrely  dede  as  for  to  have 
tbe  lyf  perdurable ;  /  wel  may  that  man, 
tbat  no  good  werke  ne  dooth,  singe  thilke 
newe  Frensbe  song  :  '  Jay  tout  perdu  mon 
temps  et  mon  labour.'  /  For  certes,  sinne 
bireveth  a  man  botbc  goodnesse  of  nature 
and  eek  the  goodnesse  of  grace.  /  For 
sootbly,  the  grace  of  the  holy  goost 
fareth  lyk  fyr,  tbat  may  nat  been  ydel ; 
for  fyr  faileth  anoon  as  it  forleteth  his 
wirkinge,  and  right  so  grace  fayleth 
250  anoon  as  it  forleteth  bis  werkinge.  / 
Than  leseth  the  sinful  man  the  goodnesse 
of  glorie,  that  only  is  bibight  to  gode 
men  that  labouren  and  werken.  /  Wel 
may  be  be  sory  thanne,  that  owetb  <al 
his  lif  to  god  as  longe  as  be  hath  lived, 
and  eek  as  longe  as  be  sbal  live,  that  no 
goodnesse  ne  hath  to  paye  with  bis  dette 


to  god,  to  whom  be  owetb  al  his  lyf.  / 
For  trust  wel,  '  be  sbal  yeven  acountes,' 
as  seith  seint  Bernard,  '  of  alle  the  godes 
that  ban  be  yeven  him  in  this  present 
Ij'f,  and  bow  he  bath  hem  despended  ;  / 
in  so  muche  tbat  tber  sbal  nat  perisse  an 
heer  of  bis  heed,  ne  a  moment  of  an 
houre  ne  sbal  nat  perisse  of  bis  tj-me, 
tbat  he  ne  sbal  yeve  of  it  a  rekening.'  /      (iSo) 

§  12.  Tbe  fiftbe  thing  tbat  oghte  moeve 
a  man  to  contricion,  is  remembrance  of 
tbe  passion  tbat  oure  lord  Jesu  Crist 
suflfred  for  oure  sinnes.  /  For,  as  seith  255 
seint  Bernard  :  '  wbyl  that  I  live,  I  sbal 
bave  remembrance  of  tbe  travailles  that 
oure  lord  Crist  suffred  in  precbing  ;  /  big 
werinesse  in  travailling,  bise  temptacions 
wban  he  fasted,  bise  longe  waldnges 
wban  bo  preyde,  bise  teres  whan  that 
be  weep  for  piteo  of  good  peple  ;  /  the 
wo  and  the  shame  and  the  filtbe  that 
men  seyden  to  liim  ;  of  tbe  foulo  spitting 
tbat  men  spitte  in  bis  face,  of  tbe 
buifettes  that  men  yaven  him,  of  the 
foule  mowes,  and  of  tbe  reproves  that 
men  to  him  seyden  ;  /  of  tbe  nayles  with 
whicbe  be  was  nailed  to  tbe  croys,  and 
of  al  the  remeaant  of  his  passion  that  be 
suffred  for  my  sinnes,  and  no-thing  for 
bis  gilt.'/  And  ye  shul  understonde, 
tbat  in  mannes  sinne  is  every  manere  of 
ordro  or  ordinance  turned  up-so-doun.  /  260 
For  it  is  sooth,  tbat  god,  and  reson,  and 
sensualitee,  and  tbe  body  of  man  been  so 
ordeyned,  tbat  everich  of  thise  foure 
thinges  sholde  bave  lordsbipo  over  that 
other  ;  /  as  thus  :  god  sholde  bave  lord- 
shipe  over  reson,  and  reson  over  sensu- 
alitee, and  sensualitee  over  the  body  of 
man.  /  But  sothly,  whan  man  sinnetb, 
al  this  ordre  or  ordinance  is  turned 
up-so-doun.  /  And  therfore  thanne,  for- 
as-mucbe  as  the  reson  of  man  ne  wol  nat 
be  subget  ne  obeisant  to  god,  tbat  is  bis 
lord  by  right,  therfore  lesetlx  it  tbe  lord- 
shipe  that  it  sholde  have  over  sensualitee, 
and  eek  over  tbe  body  of  man.  /  And  (190) 
why  ?  For  sensualitee  rebelletb  thanne 
agayns  reson  ;  and  by  tbat  wey  leseth 
reson  the  lordsbipe  over  sensualitee  and 
over  the  body.  /     For  right  as  reson  is  265 


682 


ZH  €antev6utp  Zaka. 


[t.  §  13- 


rebel  to  god,  right  so  is  bothc  scnsualitee 
rebel  to  rcson  ami  the  body  also.  /  And 
certes,  this  disordinance  and  this  re- 
bellion cure  lord  Jesw  Crist  aboghto 
np-on  his  precious  body  ful  dere,  and 
herkneth  in  wliich  wyse.  /  For-as-mucho 
thanne  as  reson  is  rebel  to  god,  thcrfore 
is  man  worthy  to  have  sorwo  and  to  be 
deed.  /  This  suflfred  oure  lord  Jesu  Crist 
for  man,  after  that  he  haddo  be  bitraysed 
of  his  disciple,  and  distreyned  and 
bonnde,  '  so  that  his  blood  brast  out  at 
every  nail  of  hise  handes,'  as  seith  seint 
Augustin.  /  And  forther-over,  for-as- 
muchel  as  reson  of  man  ne  wol  nat 
daunte  sensnaliteo  whan  it  may,  therforo 
is  man  worthy  to  have  shame ;  and  this 
suffrcd  oure  lord  Jesu  Crist  for  man, 
2-0  whan  they  spetten  in  his  ^^sage.  /  And 
forther-over,  for-as-muchel  thanne  as  the 
caitif  body  of  man  is  rebel  bothe  to  reson 
and  to  sensualitee,  therfore  is  it  worthy  . 
the  deeth.  /  And  this  suffred  oure  lord 
Jesu  Crist  for  man  up-on  the  croys, 
where-as  ther  was  no  part  of  his  body 
free,  with-outen  greet  pej-ne  and  bitter 
passion.  /  And  al  this  suffred  Jesu 
Crist,  that  nevere  forfeted.  And  therforo 
resonably  may  be  seyd  of  Jesu  in  this 
mancre  :  '  to  muchel  am  I  pejTied  for 
the  thinges  that  I  nevere  deserved,  and 
to  muche  defouled  for  shendshipe  that 
man  is  worthy  to  have.'  /  And  therfore 
may  the  sinful  man  wel  seye,  as  seith 
soint  Bernard  :  '  acursed  be  the  bitter- 
nesse  of  my  sinne,  for  which  ther  moste 
(200)  be  suffred  so  muchel  bittemesse.'  /  For 
certes,  after  the  diverse  discordances  of 
oure  wikkednesses,  was  the  passion  of 
275  Jesu  Crist  ordeyned  in  diverse  thinges,  / 
as  thus.  Certes,  sinful  mannes  soule  is 
bitraysed  of  the  devel  by  coveitise  of 
temporel  prosperitee,  and  scorned  by 
deceite  whan  he  cbeseth  fleshly  delyces  ;  j 
and  yet  is  it  tormented  by  inpacience  of 
adversitee,  and  bispet  by  sers-age  and 
subjeccion  of  sinne ;  and  atte  laste  it  is 
slayn  fynally.  /  For  this  disordinaunce 
of  sinful  man  was  Jesu  Crist  first  bi- 
traysed, and  after  that  was  ho  bounde, 
that  cam  for  to  vmbymden  us  of  sinne 


and  pejTie.  /  Thanne  was  he  biscorned, 
that  only  sholde  han  1)eon  honoured  in 
alio  thinges  and  of  alle  thinges.  /  Thanno 
was  his  visage,  that  oghto  bo  desired 
to  be  seyn  of  al  man-kinde,  in  which 
visago  aungcls  desyrcn  to  looke,  vileynsly 
bispet.  /  Thanno  was  he  scourged  that 
no-thing  hadde  agilt;  and  fynally,  thanne 
was  ho  crucified  and  slayn.  /  Tlianne  280 
was  acompliced  the  word  of  Isayo :  '  he 
was  wounded  for  oure  misdedes,  and 
defouled  for  oure  felonies.'  /  Now  sith 
that  Jesu  Crist  took  up-on  hina-sclf  the 
peyno  of  alio  oiire  wikkednesses,  muchel 
oghto  sinful  man  wepen  and  biwayle, 
that  for  hise  sinnes  goddos  sone  of 
hevene  sholde  al  this  peyne  endure.  / 

§  13.  The  sixte  thing  that  oghte  moeve 
a  man  to  contricion,  is  the  hope  of  three 
thynges ;  that  is  to  seyn,  forj-ifnosse  of 
sinne,  and  the  yifte  of  grace  wel  for  to 
do,  and  the  gloric  of  hevene,  with  which 
god  shal  guordone  a  man  for  hise  gode 
dedes.  /  And  for-as-mucho  as  Jesu  Crist 
yeveth  us  thise  yiftes  of  his  largesse  and 
of  his  soverej-n  bountec,  therfore  is  he 
cleped  Jestia  Kazarenus  rex  Judeorvm.  /  (210) 
Jesus  is  to  seyn  'saveour'  or  '  salvacion,' 
on  whom  men  shul  hope  to  have  forj'if- 
nesso  of  sinnes,  which  that  is  i)roprely 
salvacion  of  sinnes.  /  And  therfore  scyde  285 
the  aungel  to  Joseph  :  '  thou  shalt  clepen 
his  name  .Jesus,  that  shal  saven  his  peple 
of  hir  sinnes.'  /  And  hcer-of  seith  seint 
Peter :  '  ther  is  noon  other  name  under 
hevene  that  is  yeve  to  any  man,  by  which 
a  man  may  l>e  saved,  but  only  .Jesus.'  / 
Kazarenus  is  as  mucho  for  to  seye  as 
'  florisshinge,'  in  which  a  man  shal  hope, 
that  he  that  yeveth  him  remission  of 
sinnes  shal  yeve  him  eek  grace  wel  for  to 
do.  For  in  the  flour  is  hope  of  fruit  in 
tyme  cominge ;  and  in  foryifnesse  of 
sinnes  hope  of  grace  wel  for  to  do.  / 
'  I  was  atte  dore  of  thyn  herte,'  seith 
Jesus,  '  and  cleped  for  to  entre  ;  he  that 
openeth  to  me  shal  have  foryifnesse  of 
sinne.  /  I  wol  entre  in-to  him  by  my 
grace,  and  soupe  with  him,'  by  the  goode 
werkes  that  he  shal  doon  ;  whiche  werkes 
been   the   foode    of  god ;    '  and   he   shal 


T.  §§  14,  15.] 


I.    Z^t  (pereonee  Zak. 


683 


soupe  with  me,'  by  the  grete  joye  that 
290  I  shal  yeven  him.  /  Thus  shal  man  hope, 
for  hise  werkes  of  penaiince,  that  god 
shall  yeven  him  his  regno  ;  as  he  bihoteth 
him  in  the  gospel.  / 

§  14.  Now  shal  a  man  understonde,  in 
which  manere  shal  been  his  contricion. 
I  seye,  that  it  shal  been  universal  and 
total ;  this  is  to  seyn,  a  man  shal  be 
verray  repentant  for  alle  hise  sinnes  that 
he  hath  doon  in  delyt  of  his  thoght  ;  for 
delyt  is  ful  perilous.  /  For  ther  been 
two  manere  of  consentinges  ;  that  oon  of 
hem  is  cleped  consentinge  of  affeccion, 
whan  a  man  is  moeved  to  do  sinne,  and 
delyteth  him  longe  for  to  thinke  on  that 
sinne  ;  /  and  his  reson  apercejTeth  it 
wel,  that  it  is  sinne  agajms  the  lawe  of 
god,  and  yet  his  reson  refreyneth  nat  his 
foul  delyt  or  talent,  though  he  see  wel 
apertly  that  it  is  agayns  the  reverence  of 
god ;  al-though  his  reson  ne  consente 
(220)  noght  to  doon  that  sinne  in  dede,  /  .vet 
seyn  somme  doctours  that  swich  delyt 
that  dwelleth  longe,  it  is  fill  perilous, 
295  al  be  it  nevere  so  lite.  /  And  also  a  man 
sholde  sorwe,  namely,  for  al  that  evere 
he  hath  desired  agayn  the  lawe  of  god 
with  perfit  consentinge  of  his  reson  ;  for 
ther-of  is  no  doute,  that  it  is  deedly  sinne 
in  consentinge.  /  For  certes,  ther  is  no 
deedly  sinne,  that  it  nas  first  in  mannes 
thought,  and  after  that  in  his  delyt ;  and 
so  forth  in-to  consentinge  and  in-to  dede./ 
Wherfore  I  seye,  that  many  men  ne  re- 
penten  hem  nevere  of  swiche  thoghtes 
and  delytes,  ne  nevere  shryven  hem  of  it, 
but  only  of  the  dede  of  grete  sinnes 
outward.  /  Wherfore  I  seye,  that  swiche 
wikked  delytes  and  wikked  thoghtes  been 
subtile  bigyleres  of  hem  that  shuUen  be 
dampned.  /  More-over,  man  oghte  to 
sorwe  for  hise  wikkede  wordes  as  wel  as 
for  hise  wikkede  dedes  ;  for  certes,  the 
repentance  of  a  singuler  sinne,  and  nat 
repente  of  alle  hise  othere  sinnes,  or  elles 
repenten  him  of  alle  hise  othere  sinnes, 
and  nat  of  a  singuler  sinne,  may  nat 
300  availle.  /  For  certes,  god  almighty  is  al 
good ;  and  ther-fore  he  foryeveth  al,  or 
elles  right  noght.  /     And  heer-of  seith 


seint  Angustin  :  '  I  woot  certeinly  /  that 
god  is  enemy  to  everich  sinnere  ' ;  and 
how  thanne  ?  He  that  observeth  o  sinne, 
shal  he  have  foryifnesse  of  the  reme- 
naunt  of  hise  othere  sinnes?  Nay.  / 
And  forther-over,  contricion  sholde  be 
wonder  sorweful  and  anguissous,  and 
therfore  yeveth  him  god  pleynly  his 
mercy ;  and  therfore,  whan  my  soule 
was  angiiissoiis  with-inne  me,  I  hadde 
remembrance  of  god  that  my  preyere 
mighte  come  to  him.  /  Forther-over,  (230) 
contricion  moste  be  continiiel,  and  that 
man  have  stedefast  purpos  to  shryven 
him,  and  for  to  amenden  him  of  his  Ij'f.  /  305 
For  soothly,  whyl  contricion  lasteth,  man 
may  evere  have  hope  of  foryifnesse  ;  and 
of  this  comth  hate  of  sinne,  that  destroy- 
eth  sinne  bothe  in  himself,  and  eek  in 
other  folk,  at  his  power.  /  For  which 
seith  David  :  '  ye  that  loven  god  hateth 
wikkednesse.'  For  trusteth  wel,  to  love 
god  is  for  to  love  that  he  loveth,  and 
hate  that  he  hateth.  / 

§  15.  The  laste  thing  that  man  shal 
understonde  in  contricion  is  this ;  wher- 
of  avayleth  contricion.  I  seye,  that  sonn 
tyme  contricion  delivereth  a  man  fro 
sinne ;  /  of  which  that  David  seith  : 
'  I  seye,'  quod  David,  that  is  to  seyn, 
'  I  purposed  fermely  to  shryve  me  ;  and 
thow,  Lord,  relesedest  my  sinne.'  /  And 
right  so  as  contricion  availleth  noght, 
with-outen  sad  purpos  of  shrifte,  if  man 
have  oportunitee,  right  so  litel  worth  is 
shrifte  or  satisfaccion  with-outen  con- 
tricion. /  And  more-over,  contricion  310 
destroyeth  the  prison  of  helle,  and  maketh 
wayk  and  feble  alle  the  strengthes  of  the 
develes,  and  restoreth  the  yiftes  of  the 
holy  goost  and  of  alle  gode  vertues ;/  and 
it  clenseth  the  soule  of  sinne,  and 
delivereth  the  soule  fro  the  peyne  of 
helle,  and  fro  the  companye  of  the  devel, 
and  iro  the  servage  of  sinne,  and  restoreth 
it  to  alle  godes  espirituels,  and  to  the 
companye  and  commvinion  of  holy 
chirche.  /  And  forther-over,  it  maketh 
hhn  that  wbylom  was  sone  of  ire  to  be 
sone  of  grace  ;  and  alle  thise  tliinges  been 
preved  by  holy  writ.  /     And  therfore,  he 

5 


6S4 


ZH  tanferBurp  Zake. 


[t.  §  i6- 


that  woUlo  se'.te  his  entente  to  thise 
tbingcs,  he  were  ful  wjs ;  for  soothly,  he 
ne  shoklo  nat  thanno  in  al  his  Ij-f  have 
conigo  to  sinne,  but  yeven  his  body  and 
al  his  horte  to  the  service  of  .Tesu  Crist, 
(240)  and  ther-of  doon  him  hommage.  /  For 
soothly,  oure  swete  h)rd  Jesii  Crist  hath 
spared  us  so  deV)onairly  in  our  folies,  that 
if  ho  no  hadde  pitee  of  mannos  sonle, 
315  a  sory  song  wo  mighten  alio  singe./ 

Explicit  prima  pars  Penitentie ;   et 
sequitur  secunda  pars  eiusdem. 

§  16.  Tlio  seconde  partio  of  Penitence  is 
Confession,  that  is  signe  of  contricion.  / 
Now  shul  ye  undorstonde  what  is  Con- 
fession, and  whether  it  oghte  nedes  be 
doon  or  noon,  and  whiche  thinges  been 
covenablo  to  vorray  Confession.  / 

§  17.  First  shaltow  unilerstondo  that 
Confession  is  verray  sliewinge  of  einnes 
to  the  preest ;  /  this  is  to  sej-n  '  verray,' 
for  he  nioste  eonfesson  him  of  alio  the 
condiciouns  that  bilongen  to  his  sinne,  as 
ferforth  as  he  can.  /  Al  moot  be  seyd, 
and  no  thing  excused  no  hid  no  for- 
wrapped,  and  noght  avaunto  him  of  hia 
320  gotle  workcs.  /  And  forther  over,  it  is 
nocessario  to  understonde  whennes  that 
sinnes  springen,  and  how  they  encresen, 
and  whiche  they  been.  / 

§  18.  Of  the  springinge  of  sinnes  seith 
seint  Paul  in  this  wise  :  that  '  right  as  by 
a  man  sinne  entred  first  in-to  this  world, 
and  thnrgh  that  sinne  deeth,  right  so 
thilke  deeth  entred  in-to  alle  men  that 
sinneden.y  And  this  man  was  Adam, 
by  whom  sinne  entred  in-to  this  world 
whan  ho  brak  the  comaundement  of 
gotl.  /  And  therfore,  he  that  first  was  so 
mighty  that  he  sholde  not  have  dyed, 
bicam  swich  oon  that  he  mostc  nedes  dye, 
whether  ho  wolde  or  noon  ;  and  all  his 
progenie  in  this  world  that  in  thilke  man 
(250)  sinnedcn.  /  Loke  that  in  th'estaat  of 
innocence,  when  Adam  and  Eve  naked 
weren  in  paradys,  and  no-thing  ne  hadden 
325  shame  of  hir  nakodnesse,  /  how  that  the 
son^ent.  that  was  most  wjly  of  alle  othere 
bestes  that  god  hadde  maked,  seyde  to 


the  womman  :  '  why  comaundod  god  to 
yow,  ye  sholde  nat  eteu  of  every  tree  in 
parad>-s?'/  The  womman  answerde : 
'of  the  fruit,'  quod  she,  'of  tho  trees  in 
panidys  wo  feden  us ;  but  soothly,  of  tho 
fruit  of  the  tree  that  is  in  the  middcl  of 
paradj-s,  god  forbad  us  for  to  ete,  no  nat 
tonchen  it,  lest  per-aventuro  wo  should 
dyen.'  /  The  seriient  seyde  to  the  wom- 
man :  '  nay,  nuy,  yo  shul  nat  dyen  of 
deeth  ;  for  sothe,  g<xl  woot,  that  what  day 
that  yo  eten  ther-of,  youre  eyen  shul 
opene,  and  yo  shul  been  as  goddes, 
knowingo  good  and  harm. '/  Tho  wom- 
man thanno  saugh  that  the  tree  was  good 
to  feding,  and  fair  to  tho  eyen,  and 
delytablo  to  tho  sighto  ;  sho  t<jk  of  tho 
fruit  of  tho  tree,  and  eet  it,  and  j-af  to  hir 
housbonde,  and  ho  eet ;  and  anoon  tho 
eyen  of  hem  botho  openeden.  /  And 
whan  that  they  knewo  that  they  woro 
naked,  they  sowed  of  fige-leves  a  mancro 
of  brechcs  to  hiden  hir  membres.  /  There  330 
may  yo  seen  that  deedly  sinne  hath  first 
suggestion  of  tho  feend,  as  shcwoth  hero 
by  the  naddre  ;  and  afterwanl,  tho  delyt 
of  the  flesh,  as  sheweth  hero  by  Evo  ;  and 
after  that,  tho  consentinge  of  resoun,  as 
sheweth  here  by  Adam.  /  For  trust  wel, 
thogh  so  were  that  the  feend  tempted  Eve, 
that  is  to  scjTi  the  flesh,  and  the  flesh  hadde 
delyt  in  the  beautee  of  tho  fruit  defended, 
yet  certes,  til  that  resoun,  that  is  to  seyn, 
Adam,  consented  to  the  etinge  of  tho 
fruit,  yet  stood  he  in  th'estaat  of  inno- 
cence. /  Of  thilke  Adam  toko  wc  thQke 
sinne  original ;  for  of  him  fleshly  de- 
scended be  we  alle,  and  engendred  of  vile 
and  corrupt  matere.  /  And  whan  tho 
'  soule  is  put  in  our  body,  right  anon  is 
1  contract  original  sinne ;  and  that,  that 
I  was  erst  but  only  peyne  of  concupiscence, 

is  afterward  bothe  peyne  and  sinne.  /  (260) 

I  And  therfore  be  we  alle  born  soncs  of 

'  wratthe  and  of  dampnacion  perdurable,  if 

it  nere  Imptesme  that  we  receyven,  which 

binimeth  us  the  culpe  ;  but  for  sothe,  the 

peyne   dwelleth  with  ns,   as  to  tempta- 

cion,  which  pej-nehighte  concupiscence.  /  335 

Whan  it  is  wrongfully  disposed   or  or- 

I  deyned  in  man.  it  maketh  him  coveite, 


T.   §   19-21.] 


I.    ZH  (pereonee  tak. 


68r 


by  coveitise  of  flesh,  fleshly  sinne,  by 
sighte  of  hise  eyen  as  to  erthely  thinges, 
and  coveitise  of  hynesse  by  pryde  of 
herte.  / 

§  19.  Now  as  for  to'  speken  of  the  firste 
coveitise,  that  is,  concupiscence  after  the 
lawe  of  oure  membres,  that  weren  lawe- 
fuUiche  y-maked  and  by  rightful  juge- 
ment  of  god  ;  /    I  seye,   for-as-muche  as 
man  is  nat  obeisaunt  to  god,  that  is  his 
lord,   therfore   is   the   flesh   to  him   dis- 
obeisannt   thurgh   concui)iscence,  which 
yet   is   cleped   norissinge   of    sinne    and 
occasion    of    sinne.  /     Therfore,    al    the 
whyle  that  a  man  hath  in  him  the  pej-ne  of 
concupiscence,  it  is  impossible  but  he  be 
tempted   somtjTne,    and    moeved   in   his 
flesh  to  sinne.  /    And  this  thing  may  nat 
faille  as  longe  as  he  liveth  ;  it  may  wel 
wexe  feble  and  faille,  by  vertu  of  baptesme 
and   by  the  grace  of  god  thurgh  peni- 
34"  fence ;  /    but    fully   ne    shal    it    nevere 
quenche,   that  he  ne  shal  soni  tj-me  be 
moeved   in    him-self,    but-if  he   were   al 
refreyded  by  siknesse,  or  by  malefice  of 
sorcerie  or  colde  drinkes.  /     For  lo,  what 
seith   seint   Paul :    '  the   flesh    coveiteth 
agayn  the  spirit,  and  the  spirit  agayn  the 
flesh ;    they   been    so    contrarie   and   so 
strys'en,  tliat  a  man  may  nat  alwey  doon 
as  he   wolde.'  /     The  same   seint  Paul, 
after  his  grete  penaunce  in  water  and  in 
lond  (in  water  by  night  and  by  day,  in 
greet  jjeril  and  in  greet  peyne,  in  lond, 
in  famine,  in  thurst,  in  cold  and  cloth- 
lees,    and    ones    stoned    almost    to    the 
deeth)  /  yet  seyde  he  :    '  alias  !   I,  caytif 
man,     who    shal    delivere    me    fro    the 
(270)  prisoun  of  my  caytif  body  ? '  /    And  seint 
Jerome,  whan  he  longe  tyme  hadde  woned 
in   desert,  wherc-as  he   hadde   no  com- 
panye  but  of  wilde  bestes,  where-as  he  ne 
hadde  no  mete  but  herbes  and  water  to 
his  drinke,  ne  no  bed  but  the  naked  erthe, 
for    which    his    flesh   was    blak    as    an 
Etliiopen  for  hete  and  ny  destroyed  for 
345  cold,/  yet  seyde  he :  that  'the  brenninge  of 
lecherie  boiled  in  al  his  body.'/  Wherfore 
I    woot    wel    sikerly,    that    they    been 
deceyved  that  seyn,  that  they  ne  be  nat 
tempted    in    hir    body.  /     Witnesse    on 


Seint  Jame  the  Apostel,  that  scnth  :  that 
'  every  wight  is  tempted  in  his  owen  con- 
cupiscence ; '  that  is  to  seyn,  that  overich 
of  us  hath  matere  and  occasion  to  be 
tempted  of  the  norissinge  of  sinne  that 
is  in  his  body.  /  And  therfore  seith 
Seint  John  the  Evaungelist :  '  if  that 
we  seyn  that  we  beth  with-oute  sinne, 
we  decej'\'e  us-selve,  and  trouthe  is  nat 
in  us.'  / 

§  20.  Now  shal  ye  tmderstondo  in  what 
manere  that  sinne  wexeth  or  encreseth 
in  man.  The  firste  thing  is  thilke  noris- 
singe of  sinne,  of  wliich  I  spak  biforn, 
thilke  fleshly  concupiscence.  /  And  after  35^ 
that  comth  the  subjeccion  of  the  devel, 
this  is  to  seyn,  tlio  develes  bcly,  with 
which  he  bloweth  in  man  the  fyr  of 
fleshly  concupiscence.  /  And  after  that, 
a  man  bithinketh  him  whether  ho  wol 
doon,  or  no,  thilke  thing  to  which  he  is 
tempted.  /  And  thanne,  if  that  a  man 
withstonde  and  wey^'e  the  firste  entysinge 
of  his  flesh  and  of  the  feend,  thanne  is  it 
no  sinne ;  and  if  it  so  bo  that  he  do  nat 
so,  thanne  feleth  he  anon  a  flambe  of 
delyt.  /  And  thanne  is  it  good  to  be 
war,  and  kepen  him  wel,  or  elles  he  wol 
falle  anon  in-to  consentinge  of  sinne ; 
and  thanne  wol  he  do  it,  if  he  may  have 
tjTne  and  place.  /  And  of  this  matere  (280] 
seith  Moyses  by  the  devel  in  this  manere  : 
'  the  feend  seith,  I  wolo  chace  and  pursue 
the  man  by  wikked  suggestion,  and  I  wole 
hente  him  by  moevynge  or  stiringe  of 
sinne.  I  wol  departe  my  pryse  or  my 
praye  by  deliberacion,  and  my  lust  shal 
been  accompliced  in  delyt ;  I  wol  draws 
my  swerd  in  consentinge:'/  for  certes,  355 
right  as  a  swerd  departeth  a  thing  in  two 
peces,  right  so  consentinge  departeth  god 
fro  man  :  '  and  thanne  wol  I  sleen  him 
with  myn  hand  in  dede  of  sinne ' ;  thus 
seith  the  feend.  /  For  certes,  thanne  is 
a  man  al  deed  in  soule.  And  thus  is 
sinne  accompliced  by  temptacion,  by 
delyt,  and  by  consentinge  ;  and  thanne  is 
the  sin  cleped  actuel.  / 

§  21.  For  sothe,  sinne  is  in  two 
maneres ;  outher  it  is  venial,  or  deodly 
sinne.      Soothly,  whan  man  loveth  any 


686 


^3e  CanfcrBurp  ^afee. 


[t.    §    22. 


creature  more  than  Jesu  Crist  oure 
creatour,  thanue  is  it  deeilly  sinne.  And 
venial  synne  is  it,  if  man  love  Jesu  Crist 
lasse  than  him  oghte.  /  For  sothe,  the 
dede  of  this  venial  sinne  is  ful  perilous  ; 
for  it  amenuseth  the  love  that  men 
sholde  han  to  god  more  and  more.  /  And 
therfore,  if  a  man  charge  him-self  with 
manyo  swiche  venial  sinnes,  certes,  hut-if 
so  bo  that  he  som  tyme  descharge  him  of 
hem  by  shrifto,  they  mowo  ful  lightly 
amenuse  in  him  al  the  love  that  he  hath 
360  to  Jesu  Crist ;  /  and  in  thiswise  skippeth 
venial  in-to  deedly  sinne.  For  certes,  the 
more  that  a  man  chargeth  his  soule  with 
venial  sinnes,  the  more  is  he  enclyned  to 
fallen  in-to  deedly  sinne.  /  And  therlbre, 
lat  us  nat  be  necligent  to  deschargen  us 
of  venial  sinnes.  For  the  proverbe  seith  : 
that  manye  smalo  maken  a  greet.  /  And 
herkne  this  ensamplc.  A  greet  wawe  of 
the  see  comth  som-tj-mo  with  so  greet, 
a  violence  that  it  drencheth  the  ship. 
And  the  same  harni  doth  som-tyme 
the  smale  dropes  of  water,  that  entren 
thurgh  a  litel  crevace  in-to  the  thurrok, 
and  in-to  the  botme  of  the  ship,  it  men 
be  so  necligent  that  they  ne  descharge 
hem  nat  by  tyme.  /  And  therfore,  al- 
thogh  ther  be  a  difference  bitwi.xe  thise 
two  causes  of  drenchinge,  algates  the 
(290)  ship  is  dreynt.  /  Right  so  fareth  it  som- 
tj-me  of  deedly  sinne,  and  of  anoyouse 
veniale  sinnes,  whan  they  multiplj-e  in 
a  man  so  greetly,  that  thilke  worldly 
tliinges  that  he  loveth,  thurgh  whiche  he 
sinneth  venially,  is  as  greet  in  his  herte 
365  as  the  love  of  god,  or  more.  /  And  ther- 
fore, the  love  of  every  thing,  that  is  nat 
biset  in  god  ne  doon  principally  for 
goddes  sake,  al-though  that  a  man  love  it 
lasse  than  god,  yet  is  it  venial  sinne ;  / 
and  deedly  sinne,  whan  the  love  of  any 
thing  weyeth  in  the  herte  of  man  as 
muchel  as  the  love  of  god,  or  more.  / 
'Deedly  sinne,'  as  seith  seint  Augustin, 
'  is,  whan  a  man  turneth  his  herte  fro 
god,  which  that  is  verray  sovereyn 
bountee,  that  may  nat  chaunge,  and 
yeveth  his  herte  to  thing  that  may 
chaunge  and  flitte ' ;  /  and  certes,  that  is 


every  thing,  save  god  of  hevene.  For 
sooth  is,  that  if  a  man  yeve  his  love,  the 
which  that  he  oweth  al  to  god  with  al  his 
herte,  un-to  a  creature,  certes,  as  muche 
of  his  love  as  he  yeveth  to  thilke  creature, 
so  muche  he  bireveth  fro  god ;  /  and 
therfore  doth  he  sinne.  For  he,  that  is 
dettour  to  god,  ne  yeldeth  nat  to  god  al 
his  dette,  that  is  to  seyn,  al  the  love  of 
his  herte.  /  37"  , 

§  22.  Now  sith  man  understondeth 
generally,  which  is  venial  sinne,  thanne 
is  it  covenable  to  tellen  specially  of  sinnes 
whiche  that  many  a  man  per-aventure  no 
demeth  hem  nat  sinnes,  and  ne  shryvetU 
him  nat  of  the  same  thinges  ;  and  yet 
nathelees  tliej'  been  sinnes.  /  Soothly, 
as  thise  clerkes  wry  ten,  this  is  to  seyn, 
that  at  every  tyme  that  a  man  eteth  or 
drinketh  more  than  suifyseth  to  the 
sustenauuce  of  his  body,  in  certein  he 
dooth  sinne.  /  And  eek  whan  he  speketh 
more  than  nedeth,  it  is  sinne.  Eke  whan 
he  herkneth  nat  benignely  tlio  compleint 
of  the  povre.  /  Eke  whan  ho  is  in  hole 
of  body  and  wol  nat  faste,  whan  othere 
folk  faste,  with-outen  cause  resonable. 
Eke  whan  ho  slepeth  more  than  nedeth, 
or  whan  he  comth  by  thilke  enchesoun 
to  late  to  chirche,  or  to  othere  werkes  of 
charite.  /  Eke  whan  he  useth  his  wyf,  (300 
with-outen  sovereyn  desyr  of  engendrure, 
to  the  honour  of  god,  or  for  the  entente 
to  yelde  to  his  w>-f  the  dette  of  his  body./  375 
Eke  whan  he  wol  nat  visite  the  sike  and 
the  prisoner,  if  he  may.  Eke  if  he  love 
wyf  or  child,  or  other  worldly  thing, 
more  than  resoun  requj-reth.  Eke  if  he 
flatere  or  blandishe  more  than  him  oghte 
for  any  necessitee.  /  Eke  if  he  amenuse 
or  withdrawe  the  almesso  of  the  povre. 
Eke  if  he  apparailleth  his  mete  more 
deliciously  than  nede  is,  or  ete  it  to 
hastily  by  likerousnesse.  /  Eke  if  he  tale 
vanitees  at  chirche  or  at  goddes  service, 
or  that  he  be  a  talker  of  ydel  wordes  of 
folye  or  of  -sdleinye ;  for  he  shal  yelden 
acoiintes  of  it  at  the  day  of  dome.  /  Eke 
whan  he  biheteth  or  assureth  to  do  thinges 
that  he  may  nat  perfourne.  Eke  whan 
that  he,  by  lightnesse  or  folie,  misseyeth 


T-  §§  23,  24. 


I.    Z^t  Qpereonee  Zak. 


687 


or  scometh  liis  neighebore.  /  Eke  whan 
he  hath  any  wikked  suspecion  of  thing, 
380  ther  he  ne  woot  of  it  no  soothfastnesse.  / 
Thise  thinges  and  mo  with-oute  nombre 
been  sinnes,  as  seith  seint  Augustin.  / 

Now  shal  men  iinderstonde,  that  al-be- 
it  so  that  noon  erthely  man  may  eschue 
alle  venial  sinnes,  yet  may  he  refreyne 
him  by  the  brenninge  love  that  he  hath 
to  onre  lord  Jesu  Crist,  and  by  preyeres 
and  confession  and  othere  gode  weikes, 
so  that  it  shal  but  litel  greve.  /  For,  as 
seith  seint  Augustin  :  '  if  a  man  love  god 
in  swiohe  manere,  that  al  that  evere  he 
doth  is  in  the  love  of  god,  and  for  the  love 
of  god  verraily,  for  he  brenneth  in  the 
love  of  god :  /  loke,  how  muche  that 
a  drope  of  water  thatfalleth  in  a  fourneys 
ful  of  fyr  anoyeth  or  greveth,  so  muche 
anoyeth  a  venial  sinne  un-to  a  man  that 
(.510)  is  parfit  in  the  love  of  Jesu  Crist.'  /  Men 
may  also  refreyne  venial  sinne  by  re- 
cey^'inge  worthily  of  the  precious  body 
385  of  Jesu  Crist ;  /  by  recey  ving  eek  of  holy 
water ;  by  almesdede ;  by  general  con- 
fession of  C'onfiteor  at  masse  and  at 
complin ;  and  by  blessinge  of  bisshopes 
and  of  preestes,  and  by  othere  gode 
werkes.  / 

Explicit  secunda  pars  Penitentie. 

Sequitur  de  Septem  Peccatis  Mortalibus 
et  eorum  dependenciis  circumstanciis 
et  speciebus. 

§  23.  Now  is  it  bihovely  thing  to  telle 
whiche  been  the  deedly  sinnes,  this  is  to 
seyn,  chioftaines  of  sinnes;  alle  they 
renne  in  o  lees,  but  in  diverse  maneres. 
Now  been  they  cleped  chieftaines  for-as- 
muche  as  they  been  chief,  and  fspringers 
of  alle  othere  sinnes.  /  Of  the  roote  of 
thise  sevene  sinnes  thanne  is  Pryde,  the 
general  rote  of  alle  harmes ;  for  of  this 
rote  springen  certein  braunches,  as  Ire, 
Envye,  Accidie  or  Slewthe,  Avarice  or 
Coveitise  (to  commune  understondinge), 
Glotonye,  and  Lecherye.  /  And  everich 
of  thise  chief  sinnes  hath  hise  braunches 
and  hise  twiggea,  as  shal  be  declared  in 
hir  chapitres  folwinge.  / 


De  Superbia. 

§  24.  And  thogh  so  be  that  no  man 
can  outrely  telle  the  nombre  of  tho 
twigges  and  of  the  harmes  that  cometh 
of  Prj'de,  yet  wol  I  shewe  a  partie  of 
hem,  as  ye  shul  understonde.  /  Ther  390 
is  Inobedience,  Avauntinge,  Ipocrisie, 
Despyt,  Arrogance,  Impudence,  Swellinge 
of  herte.  Insolence,  Elacion,  Impacience, 
Strif,  Contumacie,  Presumpcion,  Irrev- 
erence, Pertinacie,  Veyne  Glorie ;  and 
many  another  twig  that  I  can  nat 
declare.  /  Inobedient,  is  he  that  dis- 
obeyeth  for  despyt  to  the  comandements 
of  god  and  to  hise  sovereyns,  and  to  his 
goostly  fader.  /  Avauntour,  is  he  that 
bosteth  of  the  harm  or  of  the  bountee 
that  he  hath  doon.  /  Ipocrite,  is  he  that 
hydeth  to  shewe  him  swiche  as  he  is,  and 
sheweth  him  swiche  as  he  noght  is.  /  (320) 
Despitous,  is  he  that  hath  desdeyn  of  his 
neighebore,  that  is  to  seyn,  of  his  evene- 
cristene,  or  hath  despyt  to  doon  that  him 
oghte  to  do.  /  Arrogant,  is  he  that  395 
thinketh  that  he  hath  thilke  bountees  in 
him  that  he  hath  noght,  or  weneth  that 
he  sholde  have  hem  by  hise  desertes  ;  or 
elles  he  demeth  that  he  be  that  he  nis 
nat.  /  Impiident,  is  he  that  for  his  pride 
hath  no  shame  of  hise  sinnes.  /  Swellinge 
of  herte,  is  whan  a  man  rejoyseth  him  of 
harm  that  he  hath  doon.  /  Insolent,  is 
he  that  despyseth  in  his  jugement  alle 
othere  folk  as  to  regard  of  his  value,  and 
of  his  conning,  and  of  his  speking,  and  of 
his  bering.  /  Elacion,  is  whan  he  ne  may 
neither  suflfre  to  have  maister  ne  felawe.  /  400 
Impacient,  is  he  that  wol  nat  been  y- 
taught  ne  undernome  of  his  vyce,  and  by 
stryf  werreyeth  trouthe  witingly,  and 
deffendeth  his  folye.  /  Contumax,  is  he 
that  thurgh  his  indignacion  is  agayns 
everich  auctoritee  or  power  of  hem  that 
been  hise  sovereyns.  /  Presumpcion,  is 
whan  a  man  undertaketh  an  empryso 
that  him  oghte  nat  do,  or  elles  that  he 
may  nat  do  ;  and  that  is  called  Surqui- 
drie.  Irreverence,  is  whan  men  do  nat 
honour  thereas  hem  oghte  to  doon,  and 
waiten   to   be   reverenced.  /    Pertinacie, 


688 


Z^i.  CanUv&ut^  Zahe. 


[t.  §§ 


is  whan  man  deffendeth  his  folyc,  and 

(330)  tnisteth  to  muchel  in  his  owene  wit.  / 

Veyne  glorio,  is  for  to  have  pompe  and 

delj-t     in     his     temporel    hj-ncsso,     and 

405  glorifie  him  in  this  worldly  ostaat.  / 
Janglingo,  is  whan  men  spoken  to  muche 
biiorn  folk,  and  clappen  as  a  mille,  and 
taken  no  kepe  what  they  seye.  / 

§  25.  And  j-et  is  ther  a  privee  spece  of 
Prjde,  that  waiteth  first  to  be  salewed  er 
lie  wolo  salewe,  al  be  he  lasse  worth  than 
that  other  is,  per-aventuro ;  and  oek  ho 
waiteth  or  desj-reth  to  sitte,  or  elles  to 
goon  above  liim  in  the  wey,  or  kisse  pax, 
or  been  cncensed,  or  goon  tooffringbifom 
his  neighebore,  /  and  swicho  semblable 
thinges  ;  agaj-ns  his  dnetee,  per-aventuro, 
but  that  lie  hath  his  herte  and  his 
entente  in  swich  a  proud  desyr  to  bo 
magnifyed  and  honoured  bifom  the 
peple.  / 

§  26.  Now  been  ther  two  maneres  of 
Piyde  ;  that  oon  of  hem  is  with-inno  the 
herte  of  man,  and  that  other  is  with- 
oute.  /  Of  whiche  soothly  thisc  forseyde 
thinges,  and  mo  than  I  have  seyd,  aper- 
tenen  to  pryde  that  is  in  the  herto  of 
man  ;  and  that  othere  spcces  of  prj-de 

410  been  with-oute.  /  But  natholes  that  oon 
of  thise  specos  of  pryde  is  signe  of  that 
other,  right  as  the  gaye  leefsol  atte  taveme 
is  signe  of  the  %\-j-n  that  is  in  the  celer.  / 
And  this  is  in  manye  thinges :  as  in  speche 
and  contenaunce,  and  in  outrageous  array 
of  clothing ;  /  for  certes,  if  ther  no  hadde 
be  no  sinne  in  clothing,  Crist  wolde  nat 
have  noted  and  spoken  of  the  clothing  of 
thilke  richo  man  in  the  gospel.  /  And,  as 
seith  Seint  Gregorie,  that  precious  clothing 
is  coupablo  for  the  derthe  of  it,  and  for 
his  softenesse,  and  for  his  strangencsse 
and  degysinesse,  and  for  the  superfluitee, 
[■40)  or  for  the  inordinat  scantnesse  of  it.  / 
Alias !  may  men  nat  seen,  as  in  onre 
dayes,  the  sinful  costlewe  array  of  cloth- 
inge.  and  namely  in  to  mnche  superfluitee, 

415  or  clles  in  to  desordinat  scantnesse  ?  / 

§  27.  As  to  the  firste  sinne,  that  is  in 
superfluitee  of  clothinge,  which  that 
maketh  it  so  dere,  to  harm  of  the  peple  :/ 
nat   only  the  cost  of  embroudinge,  the 


degyse  endentingc  or  barringe,  oundinge, 
palinge,  wndingo,  or  bendinge,  and 
semblable  wast  of  clooth  in  vanitee  ;  / 
but  ther  is  also  costlewo  furringe  in  hir 
gounes,  so  muche  pounsoningo  of  chisels 
to  maken  holes,  so  mncho  dagginge  of 
sheres  ;  /  forth -with  the  superfluitee  in 
length©  of  the  forseido  gounos,  trailinge 
in  the  dong  and  in  the  myre,  on  horso 
and  eek  on  foto,  as  wcl  of  man  as  of 
womman,  that  al  thilke  trailing  is  vcrraily 
as  in  effect  wasted,  consumed,  thredbare, 
and  rotcn  with  donge,  rather  than  it  is 
yeven  to  the  povre  ;  to  greet  damage  of 
the  forseyde  povro  folk.  /  And  that  in 
sondry  wyso  :  this  is  to  seyn,  that  the 
more  that  clooth  is  wasted,  tho  more  it 
costeth  to  the  peple  for  tho  scantnesse  ;  /  420 
and  forther-over,  if  so  be  that  they  woldo 
yeven  swich  pounsoned  and  dagged  cloth- 
ing to  the  iK)vro  folk,  it  is  nat  convenient 
to  were  for  hir  ostaat,  no  suffisant  to  bete 
hir  nocossitee,  to  kepo  hem  fro  the  dis- 
temperance  of  the  firmament.  /  Upon 
that  other  syde,  to  spoken  of  the  horrible 
disordinat  scantnesse  of  clothing,  as  been 
thise  cuttcd  sloppes  or  hainsclins,  that 
thurgh  hir  shortncsse  ne  covere  nat  the 
shameful  mcmbres  of  man,  to  wikked 
entente./  Alias!  somme  of  hemshowen 
tho  l>oce  of  hir  shap,  and  tho  horrible 
swollen  membros,  that  semoth  lyk  the 
maladie  of  himia,  in  the  wrappinge  of  hir 
hoses ;  /  and  eek  the  buttokes  of  hem 
farcn  as  it  were  the  hindre  part  of  a  she- 
ape  in  the  fulle  of  tho  mono.  /  And  (350) 
more-over,  the  wrecched  swollen  mom- 
bres  that  they  shewe  thurgh  tho  degy- 
singo,  in  departinge  of  hir  hoses  in  whj-t 
and  reed,  semoth  that  half  hir  shameful 
privee  membres  woron  flayn.  /  And  if  425 
so  bo  that  they  departen  hire  hoses  in 
othere  colours,  as  is  whj-t  and  blak,  or 
whj't  and  blew,  or  blak  and  reed,  and  so 
forth  ;  /  thanne  semoth  it,  as  by  variance 
of  colour,  that  half  the  partie  of  hir 
privee  membres  wore  corrupt  by  the  fyr 
of  seint  Antony,  or  by  cancre,  or  by  other 
SAvich  meschaunce.  /  Of  the  hindre  part 
of  hir  buttokes,  it  is  ful  horrible  for  to 
see.     For   certes,  in   that   partie  of  hir 


T.  §   27.] 


I.    ZU  (pereonee  tak. 


689 


body  ther-as  they  purgen  liir  stinkinge 
ordure,  /  that  foule  partie  shewe  they  to 
the  peple  proudly  in  desjiji;  of  lionestetee, 
the  which  honestetee  that  Jesu  Crist 
and  liise  freendes  ohservede  to  shewen  in 
hir  IjTe.  /  Now  as  of  the  outrageous 
array  of  wommen,  god  woot,  that  though 
tlie  visages  of  somme  of  hem  seme  ful 
chaast  and  debonaire,  yet  notifie  they  in 
hir    array    of    atyr     likerousnesse     and 

430  pryde.  /  I  sey  nat  that  honestetee  in 
clotliinge  of  man  or  womman  is  uncoven- 
able,  but  certcs  the  superfluitee  or  dis- 
ordinat  scantitee  of  clothinge  is  reprev- 
able.  /  Also  the  sinne  of  aornement  or 
of  apparaille  is  in  thinges  that  apertenen 
to  rydingc,  as  in  to  manye  delicat  horses 
that  been  holilen  for  delyt,  that  been  so 
faire,  fatte,  and  costlewc  ;  /  and  also  to 
many  a  vicious  knave  that  is  sustened  by 
cause  of  hem  ;  in  to  cvirious  liarneys,  as 
in  sadeles,  in  crouiieres,  peytrels,  and 
brydles  covered  with  precious  clothing 
and  riche,  barres  and  plates  of  gold  and 
of  silver.  /  For  which  god  scith  by 
Zakarie  the  prophets,  '  I  wol  confounde 
(360)  the  rj'deres  of  swiche  horses.'  /  This 
folk  taken  litol  reward  of  the  rj'dinge  of 
goddes  sone  of  hevene,  and  of  his  barneys 
whan  he  rood  up-on  the  asse,  and  ne 
hadde  noon  other  barneys  but  the  povre 
clothes  of  hise  disciples ;  ne  we  ne  rede 

435  nat  that  everc  he  rood  on  other  beest.  / 
I  speko  this  for  the  sinne  of  superfluitee, 
and  nat  for  reasonable  honestetee,  whan 
reson  it  requyreth.  /  And  forther,  certes 
pryde  is  greetly  notified  in  holdinge  of 
greet  meinee,  whan  they  be  of  litel  profit 
or  of  right  no  profit.  /  And  namely, 
whan  that  meinee  is  felonous  and  dama- 
geous  to  the  peple,  byhardinesse  of  heigh 
lordshipe  or  by  wey  of  offices.  /  For 
certes,  swiche  lordes  sellen  thanne  hir 
lordshipe  to  the  devcl  of  belle,  whanne 
they  sustenen  the  wikkednesse  of  hir 
meinee.  /  Or  elles  whan  this  folk  of 
lowe  degree,  as  tliilke  tliat  holden  hostel- 
ries,  sustenen  the  thefte  of  hir  hostilers, 

440  and  that  is  in  many  manere  of  deceites.  / 
Thilke  manere  of  folk  been  the  flyes  that 
folwen   the  hony,  or  elles  the  houndes 


that  folwen  the  careyiie.  Swiche  for- 
seyde  folk  stranglen  spiritually  hir  lord- 
shipes  ;  /  for  which  thus  seith  David  the 
prophete,  '  wikked  dofith  mote  come  up-on 
thilke  lordshipes,  and  god  yeve  that  they 
mote  descenden  in-to  helle  al  doun  ;  for 
in  hir  houses  been  iniquitees  and  shrewed- 
nesses,'  and  nat  god  of  hevene.  /  And 
certes,  but-if  they  doon  amendement, 
right  as  god  yaf  liis  benison  to  fLaban  by 
the  service  of  Jacob,  and  to  -fPharao  Ijy 
the  service  of  Joseph,  right  so  god  wol 
yeve  his  malison  to  swiche  lordshii^es  as 
sustenen  the  wikkednesse  of  liir  ser- 
vaunts,  but-if  they  come  to  amendement./ 
Pryde  of  the  table  appereth  eek  ful  ofte  ; 
for  certes,  riche  men  been  cleped  to 
festes,  and  povre  folk  been  put  awey  and 
rebuked.  /  Also  in  excesse  of  diverse  (370) 
metes  and  drinkes  ;  and  namely,  swiche 
manere  bake  metes  and  dish-metes,  bren- 
ninge  of  wilde  fjT,  and  pejmted  and 
castelled  with  papir,  and  semblable  wast ; 
so  that  it  is  abusion  for  to  thinke.  /  And  445 
eek  in  to  greet  preciousnesse  of  vessel  and 
curiositee  of  minstralcie,by  whiche  a  man 
is  stired  the  more  to  delyocs  of  luxurio,  / 
if  so  be  that  he  setto  his  herte  the  lasse 
up-on  oure  lord  Jesu  Crist,  certein  it  is 
a  sinne  ;  and  certeinly  the  delyces  mighte 
been  so  grete  in  this  caas,  that  man  mighte 
lightly  fallo  by  hem  in-to  deedly  sinne.  / 
The  especes  that  sourdcn  of  Pryde,  soothly 
whan  they  sourden  of  malice  j-magined, 
avysed,  and  forncast,  or  elles  of  usage, 
been  deedly  synnes,  it  is  no  doute.  /  And 
whan  they  sourden  by  freletce  unavysed 
sodeinly,  and  sodeinly  withdrawen  ayein, 
al  been  they  grevonse  sinnes,  I  gesse  that 
they  ne  been  nat  deedly.  /  Now  mighte 
men  axe  wher-of  that  Pryde  sourdeth 
and  springeth,  and  I  seye  :  somtj-me  it 
springeth  of  the  goodes  of  nature,  and 
som-tyme  of  the  goodes  of  fortune,  and 
som-tyme  of  the  goodes  of  grace.  /  Certes,  450 
the  goodes  of  nature  stonden  outlier  in 
goodes  of  body  or  in  goodes  of  sovile.  / 
Certes,  goodes  of  body  been  hele  of  body, 
as  strengthe,  delivernesse,  beautee,  gen- 
trye,  franchise.  /  Goodes  of  nature  of 
the  soule   been  good   wit,  sharp   under- 


690 


ZH  tMttv&ut^  Zaks. 


[t.  §§  28,   29. 


stondjTige,   sulitil    engin,  vertu   natiirel,   | 
good  niemorie.  /     Goodes  of  fortune  been   \ 
richesses,    higho   degrees    of    lordshipes, 
(380)  preisingesof  thepeplc.  /    Gooiles  of  grace 
been   science,   power   to   snffre   spirituel  | 
travaille,    benignitee,    vertuous    contem- 
placion,    withstrmdinge    of    teniptacion,   ! 

455  and  semblablo  thinges.  /     Of  whiche  for-  | 
scyde  gcKnles,  ccrtes  it  is  a  f»U  greet  folye 
a   man  to  prj'den    him   in   any  of  hen\ 
alle.  /     Xow  as  for  to  spekcn  of  goodes  of 
nature,  gotl  woot  that  som-tymo  wo  han 
liem  in  nature  as  muche  to  oure  damage 
as  to  oure  profit.  /      As,   for   to   spekcn  | 
of  hele    of  body ;    certes   it   passeth   ful 
lightly,  and  eek  it  is  ful  ofto  encheson  of  1 
the  siknessc  of  onro  soole  ;  for  god  woot, 
the   flesh    is   a   ful   greet   enemy  to   the  I 
soule  :  and  thcrfore,   the  more  that  the  ' 
body  is  hool,  the  more  be  we  in  peril  to 
falle.  /      Eke   for   to    prjdo   him   in    his 
strengtlie  of  bo<ly,  it  is  an  heigh   folye  ;  ,' 
for  certes,  the  flesh  coveitcth  a(»aj-n  the 
spirit,  and  ay  the  more  strong  that  the  ■ 
flesh   is,  tlie  sorier  may  the  soule  Iks  :  / 
and,  over  al  this,  strengtho  of  body  and 
worklly  hardinesse  causeth  fol  ofle  many 

4(10  a  man  to  peril  and  meschaunce.  /  Eek 
for  to  pryde  him  of  his  gentrj-e  is  ful  1 
greet  folye  ;  for  ofte  tyme  the  gentrye  of  ' 
the  body  binimeth  the  gentrye  of  the 
soule  ;  and  eek  we  ben  alle  of  o  fader  and 
of  o  moiler  ;  and  alle  we  been  of  o  nature 
roten  and  corrupt,  both  riche  and  povre.  / 
For  sothe,  00  manere  gentrye  is  for  to 
preise,  that  apparailleth  mannes  corage 
with  vertues  and  moralitees,  and  maketh 
him  Cristes  child.  /  For  truste  wcl,  that 
over  what  man  sinne  hath  maistrie,  he  is 
a  verray  cherl  to  sinne.  / 

§  28.  Xow  been  ther  generale  sig^nes  of 
gent  Hesse;  as  eschewinge  of  vyce  and 
ribandye  and  servage  of  sinne,  in  word, 
(390)  in  werk,  and  contenance  ;  /  and  nsinge 
vertn,  curtcisye,  and  clennesse,  and  to  bo 
liberal,  that  is  to  seyn,  largo  by  mesure  ; 
for  thilke  that  passeth  mesnre  is  folye 

465  and  sinne.  /  Another  is,  to  remembro 
him  of  bountee  that  he  of  other  folk  hath 
recej-\-ed.  /  Another  is,  to  be  benigne  to 
hise  goode  subgetis  ;    wherfore,  as  seith 


Senek,  '  ther  is  no-thing  more  covenable 
to  a  man  of  heigh  estaatthandebonairetee 
and  pitee.  /  And  therforethiseflyes  that 
men  clepeth  bees,  whan  they  maken  hir 
king,  they  cliesen  oon  that  hath  iio  prikko 
wherwith  ho  may  stinge.'  /  Another  is, 
a  man  to  have  a  noble  herte  and  a  dili- 
gent, to  attayno  to  heiglio  vertuouse 
thinges.  /  Now  certes,  a  man  to  prydo 
him  in  the  goodes  of  g^raco  is  eek  an  out- 
rageous folye  ;  for  thilke  yiftes  of  grace 
that  sholdo  have  turned  him  to  goodnesso 
and  to  medicine,  turneth  him  to  venim 
and  to  cimfusion,  as  seith  soint  Qregorie./  470 
Certes  also,  who-so  prydeth  him  in  the 
gootles  of  fortune,  ho  is  a  ful  greet  fool ; 
for  som-tyme  is  a  man  a  greet  lord  by  the 
morwe,  that  is  a  caitif  and  a  wrecche  er 
it  be  night :  /  and  somtyme  the  richesso 
of  a  man  is  cause  of  his  deeth  ;  somtyme 
the  delyces  of  a  man  is  cause  of  the 
grevous  maladye  thurgh  which  ho  dyeth./ 
Certes,  the  commendacion  of  tho  peplo  is 
somtyme  ful  fals  and  ful  brotel  for  to 
triste ;  this  day  they  preyse,  tomorwe 
they  blame.  /  God  woot,  desyr  to  have 
commendacion  of  tho  peplo  hath  caused 
deeth  to  many  a  bisy  man.  /  (400) 

Remedium  contra  peccatum  Superbie. 
§  29.  Now  sitli  that  so  is,  that  ye  han 
understonde  what  is  pryde,  and  whiche 
been  the  speces  of  it,  and  whennos  pride 
sourdeth  and  springeth  ;  /  now  shul  ye  475 
understonde  which  is  the  remedie  agaj-ns 
the  sinne  of  prj-de,  ivnd  that  is,  humiliteo 
or  mekenesse.  /  That  is  a  vertn,  thurgh 
which  a  man  hath  verray  knowelecho  of 
him-self,  and  hoUleth  of  him-self  no  prj'S 
ne  de.vntce  as  in  regard  of  hise  dcsertes, 
consideringe  evere  his  freletee.  /  Now 
been  ther  three  maneresof  humilitee  ;  as 
humilitee  in  herte,  and  another  humilitee 
in  his  mouth ;  the  thridde  in  hise  werkes./ 
The  humilitee  in  herte  is  in  foure  maneres : 
that  oon  is,  whan  a  man  holdeth  him-self 
as  noght  worth  bifom  god  of  hevene. 
Another  is,  whan  he  ne  despyseth  noon 
other  man.  /  The  thridde  is,  whan  he 
rekketh  nat  thogh  men  holde  him  noght 
worth.     The  lerthe  is,  whan  he  nis  nat 


§  30.] 


I.    ZH  (peteonee  ^afe. 


691 


480  sory  of  his  humiliacion.  /  Also,  the  hu- 
militee  of  month  is  in  foitre  thinges  :  in 
attempree  speche,  and  in  humblesse  of 
speche,  and  whan  he  biknoweth  with  his 
owene  moiith  that  he  is  swich  as  him 
thinketli  that  he  is  in  his  herte.  Another 
is,  whan  he  preiseth  the  bonntee  of 
another  man,  and  nothing  ther-of  amen- 
useth.  /  Humilitee  eek  in  werkes  is  in 
foure  maneres  :  the  flrste  is,  whan  he 
putteth  othere  men  bifom  him.  The 
seconde  is,  to  chese  the  loweste  place 
over-al.  Tlie  thridde  is,  gladly  to  assente 
to  good  conseil.  /  Tlie  ferthe  is,  to  stonde 
gladly  to  the  award  of  hise  sovereyns,  or 
of  him  that  is  in  hyer  degree  ;  certein, 
this  is  a  greet  werk  of  humilitee.  / 

Sequitur  de  Innidia. 

§  30.  After  Pryde  wol  I  speken  of  the 
foule  sinne  of  Envj'c,  which  is,  as  by  the 
word  of  the  i^hilosophre,  sorwe  of  other 
mannes  prosperitee  ;  and  after  the  word 
of  seint  Augustin,  it  is  sorwe  of  other 
mannes  wele,  and  joye  of  othere  mennes 
(4  u))  harm.  /  This  foule  sinne  is  platly  agayns 
the  holy  goost.  Al-be-it  so  that  every 
sinne  is  agayns  thd  holy  goost,  yet  nathe- 
lees,  for  as  muche  as  bountee  aperteneth 
proprely  to  the  holy  goost,  and  Envye 
comtli  proprely  of  malice,  therfore  it  is 
proprely  agajm  the  bountee  of  the  holy 
485  goost.  /  Now  hath  malice  two  speces, 
that  is  to  seyn,  liardnesse  of  herte  in 
wikkednesse,  or  elles  the  flesh  of  man  is 
so  blind,  that  he  considereth  nat  that  he 
is  in  sinne,  or  rekketh  nat  that  he  is  in 
sinne ;  which  is  the  hardnesse  of  the 
devel.  /  Tliat  other  spece  of  malice  is, 
whan  a  man  werreyeth  troutho,  whan  he 
woot  that  it  is  trouthe.  And  eek,  whan 
he  werreyeth  the  grace  that  god  hath 
yeve  to  his  neighebore  ;  and  al  this  is  by 
Envye.  /  Certes,  thanne  is  Envye  the 
worste  sinne  that  is.  For  soothly,  alia 
othere  sinnes  been  som-tyme  only  agajTis 
o  special  vertu ;  /  but  certes,  Envj-e  is 
agayns  alle  vertues  and  agayns  alle  good- 
nesses ;  for  it  is  sory  of  alle  the  bountees 
of  his  neighebore  ;  and  in  this  manere  it 
is  divers  from  alle  othere  sinnes.  /     For 


wel  unnethe  is  ther  any  sinne  that  it  ne 
hath  som  delyt  in  itself,  save  only  Envye, 
that  evere  hath  in  itself  anguish  and 
sorwe.  /  The  speces  of  Envye  been  thise  :  490 
ther  is  first,  sorwe  of  other  mannes  good- 
nesse  and  of  his  prosperitee ;  and  pros- 
peritee is  kindely  matere  of  joye ;  thanne 
is  Envye  a  sinne  agayns  kinde.  /  The 
seconde  spece  of  Envye  is  joye  of  other 
mannes  harm  ;  and  that  is  proprely  lyk 
to  the  devel,  that  evere  rejoyseth  him  of 
mannes  harm.  /  Of  thise  two  speces 
comth  bakbyting  ;  and  this  sinne  of  bak- 
byting  or  detraccion  hath  certeine  speces, 
as  thus.  Som  man  preiseth  his  neighe- 
bore by  a  wikke  entente  ;  /  for  lie  maketh 
alwey  a  wikketl  knotto  atte  laste  ende. 
Alwey  he  maketh  a  '  but '  atto  laste  ende, 
that  is  digne  of  more  blame,  than  worth 
is  al  the  preisinge.  /  The  seconde  spece  (420; 
is,  that  if  a  man  be  gootl  and  dooth  or 
seith  a  thing  to  good  entente,  the  bakbj^er 
wol  turne  all  thilkegoodnesse  ui>-so-iloun 
to  his  shrewed  entente.  /  The  thridde  495 
is,  to  amenuse  the  bountee  of  his  neighe- 
bore. /  The  fourtho  sjiece  of  bakbyting 
is  this  ;  that  if  men  si^eke  goodnesse  of 
a  man,  thanne  wol  the  bakbyter  seyn, 
'  parfey,  swich  a  man  is  yet  bet  than  he  ' ; 
in  disproisinge  of  him  that  men  preise.  / 
The  fifte  spece  is  this ;  for  to  consento 
gladly  and  herkne  gladly  to  the  harm 
that  men  speke  of  other  folic  Tliis  sinne 
is  ful  greet,  and  ay  encreseth  after  the 
wikked  entente  of  the  bakbyter.  /  After 
bakbyting  cometh  grucching  or  mnr- 
muracion  ;  and  somtyme  it  springeth  of 
inpacience  agayns  god,  and  somtyme 
agayns  man.  /  Agayns  god  it  is,  whan 
a  man  gruccheth  agayn  the  peynos  of 
helle,  or  agayns  poverte,  or  los  of  catel, 
or  agayn  reyn  or  tempest  ;  or  elles  gruc- 
cheth that  shrewes  han  prosperitee,  or 
elles  for  that  goodo  men  han  adversitee.  /  ^cm 
And  alio  thise  thinges  sholde  men  sufFre 
paciently,  for  they  comen  by  the  rightful 
jugement  and  ordinance  of  god.  /  Som- 
tyme comth  grucching  of  avarice  ;  as 
Judas  grucched  agayns  the  Magda- 
leyne,  whan  she  enoynte  the  heved  of 
oure  lord  Jesu  Crist  with   hir  precious 


C92 


ZU  CanUviuv^  Zaka. 


[t.  §  3>- 


oynement.  /  This  maner  niurmure  is 
swich  as  whan  man  grucchcth  of  good- 
nesse  that  him-sclf  dooth,  or  that  other 
folk  doon  of  hir  owene  catel.  /  Som- 
tyme  comth  murmnre  of  Prydo  j  as  whan 
Simon  the  Pharisee  grucched  ngaj-n  the 
Magdaleyne,  whjin  she  apivroched  to  Jcsu 
(43")  Crist,  and  weep  at  his  feet  for  liir  sinnes.  / 
And  soriitymo  grucching  sourdeth  of 
Envye  ;  whan  men  discovcreth  a  mannes 
harm  that  was  privee,  or  bereth  him  on 
S05  liond  thing  that  is  fals.  /  Murmure  cek 
is  ofte  amonges  servaunts,  that  grucclien 
whan  hir  soverej-ns  bidden  hem  doon 
Icveful  thinges  ;  /  and,  for-as-muche  as 
they  dar  nat  openly  withsej'e  the  co- 
maundements  of  hir  sovereyns,  yet  wol 
they  soyn  harm,  and  grucche,  and  mur- 
mure prively  for  verray  despj-t ;  /  whiche 
ivordes  men  clepen  the  develes  Pater- 
noster, tliough  so  be  that  the  devel  ne 
hadde  nevere  I'dter-noster,  but  that  lewed 
folk  yeven  it  swich  a  name.  /  Som  tyme 
grucching  comth  of  ire  or  prive  hate, 
tliat  norisscth  rancour  in  herte,  as  after- 
ward I  shal  declare.  /  Thanne  cometh 
cek  bitternesse  of  herte  ;  thurgh  which 
bitternesse  every  good  dede  of  his  neighe- 
510  bor  semeth  to  hini  bitter  and  unsavorj-.  / 
Thanne  cometh  discord,  that  unbindeth 
alle  manere  of  frendshipe.  Thanne  comth 
scorninge,  as  whan  a  man  seketh  occa- 
sioun  to  anoycn  his  neighebor,  al  do  ho 
never  so  wcel.  /  Thanne  comth  accu- 
singe,  as  whan  man  seketh  occasion  to 
anoyen  his  neighebor,  which  that  is  lyk 
to  the  craft  of  the  devel,  that  waiteth 
bothe  night  and  day  to  accusen  us  alle.  / 
Thanne  comth  malignitee,  thurgh  which 
a  man  anoyeth  his  neighebor  privel.v  if 
he  may ;  /  and  if  he  noght  may,  algate 
his  wikked  wil  ne  shal  nat  wante,  as  for 
to  brennea  his  hous  prively,  or  empoy- 
sone  or  sleen  hise  bestes,  and  semblable 
(440)  thinges.  / 

Remedium  contra  peccatum  Innidie. 

§  31.  Now  wol  I  speke  of  the  remedie 
agayns  this  foule  sinne  of  Envye.  First, 
is  the  love  of  god  principal,  and  loving  of 
his  neighebor  as  hini-self;    for  soothly, 


that  oon  ne  may  nat  been  withoute  that 
other.  /      And   truste   wel,    that   in   the  5^5 
name  of  thy  neighebore  thou  shalt  under- 
stonde   the    name   of    thy   brother ;    for 
certes  alle  we  have  o  fader  fleshly,  and 

0  moder,  that  is  to  seyn,  Adam  and  Eve  ; 
and  eek  o  fader  espirituel,  and  tliat  is  god 
of  hevene./  Thy  neighebore  artow  holden 
for  to  love,  and  wilne  him  alle  goodnesse  ; 
and  therfore  seith  god,  '  love  thy  neighe- 
bore as  thyselve,'  that  is  to  seyn,  to 
salvacion  bothe  of  lyf  and  of  soule.  / 
And  more-over,  thou  shalt  love  him  in 
word,  and  in  bcnigne  amonestinge,  and 
chastysinge  ;  and  conforten  him  in  hise 
anoyes,  and  preye  for  him  with  al  thyn 
herte.  /  And  in  dede  thou  shalt  love 
him  in  swich  wyso,  tliat  thou  shalt  doon 
to  him  in  charitee  as  thou  woldest  that  it 
wore  doon  to  thyn  owene  persone.  /  And 
therfore,  thou  ne  shalt  doon  him  no 
damage  in  wikked  word,  no  harm  in  his 
body,  ne  in  his  catel,  no  in  his  soule,  by 
entysing  of  wikked  cnsamiilo.  /  Thou  520 
shalt  natdesyren  his  wyf,  ne  none  of  hise 
thinges.  Understond  cek,  that  in  the 
name  of  neighebor  is  comprehended  his 
enemy.  /  Certes  man  shal  loven  his 
enemy  by  the  comandement  of  god  ;  and 
soothly  thy  frond  shaltow  love  in  God.  / 

1  seye,  thyn  enemy  shaltow  love  for  goddes 
sake,  by  his  Cf>mandement.  For  if  it 
were  reson  that  a  man  sholde  liaten  his 
enemj%  for  sothe  god  nolde  nat  recciven 
us  to  his  love  that  t)een  hise  enemys.  / 
Agaj-ns  three  manere  of  wronges  that 
his  enemy  dooth  to  hj-m,  he  shal  doon 
three  thinges,  as  thus.  /  Agaj-ns  hate  (450) 
and  rancour  of  herte,  he  shal  love  him  in 
herte.  Agayns  chyding  and  wikkede 
wordes,  he  shal  preye  for  his  enemy. 
And  agayn  the  wikked  dede  of  his  enemy, 

he  shal  doon  him  bountee.  /  For  Crist  525 
seith,  '  loveth  j-ouro  enemys,  and  preyeth 
forhem  that  speke  yow  harm;  and  eek  for 
hem  that  yow  chacen  and  pursewen,  and 
doth  bountee  to  hem  that  yow  baton.'  Lo, 
thus  comaundeth  us  oure  lord  Jesu  Crist, 
to  do  to  oure  enemys.  /  For  soothly, 
nature  dry\-eth  us  to  loven  oure  freendes, 
and  iiarfey,  oure  enemys  han  more  nede 


T-  §§  32-34-1 


I.    ZU  (pereonee  Zak. 


693 


to  love  than  our  freendes  ;  and  they  that 
more  nede  have,  certes,  to  hem  shal  men 
doon  goodnesse  ;  /  and  certes,  in  thilke 
dede  have  we  remembrance  of  the  love 
of  Jesii  Crist,  that  deyde  for  hise  enemys.  / 
And  in-as-muche  as  thilke  love  is  the 
more  grevous  to  perfoume,  in-so-mucho 
is  the  more  gretter  the  merite  ;  and  ther- 
fore  the  lovinge  of  oure  enemy  hath  con- 
founded the  venLm  of  the  devel.  /  For 
right  as  the  devel  is  disconfited  by  hiimi- 
litee,  right  so  is  ho  wounded  to  the  deeth 
530  by  love  of  oure  enemy.  /  Certes,  thanno 
is  love  the  medicine  that  casteth  out  the 
venim  of  Envyo  fro  mannes  herte.  /  The 
speces  of  this  pas  shullen  be  more  largely 
in  hir  chapitres  folwinge  declared.  / 

Sequitur  de  Ira. 

§  32.  After  En^'ye  wol  I  discryven  the 
sinne  of  Ire.  For  soothly,  who-so  hath 
envye  upon  his  neighebor,  anon  ho  wole 
comunly  finde  him  a  matore  of  wratthe, 
in  word  or  in  dede,  agayns  him  to  whom 
he  hath  envye.  /  And  as  wel  comth  Ire 
of  Pryde,  as  of  Envye  ;  for  soothly,  he 
that  is  proude  or  envious  is  lightly 
(460)  wrooth.  / 

§  33.  This  sinne  of  Ire,  after  the  dis- 
cryving  of  seint  Angustin,  is  wikked  wil 
535  to  been  avenged  by  word  or  by  dede.  / 
Ire,  after  the  jihilosophre,  is  the  fervent 
blood  of  man  y-quiked  in  his  herte,  thurgh 
which  ho  woleharm  to  him  that  he  hateth.  / 
For  certes  the  herte  of  man,  by  eschaufingo 
and  moevinge  of  his  blood,  wexeth  so 
trovible,  that  ho  is  out  of  alle  jugement  of 
resoun.  /  But  ye  shal  understonde  that 
Ire  is  in  two  maneres ;  that  oon  of  hem 
is  good,  and  that  other  is  wikked.  /  The 
gode  Ire  is  by  jalousye  of  goodnesse,  thurgh 
which  a  man  is  wrooth  with  wikkednesso 
and  agajms  wikkednesso  ;  and  therforo 
seith  a  wys  man,  that  '  Ire  is  bet  than 
pley.'  /  This  Ire  is  with  debonairetee, 
and  it  is  wrooth  withouten  bitternesse  ; 
nat  wrooth  agayns  the  man,  but  wrooth 
with  the  misdede  of  the  man  ;  as  seith  the 
prophete  David,  Irascimini  et  nolite  pec- 
540  ca?-e.  I  Now  understondeth,  that  wikked 
Ire  is  in  two  maneres,  that  is  to  seyn, 


sodeyn  Ire  or  hastif  Ire,  withouten  avise- 
ment  and  consentinge  of  resoiin.  /  The 
mening  and  the  sens  of  this  is,  that  the 
resoun  of  man  ne  consente  nat  to  thilke 
sodeyn  Ire ;  and  thanne  it  is  venial.  / 
Another  Iro  is  ful  wikked,  that  comth  of 
felonye  of  herte  avysed  and  cast  bifom  ; 
with  wikked  wil  to  do  vengeance,  and 
therto  his  resoun  consenteth  ;  and  soothly 
this  is  deedly  sinne.  /  This  Ire  is  so  dis- 
plesant  to  god,  that  it  trotibleth  liis  hous 
and  chaceth  the  holy  goost  out  of  mannes 
soule,  and  wasteth  and  destroyeth  the 
lyknesse  of  god,  that  is  to  seyn,  the  vertu 
tliat  is  in  mannes  soule  ;  /  and  put  in  (47") 
him  the  lyknesse  of  the  devel,  and 
binimeth  the  man  fro  god  that  is  his 
rightful  lord.  /  This  Ire  is  a  ful  greet  545 
plesaunce  to  the  devel ;  for  it  is  the 
develes  fourneys,  that  is  eschaufed  with 
the  fyr  of  helle.  /  For  certes,  right  so  as 
fyr  is  more  mighty  to  destroyen  erthely 
thinges  than  any  other  element,  right  so 
Ire  is  mighty  to  destroyen  alio  spirituel 
thinges.  /  Loke  how  that  fyr  of  smale 
gledes,  that  been  almost  dede  under 
asshen,  woUen  quiko  agayn  whan  they 
been  touched  with  brimstoon  ;  right  so 
Ire  wol  everemo  quiken  agaJ^l,  whan  it 
is  touched  by  the  pryde  that  is  covered  in 
mannes  herte.  /  For  certes  fyr  ne  may 
nat  comen  out  of  no-thing,  but-if  it  were 
first  in  the  same  thing  naturelly  ;  as  fyr 
is  drawen  out  of  flintes  with  steel.  /  And 
right  so  as  pryde  is  ofte  tyme  matere  of 
Ire,  right  so  is  rancour  norice  and  keper 
of  Ire.  /  Ther  is  a  manor  tree,  as  seith  550 
seint  Isidre,  that  whan  men  maken  fj-r 
of  thilke  tree,  and  covere  the  coles  of  it 
with  asshen,  soothly  the  fyr  of  it  wol 
lasten  al  a  yeer  or  more.  /  And  right  so 
fareth  it  of  rancour  ;  whan  it  is  ones  con- 
ceyved  in  the  hertes  of  soni  men,  certein, 
it  wol  lasten  pera venture  from  oon  Estre- 
day  i\nto  another  Estre-day,  and  more.  / 
But  certes,  thilke  man  is  ful  fer  fro  tho 
mercy  of  god  al  thilke  while.  / 

§  84.  In  this  forseydo  develes  foumeys 
ther  forgen  three  shrewes  :  Pryde,  that 
ay  bloweth  and  encreseth  the  fyr  by  chyd- 
inge  and  wikked  wordes.  /    Thanuc-stant  (4S0) 


694 


ZU  tanittBuv^  Zake, 


[t.  §  35- 


Env>-e,  and  holdeth  the  liote  iren  upon 
the  herte  of  man  with  a  peire  of  longe 
555  tonges  of  long  rancovir.  /  And  thanne 
stant  the  sinne  of  contumelie  or  stryf  and 
cheeste,  and  hatereth  and  forgeth  by 
vileyns  reprevinges.  /  Certes,  tliis  cursed 
sinnc  anoyeth  hothe  to  the  man  him-self 
and  eek  to  liis  neighehor.  For  soothlj-, 
almost  al  the  harm  that  any  man  dooth 
to  his  neighebore  comth  of  wratthe.  / 
For  certes,  outrageous  wratthe  doth  al 
that  evere  the  devcl  him  comaundetli  ; 
for  he  ne  spareth  neither  Crist,  ne  his 
swete  mooder.  /  And  in  his  outrageous 
anger  and  Ire,  alias  !  alias  !  ful  many  oon 
at  that  tyme  feleth  in  his  herte  ful  wik- 
kedly,  bothe  of  Crist  and  of  alle  hise 
halwes.  /  Is  nat  this  a  cursed  vice  ?  Yis, 
certes.  Alias  !  it  binimeth  from  man  his 
wit  and  his  resoun,  and  al  his  debonaire 
560  ij-f  espirituel  that  sholdo  kepen  his  soule.  / 
Certes,  it  binimeth  eek  goddes  due  lord- 
shipe,  and  that  is  mannes  soule,  and  the 
love  of  hise  neighebores.  It  st^J•^■eth  eek 
alday  agayn  trouthe.  It  reveth  him  the 
quiete  of  his  herte,  and  snbverteth  his 
soule.  / 

§  35.  Of  Ire  comen  thise  stinkinge 
engendrures  :  first  hate,  that  is  old 
■wratthe  ;  discord,  thurgh  which  a  man 
forsaketh  his  olde  freend  that  he  hath 
loved  ful  longe.  /  And  thanne  cometh 
werre,  and  every  manere  of  wrong  that 
man  dooth  to  his  neighebore,  in  body  or 
in  cateL  /  Of  this  cursed  sinne  of  Ire 
cometh  eek  manslaughtre.  And  under- 
stonde  wel,  that  homicyde,  that  is  man- 
slaughtre, is  in  dj-verse  wyse.  Som  manere 
(490)  of  homicyde  is  spirituel,  and  som  is  bod Qy./ 
Spirituel  manslaughtre  is  in  six  thinges. 
First,  by  hate  ;  as  seint  John  seith,  '  he 
565  that  hateth  his  brother  is  homicyde.'  / 
Homicyde  is  eek  by  bakbytinge ;  of  whiche 
bakbyteres  seith  Salomon,  that '  they  han 
two  swerdes  with  whiche  they  sleen  hir 
neighebores.'  For  soothly,  as  wikke  is  to 
binime  his  good  name  as  his  lyf.  /  Homi- 
cyde is  eek,  in  yevinge  of  wikked  conseil 
by  fraude ;  as  for  to  yeven  conseil  to 
areysen  wrongful  custumes  and  taillages.  / 
Of  whiche  seith  Salomon,  '  Leon  rorj-nge 


and  here  hongry  been  lyke  to  the  cruel 
lordshipes,'  in  withholdinge  or  abregginge 
of  the  shepe  (or  the  hyre),  or  of  the  wages 
of  servaunts,  or  elles  in  usure  or  in  with- 
drawinge  of  the  almesse  of  povre  folk.  / 
For  which  the  -w-j'se  man  seith,  '  fedeth 
him  that  almost  dyeth  for  honger ' ;  for 
soothly,  but-if  thou  fede  him,  thou  sleest 
him  ;  and  alle  thise  been  deedly  sinnes.  / 
Bodily  manslaughtre  is,  whan  thow  sleest 
him  with  thy  tonge  in  other  manere  ;  as 
whan  thou  comandest  to  sleen  a  man,  or 
elles  yevest  him  conseil  to  sleen  a  man.  /  57" 
Manslaughtre  in  dede  is  in  foure  maneres. 
That  oon  is  by  lawe  ;  right  as  a  justice 
dampneth  him  that  is  coupable  to  the 
deeth.  But  lat  the  justice  be  war  that  he 
do  it  rightfully,  and  that  he  do  it  nat  for 
delyt  to  spillo  blood,  but  for  kepinge  of 
rightwisenesse.  /  Another  homicyde  is, 
that  is  doon  for  necessitee,  as  whan  o  man 
sleeth  another  in  his  defendaunt,  and 
that  he  ne  may  noon  otherwise  escape 
from  his  owene  deetli.  /  But  ccrteinly, 
if  he  may  escape  withouten  manslaughtre 
of  his  adversarie,  and  sleetli  him,  he  doth 
sinne,  and  he  shal  here  penance  as  for 
deedly  sinne.  /  Eek  if  a  man,  by  caas  or 
aventure,  shete  an  arwe  or  caste  a  stoon 
with  which  he  sleeth  a  man,  he  is  homi- 
cyde. /  Eek  if  a  womman  by  necligence  (500) 
overlyeth  hir  child  in  hir  sleping,  it  is 
homicyde  and  deedly  sinne.  /  Eek  whan  575 
man  destourbeth  concepcion  of  a  child, 
and  maketh  a  womman  outlier  bareyne 
by  drinkinge  venemouse  herbes,  thurgh 
which  she  may  nat  conceyve,  or  sleeth 
a  child  by  drinkes  wilfully,  or  elles  put- 
teth  certeine  material  thinges  in  hir 
secree  places  to  slee  the  child  ;  /  or  elles 
doth  unkindely  sinne,  by  which  man  or 
womman  shedeth  hir  nature  in  manere 
or  in  place  ther-as  a  child  may  nat  be 
conceived  ;  or  elles,  if  a  womman  have 
conceyved  and  hurt  hir-self,  and  sleeth 
the  child,  j-et  is  it  homicyde.  /  What 
seye  we  eek  of  wommen  that  mordren  hir 
children  for  drede  of  worldly  shame  ? 
Certes,  an  horrible  homicyde.  /  Homi- 
cyde is  eek  if  a  man  approcheth  to  a 
womman   by   desir  of  lecherye,  thurgh 


r.  §  3?-] 


I.    ZU  (Per0one0  Zait. 


695 


which  the  child  is  perissed,  or  elles 
smyteth  a  womman  witingly,  thurgh 
which  she  leseth  hir  child.  Alle  thise 
been  homicydes  and  liorrible  deedly 
sinnes.  /  Yet  comen  ther  of  Ire  manye 
mo  sinnes,  as  wel  in  word  as  in  tlioght 
and  in  dede  ;  as  he  that  arrettetli  upon 
god,  or  blameth  god,  of  thing  of  which  ho 
is  him-self  gilty  ;  or  despyseth  god  and 
alle  hise  halwes,  as  doon  thise  cursede 
580  hasardours  in  diverse  contrees.  /  This 
cursed  sinne  doon  they,  whan  they  felen 
in  hir  hertes  ful  wikkedly  of  god  and  of 
hise  halwes.  /  Also,  whan  they  treten 
unrevercntl3'  the  sacrement  of  the  auter, 
thilke  sinne  is  so  greet,  that  unnethe 
may  it  been  relesed,  but  that  the  mercy 
of  god  passeth  alle  hise  werkes  ;  it  is  so 
greet  and  he  so  benigne.  /  Thanne  comth 
of  Ire  attry  angre  ;  whan  a  man  is  sharply 
amonested  in  his  shriite  to  forleten  his 
sinne,  /  than  wole  he  be  angry  and 
answeren  hokerly  and  angrily,  and  deffen- 
den  or  excusen  his  sinne  by  unstedefast- 
nesse  of  liis  flesh  ;  or  elles  he  dide  it  for 
to  holde  companye  with  hise  felawes,  or 
(510)  elles,  he  seith,  the  fend  entyced  him  ;  / 
or  elles  he  dide  it  for  his  youthe,  or  elles 
his  complexioun  is  so  corageous,  that  he 
may  nat  forbere  ;  or  elles  it  is  his  destinee, 
as  he  seith,  unto  a  certein  age  ;  or  eUes, 
he  seith,  it  cometh  him  of  gentillesse  of 
585  hise  auncestres  ;  and  semblable  thinges./ 
Alle  this  manere  of  folk  so  wrappen  hem 
in  hir  sinnes,  that  they  ne  wol  nat  deli- 
vere  hem-self  For  soothly,  no  wight  that 
excuseth  him  wilfully  of  his  sinne  may 
nat  been  delivered  of  his  sinne,  til  that 
lie  mekely  biknoweth  his  sinne.  /  After 
this,  tlianne  cometh  swering,  that  is 
expres  agayn  the  comandement  of  god  ; 
and  this  bifaUeth  ofte  of  anger  and  of 
Ire.  /  God  seith  :  '  thou  shalt  nat  take 
the  name  of  thy  lord  god  in  veyn  or  in 
ydel.'  Also  oure  lord  Jesu  Crist  seith  by 
the  word  of  seint  Mathew  :  '  Nolite  iurare 
omnino  :  /  ne  wol  ye  nat  swere  in  alle 
manere ;  neither  by  hevene,  for  it  is 
goddes  trone  ;  ne  by  erthe,  for  it  is  the 
bench  of  his  feet  ;  ne  by  Jeriisalem,  for  it  1 
is  the  citee  of  a  greet  king ;  ne  by  thyn   I 


heed,  for  tliou  mayst  nat  make  an  heer 
whyt   ne    blak.  /     But   seyeth   by  youre 
word,   "ye,  ye,"  and  "nay,   nay";    and 
what  that  is  more,  it  is  of  yvel,'  seith 
Crist.  /     For  Cristes  sake,  ne  swereth  nat  590 
so  sinfullj',  in  dismembringe  of  Crist  liy 
soule,  herte,  bones,  and  body.     For  certes, 
it  semeth  that  ye  thinke  that  the  cursede 
Jewes  ne  dismembred   nat  y-nougli  the 
preciouse   persone   of  Crist,  but   ye   dis- 
membre  him  more.  /     And  if  so  be  that 
the  lawe  compolle  yow  to  swere.  thanne 
rule  yow  after  the  lawe  of  god  in  youre 
swering,  as  seith  Jeremye  quarlo  capittdo, 
'  Jurabis  in  veritate,  in  indicia  it  in  iusiicia  : 
thou  shalt  kepe  three  condicions;  thou 
shalt  swere  in  trouthe,  in  doom,  and  iu 
rightwisnesse.' /      Tliis  is  to  seyn,  thou 
shalt  swere   sooth  ;    for  every  lesingo  is 
agayns  Crist.    For  Crist  is  verray  trouthe. 
And   think   welTliis,    that    every   greet 
swerere,  nat  compelled  lawefully  to  swere, 
the  wounde   shal  nat  departe  from  his 
hous    whyl    he    useth    swich    unlevefnl 
swering.  /     Thou   shalt    sweren    eek    in 
doom,  whan  thou  art  constreyned  by  thy 
domesman   to   witnessen    the   trouthe.  '/  (520) 
Eek  thou  shalt  nat  swere  for  envye  no  for 
favour,    ne   for   mede,   but  for  rightwis- 
nesse ;  for  declaracioun  of  it  to  the  wor- 
ship of  god  and  helping  of  thj'ne  evene- 
cristene.  /     And  therfore,  every  man  that  595 
taketh   goddes   name   in   ydel,  or   falsly 
swereth  with  his  mouth,  or  elles  taketh 
on  him  the  name  of  Crist,  to  be  called  a 
Cristene  man,  and  livetli  agajnis  Cristes 
livinge  and  his  techinge,  alle  they  taken 
goddes  name  in  ydel.  /     Loke  eek  what 
seint  Peter  seith,  Actuvm  quarto  capittdo, 
'■Non  est  aliud  nomen  sub  celo,'  &c.     'Ther 
nis  noon  other  name,'  seith  seint  Peter, 
'  under  hevene,  yeven  to  men,  in  which 
they  mowe  be  saved ;'  that  is  to  seyn,  but 
the  name  of  Josn  Crist.  /     Take  kepe  eek 
how  that  the  precious  name  of  Crist,  as 
seith   seint  Paul  ad  PhiUpcnses  sectindo, 
'  In  nomine  Jesu,  &c.  :  that  in  the  name  of 
Jesu  every  knee  of  hevencly  creatures,  or 
erthely,  or  of  helle  sholden  bowe  ' ;  for  it 
is  so  heigh  and  so  worshipful,  that  the 
cursede  feend  in  hello  sliolde  tremblcn  to 


696 


^$e  CanterBurp  Zaite. 


[t.  §§  36-42. 


heren  it  y-nempneil.  /  Thanne  semeth 
it,  that  men  that  sweren  so  horribly  by 
his  blessed  name,  tliat  they  despyse  him 
more  boldely  than  dide  the  cursede  Jewes, 
or  elles  the  devel,  that  trembleth  whan 
he  hereth  his  name.  / 

§  36.    Now  certcs,   sith   that  swering, 
but-if  it  be  lawefnlly  doon,  is  so  heighly 
deffended,   muche   worse    is    forswering 
600  I'alsly,  and  yet  nedelees.  / 

§  37.  What  seyo  we  eek  of  hem  that 
delj-ten  hem  in  swering,  and  holden  it  a 
gentrie  or  a  manly  dede  to  swere  grete 
othes  ?  And  what  of  hem  that,  of  verray 
usage,  ne  cesse  nat  to  swere  grete  othes, 
al  be  the  cause  nat  worth  a  straw  ? 
Certes,  this  is  horrible  sinne.  /  Sweringe 
sodeynly  with-oute  avysoment  is  eek  a 
sinne.  /  But  lat  ns  go  now  to  thilko 
horrible  swering  of  adjuracioun  and  con- 
juracioun,  as  doon  thiso  false  enchaun- 
tours  or  nigromanoiens  in  bacins  ful  of. 
water,  or  in  a  bright  swerd,  in  a  cercle, 
or  in  a  fyr,  or  in  a  shulder-boon  of  a 
sheep.  /  I  can  nat  seye  but  that  they 
doon  cursedly  and  damnably,  agayns 
(530)  Crist  and  al  the  feith  of  holy  chirche.  / 

§  38.  What  seyo  we  of  hem  tliat  bileven 
in  di%-ynailes,  as  by  flight  or  by  noj-se  of 
briddes,  or  of  bestes,  or  by  sort,  by  geo- 
mancic,  by  dremes,  by  chirkinge  of  dores, 
or  crakkingo  of  houses,  by  gnawynge  of 
605  rattes,  and  swich  mancre  wrecchednesse  ?/ 
Certes,  al  this  thing  is  deffended  by  god 
and  by  al  holy  chirche.  For  which  they 
been  acursed,  til  tliey  come  to  amende- 
ment,  that  on  swich  filthe  setten  hir 
bileve.  /  Charmes  for  woundes  or  maladye 
of  men,  or  of  bestes,  if  they  taken  any 
cflFect,  it  may  be  peraventure  that  god 
suffreth  it,  for  folk  sholden  yeve  the  more 
feith  and  reverence  to  his  name.  / 

§  39.  Xow  wol  I  speken  of  lesinges, 
which  generallj'  is  fals  significacioun  of 
word,  in  entente  to  deceyven  his  evene- 
cristene.  /  Som  lesinge  is  of  which  ther 
comth  noon  avantage  to  no  wight :  and 
som  lesingo  tumeth  to  the  ese  or  profit  of 
o  man,  and  to  disese  and  damage  of 
another  man.  /  Another  lesinge  is  for 
to  saven  his  lyf  or  his  catel.     Another 


losingo  comth  of  delj-t  for  to  lye,  in  which 
delyt  they  wol  forge  a  long  tale,  and 
peynten  it  with  alio  circumstaunces, 
where  al  the  ground  of  the  tale  is  fals.  /  610 
Som  lesinge  comth,  for  lie  wole  sustene 
his  word ;  and  som  lesinge  comth  of 
recchelesncsse,  with-outen  avysement ; 
and  semblable  thinges.  / 

§  40.  Lat  us  now  tonche  the  vyce  of 
flatermge,  which  ne  comtli  nat  gladly  but 
for  drede  or  for  coveitise.  /  Flaterye  is 
generally  wrongful  preisinge.  Flatereres 
been  the  develes  norices,  that  norisson 
hise  children  with  milk  of  losengerie.  / 
For  sothe,  Salomon  seith,  that  '  flateric  is 
wors  than  detraccioun.'  For  som-tymo 
detraccion  maketh  an  hautein  man  bo 
the  more  humble,  for  he  dredeth  detrac- 
cion ;  but  certes  flaterye,  that  maketh  a 
man  to  enhauncen  his  herte  and  his 
contenaunce.  /  Flatereres  been  the  de-  (540) 
veles  enchauntours ;  for  they  make  a 
man  to  wene  of  him-self  be  lyk  that  ho 
nis  nat  lyk.  /  They  been  lyk  to  Judas  615 
that  liitraysed  [god  ;  and  thise  flatereres 
bitraysen]  a  man  to  sellen  him  to  his 
enemy,  that  is,  to  the  devel.  /  Flatereres 
been  the  develes  chapelleyns,  that  singen 
evere  riacebo.  /  I  rekene  flaterye  in  tho 
vj-ces  of  Ire  ;  for  ofto  tyme,  if  o  man  bo 
wrootli  with  another,  thanne  wol  he 
flatere  som  wight  to  sustene  him  in  his 
querele.  / 

§  41.  Speko  we  now  of  swich  cursing© 
as  comth  of  irons  herte.  Malisoun  gener- 
ally may  bo  seyd  every  maner  power  of 
harm.  Swich  cursinge  bireveth  man  fro 
the  Tegne  of  god,  as  seith  seint  PauL  / 
And  ofte  tyme  swich  cursinge  wrongfully 
retorneth  agaj-n  to  him  that  curseth,  as 
a  brid  that  retorneth  agayn  to  his  owenc 
nest.  /  And  over  alle  thing  men  oghten  620 
eschewe  to  cursen  hir  chililren,  and  yeven 
to  the  devel  hir  engendrure,  as  ferforth 
as  in  hem  is  ;  certes,  it  is  greet  peril  and 
greet  sinne.  / 

§  42.  Lat  us  thanne  speken  of  chydingo 
and  reproche,  whichc  been  ful  grete 
woundes  in  mannes  herte  ;  for  they  un- 
sowen  the  semes  of  frendshipe  in  mannes 
herte.  /     For  certes,  unnethes  may  a  man 


T.  §  43-46.] 


I.    ZH  (Pevaonec  Zah. 


697 


pleynly  been  accorded  with  him  that 
hath  him  openly  revyled  and  reproved  in 
disclaundre.  Tliis  is  a  ful  grisly  sinne, 
as  Crist  seith  in  the  gospel.  /  And  tak 
kepe  now,  that  he  that  repreveth  his 
neighebor,  outher  he  repreveth  him  by 
som  harm  of  peyne  that  he  hath  on  his 
body,  as  '  mesel,'  '  croked  harlot,'  or  by 
550)  som  sinne  that  he  dooth.  /  Now  if  he 
repreve  him  by  harm  of  peyne,  thanne 
turneth  the  repreve  to  .Tesu  Crist ;  for 
peyne  is  sent  by  the  rightwys  sonde  of 
god,  and  by  his  snffrance,  be  it  meselrie, 

625  or  maheym,  or  maladye.  /  And  if  he 
repreve  him  uncharitably  of  sinne,  as, 
'  thou  holour,'  'thou,  dronkelewe  harlot,' 
and  so  forth  ;  thanne  aperteneth  that  to 
the  rejoysinge  of  the  devel,  that  evere 
hath  joye  that  men  doon  sinne.  /  And 
certes,  chydinge  may  nat  come  but  out  of 
a  vileyns  herte.  For  after  the  habun- 
dance  of  the  herte  speketh  the  mouth  ful 
ofte.  /  And  ye  shul  understonde  that 
loke,  by  any  wej',  whan  any  man  shal 
chastyse  another,  that  he  be  war  from 
chydinge  or  reprevinge.  For  trewely,  biit 
he  be  war,  he  may  ful  lightly  quiken  the 
fyr  of  angre  and  of  wratthe,  which  that 
he  sholde  quenche,  and  per-aventure 
sleeth  him  which  that  he  mighte  chastyse 
with  benignitee.  /  For  as  seith  Salomon, 
'  the  amiable  tonge  is  the  tree  of  lyf,'  that 
is  to  seyn,  of  lyf  espirituel :  and  sothly,  a 
deslavee  tonge  sleeth  the  spirites  of  him 
that  repreveth,  and  eek  of  him  that  is 
repreved.  /  Lo,  what  seith  seint  Augus- 
tin  :  '  ther  is  no-thing  so  lyk  the  develes 
child  as  he  that  ofte  chydeth.'  Seint  Paul 
seith  eek  :  '  I,  servant  of  god,  bihove  nat 

C>30  to  chyde.'  /  And  how  that  chydinge  be 
a  vileyns  thing  bitwLxe  alle  manere  folk, 
yet  it  is  certes  most  uncovenable  bitwixe 
a  man  and  his  wyf ;  for  there  is  nevere 
reste.  And  therfore  seith  Salomon,  '  an 
hous  that  is  imcovered  and  droppinge, 
and  a  chydinge  wyf,  been  lyke.'  /  A  man 
that  is  in  a  droppinge  hous  in  many 
places,  though  he  eschewe  the  droppinge 
in  o  place,  it  droppeth  on  him  in  another 
place  ;  so  fareth  it  by  a  chydinge  wyf. 
But  she  chyde  him  in  o  place,  she  wol 


chyde  him  in  another.  /  And  therfore, 
'  bettre  is  a  morsel  of  breed  with  joye  than 
an  hous  ful  of  delyces,  with  chydinge,' 
seith  Salomon.  /  Seint  Paul  seith  :  '  O 
ye  wommen,  be  ye  subgetes  to  youre 
housbondes  as  bihoveth  in  god  ;  and  ye 
men,  loveth  youre  wyves.'  Ad  Colossenses, 
tertio.  I  (560) 

§  43.  Afterward  speke  we  of  scominge, 
which  is  a  wikked  sinne  ;  and  namely, 
whan  he  scorneth  a  man  for  hise  gode 
werkes.  /  For  certes,  swiche  scorneres  635 
faren  lyk  the  foule  tode,  that  may  nat 
endure  to  smelle  the  sote  savour  of  the 
vyne  whanno  it  florissheth.  /  Thise 
scorneres  been  parting  felawes  with  the 
devel ;  for  they  han  joye  whan  the  devel 
winneth,  and  sorwe  whan  he  leseth.  / 
They  been  adversaries  of  Jesu  Crist ;  for 
they  haten  that  he  loveth,  that  is  to  seyn, 
salvacion  of  soule.  / 

§  44.  Speke  we  now  of  wikked  conseil ; 
for  he  that  wikked  conseil  yevcth  is  a 
traytour.  For  he  deceyveth  him  that 
trusteth  in  him,  ut  AchUofel  ad  Absokmem. 
But  natheles."?,  yet  is  his  wikked  conseil 
first  agayn  him-self.  /  For,  as  seith  the 
wyse  man,  every  fals  livinge  hath  this 
propertee  in  him-self,  that  he  that  wole 
anoye  another  man,  he  anoyeth  first 
him-self.  /  And  men  shul  understonde,  640 
that  man  shal  nat  taken  his  conseil  of 
fals  folk,  ne  of  angry  folk,  or  grevous 
folk,  ne  of  folk  that  loven  specially  to 
muchel  hir  owene  profit,  ne  to  muche 
worldly  folk,  namely,  in  conseilinge  of 
soules.  / 

§  45.  Now  comth  the  sinne  of  hem  that 
sowen  and  maken  discord  amonges  folk, 
which  is  a  sinne  that  Crist  hateth  outrely ; 
and  no  wonder  is.  For  he  deyde  for  to 
make  concord.  /  And  more  shame  do 
they  to  Crist,  than  dide  they  that  him 
crucifyede;  for  god  loveth  bettre,  that 
frendshipe  be  amonges  folk,  than  he  dide 
his  owene  body,  the  which  that  he  jaf 
for  unitee.  Tlierfore  been  they  lykned 
to  the  devel,  that  evere  been  aboute  to 
maken  discord.  / 

§  46.  Now  comth  the  sinne  of  double 
tonge  ;  swiche  as  speken  faire  biforn  folk, 


698 


ZH  tcinkvBuv^  Zake. 


[t.  §§  47-51 


and  wikkedly  biliindo  ;  or  dies  they 
maken  semlilant  as  though  they  speko 
of  good  entencioun,  or  elles  in  game  and 
pley,  and  yet  they  speke  of  wikked 
(570)  entente.  / 

§  47.  Now  comth  biwreying  of  conseil, 
thurgh  which  a  man  is  defamed  ;  certes, 
645  unnethe  may  he  restore  the  damage.  / 

Now  comth  manace,  that  is  an  open 
folyo ;  for  ho  that  ofle  manaceth,  ho 
threteth  more  than  he  may  perfoame 
ful  ofto  tyme.  / 

Now  Cometh  ydel  wordes,  that  is  with- 
outen  profit  of  him  that  speketh  tho 
■wordes,  and  cek  of  him  that  herkneth 
tho  •wordes.  Or  elles  ydel  wordes  been 
tho  that  been  nedelees,  or  with-outen 
entente  of  natnrel  profit.  /  And  al-l>e-it 
that  ydel  wordes  been  som  tyme  venial 
sinne,  yet  sholde  men  douten  hem ;  for 
we  shul  yevo  rekeningo  of  hem  biforo 
god.  / 

Now  comth  janglinge,  that  may  nat 
been  withoute  sinne.  And,  as  seith 
Salomon,  'it  is  a  sinne  of  apert  folye.'  / 
And  therfore  a  philosophre  seyde.  whan 
men  axed  him  how  that  men  sholde  plese 
the  peple ;  and  he  answerde,  '  do  many 
650  godo  werkos,  and  spek  fewe  jangles.'  / 

After  this  comth  the  sinne  of  japcres, 
that  been  the  develes  apes;  for  they 
maken  folk  to  laughe  at  hir  japerie,  as 
folk  doon  at  the  gaudes  of  an  ape.  Swiche 
japeres  deffendcth  seint  Pavd.  /  Loke 
how  that  vertuouse  wordes  and  holy 
conforten  hom  that  travaillen  in  the 
service  of  Crist :  right  so  conforten  the 
\-ileyns  wordes  and  knakkes  of  japeris 
hem  that  travaillen  in  the  service  of  the 
devel.  /  Thise  been  the  sinnes  that  comen 
of  the  tonge,  that  comen  of  Ire  and  of 
othere  sinnes  mo.  / 

Sequitnr  remedium  contra  peccatum  Ire. 

§  48.  The   remedye    agayns    Ire    is    a 

vertu  that  men  clepen  Mansuetude,  that 

is  Debonaireteo  ;  and  eek  another  vertu, 

(5S0)  that  men  callen  Pacience  or  Suffrance.  / 

§  49.  Debonairetee  withdraweth  and 
refrej-neth  the  stiringes  and  the  moe- 
vynges  of  mannes  corage  in  his  herte,  in 


swich  manero  that  they  ne  skippe  nat 
out  by  angro  ne  by  Ire.  /  Suffrance  655 
suffreth  swetely  alle  the  anoyaunces  and 
tho  wronges  that  men  doon  to  man  out- 
ward. /  Seint  Jerome  soith  thus  of 
delwnairetee,  that  '  it  doth  noon  harm  to 
no  wight,  no  seith ;  ne  for  noon  harm 
that  meu  doon  or  seyn,  he  ne  eschaufeth 
nat  agaj-ns  liis  resoun.'  /  This  vertu 
som-tymc  comth  of  nature  ;  for,  as  seith 
the  philosophre,  '  a  man  is  a  quik  thing, 
by  nature  debonaire  and  tretable  to 
goodnesse  ;  but  whan  debonairetee  is 
enformed  of  grace,  thanne  is  it  the  more 
worth.'  / 

§  50.  Pacience,  that  is  another  remedye 
agayns  Ire,  is  a  vertu  that  suffreth 
swetely  every  mannes  goodnesse,  and  is 
nat  wrooth  for  noon  harm  that  is  doon 
to  him.  /  Tho  philosophre  seith,  that 
'  pacience  is  thilke  vertu  that  suffreth 
dobonairoly  alio  the  outrages  of  adver- 
sitee  and  every  wikked  word.'  /  This  660 
vertu  maketh  a  man  lyk  to  god,  and 
maketh  him  goddes  owene  dere  child,  as 
seith  Crist.  This  vertu  disconfiteth  thyn 
enemy.  And  therfore  seith  the  wyse 
man,  '  if  thou  wolt  venquisso  thyn  enemy, 
lerne  to  suffre.'  /  And  thou  shalt  under- 
stondo,  that  man  suffreth  foure  naanere 
of  grevances  in  outward  thinges,  agayns 
the  whiche  foure  he  moot  have  foure 
manere  of  paciences.  / 

§  51.  The  firste  grevance  is  of  wikkede 
wordes  ;  thilke  suffrede  Jesu  Crist  with- 
outen  grucching,  ful  paciently,  whan  the 
Jewes  despysed  and  repreved  him  ful 
oft*.  /  Suffre  thou  therfore  paciently ; 
for  the  wyse  man  seith  :  '  if  thou  stryve 
with  a  fool,  though  tho  fool  be  wrw>th  or 
though  ho  laughe,  algate  thou  shalt  have 
no  reste.'  /  That  other  grevance  outward  (590) 
is  to  have  damage  of  thy  catel.  Ther- 
agayns  suffred  Crist  ful  paciently,  whan 
he  was  despoyled  of  al  that  he  hadde 
in  this  lyf,  and  that  nas  but  hise  clothes.  /  66-; 
The  thridde  grevance  is  a  man  to  have 
harm  in  his  body.  That  suffred  Crist 
ful  paciently  in  al  his  passioun.  /  The 
fourthe  grevance  is  in  outrageous  labour 
in  werkes.     Wlierfore  I  sej-o,  that  folk 


T.  §§  52-55-] 


I.    Z^i.  ^iveonio  Zak. 


699 


that  maken  hir  servants  to  travaillen  to 
grevously,  or  out  of  tyme,  as  on  halydayes, 
soothly  they  do  greet  sinne.  /  Heer- 
agayns  suffred  Crist  ful  paciently,  and 
tanghte  us  iiacienoe,  whan  he  bar  up-on 
his  blissed  shulder  the  croys,  up-on  which 
he  sholde  suffren  despitous  deeth.  /  Heer 
may  men  lerne  to  be  pacient ;  for  certes, 
noght  only  Cristen  men  been  pacient  for 
love  of  Jesu  Crist,  and  for  guerdoun  of 
the  blisful  lyf  that  is  perdurable  ;  but 
certes,  the  olde  payens,  that  nevere  were 
Cristene,  commendeden  and  tiseden  the 
vertu  of  pacience.  / 

§  5'2.  A  philosophre  up-on  a  tyme,  that 
wolde  have  beten  his  disciple  for  his  grete 
trespas,  for  which  he  was  greetly  amoeved, 

670  and  broghte  a  yerde  to  scourge  the  child ;  / 
and  whan  this  child  saugh  the  yerde, 
he  seyde  to  his  maister,  '  what  thenke  ye 
to  do?'  'I  wol  bete  thee,'  quod  the 
maister,  '  for  thy  correccion.'  /  '  J<'or 
sothe,'  quod  the  child,  'ye  oghten  first 
correcto  youro-self,  that  han  lost  al  youro 
pacience  for  the  gilt  of  a  child.'  /  '  For 
sothe,'  quod  the  maister  al  wepinge,  '  thou 
seyst  sooth ;  have  thou  the  yerde,  my 
dere  sone,  and  correcte  me  for  myn 
inpacience.'  /  Of  Pacience  comth  Obe- 
dience, thurgh  which  a  man  is  obedient 
to  Crist  and  to  alle  hem  to  whicho  he 
J600)  oghte  to  been  obedient  in  Crist.  /  And 
understond  wel  that  obedience  is  perfit, 
whan  that  a  man  doth  gladly  and  hastily, 
with    good    herte     entierly,    al   that    ho 

675  sholde  do.  /  Obedience  generally,  is  to 
perfourne  the  doctrine  of  god  and  of  his 
sovereyns,  to  whiche  him  oghte  to  ben 
obeisaunt  in  alle  rightwysnesse.  / 

Sequitur  de  Accidia. 

§  53.  After  the  sinnes  of  Envie  and  of 
Ire,  now  wol  I  speken  of  the  sinne  of 
Accidie.  For  Envye  blindeth  the  herte 
of  a  man,  and  Ire  troubleth  a  man  ;  and 
Accidie  maketh  him  hevy,  thoghtful,  and 
wrawe.  /  Envye  and  Ire  maken  bitter- 
nesse  in  herte ;  which  bittemesso  is 
moder  of  Accidie,  and  binimeth  him  the 
love  of  alle  goodnesse.  Thanne  is  Accidie 
the  aug^issh  of  a  trouble  herte  ;  and  seint 


Augustin  seith  :  '  it  is  anoy  of  goodnesse 
and  joye  of  harm.'  /  Certes,  this  is  a. 
dampnable  sinne  ;  for  it  doth  wrong  to 
Jesu  Crist,  in-as-muche  as  it  binimeth 
the  service  that  men  oghte  doon  to  Crist 
with  alle  diligence,  as  seith  Salomon.  / 
But  Accidie  dooth  no  swich  diligence ; 
he  dooth  alle  thing  with  anoy,  and  with 
wrawnesse,  slaknesse,  and  excusacioun, 
and  with  ydelnesse  and  unlust ;  for  which 
the  book  seith  :  '  aoursed  be  he  that  doth 
the  service  of  god  necligently.'  /  Thanne  680 
is  Accidie  enemy  to  everich  estaat  of  man ; 
for  certes,  the  estaat  of  man  is  in  three 
mancres.  /  Outlier  it  is  th'estaat  of  inno- 
cence, as  was  th'estaat  of  Adam  biforn 
that  he  fil  into  sinne  ;  in  which  estaat 
ho  was  holden  to  wirche,  as  in  heryinge 
and  adouringe  of  god.  /  Another  estaat 
is  the  estaat  of  sinful  men,  in  which 
estaat  men  been  holden  to  laboure  in 
preyinge  to  god  for  amendement  of  hir 
sinnes,  and  that  ho  wole  grauntc  hem  to 
arysen  out  of  hir  sinnes.  /  Another 
estaat  is  th'estaat  of  grace,  in  which 
estaat  he  is  holden  to  werkes  of  penitence ; 
and  certes,  to  alle  thiso  thingcs  is  Accidie 
enemy  and  contrarie.  For  he  loveth  no 
bisinesso  at  al.  /  Now  certes,  this  foule  (610) 
sinne  Accidie  is  eek  a  ful  greet  enemy 
to  the  lyflode  of  the  body ;  for  it  ne  hath 
no  purveaunce  agayn  temporelnecessitee ; 
for  it  forsleweth  and  forsluggeth,  and 
destroyeth  alle  goodes  tomporeles  by 
reccheleesnesse.  /  6?5 

§  54.  The  fourthethinge  is,  that  Accidie 
is  lyk  to  hem  that  been  in  the  peyne  of 
helle,  by-cause  of  hir  slouthe  and  of  hir 
hevinesse ;  for  they  that  been  dampned 
been  so  bounde,  that  they  ne  may  neither 
wel  do  ne  wel  thinke.  /  Of  Accidie  comth 
first,  tliat  a  man  is  anoyed  and  encombred 
for  to  doon  any  goodnesse,  and  maketh 
that  god  hath  abhominacion  of  swich 
Accidie,  as  seith  seint  Johan.  / 

§  55.  Now  comth  Slouthe,  that  wol  nat 
suffro  noon  hardne.sse  ne  no  penaunce. 
For  soothly,  Slouthe  is  so  tendre,  and  so 
delicat,  as  seith  Salomon,  tliat  lio  wol 
nat  suffre  noon  hardnesse  ne  penaunce, 
and  thcrfore  ho    shcndeth   al    that    he 


700 


ZH  tanUv&uv^  Zake. 


[t.  §§  56,  57- 


dootli.  /  Agayns  this  rotcn-hertcd  sinne 
of  Accidie  and  Slouthe  sholdc  men  exer- 
cise hem-self  to  doon  godo  werkes,  and 
manly  and  vertuonsly  cacchen  corage  wel 
to  doon  ;  thinkingo  that  ouro  lord  Jesu 
Crist  quyteth  every  good  dede,  be  it  never 
BO  lyte.  /  Usage  of  labour  is  a  greet 
thing ;  for  it  niaketh,  as  seith  seint  Ber- 
nard, the  laborer  to  have  stronge  nrmes 
and  harde  sinwes  ;  and  Slouthe  maketh 

690  hem  feble  and  tendre.  /  Thanne  comth 
drede  to  biginne  to  werko  any  gode 
werkes ;  for  certes,  he  that  is  enclyned 
to  sinne,  him  thinketh  it  is  so  greet  an 
emprj-se  for  to  undertake  to  doon  werkes 
of  goodnesse,  /  and  casteth  in  his  herte 
that  the  circumstaunces  of  goodnesse 
been  so  grevonse  and  so  chargeaunt  for 
to  suffre,  that  he  dar  nat  undertake  to 
do  werkes  of  goodnesse,  as  seith  seint 
Gregorie.  / 

§  56.  Now  comth  wanhope,  tliat  is  de- 
speir  of  the  mercy  of  god,  that  comth 
Bomtyme  of  to  mnche  outrageous  sorwe, 
and  somtyme  of  to  muche  drede  :  imagin- 
inge  that  he  hath  doon  so  muche  sinne, 
that  it  wol  nat  availlen  him,  though  he 
wolde  repenten  him  and  forsake  sinne  :/ 
thurgh  which  despeir  or  drede  he  abaun- 
doneth  al  his  herte  to  cverj-  maner  sinne, 
(620)  as  seith  seint  August  in.  /  \Miich  damp- 
nable  sinne,  if  that  it  continue  un-to  his 

695  ende,  it  is  cleped  sinning  in  the  holy  gost./ 
This  horrible  sinne  is  so  perilous,  that  he 
that  is  despeircd,  ther  nis  no  felonye  ne 
no  sinne  that  he  douteth  for  to  do;  as 
shewed  wel  by  .Tudas.  /  Certes,  aboven 
alle  sinnes  thanne  is  this  sinne  most 
displesant  to  Crist,  and  most  adversarie.  / 
Soothly,  he  that  despeireth  him  is  lyk  the 
coward  champioun  recreant,  tliat  seith 
creant  withoute  nede.  Alias  !  alias ! 
nedeles  is  he  recreant  and  nedeles  de- 
speired.  /  Certes,  the  mercy  of  god  is 
evere  redy  to  every  penitent,  and  is 
aboven  alle  hise  werkes.  /  Alias !  can 
nat  a  man  bithinke  him  on  the  gospel  of 
seint  Luk,  15.,  where-as  Crist  seith  that 
'  as  wel  shal  ther  be  joye  in  hevene  upon 
a  sinful  man  that  doth  penitence,  as 
np-on   nynety  and  nyne    rightful    men 


that  neden  no  penitence?'/  Loke  forther,  700 
in  the  same  gospel,  the  joye  and  the 
feste  of  the  gode  man  that  hadde  lost  his 
sone,  whan  his  sone  with  repentaunce 
was  retourned  to  his  fader.  /  Can  they 
nat  remembren  hem  cek,  that,  ns  seith 
soint  Luk  xxiii"  capitulo,  how  that  the 
theef  that  was  hanged  bisyde  Jesu  Crist, 
soyde  :  '  Lord,  remembre  of  mo,  whan 
thou  comest  in-to  thy  regne?'/  'For 
sothe,'  seyde  Crist,  '  I  seyc  to  thee,  to-day 
shaltow  been  with  me  in  Paradys.'  / 
Certes,  ther  is  noon  so  horrible  sinne  of 
man,  that  it  ne  may,  in  his  lyf,  be  de- 
stroyed by  penitence,  thurgh  vertu  of 
the  passion  and  of  the  deeth  of  Crist.  /  (630) 
Alias !  what  nedeth  man  thanne  to  been 
despeired,  sith  that  his  mercy  so  redy  is  and 
large?  Axe  and  have.  /  Thanne  cometh  705 
Sompnolence,  that  is,  sluggj*  slombringe, 
wliich  maketh  a  man  be  hevy  and  dul,  in 
body  and  in  soule  ;  and  this  sinne  comth 
of  Slouthe.  /  And  certes,  the  tyme  that, 
by  wey  of  resoun,  men  sholde  nat  slepe, 
that  is  by  the  morwe  ;  but-if  ther  were 
cause  resonable.  /  For  soothly,  the  morwe- 
tyde  is  most  covenable,  a  man  to  seye  his 
preyeres,  and  for  to  thinken  on  god,  and 
for  to  honoure  gcxl,  and  to  yeven  almesse 
to  the  povro,  that  first  cometh  in  the 
name  of  Crist.  /  Lo  !  what  seith  Salomon  : 
'  who-so  wolde  by  the  morwe  awaken  and 
seke  me,  he  shal  finde.'  /  Thanne  cometh 
Necligence,  or  recchelesnesse,  that  rek- 
keth  of  no-thing.  And  how  that  igno- 
raunce  be  moder  of  alio  harm,  certes, 
Necligence  is  the  norice.  /  Nocligence  710 
ne  doth  no  fors,  whan  he  shal  doon  a 
thing,  whether  he  do  it  weel  or  baddely.  / 
§  .57.  Of  the  remedie  of  thise  two  sinnes, 
as  seith  the  wyse  man,  that  'he  that 
dredeth  god,  he  spareth  nat  to  doon  that 
him  oghte  doon.'  /  And  ho  that  loveth 
god,  he  wol  doon  diligence  to  plese  god 
by  his  werkes,  and  abaundone  liim-self, 
with  al  his  might,  wel  for  to  doon.  / 
Thanne  comth  ydelnesse,  that  is  the  yate 
of  alle  hasmes.  An  ydel  man  is  lyk  to 
a  place  that  hath  no  walles  ;  the  develes 
may  entre  on  every  syde  and  sheten  at 
him  at  discovert,  by  temptacion  on  every 


T.  §§  58-61.] 


I,    ZU  (pereonee  ZaU. 


701 


(640)  sycle.  /  This  ydelnesse  is  the  thiirrok  of 
alle  wikked  and  vileyns  thoghtes,  and  of 
7:5  alle  jangles,  trufles,  and  of  alle  ordure.  / 
Cartes,  the  hevene  is  yeven  to  hem  that 
wol  labouren,  and  nat  to  ydel  folk.  Eek 
David  seith  :  that  '  they  ne  been  nat  in 
the  labour  of  men,  ne  they  shul  nat  been 
whipped  with  men,'  that  is  to  seyn,  in 
purgatorie.  /  Certes,  thanne  semeth  it, 
tliey  shul  be  tormented  with  the  devel 
in  helle,  but-if  they  doon  penitence.  / 

§  .08.  Thanne  comth  the  sinne  that 
men  clepen  Tarditas,  as  whan  a  man  is 
to  latrede  or  taryinge,  er  he  wole  turne 
to  gt  d  ;  and  certes,  that  is  a  greet  folye. 
He  is  lyk  to  him  that  falleth  in  the  dich, 
and  wol  nat  aryse.  /  And  this  vyce 
comth  of  a  fals  hope,  that  he  thinketh 
that  he  shal  live  longe ;  but  that  hope 
faileth  ful  ofte.  / 

§  59.  Tlianne  comth  Lachesse ;  that  is 
he,  that  whan  he  biginneth  any  good 
werk,  anon  he  shal  forlcten  it  and  stinten ; 
as  doon  they  that  han  any  wight  to 
governe,  and  ne  taken  of  him  na-more 
kepe,  anon  as  they  finden  any  contrarie 
720  or  any  anoy.  /  Thise  been  the  newe 
sliepherdes,  that  leten  hir  sheep  witingly 
go  renne  to  the  wolf  that  is  in  the  breres, 
or  do  no  fors  of  hir  owene  governaunce.  / 
Of  this  comth  poverte  and  destrucciouu, 
botlie  of  spirituel  and  temporel  thinges. 
Tlianne  comth  a  manere  coldnesse,  that 
freseth  al  the  herte  of  man.  /  Thanne 
comth  nndevocioun,  thurgh  which  a  man 
is  so  blent,  as  seith  seint  Bernard,  and 
hath  swiche  langour  in  soule,  that  he 
may  neither  rede  ne  singe  in  holy  chirche, 
lie  here  ne  tliinke  of  no  devocioun,  ne 
travaille  with  hise  handes  in  no  good 
werk,  that  it  nis  him  xinsavory  and  al 
apalled.  /  Thanne  wexeth  he  slow  and 
slombry,  and  sone  wol   be  wrooth,  and 

(650)  sone  is  enclyned  to  hate  and  to  envye.  / 
Thanne  comth  the  sinne  of  worldly  sorwe, 
swich  as  is  cleped  li-isticia,  that  sleeth 
725  man,  as  seint  Paul  seith.  /  For  certes, 
swich  sorwe  werketh  to  the  deeth  of 
the  soule  and  of  the  body  also;  for  ther- 
of  comth,  that  a  man  is  anoyed  of  his 
owene  lyf.  /    Wlierfore  swich  sorwe  short- 


eth  ful  ofte  the  lyf  of  a  man,  er  that  his 
tyme  be  come  by  wey  of  kinde.  / 

Remedium  contra  peccatum  Accidie. 

§  60.  Agayns  this  horrible  sinne  of 
Accidie,  and  the  branches  of  the  same, 
ther  is  a  vertu  that  is  called  Fortitudo 
or  Strengthe ;  that  is,  an  affeccioun 
thurgh  which  a  man  despyseth  anoyous 
thinges.  /  This  vertu  is  so  mighty  and 
so  vigorous,  that  it  dar  withstonde 
mightily  and  wysely  kepen  him-self  fro 
perils  that  been  wikked,  and  wrastlo 
agayn  the  assautes  of  the  devel.  /  For  it 
enhaiinceth  and  enforceth  the  soule,  right 
as  Accidie  abateth  it  and  niaketh  it 
feble.  For  this  Fortitudo  may  endure  by 
long  suffraunce  the  travailles  that  been 
covenable.  /  730 

§  61.  This  vertu  hath  manye  speces  ; 
and  the  firste  is  cleped  Magnanimitee, 
that  is  to  sejTi,  greet  corage.  For  certes, 
ther  bihoveth  greet  corage  agains  Accidie, 
lest  that  it  ne  swolwe  the  soule  by  the 
sinne  of  sorwe,  or  destroye  it  by  wan- 
hope.  /  This  vertu  maketli  folk  to  under- 
take harde  thinges  and  grevouse  thinges, 
by  liir  owene  wil,  wysely  and  resonably./ 
And  for  as  muchel  as  the  devel  flghteth 
agayns  a  man  more  by  queyntise  and  by 
sleighte  than  by  strengthe,  therforo  men 
shal  withstonden  him  by  wit  and  by 
resoun  and  by  discrecioun.  /  Thanne  arn 
ther  the  vertues  of  feith,  and  hope  in  god 
and  in  hise  seintes,  to  acheve  and 
acomplice  the  gode  werkes  in  the  whiche 
he  purposeth  fermely  to  continue.  /  (660) 
Thanne  comth  seuretee  or  sikernesse ; 
and  that  is,  whan  a  man  ne  douteth  no 
travaUle  in  tyme  cominge  of  the  gode 
werkes  that  a  man  hath  bigonne.  /  735 
Thanne  comth  Magnificence,  that  is  to 
seyh,  whan  a  man  dooth  and  perfourneth 
grete  werkes  of  goodnesse  that  he  hath 
bigonne  ;  and  that  is  the  ende  why  that 
men  sholde  do  gode  werkes  ;  for  in  the 
acomplissinge  of  grete  goode  werkes  lyth 
the  grete  guerdoun.  /  Thanne  is  ther 
Constaunce,  that  is,  stablenesse  of  corage ; 
and  this  sholde  been  in  herte  by  stedefast 
feith,  and  in  mouth,  and  in  beringe,  and 


ZH  CanferBurp  Zaite. 


[t.  §§  62-56. 


in  chere  and  in  decle.  /  Eke  ther  been 
mo  speciale  remedies  agains  Accidie,  in 
diverse  werkes,  and  in  consideracioun  of 
the  peynes  of  hclle,  and  of  the  joyes  of 
hevene,  and  in  trust  of  the  grace  of  the 
holy  goost,  that  wole  yeve  him  might  to 
perfoume  his  godo  entente.  / 

Sequitur  de  Auaricia. 
§  62.  After  Accidie  wol  I  speko  of 
Avarice  and  of  Covcitise,  of  which  sinne 
seith  seint  Paule,  that  '  the  rote  of  alle 
harmes  is  Coveitise' :  Ad  Timotheum,  sexto 
capitulo.  I  For  soothly,  whan  the  herte 
of  a  man  is  confounded  in  it-self  and 
troubled,  and  that  the  soule  hath  lost  the 
coufort  of  g  d,  thanne  seketh  he  an  ydel 

740  solas  of  worldly  thinges.  / 

§  63.  Avarice,  after  the  descripcion  of 
seint  Augustin,  is  likerousnesse  in  herte 
to  have  erthely  thinges.  /  Som  other 
folk  seyn,  that  Avarice  is,  for  to  pnr- 
chacen  manye  erthely  thinges,  and  no- 
thing yeve  to  hem  that  han  nede.  /  And 
iindcrstond,  that  Avarice  ne  stant  nat 
only  in  lond  ne  catel,  but  somtyme  in 
science  and  in  glorie,  and  in  every  manere 
of  outrageous  thing  is  Avarice  and 
Coveitise.  /  And  the  difference  bitwLxe 
Avarice  and  Coveitise  is  this.  Coveitise 
is  for  to  coveite  swiche  thinges  as  thou 
hast  nat ;  and  Avarice  is  for  to  withholde 
and  kepe  swiche  thinges  as  thou  hast, 
(S/o)  with-oute  rightful  nede.  /  Soothly,  this 
Avarice  is  a  sinne  that  is  ful  dampnable  ; 
for  al  holy  writ  curseth  it,  and  speketh 
agayns  that  \-yce ;  for  it  dooth  wrong  to 

745  Jesu  Crist.  /  For  it  bireveth  him  the 
love  that  men  to  him  owen,  and  tumeth 
it  bakward  agayns  alle  resoun ;  /  and 
maketh  that  the  avaricious  man  hath 
more  hope  in  his  catel  than  in  Jesu  Crist, 
and  dooth  more  obsers-ance  in  kepinge  of 
his  tresor  than  he  dooth  to  ser\-ice  of 
Jesu  Crist.  /  And  therfore  seith  seint 
Paul  ad  Ephesios,  quinto,  that  '  an 
avaricious  man  is  in  the  thraldom  of 
ydolatrie.'  / 

§  64.  AThat  difference  is  bitwixe  an 
ydolastre  and  an  avaricious  man,  but 
that  an  ydolastre,  per  aventnre,  ne  hath 


but  o  mawmet  or  two,  and  the  avaricious 
!  man  hath  manye?  For  certes,  every 
florin  in  liis  cofre  is  his  mawmet.  /  And 
certes,  the  sinne  of  Mawmetrj-e  is  the 
firste  thing  that  God  deffended  in  the  ton 
comaundments,  as  bereth  witnesse  Exodi. 
capitulo  xaf  :  /  '  Tliou  shalt  have  no  false  "50 
gwldes  biforo  me,  ne  thou  shalt  make 
to  thee  no  grave  thing.'  Thus  is  an 
avaricious  man,  that  loveth  his  tresor 
bifom  god,  an  ydolastre,  /  thiirgh  this 
cursed  sinne  of  Avarice.  Of  Coveitise 
comen  thise  harde  lordshipcs,  thurgh 
whiche  men  been  distrej-ned  by  tallages, 
custumes,  and  cariages,  more  than  hir 
duetee  or  resoun  is.  And  eek  they  taken 
of  hir  bondo-mon  amerciments,  whiche 
mighten  more  resonably  ben  cleped 
extorcions  than  amerciments.  /  Of  whiche 
amerciments  and  raunsoninge  of  bonde- 
men,  somme  lordes  stywardes  seyn,  that 
it  is  rightful ;  for-as-mucho  as  a  cherl 
hath  no  tomporel  thing  that  it  ne  is  his 
lordes,  as  they  seyn.  /  But  certes,  thise 
lordshipes  doon  ^v^ong,  that  bireven  hir 


bonde-folk  tliinges  th.at  they  nevere  yave 


hem  :  Auf/ustinus  de  Civitnte,  libra  rumo.  /  (680) 
Sooth  is,  that  the  condicioun  of  thraldom 
and  the  firste  cause  of  thraldom  is  for 
sinne  ;  Genesis,  quinto.  /  755 

§  6.5.  Tlius  may  ye  seen  that  the  gilt 
disserveth  thraldom,  but  nat  nature.  / 
AATicrfore  thise  lordes  ne  sholdo  nat 
muche  glorifyen  hem  in  hir  lordshipes, 
sith  that  by  naturel  condicion  they  been 
nat  lordes  of  thralles ;  but  for  that 
thraldom  comth  first  by  the  desert  of 
sinne.  /  And  forther-over,  ther-as  the 
lawe  seith,  that  temporel  godes  of  bonde- 
folk  been  the  godes  of  hir  lordshipes,  ye, 
that  is  for  to  understonde,  the  godes  of 
the  emperour,  to  deffenden  hem  in  hir 
right,  but  nat  for  to  robben  hem  ne  reven 
hem.  /  And  therfore  seith  Seneca  :  '  thy 
prudence  sholde  live  benignely  with  thy 
thraUes.'  /  Thilke  that  thou  clepest  thy 
thralles  been  goddes  peple  ;  for  humble 
folk  been  Cristes  freendes ;  they  been 
contubemial  with  tlie  lord.  /  760 

§  66.  Think  eek,  that  of  swich  seed  as 
cherles  springeth,  of  swich  seed  springen 


r.  §  67.] 


I.    ^6e  (ptvaoMe  Zak. 


703 


lordes.  As  wel  may  the  cherl  be  saved  as 
the  lord.  /  Tlxe  same  deeth  that  taketh 
the  cherl,  swich  deeth  taketh  the  lord. 
Wherfore  I  rede,  do  right  so  with  thy 
cherl,  as  thou  woldest  that  thy  lord  dide 
with  thee,  ifthou  were  in  his  plyt./  Every 
sinful  man  is  a  cherl  to  sinne.  I  rede 
thee,  certes,  that  thou,  lord,  werke  in 
swiche  wyse  with  thy  cherles,  that  they 
rather  love  thee  than  drede.  /  I  woot  wel 
ther  is  degree  above  degree,  as  reson  is  ; 
and  skile  it  is,  that  men  do  hir  devoir 
ther-as  it  is  due;  but  certes,  extorcions 
and  despit  of  youre  underlinges  is  damp- 
(690)  nable.  / 

§  67.  And  forther-over  understond  wel, 
that  thise  conquerours  or  tiraunts  maken 
ful  ofte  thralles  of  hem,  that  been  born  of 
as  royal  blood  as  been  they  that  hem 
765  conqueren.  /  This  name  of  thraldom 
was  nevere  erst  couth,  til  that  Noe  seyde, 
that  his  sone  Canaan  sholde  be  thral  to 
hise  brethercn  for  his  sinne.  /  What 
seye  we  thanne  of  hem  that  pilen  and 
doon  extorcions  to  holy  chirche  ?  Certes, 
the  swerd,  that  men  yeven  first  to 
a  knight  whan  he  is  newe  dubbed,  signi- 
fyeth  that  he  sholde  deffenden  holy 
chirche,  and  nat  robben  it  ne  pilen  it ; 
and  who  so  dooth,  is  traitour  to  Crist.  / 
And,  as  seith  seint  Augustin,  '  they  been 
the  develes  wolves,  that  stranglen  the 
sheep  of  Jesu  Crist ' ;  and  doon  worse 
than  wolves.  /  For  soothly,  whan  the 
wolf  hath  ful  his  wombe,  he  stinteth  to 
strangle  sheep.  But  soothly,  the  pilours 
and  destroyours  of  goddes  holy  chirche 
ne  do  nat  so  ;  for  they  ne  stinte  nevere  to 
pile.  /  Now,  as  I  have  seyd,  sith  so  is 
that  sinne  was  first  cause  of  thraldom, 
thanne  is  it  thus  ;  that  tliilke  tj-me  that 
al  this  world  was  in  sinne,  thanne  was  al 
770  this  world  in  thraldom  and  subjeccioun./ 
But  certes,  sith  the  tyme  of  grace  cam, 
god  ordeyued  that  som  folk  sholde  be 
more  heigh  in  estaat  and  in  degree,  and 
som  folk  more  lowe,  and  that  everich 
sholde  be  served  in  his  estaat  and  in  his 
degree.  /  And  therfore,  in  somme  con- 
trees  ther  they  byen  thralles,  whan  they 
han  turned  hem  to  the  feith,  they  maken 


hir  thralles  free  out  of  thraldom.  And 
therfore,  certes,  the  lord  oweth  to  his 
man  that  the  man  oweth  to  his  lord.  / 
The  Pope  calleth  him-self  servant  of  the 
servaunts  of  god ;  but  for-as-muche  as 
the  estaat  of  holy  chirche  ne  mighte  nat 
han  be,  ne  the  commiine  profit  mighte 
nat  han  be  kejit,  ne  pees  and  reste  in 
erthe,  but-if  god  hadde  ordeyned  that 
som  men  hadde  hyer  degree  and  som 
men  lower  :  /  therfore  was  sovereyntee 
ordej-ned  to  kepe  and  mayntene  and 
deffenden  hir  underlinges  or  hir  subgets 
in  resoun,  as  ferforth  as  it  lyth  in  hir 
power ;  and  nat  to  destroyen  hem  ne 
confounde.  /  Wherfore  I  seye,  that  thilkc  (70,1) 
lordes  that  been  lyk  wolves,  that  devouren 
the  possessiouns  or  the  catel  of  povre  folk 
wrongfully,  with-outen  mercy  or  mesure,  /  775 
they  shul  receyven  by  the  same  mesure 
that  they  han  mesured  to  povre  folk  the 
mercy  of  Jesvi  Crist,  but-if  it  be  amended.  / 
Now  comth  deceite  bitwixe  marchant  and 
marchant.  And  thow  shalt  vinderstonde, 
that  marchandyse  is  in  two  maneres ; 
that  oon  is  bodily,  and  that  other  is 
goostly.  That  oon  is  honeste  and  leveful, 
and  that  other  is  deshoneste  and  unleve- 
ful.  /  Of  thilke  bodily  marchandyse,  that 
is  leveful  and  honeste,  is  this  ;  that,  tlicre- 
as  god  hath  ordej-ned  that  a  rogne  or 
a  contree  is  suffisaunt  to  him-self,  thanne 
is  it  honeste  and  leveful,  that  of  habun- 
daunce  of  this  contree,  that  men  hclpe 
another  contree  that  is  more  nedy.  /  And 
therfore,  ther  mote  been  marchants  to 
bringen  fro  that  o  contree  to  that  other 
hire  marchandyses.  /  That  other  mar- 
chandise,  that  men  haunten  with  fraude 
and  trecherie  and  deceite,  with  lesinges 
and  false  othes,  is  cursed  and  dampnable./  780 
Espirituel  marchandyse  is  proprely  Sy- 
monye,  that  is,  ententif  desyr  to  byen 
thing  espirituel,  that  is,  thing  that 
aperteneth  to  the  seintuarie  of  god  and  to 
cure  of  the  soule.  /  Tliis  desyr,  if  so  be 
that  a  man  do  his  diligence  to  parfournen 
it,  al-be-it  that  his  desyr  ne  take  noon 
effect,  yet  is  it  to  him  a  deedly  sinne  ; 
and  if  ho  be  ordred,  he  is  irreguler.  / 
Certes,    Symonye    is    cleped    of   Symon 


704 


ZH  CantevBurp  Zake, 


[t.  §  68. 


Magus,  that  wolde  han  boglit,  tor  tom- 
porel  catel,  the  yil'te  that  god  hadde 
yeven,  by  the  holy  goost,  to  seint  Peter 
and  to  the  apostles.  /  And  therforo 
iTuderstond,  that  bothe  he  that  selleth 
and  he  that  byeth  thinges  espiritnels, 
been  clepod  Symonials  ;  be  it  by  catel,  be 
it  by  procuringe,  or  by  fleshly  preyere 
of  hise  freendes,  fleshly  freendes,  or 
(710)  espiritnel  freendes.  /  Fleshly,  in  two 
maneres;  as  by  kinrede  or othere  freendes. 
Soothly,  if  they  praye  for  him  that  is  nat 
worthy  and  able,  it  is  Symonye  if  he  take 
the  benefice  ;  and  if  he  be  worthy  and 

785  able,  ther  nis  noon.  /  That  other  manero 
is,  whan  a  man  or  womman  preyen  for 
folk  to  avanncen  hem,  only  for  ^vikked 
fleshly  affeccioiin  that  they  have  un-to 
the  jiersone  ;  and  that  is  foul  Sj-monj-e.  / 
But  certes,  in  service,  for  which  men 
yeven  thinges  espirituels  un-to  hir 
ser%-ants,  it  moot  been  understonde  that, 
the  service  moot  been  honeste,  and  elles 
nat ;  and  eek  that  it  be  with-outen  bar- 
gayninge,  and  that  the  persone  be  able.  / 
For,  as  seith  seint  Damasie,  '  alle  the 
sinnes  of  the  world,  at  regard  of  this 
sinne,  am  as  thing  of  noght ' ;  for  it  is 
the  gretteste  sinne  that  may  be,  after  the 
sinne  of  Lucifer  and  Antecrist.  /  For, 
by  this  sinne,  god  forleseth  the  chirche, 
and  the  soule  that  he  Iwghte  with  his 
precious  blood,  by  hem  that  yeven 
chirches  to  hem  that  been  nat  digne.  / 
For  they  i^utten  in  theves,  that  stelen  the 
soules  of  Jesii  Christ  and  destroyen  his 

790  patrimoine.  /  By  swiche  undigne  preestes 
and  curates  han  lewed  men  the  lasse 
reverence  of  the  sacraments  of  holy 
chirche  ;  and  swiche  yeveres  of  chirches 
piitten  out  the  children  of  Crist,  and 
putten  in-to  the  chirche  the  develes  owene 
sone.  /  They  sellen  the  soules  that 
lambes  sholde  kepen  to  the  wolf  that 
strangleth  hem.  And  therfore  shul  they 
nevere  han  part  of  the  pasture  of  lambes, 
that  is,  the  blisse  of  hevene.  /  Now 
comth  hasardrye  with  hise  ajivirtenaunces, 
as  tables  and  rafles ;  of  which  comth 
deceite,  false  othes,  chydinges,  and  alle 
ra-vines,  blaspheminge  and  reneyinge  of 


god,  and  hate  of  hise  neighebores,  wast  of 
godes,  misspendinge  of  tyme,  and  som- 
tj-me  manslaughtre.  /  Certes,  hasardours 
ne  mowe  nat  been  with-outen  greet  sinne 
whyles  they  haunte  that  craft.  /  Of  (72( 
avarice  comcn  eek  lesinges,  thefte,  fals 
witnesse,  and  false  othes.  And  ye  shul 
understonde  that  thise  been  grete  sinnes, 
and  oxpres  agayn  the  comaundemonts  of 
god,  as  I  have  seyd.  /  Fals  witnesse  is  in  795 
word  and  eek  in  dede.  In  word,  as  for  to 
bireve  thy  neighebores  goode  name  by 
thy  fals  witnessing,  or  bireven  him  his 
catel  or  his  lieritage  by  thy  fals  witness- 
ing ;  whan  thou,  for  ire  or  for  mode,  or 
for  envye,  berest  fals  witnesse,  or  accusest 
him  or  excusest  him  by  thy  fals  witnesse, 
or  elles  excusest  thy-self  falsly.  /  Ware 
yow,  questemongeres  and  notaries !  Certes, 
for  fals  witnessing  was  Susanna  in  ful 
gret  sorwe  and  peyne,  and  many  another 
mo.  /  The  sinne  of  thefte  is  eek  cxprcs 
agayns  goddes  heste,  and  that  in  two 
maneres,  corporel  and  espirituel.  /  Cor- 
porel,  as  for  to  take  thy  neighebores  catel 
agayn  his  wil,  be  it  by  force  or  by  sleighte, 
be  it  bj'  met  or  by  mesure.  /  By  steling 
eek  of  false  enditements  upon  him,  and 
in  borwinge  of  thy  neighebores  catel,  in 
entente  nevere  to  payen  it  agayn,  and 
semblable  thinges.  /  Espirituel  thefte  is  80c 
Sacrilege,  that  is  to  seyn,  hurtinge  of  holy 
thinges,  or  of  thinges  sacred  to  Crist,  in 
two  maneres  ;  by  reson  of  the  holy  place, 
as  cliirches  or  chirche-hawes,  /  for  which 
every  vileyns  sinne  that  men  doon  in 
swiche  places  may  be  cleped  sacrilege,  or 
every  violence  in  the  semblable  places. 
Also,  they  that  withdrawen  falsly  the 
rightes  that  longen  to  holy  chirche.  / 
And  pleynly  and  generally,  sacrilege  is  to 
reven  holy  thing  fro  holy  place,  or  un- 
holj'  thing  out  of  holy  place,  or  holy  thing 
out  of  unholy  place.  / 

Relevaclo  contra  peccatum  Avaricie, 

§  68.  Now  shul  ye  understonde,  that 
the  relevinge  of  Avarice  is  misericorde, 
and  pitee  largely  taken.  And  men 
mighten  axe,  why  that  misericorde  and 
pitee  is  relevinge  of  Avarice?  /     Certes,  (73 


§§  69,  7°-] 


ZU  (Per0one0  Zak. 


705 


the  avaricious  man  sheweth  no  pitee  ne 
niisericorde  to  the  nedeful  man  ;  for  he 
delyteth  him  in  the  kepinge  of  his  tresor, 
and  nat  in  the  resoowinge  ne  relevinge  of 
his   evene-cristene.     And  therfore  speke 

805  I  first  of  misericorde.  /  Thanne  is  niiser- 
icorde, as  seith  the  philosoiihre,  a  vertn, 
hy  which  the  corage  of  man  is  stired 
by  the  misese  of  him  that  is  misesed.  / 
Up-on  which  misericorde  folweth  pitee, 
in  parfourninge  of  charitable  werkes  of 
misericorde.  /  And  certes,  thise  thinges 
moeven  a  man  to  misericorde  of  Jesii 
Crist,  that  he  yaf  him-self  for  ouro  gilt, 
and  suffred  deeth  for  misericorde,  and 
forgaf  lis  otire  originale  sinnes ;  /  and 
therby  relessed  ns  fro  the  peynes  of  helle, 
and  amenused  the  peynes  of  purgatorie 
by  penitence,  and  yeveth  grace  wel  to  do, 
and  atte  laste  the  blisse  of  hevene.  /  The 
sjioces  of  misericorde  been,  as  for  to  lene 
and  for  to  yeve  and  to  foryeven  and 
relesse,  and  for  to  ban  pitee  in  herte,  and 
compassioun  of  the  meschief  of  his  evene- 
cristene,  and  eek  to   chastyse  there  as 

810  nede  is.  /  Another  manere  of  remedie 
agayns  Avarice  is  resonable  largesse  ;  but 
soothly,  here  bihoveth  the  consideracioun 
of  the  grace  of  Jesu  Crist,  and  of  hise 
temporel  goodes,  and  eek  of  the  godes 
l^erdurables  that  Crist  yaf  to  us ;  /  and 
to  han  remembrance  of  the  deeth  that  he 
shal  receyve,  he  noot  whanne,  where,  ne 
how  ;  and  eek  that  he  shal  forgon  al  that 
he  hath,  save  only  that  he  hath  despended 
in  gode  werkes.  / 

§  69.  But  for-as-muche  as  som  folk  been 
unmesurable,  men  oghten  eschue  fool- 
largesse,  that  men  clepen  wast.  /  Certes, 
he  that  is  fool-large  ne  yeveth  nat  his 
catel,  but  he  leseth  his  catel.  Soothly, 
what  thing  that  he  yeveth  for  veyne 
glorie,  as  to  minstrals  and  to  folk,  for  to 
beren  his  renoun  in  the  world,  he  hath 

•40)  sinne  ther-of  and  noon  almesse.  /  Certes, 
he  leseth  foule  his  good,  that  ne  seketli 
■with  the  yifte  of  his  good  no-thing  biit 

815  sinne.  /  He  is  lyk  to  an  hors  that  seketh 
rather  to  drinken  drovy  or  trouble  water 
than  for  to  drinken  water  of  the  clere 
wello.  /  And  for-as-muchel  as  they  yeven 


ther  as  they  sholde  nat  yeven,  to  hem 
aperteneth  thilke  maUsoun  that  Crist 
shal  yeven  at  the  day  of  dome  to  hem 
that  shulleu  been  dampned.  / 

Sequitnr  de  Gula. 

§  70.  After  Avarice  comth  Glotonye, 
which  is  expres  eek  agayn  the  coman  de- 
ment of  god.  Glotonye  is  vmmesurable 
appetyt  to  ete  or  to  drinke,  or  elles  to 
doon  y-nogh  to  the  unmesurable  appetyt 
and  desordeynee  coveityse  to  eten  or  to 
drinke.  /  This  sinne  corriimped  al  this 
world,  as  is  wel  shewed  in  the  sinne  of 
Adam  and  of  Eve.  Loke  eek,  what  seith 
seint  Paul  of  Glotonye.  /  '  Manye,'  seith 
seint  Paul,  '  goon,  of  whiche  I  have  ofte 
seyd  to  yow,  and  now  I  seye  it  wepinge, 
that  they  been  the  enemys  of  the  croys  of 
Crist ;  of  whiche  the  ende  is  deeth,  and 
of  whiche  hir  wombe  is  hir  god,  and  hir 
glorie  in  confusioun  of  hem  that  so 
saveren  erthely  thinges.'  /  He  that  is  820 
usaunt  to  this  sinne  of  Glotonye,  he  ne 
may  no  sinne  withstonde.  He  moot  been 
in  servage  of  alle  vyoes,  for  it  is  the 
develes  hord  ther  he  hydeth  him  and 
resteth.  /  This  sinne  hath  manye  speces. 
The  firste  is  dronkenesse,  that  is  the 
horrible  sepulture  of  mannes  resoun  ;  and 
therfore,  whan  a  man  is  dronken,  he  hath 
lost  his  resoun  ;  and  this  is  deedly  sinne.  / 
Bvit  soothly,  whan  that  a  man  is  nat 
wont  to  strong  drinke,  and  peraventure 
ne  knoweth  nat  the  strengthe  of  the 
drinke,  or  hath  feblesse  in  his  heed,  or 
hath  travailed,  thurgh  which  he  drinketh 
the  more,  al  be  he  sodeynly  caught  with 
drinke,  it  is  no  deedly  sinne,  but  venial.  / 
The  seconde  spece  of  Glotonye  is,  that 
the  spirit  of  a  man  wexeth  al  trouble  ;  for 
dronkenesse  bireveth  him  the  discrecioun 
of  his  wit.  /  The  thridde  spece  of  (750) 
Glotonye  is,  whan  a  man  devoureth  his 
mete,  and  hath  no  rightful  manere  of 
etinge.  /  The  fourthe  is  whan,  thurgh  825 
the  grete  habundaunce  of  his  mete,  the 
humours  in  his  body  been  destempred.  / 
The  fifthe  is,  foryetelnesse  by  to  niuchel 
drinkinge ;    for  which  somtyme  a  man 


7o6 


Z-U  CanUtBiiv^  Zciit0. 


[t.  §§  7t-75- 


foryeteth  cr  the  morwc  what  he  dide  at 
even  or  on  the  night  bifom.  / 

§  71.  In  other  manere  been  distinct 
the  speces  of  Glotonye,  after  seint  Gre- 
gorie.  The  firste  is,  for  to  ete  biforn 
tyme  to  ete.  The  seconde  is,  whan  a  man 
get  him  to  delicat  mete  or  drinke.  /  The 
thriddo  is,  whan  men  taken  to  muche 
over  mesure.  The  fourthe  is  cnriositee, 
with  greet  entente  to  maken  and  appa- 
r.ullen  his  mete.  The  fifthe  is,  for  to  eten 
to  gredily.  /  Thise  been  the  fyve  fingres 
of  the  develeshand,  by  whiche  he  drawcth 
S30  folk  to  sinne.  / 

Remedium  contra  peccatum  Gule. 

§  72.  Agayns  Glotonye  is  the  remedie 
Abstinence,  as  seith  Galien ;  but  that 
holde  I  nat  meritorie,  if  he  do  it  only  for 
the  helo  of  his  l»dy.  Seint  Augnstin 
wole,  that  Abstinence  he  doon  for  vertu 
and  with  pacience.  /  Abstinence,  ho. 
seith,  is  litel  worth,  but-if  a  man  have 
good  wil  ther-to,  and  but  it  be  enforced 
by  pacience  and  by  charitee,  and  that 
men  doon  it  for  godes  sake,  and  in  hope 
to  have  the  blisse  of  hevena  / 

§  73.  The  felawes  of  Abstinence  been 
Attemperaunce,  that  holdeth  the  mene  in 
alle  thinges:  eek  Shame,  that  eschueth 
alle  deshonestee  :  Suffisance,  that  seketh 
no  riche  metes  ne  drinkes,  ne  dooth  no 
fors  of  to  outrageous  apparailinge  of 
mete.  /  Mesure  also,  that  restreyiieth  by 
resoun  tlie  deslavee  appetyt  of  etinge  : 
Sobrenesse  also,  that  restreyneth  the 
(760)  outrage  of  drinke  :  /  Sparinge  also,  that 
restreyneth  the  delicat  ese  to  sitte  longe 
at  his  mete  and  softely;  wherfore  som 
folk  stonden  of  hir  owene  wil,  to  eten  at 
S35  the  lasse  leyser.  / 

Sequitur  de  Luxnria. 

§  74.  After  Glotonye,  thanne  comth 
Lecherie  ;  for  thise  two  sinnes  been  so  ny 
cosins,  that  ofte  tyTne  they  wol  nat  de- 
parte.  /  God  woot,  this  sinne  is  ful 
displesaunt  thing  to  god  ;  for  he  seyde 
himself,  '  do  no  lecherie.'  And  therfore 
he  putte  grete  peynes  agayns  this  sinne 
in  the  olde  lawe./    If  worn  man  thral  were 


taken  in  this  sinne,  she  sholde  bo  beten 
with  staves  to  the  dceth.  And  if  she 
were  a  gentil  womman,  she  sholde  be 
slajTi  with  stones.  And  if  she  were 
(t  bi.sshoppes  dogliter,  she  sholde  been 
brent,  by  goddes  comandement.  /  For- 
ther  over,  by  the  sinne  of  Lecherie,  god 
dreynte  al  the  world  at  the  dQuge.  And 
after  that,  he  brente  fyve  citees  with 
thonder-leyt,  and  sank  hem  in-to  helle.  / 
§  75.  Now  lat  us  speke  thanne  of  thilke 
stinkinge  sinne  of  Lochorio  that  men 
clepe  Avoutrie  of  wedded  folk,  that  is  to 
seyn,  if  that  oon  of  hem  be  wedded,  or 
elles  bothe.  /  Seint  John  seith,  that  840 
avoutiers  shuUcn  been  in  hello  in  a  stank 
brcnninge  of  fyr  and  of  brimston  ;  in  fyr, 
for  the  lecherie ;  in  brimston,  for  the 
stink  of  hir  ordure.  /  Certes,  the  brekinge 
of  this  sacrement  is  an  horrible  thing  ; 
it  was  maked  of  god  liim-self  in  paradys, 
and  confermed  by  Jesu  Crist,  as  wit- 
nesseth  seint  Mathew  in  the  gospel : 
'  A  man  shal  lete  fader  and  moder,  and 
taken  him  to  his  wyf,  and  they  shullen 
be  two  in  o  flesh.'  /  This  sacrement  bi- 
tokneth  the  knittinge  togidre  of  Crist 
and  of  holy  chirche.  /  And  nat  only 
that  god  forbad  avoutrie  in  dede,  but  eek 
he  comanded  that  thou  sholdest  nat 
covcite  thy  neighebores  wyf.  /  In  this  (77") 
heeste,  seith  seint  Aug^ustin,  is  forboden 
alle  manere  coveitise  to  doon  lecherie. 
Lo  what  seith  seint  Mathew  in  the  gospel : 
that '  who-so  seeth  a  womman  to  coveitise 
of  his  lust,  he  hath  doon  lecherie  with  hir 
in  his  herte.'  /  Here  may  ye  seen  that  845 
nat  only  the  dede  of  this  sinne  is  for- 
boden, but  eek  the  desyr  to  doon  that 
sinne.  /  This  cursed  sinne  anoyeth  gre- 
vousliche  hem  that  it  haunten.  And  first, 
to  hir  soule  ;  for  he  oblygeth  it  to  sinne 
and  to  peyne  of  deeth  that  is  perdur- 
able./ Un-to  the  body  anoyeth  it  grevously 
also,  for  it  dreyeth  him,  and  wasteth, 
and  shent  him,  and  of  his  blood  he  maketh 
sacrifyce  to  the  feend  of  heUe  ;  it  wasteth 
his  catel  and  his  substaunce.  /  And 
certes,  if  it  be  a  foul  thing,  a  man  to 
waste  his  catel  on  wommen,  yet  is  it 
a  fouler  thing  whan  that,  for  swich  ordure, 


;6.] 


I.    ZU  (petsonee  ^afe. 


707 


woramen  dispeiiden  tip-on  men  hir  catel 
and  substaunce.  /  This  sinne,  as  seitli 
the  proi^hete,  bireveth  man  and  womman 
liir  gode  fame,  and  al  hir  honour  ;  and  it 
is  ful  pleasaunt  to  the  devel ;  for  ther-by 
winneth   he    the   moste    partie    of    this 

f50  world.  /  And  right  as  a  marchant  de- 
lyteth  him  most  in  chaffare  that  he  hath 
most  avantage  of,  right  so  delyteth  the 
feend  in  this  ordnre.  / 

§  76.  This  is  that  other  hand  of  the 
devel,  with  fyve  fingres,  to  cacche  the 
peple  to  his  vileinye.  /  The  firste  finger 
is  tlie  fool  lookinge  of  the  fool  womman 
and  of  the  fool  man,  that  sleeth,  right  as 
the  basilicok  sleeth  folk  by  the  venim  of 
his  siglite  ;  for  the  coveitise  of  eyen  fol- 
weth  the  coveitise  of  the  herte.  /  The 
seconde  finger  is  the  vileyns  touohinge  in 
wikkede  manere ;  and  ther-fore  seith 
Salomon,  that  wlio-so  toucheth  and  hand- 
l3th  a  womman,  he  fareth  lyk  him  that 
liandletli  the  soorpioun  that  stingetli  and 
sodeynly  sleeth  thurgh  his  enveniminge  ; 
as  who-so  toucheth  warm  pich,  it  shent 
(;8o)  his  fingres. /  The  thridde,  is  foule  wordes, 
tliat  fareth  lyk  fyr,  that  right  anon  bren- 

855  neth  the  herte.  /  The  fourthe  finger  is 
the  kissinge  ;  and  trewely  he  were  a  greet 
fool  that  wolde  kisse  the  mouth  of  a  bren- 
ninge  ovene  or  of  a  fourneys.  /  And 
more  fooles  been  they  that  kissen  in 
vileinye  ;  for  that  mouth  is  the  mouth  of 
helle  :  and  namely,  thise  olde  dotardes 
holours,  yet  wol  they  kisse,  though  they 
may  nat  do,  and  smatre  hem.  /  Certes, 
they  been  lyk  to  houndes  ;  for  an  hound, 
v.lian  he  comth  by  the  roser  or  by  othere 
-fbusshes,  though  he  may  nat  pisse,  yet 
wole  he  heve  up  his  leg  and  make  a  con- 
tenaunce  to  pisse.  /  And  for  that  many 
man  weneth  that  he  may  nat  sinne,  for 
no  likerousnesse  that  he  doth  with  his  wyf ; 
certes,  that  opinion  is  fals.  God  woot, 
a  man  may  sleen  him-self  with  his  owene 
knyf,  and  make  him-selven  dronken  of 
liis  owene  tonne.  /  Certes,  be  it  wyf,  be 
it  child,  or  any  worldly  thing  that  ho 
loveth  biforn  god,  it  is  liis  maiimet,  and 

860  he  is  an  ydolastre.  /  Man  sholde  loven 
his   wyf    by   discrecioun,   pacieutly   and 


atemprely ;  and  thanne  is  she  as  thmigli 
it  were  his  snster.  /  The  fifthe  finger  of 
the  develes  hand  is  the  stinkinge  dede  of 
Lecherie.  /  Certes,  the  fyve  fingres  of 
Glotonie  the  feend  put  in  the  wombe 
of  a  man,  and  with  hise  tyve  fyngres 
of  Lecherie  he  gripeth  him  by  the  reynes, 
for  to  throwen  him  in-to  the  fourneys  of 
helle  ;  /  ther-as  they  shul  han  the  fyr 
and  the  wormes  that  evere  shul  lasten 
and  wepinge  and  wailinge,  sharp  hunger 
.and  thurst,  and  grimnesse  of  develes  that 
shuUen  al  to-trede  hem,  with-outen  respit 
and  with-outen  ende.  /  Of  Lecherie,  as  (790) 
I  seyde,  sourden  diverse  speces  ;  as  forni- 
cacioun,  that  is  bitwixe man  and  womman 
that  been  nat  maried  ;  and  this  is  deedly 
sinne  iind  agayns  nature.  /  Al  that  is  805 
enemy  and  destruccioun  to  nature  is 
agayns  nature.  /  Parfay,  the  resoun  of 
a  man  telleth  eek  him  wel  that  it  is 
deedly  sinne,  for-as-miicho  as  god  forbad 
Lecherie.  And  seint  Paul  yeveth  hem 
the  regno,  that  nis  dewe  to  no  wight  but 
to  hem  that  doon  deedly  sinne.  /  Another 
sinne  of  Lecherie  is  to  bireve  a  mayden  of 
hir  maydenhede  ;  for  ho  that  so  dooth, 
certes,  he  casteth  a  mayden  out  of  the 
hyeste  degree  that  is  in  this  present  lyf,/ 
and  bireveth  hir  thilke  precious  fruit 
that  the  book  clepeth  '  the  hundred  fruit.' 
I  no  can  seye  it  noon  other  weyes  in  Eng- 
lish, but  in  Latin  it  highte  Centesimus 
fructus.  Certes,  he  that  so  dooth  is  cause 
of  manye  damages  and  vileinyes,  mo  than 
any  man  can  rekene  ;  right  as  he  som- 
tyine  is  cause  of  alio  damages  that  bestes 
don  in  the  feeld,  that  breketh  the  hegge 
or  the  closiire ;  thurgh  which  he  de- 
stroyeth  that  may  nat  been  restored.  /  g-,. 
For  certes,  na-more  may  maydenhede  be 
restored  than  an  arm  that  is  smiten  fro 
the  body  may  retoumo  agayn  to  wexo.  / 
She  may  have  mercy,  this  woot  I  wel,  if 
she  do  penitence  ;  but  nevere  shal  it  be 
that  she  nas  corrupt.  /  And  al-bo-it  so 
that  I  have  spoken  somwhat  of  Avoutrie, 
it  is  good  to  shewen  mo  perils  that  longen 
to  Avoutrie,  for  to  eschue  that  foiile 
sinne.  /  Avoiitrie  in  Latin  is  for  to  seyn, 
approchinge  of  other  mannes  bed,  thurgh 


7o8 


^$e  Cdn^crBurp  ^afee. 


[t.  §  76. 


which  thi>  that  whylom  wereii  o  flessli 
(8<xi)  abaundone  hir  boilyes  to  othere  persones./ 
Of  this  sinne,  as  seith  tho  %\-yse  nxan, 
I'olwcn  man.vo  harmes.  First,  brekinge 
of  feith  ;  and  certes,  in  feith  is  the  kcyo 

875  of  Cristcndom./  And  wliau  tliut  feith  is 
broken  and  lorn,  soothly  Cristendom  stant 
veyn  and  with-outen  fruit.  /  This  sinne 
is  oek  a  thofto  ;  for  thefte  generally  is  for 
to  revo  a  wight  his  thing  agayns  his 
wille.  /  Ccrtos,  this  is  tho  foulesto  thefte 
that  may  be,  whan  a  woinman  steleth  hir 
body  from  hir  housbonde  and  yevoth  it 
to  hire  holour  to  defoulen  hir ;  and  steleth 
hir  soulo  fro  Crist,  and  ycveth  it  to  tho 
dcvel.  /  This  is  a  fouler  thefte.  than  for 
to  breke  a  chircho  and  stele  tlie  chalice  ; 
for  thiso  avoutiers  broken  tho  temple  of 
god  spiritually,  and  stelen  tho  vessel  of 
grace,  that  is,  the  body  and  the  soule,  for 
which  Crist  shal  destroyeu  hem,  as  seitli 
soint  PauL  /  Soothly  of  this  tlieflo' 
douted  grctly  Joseph,  whan  tliat  his 
lordes  wyf  preyed  him  of  vileinye,  whan 
lie  seyde,  '  lo,  my  lady,  how  my  lord  liath 
take  to  mo  under  my  warde  al  that  ho 
hath  in  this  world ;  no  no-thing  of  hise 
thinges  is  out  of  my  power,  but  only  ye 

880  that  been  his  wyf.  /  And  how  sholde 
I  thanno  do  this  wikkednesse,  and  sinne 
so  horribly  agayns  god,  and  agayns  my 
lord?  God  it  forbede.'  Alias!  al  to  litel 
is  swich  trouthe  now  y-founde  !  /  The 
thridde  harm  is  the  filthe  thurgh  which 
they  breken  the  comandement  of  god,  and 
defoulen  tho  auctour  of  matrimoine,  that 
is  Crist.  /  For  cortes,  in-so-mnche  as  the 
sacrement  of  mariage  is  so  noble  and  so 
digne,  so  muche  is  it  gretter  sinne  for  to 
breken  it ;  for  god  made  mariage  in 
jjaradys,  in  the  ostaat  of  innocence,  to 
multiplye  man-kinde  to  the  service  of 
god.  /  And  therfore  is  the  brekinge 
ther-of  more  grevous.  Of  which  brekinge 
comen  false  heires  ofte  tyme,  that  wrong- 
fully occupyen  folkes  heritages.  And 
therfore  wol  Crist  putte  hem  out  of  the 
regne  of  hevene,  that  is  heritage  to  gode 
(810)  folk.  /  Of  this  brekinge  comth  eek  ofte 
tyme,  that  folk  unwar  wedden  or  sinnen 
with   hir   owene  kinrede ;    and   namely 


thiike  harlottes  that  haunteu  bordels  of 
thisc  fool  wommen,  that  mowe  be  lykned 
to  a  commune  gonge,  where-as  men  purgen 
hir  ordure.  /  AVliatseye  we  eekof  putours  885 
that  liven  by  the  horrible  sinne  of  puterie, 
and  constrejTie  wommen  to  yelden  to 
l»em  a  certcj-n  rente  of  hir  bodily  puterie, 
ye,  somtyme  of  his  oweno  wyf  or  his 
child ;  as  doon  this  baudes  ?  Certes, 
thise  been  cursedo  sinnes.  /  Understond 
eek,  that  avoutrie  is  set  gladly  in  tho  ten 
comandements  bitwixe  thefte  and  man- 
slaughtre ;  for  it  is  tho  grottosto  thefto 
that  may  bo  ;  for  it  is  thefto  of  body  and 
of  soule.  /  And  it  is  lyk  to  homicydo ; 
for  it  kerveth  a-two  and  brcketh  a-two 
hem  that  first  were  makod  o  flesh,  and 
tliorfore,  by  tho  oldo  lawe  of  god,  they 
sholdo  be  slayn.  /  But  nathelees,  by  tho 
lawe  of  Jesu  Crist,  that  is  lawe  of  i)itee, 
whan  ho  seyde  lo  the  womman  that  was 
founden  in  avoutrie,  and  sholdo  han  been 
slayn  with  stones,  after  the  wil  of  the 
Jcwcs,  as  was  hir  lawe  :  '  Go,'  quod  Jesu 
Crist,  '  and  have  na-more  wil  to  sinne  ' ; 
or,  '  wille  na-more  to  do  sinne.'  /  Soothly, 
the  vengeaunce  of  avoutrie  is  awarded  to 
the  peynes  of  helle,  but-if  so  be  that  it  be 
destourbed  by  penitence.  /  Yet  been  ther  890 
mo  speces  of  this  cursed  sinne  ;  as  whan 
that  oon  of  hem  is  religious,  or  elles 
bothe  ;  or  of  folk  that  been  entred  in-to 
ordre,  as  subdekne  or  dekno,  or  preest,  or 
hospitallers.  And  evero  the  hyer  that 
he  is  in  ordre,  the  gretter  is  tho  sinne.  / 
The  thinges  that  gretly  agreggen  hir 
sinne  is  the  brekinge  of  hir  avow  of 
chastitee,  whan  they  receyved  the  ordre./ 
And  forther-over,  sooth  is,  that  holy 
ordre  is  chief  of  al  the  tresorie  of  god, 
and  his  especial  signe  and  mark  of  chas- 
titee ;  to  shewe  that  they  been  joyned  to 
chastitee,  which  that  is  most  precious 
lyf  that  is.  /  And  thise  ordrod  folk  been 
specially  tytled  to  god,  and  of  the  special 
meynee  of  god  ;  for  which,  whan  they 
doon  dcedly  sinne,  they  been  the  special 
traj'tours  of  god  and  of  liis  peple  ;  for  they 
liven  of  the  peple,  to  preye  for  the  peple, 
and  whyle  they  been  suche  traitours,  hir 
preyersavaUennattothepeple./   Precstes  (820) 


Z^t  (petreonee  Zak. 


709 


been  aungeles,  as  by  the  dignitee  of  hir 
misterye  ;  but  for  sothe,  seint  Paiil  seith, 
that  'Sathanas  transformetli  him  in  an 
895  aungel   of  light.'  /     Soothly,  the   preest 
that  haimteth  deadly  sinne,  lie  may  be 
lykned  to  the  aungel  of  derknesse  trans- 
formed in  the  aungel  of  light  ;  he  semeth 
aungel  of  light,  but  for  sothe  he  is  aungel 
of  derknesse.  /     Swiche  preestes  been  the 
sones  of  Helie,  as  sheweth  in  the  book  of 
Kinges,   that   they  weren   the   sones   of 
Belial,  that  is,  the  devel.  /     Belial  is  to 
seyn    'with-outen    juge';    and    so   faren 
they  ;  hem  thinketh  they  been  free,  and 
han  no  juge,  na-more  than  hath  a  free 
bole   that   taketh   which   cow   that  him 
lyketh  in  the  toun.  /     So  faren  they  by 
wommen.      For   right   as  a  free  bole  is 
y-nough  for  id  a  toun,  right  so  is  a  wikked 
preest  corrupcioun  y-nough  for  al  a  par- 
isshe,  or  for  al  a  contree.  /    Thise  preestes, 
as  seith  the  book,  ne  conne  nat  the  mis- 
terie  of  preesthode  to  the  peple,  ne  god 
ne  knowe  they  nat ;  they  ne  helde  hem 
nat  apayd,  as  seith  the  book,  of  soden 
flesh  that  was  to  hem  offred,  but  they 
900  toke  by  force   the  flesh  that  is  rawe.  / 
Certes,  so  thise  shrewes  ne  holden  hem 
nat  apayed  of  rosted  flesh  and  sode  flesh, 
with  which  the  peple  fedden  hem  in  greet 
reverence,  but  they  wole  have  raw  flesh 
of  folkes  wyv'es  and  hir  doghtres.  /     And 
certes,  thise  wommen  that  consenten  to 
hir  harlotrie  doon  greet  wrong  to  Crist 
and  to  holy  chirche  and  alle  halwes,  and 
to  alle  soules  ;  for  they  bireven  alle  thise 
him  that  sholde  worshipe  Crist  and  holy 
chirche,  and  preye  for  Cristene  soules.  / 
And   therfore   han  swiche  preestes,  and 
hir  lemmanes  eek  that  consenten  to  hir 
lecherie,  the   malisoun   of  al   the   court 
Cristen,  til  they  come  to  amendement.  / 
Tlie  thridde  spece  of  avoutrie  is  som-tyme 
bitwixe  a  man  and  his  wyf ;  and  that  is 
whan  they  take  no  reward  in  hir  assem- 
blinge,  but  only  to  hire  fleshly  delji;,  as 
(830)  seith  seint  Jerome  ;  /  and  ne  rekken  of 
no-thing  but  that  they  been  assembled  ; 
by-cause   that   they   been   maried,  al    is 
005  good    y-nough,    as    thinketh    to   hem.  / 
But  in  swich  folk  hath  the  devel  power, 


as  seyde  the  aungel  Raphael  to  Thobie  ; 
for  in  hir  assemblinge  they  putten  Jesu 
Crist  out  of  hir  herte,  and  yeven  hem-self 
to  alle  ordure.  /      The  fourthe  spece  is, 
the  assemblea  of  hem  that  been  of  hire 
kinrede,    or   of  hem   that    been   of    oon 
affinitee,  or  elles  with  hem  with  whiche 
hir  fadres  or  hir  kinrede  han  deled  in  the 
sinne  of  lecherie  ;  this  sinne  maketh  hem 
lyk  to  houndes,  that  taken  no  kepe  to 
kinrede.  /     And  certes,  parentele  is  in 
two  maneres,  outher  goostly  or  fleshly  ; 
goostly,   as   for   to  delen  with  hise  god- 
sibbes.  /     For  right  so  as  he  that  engen- 
dreth  a  child  is  his  fleshly  fader,  right  so 
is  his  godfader  his  fader  espirituel.     For 
which  a  womman  may  in  no  lasse  sinne 
assemblen  with  hir  godsib  than  with  hir 
owene  fleshly  brother.  /     The  fifthe  spece 
is   thilke   abhominable  sinne,  of  which 
that   no   man   unnethe   oghte   speke   ne 
wryte,  nathelees  it  is  openly  reherced  in 
holy  writ.  /     This  cursednesse  doon  men  910 
and  wommen  in  diverse  entente  and  in 
diverse  manere ;    but  though  that   holy 
writ  speke  of  horrible  sinne,  certes,  holy 
writ   may   nat   been    defouled,    na-more 
than  the  sonne  that  shyiieth  on  the  mixen.  / 
Another   sinne    aperteneth    to   lecherie, 
that  comth  in  slepinge ;  and  this  sinne 
cometh  ofte  to  hem  that  been  maydenes, 
and  eek  to  hem  that  been  corrupt ;  and 
this   sinne  men  clepen  pollucioun,  that 
comth  in  foure  maneres.  /     Somtyme,  of 
languissinge  of  body;    for  the  humours 
been  to  ranke  and  habvindaunt  in  the 
body  of  man.     Somtyme  of  infermetee  ; 
for  the  feblesse  of  the  vertu  retentif,  as 
phisik  maketh  mencioun.     Somtyme,  for 
surfeet  of  mete  and  drinke.  /     And  som- 
tyme of  vileyns  thoghtes,  that  been  en- 
closed in  mannes  minde  whan  he  goth  to 
slepe ;    which  may  nat  been   with-oute 
sinne.     For  which  men  moste  kcpen  hem 
wj'sely,  or  elles  may  men  sinnen  ful  gre- 
vously.  /  (S41 

Remedium  contra  peccatum  Luxurie. 

§  77.  Now  comth  the  remedie  agayns 
Lecherie,  and  that  is,  generally,  Chastitee 
and  Continence,  that  restreyneth  alle  the 


Z^t  Canferfiurp  Cafee. 


[t.  §§  78-80. 


ilesoriloyuoe  nioevingcs  that  comen  of 
(>i5  fleshly  talentes.  /  And  evere  the  gretter 
iTierito  shal  he  han,  that  most  restreyneth 
the  -wikkede  cscliaufingcs  of  the  orduro 
of  this  sinne.  And  this  is  in  two  maneros, 
that  is  to  sej-n,  chastiteo  in  niariage,  and 
chastitee  in  widwohodc.  /  Now  shaltow 
undcrstonde,  that  matriinoine  is  leefful 
assemblinge  of  man  and  of  womman,  that 
rcccyvcn  by  "ortu  of  the  sacrement  the 
liond,  tliurgh  wliich  they  may  nat  bo 
departed  in  al  hir  lyf,  that  is  to  seyn, 
wliyl  that  they  liven  bothe.  /  This,  as 
soith  the  book,  is  a  ful  greet  sacrement. 
God  maked  it,  a.s  I  liave  seyd,  in  paradys, 
and  woldc  him-self  be  born  in  mariage.  / 
And  for  to  halwen  mariage,  he  was  at 
a  weddingp,  where-as  ho  turned  water 
iu-to  wj-n  ;  wliich  was  the  firste  miracle 
that  ho  wroghto  in  ertho  bii'om  hise  dis- 
ciples. /  Trewe  effect  of  mariage  clensoth 
fomicaciour.  and  replonisseth  holy  chircho 
of  good  linage  ;  for  that  is  the  ende  of 
mariage  ;  and  it  chaungeth  deedly  sinne 
in-to  venial  sinne  bitwixe  hem  that  been 
y-wcdde<l,  and  maketh  the  hertes  al  oon 
of  hem  that  Ijoen  y-wedded,  as  wel  as  the 
920  bodies.  /  This  is  vcrray  mariage,  that 
was  estublissed  bj-  god  or  that  sinne  bigan, 
whan  natnj'el  lawe  was  in  his  right  point 
in  paradys ;  and  it  was  ordoyned  that  o 
man  sholde  have  but  o  womman,  and 
o  womman  but  o  man,  as  seith  seint 
Augustin,  by  manye  resouns.  / 

§  78.  First,  for  mariage  is  figured  bi- 
twixe Crist  and  holy  chirche.  And  that 
other  is,  for  a  man  is  heved  of  a  womman  ; 
algate,  by  ordinaunce  it  sholde  be  so.  / 
For  if  a  womman  had  mo  men  than  oon, 
thanne  sholde  she  have  mo  hevedes  than 
oon,  and  that  were  an  horrible  thing 
biforn  god  ;  and  eek  a  womman  ne  mighte 
nat  plese  to  many  folk  at  ones.  And  also 
til  or  ne  sholde  n  evere  be  pees  ne  reste 
anionges  hem ;  for  everich  wolde  axen 
his  owene  thing.  /  And  forther-over,  no 
man  ne  sholde  knowe  his  owene  engen- 
drure,  ne  who  sholde  have  his  heritage  ; 
and  the  womman  sholde  been  the  lasse 
biloved,  fro  the  time  that  she  were  con- 
(850)  joynt  to  many  men.  / 


§  79.  Now  comth,  how  that  a  man 
sholdo  here  him  with  his  wj^;  and 
namely,  in  two  thinges,  that  is  to  seyn  in 
suffraunce.ind  reverence,  as  showed  Crist 
whan  ho  made  first  womman.  /  For  ho  925 
ne  made  hir  nat  of  the  heved  of  Adam, 
for  she  sholdo  nat  claymo  to  greet  lord- 
shipe.  /  For  ther-as  the  womman  hath 
the  maistrie,  she  maketh  to  mucho 
desray;  ther  nedon  none  ensamples  of 
this.  The  experience  of  day  by  day  oghte 
suflfj-sa  /  Also  certes,  god  ne  made  nat 
womman  of  the  f<x>t  of  Adam,  for  she  no 
sholdo  nat  been  holden  to  lowe ;  for  sho 
can  nat  paciently  sufTre  :  but  god  made 
womman  of  the  rib  of  Adam,  for  womman 
sholde  be  felawe  un-to  man.  /  Man  sholde 
here  him  to  his  wj-f  in  feith,  in  trouthe, 
and  in  love,  as  seith  seint  Paul  :  that 
'  a  man  sholdo  loven  his  wyf  as  Crist 
loved  holy  chirche,  that  loved  it  so  wel 
that  he  deyde  for  it.'  So  sholde  a  man 
for  his  wj'f,  if  it  were  nede.  / 

§  80.  Now  how  that  a  womman  sholde 
be  subget  to  hir  housbonde,  that  telleth 
seint  Peter.  First,  in  obedience.  /  And  930 
eek,  as  seith  the  decree,  a  womman  that 
is  a  wj'f,  as  longe  as  she  is  a  wyf,  she  hath 
noon  auctoritee  to  swere  ne  bore  witnesse 
with-outo  love  of  hir  housbonde,  that  is 
hir  lord;  algate,  he  sholde  bo  so  by 
resoun.  /  She  sholde  eek  serven  him  in 
alle  honestee,  and  been  attempree  of  hir 
array.  I  wot  wel  that  they  sholdo  setteu 
hir  entente  to  plesen  hir  housbondes,  but 
nat  by  hir  queyntiso  of  array.  /  Seint 
Jerome  seith,  that  wyves  that  been  ap- 
parailled  in  silk  and  in  precious  purpre 
ne  mowe  nat  clothen  hem  in  Jesu  Crist. 
\Miat  seith  seint  John  eek  in  this  matere?/ 
Seint  Gregorie  eek  seith,  that  no  wight 
seketh  precious  array  but  only  for  veyne 
glorie,  to  been  honoured  the  more  biforn 
the  peple.  /  It  is  a  greet  folye,  a  womman  (860) 
to  have  a  fair  array  outward  and  in  hir- 
sclf  be  foul  inward.  /  A  wyf  sholdo  eek  935 
be  mesiirable  in  lokinge  and  in  beringe 
and  in  laughinge,  and  discreet  in  alle  hir 
wordes  and  hir  dedes.  /  And  aboven  alle 
worldlj'  thing  she  sholdo  loven  hir  hous- 
bonde with  al  hir  herte,  and  to  him  bo 


T.  §§  Si-S.:;.] 


I.    €6e  g?er0one0  tak. 


711 


trewe  of  hir  body ;  /  so  sbolde  an  lions- 
bonde  eek  be  to  his  wyf.  For  sith  that  al 
the  body  is  the  honsbondes,  so  sholde  hir 
herte  been,  or  elles  ther  is  bitwixe  hem 
two,  as  in  that,  no  parfit  mariage.  / 
Thanne  shal  men  understonde  tliat  for 
three  thinges  a  man  and  his  vryf  fleshly 
mowen  assemble.  The  firste  is  in  entente 
of  engendrure  of  children  to  the  serv'ioe 
of  god,  for  certes  that  is  the  cause  fynal 
of  matrimoine.  /  Another  cause  is,  to 
yelden  everich  of  hem  to  other  the  dette 
of  hir  bodies,  for  neither  of  heni  hath 
power  over  his  owene  body.  The  thridde 
is,  for  to  eschewe  Iccherye  and  vileinye. 

940  The  ferthe  is  for  sothe  deedly  sinne.  / 
As  to  the  firste,  it  is  meritorie ;  the 
seconde  also  ;  for,  as  seith  the  decree,  that 
she  hath  merite  of  chastitee  that  yeldeth 
to  hir  housbonde  the  dette  of  hir  body, 
ye,  though  it  be  agayn  hir  lykinge  and 
the  lust  of  hir  herte.  /  The  thridde 
manere  is  venial  sinne,  and  trewely  scarsly 
may  ther  any  of  thise  be  v*dth-oute  venial 
sinne,  for  the  corrupcion  and  for  the 
delyt.  /  The  fourthc  manere  is  for  to 
understonde,  if  thay  assemble  only  for 
amorous  love  and  for  noon  of  the  for- 
seyde  causes,  but  for  to  accomplice  thilke 
brenninge  delj-t,  they  rekke  nevere  how 
ofte,  sothly  it  is  deedly  sinne  ;  and  yet, 
with  sorwe,  somme  folk  wol  peynen  hem 
more  to  doon  than  to  hir  appetyt  suf- 
fyseth.  / 

§  81.  The  seconde  manere  of  chastitee 
is  for  to  been  a  clene  widewe,  and  eschue 
the  embracinges  of  man,  and  desyren  the 
(870)  embracinge  of  Jesu  Crist.  /  Thise  been 
tlio  that  han  been  wyves  and  ban  forgoon 
hir  housbondes,  and  eek  wommen  that 
han  doon  lecherie  and  been  relecved  by 

945  Penitence.  /  And  certes,  if  that  a  wyf 
coude  kepen  hir  al  chaast  by  licence  of 
hir  hovisbonde,  so  that  she  yeve  nevere 
noon  occasion  that  he  agilte,  it  were  to 
hire  a  greet  merite.  /  Thise  manere 
wommen  that  observen  chastitee  moste 
be  clene  in  herte  as  well  as  in  body  and 
in  thoght,  and  mesurable  in  clothinge 
and  in  contenaunce  ;  and  been  abstinent 
in  etinge  and  drinkingo,  in  spekinge,  and 


in  dede.  They  been  the  vessel  or  the 
boyste  of  the  blissed  Magdalene,  that 
fulfilleth  holy  chirche  of  good  odour.  / 
The  thridde  manere  of  chastitee  is  vir- 
ginitee,  and  it  bihoveth  that  she  be  holy 
in  herte  and  clene  of  body,  thanne  is 
she  spouse  to  Jesu  Crist,  and  she  is  the 
lyf  of  angoles.  /  She  is  the  preisinge  of 
this  world,  and  she  is  as  thise  martirs  in 
egalitee  ;  she  hath  in  hir  that  tonge  may 
nat  telle  ne  herte  thinke.  Virginitee  baar 
cure  lord  Jesu  Crist,  and  virgine  was 
him-selve.  /  95^ 

§  82.  Another  remedie  agayns  Lecherie 
is,  specially  to  withdrawen  swiche  thinges 
as  yeve  occasion  to  thilke  vileinye;  as 
ese,  etinge  and  drinkinge ;  for  certes, 
whan  the  pot  boyleth  strongly,  the  beste 
remedie  is  to  withdrawo  the  fyr.  /  Slep- 
inge  longo  in  greet  quiete  is  eek  a  greet 
norice  to  Lecherie.  / 

§  83.  Another  remedie  agayns  Lecherie 
is,  that  a  man  or  a  womman  eschue  the 
companye  of  hem  by  whiche  he  douteth 
to  be  tempted ;  for  al-be-it  so  that  the 
dede  is  witbstonden,  yet  is  ther  greet 
temptacioun.  /  Soothly  a  whyt  wal,  al- 
though it  ne  brenne  noght  fully  by 
stikinge  of  a  candele,  yet  is  the  wal  blak 
of  the  leyt.  /  Ful  ofte  tyme  I  rede,  that  (880) 
no  man  truste  in  his  owene  perfeccioun, 
but  he  be  stronger  than  Sampson,  and 
holier  than  ■)- David,  and  wyser  than 
Salomon.  /  '  955 

§  84.  Now  after  that  I  have  declared 
yow,  as  I  can,  the  sevene  deedly  sinnes, 
and  somme  of  hir  braunches  and  hir  reme- 
dies, soothly,  if  I  coude,  I  woldo  telle 
yow  the  ten  comandements.  /  But  so 
heigh  a  doctrine  I  lete  to  divines.  Nathe- 
lees,  I  hope  to  god  they  been  touched  in 
this  tretice,  everich  of  hem  alle.  / 

De  Confessione. 

§  8.5.  Now  for-as-muche  as  the  second 
partie  of  Penitence  stant  in  Confossioun 
of  mouth,  as  I  bigan  in  the  firste  chapitre, 
I  seye,  seint  Augustin  seith  :  /  sinne  is 
every  word  and  every  dede,  and  al  that 
men   coveiten  agayn   the   lawo  of  Jesu 


^$e  d^an^erfiurp  'Zake. 


[t.  §§  86,  87. 


Crist ;  and  this  is  for  to  sinne  in  hert«,  in 
month,  and  in  dede,  by  thy  fyve  wittes, 
that  heen  sighte,  heringe,  smellinge,  tast^ 
inge  or  savonringe,  and  felinge.  /  Now 
is  it  good  to  nnderstonde  that  that 
960  ngreggoth  mnchel  every  sinne.  /  Tlion 
shalt  considcre  what  tlioxi  art  that  doost 
the  sinne,  whether  thon  be  male  or 
femele,  yong  or  old,  gcntil  or  thral,  free 
or  servant,  hool  or  syk,  wedded  or  sengle, 
ordred  or  unordred,  -wys  or  fool,  clerk  or 
seculer  ;  /  if  she  be  of  thy  kinrede,  bodily 
or  goostly,  or  noon  ;  if  any  of  thy  kinredo 
have  sinned  with  hir  or  noon,  and  manye 
mo  thinges.  / 

§  86.  Another  circnmstannco  is  this  ; 
whether  it  be  doon  in  fornicacioun,  or  in 
avontrie,  or  noon  ;  incest,  or  noon  ;  may- 
den,  or  noon  ;  in  manere  of  homicydo,  or 
noon  ;  horrible  grete  sinnes,  or  smale  ; 
and  how  longo  thou  hast  continued  in 
sinne.  /  The  thridde  circumstaunce  is 
the  place  ther  thou  hast  do  sinne ;  whether 
in  other  menncs  hous  or  in  thyn  owene  ; 
in  feeld  or  in  chirche,  or  in  chirclie-hawe  ; 
(890)  in  chirche  dedicat,  or  noon.  /  For  if  the 
chirche  be  halwed,  and  man  or  womman 
spille  his  kinde  in-with  that  place  by  wey 
of  sinne,  or  by  wikked  temptacion,  the 
chirche  is  entredited  til  it  be  reconciled 
965  by  the  bishop  ;  /  and  the  preest  that  dide 
swich  a  vUeinye,  to  terme  of  al  his  lyf,  he 
sholde  na-more  singe  masse  ;  and  if  he 
dide,  he  sholde  doon  deedly  sinne  at 
every  tyme  that  he  so  songe  masse.  /  The 
fourthe  circumstaunce  is,  by  whiche 
mediatours  or  by  whiche  messagers,  as 
for  entycement,  or  for  consentement  to 
here  companye  with  felaweshipe  ;  for 
many  a  wrecche,  for  to  here  companye, 
wU  go  to  the  devel  of  helle.  /  Wlier-fore 
they  that  eggen  or  consenten  to  the  sinne 
been  parteners  of  the  sinne,  and  of  the 
dampnacioun  of  the  sinner.  /  The  fifthe 
circumstaunce  is,  how  manye  tymes  that 
he  hath  sinned,  if  it  be  in  his  minde,  and 
how  ofte  that  he  hath  falle.  /  For  he 
that  ofte  falleth  in  sinne,  he  despiseth 
the  mercy  of  god,  and  encreesseth  his 
sinne,  and  is  unldnde  to  Crist ;  and  he 
weseth  the    more   feble    to    withstonde 


sinne,  and  sinneth  the  more  lightly,  /  970 
and  the  latter  aryseth,  and  is  the  more 
eschew  for  to  shrj-ven  him,  namely,  to 
him  that  is  his  confessour.  /  For  which 
that  folk,  whan  they  falle  agayn  in  hir 
oldo  folios,  outher  they  forleton  hir  olde 
confcssours  al  outrely,  or  elles  they  de- 
parten  hir  shrift  in  diverse  places  ;  but 
soothly,  swich  departed  shrift  deserveth 
no  mercy  of  god  of  hiso  sinnes,  /  The 
sixto  circumstaunce  is,  why  that  a  man 
sinneth,  as  by  whiche  temptacioun  ;  and 
if  him-self  procure  thilke  temptacioun, 
or  by  the  excytinge  of  other  folk  ;  or  if 
he  sinne  witli  a  womman  by  force,  or  by 
hir  owene  assent ;  /  or  if  the  womman, 
maugree  hir  heed,  hath  been  afTorced,  or 
noon  ;  this  shal  she  telle  ;  for  coveitise, 
or  for  poverte,  and  if  it  was  hir  procaringe, 
or  noon  ;  and  swiche  manere  barneys.  /  (900) 
Tlie  seventhe  circumstaunce  is,  in  what 
,  manere  ho  hath  doon  his  sinno,  or  how 
that  she  hath  suffred  that  folk  han  doon 
to  hir.  /  And  the  same  shal  the  man  97S 
telle  plcj-nly,  with  alle  circumstaunces  ; 
and  whetlier  he  hath  sinned  with  comnne 
bordel-wommen,  or  noon  ;  /  or  doon  his 
sinne  in  holy  tymes,  or  noon  ;  in  fasting- 
tymes,  or  noon  ;  or  biforn  his  shrifte,  or 
after  his  latter  shrifte  ;  /  and  hath,  per- 
aventure,  broken  ther-fore  his  penance 
enjoyned ;  by  whos help  and  wlios  conseil ; 
by  sorcerie  or  craft ;  al  moste  be  told.  / 
Alle  thiso  thinges,  after  that  they  been 
grete  or  smale,  engreggen  the  conscience 
of  man.  And  eek  the  preest  that  is  thy 
juge,  may  the  bettre  been  avysed  of  his 
jugement  in  yevinge  of  thy  penaunce, 
and  that  is  after  thy  contricioun.  /  For 
j  understond  wel,  that  after  tj-me  that 
'  a  man  hath  dcfouled  his  baptesme  by 
sinne,  if  he  wole  come  to  salvacioun,  ther 
is  noon  other  wey  but  by  penitence  and 
'  shrifte  and  satisfaccioun  ;  /  and  namely  980 
by  the  two,  if  ther  be  a  confessour  to 
which  he  may  shry^-en  him ;  and  the 
thridde.  if  he  have  lyf  to  parfournen 
it./ 

§  87.  Thanne  shal  man  looke  and  con- 
sidere,  that  if  he  wole  maken  a  trewe  and 
a  profitable   confessioun,  ther  moste  be 


T. 


88.] 


I.    ZU  (pereonee  ^afe. 


713 


fouro  condiciouns.  /     First,  it  moot  been 
in  sorwelul  bitternesse  of  herte,  as  seyde 
the  king  Ezekias  to  god  :  '  I  wol  remem- 
bre  me  alle  the  yeres  of  my  lyf  in  bitter- 
nesse of  myn  herte.'  /     This  condicioun 
of  bitternesse  hath  fy  ve  signes.    The  firste 
is,  that  confessioun  moste  be  shamefast, 
nat  for  to  covere  ne  hyden  his  sinne,  for 
he  hath  agilt  his  god  and  defouled  his 
(910)  soule.  /     Andher-of  seithseintAngustin: 
'  the  herte  travailleth  for  shame  of  his 
sinne' ;  and  for  he  hath  greet  shamefast- 
nesse,  he  is  digne  to  have  greet  mercy  of 
9S5  god.  /     Swich  was  the  confession  of  tlie 
publican,  tliat  woldo  nat  heven  tip  hise 
eyen  to  hevene,  for  he  haddo  offended  god 
of  hevene  ;  for  wliich  shameftxstnesso  he 
hadde   anon   the   mercy  of  god.  /     And 
ther-of  seith  seint  Angustin,  that  swich 
shamefast  folk  been  next  foryevenesse  and 
remissioiin.  /    Another  signe  is  hiimilitee 
in  confessioun  ;  of  which  seith  seint  Peter, 
'  Hiunbleth  yow  under  the  might  of  god.' 
The  hond  of  god  is  mighty  in  confession, 
for  ther-by  god  foryeveth  thee  thy  sinnes  ; 
for  he  allone  hath  the  power.  /     And  this 
hnmilitee  shal  been  in  herte,  and  in  signe 
outward  ;  for  right  as  he  hath  humiliteo 
to  god  in  his  herte,  right  so  sholde  ho 
humble  his  body  outward  to  the  preest 
that  sit  in  goddes  place.  /     For  which  in 
no   manere,  sitli  that  Crist   is   sovereyn 
and    the    preest    mene    and    mediatour 
bitwixe  Crist  and  the  sinnere,  and  the 
990  sinnere  is  the  laste  by  wey  of  resoun,  / 
thanne   sholde   nat  th%  sinnere  sitte  as 
heiglie  as  his  confessour,  but  knele  biforn 
him  or  at  his  feet,  but-if  maladie  destourbe 
it.     For  he  shal  nat  taken  kepe  who  sit 
there,  but  in  whos  place  that  ho  sitteth.  / 
A  man  that  hath  trespased  to  a  lord,  and 
comth  for  to  axe  mercy  and  maken  his 
accord,  and  set  him  doiin  anon  by  the 
lord,  men  wolde  holden  him  outrageous, 
and  nat  worthy  so  sone  for  to  have  remis- 
sioun  ne  mercy.  /     The  thridde  signe  is, 
how  that  thy  shrift  sholde  be  ful  of  teres, 
if  man  may  ;  and  if  man  may  nat  wepe 
■with  hise  bodily  eyen,  lat  him  wepe  in 
herte.  /     Swich   was    the    confession    of 
seint   Peter ;    for   after   that    ho    hadde 


forsake  Jesu  Crist,  he  wente  out  and 
weep  ful  bitterly.  /  The  fourthe  signe  is,  (920) 
that  he  ne  lette  nat  for  shame  to  shewen 
his  confessioun./  Swich  was  the  con-  995 
fessioun  of  the  Magdelene,  that  ne  spared, 
for  no  shame  of  hem  that  weren  atte 
feste,  for  to  go  to  oure  lord  Jesu  Crist  and 
biknowe  to  him  hir  sinnes.  /  The  fifthe 
signe  is,  that  a  man  or  a  womman  be 
obeisant  to  receyven  the  penatinco  that 
him  is  enjoyned  for  hise  sinnes  ;  for  certes 
Jesu  Crist,  for  the  giltes  of  a  man,  was 
obedient  to  the  deeth.  / 

§  88.  The  secondo  condicion  of  verray 
confession  is,  that  it  be  hastily  doon  ;  for 
certes,  if  a  man  hadde  a  deedly  wounde, 
evere  the  lenger  that  he  taried  to  warisshe 
him-self,  the  more  wolde  it  corrupte  and 
haste  him  to  his  deeth ;  and  eek  the 
wounde  wolde  bo  the  wors  for  to  hele.  / 
And  right  so  fareth  sinne,  that  longe 
tyme  is  in  a  man  unshewed.  /  Certes,  a 
man  oghte  hastily  shewen  hise  sinnes  for 
manye  causes  ;  as  for  drede  of  deeth,  that 
cometh  ofte  sodenly,  and  is  in  no  certeyn 
what  tyme  it  shal  be,  ne  in  what  place  ; 
and  eek  the  drecchingc  of  o  synne  draweth 
in  another  ;  /  and  eek  the  lenger  that  he  1000 
tarieth,  the  ferther  ho  is  fro  Crist.  And 
if  he  abyde  to  his  laste  day,  scarsly  may 
he  shryven  him  or  remembro  him  of  hise 
sinnes,  or  repenten  him,  for  the  grevous 
maladie  of  his  deeth.  /  And  for-as-muche 
as  he  ne  hath  nat  in  his  lyf  herkned  Jesu 
Crist,  whanne  he  hath  spoken,  he  shal 
crj-e  to  Jesu  Crist  at  his  laste  day,  and 
scarsly  wol  he  herkne  him.  /  And  under- 
stond  that  this  condicioun  moste  han 
fouro  thinges.  Thy  shrift  moste  be  pur- 
veyed bifoi-e  and  avysed ;  for  wikked 
haste  doth  no  profit ;  and  that  a  man 
conne  sliryve  him  of  hise  sinnes,  be  it  of 
pryde,  or  of  envye,  and  so  forth  of  the 
speces  and  circumstances  ;  /  and  that  he 
have  comprehended  in  his  minde  the 
nombre  and  the  greetnesso  of  hise  sinnes, 
and  how  longe  that  ho  hath  leyn  in 
sinne  ;  /  and  eek  that  he  be  contrit  of  (930) 
hise  sinnes,  and  in  stedefast  purpos,  by 
the  grace  of  god,  nevero  eft  to  falle  in 
sinne  ;  and  eek  that  he  drede  and  countre- 


Aa  3 


714 


^6e  tanterBurp  ^afee. 


[t.  §§   8y,   90. 


waite  him-self,  that  he  flee  the  occasioniis 
1005  of  sinne  to  whiche  he  is  enclyned.  /  Also 
thou  shalt  shryve  thee  of  alio  thy  sinnes 
to  o  man,  and  nat  a  parcel  to  o  man  and 
a  parcel  to  another  ;  that  is  to  under- 
stonde,  in  entente  to  departo  thy  confes- 
siovin  as  for  shame  or  drede  ;  for  it  nis  but 
stranglinge  of  thy  soule.  /  For  certes, 
Jesu  Crist  is  entierly  al  good  ;  in  him  nis 
noon  inperfeccioun  ;  and  therfore  outlier 
ho  forj-eveth  al  parfitly  or  never  a  deel.  / 
I  seyo  nat  that  if  thou  be  assigned  to  the 
penitauncer  for  certein  sinne,  that  thou 
art  bounde  to  shewen  him  al  the  reme- 
naunt  of  thy  sinnes,  of  whicho  thou  hast 
be  shriven  to  thy  curat,  but-if  it  lyke  to 
thee  of  thjni  huniilitee  ;  this  is  no  de- 
partinge  of  shriite.  /  No  I  seyo  nat, 
ther-asi  speke  of  divisioun  of  confessioun, 
that  if  thou  have  lycence  for  to  shrj-ve 
thee  to  a  discreet  and  an  honeste  preest, 
where  thee  lyketh,  and  by  lycence  of  thy 
curat,  that  thou  no  mayst  wel  sliryve 
thee  to  him  of  alio  thy  sinnes.  /  But  lat 
no  blotte  be  bihinde  ;  lat  no  sinne  been 
untold,  as  fer  as  thou  hast  remem- 
loio  braunce.  /  And  whan  thou  shalt  be 
shriven  to  thy  curat,  telle  him  eek  aUe 
the  sinnes  that  thou  hast  doon  sin  thou 
were  last  y-shriven  ;  this  is  no  wikked 
entente  of  divisioun  of  shrifte.  / 

§  89.  Also  the  verray  shrifte  axeth 
certeine  condlciouns.  First,  that  thou 
shrj-^-e  thee  by  thy  free  wil,  noght  con- 
streyned,  ne  for  shame  of  folk,  no  for 
maladie,  ne  swiche  thinges ;  for  it  is 
resoun  that  he  that  trespasseth  by  his 
free  wU,  that  by  his  free  wil  he  confesse 
his  trespas ;  /  and  that  noon  other  man 
telle  his  sinne  but  he  him-self,  ne  he  shal 
nat  naj-te  ne  denye  his  sinne,  ne  wratthe 
him  agayn  the  preest  for  his  amonestinge 
to  leve  sinne.  /  The  seconde  condicioun 
is,  that  thy  shrift  be  laweful  ;  that  is  to 
seyn,  that  thou  that  shryvest  thee,  and 
eek  the  preest  that  hereth  thy  confessioun, 
(940)  been  verraily  in  the  feith  of  holy  chirche ;  / 
and  that  a  man  ne  be  nat  despeired  of  the 
•  015  mercy  of  Jesu  Crist,  as  Caym  or  Judas.  / 
,Vnd  eek  a  man  moot  accnsen  him-self  of 
his  owene  trespas,  and  nat  another  ;  but 


he  shal  blame  and  wyton  him-self  and 
liis  owene  malice  of  his  sinne,  and  noon 
other ;  /  but  nathelees.  if  that  another 
man  be  occasioun  or  entycer  of  his  sinne, 
or  the  estaat  of  a  persone  be  swich  thurgh 
which  liis  sinne  is  agrogged,  or  ellcs  that 
lie  may  nat  pleynly  shrj'ven  him  but  he 
telle  tlie  persone  with  which  he  hath 
sinned  ;  thanne  may  ho  telle ;  /  so  that 
his  entente  ne  be  nat  to  bakbyte  the 
persone,  but  only  to  declaren  his  con- 
fessioun. / 

§  90.  Thou  ne  shalt  nat  eek  make  no 
lesinges  in  thy  confessioun  ;  for  humilitee, 
per-aventure,  to  sej-n  that  thou  hast  doon 
sinnes  of  whiche  tliat  thou  were  nevere 
gilty.  /  For  seint  Augustiu  scith  :  if 
thou,  by  cause  of  thyn  humilitee,  makest 
lesinges  on  thy-self,  though  thou  ne  were 
nat  in  sinne  bifom,  yet  artow  thanne  in 
sinne  thurgh  thy  lesinges.  /  Thou  most  1020 
eek  shewe  thy  sinne  by  thjai  owene  propre 
mouth,  but  thou  be  wexo  doumb,  and  nat 
by  no  lettre  ;  for  thou  that  liast  doon  the 
sinne,  thou  shalt  have  the  shame  therfore./ 
Thou  shalt  nat  eek  peynto  thy  confessioun 
by  fairo  subtile  wordes,  to  covere  the  more 
thy  sinne  ;  for  thanne  bigylestow  thy-self 
and  nat  the  preest ;  thou  most  tellen  it 
plej-nly,  be  it  nevero  so  foul  no  so  horri- 
ble. /  Thou  shalt  eek  shrj-ve  thee  to  a 
preest  that  is  discreet  to  conseille  thee, 
and  eek  thou  shalt  nat  shryve  thee  for 
veyno  glorie,  no  for  ypocrisye,  ne  for  no 
cause,  but  only  for  the  doute  of  Jesu  Crist 
and  the  hele  of  t^iy  sovde.  /  Tliou  shalt 
nat  eek  renno  to  the  preest  sodej-nly,  to 
tellen  him  lightly  thy  sinne,  as  who-so 
teUeth  a  jape  or  a  tale,  but  avj'sely  and 
with  greet  devocioun.  /  And  generally,  (9So) 
shrj-vo  thee  ofte.  If  thou  ofte  falle,  ofte 
thou  aryse  by  confessioun.  /  And  thogh  1025 
thou  shryve  thee  ofterthan  ones  of  sinne, 
of  which  thou  hast  be  shriven,  it  is  the 
more  merite.  And,  as  seith  seint  Augus- 
tin,  thou  shalt  have  the  moro  lightly 
relesing  and  grace  of  god,  botlie  of  sinne 
and  of  pejTie.  /  And  certes,  ones  a  yere 
atto  leeste  wey  it  is  laweful  for  to  been 
housled  ;  for  certes  ones  a  yere  alio  thinges 
renovellen.  / 


T.  §§  9I-95-] 


I.    ZU  (petroonee  ZaU. 


715 


Explicit  sectmda  pars  Penitencie ;  et 
sequitur  tercia  pars  eiusdem,  de  Satis- 
faccione. 

§  91.  Now  have  I  told  yoa  of  verray 
Confessioiin,  that  is  the  seconde  partie  of 
Penitence.  / 

The  thridde  partie  of  Penitence  is 
Satisfaccionn  ;  and  that  stant  most  gene- 
rally in  almesse  and  in  bodily  peyne.  / 
Now  been  ther  three  manere  of  almesses  ; 
contricion  of  herte,  where  a  man  offreth 
himself  to  god  ;  another  is,  to  han  pitee 
of  defaute  of  hise  neighebores ;  and  the 
thridde  is,  in  yevinge  of  good  conseil 
goostly  and  bodily,  where  men  han  nede, 
and  namely  in  sustenannce  of  mannes 
1030  fode.  /  And  tak  keep,  that  a  man  hath 
need  of  thise  thinges  generally  ;  he  hath 
need  of  fode,  he  hath  nede  of  clothing, 
and  herbei-we,  he  hath  nede  of  charitable 
conseil,  and  visitinge  ia  prisone  and  in 
maladie,  and  sepulture  of  his  dede  body.  / 
And  if  thou  mayst  nat  visite  the  nedeful 
with  thy  persone,  visite  him  by  thy 
message  and  by  thy  yiftes.  /  Thise  been 
generally  almesses  or  werkes  of  charitee 
of  hem  that  han  temporel  richesses  or 
discrecioun  in  conseilinge.  Of  thise 
werkes  shaltow  heren  at  the  day  of 
dome.  / 

§  92.  Thise  almesses  shaltow  doon  of 
thyne  owene  propre  thinges,  and  hastily, 
(960)  and  prively  if  thou  mayst ;  /  but  nathe- 
lees,  if  thou  mayst  nat  doon  it  prively, 
thou  shalt  nat  forbere  to  doon  almesse 
though  men  seen  it ;  so  that  it  be  nat 
doon  for  thank  of  the  world,  but  only  for 
1053  thank  of  Jesit  Crist.  /  For  as  witnesseth 
seint  Mathew,  capitulo  quinto,  '  A  citee 
may  nat  been  hid  that  is  set  on  a  mon- 
tayne  ;  ne  men  lighte  nat  a  lanterne  and 
put  it  under  a  busshel ;  but  men  sette  it 
on  a  candle-stikke,  to  yeve  light  to  the 
men  in  the  hous.  /  Eight  so  shal  youre 
light  lighten  bifore  men,  that  they  may 
seen  youre  gode  werkes,  and  glorifie  youre 
fader  that  is  in  hevene.'  / 

§  93.  Now  as  to  speken  of  bodily  peyne,  it 
stant  in  preyeres,  in  wakinges,  in  fastinges, 
in  vertuouse  techinges  of  orisouns.  /  And 
ye   shul  understonde,   that   orisouns  or 


preyeres  is  for  to  seyn  a  pitous  wil  of 
herte,  that  redresseth  it  in  god  and 
expresseth  it  by  word  outward,  to  re- 
moeven  harmes  and  to  han  thinges  espiri- 
tuel  and  durable,  and  somtyme  temporcl 
thinges ;  of  whiche  orisotins,  certes,  in 
the  orisoun  of  the  Pater-noster,  hath  Jesu 
Crist  enclosed  most  thinges.  /  Certes,  it 
is  privileged  of  three  thinges  in  his  dig- 
nitee,  for  which  it  is  more  digne  than 
any  other  preyere  ;  for  that  Jesu  Crist 
him-self  maked  it ;  /  and  it  is  short,  for  it  1040 
sholde  be  coiid  the  more  lightly,  and  for 
to  withholden  it  the  more  esily  in  herte, 
and  helpen  him-self  the  ofter  with  the 
orisoun  ;  /  and  for  a  man  sholde  be  the 
lasse  wery  to  seyen  it,  and  for  a  man  raa.y 
nat  excusen  hini  to  lerne  it,  it  is  so  short 
and  so  esy ;  and  for  it  comprehendeth  in 
it-self  alle  gode  preyeres.  /  The  exposi- 
cioun  of  this  holy  preyere,  that  is  so 
excellent  and  digne,  I  bitake  to  thise 
maistres  of  theologie  ;  save  thus  muchel 
wol  I  seyn  :  that,  whan  thou  prayest  that 
god  sholde  foryeve  thee  thy  giltes  as  thou 
foryevest  hem  that  agilten  to  thee,  be  ful 
wel  war  that  thou  be  nat  oiit  of  charitee.  / 
This  holy  orisoun  amenuseth  eek  venial 
sinne ;  andtherfore  it  aperteneth  specially 
to  penitence.  /  (970) 

§  94.  This  prej'ere  moste  be  trewely 
seyd  and  in  verray  feith,  and  that  men 
preye  to  god  ordinatly  and  discreetly  and 
devoutly ;  and  alwey  a  man  shal  putten 
his  wil  to  be  subget  to  the  wille  of  god.  /  1045 
This  orisoun  moste  eek  been  seyd  with 
greet  humblesse  and  ful  pure  ;  honestly, 
and  nat  to  the  anoyaunce  of  any  man  or 
womman.  It  moste  eek  been  continued 
with  the  werkes  of  charitee.  /  It  avayleth 
eek  agayn  the  vyces  of  the  soule  ;  for,  as 
seith  seint  Jerome,  '  By  fastinge  been 
saved  the  vyces  of  the  flesh,  and  by 
preyere  the  vyces  of  the  soule.'  / 

§  9.5.  After  this,  thou  shalt  understonde, 
that  bodily  peyne  stant  in  wakinge  ;  for 
Jesu  Crist  seith,  '  waketh,  and  preyeth 
that  ye  ne  entre  in  wikked  temptacioun.'  / 
Ye  shul  understanden  also,  that  fastinge 
stant  in  three  thinges  ;  in  forberinge  of 
bodily  mete  and  drinke,  and  in  forberinge 


Aa  5 


7i6 


€U  Cankv^uv^  Zake. 


[t.  §s  96-102. 


of  worldly  joliteo,  aud  iu  forberinge  of 
deedly  sinne  ;  this  is  to  sejTi,  that  a  man 
slial  kepen  him  fro  deedly  sinno  with 
al  his  might.  / 

§  96.  And  thou  shalt  nnderstanden  eek, 
that  god  ordeyned  I'astinge ;  and  to  fastinge 
1050  appertenen  foure  thinges.  /  Largenesse 
to  povre  folk,  gladnesse  of  herte  espirituel, 
nat  to  been  angrj'  no  anoyed,  ne  gruccho 
for  ho  fasteth  ;  and  also  resonable  houre 
for  to  etc  by  mcsuro  ;  that  is  for  to  seyn, 
a  man  shal  nat  ete  in  untyme,  ne  sitte  the 
longer  at  his  table  to  ete  for  he  fasteth.  / 
§  97.  Thanne  shaltow  understonde,  that 
bodily  pcyne  stant  in  disciplyno  or  tech- 
inge,  by  word  or  by  wrytinge,  or  in 
cnsample.  Also  in  weringe  of  heyres  or 
of  stamin,  or  of  haubergeons  on  hir  naked 
flesh,  for  Cristes  sake,  and  swicho  manere 
penances.  /  But  war  thee  wel  that  swiche 
mancro  penances  on  thy  flesh  ne  make 
nat  thyn  herte  bitter  or  angry  or  anoyed 
of  thy-self ;  for  bettre  is  to  casto  awey 
thyn  hejTC,  than  for  to  casto  away  the 
sikernesse  of  Jesu  Crist.  /  And  therforo 
seith  seint  Paul :  '  Clothe  yow,  as  they 
that  been  chosen  of  god,  in  herte  of 
misericorde,  debonairetee,  suffraunce,  and 
swich  manere  of  clothinge  ' ;  of  whiche 
Jesu  Crist  is  more  apayed  than  of  heyres, 
(980)  or  haubergeons,  or  hauberkcs.  / 

§  98.  Thanne  is  disciplyne  eek  in  knok- 
kingo  of  thy  brest,  in  scourginge  with 
'055  yerdes,  in  knelinges,  in  tribulacions  ;  / 
in  suffringe  paciently  wronges  that  been 
doon  to  thee,  and  eek  in  paeient  suffraunce 
of  maladies,  or  lesinge  of  worldly  catel, 
or  of  wyf,  or  of  cliild,  or  othere  freendes.  / 
§  99.  Thanne  shaltow  understonde, 
whiche  thinges  destourben  penaunce  ; 
and  this  is  in  four  manores,  that  is,  drede, 
shame,  hope,  and  wanhope,  that  is,  des- 
peracion.  /  And  for  to  speke  first  of 
drede  ;  for  which  he  weneth  that  he  may 
suffre  no  penaunce ;  /  ther-agaj-ns  is 
remedie  for  to  thinke,  that  bodily  penaunce 
is  but  short  and  litcl  at  regard  of  the 
I)eyne  of  helle,  that  is  so  cruel  and  so 
long,  that  it  lasteth  with-outen  ende.  / 

§  100.  Xow  again  the  shame  that  a  man 
hath  to  shry\-en  him,  and  namely,  thiso 


ypocrites  that  wolden  been  holden  so 
parfite  that  they  han  no  nede  to  shryven 
hem;  /  agayns  that  shame,  sholde  a  man  1060 
thinke  that,  by  wey  of  resoun,  that  ho 
that  hath  nat  been  ashamed  to  doon 
foule  thinges,  certcs  him  oghte  nat  been 
ashamed  to  do  faire  thinges,  and  that  is 
confessiouns.  /  A  man  sholde  eek  thinke, 
that  god  seeth  and  woot  alio  hise  thoghtes 
and  alio  hise  werkes ;  to  him  may  no 
thing  been  hid  ne  covered.  /  Men  sholden 
eek  remembren  hem  of  the  shame  that  is 
to  come  at  the  day  of  dome,  to  hem  that 
been  nat  penitent  and  shriven  in  this 
present  lyf.  /  For  alio  the  creatures  in 
orthe  and  in  helle  shullen  seen  apertly  al 
that  they  hyden  in  this  world.  /  (990) 

§  101.  Now  for  to  spoken  of  the  hope 
of  hem  that  been  nocligent  and  slowo  to 
shrj-ven  hem,  that  stant  in  two  mancres.  /  J065 
That  oon  is,  that  ho  liopeth  for  to  live 
longo  and  fortopnrchacen  mncho  richesso 
for  his  delyt,  and  thanne  he  wol  shryven 
him  ;  and,  as  he  seith,  him  semeth  thanne 
tymely  y-nough  to  come  to  shrifte.  / 
Another  is,  surquidrio  that  ho  hath  in 
Cristes  morcj'.  /  Agayns  the  firsto  vyce, 
he  shal  thinke,  that  oure  lyf  is  in  no 
sikernesse  ;  and  eek  that  alio  the  richesses 
in  this  world  ben  in  aventurc,  and  passen 
as  a  shadwe  on  the  wal.  /  And,  as  seith 
seint  Gregorie,  that  it  apertencth  to  the 
greto  rightwisnesso  of  god,  that  ncvero 
shal  the  peyno  stinte  of  hem  that  nevero 
woldo  withdrawen  hem  fro  sinno,  hir 
thankes,  but  ay  continue  in  sinne ;  for 
thilke  perpetuel  wil  to  do  sinne  shul  they 
han  perpetuel  pcyne.  / 

§  102.  Wanhope  is  in  two  maneres : 
the  firsto  wanhope  is  in  the  mercy  of 
Crist ;  that  other  is  that  they  thinken, 
that  they  no  mighto  nat  longe  persevere 
in  g<x)dnesse.  /  The  firste  wanhope  comth  1070 
of  that  ho  dometh  that  he  hath  sinned  so 
greetly  and  so  ofte,  and  so  longe  lej-n  in 
sinne,  that  he  shal  nat  bo  saved.  /  Certes, 
agayns  that  cursed  wanhope  sholde  ho 
thinke,  that  the  passion  of  Jesu  Crist  is 
more  strong  for  to  unbinde  than  sinno  is 
strong  for  to  binde.  /  Agayns  the  secondo 
wanhope,  he  shal  thinke,  that  as  ofte  as 


T.  §§   103,   104.] 


tU  (Peteones  Z<xk. 


717 


he  falletli  he  may  aryse  agayn  by  peni- 
tence. And  thogh  he  never  so  longe 
have  leyn  in  sinne,  the  mercy  of  Crist  is 
alwey  redy  to  receiven  him  to  mercy.  / 
Agayns  the  wanhope,  that  he  demeth 
that  he  sholde  nat  longe  persevere  in 
goodnesse,  he  shal  thinke,  that  the 
feblesse  of  the  devel  may  no-thing  doon 
1000)  but-if  men  wol  suffren  him ;  /  and  eek 
he  shal  han  strengthe  of  the  help  of  god, 
and  of  al  holy  chirche,  and  of  the  pro- 

107s  teccioun  of  avingels,  if  him  list.  / 

§  103.  Thanne  shal  men  understonde 
what  is  the  fruit  of  penaunce  ;  and,  after 
the  word  of  Jesu  Crist,  it  is  the  ondelees 
blisse  of  hevene,  /  ther  joye  hath  no  con- 
trarionstee  of  wo  ne  grevaunce,  ther  alle 
harmes  been  passed  of  this  present  lyf ; 
ther-as  is  the  sikernesse  fro  the  peyne  of 
helle ;  ther-as  is  the  blisful  companye 
that  rejoysen  hem  everemo,  evericli  of 
otheres  joye  ;  /  ther-as  the  body  of  man, 
that  whylom  was  foul  and  derk,  is  raore 
cleer  than  the  sonne  ;  ther-as  the  body, 
that  whylom  was  syk,  freele,  and  feblc, 
and  mortal,  is  inmortal,  and  so  strong 
and  so  hool  that  ther  may  no-thing 
apeyren  it ;  /  ther-as  ne  is  neither  hunger, 
thurst,  ne  cold,  but  every  soule  replenissed 
with  the  sight  e  of  the  parfit  knowinge  of 
god.  /  This  blisful  regne  may  men  pur- 
chace  by  poverte  espirituel,  and  the  glorie 
by  lowenesse ;  the  plentee  of  joye  by 
hunger  and  thurst,  and  the  reste  by 
travaiUe ;    and   the    Ij-f   by    decth    and 

1080  mortiiicacion  of  sinne.  / 


Here  taketh  the  makere  of  this  book 
his  leve. 

§  104.  Now  preye  I  to  hem  alle  that 
herkne  this  litel  tretis  or  rede,  that  if 
ther  be  any  thing  in  it  that  lyketh  hem, 
that  ther-of  they  thanken  oure  lord  Jesu 


Crist,  of  whom  procedeth  al  wit  and  al 
goodnesse.  /  And  if  ther  be  any  thing 
that  displese  hem,  I  preye  hem  also  that 
they  arrette  it  to  the  defaxite  of  myn 
unconninge,  and  nat  to  my  wil,  that 
wolde  ful  fayn  have  seyd  bettre  if  I  hadde 
had  conninge.  /  For  oure  boke  seith, '  al 
that  is  writen  is  writ  en  for  oure  doctrine ' ; 
and  that  is  myn  entente.  /  Wherfore 
I  biseke  yow  mekely  for  the  mercy  of 
god,  that  ye  preye  for  me,  that  Crist  have 
mercy  on  me  and  foryeve  me  mygiltes  :  /  (loio) 
— and  namelj',  of  my  translacions  and 
endy  tinges  of  worldly  vanitees,  the  wh  iche 
I  revoke  in  my  retracciouns :  /  as  is  the  1085 
book  of  Troilus  ;  The  book  also  of  Fame  ; 
The  book  of  the  nynetene  Ladies ;  The 
book  of  the  Duchcsse  ;  The  book  of  seint 
Valentynes  day  of  the  Parlement  of 
Briddes  ;  The  tales  of  Caimterbury,  thilke 
that  sounen  in-to  sinne ;  /  The  book  of 
the  Leoun ;  and  many  another  book,  if 
they  were  in  my  remembrance ;  and 
many  a  song  and  many  a  lecherous  lay  ; 
that  Crist  for  his  grete  mercy  foryeve  me 
the  sinne.  /  But  of  the  translacion  of 
Bocce  de  Consolacione,  and  othere  bokes 
of  Legendes  of  seintes,  and  omelios,  and 
moralitee,  and  devocioixn,  /  that  thanke 
I  oure  lord  Jesu  Crist  and  his  blisful 
moder,  and  alle  the  seintes  of  hevene  ;  / 
bisekinge  hem  that  they  from  hennes- 
foith,  un-to  my  lj'\'es  ende,  sende  me 
grace  to  biwayle  my  giltes,  and  to  studio 
to  the  salvacioun  of  my  soulc  : — and 
g^aunte  me  grace  of  verray  penitence, 
confessioun  and  satisfaccioun  to  doon  in 
this  present  lyf ;  /  thurgh  the  benigne  1090 
grace  of  him  that  is  king  of  kinges  and 
preest  over  alle  proestes,  that  boghte  us 
with  the  precious  blood  of  his  herte  ;  /  so 
that  I  may  been  oon  of  hem  at  the  day  of 
dome  that  shulle  be  saved :  Qui  cum 
patre,  dc  '"9^ 


Here  is  ended  the  book  of  the  Tales  of  Caunterbury,  compiled  by  Geffrey  Chaucer, 
of  whos  soule  Jesu  Crist  have  mercy.    Amen. 


APPENDIX. 


VARIATIONS  AND  EMENDATIONS. 

The  text  of  Chancer  is,  in  some  places,  cormpt,  and  in  others  can  he  much 
improved  by  some  emendation,  visually  of  a  slight  character. 

The  text  of  the  best  authorities,  as  improved  by  collation  with  other  good 
anthoritics,  is  here  given.  Variations  from  these  are  denoted  by  an  obelus  (f )  in 
the  text,  which  may  be  considered  as  marking  a  reading  as  to  which  there  is  some 
dovibt.  These  are  most  nvimerous  in  the  Eomaunt  of  the  Rose,  the  Book  of  the 
Duchesse,  and  the  House  of  Fame.  There  are  very  few  doubtful  readings  in  the 
Canterb\u-y  Tales,  for  which  there  are  better  authorities  than  in  other  cases.  la 
the  following  Appendix  all  the  doubtfvil  readings  and  editorial  emendations  are 
accounted  for.  I  do  not,  however,  notice  words  which  are  j)laced  between  sqi^are 
brackets,  such  as  the  word  '  a'  on  p.  1,  1.  12.  It  will  be  understood,  once  for  all, 
that  all  such  words  are  mipplied,  and  are  missing  in  the  originals,  though  often 
necessary  for  the  sense  or  the  metre,  or  for  both. 


EOMAUNT  OF  THE  ROSE. 

The  authorities  are  G.  (the  Glasgow  MS.) ;  and  Th.  (Thynne's  edition  of  1532). 
Also,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  F.  (the  original  French  text,  here  quoted  from 
the  edition  by  M^on,  Paris,  1813).  No  other  authorities  exist.  Many  lines  ai'e 
whoUy  missing  in  G. ;  and  when  it  is  not  cited,  tliis  must  be  understoocL  Thus,  it 
has  lost  lines  1-44. 

Page  1.  3.  Th.  sweuen ;  hut  the  plural  is  required.  4.  Th.  that  false  ne  bene. 
25.  Th.  slepte  ;  (sleep  is  more  usual).     38.  Th.  hatte  ;  read  hote  (be  called). 

Page  2.  66.  G.  Th.  had  ;  read  hath.  102.  G.  Th.  buskes  {not  Chaucer's  form). 
no.  G.  Th.  gan  I.  138.  G.  Th.  Enclosed  was  ;  see  1.  1652  ;  F.  Tatyt  clos.  149.  G.  Tli. 
mynoresse  (!) ;  F.  moverresse. 

Page  3.  196.  G.  Th.  myscoueiting  (!) ;  F.  mesconter.  220.  G.  Th.  courtpy  {see 
Cant.  Tales,  A  290).     248.  Both  peynted. 

Page  4.  2^s-  Both  Upon  any  worthy  man  falle.  277.  Both  and  so  breketh. 
324.  Both  rent. 

Page  5.  382.  Both  may  neuer.  442.  Both  ay  {giving  no  seme) ;  read  shal. 
444.  Both  grace  (!),  for  face  ;  F.  lor  vis. 

Page  6.     485.  G.  laddris  ;  Th.  ladders ;   see  1.  523.     492-  Gl^-  yeer ;  Th.  yere  ;  read 


JRpjpenbtx. 


yertl ;  see  1.  656.  501.  Doth  woldo  [for  nolde  ;  hy  confusion).  505.  Doth  god  keyie  it 
I'ro  care,  a  false  rime;  cUarly  substituted  for  pod  it  kepe  and  were.  Were  is  the 
K.  spelling  of  the  verb  in  the  French  text,  which  has  que  Diex  garisse.  520.  Doth 
For  ;  read  Ful ;  (wo  is  here  an  adjective  —  sad).     5^6.  G.  ony ;  Th.  any  ;  read  a, 

Pago  7.  564.  Some  lines  lost  here  ;  3  lines  of  F.  h'ft  untranslated.  586.  Doth  may ; 
read  mayden.  602.  Doth  lando  of  Alexandrjme  ;  but  Alexandryn  is  an  adjective. 
603.  G.  hidre  he  ;  Th.  hj-ther  be. 

Page  8.  66<).  Doth  places.  668.  Doth  Tliat ;  read  Tliese.  720.  Th.  reuelryo : 
G.  reuerye  ;  F.  rccerdie. 

Page  9.  761.  Doth  made  ;  read  make.  791.  Doth  bode  (no  sense) ;  read  Bede  ;  Xe 
bede  1  =  1  would  not  offer. 

Pago  10.  859.  G.  seye;  TIj.  sey.  860.  G.  plcye  C);  Tli.  pley  (!).  865.  Doth  I  wot 
not  what  of  hir  noso  I  shal  dcscryvo  (eLrven  si/tlables).  866.  Two  lines  lost  here. 
879.  Doth  Love  and  as  hym  likith  it  be.  923.  Doth  Turke  bowes  two  ful  wel  deuysed 
had  he  (too  long). 

Page  11.  959.  Doth  shoten  ;  see  1.  989.  984.  Doth  on  ;  read  of.  1007.  Doth  And  an  : 
read  As  was  an;  F.  Ainginc  cum.  1017.  /Jo^fc  wyntred  ;  but  sec  1.  1020.  1026.  Duth 
thought ;  read  thinketh.     1031.  Doth  Sore  (!) ;  F.  Sade.     1034.  Doth  And  hight  (!l 

Page  12.  1037.  Doth  in  werk  (!).  1058.  Th.  prill ;  O.  prile  ;  {error  for  prikke, 
written  so  as  to  liok  like  prilko).  1080.  Tli.  amyled  ;  G.  enameled.  1089.  Doth  durst  (I  ; 
error  for  ihwTt'tc,  more  commonli/ thnrtc.    '1117.  Doth  ragownccs  ;  F.  jagonces. 

Pago  13.  1 188.  G.  sarljTij-sh  ;  Th.  Sarlj-nysshe ;  F.  Sarrazinesche.  1201.  Di.th 
gousfancoun  (!) ;  F.  gonfanon.  1210.  Doth  He  caste.  1233.  Th.  hempe  ;  G.  hempe  ne 
(  =  hempene).     1236.  Duth  a  ;  read  00  (one). 

Page  14.  1244.  ito^ft  Bitokeneth.  1282.  iJo<A  And  she  (!);  read  Youtho  ;  F.  .7one«ce  ; 
see  1.  1302.  1303.  Doth  that ;  read  thus  ;  see  1.  1310.  1313.  G.  loreyes  («7Vor  ./or  loreresi; 
Th.  Laurclles.  1315.  Tli.  ended  ;  G.  eended  (  =  y-ended).  1324.  Doth  durst  {as  in 
1.  1089).  1332.  Doth  she  {for  second  he).  1334.  Doth  hadde  {for  bad) ;  and  bent  (for 
bende) ;  both  omit  it.     1335.  Doth  an  {for  on). 

Page  15.  1341.  O.  hadde  me  shette  ;  Th.  had  me  sheto  {but  shete  is  not  a  pp.). 
1343.  Doth  had  me  greued.  1348.  Doth  hadde  in  all  the  gardj-n  be.  1366.  Doth 
gardin  (/or  j-erd).     1369.  T^wf/j  Parj-s  (!) ; /or  paradys.     1397-8.  Th.  knytte,  syttc. 

Page  16.  1440.  Th.  dilectable.  1447.  Th-  garden  ;  read  yerdo  in  ;  cf.  1348,  1366. 
1448.  Th.  efters  (!) ;  F.  tout  I'estre.  1453.  Tli.  sluiten  ;  read  shete.  Tli.  goodnessc  (/(/»• 
good  mcs) ;  cf.   3462.      1498.  G.  vela-vnesly  ;  Th.  vilaynously.     1527.  Doth  mnsede  so. 

Page  17.  1591.  Doth  entrees;  F.  Toiit  Vestre.  1593.  Doth  ye  {for  he).  1594.  Doth 
Ye  (for  He).     1608.  Doth  laughyng  (!) ;  read  loving. 

Page  18.  1641.  Doth  sighed.  1644.  Both  strengthes.  1648.  G.  bitrisshed ;  Th. 
bytresshed.  1663.  Doth  mc  ;  read  be;  V.  fusse.  1666.  G.  wole  ;  Tli.  wol.  1674.  Th. 
ware;  G.  waxe  ;  both  have  Rone.  16^8.  Doth  hath;  omit  wel?  1700.  Doth  roses. 
1713.  Doth  For  ;  rend  Ful. 

Page  19.  1721.  G.  l>otheum  ;  Th.  bothum.  1732.  J5o</i  Sithen.  1758.  Doth  two  (!). 
1766.  Doth  certis euenly ;  read  certeinly.  1771.  Doth  his;  read  a.  1814.  Doth  lefte(!); 
read  felte. 

Page  20.  1S48.  Doth  mighte  it.  1851.  Doth  sene  I  ha<lde.  1853-4.  Doth  thore, 
more  ;  see  L  1857.     i860.  G.  Castith  ;  Tli.  Casteth.     1913,  1914.   Transposed  in  G.,  Th. 

Page  21.  1924.  Doth  softyng ;  see  1925.  1925.  Doth  prikkith.  1965.  Doth  lone; 
read  louers.     2002.  Doth  of ;  read  to. 


Mpiptnlijc.  721 


Page  22.  2038.  Both  queynt.  2044.  Both  taken  ;  read  tan  ;  of.  206S.  2046.  Botti 
disteyned  ;  F.  Deceits.  2067.  Both  susprised.  2068.  Both  taken  ;  read  tan  ;  cf.  2044. 
2076.  Gr.  disese;  Th.  desese  ;  F.  dessaisir.     2 116.  Both  degi-ee. 

Page  23.  2154.  Both  bigynneth  to  amende.  2176.  G.  say ;  Th.  saye.  2185.  Both 
vnto  ;  for  to.     2195.  Both  in  ;  read  a. 

Page  24.  2264.  Both  on  ;  read  upon.  2271.  Th.  aumero  ;  Or.  awmere  ;  see  2087. 
2279.  Both  costneth  ;  F.  couste.  2285.  Both  Farce.  2294.  G.  Th.  knowith  (!) ;  F.  rit. 
2302.  Both  pleyneth  ;  read  pleyeth.     2327.  Both  menen. 

Page  25.  2336.  Both  londes;  read  loues.  2341.  7?o<ft  this  swHto  ;  rcat?  swich  yift ; 
F.  si  riche  don.  2365.  Both  and ;  read  in.  2427.  Th.  sene  ;  read  sende  ;  F.  cnvoier. 
2432.  Th.  gone  and  visyten. 

Page  26.  2^66.  Better  omit  of.  2473.  i?o<7t  Thoiight ;  read  That  swete  ?  2499.  G. 
yitt ;  Th.  yet ;  read  yif. 

Page  27.  2564.  Th.  forwerede  ;  G.  forweriedo  ;  see  3251.  2:.Cic,.  Bofhso;  reof?  seme. 
2617.  Both  I  wote  not;  read  I  noot.  2619.  Both  bettor.  2621.  Both  on  hir  I  casto. 
2622.  Both  That.     2628.  Both  liggen  ;  read  l.v. 

Page  28.  2650.  Both  whider  (!).  2675.  Th.  wlian  ;  G.  whanne  ;  read  wham  or 
whom  ;  F.  De  qui  iu  ne  pues  avoir  aise.  2676.  Corrupt.  F.  Au  departir  la  porte  haise 
(i.e.  the  lover  is  to  kiss  the  door),  2709,  2710.  Both  more,  fore.  2712.  Both  to  gon  ; 
omit  to. 

Page  29.     2774.  Both   aftirward.     2796.  G.   Thenkyng  ;    Th.  Thynkyng  ;    cf.   2804. 
2824.  Both  not  ben  ;  F.  tu  seroies.     2833.  Both  me  ;  read  hem  ;  cf.  2845. 
Page  30.     2917.  iJo<;i  thou  (/or  they).     2935.  /Jof/i  declared  thee. 
Page  31.     2992.  Both  warrans  ;  F.  Ge  vous  i  puis  Men  garantir. 
Page  32.     3052.  Both  Venus  hath  flemed.     3115.  Both  arise.     3125.  Both  And  lato 
(or  lette)  it  growo  {too  long).     3136.  Th.  His  eyes  reed  sparclyng  as  the  fyro-glowe 
{too  long) ;  sparclyng  is  a  gloss  on  reed. 

Page  33.  3150.  G.  it ;  Th.  he  ;  read  I ;  F.  ge.  32"7-  Both  For  Nature  ;  /  omit  For. 
3209.  Both  but  if  the. 

Page  34.  3264.  Both  seyne  ;  feyne  seems  better.  3274.  Both  he  be  a  ;  /  omit  a. 
3?oi.  After  gote,  Tli.  inserts  the,  and  G.  thee.  3319.  Both  thought;  read  taughte. 
3 HI-  i?o<7i  Who  that ;  /omit  that.     3337.  J5o«7i  cherisaunce  ;  F.  chevisance. 

Page  35.  3399.  Th.  forbode  ;  G.  forbede  ;  read  forbad.  3433.  Th.  suche  ;  G.  sichen  ; 
F.  i>uis  quHl  me  siet. 

Page  36.  3447.  Both  where  that  the  ;  /  omit  that.  3490.  Both  That  he  had. 
3491.  G.  Thanne;  Th.  Than;  read  That  ;  F.  Qu'  Amors.  3522.  Both  ye  {for  he); 
F.  Que  il.      3525.  Both  it  is. 

Page  37.  3548.  This  (=: This  is);  F.  Cest.  3554.  Both  Vpon  (/or  On).  3604.  Read 
thar  ;  Th.  dare.     3626.  Th.  eftres.     3643.  Th.  the  god  of  blesse  ;  F.  Diex  la  hcneie. 

Page  38.  3660.  Th.  That  so  ;  omit  so.  3690.  Th.  grapes  be  ripe.  3694.  Both  Though. 
3697.  Both  rennyng  (!).  3698.  Both  come  {absurdly) ;  see  1.  2700  ;  read  to  me.  3710.  G. 
iierte  is  ;  Th.  hert  is  ;  read  hertis  ( =  hertes).  3718.  Both  neithir  {for  nor).  3745.  Both 
pleyne  or  playne.     3751.  Both  ye  ;  read  to. 

Page  39.  3755.  Th.  with  his  hete.  375C.  Both  inseH  mo  after  bad.  3774,  G.  it 
wille  ;  Th.  at  wyL    3851.  i?o(7t  verge  ;  see  3234. 

Page  40.  3880.  iJo(7i  lye.  3895.  Both  trechours.  3902.  Both  herte  I  cryc. 
3907.  Both  lowo  ;  read  loude.  3928.  Both  must ;  read  mot ;  supply  take.  3942.  Both 
Do  ;  read  To.     3943.  Both  Thanne  (or  Than)  close  ;  F.  Qui  Us  roses  clorra  cntor. 


72  2  Sipptnliv. 


Page  41.  3994.  Th.  vilanously  ;  G.  vilaj-ncsly.  4021.  G.  an  high;  Th.  an  h.vo. 
4026.  Both  To  make. 

Page  42.    4089.  JJoth  place  it  afkr  I. 

Page  43.  4181.  Both  of;  read  as.  4188.  Both  Eoses  ;  F.  rosters.  4194.  Uo^/t  who 
(/or  whiche). 

Page  44.  4272.  Both  walketh  (!).  4285.  Both  Which  {for  Tlier);  givinf/  no  seme. 
4291.  Both  except.  4322.  Both  wente  aboute  (!);  read  wendo  a  bought  (a  —  have) ; 
F.  Ges  cuidoie  avoir  achetes  (I  weened  to  have  bought  them).  4339.  G.  tillers  ;  Th. 
tyllers.     4352.  Both  wente  best  abouen  to  haue. 

Page  45.  4363.  Both  but ;  read  al.  Both  lust.  4365.  Both  is  ;  read  am.  4366.  Both 
charge.     4372.  G.  wolc  ;  Th.  wol ;  read  wal.     4425.  Both  good. 

Page  46.  4467.  Both  her  (for  his).  4476.  Both  preise.  4550.  Both  Loue ;  read 
lordc.     4556.  Th.  moche  that  it ;  G.  mych  that. 

Page  47.  4561.  Both  yene  good  wille ;  F.  se  Diex  plaist.  4587.  Both  ne  failid ; 
lomitne.     4617.  Both  not;  read  nist;  cf.  4626.     4657.  Both  1 ;  read  han. 

Page  48.  4705.  Both  And  through  the  ;  read  A  trouthe.  4721.  Th.  lyko  ;  G.  like  ; 
read  sike.  4722.  G.  trust ;  Th.  trustc  ;  (thrust  =  thirst).  Both  and  {for  in). 
4723.  BotJi  And.     4725.  Both  And.     4731.  Both  Sen. 

Page  49.  4755.  Both  hy  {for  be).  4764.  Both  That;  read  But.  4793.  Both  euer; 
read  er  (i.e.  before).  4796.  Both  al  by  partuere.  4799.  Both  greven.  4807.  Both 
diffynedhero.  4S11.  G.  kned  ;  Th.  kneddc..  4812.  Both  With.  4823.  Botli  engendrure  ; 
see6iJ4.     4837.  /J0//1  lian  her  lust.     4846.  iJ«//i  what ; /or  who. 

Page  50.  4S58.  /io</j  their.  4892.  G.  perell;  Th.  parel ;  hut  read  tyme  («<?«  4891). 
4921.  Both  But  that  if.     4933.  i?o<A  this.     4935.  .Botfc  yonthes  chambre  (or  chambere) ; 

F.  Jonesce.  sa  chamberiere.  4943-  -Botft  And  mo  of  (!).  4945.  Both  remembretli. 
4948.  Both  him. 

Page   61.      4955.    Both  gan.      4960    Both  neither  preise.      5004.    Th.   stondeth; 

G.  stondith.    5010.  Boih  weped.    5021.   Doth  he  {for  hir).    5028.  Both  list  to  loue. 
Page  52.     5050.  Both  gouen.     5051.  Both  so ;  read  sho  {or  she).     5059.  Botli  loued. 

5068.  Both  That;  read  But;  cf.  4764.  5085.  Both  to;  read  they.  5107.  G.  hcrberest 
hem;  Th.  herborest.  51 16.  Both  the;  read  thy;  F.  ton.  51 17.  Both  by  thought; 
P.  ta  jonesce.    5144.  G.  ay  ;  Th.  aye  ;  read  alway. 

Page  53.  5155.  7?o<A  That ;  F.  ior«.  5162.  Per/wtj)s  say  =  assay.  5201  {rubric).  Both 
Aunsete  ;  error  for  Amistie.     ,^229.  Both  00  state  ;  read  oon  estate  ;  see  5400. 

Page  54.  5278.  Both  bothe  the.  5283.  Both  this.  5285.  Both  vnyte  (!).  5287.  Both 
And  ;  read  A  man.  5292.  Tli.  causes ;  G.  cause ;  see  5301,  5523.  5335.  Both  he ;  cf. 
533"!  5341-     534'-  Both  hir;  read  the.     5345.  i?o</i  Thurgh  the  :  I  omit  the. 

Page  55.  5360.  Both  greueth  so  groueth.  5379.  Both  him  silf  {or  selfe). 
53S9.  Both  kepen  ay  his  ;  see  5367.  5393.  /  omit  alle  before  his.  5401.  Both  ought  to 
be.  5404.  Both  hath.  5408.  G.  it ;  read  in  ;  Th.  omits.  5419,  5420,  5425,  5427,  5436. 
Both  hj-m  (!) ;  F.  les.     5433.  Both  to  {for  so). 

Page  56.  5452.  Tli.  chere  (/or  there) ;  G.  cheer  (!).  5463.  Both  thvis.  5478.  Both 
For  to  shewe  ;  read  She  sheweth.  5486.  Both  affect.  5491.  Both  For  al  that  yeueth 
here  out  of  drede.  5493.  G.  late  ;  Th.  lette.  5544.  Both  fablyng ;  F.  chearn  (i.  e. 
falling).    5546.  Both  caste. 

Page  57.  5555.  Both  in  {for  is).  5556.  Both  depe  {error  for  do>e  =  doth).  5569.  Th. 
haue  you  to  haue ;  G.  ha  yow  to  ha.  5577.  Both  perceyneth.  sspa  G.  mavis ;  Th. 
mai\vs  ;  F.  nua's  (bushels).    5598.  .Bo(/i  that  (/or  it).    5617.  Both  heme.    5641.  i?o<ft  take. 


^pjptntix.  723 


Page  58.  5699.  Both  where  ;  F.  gucri-c.  570'-  ^'''th  slial  thogli  he  hath  geten  (!), 
5713.  Both  Thus  is  thurst.  5741.  G.  fy  ;  Th.  fye ;  read  sy.  (From  fy  to  sy  means 
from  the  first  syUable  oi  fy-sy-cien  (phisician)  to  the  second.) 

Page  59.  5755.  Both  shewing.  5761-2-  Sui^ply  it  in  5761 ;  it  occurs  after  Himsilf  in 
5762.     5781.  Both  The  ;  F.  Trois.     5788.  Both  vnto.     5821.  Both  nyl  not. 

Page  60.  5855.  Both  kepte  ;  F.  qui  mestrie.  5860.  i?o«Zi  that  ilke.  5883.  Both  As 
my  nede  is.     5900.  Both  That  such  toures  hen  ;  /  omit  Tliat  and  ben. 

Page  61.     5942.  Both  folyly.     5959-     Both  beaute  (!).     5960.  Both  That  I ;  /  omit 
That.     5976.  iJof/i  ful  dere.     6002.  Both  grede  ;  error  for  gnede.    6006.  iJo<7j  beaute  (as 
in  5959).     6009.  Th.  wol ;  G.  wole. 
Page  62.     6064.  Both  hindreth. 

Page  63.  6165.  JJo<fe  which  ;  F.  fex  (such).  6169.  Boi/i  lette.  6174.  -Bo?7i  nede  ;  F. 
besoignes.  6205.  I  supply  this  line  ;  went  his  wyle  =  turns  aside  his  craft.  6206.  Th. 
begylen ;  G-.  bygylyng.     6237.  Th.  coiHmen  ;  G.  comyn. 

Page  64.  6243.  Both  ful  many;  omit  ful.  6256.  Both  maketh  the;  omit  the. 
6292.  Both  plant"en  most.  6296.  Both  feyne  ;  F.  dire.  6314.  Both  insert  shal  before 
never.    6317,  6318.  Two  half-lines  lost  ;  words  supplied  by  Kaluza. 

Page  65.  6341.  Both  and  reyned(!);  for  streyned  ;  see  7366.  6355.  Bo<7i  loly  (!) ; 
read  blynde.  I  supply  ther.  6.^72.  A  line  lost;  supplied  as  in  Morris's  edition  ; 
F.  Si  n'en  sui  mes  si  receus.     6378.  Both  I  {for  me).     6407.  Both  not ;  read  yit. 

Page  66.  6460.  Both  it  is  ;  F.  Porquoi.  6466.  Both  woth  (!).  6481.  Both  seruest ; 
F.  sembles.  6491.  Both  bettir.  6493.  Both  of  a  pore.  6500.  Both  me  a  dyne, 
651S.  Both  not.  6522.  BotTi  Hath  a  soule.  6532.  G.  thrittene  ;  Th.  thirtene  {icrongly). 
Page  67.  6539.  G.  beggith  ;  Th.  beggeth.  6542.  G.  goddis ;  Th.  goddes.  6565.  G. 
ther ;  Th.  their.  6569.  Both  yaf.  6570.  G.  follds  ;  Th.  folkes.  6572.  Both  they  ;  read 
leye  ;  F.  gisoient.     6606.  Both  Ben  somtyme  in  ;  see  6610. 

Page  68.  6667.  Both  haue  bidde  ;  I  omit  haue.  6688.  Th.  hondis ;  G.  omits. 
6700.  Both  Yit.     6707.  Both  mendiciens  (-ence). 

Page  69.     6819.  i?o<;i  wrine  ;  both  hem;  both  &t.     6823,6824.  Uoift  robbyng,  gilyng. 
Page  70.      6880.    Th.  Ne  wol;   G.   Wol;    read  Nil.      6902,  6907.    Both  burdons. 
691 1.  J5o<7i  burdons  ;  7)m<  borders  are  meant.     6925,6926.  Both  liim. 

Page  71.  6974.  Jo»ii«aa/(ertymes.  7018.  G.  werrien  ;  Th.  werryen.  702^.  Both 
these  (for  thefe),  and  that  {for  or) ;  F.  lerres  ou.     7038.  Both  them. 

Page  72.  7041.  G.  cheffis  ;  Th.  cheffes  ;  F.  fromages.  7092.  Th.  We  had  ben  tur- 
mented  al  and  some ;  (G.  different  line,  in  late  hand) ;  F.  Tout  eust  este  tormente. 
7109.  G.  has  here  1.  7110,  folloiced  by  a  blank  line  ;  Th.  has  Tliat  they  [read  he]  ne  might 
the  booke  by,  followed  by  a  spurious  line.     71 10.  Th.  To  the  copyc,  if  hem. 

Page  73.     7145.  Both  no.     7159.  Bo<7i  vpon.     7173,  7174.  I  supply  these  lines  by  con- 
jecture ;   F.  Par  Pierre  voil  le  Pape  entendre.      7180.  Both  That  {read  And) ;  to  {read 
that).      7221.  Both  worthy  ;  see  7104.     Both  mynystres  ;  read  maistres. 
Page  74.     7316.  Both  slayn  ;  F.  escorchies. 

Page  75.  7368.  G.  gracche ;  Th.  gratche.  7389.  Th.  deuysed.  7392.  Th.  salowo  ; 
read  falowe.  7394.  Th.  to  ;  read  tho.  7409.  Tli.  And.  7429.  Th.  humbly.  7432.  Th. 
remeued. 

Page  76.  7473.  Th.  hath  hadde  the.  7488.  Th.  doughty  (!) ;  F.  poudreus.  7533-  Th- 
she  nat  herselfe  {iwongly). 

Page  78.  7653.  G.  wole  ;  Th.  wol.  7662.  Both  wot ;  F.  fait.  7663.  Th.  we  {for  ye) ; 
G.  omits. 


724  ^.pTptniix. 


THE  MINOR  rOEMS. 

I.     AN  A. B.C. 

The  MSS.  used  to  form  this  text  are  :  C.=  MS.  Ff.  5.  30  in  the  Camb.  Univ.  Library; 
.To.=  MS.  G.  21,  in  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge;  Gl.=  Glasgow  MS.  Q.  2.  25; 
L.  -  MS.  Laud  740,  in  the  Bodleian  Library  ;  Gg.  =  MS.  Gg.  4.  27,  in  the  Camb. 
Univ.  Library;  F.  —  I'airfax  16,  in  the  Bodleian;  B.  =  Bodley  638;  Sion  ^  Siou 
Coll.  MS.  Tlui  text  fullotcs  closely  the  first  of  these  ;  but  is  corrected  by  collation  with 
the  others. 

Page  81.  16.J.  All  the  MSS.  insert  suflfred  after  eek  ;  probably  caiiyht  from  the  line 
above.  Or  perhaps  his  herte  teas  caught  from  the  line  bilotc  ;  in  which  case,  read  And 
suffred  eek,  that  Longius  him  pighte.  And  note,  that  pighte  should  surely  be  prighte, 
i.e.  pricked,  as  in  Cant.  Tales,  F  418.  Pighte  jiroperly  means  pitched.  Hence  read  : 
And  suffred  eek,  that  Longius  him  prighte. 

II.     THE  COMPLEYXTE  UNTO  PITE. 

The  MSS.  are:  Tn.  (Tanner  346);  F.  (Fairfax  16);  B.  (Bodley  638) ;  Sh.  (Shirley's 
MS.,  Harl.  78) ;  Ff.  (Ff.  1.6,  in  the  Camb.  Univ.  Library) ;  T.,  here  put  for  Trin. 
(Trin.  Coll.  Camb.  K.  3.  19) ;  also  Ha.  (Harl.  7578).     The  text  follous  F.  mainly. 

Pago  82.     21.  MSS.  was  (for  nas),  twice';  tcromjly.     77.  MSS.  is  (/or  nis). 

III.     THE  BOOK  OF  THE  DUCHESSE. 

The  authorities  are  only  Th.  (Thynne's  edition,  1532) ;  and  three  3ISS.,  vis.  F.  (Fairfax 
i6);  Tn.  (Tanner  346) ;  B.  (Bodley  638).  I  follow  F.  mainly.  B.  and  F.  are  much 
alike. 

Pago  83.     6.  All  take  no  kepe.      14.  All  sorwfnl  (badly) ;  read  sory.      23.  All  this. 

Page  84.  76.  Xot  in  Tn.  B.  ;  Tli.  F.  of  Alcyone  his  wyfe.  80.  A'o«  in  Tn.  B.  ;  Th.  F. 
began  to  yerne  ;  read  gan  to  erme.  82.  Kot  in  Tn.  B. ;  Th.  F.  her  thought  so  (copied 
from  81) ;  read  he  dwelte  so.  86.  Xot  in  Tn.  B. ;  Th.  F.  That  she  had  this  ;  I  omit  she, 
and  supply  alas  from  87,  wtiere  it  occurs  after  him,  and  makes  the  line  too  long. 
loi.  All  this  lady  ;  for  she.  107.  All  wepte  ;  read  weep.  131.  All  right  so  (bid  right 
belongs  to  1.  132). 

Page  85.  149.  All  speke  right  so  (but  right  belongs  to  1.  150).  158,  159.  All  noglit 
(for  nothing).  175.  Tn.  slepte  ;  F.  slept ;  see  177.  185.  All  up  and  axed.  204.  All  am. 
206.  I  supply  look.     207.  j1  ?i  for  suche  ;  rearf  at  whiche.      212.  ^2{  alias  ;  read  A. 

Page  86.  264.  All  insert  queue  after  goddesse.  294.  AH  And  ;  read  I.  296.  All 
insert  my  before  slepe.  300.  All  ouer  al ;  I  omit  ouer.  328.  All  and  of  king.  329.  All 
repeat  of  king  before  Lamedon.  330.  All  insert  And  eke  before  of  Medea.  331.  All 
and  of  (for  and).  332.  (Marked  by  mistake;  so  in  MSS.)  334.  .dii  And;  read  Of. 
342.  All  insert  to  before  cold. 

Page  87.  348.  All  And  I ;  omit  And.  380.  All  and  so  at ;  omit  so.  443.  All  insert 
right  before  wonder. 

Page  88.  454.  All  but  B.  inseH  right  before  yong.  473.  All  insert  ful  before  weL 
479.  After  this  line,  Th.  inserts  And  thus  in  sorowe  lefte  me  alone ;  it  is  spurious. 
[Hence  there  is  no  line  480.]  498.  ATI  for  ther  no  ;  and  is  (for  was).  517.  All  had 
ygret ;  read  grette  ;  see  503.     548.  Insert  good  ;  cf.  714,  721. 

Pago  89.     57U.  All  with  his  ;   omit  his.     571.  All  may  no  ;  omit  no.     583.  All  so  ful ; 


Spptnt)ix.  725 


oynit  ful.  584.  All  That;  o-ead  Tliogli.  5S6.  For  the  former  hit,  all  Jiave  him  ;  see 
585.  589.  F.  B.  Thesiphus;  Tn.  Tesiphus  ;  Th.  Tesyphus  {misicritten  for  Cesiphus  = 
Sesiphus).  599.  F.  Th.  sorowe(!);  Tn.  sorov(!);  rsad  song.  630.  Th.  Tn.  floures ; 
F.  B.  flourys  ;  read  flour  is. 

Page  90.  660.  All  in  the ;  omit  the.  681.  All  she  my  fers  ;  read  my  fers  she 
(Koch).  693.  ^ZZ  For  ther  ;  offw«  For.  721.  4?i  yis  parde  ;  oj«i«  yis.  728.  ^?2  also  ; 
read  als.  732.  All  the  qv^ene  ;  omit  the.  740.  All  no  man  ;  read  noon.  745.  F.  Tn. 
Loo  she  that  may  be  ;  Th.  Howe  that  may  be  ;  hei-e  she  is  an  error  for  sir  ;  and  how 
that  may  be  fm-  how  may  that  be  ;  the  edition  of  1550  has  Howe  may  that  be. 

Page  91.  ^^,1.  All  insert  sh&it  after  ihoM;  omit  it  (Koch).  771.  All  1  \>Ta,jA&  ;  omit 
I.  779.  .4??  moste  able  ;  OTnii  moste.  785.  .4?^  ryght  so  ;  oh«'«  ryght.  802.  .4 K  That 
tyme  and  ;  omit  That  tyme.  8«5.  All  on  a  day.  806.  All  ther  that  I ;  omit  that. 
823.  All  Than  any  other  planete  in  heven.  828.  All  and  of;  omit  of.  829.  All  and 
so;  omit  and.  840.  All  counseyl  (a  gloss  ujwn  reed,  the  original  word).  844.  All 
better. 

Page  92.  895.  All  But  which  ;  omit  But.  905.  Was  white  ;  omit  white  {reserved 
/o9' 1.948).  924.  .AKswerewel;  omit  wel.  930.  .4^  never  yet;  omit  yet.  942.  All 
and  pure  flat ;  omit  pure.     943.  .411  or  ;  read  and. 

Page  93.  959.  All  nere  pure;  omit  pure.  971.  All  swere  wel  ;  ^rofZ  sweren. 
994.  All  And  therto  ;  omit  And.  997.  All  What  harme  was;  hut  harm  is  wono- 
syllahic.  1020.  wolde  not ;  ?-cad  nolde.  1028.  .4Jtinto;  read  to.  1040.  ^^i  and  my 
goddesse  (!) ;  read  and  my  lisse  (i.e.  consolation).     J051.  All  loked  her  ;  omit  her. 

Page  94.  1075.  .4/t  nay  trewly  I;  omit  trewly.  1099.  All  coude  tho;  read  tho 
coude.     1147.  All  hit  not  never  ;  omit  not. 

Page  95,  1188.  Allaxn;  read  nam.  1189.  .4ZJ  sey  right ;  omit  right.  1234.  All  to 
false  ;  omit  to.     1239.  All  ryght  as  ;  omit  ryght. 

Page  96.     1264.  All  thynges  ;  read  thing.     1322.  All  ther  was  ;  omit  ther. 

IV.     THE  COMPLEYNT  OF  MAES. 

'Flie  authorities  are :  F.  (Fairfax  16) ;  Tn.  (Tanner  346) ;  Ju.  (Julian  Notary's 
edition);  Harl.  (Harl.  7333);  T.  (Trin.  Coll.  Camb.,  K.  3.  20);  Ar.  (Arch.  Selden  B.  24, 
in  the  Bodleian  Library) ;  Th.  (Thynne's  edition,  1532).     I  follow  F.  mainly. 

Page  98.     89.  All  nygh  dreynt ;  omit  nygh.     125.  All  transpose  hir  and  don. 

Page  99.  141.  All  god  helpe ;  read  helpe  god;  and  accent  sely  and  Venus  on  the 
latter  syllable. 

Page  100.     274.  3Iost  MSS.  have  to  so  ;  T.  omits  to. 

V.     THE  PAELEMENT  OF  FOULES. 

The  authorities  are :  F.  (Fairfax  16) ;  Gg.  (Gg.  4.  27,  Camb.  Univ.  Library) ;  Trin. 
(Trin.  Coll.  Camb.  E.  3.  19) ;  Cx.  (Caxton's  edition) ;  HarL  (Harleian  7333) ;  O.  (St. 
John's  Coll.,  Oxford) ;  Ff.  (Ff.  i.  6,  Camb.  Univ.  Library).  I  have  also  consulted  Tn. 
(Tanner  346);  D.  (Digby  181);  and  others.  I  follow  F.  mainly;  chiefly  coiTected 
by  Gg. 

Page  101.     39.  All  he  ;  read  hit ;  see  36,  43. 

Page  106.     396.  All  have  formed. 

Page  109.     613.  Gg.  reufuUes  (!) ;  Pepys,  rowthfull ;  7'est  rewful  (!). 


7^6  dtlppcnitx. 


VI.     A  COMPLELN'T  TO  HIS  LADY. 

Only  two  MS.  copies :  Sh.  (Shirley's  MS.,  Harl.  78) ;  Ph.  (Phillipps  905»,  now  Addit. 
34360).  Also  Ed.  (edition  of  1561).  /  folloio  Sh.  viainly ;  but  correct  many  bad 
S2>ellings  ;  and  supi^ly  many  icords,  and  even  lines.     Lines  124- 133  are  in  Ph.  only. 

Pago  111.  14.  All  now  doth;  /  omit  now.  15.  This  line  is  supplied,  to  rime  ■with 
1.  17.  19.  Sh.  and  yit  my;  I  put  iio  for  yit.  24.  This  line  supplied;  to  rime  tcith 
1.  22  ;  cf.  Compl.  of  Mars,  189.  25,  26.  Supplied  ;  cf.  Compl.  to  Pile,  22,  17;  Anelida, 
307.     ii.  I  omit  s)ie  before  BlcQth.     56.  A  line  lost;  supplied  from  AneMCia,,  liii. 

Page  112.  $<).  Supplied  from  AiidMCifx,  1S2.  68.  Sh.  ener  do.  78.  Sh.  youre ;  read  yow. 
79.  Sh.  wist  that  were  ;  /  omit  that.  Sh.  your  hyenesse  {repeated  from  76) ;  read  yow 
distresse.  ^2.  {The  dagger  should  precede  is) ;  Sh.  thane  i? ;  ojnit  thane.  102.  Sh.  boon 
euer ;  read  ever  been.  103.  Imperfect;  I  supply  here.  104.  Sh.  But  the  ;  omit  But. 
1:4.  Sh.  nought ;  read  notliing.  120.  Sh.  no  trewer  so  vcrrayly ;  Ed.  no  trcwer 
verely  {false  rime).  127.  Ph.  For  wele  ;  om.  For.  129.  Not  in  Sh. ;  Ph.  That  yow 
myght  offenden.     132.  Sot  in  Sh.  ;  Ph.  no  blisse  ;  omit  no.      133.  Ph.  dwello  withyn. 

VU.     AXELIDA  AND  ARCITE. 

Authorities:  Harl.  (Harl.  733.^'  I  F.  (Fairfax  i6j ;  Tn.  (Tanner  346; ;  D.  (Digby  181); 
Cx.  (Caxton's  edition) ;  B.  (Bodley  638;;  Lt.  (Longleat  MS.) ;  Th.  (Thynne's  edition, 
1532).     I  follow  F.  mainly. 

Page  114.  91.  Th.  Tn.  Harl.  trustcth  ;  rest  trusted  ;  7-ead  trust  (  -trusteth). 
129.  All  lenger  she  ;  omit  she. 

Page  115.     174.  .fin  spckcth  she.     191.  AUxm-to;  read  to. 

Page  116.     241.  All  be  founde  ;  but  bo  teas  coiiied  in  from  1.  240. 

VIU.     CHAUCERS  WOEDES  UNTO  ADAM. 
Froin  T.  (Trin.  Coll.  Camb.,  K.  3.  20).     Also  in  Ed.  (edition  of  1561). 
Page  lis.     3.  T.  thy  long  lokkes  ;  omit  long.    4.  T.  wrytc  more  truwe  ;  omit  more. 

IX.     THE  FOKMER  AGE. 

Two  copies:  I.  (li.  3.  21,  Camb.  Univ.  Library);  Hli.  (Hh.  4.  12,  in  the  same). 
Chiefly  frotn  I. 

Page  118.  3.  I.  paied  of  the;  omit  the.  11.  I.  gnodded  ;  Hh.  knoddyd  ;  correctly 
gniden,  pt.  pi.  o/gnlden. 

Page  119.  23.  Both  No  batails  trompes  ;  omit  batails.  34.  L  No  places  wildnesse ; 
Hh.  No  place  of  wildnesse  ;  omit  places,  place  of.    56.  A  line  lost ;  I  sui>i)ly  it. 

X.  FORTUNE. 
Authorities :  I.  (IL  3.  21,  Camb.  Univ.  Library);   A.  (Ashmole  59);   T.  (Trin.  ColL 
Camb.) ;  F.  (Fairfax  16) ;  B.  (Bodley  638) ;  H.  (Harl.  2251). 

XL     MERCELES  BEAUTE. 
One  copy :  P.  (Pepys  2(X)6).    36.  P.  this  ;  read  ther. 

XIL     TO   ROSEMOUNDE. 
One  copy:  MS.  Rawl.  Poet.  163  ;  leaf  114. 
Page  1"J1.     II.  semy  (sic; ;  read  seemlj-.     f\Tiall  {for  final,  a  misreading  o/smal). 


cJlp^jen^tv.  727 


XIII.     TRUTH. 

Authorities:  At.  (Addit.  10340);  Gg.  (Gg.  4-  27,  Camb.  Univ.  Library);  E.  (EUes- 
mere  MS.) ;  Ct.  (Cotton,  Cleop.  D.  7) ;  T.  (Trin.  Coll.  E.  3.  20) ;  F.  (Fairfax  16)  ;  and 
others.     Chiefly  from 'E.     21ie  EEnvoy  is  in  At.  only. 

Page  122.  19.  Know  thy  contree  ;  Harl.  F.  T.  Loke  vp  on  hie.  20.  Hold  the  hye 
wey  ;  Harl.  F.  Wey^'e  thy  lust. 

XIV.     GENTILESSE. 

Authorities :  A.  (Ashmole  59) ;  T.  (Trin.  Coll.  R.  3.  20) ;  Harl.  (Harl.  77,^7,)  ;  Ct. 
(Cotton,  Cleop.  D.  7) ;  Ha.  (Harl.  7578) ;  Add.  (Addit.  22139);  Cx.  (Ca.xton's  edition). 
I  follow  Cx.  mainly. 

Page  123.  20.  Cx.  makes  hem  eyres,  that  can  hem  queme  ;  A.  mathe  his  heyre 
liini  that  wol  him  qweme  ;  Ct.  That  maketh  his  heires  hem,  &c. 

XV.     LAK  OF  STEDFASTNESSE. 
Anthcrilies :   Harl.  (Harl.  7333);  T.  (Trin.  Coll.  E.  3.  20);  Ct.  (Cotton,  Cleop.  D.  7); 
F.  (Fairfax   16);    Add.  (Addit.  22139);    B:in>^-  (Bannatyne) ;    Th.  (Thynne's  edition, 
1532) ;  and  others.     Jfulloiv  Ct.  mainly. 

XVI.     LENVOY  A   SCOGAN. 
Authorities:  Gg.  (Gg.  4.  27,  Camb.  Univ.  Library) ;  F.  (Fairfax  16) ;  P.  (Pepys  2ix)6) ; 
Th.  (Thynne's  edition,  1532).     J  follow  F.  tnainly. 

XVI L     LENVOY  A  BUKTON. 

Authorities:  F.  (Fairfax  16) ;  Th.  (Thynne's  edition) ;  Ju.  (Julian  Notary's  edition). 
I  follow  F.  mainly. 

XVIIL     THE  COMPLEYNT  OP  VENUS. 

Authorities :  T.  (Trin.  Coll.  E.  3.  20) ;  A.  (Ashmole  59) ;  Tn.  (Tanner  346) ;  F. 
(Fairfax  16) ;  Ff.  (Ff.  i.  6,  Camb.  Univ.  Library) ;  Ar.  (Arch.  Selden,  P.  24) ;  P.  (Pepys 
2006);  Th.  (Thynne's  edition,  1532).     I  folloiv  F.  mainly. 

N.B.  Another  authority  is  the  set  of  three  original  French  Ballades  by  Otes  do 
Graunson,  which  Chaucer  here  imitates. 

Page  125.  31.  All  Pley  or  Pleyo;  read  Pleyne,  translation  of  oriyinal  French 
Plaindre. 

XIX.  THE  COMPLEINT  TO  HIS  PURSE. 

Atdhorities:  F.  (Fairfax  i6) ;  Harl.  (Harl.  7333) ;  Ff.  (Ff.  i.  6,  Camb.  Univ.  Library) ; 
P.  (Pepys  2006) ;  Add.  (Addit.  22139);  Cx.  (Caxton's  edition) ;  Th.  (Thynne's  ed.  1532). 
I  follow  F.  mainly. 

XX.     PROVERBS. 

Authorities :  F.  (Fairfax  16) ;  Ha.  (Harl.  7578) ;  Ad.  (Addit.  16165).  I  follow  F. 
mainly. 

Page  126.     i.  All  insert  thus  after  these  ;  /  omit  tlius. 

XXI.     AGAINST  WOMEN   UNCONSTANT. 
^M«/ioW<Je«;  Ct.  (Cotton,  Cleop.  D.  7);  F.  (Fairfax  16) ;  Ha.  (Harl.  3758) ;   Ed.  (Stowe's 
edition,  1561). 

Page  127,     17.  ^Zi  stondeth;   read  stant. 


2  8  dElp}>enMv. 


XXII.     COMPLEINT  DAMOITIS. 

Authorities:  Harl.  (Harl.  7333) ;  F.  (Fairfax  j6) ;  B.  (Bodley  638). 
Page  127.  4.  All  right  thus  ;  omit  right.  9.  All  Ne  ;  read  For. 
Page  128.     S6.  I  supply  ther  from  Pari.  Foules,  310. 

XXIII.     A  BALADE  OF  COMPLEYXT. 
Sole  copy:  MS.  Addit.  16165,  fol.  256,  back. 

XXIV.     "WOMANLY   NOBLESSE. 

Sole  copy :  1[S.  Addit.  .3436(1,  fol.  21,  hack. 

Page  129.  13.  This  line  is  supplied  by  conjecture.  18.  MS.  for  to  ;  I  omit  for. 
25.  And  thynkith  be  raison  {too  long).  26.  for  til  do  the  ;  I  omit  the,  and  substitute  to 
fur  til. 

TRANSIATION  OF  BOETHIUS. 

Authorities:  C.  (Camb.  rniv.  Ijbrary,  li.  3.  21);  A.  (Addit.  10340);  Ed.  (Tlij-nne's 
edition,  1532);   Cx.  (Caxton's  edition) ;  li.  (l\.  i.  38; ;  &c.     I  follow  C.  mainly. 

Page  131.     Prose  L  74.  Cx.  Th.  from  ;  MSS.  omit  from. 

Page  133.  Pu.  III.  63.  Cx.  Th.  Soranos  {as  in  Latin  text) ;  C.  A.  Sorans.  Met.  IV. 
12.  C.^.  Th.  leyte  ;  li.  leit ;  C.  A.  light. 

Page  134.  Pr.  IV.  97.  This  Gloss  is  misplaced  in  the  MSS. ;  it  comes  in  before  Textus 
in  1.  87. 

Page  144.     Pr.  III.  66.  I  omit  and  before  fulfuldest ;  it  is  worse  than  needless. 

Page  153.     Pr.  VIII.  28.  C.  A.  windinge  ;  Cx.  wyndy ;  Lat.  uentosam. 

Page  156.     Pr.  II.  125.  I  supply  nat,  for  clearness  ;  it  is  implied  in  the  following  ne. 

Page  laS.     Pr.  VI.  300.     All  tlie  ;  read  that. 

Page  190.  Met.  VI.  38.  Read  bretheth  ;  IL  brethith  ;  A.  bredith  ;  C.  Ed.  bereth; 
Lat.  spirat. 

Page  196.     Pr.  III.  192.  All  of  the  •whiche  {no  sense) ;  read  than  whiche. 


TROILUS  AND  CRISEYDE. 

Authorities:  01.  (CampsaU  MS.);  Cp.  (Corp.  Chr.  Coll.  Cam.  61);  H.  (Harl.  2280); 
H2.  (HarL  3943) ;  Cm.  (Gg.  4.  27,  in  Camb.  Univ.  Library) ;  Ed.  (edition  liy  Thynne, 
1532).     I  follow  CI.  and  Cp.  mainly,  which  are  much  alike. 

Page  247.     17.  All  hem  ;  read  him  ;  see  L  19. 

Page  249.  144.  CL  Cp.  H.  ben  ay  I-lyke ;  Ed.  to  ben  aye  ylike  ;  H2.  bene  ylyke  ; 
Cm.  ay  ben  I-lik  ;  rend  been  y-like  ay. 

Page  255.  572.  Cm.  thourrste  ;  Cp.  H.  thruste  ;  CI.  dorste  ;  H2.  Ed.  darst ;  read 
thurfte. 

Page  279.     391.  H.  truste  {rigidly) ;  reM  trust.     All  to  finden  {or  finde) ;  omit  to. 

Page  314.     1 109.  All  the  est ;  read  th'est. 

Page  321.     1586.  All  That  she  ;  omit  That,      1618.  All  Come  or  Com. 


iljjpenMx.  729 


THE  HOUS  OF  TAME. 

Authorities:  F.  (Fairfax  16) ;  B.  (Bodley  638) ;  P.  (Pepys  2006) ;  Cx.  (Caxton's  edition) 
Th.  (Thynne's  edition,  1532).     I  follow  F.  mainly. 

Page  326.  8.  All  why  this;  omit  why.  11.  why  these;  omit  why.  20.  All  is 
more  ;  omit  is.     24.  All  needlessly  insert  the  {or  her)  he/ore  hraj'n. 

Page  327.  88.  All  pouerte  ;  read  povert ;  or  elide  the  final  e.  119.  All  slept, 
slepte ;  read  sleep  ;  see  438. 

Page  329.    362.  All  But  al ;  omit  But. 

Page  330.  ^66.  All  bi-to  ;  read  va.  370.  MSS.  Alias  (or  alas  !);  ^wcfi  Eneas.  {IIoW' 
ever  Th.  has  him,  alas.)  399.  Cx.  Th.  Oenone  {which  read  as  four  syllables,  0-e-no-ne, 
as  in  Troil.  i.  654). 

Page  331.     513.  All  sely  ;  read  selly  (i.e.  strange). 

Page  332.  557.  Cx.  Th.  P.  agast  so  ;  read  so  agast.  603.  All  do  ;  read  done 
(gerund).  613.  All  herke  ;  read  herkne  j  see  725.  618.  Deficient;  I  supply  goddesse. 
621.  ^inytel(liteU);  read  lyte. 

Page  333.     727.  Cx.  Th.  P.  a  worthy  ;  F.  B.  wortho  a  ;  omit  a. 

Page  334.  764.  All  herke  ;  see  725.  827.  F.  And  that  sum  place  stide  ;  B.  Th.  And 
that  som  styde  ;  {not  in  Cx.  P.) ;  read  And  that  the  mansioun  ;  see  754,  831.  830.  All 
That ;  read  Than. 

Page  335.  896.  Cx.  Th.  gan  to  ;  rest  to  ;  read  gan.  911.  All  token  (!) ;  read  toun  ; 
see  890. 

Page  336.  1007.  F.  Cx.  Th.  B.  Athalantes ;  P.  athlauntres  (cf.  Atlanto,  Ovid, 
Fasti,  V.  83). 

Page  337.     1114.  F.  citee  ;  P.  cite  (  =  site) ;  rest  cyte. 

Page  338.  1177.  Supply  cvsdt  from  1.  1178,  where  it  occurs,  after  cast,  in  Cx.  Th.  P. 
1 189.  B.  Kahewynnes;  P.  Babeweuries  ;  {all  corrupt).  1210.  F.  Saten  ;  B.  Sate;  Cx. 
Th.  Sat ;  P.  Sett ;  read  Seten. 

Page  339.  1259.  Th.  pleyeng ;  rest  pley.  1271.  All  the  {put  fur  thee).  1303.  F. 
hat ;  B.  hate  ;  Cx.  Th.  hackjoig  ;  read  liatte. 

Page  340.  1361.  F.  B.  Sit;  Cx.  P.  Sat;  7-ead  Sitte.  1373.  All  wonderly;  see  1327. 
1415.  All  And  thus  ;  omit  And. 

Page  341.  1494.  F.  high  the  {for  highthe) ;  Cx.  Th.  lieyght ;  read  highte ; 
see  744.     1527.  All  into  ;  read  in. 

Page  342.     1570.  All  Upon  ;  read  Up. 

Page  343.  1666.  All  werkes  ;  read  werk  {and  so  in  1701,  1720).  1686.  All  of  bawme; 
omit  of.     1725.  F.  B.  Th.  Al  so  ;  rest  And  so  ;  read  So. 

Page  344.     1765.   F.  B.  now  let  se  ;  omit  now.     1813.  All  grete,  gret ;  read  gretest. 

Page  345.  1853.  F.  Th.  be  noght  for;  Cx.  B.  be  for;  read  be  but  for.  1887.  All 
thinge,  thing  ;  read  thinges.  1897.  All  wote  ;  read  wiste  ;  see  1901.  1902.  All  dwelled 
or  dwellyth.  1907.  B.  Wliithen  ;  rest  Why  than ;  read  Whiche.  1940.  F.  Cx.  B. 
hattes(!);  Th.  hutches  ;  read  hottes. 

Page  346.  1961,  1962.  All  werres,  restes  ;  read  werre,  reste.  1967.  All  and  eek  of; 
o»iit  and  eek  (cf.  1968).  1975.  All  ivronyly  write  misgovernement  as  one  word. 
2009.  All  these;  read  swiche.  2017.  F.  frot  {fur  froit  =  fruit);  B.  foot;  Cx.  Th, 
swote.  2021.  All  y»,i iTO. :  omit  in.  2026.  F.  B.  here  anoon  (anon) ;  Cx. Th.  here;  read 
anoou  heer. 


r30  M.ipptnbix. 


Page  347.  2049.  AH  ho  (!) ;  read  the  other.  2053.  All  And  thus  (twice);  omit  And 
(twice).  2061.  F.  B.  forth  lyght  to;  Cx.  forth  unto;  Th.  strcyght  to;  read  forth  to. 
jo-6.  F.  B.  Went  every  niouthe  (!) ;  Tli.  Cx.  Wentc  euery  tydyng  ;  read  Wente  every 
word.  2083.  All  and  wente  ;  read  hit  wente.  2104.  B.  haue  that  oon  ;  F.  haii  on ; 
Th.  have  one.     All  omit  of. 

Page  .348.  2152.  B.  nose  ;  F.  Tli.  noyse  (!).  F.  an  highen  (!) ;  Th.  on  hyghen  (!) ;  B. 
and  yen  ;  7-ead  on  lij'ghe  {or  on  hye). 


THE  LEGEND  OF  GOOD  WOMEN. 

Authorities:  fur  Text  A  (earlier  version)  of  the  Prologue  :  sole  copy  C.  (Gg.  4.  2-,  in 
<amb.  Univ.  Library).  For  Text  B  (lat^r  version)  of  tlie  same,  and  all  the  rest : 
F.  (Fairfax  16);  Tn.  (Tanner  346);  T.  (Trin.  Coll.  Cam.  R.  3.  19);  A.  (Arch.  Sclden. 
B.  24);  B.  (Bodley  638);  P.  (Popys  2006);  Th.  (Thynne's  edition,  1532);  aUo  C.  (ns 
<tbove) ;  Add.  ( Addit.  9832). 

Pago  353,  col.  i.  135.  C.  is  here  corrupt ;  it  has — The  honour  and  the  hunil)le 
obeysaunco.  /  suggest  They  dide  honour  and  humble  obeysaunces  ;  or  read  Yelding 
Jionour,  &c.  (ns  in  col.  2).     Col.  i  ;  137,  138  ;  imperfect ;  I  fill  up  the  gaps. 

Page  370.     842.  All  rent«n  (rente),  tcronijly  ;  read  renden. 

Pago  374.  1 126.  All  honourable  ;  read  nrsble  ;  see  1143,  1210,  1222. 

Page  375.  1217.  C.  bestys  wilde  ;  T.  A.  P.  wild  bestys ;  rest  wilde  hcrtcs  ;  read 
hcrtes  wilde.     1238.  All  and  becom  (against  metre);  read  to  been. 

Page  378.     1463.  .^IHyleof;  omit  of. 

Page  383.     1879.  ylfi  himself  or  liimselfe  ;  read  himselve. 

Page  387.     2138.  All  was  performed  ;  read  performed  was. 

Page  388.     2227.  All  quyte  him  ;  read  him  quj-te. 

Page  393.     2.S92.  Th.  And  what ;  C.  T.  That  what ;  read  What. 


TREATISE  ON  THE  ASTllOLABE. 

Authorities :  A.  (Camb.  Univ.  Library,  Dd.  3.  ^i);  B.  (Bodley,  E.  Museo  54);  C. 
(Kawlinson  1370) ;  D.  (Ashmole  391) ;  E.  (Bodley  619) ;  F.  (Corpus  424) ;  G.  (Trin.  Coll. 
Cam.  E.  15.  18) ;  H.  (Sloane  314) ;  I.  (Sloane  291) ;  K.  (Rawlinson,  Misc.  3) :  L.  (Addit. 
23002) ;  M.  (St.  John's  Coll.  Cam.) ;  N.  (Digby  72) ;  O.  (Ashmole  360) ;  P.  (Camb.  Univ. 
Library,  Dd.  12.  51);  Q.  (Ashmole  393);  E.  (Egerton  2622);  S.  (Addit.  29250).  I  follow 
A.  mainly  ;  collated  with  B.  C.  I.  M.  P.  The  latter  paH  (after  Part  II.  §  40)  from 
L.  M.  N.  O.  P.  R.  S. 

Part  399.  §  12.  8,  9.  MSS.  wrongly  transpose  umbra  versa,  and  umbra  recta 
(—  umbra  extensa). 

Page  402.     §  3.   51,  53.  For  18,  some  MSS.  have  12. 

Page  403.  §  3.  62, 6^.  Some  MSS.  8  and  2  ;  others,  9  and  10.  64.  Some  23 ;  others  10. 
§  4.  12,  C.  P.  for-seide  same  degree ;  omit  same.  25.  All  15 ;  read  25 ;  Lat.  text, 
viginti  quinque. 

Page  409.  §  25.  45.  Two  sets  of  readings  here ;  the  second  set  puts  the  Sun  in 
10  degrees  of  Leo,  with  an  altitude  of  56,  and  declination,  18  ;  difference,  38. 

Page  410.     §  28.     37.  All  heed  (heued)/or  ende,  absurdly ;  cf.  27,  31. 


cHppenitr. 


731 


Page  414.     §  40.     8.  Eead  for  sothe  ;  misuritten  for  sonne  in  A.  B.  ;  others  vary. 

Page  415.  §40.  75.  A.  omits  of  and  degrees  ;  but  retains  3.  93.  V.sux>plies  thelast 
five  tcords,  which  A.  B.  C.  E.  omit.     §  42.   24,  25.  For  2,  M.  has  6  ;  for  3,  M,  has  4. 

Page  416.  §44.  20.  N.  wreten ;  read  ^fn■yte.  36.  L.  >r.  O.  passid ;  M.  omits; 
read  lasse. 

Page  417.     §  45.     10.  L.  I  wold  wyttyn  ;  N.  Iwj-ton  ;  0.  wrytoun. 


THE  CANTERBURY  TALES. 

Authorities :  E.  (EUesmere  MS.) ;  Hn.  (Hengwrt  MS.) ;  Cm.  (Gg.  4.  27,  Camb.  Univ. 
Library) ;  Cp.  (Corpirs  Chr.  Coll.  Oxford) ;  Pt.  (Petworth  MS.) ;  Ln.  (Lansdowne  8^i) ; 
HI.  (Harl.  7334).  Also,  occasionally,  Dd.  (Dd.  4.  24,  Camb.  Univ.  Library) ;  Eeg.  (Eeg.' 
17  D.  XV.) ;  Add.  (Addit.  5140) ;  Li.  (Lichfield  MS.) ;  SI.  (Sloane,  1685). 

Page  421.     179.  HL  cloysterlees  {see  180) ;  Cm.  rekeles;  rest  recclielees,  rccheles. 

Page  422.     252  6,  252  c ;  from  Hn. ;  rest  omit. 

Page  435.     1290.  All  moste,  muste,  most ;  read  mot. 

Page  443.     1979.  HI.  swymbnl  ;  rest  rumbel. 

Page  449.     2420.  All  insert  the  (or  thy)  before  victorie  ;  it  clogs  the  line. 

Page  458.     3155,  3156.  From  E.  Cm.  HI.  ;  rest  omit. 

Page  462.     3451,  3457;  astromye  is  intentional. 

Page  465.     3721,  3722.  From  E.  {also  in  old  editions) ;  rest  omit. 

Page  466.     3818.  Nowilis  is  an  intentional  error ;  8663834. 

Page  476.     47.  Dd.  But ;  rest  That  {wrongly). 

Page  484.     621.  A  short  line  ;  I  insert  ful. 

Page  486.     791.  HI.  vn-to  ;  Pt.  to  ;  o-est  til ;  read  un-til. 

Page  492.  1163-1190.  E.  Hn.  Cm.  oniii  ;  mainly  from  Cp.  1189.  Most  3ISS.  phislyas  ; 
Sloane,  phillyas  ;  Ln.  fisleas  ;  read  physices,  i.  e.  physices  liber. 

Page  503.     1995.  Supplied  from  MS.  Eeg.  17  D.  xv  ;  most  MSS.  omit  this  line. 

Page  509.  2252,  2253.  Not  in  the  MSS.,  but  necessary;  supplied  from  2274  and  2280, 
which  see. 

Page  519.     2623,  2624.  Not  in  tlve  MSS.  ;  supplied  by  translating  the  French  text. 

Page  525.     2854.  From  namore  to  god  is  not  in  the  MSS.  ;  but  is  necessary. 

Page  536.  3564.  After  this  line  most  MSS.  insert  the  stories  from  Nero  to  Cbesus 
(11.  3<553-.^956) ;  incorrectly. 

Page  538.     3657.  MSS.  North ;  read  South. 

Page  541.     3910.  HI.  Valirien  ;  rest  Valerius  ;  ed.  1561,  Valerie  (rightly). 

Page  546.    4266.  All  MSS.  insert  herkneth  or  herken  after  But. 

Page  582.  1294.  After  this  Une  most  MSS.  insert  11.  1307,  1308  ;  which  are  out  of 
place  here.  MS.  HL  is  right.  1307,  1308.  Nearly  all  MSS.  omit  these  lines,  having 
inserted  them  after  1.  1294  above.     MS.  HI.  is  right. 

Page  625.  2240.  The  MSS.  omit  the  word  stories,  leaving  sense  and  metre 
incomplete. 

Page  628.  20.  Most  MSS.  ha,ve  pitous,  which  will  not  scan  ;  but  Hn.  h?is  pietous, 
which  also  occurs  in  Troilus. 

Page  635.     620.  I  supply  ne. 

Page  658.  277.  For  '  Valerians,'  the  MSS.  absurdly  have  'Cecilies ' ;  but  the  Latin 
original  has  '  Valeriani.' 


732  ilp^)enbt>. 


Page  664.  1171.  E.  terned  ;  Cm.  teriu-ilo  ;  nsl  toruod,  icronghj.  So  also  in  1.  i.>74 
below. 

Pago  674.  10.  Chaucer  )>as  made  a  mistake  ;  for  the  moties  rend  Sahiriies.  Libra 
is  the  exaltation  of  Saturn,  not  of  the  Moon. 

Pago  687.  387.  HI.  springers ;  Hn.  spryngo ;  E.  Pt.  Ln.  spryngeu.  Perhaps 
'  springes '  would  be  better. 

Page  689.     443.  All  MSS.  transpose  Laban  and  Pharao. 

Page  696.  616.  Some  needful  words  arc  liero  supplied  ;  MSS.  omit  '  gotl  .  .  . 
bitraysen.' 

Page  707.  858.  nead  busshes ;  E.  Seld.  Ln.  bcautces  (!) ;  Cm.  beaixteis  (!) ;  HL 
beaiites  (!) ;  Pt.  bewtees  (!). 

Page  711.     955.  E.  Cm.  Danycl ;  rent  Dauid,  as  in  the  French  orirjimd. 


GLOSSARIAL    INDEX. 


THE  references  in  this  Index  are  given  according  to  the  following  scheme 

Poems  denoted  by  Arabic  numerals  are  Minor  Poems.  Thus,  under  Abayed  the 
reference  '  ^.  614'  means  Minor  Poem  no.  3,  line  614,  or  1.  614  of  the  Book  of  the 
Duchesse  The  letter  '  R.'  refers  to  the  Romaunt  of  the  Rose.  Fragment  A,  m  pp.  1-18; 
the  rest  of  the  Poem,  not  being  Chaucer's,  is  indexed  separately.  Thus  '  R.  163  means 
1.  16^  of  the  Romaunt.  „      „      r^      r,  .•     1  j 

The  five  books  of  Boethius  are  denoted  by  B  i.  B  2,  B  3.  B  4,  B  5  respecively ;  and 
the  ■  nrose  '  and  '  metrical '  sections  are  denoted  by  '  p '  and  '  m.  Thus,  under  Abais- 
sen  'the  reference  '  B  4-  P  7-  81 '  means  '  Boethius  bk.  iv.  prose  7,  line  81  The  five 
books  of  Troilus  are  denoted  by  T.  !.,  T.  ii..  T.  111..  T.  iv.,  and  T.  v.  I  hus  T.  111.  1233 
means  '  Troilus,  bk.  iii..  line  1233.'  ,       ,  jk    .uf       ^ 

The  House  of  Fame  and  the  Legend  of  Good  Women  are  denoted  by  HI-,  and 
'  I  '  respectively  If,  in  the  latter  case,  the  italic  letter  '  a '  follows  the  number  of  the 
line  the  reference  is  to  the  earlier  (or  A-text)  of  the  Prologue  to  the  Legend.  I  hus 
•  HF  86s  '  means  '  House  of  Fame,  line  865.'  Again,  '  L.  2075  '  means  '  Legend  of  Good 
Women,  line  2075  ; '  and  *  L.  200  a '  means  '  Legend,  &c.,  line  200  of  the  text  in  the  left- 
hand  column.'  .  ,       .        ,  ,  J       »  J 

The  Prologue  and  the  two  books  of  the  Treatise  on  the  Astrolabe  are  denoted, 
respectively  by  'A.  pr.,'  'A.  i.,'  and  'A.  ii."  Thus  the  reference  'A.  11.  10.  8'  means 
■  Astrolabe  'bk.  ii.  ^^  10,  line  8  ;  '  and  '  A.  pr.  10  '  means  '  Astrolabe,  prologue,  line  10  '_ 

References  to  the  Canterburv  Tales  are  known  by  the  use  of  tlie  letters  A,  B,  C,  D, 
E  F  G  H  and  I  which  are  used  to  denote  the  various  Groups  into  which  the  Tales 
are  divided.  In  this  case,  '  A '  is  never  followed  by  a  full  stop  or  by  Roman  numerals, 
as  when  the  'Astrolabe'  is  referred  to;  and  such  a  reference  as  'B  5,'  meaning 
line  ■;  of  Group  B,  is  quite  distinct  from  '  B  5.  p  I.  i,'  where  'B  5'  means  bk.  v. 
of  Boethius,  and  is  invariably  accompanied  by  the  '  p '  or  '  m '  denoting  the  '  prose '  or 

Summary  of  the  Minor  Poems.  The  Minor  Poems  are  all  numbered,  viz.  i  (ABC.)  ; 
2  (Compleynte  unto  Pite)  ;  3  (Book  of  the  Duchesse);  4  (Mars);  5  (Parlement  of 
Foules)  •  6  (Compleint  to  his  Lady)  ;  7  (Anelida)  ;  8  (Wordes  to  Adam)  ;  9  (I-ormer 
Age)  •  10  (Fortune)  ;  11  (Merciless  Beauty)  ;  12  (To  Rosemounde)  ;  13  (Truth) ;  14  (Gen- 
tilesse)  •  15  (Lak  of  Stedfastnesse)  ;  16  (Envoy  to  Scogan)  ;  17  (Envoy  to  Bukton); 
18  (Venus)-  19  (To  his  Purse);  20  (Proverbs);  21  (Against  Women  Unconstant)  ; 
22  (Amorous  Complaint)  ;  23  (Balade  of  Compleynt)  ;  24  (Womanly  Noblesse). 

Alphabetically,  the  references  are  to  A  (Group  A  of  Cant.  Tales)  ;  A.  (Astrolabe)  ; 
B  (Group  B  of  C.  T.)  ;  B  I  .  .  .  B  5  (Boethius,  books  i  to  5)  ;  C,  D,  E,  F  G,  H,  I 
(Groups  C  to  I  of  C.  T.)  ;  HF.  (House  of  Fame)  ;  L.  (Legend  of  Good  Women)  ; 
R.  (Romaunt  of  the  Rose)  ;  T.  i.  .  .  .  T.  v  (Troilus,  books  i  to  5).  The  Minor  Poems, 
numbered  i  to  24,  are  given  above.  j         -r        u     -^w 

N.B.  Words  containing  ay,  ey,  oy,  aw,  ew,  ow,  are  sometimes  entered  as  it  spelt  witn 
ai,  ei,  oi,  au,  eu,  ow,  respectively. 

Bb 


vglossarial  Jinbtx. 


A,  the  first  letter  of  the  alphabet,  T.  i.  171 ; 

the  letter  A,  A  i6i. 
A,  tnJe/.  art.  a,  A  24,  &c. ;  a/  a,  the  whole 
of  a,  E  1165 ;  one.  D  1396;  one  and  the 
same,  21.  5  ;  about,  some,  L.  2075. 
A,  />rf/>.  on,  on  (the),  in,  for;  A-nighte,  by 
night,  83758;  A-dayes,  a-days,  E  1164; 
A-morwe,   on   the    morrow,   A   822;    A 
three,  in  three,  A  2934;  A  goddes  half, 
'on  Gods  side,"  in  God's  name,  D50; 
A  goddes  name,  in  God's  name,  A  854. 
A  I  ;///.  ah  !  3.  213. 
A  !  ha!  m/en.  aha!  T.  i.  868. 
Abaissen,  /er-.  to  be  dismayed,  B  4.  p  7. 
01;   /'/>.  amazed,  spell-bouiid,    abashed, 
cast  down,  disconcerted,  E317,  1108. 
Abak,  iu/v.  backwards,  A   37^6;  aback 

back,  L.  864. 
Abakward,  adv.  backward,  B  3.  m  12.  66. 
Abandoune,  v.  devote,  I  713 ;  fr.  s.  aban- 
dons, 13  2767. 
Abasshen,  v.  fear,  be  abashed,  R.  1552; 
//.  abashed,  confused,  confounded,  dis- 
concerted, 5.  447  ;   R.  805,  &c. 
Abate,  v.  lower,  put  down,  B  3780:  de- 
preciate, R.  286 ;  2  ;>r.  s.  iubj.  subtract, 
A.  il.  10.  8;  pp.  enfeebled,  B  3.  p  5.  52 ; 
put  down,  I  191. 
Abaved.  pp.  confounded,  disconcerted,  3. 

014. 
Abayst ;  see  Abaissen. 
Abe,  alphabet,  A.  i.  11.  3. 
A-bedde.  in  bed.  T.  i.  91:;. 
Abegge.  v.  pay  for  it,  A  3938.  A  Kentish   , 
form.    See  Abeye,  Abye.  ! 

A-beg-ged,  a-begging,  F  1580. 
Abet.  s.  abettmg,  aid,  T.  ii.  357. 
Abeye.  v.  pav  for,  C  100.    See  Abye. 
Abiden,  Abi't :  see  Abyde. 
Abite,  (.  habit,  dress,  L.  146  a. 
A-blakeberied ;  see  Blakeberied. 
Able.   adj.  capable,  3.  786;    fit,  suitable, 
adapted,  A   167;   fit,   L.  320;    fit   for,  3. 
779;    deemed  deserving,  i.  184;    fitting, 
R.  986. 
Ablinge,/r. //.  enabling,  lifting,  B  3.  m 

0.  37  ;   fitting,  B  I.  m  6.  19. 
Abodes.  //.  c/'Abood,  s. 
Aboghte,  Aboght;  see  Abye. 
Abood.   ,-■.  delay,  .A  965;    tarrying,  T.  v. 


Abbreviations.  Besides  s.,  adj.,  and  adv.,  for  subUantive,  adjective,  adverb  the  fol- 
lowmg  are  used  m  a  special  sense:— f.,  a  verb  in  the  infinitive  mood;  ^er  'gerund- 
pr  s.,  present  tense,  3rd  person  singular ;  pr.pl.,  present  tense,  3rd  person  plural' 
Other  persons  are  denoted  by  the  figures  i  or  2.  -  J       H  H'"'ai. 

Fragments  B  and  C  of  the  '  Romaunt '  are  glossed  in  a  separate  Index. 

1307;    abiding,  continuance,  HF.   1961- 
pi.  delays,  T.  iii.  854. 
Abood,  //.  s.  of  Abyde. 
Aboute,  prep,  about,  round,  throughout 

round  about,  near. 
Aboute,   adv.   about,   engaged  in,  T.  v. 
1645;    in   due    order,   in   turn,  A   890; 
around,    here    and    there;    been   a.,  go 
about,  endeavour,  A  1142. 
Aboven,  prep,  above. 
Abregge,.^<rr.  to  abridge,  shorten,  1'.  iii. 
2(32;  A.  with  thy  peynes,  to  shorten  ihv 
pains  with,  'I',  iv.  426. 
Abregginge,  s.  abridging,  B  5.  p  i.  57; 

diminishing,  I  568. 
A-breyde,  J/,  awake,  r.  iii.  1113;  come  to 
my  senses.  H  F.  559 ;  Abrayd,//.  s.  {strong 
form),    woke    up,   started    up,    3.    192; 
Abreyd,  \  pt.  i.  started  from  sleep,  Hf! 
no;  Abrayde,;^/'.  s.  {weak  form),  started, 
B  4198  ;  Abreydc,  awoke,  T.  i.  724. 
Abroche,  v.  broach,  D  177. 
Ab86nte,  ?  pr.  pi.  subj.  absent  yourself, 

1.43. 
Abusioun,  s.  abuse,  absurdity,  T.  iv.  990 ; 
deceit,  B  214  ;  a  shameful  thing,  scandal', 
T.  iv.  1060. 
Abyden,  v.  abide,  await,  i.  131 ;  wait  for, 
HY.  1086;    be   still,  withdraw,  F    1522; 
pr.  s.  awaits,  B  2175;  dwells,  T.  ii.  987; 
Abit,  pr.  s.  waits  for,  T.  i.  1091 ;  abides, 
G  1175;  imp.  s.  stay,  wait,  A  3129;   imp. 
pi.  B  1175;  pyti.pt.  £757;  Abood,//.  J. 
awaited,  T.  iv.  156;  stopped,  HF.  1062; 
expected,  3.  247  ;  Abiden,})/.  pi.  abode,  T. 
i.  474;  Abiden, /^  waited,  B  3.  p  9.  191. 
Abydinge,  s.  expectation,  B  2.  p  3.  66. 
Abye,  v.  pay  for,  A  4393  ;  p>.  pi,  undergo, 
B4.  p  4.  86;  Aboughtc, /A  s.  paid  for, 
T.  V.  1756 ;  suffered  for,  A  2303  ;  Aboght, 
pp.  paid  for,  L.  2483  ;  purchased,  18.  37  ; 
bought  dearlv,  L.   1387;    atoned    for,  A 
3100.    See  Abegge,  Abeye. 
A-caterwawed,  a-caterwauling,  D  354. 
Acc6sse,  f.  feverish  attack,  T.  ii.  1315. 
Accident,  s.  that  which  is  accidental,  I", 
iv.  1505;  incident,'!",  iii.  918;  accidental 
occurrence.  HF.  1976;   unusual  appear- 
ance, E  607;    outward  appearance  (see 
note)    C  539. 
Accidie,  s.  sloth,  I  388. 
Accioun,  (.  action,  i.  e.  accusation,  i.  20. 


(Sloasarial  Inlrei. 


Accomplice,  v.  accomplish,  A  2864. 
Accord,  s.  agreement,  B  2988  ;  harmony, 

B  4069 ;   peace,  I  992.     See  Acord. 
Accordaunce,  s.  concord,  harmony,  R. 

496. 
Accordaunt,  adj.  suitable,  B  4026. 
Accorde,  v.  agree  ;  pr.  s.  beseems,  L.  2583. 

See  Acorde. 
Accuseth,//-.  s.  reveals,  R.  1591. 
Accusement,  s.  accusation  (of  her) ,  T.  iv. 

556. 
Accusour,  s.  revealer,  T.  iii.  1450. 
Achdt, ,(.  buying,  purchase,  A  571. 
Ach6tours,  //.  buyers,  caterers,  A  568. 
Ache,  s.  ache,  '1".  iv.  728. 
A-chekked,  pp.  checked,  hindered,  HF. 

2093. 
Acheve,  v.  achieve,  L.  1614. 
Achoken,  v.  choke,  stifle ;  pp.  L.  2008. 
Acloyeth.  pr.  s.  overburdens,  5.  517. 
A-compas,  adv.  in  a  circle,  L.  300. 
Acomplisshe,  pr.  s.  subj.  fulfil,  compre- 
hend, B  3.  p  10.  179. 
Acord,  r.  agreement,  5.  371 ;  concord,  5. 

381,668;  accord,  3.  316;  2«  a.,  in  tune,  5. 

197  ;  al  of  oon  a.,  in  tune,  3.  305.     See 

Accord. 
Acordable,  ai?^'.  harmonious,  B  2.  m  8.  23. 
Acordaunce,  s.  concord,  B  2.  m  8,  14. 
Acordaunt,  ad/,  suitable,  A  37,  3363;  A. 

to.  in  harmony  wi'ih,  5.  203. 
Acorde,  v.  accord,  grant,  allow,  agree, 

concern ;   pt.  s.  suited,  A   244 ;    pt.  pi. 

agreed,  L.  168;  pres.  part,  agreeing,  B 

1737  ;  PP-  agreed,  A  818. 
Acorse,  i  // .  s.  curse,  T.  iv.  839. 
Acounte,  v.  consider,  B  3591 ;  pt.  s.  valued, 

cared,  3.  1237;  2 pt.  s.  didst  reckon,  B  2. 

P5-  113- 
Acountinge,  s.  reckoning,  calculation. 
Acoyede,  ft.  s.  caressed,  B  2.  p  3.  73. 
Acquitance,  s.  release,  A  4411 ;  deed  of 

release,  .\  "iy^ri. 
Acquyte,  v.  acquit,  D  1599. 
Acurse,  v.  curse,  T.  iii.  1072. 
Acused,  pt.  s.  blamed,  T.  ii.  1081. 
Acustomaunce,   s.    system    of   habits, 

habitual    method  of  life,   HF.   28;    had 

of  a.,  was  accustomed,  B  3701. 
Adamant,  s.  adamant,  A  1990;  loadstone, 

magnet,  R.  1182. 
Ada'we,  v.  awake,  recover,  T.  iii.  1120. 
A-day,  in  the  day,  T.  ii.  60. 
Adding,  s.  (the)'addition,  A.  ii.  41.  16. 
Adjeccioun,  s.  addition,  B  5.  p  6.  212. 
A-doun,  (jo'z/.  downwards,  down,  L.  178; 

down  below,  HF.  889;  below,  H  105;  at 

the  bottom,  G  779. 


Adrad,  ,*/'.  afraid,  A  605;  Adred,  3.  1190. 

Adressing-e,  s.  directing,  B  4.  p  5.  loi. 

Adversaria,  adj.  hostile,  1  697. 

Advertence,  .f.  attention,  heed,  T.  iv.  6g8. 

Adv6cacyes,  pi.  pleas,  T.  ii.  1469. 

Advocats,  pi.  advocates  (in  which  the  t 
is  mute),  C  291. 

Afer.  adv.  afar,  HF.  12 15. 

A-f6re.  on  fire,  T.  i.  229. 

A-fered, /)/■.  afraid,  affrighted,  T.  i.  974; 
Afeid,  A  628. 

Affectis,  pi.  desires,  T.  iii.  1391. 

Affermed,  //.  agreed  upon,  L.  790; 
established,  A  2349. 

Affiance,  s.  trust,  B  1330. 

Afforced,  pp.  forced,  I  974. 

Affray,  s.  fray,  quarrel,  D  2156;  terror,  B 
1137;  fright,  4.  214;  dread,  7.  334. 

Affrayeth,  /;•.  s.  aiouses,  excites,  R.  91 ; 
pp.  frightened,  afraid,  B  563  ;  scared,  B 
4468  ;  roused,  3.  296. 

Affyle,  V.  file,  i.  e.  render  smooth,  A  712. 

Afor-yeyn,  prfp.  over  against,  T.  ii.  1188. 

Afounde,  v.  founder,  perish,  12.  21. 

Afrayed,  adj.  scared,  distracted,  R.  154. 

Afright,  pp.  affrighted,  B  4085. 

After,  prep,  according  to  ;  in  expectation 
of,  for,  B  467;  to  get,  A  525;  according 
as,  L.  575;  after,  i.  e.  to  fetch,  L.  1130; 
towards,  A  136;  in  accordance  with,  8. 
4;  by  inheritance  from,  L.  1072;  A.  as, 
according  as,  5.  216;  A.  oon,  alike,  A. 
1781 ;  A.  me,  according  to  my  command, 
E  327 ;  A.  the  yeer,  according  to  the 
season  of  the  year,  F  47  ;  A.  that,  accord- 
ing as,  T.  ii.  1347. 

A-fyre,  on  fire,  D  726  ;  1.  94 ;  A-f6re,  T.  i. 
229. 

Again,  prep,  when  exposed  to,  L.  2426 ; 
Agayn,  against,  B  580;  towards,  A  2680; 
(so  as)  to  meet,  R.  785;  opposite  to,  R. 
1577;  exposed  to,  H  no;  contrary  to,  1'" 
748;  just  before,  B  4268;  near,  G  1279; 
to  meet,  B  391  ;  in  comparison  wiih,  L. 
189;  Ageyn,  against,  A  66;  compared 
with,  R.  ion  ;   turned  towards,  L.  48. 

Agains,  prep,  against,  contrary  to,  in 
answer  to,  instead  of,  before,  in  presence 
of.  to  meet,  near  to;  against,  near; 
against,  B  3754. 

A-game,  adv.  in  play,  in  jest,  in  mockery, 
in  sport,  4.  277. 

Agaste,  ,i^er.  to  terrify,  T.  ii.  901 ;  pr.  s. 
deters,  frightens,  B  4.  p  6.  323 ;  pt.  s. 
frightened,  L.  1221 ;  pt.  s.  refl.  was 
affrighted,  A  2424  ;  pp.  scared,  frightened, 
terrified,  A  2931 ;  aghast,  B  4079;  afraid, 
A  4267. 


(Sloesartal  hxbtx. 


Ag'ayn-ward.  aJv.  backward,  at  the  point 
of  rriurn,  A.  i.  17.  14 ;   back  again,  B  441. 

Ag'es,  //.  times,  periods,  B  3177. 

Agrilten,  :■.  do  wrong,  L.  436;  /A  j.  did 
offence,  D  392;  wrongly  committed,  L. 
2385  ;  I  />(.  s.  w Tonged,  HF.  329 ;  offended, 
1.  iii.  840;  j>r.  s.  subj.  (if  he)  offend, 
I  150;  pp.  offended,  i.  laa;  sinned,  T.  v. 
1684. 

A^on,  V.  to  go  away ;  Ago,  pp.  gone  away, 
1".  V.  1054;  gone,  F  1204;  passed  away, 
A  2802;  past,  L.  1766;  dead,  L.  916;  to 
ben  d(<>,  to  be  off,  5.  465;  Agon,//,  de- 
parted, .A  1276;  gone  away,  C  810;  past, 
C  346 :  njt  longe  a.  is,  it  is  nut  long  ago, 
D  9;  parsed  away,  A  178a;  dead,  E631 ; 
ago.  B  1841. 

Agreable.  aJj.  pleasing,  HF.  1097 ;  -cs,//. 
ple.is.ini.  B  3.  m  2.  31. 

Agrreablely,  adv.  complacently,  B  2.  p  4. 

Agrreabletee,  s.  equability,  B  2.  p  4.  127. 
A-grreef.    in    dudgeon,  lit.  '  in   grief."   T. 

ill.  802;  sadly,  T.  iv.  613;  amiss,  5.  543;' 

in  ilucljjeon.  B  4083. 
A^regrgre,    i:   aggravate;    pr.    s.    I    960; 

/'.    //.    I    892;    //.  />/.    aggravated,    B 

22l»). 

Agrreved.    //.   angry,   A    2057;    vexed, 

1-  34p  ;  aggrieved.  E  500. 
Agrrtef;  s.-i-  Ag^reef. 
Agrrisen.  Agrroos;  see  Ag^rysen. 
Agrroted.  pp.  surfeited,  cloyed.  L.  2434. 
Agrysen,  v.  shudder,  tremble,  feel  terror. 

B  I.  p  3.  22;    i:  feel    terror.  HF.  210; 

a    pr.     s.     dreadest.     B     2.     p    i.    71  ; 

pr.    s.    trembles,    shivers,    B     i.    m    6. 

11;   Agroos. //.  J.  shuddered,  was  terri- 
fied,   became    frightened,     T.    ii.    930; 

A-grisen,   //.    filled    with    dread,    B    3. 

p  I.  18. 
Agru.  ..  ague.  B  4150. 
Agruiler,  s.  needle-case.  R.  98. 
A-heigh.  adv.  aloft. 
Ajugred.  //. ;  a.  bifbm,  prejudged,  B    i. 

p  4.  109. 
Ake,    V.    ache.    T.    ii.    549;    pr.   pt.    B 

2113. 
Aketoun,  s.  a  short  sleeveless  tunic,  worn 

under  the  hauberk.  B  2050. 
Akinge.  s.  pain,  T.  i.  1088. 
Aknowe.  //.  conscious  ;  am  aknowe,  I  ac- 

kn  .Ai.-ilge.  B  I.  p4.  169. 
Akonies,  s.  pi.  fruits.  B  4.  m  3.  28. 
Al,  aJj.  all,  A  10;  Alle,  pi.  all,  A  26.  53; 

Al.  every,  R.  1586;  as  s.  everything.   T. 

iii.   1764;   al  a,  the  whole  of  a,  A  854; 

and  al,  and  all,  3.  116;   at  al,  in  every 


respect,  wholly,  C  633 ;  at  all,  D  1078 ; 
al  </<y,  all  the  day,  3.  1105:  —  Al,  adv. 
quite,  entirely,  altogether,  5.  540;  all 
over,  R.  840;  al  on  highte,  quite  aloud, 
A  1784;  al  by  oon  ajj^«/,  quite  with  one 
accord.  5.  557: — Al.  conj.  although, 
HF.  1740;  whether.  G  839;  al  be,  al- 
though, albeit,  4.  274;  al  be  that,  al- 
though, 5.  8:  — Al  and  som,  the  whole 
matter  (collectively  and  severally),  D 
91 ;  Al  and  somme.  each  and  all,  all, 
the  whole,  7.  26;  Al  and  som,  5.  650; 
Alle  and  some,  one  and  all,  A  3136; 
Al  only.  adv.  merely,  simply,  2.  6a;  Al 
so,  so,  Ii  1226;  Al  thing,  everything,  R 
53:  Al  thus,  exactly  thus,  5.  30.  See 
Alle. 

Al.  J.  awl.  13.  II.     See  Oules. 
Alambyk  (diambiik),  s.  alembic,  T.  iv. 

S20 ;  //.  G  794. 
Alaunts,  pi.  dogs  of  a  huge  size,  A  3148. 
Alayes,  s.  pi.  alloy.  E  1167. 
Al-be-it,  although,  L.  1363. 
AlbiflcacloUD,  s.  albefaclion,  whitening, 

c;  805. 
Alday,  Al-day,  adv.  continually,  A  1163; 

always,  L.  1250;  everyday,  at  anytime, 

4-  237- 
Aldav.  gen.  pi.  of  all ;   oure   alder,  of  us 

all.  I.  84.     See  Aller. 
Alder-beat,  adv.  best  of  all,  3.  87.    See 

Aller. 
Alderbeate,  adj.  best  of  all,  3.  246. 
Alderfaireste,    adj.  fern.  def.    fairest   of 

all,  3.  1050. 
Alderfireit,  adv.  first  of  all,  B  2393 ;  in  the 

first  place.  R.  looo;    for   the   first   time, 

B  I.  p  3.  2,. 
Alderflrste,  adj.  first  of  all.  T.  iii.  97. 
Alderlast.  adv.  lastly,  R.  449. 
Alder-lest.  least  of  all,  T.  i.  604. 
Alderlevest,  dearest  of  all,  T.  iii.  239. 
Alderman,    s.   the   head   of  a  guild,   A 


372- 
ildei 


Aldermost.  adv.  most  of  all,  T.  i.  152. 
Alder-next.    adv.   nearest   of    all,    next, 

5-  ^4- 
Alderwysest,  adj.  pi.  the  wisest  of  all, 

r.  i.  247. 

Ale  and  breed,  drink  and  meat.  B  2062. 
Alemandres,  pi.  almond-trees,  R.  1363. 
Alembykes,  //.  alembics,  G  794. 
Alestake.  s.  ale-stake,  i.  e.  a  horizontal 

stake  or  short  pole   projecting  from  an 

ale-house   to   support   a   sign    or    bush, 

A  667. 
Aley,   /.  an  alley,  B    1758;  //.  walks,  I". 

2324. 


iQlo&mxiBl  Jintiti. 


Aleys,  s.pl.  service-berries,  berries  of  the 

service-tree,  R.  1377. 
Algate,  adv.  always,  A  571 ;  at  any  rate, 

3.  887  ;  nevertheless,  L.  238  ;  in  any  case, 

T.  ii.  964;  all  the  same,  D  588;    at  all 

hazards,  HP".  943. 
Algates,  adv.  in  every  way,  22.  43 ;  by  all 

means,  D  1514;  at  any  rate,  in  any  case, 

3.  1171;  wholly,  F  246;  nevertheless,  B 

2222;  all  the  same,  B  520. 
Aliene,  v.  alienate,  B  i.  p  6.  60. 
Al-if,  even  if,  T.  iii.  398. 
Alkamiatre,  s.  alchemist,  G  1204. 
Alle,   dui.  s.   and  pt.  of  Al ;   at  alU,   in 

every  case,  4.  36;  in  alle,  in  any  case, 

3.  141 ;  Alle,  pi.  all  (of  you),  T.  ii.  402. 

See  Al,  AUer. 
AUegreaunce,  s.  alleviation,  24.  22. 
Allegrged,  pp.  allayed,  B  4.  p  4.  12. 
AUer,    of  viW.gen.  pi.  of  W;  our  alter,  of 

us    all,    A    823;    htr   alter,  of  them    all, 

A  586. 
Alliaunce,  s.  kindred,  i.  58;   espousal, 

1">  357- 
Allone,  adj.  alone,  4.  141 ;  tat  me  a.,  let 

me  alone,  i.  e.  trust  to  me,  T.  iii.  413. 
Allow,  ip.i.pr.  (I)  approve,  (I)  applaud, 

F  676. 
Allye,  s.  relative,  B  3593. 
AUyen,  ger.  to  ally  myself,  E  1414;  p/. 

allied,  2.  65  ;  provided  with  friendly  aid, 

B  3720. 
AlmesBe,  s.  alms,  B  168 ;  //.  almsdoings, 

I  1030. 
Almicaateras,  s.  pi.  small  circles  of  de- 
clination (in  the  celestial  sphere),  A.  i. 

18.  2,  8. 
Almury,  s.  the  '  denticle "   or  tooth-like 

point  or  pointer  situate  on  the  Rete  near 

the  '  head"  of  Capricorn,  A.  i.  23.  i. 
Aloes,  pt.  aloe,  in  comp.  ligne-aloes,  T.  iv. 

1137.     {Aloes  is  a  pi.,  not  a  gen.  case.) 
A-lofte,  adv.  on  high,  T.  v.  259. 
A-londe,  adv.  on  land,  ashore,  L.  2166 ; 

him  were  lever  a-l.,  he  would  rather  be  on 

land,  L.  2413. 
Along  on,  along  of,  owing  to,  T.  iii.  783. 
Al-only,  adv.  solely,  T.  v.  1779. 
Aloon,  adj.  alone  ;  her  atoon,  all  by  her- 
self. E.  2478. 
Alose,  v.  commend,  T.  iv.  1473. 
Al-outerly,   adv.  entirely,   absolutely,  3. 

1244;  Ail-utterly,  HF.  296. 
Alpes,  pi.  bull-finches,  R.  658. 
Also,  AI-8O,  adv.  and  conj.  as,  R.  212, 1122; 

adv.  so,  A  3104;  Alswa.also  (Northern), 

A  4085 ;  A.  many,  as  many,  L.  528 ;  A. 

muche  as,  as  much  as,  D  2134  ;  Als,  also. 


besides,  3.  728;  as,  B  2850;  frequently 
used  in  expressing  a  wish,  4.  267. 

Altercacioun,  i.  altercation,  dispute,  B 
4427. 

Alttier-fairest,  adj.  superl.  fairest  of  all, 
R.  025. 

Alther-fastest,  adv.  sup.  as  fast  as  pos- 
sible. HF.  2131. 

Altherflrst,  adv.  first  of  all.  at  first,  HF. 
1368. 

Alther-flrste,  adj.  first  of  all,  3.  1173. 

Altitude,  s.  the  elevation  of  a  celestial 
object  above  the  horizon,  measured 
along  a  vertical  arc,  A.  pr.  60. 

Al-utterly ;  see  Al-outerly. 

Alwey,  adv.  always,  ceaselessly,  all  the 
whilo,  A  185. 

Alyne.  adv.  in  an  exact  line,  A.  ii.  38.  27. 

Am,  ;un  ;  in  phr.  it  am  I  ;  it  is  I,  B  1109. 

Amadrides,  s.  pi.  hamadryads,  A  2928. 

Almalgamlngr,  s.  the  formation  of  an 
ain.ilu.ini,  (j  771. 

A-mayed,  pp.  dismayed,  T.  i.  648. 

Ambages,  //.  ambiguous  words,  T.  v. 
897. 

Ambel,  s.  amble ;  an  a.,  in  an  amble,  at 
an  ambling  pace,  B  2075. 

Ambes  as,  double  aces,  B  124. 

Amblere,  s.  an  ambling  nag,  A  469. 

Ameled,  pp.  enamelled,  R.  1080. 

Amenden,  v.  make  amends,  A  3074;  to 
surpass  in  demeanour,  F  97 ;  pr.  s.  subj. 
may  (He)  amend,  D  1810;//.  J.  improved, 
R.  1427;  did  good,  3.  1 102  ;//.  improved, 
B  4048  ;  remedied,  D  1097  ;  surpassed,  B 
3444. 

Amendement,  s.  amends,  A  4185. 

Amenuse,  ger.  to  lessen,  I  496 ;  v.  dimin- 
ish, I  360;  pr.  s.  diminishes,  I  359;  be- 
comes less,  A.  i.  21.  76. 

Amerciments,  s.  pi.  fines,  exactions, 
1  752- 

Amesureth,  pr.  s.  measures,  B  2.  p  i.  95. 

Ameved,  pt.  s.  moved,  changed  ;  nought 
a.,  changed  not,  altered  not,  E  498 ; 
Amoeved,/>;>.  perturbed,  I  670. 

Amiable,  adj.  kind,  B  2168;  courteous, 
I  629;  kindly,  R.  1226. 

A-midde,  adv.  in  the  midst,  R.  147. 

Amidde,  prep,  amid,  in  the  midst  of,  F 
409. 

Amiddes,  adv.  in  the  midst,  5.  277. 

A-middes,  prep,  in  the  midst  of,  A.  i.  18. 
4;  in  the  middle,  A  2009. 

Amis,  adv.  amiss,  3. 1141 ;  wrong,  L.  1291 ; 
wrongly,  B  3370 ;  seyde  amis,  gave  an 
unwelcome  answer,  5.  446. 

Amoeve ;  see  Ameve. 


i^loesarial  Intitx. 


Amonesteth,  pr.  s.  admonishes,  I  76; 

rfconiiiu-mls,  B  2484. 
Amonestinge,  /.  admonition,  I  518. 
Among,  ^iJv.  as  well,  T.  iii.  1816;  all  the 

while,  3.  298. 
Amonges,  ii</r.  sometimes, variously,  B  2, 

P  I.  119. 
Amonges,  />re/'.  amongst,  A  759. 
Amonicioun.T.  pointing  out.  B  i.  p  4. 10. 
Amorettes,  //.  love-knois,  R.  892. 
Amor  vinctt  omnia,  love  conquers  all,  A 

162. 
Amorwe,  A-morwe,  on  the  moirow, 

A  822,  1621 ;  in  the  morning,  3.  I103. 
Amounteth,    pr.    s.    means,    A    2362; 

amounts  to,  F  108. 
Amphibologyes,  //.  ambiguities,  T.  iv. 

1406. 
Amy,  s.  friend,  C  318. 
Au,  a,  A  575;  An  eighte  busshels,  a  quan- 
tity equal  to  eight  bushels,  C  771. 
An,  ptep.  on ;  An  heigh,  on  high,  E  2326. 
Ancille,  s.  handmaiden,  i.  109. 
Ancre,  s.  anchor,  10.  38:  Anker,  L.  2501.' 
And,  conj.  if,  6.  112;  L.  217. 
Anes,  adv.  once  (Northern),  A  4074. 
Angle,    s.    angle    (a  technical    term    in 

astrology),  B  304  ;  angular  distance  from 

the  meridian,  A.  ii.  4.  48. 
Angle-hook,  s.  fish-hook,  4.  238. 
Angre,  ,(.  anguish,  R.  320. 
Anguissh,  t.  anxiety,  B  3.  p  3.  55. 
Anguissheth,  pr.  s.  wounds,  pains,  B  3. 

ni  7.  I. 
Anguissous,    adj.    distressed,    R.    520; 

sorrv,  I  304;  distressful,  T.  iii.  816.  j 

Anbange,  ^er.  to  hang,  C   259;  pp.  B  1 

Anientissed,  pp.  brought  to   naught.  B  | 
2438. 

A-night,  in  the  night,  A  1042 ;  at  night, 
D  1S27. 

A-nightes,  adv.  by  night,  R.  18. 

Anlas,  s.  a  short,  two-edged  knife  or 
dagger,  broad  at  the  hilt  and  tapering 
to  the  point,  formerly  worn  at  the 
girdle,  A  357. 

Annexed,  pp.  tied,  2.  72;  attached,  C 
4S2. 

.-///«*  coltecti,  collected  years,  A.  ii.  44.  27. 
When  a  table  contains  quantities  de- 
noting the  change  in  a  planet's  place 
during  round  periods  of  years,  such  as 
20,  40,  or  60  years,  such  a  change  is 
entered  under  the  heading  .Anni  Collecti. 

Anni  expansi,  expanse  years,  A.  ii.  44. 
26.  When  a  table  contains  quantities 
denoting  the  change  in  a  planet's  place 


during  only  a  few  years,  viz.  from  1  to 

19    years,    such    changes    are    entered 

separately    under    the     headings    i,    2, 

3,  &c.,  years,  which  are  designated  the 

expanse  (or  separate)  years. 
Annts   collectti   et  expansis,  the    collected 

years   and   expanse  years,  A.  ii.  45.  18. 

See  above. 
Annueleer,   s.    a    priest    who    received 

annual  payments,  a  chaplain,  G  1012. 
Annunciat,/>^.  pre-announced,  i.  e.  whose 

birth  wa-s  foretold,  B  3205. 
Anon,  adv.   anon,  immediately,  at  once, 

A  32,  748. 
Anon-right,   adv.   immediately,   L.   115, 

1503- 
Anon-rightes,  adv.  immediately,  A  3480. 
Anoy,  i.  vexation,  T.  iv.  845 ;  trouble,  B 

1320;  torture,  B  3.  m  12.  25;  sadness,  I 

678,  680;  //.  troubles,  I  518. 
Anoye,  v.  annoy,  vex,    1.  iv.  1304;  pr.s. 

annoys,   vexes,   B   2234 ;    gives   offence, 

5.   518;    does    harm,    F    875;   inipers.   it 

vexes,   G    1036;  pr.  pi.  harm,  B   2187; 

imp.  pi.  injure  ye,  B  494 ;  pp.  displeased, 

D  1848;  wearied,  I  726;  peevish,  I  1051. 
Anoyful,     adj.    annoying,    tiresome,    B 

2222. 
Anoyous,  adj.  annoying,  tedious,  B  2433; 

dis.igroeable,  B  2235. 
Answere,  -■.  answer,  D  1077 ;  a. of,  answer 

lor,  bo  responsible  for,  L.  2212;  be  suit- 
able for,  B  4.  p  3.  69. 
Answering,  j.  answer,  E  512. 
Antari;ik.  adj.  southern,  A.  ii.  25.  11. 
Antem,  s.  anthem,  B  1850. 
Antiphoner,  s.  anthem-book,  B  1709. 
Antony,  fyr  of  seint,  erysipelas,  I  427. 
Anvelt.  .(.  anvil,  3.  1165. 
Any-thing,  at  all,  in  any  degree,  T.  i. 

848. 
Aomement,  s.  adornment,  I  432. 
Apaire ;  see  Apeiren. 
Apalled, /■/.  vapid,  I  723;  weakened,  A 

3053;  pale,  F  365;  languid,  B  1292. 
Aparayles,  s.  pi.  ornaments,  B  2.  p  4. 

69.     (  Lat.  ornamentis.) 
Aparaile,  v.  apparel,  D  343 ;  prepare,  L. 

2473;   Apparaillen,  v.  prepare,  B  2532; 

pr.  s.  endues,  I  462 ;  imp.  s.  prepare,  B 

2534. 
Aparailements,  s.  pi.  ornaments,  B  2. 

PS-iSi. 
Aparcey  ve ;  see  Aperceive. 
Apassed,  pp.  passed  away,  B  2.  p  5.  35. 
Apaye,  v.  to  satisfy;  pp.  satisfied,  T.  v. 

1249;    pleased,   T.   iii.   421;  yvel  a.,   ill 

pleased,  E.  80;   E  1052. 


(Slflgsarial  InlJei. 


Apayre :  see  Apeiren. 

Apayse;  see  Apese. 

Ape,  s.  ape,  HF.  1212;   dupe,  A  3389;  f>l. 

dupes,   1".  i.  913. 
Apeiren,  ger.  to  injure,  impair,  A  3147 ; 

V.  I  1079;  grow  worse,  HF.  756;   i  pr. 

pi.  perish,  T.  ii.  329 ;  pp.  impaired,  B  i. 

p  5.  67  ;  injured,  'l'.  i.  38. 
Aperceive,    v.   perceive,    E    600 ;   Apar- 

ceyve,  T.  iv.  656 ;  pr.  s.  discerns,  I  294. 
Aperceyvinges,//.  perceptions,  obser- 
vations, F  286. 
Apart,  adj.  manifest,  I  649. 
Apart,  adv.  openly,  F  531. 
Apartenant,  adj.  belonging  to,  such  as 

belongs  to,  2.  70 ;  suitable,  E  loio. 
Apertanath,  pr.  s.  tmpers.  appertains,  B 

2171;  pr.  pi.  I  83;  pres.  pt.   belonging, 

G785. 
Apertly,  «rfj'.  openly ;  clearly,  I  294. 
Apasa,    Apeise,   v.  appease,  pacify;  E 

433;  imp.  pi.  mitigate,  4.  10;  pr.s.  refi. 

is  pacified,  B  3051;  2pr.pi.  T.  iii.  22; 

pt.  s.  B  2290 ;  pp.  appeased,  T.  i.  250. 
Apayra ;  see  Apeire. 
Apaysa ;  see  Apasa. 
Aposa ;  see  Appose. 
Apotecarie,  s.  a])othecary,  B  4138 ;  pi. 

preparers  of  medicines,  A  425. 
Appalled ;  see  Apalla. 
Apparaunte,  adj.pl.  apparent,  manifest, 

K.5. 
Apparence,  s.  appearance,  F  218 ;  seem- 
ing, HF.  265;  apparition,  F  1602;  false 

show,  F  1157;  //.  apparitions,  F  1140. 
Appase :  see  Apese. 
Appetyt,  .f.  desire,  A  1680. 
Appatyteth,  pr.  s.  seeks  to  have,  desires, 

L.  1582. 
Applyen,  v.  be  attached  to,  B  5.  p  4.  14. 
Apposed,  pt.  s.  questioned,  G  363 ;   pp. 

opposed,  alleged,  B  i.  p  5.  54. 
Apprentys,  adj.   unskilled,   as  novices, 

k.  687. 
Appreved,  pp.  approved,  E  1349. 
Appropred,  pp.  appropriated,  made  the 

property  of,  14.  18. 
Appro wours,  //.  approvers,  informers, 

U  1343- 
Aprochen,  v.  approach,  T.  v.  i. 
Apurtenance,    s,    appurtenance ;    pi.  I 

793- 
Apyked,     //.     trimmed,     adorned,     A 

365- 
Aquaynta  me,  make  myself  acquainted, 

3.  532;  //.  //.  became  acquainted,  HF. 

250;  pp.  acquainted,  B  1219. 
Aquyte,  imp.  s.  requite,  T.  ii.  1200. 


Arace,  v.  eradicate,  uproot,  T.  v.  954; 
tear  away,  6.  20 ;  pr.  s.  subj.  root  out, 
eradicate,  T.  iii.  1015;  //.  torn,  borne 
along;  torn  away,  B  3.  p  11.  165. 

Araise ;  see  Areisa. 

Aray,  s.  array,  dress,  L.  1505;  arrange- 
ment, T.  iii.  536;  state,  dress,  A  41,  73; 
attire,  I  932;  array  of  garments,  L.  2607; 
order,  E262;  ordmance,  E  670;  position, 
D  902;  condition,  A  934. 

Arayed,  pp.  dressed,  ready,  T.  iii.  423; 
clad,  R.  472;  adorned,  T.  ii.  1187;  wel 
a.,  well  situated,  T.  ii.  680 ;  equipped,  A 
2046;  dressed,  F  389;  ordered,  B  252; 
appointed,  F  1187. 

Arbitre,  s.  will,  choice,  B  5.  p  3.  18. 

Arches ;  see  Ark. 

Archaungel,  s.  titmouse,  R.  915. 

Archewyves,  s.  pi.  archwives,  ruling 
wives,  E  1 195. 

Ardaunt,  adj.  ardent,  B  3.  m  12.  15; 
eager.  B  4.  p  3.  116. 

Arede,  v.  explain,  disclose,  T.  ii.  1505; 
counsel,  T.  iv.  1112;  interpret,  3.  289; 
ger.  to  divine,  T.  ii.  132. 

Areisa,  v.  raise;  Areysen,  ,^«-.  to  levy, 
'  567 ;  pp-  praised,  L.  1525 ;  raised,  A. 
ii.  2.  7. 

Arest,  s.  rest  (for  a  spear),  A  2602. 

Areata,  s.  arrest,  B  4090 ;  detention,  A 
1310;  responsibility,  E  1282;  delay,  L. 
806;    hesitation,   L.   1929;    deliberation, 

^  L.  397. 

Areste,  v.  stop  (a  horse),  A  827;  Do  a., 
cause  to  be  stopped,  B  4210. 

Arettan,  v.  impute,  B  2.  p  4.  14 ;  A.  upon. 
pr.  s.  accuses,  I  580 ;  //'.  //.  subj.  ascribe, 
I  1002;  ye  n'arette  it  nat,  ye  impute  it 
not,  consider  it  not,  A  726;  pp.  imputed, 
A  2729. 

A-re'wre,  adv.  successively,  lit.  in  a  row, 
D  1254. 

Areyse;  see  Areise. 

Argoile,  s.  crude  tart.ir,  G  813. 

Arguinge,  s.  argument,  L.  475. 

Argumentad,  pt.  s.  argued,  1".  i.  377. 

Aright,  adv.  rightly,  well,  A  267;  aright, 
G1418;  properly,  F  694  ;  wholly,  A  189; 
exactly,  T.  v.  364 »•  certainly,  B  3135. 

Arisen,  Arist;  see  Aryse. 

Arista,  s.  arising,  rising,  A.  ii.  12.  16. 

Ark,  .f.  arc,  referring  to  the  arc  of  the 
horizon  extending  from  sunrise  to  sun- 
set, B  2;  daily  course  of  the  sun,  E 
1795 ;  arc,  the  apparent  angular  dis- 
tance passed  over  by  the  sun  in  a  day 
and  a  night,  A.  ii.  7.  12;  Arches,  pi. 
arcs,  A.  ii.  7.  15. 


(ilojseartal  Snliei. 


Amies,  pi.  arms,  weapons,  7.  i ;  coat-of- 
arms,  A  1012. 

Arm-greet,  adj.  thick  as  one's  arm,  A 
214;. 

Armingre,  s.  putting  on  of  armour,  B 
2037. 

Armipotente,  adj.  powerful  in  arms, 
A  1982. 

Armoniak,  adj.  ammoniac;  applied  to 
hole.  G  790,  and  sal.  G  798.  It  is  a 
corruption  of  Lat.  armeniacum,  i.  e.  Ar- 
menian. 

Armonye,  s.  harmony,  3.  313. 

Armure,  s.  defensive  armour,  4.  130:  B 
200 , 

Arraurers,  //.  armourers,  A  2507. 

Am,  />'.  pi.  are,  HK.  1008. 

Aroos :  see  Aryse. 

A-roume,  adv.  at  large,  in  an  open 
spac,..  HF.S40. 

A-rowe,  adv.  m  a  row,  HF.  1835. 

Arowe,  t. ,  sei'  Ar\^re. 

Arrace ;  sii-  Arace. 

Array,  Arrays:  see  Aray.  Arayed. 

Arrerage,  ..  anears,  A  602. 

Arrette :  sec  Aretten. 

Arrivage,  (.  coming  to  shore,  HF.  223. 

Arryve,  v.  arrive,  come  to  land,  10.  38; 
//.  J.  (it)  arrives,  L.  2309;  pt.  s.  drove 
ashore,  B  4.  m  3.  i ;  yvel-a.,  ill-foted, 
R.  1068. 

Ars-metryke,  s.  arithmetic,  D  2222. 

Artelleries,  s.  pi.  engines  for  shooting, 
H  2523. 

Arten.  ^vr.  to  constrain,  urge,  T.  f.  388. 

Artificial,  adj.  A.  ii.  7.  rub.  The  day 
atttjictal  is  the  length  of  the  day,  from 
the  moment  of  sunrise  to  that  of 
sunset. 

Artik,  northern,  A.  i.  14.  10. 

Artow,  art  thou,  A  1141:  thou  art.  I,. 
qSo. 

Ar'we,  s.  arrow,  T.  ii.  641 ;  Arowe,  7.  185  ; 
//.  arrows,  A  107. 

Aryse,  v.  arise,  be  raised,  T.  iv.  1480; 
pr.  s.  rises,  I  971 ;  Arist,  pr.  s.  (contr. 
from  ariseth)  arises,  B  265;  Aroos,  ^/.  s. 
arose,  5.  575 ;  stood  up,  L.  831;  Arisen, 
//.  pi.  arose,  T.  ii.  "»598 ;  Aryse,  pr.  s. 
iubj.  may  arise ;  Fro  the  sonne  aryse, 
from  the  point  where  the  sun  rises. 

Arysing,  s.  rising,  rise,  A.  ii.  12.  i. 

Ary  ve,  s.  lit.  arrival ;  landing,  disem- 
barkation of  troops,  A  60. 

Aryve;  see  Arryve. 

As,  so  (in  asseverations),  3.  838,  1235;  an 
expletive,  expressing  a  wish,  commonly 
used   with   an   imperative,   e.  g.   as  lot. 


pray  let,  B  859;  as  lent,  pray  lend,  A 
I  3777,  &c. ;  As,  like,  H  1864 ;  as  that, 
I  F  1018  ;  As  after,  according  to,  B  3555 ; 
As  ferforth  as,  as  far  as,  B  19 ;  As  in, 
i.  e.  for,  B  3688 ;  As  now,  at  present,  at 
this  time,  A  2264  ;  on  the  present 
occasion,  G  944;  for  the  present,  G 
1019;  As  nouthe,  as  at  this  time,  at 
present,  A  462 ;  As  of,  with  respect  to, 
5.  26 ;  As  swythe,  as  soon  as  ])ossible, 
j  at  once,  7.  226;  As  that,  as  soon  as, 
I  F  615  ;  as  though,  3.  1200;  As  ther,  there, 
:  4.  117;  As  to,  with  reference  to,  F  107; 
As  to  my  wit,  as  it  seems  to  me,  5. 
I       547- 

As,  .(.  an  ace,  B  3851 ;  Ambes  as,  pi.  double 
aces,  B  124. 

Asay :  see  Assay. 

Ascaunce,  as  if,  perhaps,  G  838  ;  in  case 
that,  L.  2203 ;  Ascaunces,  as  if  U  1745 ; 
as  if  to  say,  T.  i.  205,  292.  Compounded 
of  \'\.  as,  and  O.  V.  quunses,  as  if. 

Ascencioun,  s.  ascension,  ascending 
degree.  B  4045  ;  rising  up,  G  778. 

Ascende,  v.  ascend,  rise  (a  term  in 
astrology),  I  11;  prcs.  part,  ascending, 
in  the  ascendant,  i.  e.  near  the  eastern 
horizon,  F  264. 

Ascendent,  f.  ascendant,  A  417  ;  pi.  HF. 
1268.  I  he  'ascendant'  is  that  degree 
of  the  ecliptic  which  is  rising  above 
the  horizon  at  a  given  moment. 

Asemble ;  s^-e  Assemble. 

Aseuraunce.  t.  assurance,!',  v.  1259. 

Ash;  see  Asshe. 

Ashamed,  pp.  put  to  shame,  A  2667 ;  /or 
pure  a.,  for  very  shame,  T.  ii.  656. 

Asketh,  pr.  s.  requires,  T.  i.  339. 

Asking,  .1.  question,  L.  313. 

Aslake,  v.  diminish,  A  3553  ;  pp.  assuaged. 

Asonder,  adv.  asunder,  apart,  A  491. 

Asp,  f.  aspen  tree,  A  2921 ;  collectively, 
R.  1384.    A.  S.  aps. 

Aspect,  J. an  (astrological)  aspect,  A  1087. 
An  '  aspect '  is  the  angular  distance 
between  two  planets.  The  principal 
aspects  a.'cefive,  viz.  conjunction,  sextile, 
quartile,  trine,  and  opposition,  corre- 
sponding to  the  angular  distances  o'',  60°, 
90^  120  ■,  and  180  ,  respectively. 

Aspen-leef,  s.  leaf  of  an  aspen  tree,  D 
1667. 

Aspre,  adj.  sharp,  bitter,  T.  iv.  827; 
vexatious,  B  3.  p  8.  19;  cruel,  B  2.  p 
8.  39;  fierce,  hardy,  7.  23. 

Asprenesse,  s.  asperity,  B  4.  p  4.  159. 

Aspye,  ...  spy,  C  755. 


Ollosioarial  Entiei. 


Aspye,  V.  spy,  see,  A  1420;  Aspyen,  v. 

brhold,  T.  ii.  649. 
Assaut,  s.  assault,  A  989. 
Assay,  s.  trial,  D  290;  doon  his  a.,  make 

his    attempt,    L.    1594;    A-say,   test,   L. 

23  a.  r     D 

Assaye,  v.  try,  make  trial  of,   B  3149'. 
try,  3.  574;  endeavour,  F  1567;  ger.  to 
assail,    T.  i.  928;  pr.  s.  experiences,  B  3. 
m  2.   13;  /'-.  //.   try.   L.   487;    imp.  pi. 
try,    E  1740;  pp.   proved,   tested,   tried, 
experienced,  T.  iii.  1220,  1447;  A  1811. 
Assayle ;  see  Assaile. 
Assege,  j.  siege,  T.  i.  464,  11.  107. 
Assege,  v.  besiege;  pt.  pi.   T.  1.  60;  pp. 

A  8tii. 
Assemble,  z/.;  come  together,  I  909 ;  ,,?-*r. 
to  amass,  B  3.  p  8.  8 ;  //.  A  717;  united, 
G  50. 
Assemblinge,  s.  union,  I  904,  917. 
Assendent ;  see  Ascendent. 
Assents,  v.  agree  to,  A  374;   assent,  A 
3092;    consent,  B    3469;    agree,  E   11, 
88.  129.  ,,      .     , 

Asshe  (i),  .f.  ash-tree,  5.  176;  collectively, 

ash-trees,  R.  1384. 
Asshe  (2),  s.  ash  (of  something  burnt)  ; 

Asshen,;*/.  ashes,  7.  173;  A  1302. 
Assoilen,  ger.  to   discharge,   pay,   B  5. 
p  I.  IS  ;  V.  loosen  ;  pr.  s.  absolve,  pardon, 
C  913 ;  pp.  explained,  B  5.  p  6.  311. 
Assoiiing,  s.  absolution,  A  661. 
Assure,  s.  assurance,  protestation,  7.  331. 
Assure,  v.  feel   secure,  trust,  T.  v.  870; 
rely,  T.  v.    1624;    declare  (to  be)  sure, 
7.  90. 
Assyse,  s.  assize,  session,  A  314;  judge- 
ment, I.  36;  position,  R.  900. 
Asterte,  v.  escape,  L.  1802 ;  A  1595 ;  es- 
cape from,  L.  2338;    D  968;  get  away, 
withdraw,  3.  1154;  release,  D  1314;  pt. 
s.  escaped,  T.   iii.  971    //•    escaped,   B 

Asto'nie,   v.  astonish;  pr.  s.  astonishes, 
HF.  1174;  pp.  astonished,  T.  i.  274,  iii. 

I08q. 

Astonyinge,  s.  astonishment,  B  4.  p  5. 33. 
Astore,  v.  to  store ;  //.  A  609. 
Astrolabie,  s.  astrolabe,  A.  pr.  4. 
Astrologien,  s.   astrologer,  astronomer, 

D  324. 
Astrologye,  s.  astrology,  A  3192,  3514. 
Astromye  (  for  Astronomye) ,  an  ignorant 

form,  A  3451.  3457- 
Asure,  s.  azure,  R.  477. 
Asweve,  v. ;  //.  dazed,  put  to  sleep,  Hb. 

549- 
A-8WOWn,  adv.  {from  pp.)  in  a  swoon. 


L.   2207;    Aswowe,   7.   354;    hence   As- 
wowne,  in  a  swoon,  T.  iii.  1092  ;  A  3823. 
At,  prep,  at,  A  20,  &c. ;  of,  R.  378 ;  as  to, 
6.  114;  by,  D  2095;  in  the  presence  of, 
T.  ii.  984;   with,  beside,  HF.    1593;  10. 
HF.  1603;  At  me,  with  respect  to  me, 
B  1975;  At  erste,  firste  of  all.  HF.  512; 
At  his  large,  free,  free  to  speak  or  be 
silent,   A  2288 ;  At  on,  at  one,  agreed. 
A   4197 ;    At   shorte  wordes,  briefly,   5. 
481;  At  regard,  with  regard,  I  180;    At 
ye,  at  (your)  eye,  with  your  own  eyes, 
visibly,  A  3016;  have  at  thee,  I   attack 
thee,  L.  1383. 
At-after,  prep,  after,  B  1445. 
Atake,  v.  overtake,  G  556,  585. 
Ataste,  ipr.  s.  sid/.  taste,  B  2.  p  i.  41. 
Ataynt ;  see  Atteine. 
Atazir,  s.  evil  influence,  B  305. 
Atempraunce,  s.  temperament,  B  4.  p  6. 
214;    adjustment,   moderation,    temper- 
ance, C  46. 
Atempre,  adj.  temperate,  mild,  L.    128, 
1483;  moderate,  T.  i.  953;  '"''"J.  5-  204; 
R.  131 ;  modest,  I  932. 
Atempre,  v.;  pr.  s.  attempers,  B  i.  m  2. 

23  ;  rcfi.  controls  himself,  B  2704. 
Atemprely,    adv.    temperately,   I    861 ; 

niodfratelv,  B  2728. 
Atempringe,  f.  controlling,  B  5.  p  4.  loi. 
Ateyne :  sec  Atteine. 
Athamaunt,  s.  adamant.  A  1305. 
Athinken,  v.  displease,  T.  v.  878;  Athink- 
eth,//-.  s.  impers.  (it)  repents,  T.  i.  1050. 
At-ones,  adv.  at   once,  at   one   and  the 

same  time,  B  670. 
Atoon,  adv.  at  one,  E  437. 
At-rede,   v.  surpass  in    counsel,   '1'.   iv. 

1456 ;  A  2449.  ■        T.    ■ 

At-renne,  v.  surpass  in  running,   i.  iv. 

1456;  A  2449. 
Attamed,  pp.  broached,  B  4008. 
Attayne ;  see  Atteine. 
Atte,  for  at  the,   D  404;   Atte  beste,  in 
the  best  way,   A  29,  749;    Atte  fan,  at 
the  fan,   H   42;    Atte  fulle,  at  the  full, 
completely,   A    651;    Atte   gate,   at    the 
gate,    B    1563;     Atte    hasard,    at    dice, 
C  608;  Atte   laste,  at   the   last,  B   506; 
1       Atte   leste,  at  the  least,  at  least,  B  38; 
j        Atte  Bowe,  at  Bow,  A  125. 

Atteine,  v.  attain,  R.  1495;   succeed  in, 
j       4.  161 ;  pp.  apprehended,  B  3.  p  3.  25. 
Attempre ;  see  Atempre. 
Attry,  adj.  venomous,  I  583. 
i   A-tweyn,  adv.  in  two,  3.  1193. 
i   A-twinne,  adv.  apart,  'I",  iii.  1666. 
1   Atwixe./'/'f/.  betwixt,  R.  854. 

b3 


(^lossartal  l^vibtx. 


A-twixen,  prep,  between.  T.  v.  472. 
A-two,  in  twain,  7.  94 ;   L.  758. 
A-tyr,  s.  attire,  dtess,  T.  i.  181. 
Auctor;  see  Auctour. 
Auctorltee,  s.  authoiity,  B  2355 ;  recog- 
nised text,  A  3CXX3;  statements  of  good 

authors,  U  I. 
Auctour,  J.  author,  HF.  314;  originator, 

H  35?  ;  creator,  T.  iii.  1765. 
Audience,  s.  hearing,  5.  308 ;  audience, 

H  3/91  ;  iipcn  assembly,  D  1032. 
Augrim,  s.  algorism,  i.  e.  numeration,  A. 

I.  7.  () ;  Arabic  numerals,  A.  i.  8.  6. 
Augrrim-stones,  />/.  counters  for  calcu- 

latinj;,  A  3210. 
Aunceasour,  s.  ancestor;  //.  R.  391. 
Aunceatre,  s.  ancestor,  5.  41. 
Auncetrye,  s.  ancestry,  A  3982. 
Aungel.  s.  angel,  R.  916. 
Aungellyk,  .j<^.  angelical,  T.  i.  102. 
Aungellyke,  jJv.  like  an  angel,  L.  236. 
Auntre  it,  :■.  risk  it,  A  4209;  Auntred 

him.;*/,  s-  adventured  himself.  A  4205. 
Auntroua.  aJJ.  adventurous,  B  2099. 
Autentyke,  adj.  authentic,  3.  1086. 
Auter,  s.  altar,  5.  249. 
Avskle,  V.  fall  down,  T.  iii.  626;  doff,  take 

ofT.  A  3122,  ,\valen, //-. //.  sink  down. 
Avantage,  s.  advantage,   F  77a;  /o  Jon 

his  ,1..  to  suit  his  own  interests,  B  729; 

as  adj.  advantageous.  B  146. 
Avante;  see  Avaunte. 
Avaunce,  v.  promote.  L.  2022;  ger.  T.  i. 

518;    be    profitable.    A    246;    cause   to 

prosper,  HF.  640;  help,  10.  31. 
Avaunt.  s.  vaunt,  boast,  A  227.  E  1457. 
Avaunte  (her),  v.  refi.  boast  (herself),  7. 

216;    ,£:er.    to   extol.    HF.    1788;   -J.  refi. 

bo.ist.  vaunt  himself.  D  1014. 
Avauntingr.  s.  boasting,  A  3884. 
Avauntour,  s.  boiister,  5.  430. 
Avenaunt,  adj.  graceful,  comely,  R.  1263. 
Aventayle,  s.  ventail,  E  1204. 
Aventtire,  j.chance,  4.  21;  peril,  B  1151; 

misfortune,    \..   657:     fortune.    18.    22; 

luck.  T.  ii.   288.  291 ;    circumstance,   L. 

1907;  of  a.,  by  chance,  HF.  2090;  on  a., 

in  case  of  mishap.  T.  v.  298;   tn  a.,  in 

the  hands  of  fortune,  T.  i.  784;  per  a., 

perchance,  A.  ii.  12.  6;  in  a.  and  grace. 

on  luck  and  favour,  4.  60;  good  a.,  good 

fortune,  5.   131,  7.  324;  //.   adventures, 

.■\  795  ;  accidents.  C  934. 
Aventvirous,  adj.  random,  B  i.  p  6.  98; 

adventitious  (Lui.  /ortintts),  B  2.  p  4.  17. 
Avisee.  adj.  deliberate,  L.  1521. 
Avisioun,  s.  vision,  R.  9 ;  HF.  7. 
Avouterye,  s.  adultery,  5.  361. 


Avoutier,  s.  adulterer;  />/.  1  841. 

Avow,  s.  vow,  A  2414.  2237. 

Avowe,  z:  avow,  own,  proclaim,  G  642; 
/r.  J.  vows,  7  355. 

Avoy,  interj.  fie  !  B  4098. 

Avys,  s.  advice,  consideration,  opinion, 
A  786,  B  2442. 

Avyse,  v.  consider,  T.  i.  364;  contem- 
plate, T.  V.  1814;  refi.  consider,  B  664; 
imp.  s.  take  heed,  A  4188;  imp.pl.  con- 
sider, deliberate,  A  3185;  //.  clearly 
seen,  k.  475;  with  mind  made  up,  T. 
iii.  1186;  advised,  careful,  A  3584; 
deliberate.  1  448;  wary,  A  4333;  lore- 
warned,  B  2538;  well  a.,  well  advised, 
B  2514. 

Avysely ,  adv.  advisedly,  B  2488 ;  seriously, 
I  1024 ;  carefully,  A.  ii.  39.  29. 

Avysement,  s.  consideration,   B  2941 ; 

counsel.    T.  ii.  343;    deliberation,  B  86; 

i       determination,  L.  1417. 

I    Await,  J.  watch,  U  1657;  surveillance,  H 

149;    waiting,    T.  iii.  579;   watchfulness, 

T.  iii.  457 ;    Have   hir   in   awayt,  watch 

I       her,  B  3915  ;  //.  plots.  B  3.  p  8.  11. 

I   Awaite,   V.  await;    pr.  s.  waits,    I.  iii; 


watches.  B  1776. 
Aw^altingr,  s.  attendance,  7.  250. 
Awaitour,  s.  lier  in  wait,  B  4.  p  3.  122. 
Awake,  v.  wake,  awake;  Awook,  \pt.s. 

aroused,   3.  1324;   pt.  s.  awoke,  F  367; 

.Awaked,  //.  s.  awoke,  A  2523. 
Award,  s.  decision,  I  483. 
A  wen,  own  (Norihcm),  A  4239. 
A-wepe,  a-weeping,  in  tears,  T.  ii.  408. 
A-werke,  adv.  at  work,  U  215. 
Aweye,  adv.  out  of  the  way,  done  with, 

T.  li.  123;  gone,  7.  319;  from  home,  B 

593  ;  astray.  B  609. 
Aweyward,  adv.  awav,  backwards,   H 

262. 
Awhape.  v.  amaze;  pp.  scared.  L.  132; 

stupitied.  7.  215 ;  confounded,  T.  i.  316. 
Awook :  see  Aw^ake. 
A'wreke,  v.  avenge,  2.  II ;  pr.  s.  avenges, 

R.  278  ;  pp.  H  298  ;  A  3752. 
Awry,  adv.  on  one  side,  R.  291. 
Axen,  V.  ask,  L.  835  ;  Axe  at,  ask  of,  T.  ii. 

894 ;  pr.  s.  requires,  T.  ii.  227. 
Axing,  s.  question,  L.  239  a;  request,  A 

1826. 
Ay,   adv.  aye,  ever,  A  63,  233 ;   Ay  whyl 

that,  all  the  while  that,  4.  252. 
Ay-dwellinge,  adj.  perpetual,  ever-abid- 
ing. B  5.  p  6.  97. 
Ayein,  prep,    opposite    to,    T.    ii.   920; 

against,  T.  i.  902. 
Ayein,  adv.  again,  back,  5.  100. 


(©lossarial  Inbtx. 


Ayein-ledinge,  ad/,  returning,  recon- 
ducting, H  3.  m  9.  42. 

Ayeins,  //r/>.  against,  A  1787 ;  towards, 
at  the  apijroach  of,  5.  342. 

Ayeins,  adv.  against,  to,  A  3155. 

Ayeinward,  adv.  again,  on  the  other 
hand,  B  2.  p  4.  126;  back  again,  T.  iii. 
750.  IV.  1581. 

Ayel,  s.  grandfather,  A  2477. 

Azimut,  s.  azimuth,  A.  ii.  31.  22. 


Ba.  t:  kiss,  D  433 ;  imp.  s.  A  3709. 

Babewinnes,}*/.  (lit.  baboons), grotesque 
rtuures  in  architecture,  HF.  1189. 

Bachelere,  s.  young  knight,  K.  918,  1469; 
an  aspirant  to  knighthood,  A  80. 

Bachelrye.  s.  bachelor-liood,  H  125  ;  com- 
pany ot  voung  men,  E  270. 

Bad;'see'Bidde. 

Badder,  adj.  comp.  worse,  Y  224. 

Baggre,  V. ;  pr.  s.  looks  askant,  3.  623. 

Baggepype,  s.  bagpipe,  A  565. 

Bagrgingrly,  adv.  squintingly,  R.  292. 

Baite,  v.  bait;  feed,  B  466;  pp.  baited, 
tormented,  R.  1612. 

Bak,  .f.  back,  3.  957;  cloth  for  the  back, 
coarse  mantle,  rough  cloak,  G  881. 

Bakbyter,  .f.  backbiter,  I  495. 

Bake  metes,  bak'.;d  meats,  meat  pies, 
I  445. 

Bakhalf,  the  back  or  flat  side  of  the 
astrolabe,  A.  i.  4.  i. 

Bak-side,  s.  the  back  of  the  astrolabe,  A. 
i.  15.  3. 

Balaunce.i.abalance,  G611 ;  inbalaunce, 
in  jeopardy,  G  611 ;  in  suspense,  3.  1021. 

Bale,  s.  sorrow,  3.  535  ;  for  bote  ne  bale,  for 
good  nor  for  ill,  3.  227. 

Balke,  .;.  balk,  beam,  A  3920;  pi.  trans- 
verse beams  beneath  a  roof,  A  3626. 

Balled,  adj.  bald,  A  198,  2518. 

Bane,  s.  death,  L.  2159;  destruction,  HF". 
408;  cause  of  death,  A  1097;  slayer,  T. 
'V-  333- 

Banes,  pi.  bones  (Northern),  A  4073. 

Bar.  Bare  ;  see  Bere,  v. 

Barbe,  s.  barb  (part  of  a  woman's  head- 
dress, still  sometimes  used  by  nuns, 
consisting  of  a  piece  of  white  plaited 
linen,  passed  over  or  under  the  chin, 
and  reaching  midway  to  the  waist),  T. 
ii.  no. 

Barbre,  adj.  barbarian,  B  281. 

Bareine,  adj.  barren,  B  68,  D  372. 

Barel  ale,  barrel  of  ale,  B  3083. 

Bark,  s.  (of  a  tree),  T.  iii.  727. 


1 
Bb 


Barm-clooth,  s.  apron,  A  323  > 
Barme,  s.  (dat.)  bosom,  lap,  B  3J56,  3630. 
Baronage,  s.  assembly  of  barons.A  3096. 
Barre.  s.  bar,  A  1075-;'  Barres,  //.  stripes 

across  a  girdle,  A  329. 
Barred,  pp.  furnished  with  '  bars,'  A  3225. 
Barringe,   s.    adorning    with    (heraldic) 

bars,  I  417. 
Basilicok,  s.  basilisk,  I  853. 
Baste,  V.  baste;  pres.part.  basting,  tack- 
ing on,  R.  104. 
Bataile,  s.  battle,  fight,  L.  1647;  troop,  B 

5.  m  I.  4. 
Batailen,  v.  fight,  B  i.  p  4.  251. 
Batailled,    adj.   embattled,  i.  e.  notched 

with  indentations,  B  4050. 
Batere,  v.  batter;  pr.  s.  strikes.  1  556. 
Bathe,  both  (Northern),  A  4087. 
Bathe,  ger.  to  bathe,  to  bask,  T.  ii.  849; 

refl.  to  bask,  B  4457. 
Bauderye,  s.  bawdry,  act  of  a  pandar,  T. 

iii.  397;  mirth,  A  1926. 
Baudrik,    s.    baldric,    belt   worn    trans- 

vcrselv  over  one  shoulder,  A  116. 
Baudy',  adj.  dirty,  G  635. 
Baume,  s.  balm,  HF.  1686. 
Baundon,  s.  power,  disposal,  R.  1163. 
Bay,  adj.  bay-coloured,  A  2157. 
Bayard,  a  horse's  name;  a  horse,  A  4115. 
Be-,  prefix  ;  see  also  Bi-. 
Beau,  adj.  fair  ;  beau  sir,  fair  sir,  HF.  643. 
Be-bled,  //.  bloodied,  covered  with  blood, 

B  3.  m  2.  14. 
Beblotte,  imp.  s.  blot,  T.  ii.  1027. 
Bechen,  adj.  made  of  beech,  G  1160. 
Become,  v.  go  to,  L.  2214 ;  //.  gone  to,  7. 

Bed,  s.  L.  2211;  station,  B  3862;  bed  (of 

lierbs),  B  4411. 
Beddinge,  s.  couch,  A  1616. 
Bede,  v.  offer,  proffer,  HF.  32;  G  1065; 

I  pr.   s.   proffer,  7.  304;    Bedeth, //-.   s. 

proffers,  E  1784;  Bede,  \  pt.pl.  directed, 

told,  1  65  ;  Boden,/>/.  commanded,  T.  iii. 

691 ;  ordered,  L.  266. 
Bede,  //.  pi.  and  pp.  of  Bidde. 
Beden,  //.  pi.  of  Bidde. 
Bedes,  pi.  beads,  A  1S9. 
Bedote,  v.  befeol,  L.'iS47. 
Bedrede,  adj.  bedridden,  D  1769. 
Beek,  s.  beak,  F  418. 
Beem,  s.  balk,  B  4362;  Bemes, //.  beams 
„  R-  1574- 

Been,  pi.  bees,  F  204. 
Beer,  bare  ;  //.  s.  of  Bere. 
Beest,  s.  beast,  F  460;  Beest  roial  =  royal 

beast,  i.  e.    Leo,  F  264;    brute,  G  288;. 

beast,  quarry,  R.  1452. 


(^lossarial  l^nbtx. 


Beet,  />/.  s.  and  imp.  s.  of  Bete.  i 

Beetb.  imp.  pi.  of  Ben,  to  be. 

Beggrostere,  s.  beggar,  properly  a  female  | 
beggar,  .A  242. 

Bebette:  see  Bihote. 

Bekke,  i  pr.  s.  (I)  nod,  C  396;  />/.  s. 
nodded  to,  T.  ii.  1260. 

Bel  amy,  i.  e.  good  friend,  fair  friend,  C 
318;  Bcle,  adj.  /em.  fair,  beautiful,  HF. 
1796;  Belc  chere,  excellent  fare,  B  1599; 
Bele  chose,  beautiful  part,  D  447. 

Belle,  J.  bell.  T.  ii.  1615;  (of  a  clock),  3. 
1322;  (sign  of  an  inn),  .A  719;  dere 
the  b.,  be  the  first.  T.  iii.  198. 

Belwetb,  pr.  s.  roars.  HF.  1803. 

Bely,  s.  belly,  B  2167. 

Bely,  s.  a  pair  of  bellows,  I  351. 

Bely-naked,  adj.  entirely  naked.  E  1326. 

Beme.  f.  trumpet,  HF.  1240;  pi.  B  4588. 

Ben,  Been,  :•.  be,  i.  182;  i  pr.  pi.  are.  3. 
=;82;  Ben,  2  pr.pl.  B  122,  consist.  I  82; 
Beth,  pr.  pi.  are.  F  648;  Be,  pr.  s.  sutj. 
exists,  it  should  be,  4.  49;  Be.  i  pr.s.subj. 
be,  am,  D  1245;  Beth.  imp.  pi.  be,  C 
683;  Been,  //.  3.  530;  A  199;  Be,  pp. 
been,  R.  322;  /  had  be,  I  should  have 
been,  3.  222 ;  Be  as  be  may,  be  it  as  it 
inav,  however  it  be.  L.  1852;  Be  what  she 
be,  be  she  who  she  may,  T.  i.  679;  I^t 
be,  let  alone,  D  1289. 

Bencb,  s.  bench,  T.  ii.  91 ;  table,  B  1548; 
bench  (law  court),  i.  159. 

Bend,  s.  band,  R.  1079. 

Bende,  v.  bend.  R.  1334 ;  turn.  T.  ii.  1250 ; 
Bente.  pi.  s.  bent.  H  264 ;  Bent,  pp.  1. 
2Q ;  arched.  .\  3246. 

Bendinge,  .(.  adorning  with  (heraldic) 
bends,  I  417.  A  bend,  in  heraldry,  is 
a  broad  diagonal  band  upon  a  shield. 

Bdne.  .(.  bean,  11.  29. 

Benedtctte.  bless  ye  (the  Lord),  A  1785; 
(pronounced  ben  cite).  T.  i.  780,  &-c. 

Benisoun,  s.  benison,  blessing,  B  2288. 

Bent,  J.  grassv  slope  ;  Bente,  rfuA  A  1981. 

Berafte;  see  Bireve.  I 

Berd.  s.  beard,  A  270,  2173;  in  the  berd, 
face  to  face,  T.  iv.  41 ;  make  a  berd,  de- 
ceive. .\  4096;  rrake  hts  berd,  delude 
him,  D  361. 

B6re,  J.  bear,  L.  1214;  the  constellations 
Ursa  Major  and  Ursa  Minor,  HF.  1004. 

B^re,  s.  bier,  2.  105 ;  19.  5.  1 

Bere,  v.  bear,  carry,  B  3564;  transport, 
F  119;  confer  on,  L.  2135;  Bere  yow, 
conduct  vourself.  D  1108;  Beren  on 
honde,  accuse,  D  393;  Beren  him  on 
hond.  assure  him,  D  232  (cf.  226) ;  Bereth 
him,  conducts  himself,  behaves,  A  796, 


Bereth  hir,  comports  herself,  T.  ii.  401 ; 
Berth  hir  on  hond,  bears  false  witness 
against  her,  B  620;  Bereth  him  on  hond, 
accuses  him,  I  505;  Sickly  berth,  take 
ill,  dislike,  E  625 ;  Bere,  pr.  pi.  3.  894 ; 
Bere,  ipt.  s.  barest.  T.  iv.  763  ;  Bar.  pt.  s. 
bare,  carried,  A  105  ;  possessed,  U  997  ; 
//.  s.  rejl.  conducted  himself,  T.  iii.  490; 
Bar  on  honde,  made  him  believe,  D  575; 
Bar  her  on  honde,  brought  against  her 
a  charge  which  he  feigned  to  believe.  7. 
158 ;  Baren  us,  i  pt.  pi.  conducted  our- 
selves, A  721 ;  Baren  me  on  hond,  bore 
false  witness  against  me,  B.  i.  p  4.  180; 
pr.  s.  subj.  may  pierce,  A  2256 ;  Ber, 
imt.  s.  carry,  D  1139;  Ber  ayein,  take 
back,  T.  ii.  1141;  Boren,  //.  born,  D 
1153;  Bore,  ;>^  born. 

Bere.  s.  head-sheet,  pillow-case.  3.  254. 

Berie.  f.  berrv,  A  4368. 

Berle,  v.  bury,  C  884. 

Beringre,  s.  behaviour,  B  2022;  carriage, 
E  1604. 

Berke.  v.  bark;  Borken,//.  shrieked  (lit. 
b.Trked),  B  I.  p  5.  I. 

Berm,  s.  barm,  i.  e.  yeast,  G  813. 

Bern,  f.  bam,  B  3759. 

Beryle,  s.  beryl,  HF.  1184. 

Besaunt-wl^bt,  s.  weight  of  a  besant,  R. 
1 106.  {Hesaiit,  a  gold  coin  of  Byzan- 
tium.) 

Bespreynt:  see  Bisprengre. 

Bestialitee.   .1.  animal    condition.  T.  i. 

Beti^  adj.  comp.  better,  10.  47;   HF.  108. 
Bet.  adv.  better,  A  242 ;  go  bet,  go  faster, 

go  as  quicklv  as  possible,  3.  136 ;  the  bet, 

the  better,  HF.  559;  bet  and  bet,  better 

and  better,  T.  iii.  714. 
B6te,  z;.  remedy,  heal,  T.  i.  665;  amend, 

mend,  assist,  I  421 ;  kindle,  A  2253. 
Bhte,ffer.  to  beat,  flap,  B4512 ;  to  hammer 

out,  C  17;  Beet./>A  s.  adjoined  (lit.  beat), 

R.  129 ;  Beten,  pp.  beaten,  B  1732 ;  as  adj. 

beaten,  ornamented  with   the   hammer, 

R.  837. 
Beth,  pr.pl.  are,  B  2350;   imp.pl.  be,  I. 

Betraising,  s.  betrayal,  L.  2460. 
Bettre.  adj.  better,  A  256;  b.  arm,  right 

arm.  T.  li.  1650. 
Bever,  adj.  made  of  beaver,  A  272. 
Beye,  ger.  to  buy,  T.  v.  1843;  v.  B  1462. 

See  Bye. 
Bibbe,  v.\  pp.  imbibed,  A  4162. 
Bible,  s.  bible,  A  438;  book,  HF.  1334. 
Bi-bledde, />/./>/.  covered  with  blood,  A 


(Sladeartal  iintiex. 


Bicched  bones,  s.pl.  dice,  C  656. 
Bi-clappe,  g>:r.  to  catch  (as  in  a  trap), 

G  Q. 

'Bicovae,!{er.  to  become,  D  1644 ;  Bicomth, 
pr.  s.  goes,  T.  ii.  795. 

Bidaffed,  />/>.  befooled,  E  1191. 

Bidde,  v.  ask  {confused  witli  B6de,  v.  com- 
mand, bid)  ;  ger.  to  request,  L.  838 ; 
I  pr.  s.  pray,  T.  i.  1027  ;  Bit.  pr.  s.  bids, 
A  187  ;  Bad,  pt.  s.  prayed,  begged,  T.  iii. 
1249;  besougiit,  T.  i.  112;  requested,  E 
373 '■  I  /'•  -f-  bade,  F  1212;  pt.  s.  bade, 
commanded,  D  108;  Beden, //.//.  bade, 
B  2233;  Bidde,  pp.  commanded,  B  440 
(where  han  bidde  =  have  bidden)  ;  Bede, 
//.  bidden  {as  tf  from  Bede),  3.  194; 
I  //.  s.  subj.  would  seek,  R.  791 ;  Bid, 
imp.  s.  pray,  T.  iii.  342 ;  bid,  3.  144 ;  Bid- 
(leih,  imp.  pi.  pray,  T.  i.  36. 

Bidding',  s.  request,  L.  837. 

Bidelve,  v.;  Bidolven,  pp.  buried,  B  5.  p 

I.  c;i. 

Biden,//.  o/Byde. 

Bifallinge,  s.    coming    to    pass,   T.   iv. 

1018. 
Biforen,//-if/.  before,  B  3553;  in  front  of, 

G680. 
Biforen,   adv.   in   the   front  part  (of  his 

head),  A   1376;  beforehand,  A  1148;   in 

front,  A  590;  in  a  good  position,  A  572; 

of  old  time,  I"  551 ;  first,  E  446. 
Bifom,  prep,  before. 
Bigete,  v.  beget;  Begat, /A  s.  L.    1562; 

Bi^.-ten,//.  B3138. 
Biginne,  v.  begin,  A  42;  Bigonne,  2//.  s. 

(i  442;   Began,  2  pt.  s.    {false  form  for 

Bigunne),  L.  2230;    Bigan,  pt.  j.  A  44; 

Bigonne,  pt.pl.  F  1015;  Bigonne,  pp.  T. 

ii.779. 
Bigoon,  pp.  ornamented,  R.  943;  wel  b., 

well  contented,  joyous,    merry,  5.   171 ; 

fortunate,  T.  ii.  294 ;  wel  bigo,  well  con- 
tent, R.  693 ;  wo  b.,  distressed,  L.  1487, 

2497;  sorwfully  b.,  distressed,  T.  i.  114; 

7uers  b.,  more  wretched,  T.  v.  1328. 
Bigyleres,  pi.  beguilers,  I  299. 
Bihalve,  s.  dat.  behalf,  T.  ii.  1458. 
Bihate,  v.  hale ;  pp.  B  3.  m  4.  6. 
Biheste,  s.  promise,  B  37;  command,  T. 

i'-  359;  P^-  promises,  i.  e.  all  that  they 

IMiitess  to  prove,  A.  pr.  26. 
Rihete,  i  pr.  s.  promise,  G  707;  2  pr.  s. 

(Icist  promise.  B  4.  p  2. 1 ;  pr.  s.  promises, 

I  379.    See  Bihote. 
Bihetinge,  s.  promising,  B  2.  p  8.  16. 
Bihewe,  v.\    Behewe,  //.   carved,    HF. 

1306. 
Bitiighte,  pt,  s.  promised,  T.   v.    1204; 


Biliighte,  pt.pl.  T.  iii.  319;  Bihight,  //. 
1 .  V.  354.    See  Bihote. 

Biholde,  v.  behold,  A  2293 ;  Beheklc,  v. 
behold,  7.  80 ;  Behelde,  //.  s.  subj.  should 
see,  T.  ii.  378;  Biholde,//.  beheld,  G 
179. 

Bihote,  ipr.s.  promise,  A  1854;  Behette, 
//.  s.  s.  436. 

Bihove,  s.  dat.  profit  (lit.  behoof),  R.  1092. 

Blhove,  V.  suit,  13.  5;  //-.  s.  (it)  behoves, 
'1".  iv.  1004 ;  pr.  pi.  are  necessary,  I  83. 

Bihovely,  adj.  helpful,  T.  ii.  261 ;  needful, 
I  107. 

Bi-jape,  v.;  pp.  jested  at,  tricked,  T.  i. 
531- 

Biker,  s.  quarrel,  L.  2661. 

Biknowe,  v.  acknowledge,  B  886 ;  Bikno- 
weth,  //-.  .f.  I  481 ;  Beknew,  pt.  s.  con- 
fessed, L.  1058 ;  I  am  bi-knowen  =  I  ac- 
knowledge, B  3.  p  10.  88. 

'&\\&&,ger.  to  build,  HF.  1133;  Bilt,  pr.  s. 
HI-'.  1 135;  Bilt,//.  I.  183.    See  Bulde. 

Bilder,  s.  as  adj.  builder,  used  for  build- 
ing, 5.  176. 

Bileve,  .(.  faith,  L.  2109;  creed,  A  3456. 

Bileve  {\),v.  believe;  imp.pl.  G  1047. 

Bileve  (2),  v.  to  remain,  stay  behind,  F 
583- 

Bilinne,  v.  cease,  T.  iii.  1365. 

Bille,  s.  bill,  petition,  i.  59,  no;  letter,  E 
1937  ;  writ,  D  1586. 

Binde,  v.  bind,  enthral,  4.  249;  Bynt 
{for  Bint),;>/-.  s.  binds,  4.  47,  48;  Bond, 
//.  f.  bound,  fastened,  R.  241 ;  Bounden, 
//.  bound,  B  270;  btnmd  up,  D  681. 

Binding,  s.  constraint,  A  1304. 

Binime,  v.  take  away,  B  4.  p  3.  36; 
Binenien, //-.//.  B  3.  p  3.65;  Bi-nomen, 
pp.  taken  away,  B  3.  p  3.  69. 

Binne,  s.  bin,  chest,  A  593. 

Biquethe,  v.  bequeath,  U  1121. 

Biraft,  -e ;  see  Bireve. 

Bireine,  v.\  Bireyned,  //.  rained  upon, 
T.  iv.  1 172. 

Bireve,  v.  bereave,  B  3359;  restrain,  T.  i. 
685  ;  take  away,  G  482 ;  me  wo  bereve,  rob 
me  of  woe,  6.  12;  Bireved,  pt.  s.  bereft, 
D  2071 ;  Birafte,  //.  j.  B  83 ;  Biraft,  //. 
bereft,  T.  iv.  225;  A  1361. 

Birthe,  s.  birth.  B  192. 

Biscorned,//.  scorned,  I  278. 

Bisege,  v.  besiege ;  pr.  s.  L.  1902 ;  Bise- 
gede,  pt.  pi.  T.  i.  149. 

Bis6ken,  v.  beseech,  pray,  B  2306,  2910; 
By-s6ke,  v.  beseech,  T.  iv.  131 ;  Biseken, 
I  pr.  pi.  implore,  A  918;  Bisoughtest,  2 
//.  s.  didst  beseech,  T.  v.  1734  ;  Bisoghte, 
pt.  s.  B  2164. 


14 


^losfsarial  lEnbrx. 


Bisemare,  s.  contemptuous  conduct,  A 
3963- 

Bisette,  v. ;  Besette,  v.  employ,  L.  1069 ; 
bestow,  3.  772;  Besette,  disposed  of,  L. 
2558  ;  used  up,  D  1952 ;  bestowed,  A  3715, 
established,  A  3012;  fixed,  I  366;  Beset, 
/>^.  bestowed,  T.  i.  521. 

Biseye,  ;>;>.  beseen  ;  we/  b.,  fair  to  see, 
good-looking,  R.  821 ;  well  provided,  3. 
829 ;  gOi^dly  b.,  fair  to  see,  good  in  ap- 
pearance, T.  ii.  1262;  yvel  b.,  ill-looking, 
E  965  ;  rickety  b.,  rich-looking,  splendid, 

!•:  Q84. 

Bishende,  v. ;  Beshende,  v.  bring  to  ruin, 
L  2-396. 

Bishitte,  v. ;  Bishet,  />/>.  shut  up,  T.  iii. 
602. 

Bishrewe,  1  pr.  s.  beshrcw,  D  844. 

Blsie,  V.  refi.  take  pains,  B  3034  ;  Bisie  me, 
i-niploy  myself,  G  758;  pi.  pi.  occupied 
themselves,  5.  192. 

Blslly,  adv.  diligently,  A.  ii.  38.  8;  com- 
pletely, T.  iii.  1153;  eagerly,  I'  1051; 
well,  i.  33. 

Bisinesse,  s.  business,  B  1415 ;  busy  en- 
deavour, A  1007.  G  24;  diligence,  3. 1156; 
C  56 ;  industry,  G  5  ;  labour,  5.  86 ;  work, 
activity,  T.  i.  795;  trouble,  ado,  7.  99; 
careful  attention,  B  2979;  attentiyeness, 
7.  250;  care,  A  520. 

Bi-smokede,  adj.  pi.  dirtied  with  smoke. 
B  I.  pi.  31. 

Bismotered,  pp.  besmutted,  marked  with 
spots  of  rust,  &c.,  A  76. 

Bispet,  pp.  spit  upon,  I  276. 

Bisprengre,  I. ;  Bespreynt,//.  sprinkled, 
bedewed,  2.  10. 

Bistad,  pp.  bestead,  in  trouble,  R.  1227 ; 
liud  b.,  greatly  imperilled,  B  649. 

Blstryden,  v.  •  Bistrood,  //.  s.  bestrode, 
B  209^. 

Bisy.  Besy,  adj.  busy,  industrious,  R. 
1052;  active.  L.  103;  useful,  I  474; 
attentive,  F  509;  anxious,  2.  2. 

Bisyde.  prep,  beside  ;  ther  b.,  beside  that 
place,  3.  1316;  o/b.,hom  the  neighbour- 
hood of,  A  445 ;  b.  hii  leve,  without  his 
leave,  HF.  2105. 

Bisydes,  prep. :  him  b.,  near  him,  A  402. 

Bisydes,  Besydes,  adv.  on  one  side,  G 
14 16. 

Bit.  pr.  s.  of  Bidde. 

Bitake,  i  pr.  s.  commend,  I  1043  •  commit, 
E  161;  resign,  A  3750;  i  pr.  s.  deliver, 
entrust,  L.  2297;  Bitook./A  s.  entrusted, 
G  541 ;  Bitaken,//.  B  3.  m  2.  47. 

Biteche.  i  pr.  s.  commit  (to),  consign 
(to).  B  2114. 


Bithinke,   v.    imagine,  think    of,  T.   iii. 

1694  ;   Bethmke,  v.  2.  107  ;  ger.  to  reflect, 

HF.   1176;    Bithoughte,  i  pi.  s.  rejl.  be- 
thought myself,  R.  521  ;   I  am  bithought, 

I  have  thought  (of),  A  767;   Bithought, 

pp.  T.  ii.  225. 
Bitid,  Bltit:  see  Bityde. 
Bitook :  set-  Bitake. 
Bitore.  s.  hiiti-rn.  U  972. 
Bitraise,  Bitraisshe,  v.  betray,  Bitray- 

seth,  pr.  s.   C  92 ;  pp.   betrayed,  '1'.  iv. 

1648;   I   269;    Bitraisshed,   R.   1648;    Bi- 

tr.isshed,  R.  1520. 
Bitrenden,  v. ;    Bi-trent,  pr.  s.  encircles, 

goes  round,  T.  iv.  870;  twines  round,  1'. 

iii.  1231. 
Bltwlxen, />-<■/.  between,  A  880;  Betwixcn, 

5.148;   Bitwixc,  A  277;  Bitwix,  L.  729. 
Bityde,  Bityden,  v.  happen,  T.  ii.  623; 

arrive,  B  3730;  /'•.  s.  subj.  E306;   Bityde 

what  b.,   happen  wh.it  may,  T.   v.  750; 

Bitit,//-.  s.  betides,  happens,  T.  ii.  48,  v. 

345 ;    Bitidde,  pi.  s.   befell,  T.  v.  1641 ; 

Biiid,  pp.  T.  iii.  288  ;  Betid,  HV.  384. 
Bitydln^e,  s.  an  event,  B  5.  p  i.  37. 
Bltymes,  adv.  betimes,  soon,  G  1008. 
Blware,  ;•. ;  Biwaied,//.  spent,  expended, 

i.iid  out  (as  on  wares),  T.  i.  636. 
Biwepe,  x^''-  'o  bemoan,  T.  i.  763 ;   Bi- 

wopen,/»/>.  bathed  in  tears,  T.  iv.  916. 
Blwreye,  v.  make  manifest,  reveal,  T.  iii. 

377  ;  Biwreyest,  2  pr.  s.  revealest,  B  773  ; 

Biwreyd,  pp.  betrayed    (viz.  by   having 

your  words  revealed),  H  352. 
Biwreying^,  s.  betraying,  B  2330. 
Bi-wryen,  !».  disclose,  reveal,  T.  ii.  537; 

Bewryo,  betray,  5.  348.     (Wrongly  used 

for  Biwrevc.) 
Blak,  adj.  black,  A  294 ;  Blake,  pi.  A  557 ; 

Blakke,  </</:  HF.  1801. 
Blak,  s.  black  clothing.  3.  445. 
Blake,  s.  black  writing,  ink,  T.  ii.  1320. 
Blakeberied,   a,    a-blackberrying,   1.   e. 

a-wandering  at  will,  astray,  C  406. 
Blaked.  pp.  blackened,   rendered   black, 

H  3321- 
BlaDdishe,  pr.  s.  subj.  fawn,  I  376. 
Blankmanger,  s.  a  compound  of  minced 

capon    with  cream,  sugar,  and  flour,  A 

387.     Named  from  its  white  colour. 
Blasen,  ger.  to  blow,  HF.  1802. 
Blaspheme,  f.  blaspheming,  16.  15. 
B16sphem6xir,  s.  blasphemer,  C  898. 
Blast,  .r.  puff,  T.  ii.  1387. 
Blaste,  ;'<rr.  to  blow  a  trumpet,  HF.  1866. 
Blaunche,  adj.  fern.  whW^  (see  Fevere), 

r.  i.  010. 

Blaundisshinge,  pret.  pt.    as    adj.  be- 


(@lo!30artal  l^ntitx. 


15 


witching,  B  3.  m  12.  23 ;  Blaundissinge, 

flattering,  B  2.  p  i.  31. 
Bleche,  v. ;  />/>.  bleached,  9.  45. 
Blede,  -.-.  bleed,  L.   2696 ;   Bledde,  p(.  s. 

bled,  T.  ii.  950. 
Blemished.  />/>.  injured,  B  i.  p  4.  312. 
Blende,  v.  blind,  T.  iv.  648 ;  ^er.  to  de- 
ceive, T.  iii.  207;  to  blind   {or  read  to- 

blende,   v.  blind    utterly),   T.   ii.    1496; 

Blent,//-,  s.  blinds,  5.  600;  Blente, /A  j. 

blinded,   T.  v.  1194;  Blent,  pp.   15.   18; 

deceived,  E  21 13. 
Blere,  v.  blear,  bedim  ;  Blere  hir  ye,  dim 

their  eye,  cajole  them,  A  4049;  pp.  de- 
ceived, G  730. 
Blerlng,  s.  dimming  ;  6/.  of  an  ye,  cajoling, 

A  3865. 
Blesse,  z'.  bless ;  Blesseth  hir,/r.j.  crosses 

b.erself,  B  449. 
Bleve,  V.  remain,  T.  iv.  1484;  remain  (at 

honie),T.  iii. 623 ;,^«r.  to  dwell, T.iv.  1357. 
Blew,  pt.  s.  of  Blowe. 
Blew,  adj.  blue,  A  564;  3.  340;  as  s.  blue 

cloihing,  21.  7. 
Bleyne,  .f.  I)lain,  blemish,  R.  553. 
Bleynte,//.  J.  blenched,  started  back,  A 

1078  ;  turned  aside,  T.  iii.  1346.     Pt.  s.  of 

Blenche,  v. 
Blinde,   v.\    BIynde   with,  ger.   to   blind 

(the  priest)  with,  G  1151. 
Bllnne,  v.  leave  off,  cease,  G  1171. 
Blisful,  adj.  happy,  9.  i ;  conferring  bliss, 

I.   24;  blessed,  3.   854;    merry,   R.   80; 

sainted,  A  17. 
Blisful.  adv.  joyously,  5.  689. 
Blisfully,  adv.  happily,  A  1236. 
Blisfulnesse,  s.  happiness,  B  2.  p  4.  75. 
Blisse.    V.   bless,   E   553.     Perhaps  read 

blessf,  kesse.     See  Blesse. 
Blissed,  pp.  happy,  9.  43. 
Bio,  adj.  blue,  smoke-coloured,  HF.  1647. 
Blody,  adj.  causing  bloodshed,  A  2512. 
Blondren;  see  Blundre. 
Blood,  s.  lineage,  7.  65;  offspring,  E  632; 

kinswoman,  t.  ii.  594. 
Blosme,  s.  blossom,  A  3324.  ■ 

Blosme,  v.  blossom;  pr.  s.  E  1462;  //. 

covered  with  blossoms,  R.  108. 
Blosmy,  adj.  blossoming,  T.  ii.  821 ;  full 

of  buds,  5.  183. 
Blowe,!;.  blow,  A  565;   Blew, />/.  J.  3.  182 ; 

(it)  blew,  T.   iii.   678;    Blowen, //.  pro- 
claimed by  trumpets,  A  2241.  | 
Blundre,    v.;  pr.   s.  runs   heedlessly,   G  j 

1414;   I  p.pl.pr.  Blondren,  we  become   i 

mazed,  G  670. 
Blythly,  adv.  gladly,  3.  749,  755. 
Blyve,  adv.  quicklv,  soon,  L.  60;  as  bl.. 


very  soon,  as  soon  as  possible,  T.  i.  965 ; 

forthwith,  R.  706,  992 ;  also  bl.,  as  soon 

as  possible,  T.  iv.  174. 
Bobance,  s.  presumption,  boast,  D  569. 
Boce,  s.  protuberance  (boss),  I  423. 
Boch.  s.  botch,  pustule,  B  3.  p  4.  14. 
Bocher,  s.  butcher,  A  2025. 
Bocler,  s.  buckler,  .A  3266. 
Bode  (l),  s.  foreboding,  omen,  5.  343. 
Bode  (2),  s.  abiding,  delay,  7.  119. 
Bode,  V.  proclaim ;  pr.  s.  heralds,   B  4. 

m  6.  17. 
Boden,  //.  of  Bede. 

Body,  s.  person,  F  1005 ;   principal   sub- 
ject, E  42;  corpse,  3.   142;    B  1872;  my 

b.,  myself,   B    1185;'//.  metallic   bodies 

(metals),  answering  to  celestial   bodies 

(planets),  G  820,  825. 
Boef,  s.  beef,  E  1420. 
Boes.;*r.  .r.  (it)  behoves,  A  4026.  (Northern.) 
Boght,  Boghte;  see  Bye. 
Boist.  f.  box,  C  307 ;  //.HF.  2129. 
BoistOUS.  adj.  rude,  plain,  H  211. 
Boistously,  adv.  loudly,  E  791. 
Bokel,  s.  buckle,  R.  1086. 
Bokeler,  j.  buckler,  A  112.  A  small  round 

shield  usually  carried  by  a  handle  at  the 

back.    See  Bocler. 
Bokelinge,  pres.pt.  buckling,  A  2503. 
Bokes,  //.  books,  A  294. 
Boket,  s.  bucket,  A  1533. 
Bolas.  //.  bullace-plums,  bullaces,  R.  1377. 
Bolde.  V.  grow  bold,  5.  144. 
Bole,  V.  bull,  T.  iii.  723,  iv.  239. 
Bole  armoniak,  Armenian  ciay,  G  790. 
Bolle,  s.  a  bowl,  G  1210. 
Bolt,  s.  crossbow-bolt,  A  3264. 
Bolt-upright,  on  (her)  back,  A  4266,  B 

1506. 
Bomble,  v.;  pr.  s.  booms  (as  a  bittern), 

D972. 
Bon,  adj.  good,  HF.  1022. 
Bond,  s.  bond,  obligation,  A  1604;  band, 

fetter,  T.  iii.  1766  ;  obligation  (compelling 

the  service  of  spirits),  F  131. 
Bonde,  s.  bondman,  D  1660,  I  149. 
Bonde-folk,  s.pl.  bondmen,  I  754. 
Bonde-men,  s.  pi.  bondmen,  I  752. 
B6ne,  s.  petition,  boon,  prayer,  request, 

3-  129,  835. 
Bood,  //.  s.  of  Byde. 
Boon,  J.  bone,  R.  1059;  ivory,  T.  ii,  926; 

Bones,  //.  bones,  A  546. 
B66r,  s.  boar,  A  2070 ;    Bores,  ^en.  si»jf. 

boar's,  B  2060;   Bores,//.  A  1658. 
Boost,  s.   loud   talk,   A   4001;    boasi,    L. 

267;   pride,   B   3289;    boasting,    C  764; 

swelling,  G  441. 


i6 


(Sloesarial  Sntiei. 


B66t,  s.  boat,  T.  i.  416,  ii.  3. 
B66t,  s.  help,  remedv,  T.  iii.  1208. 
Boot,  pt.  s.  of  Byte.  ' 
Boras,  /.  borax,  A  630,  G  790. 
Bord,  i.  table,  A  52,  B  430 ;  plank,  3.  74 ; 
board,    i.  c.    meals,   G    1017 ;    to   b..   to 
board,  A  3188,  D  528;  into  shippes  bord, 
on  board  the  ship,  A  3585 ;   over-bord, 
overboard,  B  922. 
Bordels,  /.  //.  brothels,  I  885. 
Bordel-women,;*/.  women  of  the  brothel, 

I  976 
Bordure,  s.  border,  raised   rim  on  the 
fr^'nf  of  an  astrolabe,  A.  i.  4.  4. 

Bore,  t.  bore,  hole.  I",  iii.  1453. 

Bore.  Boren,  pp.  of  Bere. 

Borel,  s.  coarse  woollen  clothes,  D  356; 
Borel  men,  lavmcn,  B  3145.    See  Blirel. 

Bores ;  see  Boor. 

Borken,  pp.  of  Berke. 

Borne,  v. ;  Borneth,  /r.  s.  burnishes, 
smoothes.  T.  i.  327. 

Borwe,  s.  pledge.  A  1622 ;  to  b.,  in  pledge, 
as  a  pledge,  T.  v.  1664 ;  /eyd  to  b..  laid " 
in  pledge,  pawned,  T.  ii.  963 ;  to  b.,  for 
surety,  4.  205;  I'enus  here  to  b.,  Venus 
being  your  pledge,  T.  ii.  1524. 

Borwe,  v.  borrow.  B  105. 

Bos,  s.  boss,  A  3266.    See  Boce. 

Bost,  s. ;  see  Boost. 

Boste,  V.  boast ;  pr.  s.  D  1672. 

B6te,  s.  good,  benefit,  D  472;  remedy, 
profit.  3.  38 ;  advantage,  T.  i.  352 ;  heal- 
ing. T.  i.  763;  help.  T.  ii.  345;  healer, 
23.  45;  relief,  G  1481 ;  salvation,  B  1656; 
doth  b.,  gives  the  remedy  for,  5.  276 ; 
for  b.  ne  bale,  for  good  nor  for  ill,  3. 
227. 

Botel.  s.  bottle  (of  hay).  H  14. 

Botelees.  adj.  without  remedv  T.  i  782 

Boteler,  s.  butler.  HF.  592.    ' 

Boterflye.  s.  butterfly,  B  3980. 

Botes,  pi.  boots,  .\  203,  273. 

Botha,  both,  A  540;  your  bothes,  of  both 
of  vou,  I.  83;  your  bother,  of  vou  both 
T.  iv.  168. 

Botmelees,  adj.  bottomless,  unreal  T.  v. 
1431- 

Bough,  J.  bough,  R.  1403;  Bowes.//.  R. 
108. 

Bought,  Boughte  ;  see  Bye. 

Bouk.  s.  trunk  of  the  body.  A  2746. 

Boun,  adj.  prepared,  F  1503. 

Bounde,  s.  bound ;  //.  bounds,  limits, 
L.  546,  1673. 

Bountee,  s.  goodness,  kindness,  i.  9; 
good    deed,    I    393;    delightfulness,    R. 


!   Bountevous,  adj.  bountiful,  bounteous, 

:     r.  i.  883;  c  110. 

Bout,  s.  bed-chamber,  HF.  1186;  B  1932; 
lady's  chamber,   R.    1014;    inner   room, 
B  4022. 
Bourde,  s.  jest,  H  81 ;  //.  D  680. 
Bourde,  1  pr.  s.  jest,  C  778 ;  pp.  5.  589. 
Box  (I),  J.  box-tree,  A  2922;  boxwood,  L. 
806 ;  money-box.  A  4390 ;  box,  C  869. 
'   Box  (2),  I.  blow,  L.  1388. 
!   Boydekin,  s.  dagger,  A  3960. 
1   Brac6r.  s.  bracer,  a  guard   for  the  arm 
I        in  archery,  A  ill. 

;   Bragrot,  s.  a  beverage  made  of  honey  and 
I        ale.  A  3261. 
Braid,  i.  quick  movement ;  at  a  b.,  in  a 
moment,   R.    1336;    Brayd,   a   start,   L. 
1166. 
Brak,  pt.  s.  of  Breke. 
Brasil,  /.  dye  made  from   a  certain  dye- 
wood,  B  4649. 
Brast.  Braste;  see  Breste. 
Braun,  t.  muscle.  A  546;   brawn  (of  the 

b.,ar).  !•■  1254. 
Braunche,  <.  branch,  T.  v.  844. 
Brayd,  Brayde;  se.-  Breyde. 
Brede  { i ) ,  j.  breadth ,  R.  825, 1 124 ;  space. 
T.    i.    179;     on     brede,    abroad,    T.     i. 

530- 

Brede  (2),  s.  roast  meat,  HF.  1222. 

Brede,  .^v.  to  breed,  '1'.  iii.  1546 ;  grow, 
T.  V.  1027 ;  Breden,  ger.  to  breed,  arise, 
L.  1 156  (cf.  Vergil,  .-En.  iv.  2)  ;  Bred./*/, 
bred  up,  F  499. 

Breech,  .t.  breeches.  B  2049,  C  948. 

Breem,  s.  bream,  a  fish.  A  350. 

Breke.  -■.  break,  A  551.  C  936;  br.  his 
day,  fail  to  pay  on  the  day.  G  1040; 
ger.  to  interrupt.  B  2233 ;  Brak.  //.  s. 
3.  71 ;  Breke.  pr.  s.  subj.  4.  242 ;  Breke, 
2  pr.  pi.  subj.  break  off,  T.  v.  1032 ;  Breke, 
//.  s.  subj.  would  break,  B  4578 ;  Broke, 
//.  broken,  A  3571 ;  Broken,  //.  ship- 
wrecked, T-.  1487. 

Brekke.  s.  break,  flaw,  defect,  3.  940. 

Bremble-flour,  s.  flower  of  the  bramble, 
B  1936. 

Breme,  adj.  furious,  T.  iv.  184. 

Breme,  adv.  furiously,  A  1699. 

Bren,  s.  bran,  A  4053'. 

Brenne,  v.  burn,  17.  18;  to  be  burnt, 
T.  i.  91;  Brinne,  ger.  to  burn,  D  52; 
Brendest,  2  pt.  s.  didst  bum.  A  2384 ; 
Brende,  //.  s.  1.  90;  was  burnt,  HF". 
163;  was  set  on  fire,  HF.  537;  Brenned, 
//.  s.  was  inflamed  with  anger,  R.  297 ; 
Brende,  pt.  pi.  caught  fire.  HF.  954; 
Brente, //. //.  L.  731;  Brent,//.  7.  115, 


(glossartal  Inftex. 


17 


Brend,  //.  B    4555;    as  adj.  bright,  R. 
1109.  _  ■,      f  \ 

Brenning,  s.  burning,  4.  133;   greed   of 

gold,  R.  188.  ! 

Brenningly,  adv.  ardently,  T.  i.  607 ;  fer- 
vently, A  1564.  '  1 
Brere,' J.  briar,  R.  858;  Breres,  ;*/.  under- 
wood, A  1532.  I 
Brest,  s.  breast,  A  115,  131.  I 
Brest-boon,  s.  breast-bone,  A  2710. 
Breste,  v.  burst,  T.   v.   1008;   afflict,  T. 
iii.    1434;  break,    D   1103;   Brest,  />r.   s. 
bursts,  A  2610;  breaks,'!",  i.  258;   Brast, 
//.  s.   burst   out,  T.   v.    1078;  burst,  L. 
1033;  broke,  3.  1193;  Brasi, /A  s.  burst   ;, 
(or  read  braste  =  would   burst),   T.   y. 
180;    Braste,  //.  />/.    burst,   T.   ii.   326; 
Broste.  pi.  pi.   B  671,  C  234;   Brosten, 
//.  //.  4.  96 ;  Braste,  pt.  s.  siibj.   would 
burst,  T.   ii.    1108;    Brosten,  //.  burst, 
T.  ii.  976;  broken,  L.  1300. 
Bresting',  j.  bursting,  F  973. 
Bretful,  adj.  brimful,  A  687,  2164. 
Bretherhed,    s.    brotherhood,   religious 

order,  A  511. 
Brew,  //.  s.  contrived,  B  3575. 
Breyde,  ger.  to  start,  T.  iv.  230,348;  v. 
awake,  ?"  477 ;  Breyde,  i  pr.  s.  start,  T. 
V.  1262 ;  Breyde,  1  pt.  s.  awoke,  D  799 ; 
Breyde,  pt.  s.  started,  T.  v.  1243;  went 
(out  of  his  wits),  B  3728;  drew,  B  837; 
Brayde,  //.  s.   took   hastily,   HF.    1678 ; 
Brayd,   //.   started,    gone    suddenly,  7. 
124. 
Brid,  s.  bird,  HF.  1003;  young  of  birds, 

5.  192. 
Brige,  s.  contention,  B  2873.     F.  brigue. 
Brigge,  s.  bridge,  A  3922. 
Bright,  adj.  fair,  R.  1009. 
Brighte,  adj.  as  s.  brightness  (after/o;), 

r.  ii.  864. 
Brike,   s.   a  trap,   snare,   '  fix,"    dilemma, 

B  3580. 
Brings,  v.  bring;  Bringes,  2  pr.  s.  bring- 
est,     HF.     1908     (a    Northern    form)  ; 
Broghten,  pt.  pi.  B  2590 ;   tnade  broght, 
caused  to  be  brought.  HF.  155. 
Brinne,. .?•(?/■.  to  burn,  D  52.    See  Brenne. 
Brocage,  s.  mediation,  A  3375. 
Broche,  J.  brooch,  R.  1193;  small  orna- 
ment, bracelet,  4.  245. 
Erode,  adv.  broadly,  plainly,  A  739;  far 
and  wide,  HF.    1683;    wide    awake,  G 
1420. 
Brodere,  adj.  larger,  A.  ii.  38.  i. 
Brok,    i.  e.   Badger,  a  horse's   name,  D 

1^43- 
Broken;  see  Harm.    And  see  Breke. 


Brokkinge,  pres.  pt.  using  a  quavermg 

voice,  .\  3377. 
Bromes,  //.  broom  (bushes   so  called), 

HF.  1226. 
Brond,   s.  torch,   L.  2252;    firebrand,  B 
3224;    Bronde,   dat.    piece    of   burning 
wood,  B  2095. 
Brood,   adj.  broad,  A    155,  471;    "i"^'<. 
large,    F   82;    Brode,  //.    R.    939;    ex- 
panded, R.  1681. 
Broste,  -en ;  see  Breste. 
Brotel,   adj.    brittle,    frail,    T.    iii.    820; 
fickle,  L.  1885;  unsafe,  insecure,  E  1279; 
transitory,  E  2061 ;  Brutel,  B  2.  p  5.  6. 
Brotelnesse,  s.  frailty,  T.  v.  1832;  inse- 
curity, IC  1279;  fickleness,  10.  63. 
Brotherhede,  s.  brotherhood,  D  1399. 
Brouded,  pp.  embroidered,  A    3238,  B 

3659. 
Brouke,  v.  enjoy,  use,   B  4490;  keep,  E 
2308;   ipy.  s.  sub/,  (optative),  may  have 
the  use   of,   HF.  273;    Brouken,  pr.  pi. 
sithj.  (opt.),  may  (they)  profit  by,  L.  194. 
Browding,  s.  embroidery,  A  2498. 
Broyded.  pp.  braided,  A  1049. 
Brutel ;  see  Brotel. 
Brybe.   v.   steal,   filch,  A  4417;    rob,   D 

1378. 
Bryberyes,  pi.  ways  of  robbing,  D  1367. 
Brydale,  s.  wedding,  A  4375. 
Brydel,  s.  bridle,  7.  184. 
Brydeleth,  pr.  s.  controls,  4.  41. 
Buffet,  .(.  blow;   Buffettes, />/.  I  258. 
Bugle-horn,  s.  drinking-horn  made  from 

the  'bugle'  or  ox,  F  1253. 
Buk,   s.   buck,   5.    195;    Bukke,   B    1946; 

Bukkes,^^/?.  buck's,  A  3387. 
Bulde,   V.  build;    Bulte,  pt.  s.  built,    A 

1548. 
BuUe,  s.  papal  bull,  C  909. 
Bulte,  pt.  s.  of  Bulde. 
Bulte,  V.  boult,  sift,  B  4430. 
Burdoun,   s.  burden    of    a   song,    bass- 
accompaniment,  A  673. 
Burel,  adj.  rough,  unlettered,  F  716;  lay 
(people),  D  1872,  1874.    The  idea  is  that 
of  a   man   dressed   in   burel,   or  coarse 
woollen  cloth.     See  Borel. 
Buriels,    .f.  pi.  burial-places,    i.   e.    the 

catacombs,  G  186. 
Burne,  v.  burnish  ;  pp.  A  1983;  polished, 
HF.  1387;  lustrous,  C  38.    See  Borne. 
Burnet,  adj.  made  of  coarse  brown  cloth. 

R.  226. 
Busk,  s.  bush,  R.  54 ;  //.  A  1579. 
But,  conj.  except,  unless,  2.  82;  3.  117. 
But,  as  s.  an  exception,  a  '  but,'  I  494. 
But  and,  but  if,  L.  1790. 


i8 


(Sloseartal  Jinbtx. 


But-if,  cofrj.  unless,  R.  250. 

Buxom,  iidj.  yielding,  6.  125;  obedient, 

li  1287. 
Buxomly,  adv.  obediently,  E  186. 
Buxumnesse,  s.  submission,  13.  15. 
By./''/-  liy,  A  25.  &.C.;  as  regards,  with 

respect    to,    concerning,    6.    126;    with 

reference   to,   5.  4 ;  for,  on   account  of, 

R.  844;    by  proces,  in  process.  B  2665; 

by  vie,  beside  me  {with  accent  on  by),  T. 

il.  991 ;  by  the  tnorwe,  in   the   morning, 

L.  49. 
By,  adv.  beside ;  faste  by,  close  at  hand, 

R.  1274. 
By  and  by,  adv.  one   after  another,  in 

due  order,  in  due  place,  L.  304,  A  ion. 
Byde,  v.  wait,  T.  i.  1067 ;  A  1576 ;  Bood, 

pt.  s.  waited,  T.  v.  29;  Biden,/>^.  stayed, 

E  1888. 
Bye,  V.  buy,  pay  for  (it),  D  167 ;  go  by,  let 

us  go  to  buy.  G  1294;   Bye,  pr.  pi.  siibj. 

18.  26 ;    Boghte,  pt.  s.  bought,  A  2088 ; 

redeemed,  E  1153;  b.  agayn,  redeemed, 

Byhig-ht,  pp.  promised,  T.  v.  H04. 

Byingr.  >.  buying,  A  569. 

By-japed,  pp.  tricked,  made  a  jest  of,  T. 

\.  lllg. 
Bynt  him,   binds  himself,  4.  47;    Bvnt 

her.  4.  48. 
By-path,  s.  by-way,  T.  iii.  1705. 
Byrde,  f.  inaiden,  lady,  R.  1014. 
By-seke,  v.  beseech,  T.  iv.  131. 
Byte,  V.  bite,  T.  iii.  737;    cut  deeply,  F 

158 ;    burn,  A  631 ;    Boot,  pt.   s.   bit,    B 

3791 ;  Biten. //.  bitten,  L.  2318. 
Bytinge,  s.  wound,  B  3.  m  7.  7. 
By- word,  s.  proverb,  T.  iv.  769. 
By-wreye.  v.  reveal,  T.  iii.  367. 


Caa3,   s.  circumstance,  I   105;  sette  caas 

=  suppose,  A.  ii.  42.  24;^Caas,//.  cases 

of  law,  A  323. 
Cacche,  v.  catch.  G  11;  lay  hold  of,  3. 

969;  come  by,  HF.  404;  Caughte,  ^/.  s. 

took,   conceived,    E  619;  took,  A  498; 

pulled,  L.   1854;  Caught,  //.   obtained, 

E  mo;  taken,  F  740. 
Caitif,  adj.  captive,  miserable,  wretched, 

A  1552. 
Caitif,   s.  wretch,    R.  340;   //.  captives, 

A  924. 
Cake,  s.  a  round  and  rather  flat  loaf  of 

bread    (in   the   shape   of  a   large  bun), 

A  668,  4094,  C  322. 
Calceningr,  s.  calcination,  G  771. 


Calcinacioun,  s.  calcination,  G  S04. 

Calcule,  V.  calculate;  Calculed,  pt.  s.  F 
1284. 

Calculer,  ,f.  the  calculator  or  pointer,  A 
i.  23.  2.    See  Almury. 

Calculinge,  s.  calculation,  T.  i.  71. 

Calendes,  p/.  kalends,  introduction  to 
a  new  time,  T.  ii.  7. 

Calle,  s.  caul,  a  net  used  to  confine 
women's  hair,  A.  i.  19.  4;  headdress, 
D  1018  ;  to  ■  make  a  hood  above  a  caul ' 
=  to  befool,  T.  iii.  775. 

Camaille,  s.  a  camel,  E  1196. 

Camuse,  adj.  low  and  concave,  A  3934, 
3974- 

Can,  I  pr.  s.  know,  L.  1987;  know  how, 
am  able,  E  304,  F  4;  can,  B  42;  under- 
stand, F  1266;  am  able  to  say,  5.  14; 
pr.  s.  knows,  3.  673  ;  has,  E  2245 ;  knows 
(of),  A  1780;  has  skill,  T.  ii.  1197;  can 
on,  has  knowledge  of,  F  786;  cm  hir 
good,  knows  her  own  advantage,  D  231 ; 
can  thank,  owes  (them)  thanks,  A  1818  ; 
ipr.pl.  know,  B  1 169. 

Canel-boon,  s.  collar-bone  (lit.  channel- 
bone,  with  reference  to  the  depression 
in  the  neck  behind  the  collar-bone), 
3-  943- 

Canelle,  s.  cinnamon,  R.  1370. 

Cankedort,  s.  state  of  suspense,  critical 
position,  T.  ii.  1752. 

Canon,  s.  the  '  Canon,"  the  title  of  a  book 
by  Avicenna,  C  890;  rule,  explanation, 
A.  pr.  105. 

Canstow,  2  p.  s.  pr.  knowest  thou,  A.  pr. 
20;  canst  thou,  T.  iv.  460. 

Cantel,  s.  portion,  A  3008. 

Cape,  ger.  gape  after,  T.  v.  1133.  See 
Gape. 

Capel,  s.  horse,  nag,  H  64;  cart-horse, 
U  2150. 

Cappe,  s.  cap,  A  586;  set  the  wrightes 
cappe.  i.  e.  made  a  fool  of  him,  A  3143. 

Carboucle,  s.  carbuncle-stone,  R.  1120. 

Cardiacle,  $.  pain  about  the  heart,  C  313. 

Care,  s.  anxiety,  sorrow,  grief,  trouble,  7. 
63;  T.  i.  505,  587;  ill-luck,  5.  363;  pi. 
miseries,  T.  i.  264. 

Care,  t'.  feel  anxiety,  E  1212;  Care  thee, 
imp.  s.  be  anxious,'  A  3298. 

Careful,  adj.  full  of  trouble,  6.  44,  133; 
sorrowful,  A  1565. 

Careyne,  s.  corpse,  carcase,  5.  177. 

Carf,  cut;  see  Kerve. 

Cariagre,  s.  a  carrying  away ;  upon  c,  in 
the  way  of  carrying  anything  away, 
i.  c.  that  I  can  carry  away,  D  1570 ; 
Cariages,  s.pl.  tolls  due  from  the  tenant 


#lo!30artal  J^riOtx. 


to  his  feudal  lord  imposed  by  authority, 
I  752. 

Carl,  s.  man,  A  3469;  rustic,  countryman, 
A  545- 

Cdrole,  s.  a  dance  accompanied  with 
singing,  R.  744,  781,  793. 

Carole,  v.  dance  round  singing,  3.  849 ; 
p/>.  danced,  R.  810. 

Carpe,  v.  talk,  discourse,  A  474. 

Carrik,  s.  barge,  D  1688. 

Cart,  s.  chariot,  HF.  943. 

Cartere,  s.  charioteer,  B  5.  p  4.  100. 

Cart-hors, //.  chariot-horses,  HF.  944. 

Cas,  s.  accident,  chance,  HF.  254,  1052; 
affair,  L.  409;  occasion,  B  36;  adven- 
ture, L.  1630 ;  mischance,  L.  1056 ;  i/i 
cas  that,  in  case,  A.  ii.  3.  2 ;  upon  cas,  by 
chance,  A  3661 ;  in  cas  if  that,  in  case 
that,  T.  ii.  758 ;  in  no  maner  cas,  in  no 
way,  D  1831 ;  set  a  cas,  suppose  that,  T. 
ii.  729;  to  deyen  in  the  cas,  though 
death  were  the  result,  E  859. 

Cast,  s.  occasion,  turn,  B  3477;  contri- 
vance, plan,  HF.  1178. 

Caste,  V.  cast  (accounts),  B  1406;  Casten, 
V.  throw,  T.  ii.  513;^.  with  a  spere, 
throw  with  a  spear,  HF.  1048;  fling, 
A  3330;  contrive,  HF.  1170;  Caste,  i 
pr.  s.  conjecture,  A  2172;  Casteth,  ;>/-.  s. 
casts  about,  I  692;  considers,  G  1414; 
applies,  B  2781 ;  re/,  devotes  himself, 
G  738  ;  Cast,//-,  s.  casts,  R.  1574;  Caste, 
I  pf.  s.  threw,  5.  172;  Casten,^/.  thrown, 
B  1796;  Cast,  /;*.  overthrown,  T.  ii. 
1389;  contrived,  B  3891;  c.  biforn,  pre- 
meditated, I  543. 

Castelled.  adj.  castellated,  I  445. 

Castel-yate,  castle-gate,  HF.  1294. 

Catapuce,  s.  caper-spurge  {Euphorbia 
/.a//y./-/i),B4i5S. 

Catel,  s.  property,  wealth,  possessions, 
goods,  A  373,  540. 

Cause,  s.  cause,  i.  26;  A  419;  reason,  T. 
V.  527;  plea,  2.  46;  Cause  causinge, 
first  cause,  T.  iv.  829;  by  the  c.  that, 
because,  A  2488;  by  that  c,  because, 
T.  iv.  99 ;  Cause  why,  the  reason  why, 
T.  iii.  795;  the  reason  for  it  (was),  A 
4144. 

Causeles,  adv.  without  cause,  F  825. 

Cave,  s.  cave,  HF.  70;  used  to  translate 
the  astrological  term  '  puteus,'  4.  119. 

Cavlllacioun,  s.  cavillmg,  D  2136. 

Celebrable,  adj.  celebrated,  B  4.  m  7.  30. 

Celerer,  s.  keeper  of  a  cellar,  B  3126. 

Celle,  f.  cell,  A  172,  1376. 

Centaure,  s.  centaury,  Centaurea  nigra, 
1'  4153- 


Centre,  s.  a  point  on  a  rete  representing 

a  star,  A.  i.  21.  12. 
Ceptre,  s.  sceptre,  B  3334,  3563. 
Cercle,  s.  HF.  791 ;  sphere,  16.  9. 
Cerclen,^^/-.  to  encircle,  T.  iii.  1767 ;  pr.  s. 

R.  1619. 
Cered,//.  as  adj.  waxed,  G  808. 
Cerial,   adj.   belonging  to    a    species   of 

oak,  the  Qtiercus  cerris,  A  2290. 
Ceriously,     adv.     minutely,     with     full 

details,  B    185.     Ducange   has  '  Seriose, 

fuse,     minutatim,     arficulatim.'       From 

Lat.  series,  order. 
Certein,  adj.  sure;  Certeins, //.  certain, 

B  5.  p  5.   115;  c.gold,  a  stated  sum   of 

money,   B  242;    c.  tresor,  a  quantity  of 

treasure,     B    442;    c.  yeres,    a    certain 

number   of    years,    B   3367;   Certeyn,   a 

certain  sum,  a  fixed  quantity,  G  776. 
Certein,  adv.  certainly,  indeed,  assuredly, 

A  375- 
Certes,  adv.  certainly,  R.  374,  439. 
Ceruce,  s.  white  lead,  A  630. 
Cese,  V.  cause  to  cease,  T.  i.  445 ;  put  an 

end  to,  4.  II.    See  Cesse. 
Cesse,   V.  cease,  B  1066;  c.  cause,  when 

the  cause  ceases,  T.  ii.  483  ;  c.  wind,  when 

the  wind  ceases,  T.  ii.  1388. 
Cetewale,  s.  setwall,  i.  e.  zedoary,  A  3207, 
;       B  1951.     O.  F.  citoal.    A  medicinal  sub- 
l       stance    obtained    in     the    East    Indies, 

having  a   fragrant  smell,  and   a  warm, 

bitter,  aromatic  taste,  used  in  medicine 
[       as  a  stimulant.     (The  name  setwall  was 
I       also  given  to  valerian.) 
I   Ceynt,  s.  cincture,  girdle,  A  3235. 
Chaffare,  s.  bargaining,    I    851 ;    traffic, 

G    1421 ;    trade,  A   4389;    merchandise, 
I       ware,  B    1475,   D   521 ;    matter,  subject, 

E  2438. 
Chaffdre,   ger.    to    trade,    barter,    deal, 

traffic,  B  139. 
Chaires,  s.pl.  thrones,  B  4.  m  2.  6. 
Chaldng-e,  v.;  pr.  s.  1  p.  claim,  F  1324; 

Clialaunged,  pt.  s.  arrogated,  B  2.  p  6.  36. 
Chalanging,  s.  false  claim,  accusation, 

C  264. 
Chalaundre,  s.  a  species  of  lark  {Alauda 

calandra) ,  R.  914  ;  //.  R.  663. 
Chalice,  s.  cup,  I  879. 
Chalk-stoon,  s.  a  piece  of  chalk,  G  1207. 
Chalons,  pi.  blankets  or  coverlets  for  a 

bed,  A  4140.     Cf.  E.  shalloon. 
Chamberere,  s.  maidservant,  lady's  maid, 

D  300. 
Chambre-roof,  roof  of  my  room,  3.  299. 
Champartye,   .f.   equality,   participation 

in  power,  A  1949.     F.  champ  parti. 


(gloesartal  Sntex. 


Chanon,  t.  canon.  G  573. 

Chapeleine,  s.  chaplain,  A  164. 

Chapelet,  s.  fillet,  circlet  for  the  head, 
cli;\!>lot,  R.  563,  845,  908. 

Chapitre,  j.  chapter,  D  1945. 

Chapman,  s.  trader,  merchant,  A  397 ; 
(JIuiiHiion.;)/.  B  135. 

Chapmanhede,  s.  bargaining,  B  1428; 
u.uic.  B  143. 

Char.  .r.  chariot,  7.  24,  39,  40. 

Charbocle,  t.  carbuncle  (a  precious 
st(inc),  B  2061. 

Chargre,  s.  load,  burden,  R.  1352;  respon- 
sibility, 5.  507;  consideration,  A  1284; 
importance,  3.  894;  care,  A  733;  par- 
ticular note,  D  321 ;  a  heavy  thing, 
HF.  746;  weight,  L.  620;  consequence, 
L.  2383;  0/  that  no  c/i.,  for  that  no 
matter,  it  is  of  no  importance,  G  749. 

Chargre,  v.  load,  L.  2151;  command,  L. 
493;  PP-  burdened.  I  92;  bidden,  L. 
940. 

Chargeant,  adj.  burdensome,  B  2433. 

Char-hors,  //.  chariot-horses,  T.  v.  lolS. 

Charitable,  adj.  loving,  L.  444;  kind,  A 
143. 

Charitee,  s.  charity,  love,  T.  i.  49;  for 
seinle  ch.,  i.  e.  either  (l)  for  holy  charity  ; 
or  (2)  for  the  sake  of  St.  Charity,  A 
1721,  B  4510,  D  2119. 

Charmeresses,  fem.  pi.  workers  with 
charm<;.  HF.  1261. 

Chaste,  v.  to  chasten ;  pf>.  taught,  F 
4QI.     O.  F.  chastier.     See  Chastyse. 

Chasteyn,  s.  chestnut,  A  2922.  See 
Chesteynes. 

Ch6,stisinge,  s.  chastening,  i.  129. 

Chastyse,  v.  to  rebuke,  restrain,  B  3695; 
chasten,  i.  39.     See  Chaste. 

Chaunce,  s.  chance,  .A  1752;  incident, 
3.  1285;  destiny,  3.  1113;  luck,  G  593; 
■  chance,'  a  technical  term  in  the  game 
of  hazard,  C  653. 

Chaungingr,  s.  change,  21.  17. 

Chaunteth.  pr.  i.  sings,  A  3367,  E  1850. 

Chaunte-pleure,  title  of  a  song  upon 
t;rief  following  joy,  7.  320. 

Chaunterie,  s.  an  endowment  for  the 
payment  of  a  priest  to  sing  mass,  agree- 
ably to  the  appointment  of  the  founder, 
A  510. 

Chayer,  5.  chair,  B  3803;  throne,  B  i. 
'"  5-  3- 

Cheef,  adj.  chief,  3.  910,  911. 

Cheef,  s.  chief,  head,  L.  2109. 

Cheek,  s.  cheek,  i.  e.  cheekbone,  B  3228. 

Cheep,  s.  market,  price  ;  to  greet  cheep, 
too    cheap,    D    523 ;    as  good  chep,   as 


cheaply,!",  iii.  641 ;  a  time  of  cheapness. 

HF.  1^4. 
Chees:  see  Chese. 

Cheeste,  s.  wrangling,  I  556.     .K.^.ceast. 
Chek.  .(.  lis  int.  check  (at  chess),  3.  659. 
Chekkere,  s.  chess-board,  3.  660. 
Chekmat.  (.lu'ckiuate,  T.  ii.  754. 
Chelaundre.  R.  81;  see  Chalaundre. 
Chep.  -e  :  scr  Cheep. 
Chepe.^f/-.  to  bargain  (with  her),  D  268. 
Chere,  J.  face,  countenance,  T.  i.  14;  look, 

mien,  R.   1014;    entertainment,  A  747; 

favour,  7.  108 ;   appearance,  19.  4 ;  be- 
haviour, A  139;    look,  glance,  sign,  T. 

i.    312;    good    cheer,     mirth,    A    4363; 

kindly  greeting,  4.  146;   show,  B  2377; 

kindly  expression,    E   11 12;    doth    him 

chere,  makes  him  good  cheer,  L.  2452 ; 

be  of  good  ch.,  be  of  good    cheer,  T.  i. 

879;    sory  ch.,   mournful    look,    D   588; 

Cheres,  pi.  faces,   R.  813 ;    looks,  T.  ii. 

1507. 
Cherl,  s.  churl,  boor,  fellow,  5.  596;    L. 

136;  slave,  I  463;  man  (in  the  moon), 

T.  i.  1024;  pi.  violent  men,  fierce  men, 

R.  880. 
Chertde.  s.  aficction,  B  1526. 
Cherublnnes,  gen.  cherub's,  .\  624. 
Cheryse,  pi.  cherries,  R.  1376. 
Ches.  5.  chess,  3.  619,  652,  664. 
Ch6se,  V.  choose,  5.  399,  400;  Cheest,  ^. 

s.  chooseth,  5.  623  ;  Chees,  i  pt.  s.  chose, 

3.791 ;  Chees, />/.  J.  chose,  B  3706;  Chees, 

imp.  s.  choose,   L.   1449;  Cheseth,  imp. 

pi.  D  1232;  Chose,//,  chosen,  3.  1004. 
Chesinge,  s.  choosing,  choice,  B  2305,  E 

162. 
Cheste.  s.  chest,  casket,  T.  v.  1368 ;  box, 

trunk,  L.  510;  coffin,  U  502. 
Chesteynes.//.  chestnuts,  R.  1375. 
Chevauchee ;  see  Chivachee. 
Cheve,  v.;  m  phr.  yvel    mote   he  cheve 

=  ill  may  he  end,  or  ill  may  he  thrive, 

G  1225. 
Chevesaile,   s.   (ornamented)  collar  or 

neckband  of  a  gown,  R.  1082. 
Chevisaunce,    s.   borrowing,    L.    2434; 

agreement  to   borrow,  B   1519 ;  dealing 

for  profit,  A  282. 
Chevise,  v.  rejl.  accomplish  (her)  desire, 

4   289.     O.  F.  chevir. 
Chideresse,  s.  a  scold,  R.  150. 
Chieftayn,  s.  captain,  A  2555. 
Chiertee,   s.  fondness,   D   396;   love,   F 

881. 
Chike,  s.  chicken,  R.  541. 
Chiknes,  //.  chickens,  A  380. 
Child,  .r.  young   man,    A    3325;    Childes 


(glaggartal  Inbtx. 


pley,  child's  play,  E  1530 ;  Childe,  with, 

witii  child,  L.  1323. 
Childhede,  s.  childhood,  R.  399. 
Childly,  adj.  childlike.  3.  1095. 
Chilindre,  s.  cylinder,  portable  sun-dial, 

H  I3q6. 
Chimbe,  s.  rim  of  the  barrel,  A  3895. 
Chimbe,  v.  chime  (as  a  bell),  A  3896. 
Chimenee,  s.  fireplace,  A  3776. 
Chinche,  s.  niggard,  miser,  B  2793,  2809. 
Chincherye,    s.    niggardliness,    miserli- 

nf:,s,  B  2790. 
Chirche,  s.  church,  A  708,  2760. 
Chirche-hawe,    s.    churchyard,    I   964; 

,"/.  1  801. 
Chirche-reves,       />/.      church-officers, 

churchwardens,  D  1306. 
Chlrketh,/r.  J.  chirps,  D  1804;  pres.pt. 

rustling,  B  i.  m  6.  10. 
Chirking,    s.    creaking,   grating    noises, 

A  2004,  I  605;  Chirkinges,/>/.  shriekmgs, 

cries,  HF.  1943. 
Chisels,  s.  scissors,  I  418. 
Chit,  chides  ;  pr.  s.  of  Chyde. 
Chiteren,  v.  chatter,  prattle,  G  1397. 
Chiteringe,  s.   chattering,    chirping,  T. 

ii.  68. 
Chivdchee,  s.  feat  of  horsemanship,  H 

50;  Chevauchee,  swift  course  (lit.  ride), 

4.  144.     O.  F.  clievauc'zee,  an  expedition 

on  horseback. 
Chivachye,  s.  a  military  expedition,  A 

85- 
Chivalrye,    s.  knighthood,   the   accom- 
plishments of  a  knight,  A  45;   knightly 

conduct,  valour,  K.  1207  ;  L.  608  ;  troops 

of  horse,  cavalry,  company  of  knights, 

A  878. 
Chogh,  s.  chough,  5.  345. 
Choppen,   v.  strike  downwards,  knock, 

HF.  1824. 
Chose,  //.  of  Chese. 
Chuk,    i.    cluck,     'chucking'     noise,    B 

4364- 
Chukketh,  pr.  s.  clucks,  B  4372. 
Chyde,  v.  chide,  T.  iii.  1433;  complain, 

F650;  reproach,  T.  v.  1093;   C\-\\\,pr.s. 

chides,  scolds,  G  921 ;  Chidde,   i  pt.  s. 

chid,  D  223. 
Chydester,  s.  (female)  scold,  E  1535. 
Chydinges,  //.  scoldings,  WY.  1028. 
Chjniing,    adj.    gaping,    yawning,    B   i. 

p  6.  41.     A.  S.  c'tnan,  to  gape  open. 
Cicla1;oun,  s.  a  costly  kind  of  thin  cloth, 

B  1924. 
Cinamome,  s.  cinnamon,   as  a  term  of 

endearment,  sweet  one,  A  3699. 
Cink,  num.  cinque,  five,  C  653. 


Cipres,  s.  cypress,  5.  179;   {collectively), 

cypresses,  R.  1381. 
Circumscryve,  v.  enclose,  comprehend, 

T.  V.  1S65. 
Citole,  s.  kind  of  harp,  a  stringed  instru- 
ment, A  1959. 
Citrinacioun,  s.  citronising,  the  turning 

to   the    colour  of  citron,   a  process   in 

alchemy,  G  816. 
Citryn,  adj.  citron-coloured,  A  2167. 
Clamb,  pt.  s.  of  Climben. 
Clamour,  s.  A  995 ;  outcrv,  D  889. 
Claperes,  //.  burrows  (for  rabbits),  R. 

1405. 
Clappe,  s.  thunderclap,  HF.  1040. 
Clappe,  s.  prating,  foolish  talk,  A  3144. 
Clappe,  V.   clap;   hence,   chatter,    prattle, 

G965;  pr.  s.  knocks,  D  1581,  1584;  /;-. 

pi.   talk  unceasingly,   I   406;    Clappeth, 

imp.    pi.    E   1200;    Clapte,   pt.    s.  shut 

quickly,  A  3740. 
Clapping,  s.  chatter,  idle  talk,  E  999, 
Clarioning,  s.  the  music  of  the  clarion, 

HF.  1242. 
Clarioun,  s.  clarion,  trumpet,  HF.  1240, 

IS73.  1579- 
Clarree,   s.   clarified   wine,    wine    mixed 

with   honey  and  spices,  and  afterwards 

strained  till  clear,  A  1471,  E  1807. 
Clasped,  pp.  fastened,  A  273. 
Clatereth,  pr.  s.   says  noisily,  B  2259; 

pt.  pi.  rattled,  A  2423. 
Clateringe,  s.  clanking,  A  2492 ;  clashing, 

D  1865. 
Clause,    s.    sentence;    also,    agreement, 

stipulation,  T.  ii.  728;  in  a  clause,  in  a 

short  sentence,  briefly,  22.  38. 
Clawe,  V.  rub,  D  940';  ger.  to  scratch,  T. 

iv.  728;  pt.  s.   stroked,  A   4326;    Clew, 

I  //.  r.  rubbed,  HF.  1702. 
Clearly,  adv.  entirely,  B  1566. 
Cleernesse,  s.  glory,  G  403. 
Clefte,//.  s.  of  Cleve  (i). 
C16ne,    adj.   clean,  A   504;    unmixed,    B 

1183. 
C16ne,  adv.  clean,  entirely,  wholly,  R.  1380. 
Clennesse,  s.  purity,  A  506. 
Clense,  v.  cleanse,  A  631. 
Clepen,  v.  call,  name,  A  643,  2730;  call 

out,  A  3577;  pr.  s.  D  102;   F  382;   men 

cL,  people  call,  E  115;  Clepe  .  .  .  ayein 

{^or  again),   v.   recall,  T.  ii.  521;   pt.  s. 

called,    F     374;     Clepte,    //.    s.    called, 

R.  1331;  summoned,  B  2432;  Clept,/'/. 

named,  G  863. 
Clere,  a^'.  clear,  R.  681;  bright,  3.  340; 

well-sounding,  3.347;  noble,  pure,  HF. 

1575- 


(^logssartal  Itnliei. 


Clere,  adv.  clearly,  A  170 ;  L.  139. 
Clere,  v.  grow  clear,  T.  ii.  2,  806;  ger.  to 

grow  bright,  T.  V.  519;  to  shine  clearly, 

L.  773- 
Clerer.  adj.  comp.  brighter,  3.  822. 
Clergeon,  s.  a  chorister-boy.  B  1693. 
Clergial,  adj.  clerkly,  learned,  G  752. 
Clergrye,  s.  learning,  D  1277. 
Clerk,  s.  clerk,  scholar,  student,  A  285 ; 

writer,  D  689. 
Clernesse,  s.  brightness,  L.  84. 
Cleve  (I),  I/,  cleave,  cut,  split,  R.  859;  L. 

758;  Clefte,  //.  s.  split,  3.  72;    Cloven, 

pp.  A  2934;    Clove,  pp.   cleft,   dimpled, 

R.  550. 
Cleve  (2),  v.  adhere;  pr.pl.  B3. p  11. 112. 
Clew,  s.  clew,  L.  2140. 
Clew,  pt.  s.  of  Clawe. 
Cley,  s.  clav.'  G  807. 
Clifte,  s.  cleft,   L.  740;  chink,  B  4.  p  4. 

296. 
Cliket,  s.  latch-key,  li  2046,  21 17,  2121, 

2123. 
Climben,  v.  climb,  V  106 ;  Clamb,  pt.  j. 

B   1987;   Clomb,   I  pt.  s.  climbed,  HF. 

1118;  Clomben,/*/.//.  climbed,  A  3636; 

Clamben,  pt.    pi.   climbed,    WV.    2151 ; 

Cloumben,  B  2590;   Clomben,  pp.  T.  i. 

215;    ascended.    B    4388;    Clombe.  pp. 

risen.  B  12;  were  clombe,  hadst  climbed, 

B  3502. 
Clinking,  s.  tinkling,  B  3984. 
Clippe  (1),  \  pr.  s.  embrace,  T.  iii.  1344. 
Clippe  (2),  t'.  cut  hair,  A  3326. 
Clipping,  s.  embracing,  R.  342. 
Clobbed.  adj.  clubbed,  B  3088. 
Cloisterer,  s.  resident   in   a   cloister,  A 

259,  3661. 
Cloisterlees,  adj.  outside  of  a  cloister,  A 

179. 
Cloke,  s.  cloak,  T.  iii.  738. 
Clokke,  s.  clock.  B  4044;  0/  the  cl.,  by 

the  clock,  B  14. 
Clom,  tnterj.  be  silent,  mum  !  A  3638. 
Clombe,  -n :  see  Climben. 
ClObs,  adj.  close,  secret,  T.  ii.  1534 ;  closed, 

B  4>22;  Clos,  closed,  R.  1675. 
C166th.   s.   piece   of    clothing,    D    1633 ; 

infants'  clothing,  T.  iii.  733. 
Clos,  s.  enclosure.  B  4550. 
Closet,  s.  small  room,  T.  ii.  599,  1215. 
Closing,  s.  enclosure,  boundary,  R.  527. 
Closure,  s.  enclosure.  I  870. 
Clote-leef,  s.  a  leaf  of  the   burdock  or 

clote-bur,    G    577.     A.    S.   date,   a   bur- 
dock. 
Cloth,  J.  cloth,  garment,  D  238;  clothes, 

D  1881. 


I  Clothen,  v  clothe,  T.  v.  1418 ;  Cladde, 
I  //.  s,  clrfd.  T.  iv.  1690;  refl.  clothed  him- 
'  self,  7.  145;  Cledde,  pt.  s.  T.  iii.  1521 ; 
Clad,  pp.  R.  409;  covered,  A  294;  fur- 
nished. 3.  352. 

Clothered,  //.  clotted,  coagulated,  A 
2745.     (Other  MSS.  clotered,  clotred.) 

Clothlees.  adj.  naked,  1  343. 

Cloud,  (.  sky,   T.  iii.  433. 

Cloumben  ■  see  Climben. 

Clout,  s.  bit  of  cloth.  C  736;  patch,  R. 
458  ;  pt.  fragments,  E  1953 ;  rags,  C  348. 

Clouted,  pp.  patched  up,  R.  223. 

Cloven, /V>.  f/ Cleve  (i). 

Clowes.//,  claws,  HF.  1785. 

Clow-gelofre,  //.  clove,  the  spice  so 
I  calltd,  R.  1368;  Clowc-gilofre,  B  1952. 
Fr.  clou  de  girojle. 

Clustred,  pp.  covered  with  clouds,  B  i. 
ni  3.  t>.     (Lat. glomerantur.) 

Clymat,  s.  a  belt  or  zone  of  the  earth 
included  between  two  given  lines  of 
latitude,  A.  ii.  39.  28 ;  pi.  zones  of  lati- 
tude, A.  i.  3.  4;  Clymates,  sets  of  almi- 
canteras  calculated  for  various  terrestrial 
latitudes,  A.  i.  14.  4. 

Clyven,/r.  //.cleave,  keep,  B  3.  pi  i.  115. 

Cly  ves,  pi.  cliffs,  L.  1470. 

Coag-ulat,  pp.  clotted,  G  811. 

Cod,  s.  bag ;  used  of  the  receptacle  of  the 
stomach.  C  534. 

Coempcioun,  s.  an  imposition  so  called, 
lit.  joint  purchase,  the  buying  up  of  the 
whole  of  any  commodity  in  the  market, 
B  I.  p  4.  90. 

Cofre,  s.  coffer,  chest,  L.  380 ;  money-box, 
F  1571;  coffin,  5.  177. 

Cogg-e,  s.  cock-boat,  L.  1481. 

Coghe.  ^er.  to  cough,  T.  ii.  254. 

Coillons,  pi.  testicles,  C  952. 

Cok.  s.  cock,  5.  350;  thridde  c,  third  cock, 
A  4233- 

Cok  !  cok  I  the  noise  made  by  a  cock,  B 
4467. 

Cokenay,  s.  cockney,  effeminate  creature, 
A  4208. 

Cokewold,  s.  cuckold,  A  3152. 

Cokkel.  i.  cockle,  i.  e.  the  corn-cockle, 
A^roitemma  gUkaf;o,  B  1183. 

Cokkes,  corruption  (j/'Goddes,  H  9,  I  29. 

Cokkow,  s.  cuckoo,  HF.  243. 

Col,  i.  coal,  T.  ii.  1332;  Cole,  A  2692. 

Col-blak,  adj.  coal-black,  A  2142. 

Cold,  adj.  cold,  A  420;  chilling  (often  in 
phr.  cares  colde),!:.  iii.  1260;  disastrous, 
B4446. 

Colde,  V.  grow  cold,  B  879,  F  1023. 

Coler,   s.   collar,   T.   v.   811;    Colers,  pi. 


(glagsarial  Intiei. 


23 


collars,  A  2152  (or  read  coleid,  provided 

with  collars). 
CoUra  (Lat.),  choler,  B  4118. 
Colere,  s.  choler,  B  4136. 
Colerik,  adj.  choleric,  A  587,  B  4145. 
Col-fox,  s.  coal-fox,  fox  with  black  marks, 

B  4405- 
Collacioun,  s.  conference,  E  325. 
Collateral,  adj.  adventitious,  subordinate, 

r.  1. 262. 

Collect,  //.  collected  in  groups,  F  1275. 

Col6ur,  s.  colour,  7.  173;  complexion, 
hue,  R.  213;  outward  appearance,  2.  66; 
pretence,  10.  21 ;  excuse,  D  399;  //.  fine 
phrases,  HF.  859;  hues,  pretences  (a 
pun),  Fsil. 

Colpons,  pi.  shreds,  bundles,  A  679; 
billets,  A  2867. 

Coltish,  adj.  like  a  colt,  E  1847. 

Columbyn,  adj.  dove-like,  E  2141. 

Colver,  s.  dove,  L.  2319.    A.  S.  culfre. 

Combred,  pp.  encumbered,  B  3.  m  10.  9. 

Combre-'world.,  s.  one  who  encumbers 
the  world,  who  lives  too  long,  T.  iv.  279. 

Combust,  pp.  burnt,  G  811;  quenched 
(as  being  too  near  the  sun),  T.  iii.  717. 

Come,  V.  come  ;  come  thereby,  come  by  it, 
acquire  it,  G  1395  ;  Come,  ger.  to  come, 
future,  3.  708  ;  Comestow,  comest  thou, 
L.  1887;  Cometh,  pr.  s.  as  fut.  shall 
come,  4.  11;  Comth,  pr.  s.  comes,  B 
407  ;  Cam,//,  s.  came,  F  81 ;  Com,  pt.  s. 
3.  134;  Comen,//.  pi.  L.  1241 ;  COmen, 
//.  come,  4.  81 ;  ben  comen,  are  come,  B 
1130;  Com  of,  i.  e.  seize  the  opportunity, 
be  quick,  1".  ii.  1738;  D  1602;  Cometh, 
imp.  pi.  A  839. 

Come,  s.  coming,  G  343.    A.  S.  cyme. 

Com6die,  s.  comedv,  pleasant  tale,  one 
that  end-;  happily,  f .  v.  1788. 

Comeveden,  2  'pr.  pi.  as  2  pr.  s.,  didst 
instigate,  T.  iii.  17.     See  Commeveth. 

Comlily,  adv.  in  a  comely  way,  3.  848. 

Commeveth,  pr.  s.  moves,  induces,  T.  v. 
1783;  Commeve,  pr.  s.  stibj.  move,  T.  v. 
138b.  See  Commoeve,  Comeveden. 

Com,moeve,  ger.  to  move,  influence,  B  4. 
p  4.  275. 

Commoevinge,  s.  moving,  disturbing, 
I!  I.  m  4.  6. 

Commune,  adj.  general,  common,  B  155  ; 
/;/  c,  commonly,  A  1261. 

Commune,  s.  the  commons,  E  70;  //. 
commoners.  A  2509. 

Compaignable,  adj.  companionable,  B 
II94- 

Companye,  s.  company,  A  24;  com- 
panionship, 4.  219. 


Comparisoned,  //.  compared,  B  2.  p  7. 
118. 

Compas,  s.  circuit,  4.  137  ;  circlet,  wreath, 
R.  900;  circle,  A  1889;  a  very  large 
circle,  HF.  798;  circumference,  20.  5; 
enclosure,  orb,  world,  as  in  tr}ine  compas, 
the  threefold  world  (earth,  sea,  and 
heaven),  G  45;  pair  of  compasses,  A.  ii. 
40.  13;  craft,  contriving,  HF.  462;  //. 
circles  (or,  per/iaps,  pairs  of  compasses), 
HF.  1302. 

Compasment,  s.  plotting,  contrivance, 
L.  1416. 

Compasse,  v.  contrive,  R.  194;  planned, 
L.  1414;  Compassed,  //.  drawn  with 
compasses,  fashioned  circularly,  A.  i. 
18.  I ;  planned,  L.  1543. 

Qompassing,  s.  dimension,  R.  1350 ;  con- 
trivance, A  1996. 

Compeer,  J.  gossip,  close  friend,  A  670; 
comrade,  A  4419. 

Compilatour,  s.  compiler,  A.  pr.  70. 

C6mpleynt,  s.  a  '  complaint '  or  ballad,  2. 

43 ;  3-  4^4- 

Complexioun,  s.  complexion,  A  333; 
temperament,  I  585 ;  the  (four)  tempera- 
ments. HF.  21. 

Compline,  s.  evening  service,  A  4171. 

Complisshen,  v.  accomplish,  B  4.  p  4.  24. 

Comporte.  v.  bear,  endure,  T.  v.  1397. 

Composicioun,  s.  agreement,  A  848, 
2651. 

Compotent,  adj.  all-powerful,  B  5.  p  6. 

53. 

Compouned,  pp.  composed,  HF.  1029; 
tempered,  L.  2585;  mingled,  HF.  2108; 
constructed,  drawn,  A.  pr.  11. 

Comprehende,  v.  take  (it)  in,  T.  iv.  891 ; 
take  in  (in  the  mind),  F  223;  //•.  s.  com- 
prises. I  1043. 

Comprende,  v.  comprehend,  contain,  T. 
iii.  1687. 

Comunalitee,  s.  empire,  B  4.  p  6.  402. 

Comune,  adj.  general,  common  to  all,  T. 
iii.  1415;  accustomed  to,  3.  812;  Comun 
profit,  "the  good  of  the  country.  5.  47,  75. 

Comune,  s.  a  common  share  in  a  thing, 

E  1313- 

Comyn,  s.  cummin,  B  2045.  'A  dwarf 
umbelliferous  plant,  somewhat  resem- 
bling fennel,  cultivated  for  its  seeds.'  — 
Webster. 

Con,  imp.  s.  grant ;  Con  me  thank,  grant 
me  thanks,  thank  me,  A.  pr.  62. 

Conceits,  s.  conception,  thought,  L.  1764  ; 
idea,  G  1214;  notion,  T.  i.  996. 

Conclude,  v.  draw  a  conclusion,  B  14; 
include,   put   together,  G  429 ;  attain  to- 


24 


tf^Iossarial  J-ntiri. 


success,  G  773;  ger.  to  summarize,  A 
1358 ;  Concluded,  pp.  come  to  a  con- 
clusion. E  1607. 

ConclvLSioun,  .(.  decision,  judgement,  A 
1S45  ;  result,  successful  end  of  an  experi- 
ment. G  672;  purjiose,  D  115;  moral,  L. 
2723;  reason,  F  492;  performance,  F 
1263;  result,  summary.  A  1743;  end  (of 
life),  HF.  103;  fate,  22.  23;  as  m  c, 
after  all,  4.  257;  15.  4;  Conclusiouns, 
pi.  mathematical  propositions,  theorems, 
A  3193.  I 

Condys, ;»/.  conduits,  R.  1414. 

Confedred,  pp.  rendered    confederates,  , 
onjoined,  2.  42.  52. 

Conferme,  i:  confirm,  T.  ii.  1526.  I 

Conflrme,  x'"-  U  4-  P  7-  90  (*>"'  ^"  ^''''O''  | 
for  con  fount ;  Lat.  '  conformandae  '). 

Confi-tfor,  '  I  confess."  I  386.  *    | 

Confiture,   /.  composition,   C   862.     Fr.  , 
c.^iiitiii,-.  a  mixture,  preserve.  j 

Conforten.  i.  comfort.  E  1918;  pr.  s.  en- 
ciura-.-^,  A  2716;  pr.p/.  strengthen.  I  652. 

Confounde.  v.  destroy.  1.40;  "•  'o;  pp. 
put  to  confusion,  I.  5;  overwhelmed,  B 
100.  destroyed  in  soul.  G  137. 

C6at\iB,  pp.  its  adj.  confused,  T.  iv.  356; 
convicted  of  folly,  G  463;  confounded, 
A  2230. 

Congreyen,  v.  give  us  our  congde,  tell  us 
to  .l>:-part,  T.  V.  479. 

Conjectest.  2  pi .  s.  supposest,  T.  iv.  1026. 

Conjectingea,  pi.  conjectures.  B  2598. 

Conjoininge,  f.  conjunction.  G  95. 

Conjuracioun,  s.  conjuring.  I  603. 

Conne,  :•.  be  able,  L.  3044 ;  know.  T.  iii. 
83;  have  experience,  T.  i.  647;  know 
how.  T.  iii.  377;  con.  learn.  B  1730; 
Conne.  l  pr.  s.  can.  V.  ii.  49 ;  2  pr.  s.  subj. 
canst,  knowest  how.  T.  ii.  1497;  P''-  ^■ 
subj.  mav.  A  4396 ;  l  pr.pl.  can,  are  able, 
B483;  know.  HF.  335;  Conne,  2  ;>r. />/. 
can,  A  4123 ;  can  (do),  T.  i.  776 ;  owe  (me 
thanks),  T.  ii.  1466;  Connen,  pr.  pi. 
know  how  to,  E  2438;  al  conne  he, 
whether  he  may  know.  G  846. 

Coaningr,  s.  skill,  knowledge,  L.  68,412; 
T.  i.  83;  experience.  B  1671;  learning,  B 
2929. 

Conningr.  adj.  skilful.  B  3690. 

Conningest,  most  skilful,  T.  i.  331. 

Conningly,  adv.  skilfully.  E  1017. 

Consecrat,  consecrated.  B  3207. 

Conseil.  j.  council.  B  204;  counsel.  B 
425;  secret  counsel.  A  1141;  secret,  A 
3504;  advice,  B  2211;  counsellor,  A 
1 147. 

Conseile,  v.  counsel;  pt.pl.  B  2554. 


Consentant,  adj.  consentient,  consenting 

(lol,  C  270. 
Consentrik,  adj.  having  the  same  centre, 

A.  i.  17.  5  ;  tending  to  the  same  centre, 

A.  i.  16.  9;  at  the  same  altitude,  A.  ii.  3. 

56. 
Consequent,  s.  sequel,  result.  B  2577. 
Conservatif ,  adj.  preserving ;  c.  the  seun, 

prisirving  the  sound,  HF.  847. 
Conserve,  v.  keep,  preserve,  1'.  iv.  1664. 
Consistbrie,  s.  council,  T.  iv.  65;  court 

ot  jll;.tlLO.  C  162. 

Conspiracye.  s.  plot,  B  3889.  C  149. 

Constable,  s.  governor,  B  512. 

Const&blesse.  s.  constables  wife,  B  539. 

Constaunce,  .(.constancy,  1  737. 

Constellacioun,  s.  influence  of  the  stars, 
V  781. 

Constreyneth,  pr.s.  constrains,  E  800; 
pt.  s.  L.  105 ;  pt.  s.  rejl.  contracted  her- 
self. B  I.  p  t.  15;  pp.  constrained,  com- 
pflltil,  V.  527,  F  764,  769. 

Constreynte,  t.  distress.  T.  iv.  741. 

Constrtie,  v.  divine,  make  out,  T.  iii.  33; 
ger.  to  translate,  B  1718 ;  imp.  pi.  inter- 
pret, L.  152. 

Consulers,  s.  pi.  consuls,  B  2.  p  6.  13. 

Consumpte, //>.//.  consumed,  B  2.  m  7. 

27- 

Contaerious,  adj.  contiguous,  B  3.  p  12. 5. 

Contek,  s.  strife,  contest,  T.  v.  1479;  A 
2003. 

Contemplaunce,  s.  contemplation,  D 
1893. 

Contenance.i.appearance.F  1485 ;  show, 
B  2378  ;  gesture.  B  2227  ;  demeanour,  E 
924;  self-possession,  E  mo;  pretence, 
1  858 ;  fond  his  c,  i.  e.  disposed  himself, 
T.  iii.  979 ;  //.  modes  of  behaviour,  R. 

lOOI. 

Contene,  v.  contain.  T.  iii.  502 ;  pt.  s.  held 

together.  B  3.  p  12.  40. 
Continued,  pp.  accompanied,  eked  out, 

1  1046. 
Contract,  pp.  contracted,  incurred,  I  334. 
Contraire,  adj.  contrary,  R.  348;  T.  i. 

212. 
Contraire,   s.  the    contrary,   HF.   1540; 

adversary,  2.  64. 
Contrdrie,  adj.  contrary,  B  3964;   in  c, 

in  contradiction,  G  1477. 
C6ntrarie.  .(.  contrary,  A  3057;  contrary 

thing.    HF.     808;    opponent,    A    1859; 

opposition,  T.  i.  418. 
Contr6.rien,  v.  oppose,  F  705 ;  pt.  s.  gain- 
said, D  1044. 
Contrarious,   adj.   'ontrary,  adverse,    B 

2249;  pi.  B.  2311. 


(iloggarial  Ixitttx, 


25 


Contrarioustee,  s.  contrary  state,  I  IC77. 
Contree,    country,    R.    768;    fatherland, 

liiimc,  li  2.  p  4.  120. 
Contree-folk,  people  of  his  country,  L. 

2161. 
Contree-houses, //.  houses  of  his  coun- 

irv,  homes,  7.  25.     Lat.  domos  patrias. 
Contree-ward,    to    his,    towards    his 

country,  L.  2176. 
Contubernial,    adj.   familiar,    at    home 

Willi   (lit.  sharing  the  same  tent  with), 

1  760. 
Contiimax.  adj.  contumacious,  I  402. 
Convenient,  adj.  fitting,  suitable,  I  421 ; 

pt.  suitable,  V  1278. 
Convers ;  in  convers,  on  the  reverse  side, 

v.  V.  1810. 
Conversacioun,    s.    conversation,    i.  e. 

numnor  of  lite,  U  2501. 
Converte,  v.  change,  T.  i.  308;  swerve, 

C  212;  /rer.  to  change  his  ways,  T.  iv. 

1412;  to  change  her  mind,  T.  ii.  903. 
Convertible,  adj.  equivalent,  A  4395. 
Conveyen,  v.  introduce,  E  55;  pr.  s.  ac- 
companies, L.  2305;   //.  //.  conducted 

on  their  way,  A  2737. 
Convict,//,  overcome,  i.  86. 
Cony,   s.   rabbit;    Conies,   //.    R.    1404; 

Conycs,//.  5.  193. 
Cook,  f.  cook,  A  351 ;  Cokes,//.  C  538. 
Coomen, //.//.  came,  B  1805. 
Cop,  s.  top,  A  554;  summit,  B  2.  m  4.  6; 

lull-top,  HK.  1166. 
Cope,  s.  cope,  A  260  ;  cape,  R.  408 ;  cloak. 

1.  iii.  724;  vault,  I,.  1527. 
Coper,  J.  copper,  HF.  1487. 
Copie,  s.  copy,  'I",  ii.  1697. 
Coppe,  s.  cup,  A  134,  F  942. 
Cor^g-e,  C6rage,  s.  heart,  spirit,  mind, 

disposition,   mood,    inclination,   R.  257, 

423,  849,   1302,  1614 ;  A  22 ;   courage,  B 

1970;  will,  desire,  B  2713;  impetuosity, 

I  655;   attention,  H  164;  spite,  R.  151; 

encouragement,  R.  22;   0/  his  c,  in  his 

disposition,  F  22;    Corages, //.  disposi- 
tions, natures,  A  11. 
Corbets,  //.  corbels,  HF.  1304. 
Cordeth,  pr.  s.  agrees,  T.  ii.  1043. 
Cordewane,  s.  Cordovan  leather,  B  1922. 
Corfew-tyme,   s.  curfew-time,  about  8 

p.m.,  A  3645. 
Corige,  v.  correct ;  pr.  j.  B  4.  p  7.  39. 
Cormeraunt,  s.  cormorant,  5.  362. 
Cor    meitm   eructavit,    D    1934.     See    Ps. 

xlv.  I. 

Corn,  s.  grain,  A  562;  chief  portion,  B 
3144  ;  Cornes,  //.  crops  of  corn,  B  3225  ; 
grains  of  corn,  HF.  698. 


Comemuse,  s.  bagpipe,  HF.  1218.    Fr. 

Corniculere,  s.  registrar,  secretary,  G 
369.  Lat.  comicularius,  a  registrar, 
clerk  to  a  magistrate. 

Corny,  adj.  applied  to  ale,  strong  of  the 
corn  or  malt,  C  315,  456. 

Corone,  s.  crown,  garland,  E  381 ;  Co- 
roune,  crown,  garland,  2.  58;  Corouii, 
crown,  L.  216;  the  constellation  called 
'the  Xoithern  Crown,"  L.  2224. 

Corosif,  Lidj.  corrosive,  G  853. 

Coroumping-e,  s.  corruption,  B  3.  p  12. 
82. 

Cor6uned,  //.  crowned,  B  3555. 

Corpus,  s.  body,  A  3743 ;  Corpus,  the  body 
(e.  g.  of  Christ),  B  3096;  Corpus  Domi- 
tius,  false  Latin  for  corpus  Domini,  the 
body  of  the  Lord,  B  1625;  Corpus 
Madrian,  the  body  of  St.  Mathurin, 
B  3082 ;  Corpus  bones,  an  intentionally 
nonsensical  oath,  composed  of  '  corpus 
domini,'  the  Lord's  body,  and  '  bones," 
C  314. 

Correccioun,  s.  fine,  D  1617. 

Corruinpable,  adj.  corruptible,  A  3010. 

Corrumpeth,//-.  s.  becomes  corrupt,  L. 
2237 ;  //. .(.  corrupted,  I  819. 

Corrupcioun,  s.  destroyer,  5.  614. 
[   Cors,  s.  body,  L.  676,  876 ;  corpse,  T.  v. 
742. 

Corse,  pr.  s.  subj.  curse,  E  1308. 

Corsednesse,  s.  abomination,  T.  iv.  994. 

Corseynt,  s.  a  saint  (lit.  holy  body)  ;  csp. 
a  shrine,  HF.  117.     O.  F.  cors  seint. 

Corumpe,  v.  become  corrupt,  B  3.  p  11. 
58.    See  Corrumpe. 

Corve,  -n;  see  Kerve. 

Cosin,  s.  cousin,  A  1131;  as  adj.  akin, 
suitable  to,  A  742,  H  210;  Cosins  ger- 
mavns,  cousins-german,  first  cousins,  B 

^2558. 

Cosmage,  s.  kinship,  B  1226, 1329. 

Cost  (l),  J.  e.\pense,  A  192,  213. 

Cost  (2),  s.  choice,  condition;  Nedes 
cost,  of  necessity  (lit.  by  condition  of 
necessity),  L.  2697.  Icel.  kostr,  choice, 
condition,  state. 

Costage,  s.  cost,  expense,  B  1235,  1562. 

Coste,  f.  coast,  B  1626;  region,  D  922; 
Costes,//.  parts  of  the  sky,  A.  i.  19.  10. 

CosX.ey\ng,  pres.  part,  coasting,  R.  134. 

Costlewe,  adj.  costly,  I  415.  Cf.  Icel. 
kitstlii^r. 

Costrel.  f.  fi.isk.  kind  of  bottle,  L.  2666. 

Cote,  f.  cot,  E  398  ;   dungeon,  A  2457. 

Cote,  s.  coat,  jacket  (for  a  man),  A  103, 
328;     skirt,    petticoat,    or   gown    (for   a 


26 


(©lossarial  JInlJei. 


woman),  R.  226;  //.  coats,  surcoats,  or 
coats-of-arms  (see  below),  HF.  1332. 

Cote-arm  lire ,  coat-armour,  coat  shew- 
ing the  arms,  coat-of-arms,  T.  v.  1651. 

Couche,  V.  lay  down,  place;  cower,  E 
1206;  pt.  5.  laid  in  order,  placed,  5.  216; 
G  1157;  pp.  set,  placed,  laid,  A  2933, 
321 1 ;  beset,  begemmed,  A  2161. 

Couching,  s.  laying  down,  letting  the 
astrolabe  lie  flat  on  the  ground,  A.  ii. 
2g.  29. 

Coude,  I  //.  s.  could,  was  able,  L.  116; 
knew  how,  3.  517;  pt.  s.  knew.  3.  667, 
1012 ;  understood,  R.  179 ;  as  aux.  could, 
R.  175;  Coude  her  good,  knew  what  was 
for  Dido's  advantage,  L.  1182;  Coude 
no  good,  knew  no  good,  was  untrained, 
3.  390;  ConA^p.  known,  3.  787;  learnt, 
I  1041.    See  Can,  Conne. 

Counseil,  s.  advice,  A  784;  secrets,  A 
6'35  ;   Counseyl,  secret,  5.  348. 

Coiinte,  i  //.  s.  account,  n.  29;  //.  s.  3. 
718. 

Countenaunce,  s.  appearance,  show,  A 
1926;  looks,  appearance,  G  1264 ;  shew- 
ing favour,  3.  1022 ;  demeanour,  R.  814  ; 
pretext,  A  4421 ;  //.  looks,  R.  1309. 

Countingr-bord,  s.  counting-house  table, 
15  1273- 

Countour  (i),  s.  arithmetician,  3.  435; 
aiulitor,  A  359. 

Countour  (2),  j.  abacus,  counting-board, 
3.  436  ;   countmg-house,  B  1403. 

Couiitour-hous,  s.  counting-house,  B 
1267. 

Countrepeise,  v.  render  equivalent,  HF. 
1750;  countervail,  T.  iii.  1407. 

Countrepleted,  pp.  made  the  subject  of 
pleadmgs  and  counter-pleadings,  argued 
against,  L.  476. 

Countretaille.  s.  lit.  countertally,  i.  e. 
correspondence  (of  sound) ;  at  the  c,  in 
reply.  E  1190. 

Countrewaite,  pr.  s.  subj.  keep  watch 
over,  I  1005  ;  watch  against,  B  2509. 

Coupable,  adj.  culpable,  blameworthy, 
H  2731,  I  414. 

Coupe,  s.  cup,  L.  1122. 

Coured,  pt.  s.  cowered,  R.  465. 

Cours,  s.  course,  T.  ii.  970;  life  on  earth, 
G  387  ;  orbit,  A  2454. 

Courser,  %.  horse,  T.  ii.  loii ;  pi.  steeds, 
.A  2501. 

Court,  J.  court,  A  140;  manor-house,  D 
2162. 

Courtepy,  an  upper  short  coat  of  a  coarse 
material,  R.  220;  A  290,  D  1382. 

Co\irt-man,  s.  courtier,  E  1492. 


Couthe,  I  pt.  s.  could,  R.  513;  knew,  3. 
800;  knew  how,  A  390;  Couth,  pp. 
known,  T.  iv.  61;  Couthe,  pp.  pi.  well- 
known,  A  14. 

Couthe,  adv.  in  a  known  way,  manifestly, 
HF.7S7. 

Coveityse,  s.  covefousness,  A  3884,  C 
424;  bodily  craving,  I  819;   lust,  I  336. 

Covenable,  adj.  fit,  proper,  fitting,  suit- 
able, 18.  25 ;  agreeable,  B  4.  p  6.  224 ; 
congruous,  B  3.  p  12.  179. 

Covenably,  adv.  suitably,  fitly,  B  2423. 

Covent,  s.  convent,  conventual  body,  B 
1827.  D  1863. 

Coverchief,  .t.  kerchief  worn  on  the  head, 
D  590 ;  pi.  A  453. 

Covercle,  t.  pot-lid,  HF.  792. 

Covered,  pp.  covered,  A  354;  recovered 
Ironi.  healed  of,  L.  762. 

Covertly,  adv.  secretly,  R.  19. 

Coverture,  s.  disguise,  R.  1588 ;  Cover- 
tures. //.  coverings.  I  198. 

Covetour,  s.  one  who  covets,  4.  262. 

Covyne,  s.  deceitfulness,  A  604.  '  Covine, 
a  deceitful  agreement  between  two  or 
more  to  the  prejudice  of  another;' 
Cowel,  Law  Dictionary. 

Cow,  (.  chough,  D  232.    See  Chogh. 

Coward,  adj.  cowardly,  5.  349. 

Cowardye.  s.  cowardice,  A  2730. 

Cowardyse,  j.  cowardice,'!'.  iv.6o2,v.4i2. 

Coy,  adj.  quiet,  A  119;  shy,  L.  1548. 

Coye,  ;■.  quiet,  calm,  cajole,  T.  ii.  801. 

Coynes,  //.  quinces,  R.  1374.  O.  F.  coin, 
quince. 

Crabbed,  adj.  shrewish,  cross,  bitter,  E 
1203. 

Cracching,  s.  scratching,  A  2834. 

Craft,  s.  cunning,  C  84;  skill,  T.  i.  665; 
art,  R.  687;  trade,  occupation,  3.  791;  A 
692;  secret,  mystery,  R.  1634;  might,  B 
3258 ;  contrivance,  F  249. 

Craftily,  adv.  artfullv,  in  a  studied  man- 
ner. T.  ii.  1026;  skilfully,  B  48. 

Crafty,  adj.  skilful,  clever,  A  1897 ;  sensi- 
ble. 3-  439- 

Craketh.  pr.  s.  utters  boldly,  A  4001 ; 
sings  in  a  grating  tone  (like  a  corn- 
crake), E  1850. 

Crampissheth,  pr.  s.  draws  convulsively 
together,  contracts,  7.  171.  Cf.  '  Deth 
crampishing  into  their  hert  gan  crepe ; ' 
Lvdgate,  Falls  of  Princes,  bk.  i.  c.  9. 
C'f.  O.F.  crampir, '  Otre  tordu  ; '  Godefroy. 

erased,  pp.  cracked,  G  934. 

Creant,  adj. ;  seith  creant,  acknowledges 
himself  beaten,  I  698.  Probably  short 
for  recreant. 


(glossatial  Intiex. 


27 


Great,  pp.  created,  16.  2;  B  2293. 
Creaunce,  s.  credence,  belief,  creed,   B 

915  ;  object  of  faith,  B  340. 
Creaunce,  v.  borrow  011  credit,  B  1479 ; 

pr.  s.  borrows,  B  1493 ;  //.  B  1556. 
Creep,  //.  s.  of  Crepe. 
Crekes,//.  crooked  devices,  wiles,  A  4051. 

See   Creek,  s.   (l),  \   7,   in    the    New  E. 

Diet. 
Crepe,  v.  creep,  3.  144 ;  Creep,  pt.  s.  crept, 

A  4226;  Crepten,  ;*/./»/.  D  1698;  Cropen, 

pp.  crept,  T.  iii.  loil. 
Crepul.  s.  cripple,  T.  iv.  1459. 
Crepusculis,  s.  pi.  twilights,   durations 

of  twilight,  A.  ii.  6.  rubric. 
Crevace,  s.  crevice,  crack,  HF.  2086. 
Crinkled,//,  full  of  turns  or  cranks,  L. 

2)12. 

Crips,  adj.  crisp,  curly,  HF.  1386 ;  Crisp, 

R.  824. 
Cristen.  adj.  Christian,  B  222,  1679. 
Cristendom,  5.  the  Christian  religion,  B 

351  ;  Christianity,  G  447. 
Cristenly,  adv.  in  a  Christian  manner,  B 

1122. 
Cristianitee,  s.  company  of  Christians,  B 

544- 
Croce,  s.  staff,  stick,  D  484.     See  Crose, 

\  2,  in  the  New  E.  Diet. 
Crois,  f.  cross,  i.  60. 
Croked,  adj.  crooked,  R.  926;   crooked 

(things),  13.  8;  'tortuous,'  A.  ii.  28.  32. 
Crokes,  //.  crooks,  hooks,  L.  640. 
Crokke,  s.  earthenware  pot,  13.  12. 
Crommes,  s.pl.  crumbs,  G  60. 
Crone,  s.  crone,  hag,  B  432. 
Cronique,  s.  chronicle,  B  4398. 
Croos-lyne,  s.  cross-line,  the   line   from 

right   to    left   through    the    centre,   A.   i. 

12.7. 
Crop,  s.  top,  sprout,  new  twig,  T.  ii.  348  ; 

crop  and  rote,  top  and  root,  everything, 

T.  V.  1245 ;  Croppes,  //.  tree-tops,  ends 

of    branches,    R.     1396;     new     shoots. 

Ay. 
Cropen.  //.  of  Crepe. 
Croper,  _r.  crupper,  G  566. 
Cros,  J.  cross,  i.  82;  Crois,  i.  60. 
Croslet,  .f.  crucible,  G  1147. 
Crouche,  i  pr.  s.  mark  with  the  cross  (to 

dttend  from  elves),  A  3479;   E  1707. 
Croude,  v.  push,  HF.  2095  ;  pr.s.  2 p.  dost 

press,  dost  push,  B  296. 
Crouke,  s.  pitcher,  jug,  A  4158. 
Croun,  s.  crown  (of  the  head),  A  4041; 

(referring  to  the  tonsure),  B  1499. 
Crouned,  //.crowned,  R.  1266;  supreme, 

V  526. 


Croupe,  s.  crupper,  D  1559. 

Crouperes,  //.  cruppers,  I  433. 

Crowding,  .f.  pressure,  motive  power,  B 
299. 

Croys,  s.  cross,  A  699,  4286. 

Crul,  adj.  curly,  A  3314;  pi.  A  81.  Friesic 
krul,  curlv. 

Crydestow,  didst  thou  cry  out,  A  1083  ; 
//.  proclaimed,  HF.  2107. 

Cryinge,  s.  outcry,  A  906. 

Cryke,  s.  creek,  A  409. 

Cuctirbit6s,  s.  pi.  cucurbites,  G  794. 
'  Cucurbite,  a  chemical  vessel,  originally 
made  in  the  shape  of  a  gourd,  but  some- 
times shallow,  with  a  wide  mouth,  and 
used  in  distillation.'  —  Webster. 

Culpa  niea,  i.  e.  I  acknowledge  my  fault, 
T.  ii.  525- 

Culpe,  s.  guilt,  blame,  I  335. 

Culter,  s.  coulter  (of  a  plough),  A 
3763- 

Cunning,  adj.  skilful,  2.  97. 

Cunning,  s.  skill,  5. 167,  487. 

Cuppe,  s.  a  cup,  F  616. 

Curacioun,  s.  cure,  healing,  B  2463 ;  mode 
of  cure,  T.  i.  791. 

Curat,  s.  parish-priest,  vicar,  A  219  (the 
w  ords  vicar  and  curate  have  now,  practi- 
cally, changed  places). 

Cure,  s.  cure,  remedy,  T.  i.  469;  charge, 
B  2.  p  3.  32 ;  diligence,  A  1007  ;  attention, 
A303  ;  heed,  care,  2.82  ;  endeavour,  B 188  ; 
careful  purpose,  HF.  1298;  supervision, 
D  133 ;  /  do  no  cure,  I  care  not,  L.  152 ; 
lytli  in  his  cure,  depends  on  his  care  for 
me,  L.  1 176 ;  did  his  besy  cure,  was  busily 
employed,  5.  369;  his  lyves  cure,  the  ob- 
ject of  his  thoughts  always,  4.  131 ;  honest 
cure,  care  for  honourable  things,  C  557; 
in  cure,  in  her  power,  B  230. 

Curiositee,  s.  curious  workmanship,  HF. 
1178  ;  intricacy,  18.  81. 

Curious,  adj.  careful,  attentive,  B  1433; 
eager,  R.  1052;  skilful,  A  577  ;  delicately 
made,  A  196;  magical,  F  1120. 

Currovu-s,  s.  pi.  runners,  couriers,  HF. 
2128. 

Cursednesse,  j.  abominable  sin,  wicked- 
ness, C  276,  400 ;  shrewishness,  E  1239 ; 
malice,  B  1821. 

Curteis,  adj.  courteous,  hence,  compas- 
sionate. I  246;  courteous,  R.  538. 

Curteisye,  s.  courtesy,  A  46,  132. 

Custume,  s.  custom,  D  682 ;  //.  payments, 
I  752 ;  imports,  I  567. 

Cut,  .f.  lot,  A  835,  845,  854. 

Cutte,  V.  cut,  C  954 ;  Gutted,  //.  cut  short, 
L-  973- 


28 


(Sloeeactal  lEnUei. 


Daf,  s.  foolisli  person,  A  4208. 

Dagrged,  adj.  tagged,  cut    into   hanging 

peaks  at  the  lower  edge.  I  421. 
Dagrerinere.  ^-  a  cutting  into  tags,  I  418. 
Dagron,  s.  small  piece,  D  1751. 
Dalf ,  /*/.  s.  of  Delve. 
Daliaunce,  s.  gossip,  A  211;  playful  de- 

Mu-.inour,   favour.    12.   8;   pi.   dalliance. 

loving.  (J  66. 
Damageous,  adj.  injurious.  I  438. 
Dame,  j.  inothiT,  C  684;  dam,  A  3260; 

m.idam,  A  3950,  goodwifo,  D  1797. 
Daraiselle,  s.  ilamscl,  R.  1240 :  />/.  ^.  1622. 
Dampnacioun,  j.  condemnation,  C  500; 

(.urM-,  1)  \cfr]. 
Dampne,  go .  to  condemn,  L.  401 ;  pp.  A 

H75,  1342;  damned,  I  191. 
Dan.  s.  (/or  Dominus).  lord,  sir,  a  title  of 

respect,   HF.   161.    B  3982;   Daun.  HF. 

Dap'pel-gray,  adj.  dapple-gray,  B  2074. 

Dar,  !/>'.  f.  dare.  A  1151,  Darst,  a  pr.  s. 
darest,  1".  i.  768  :  B  860;  Darstow,  darest 
thou,  L.  1450;  Uorste,  i  //.  s.  durst, 
might  venture  (to),  L.  2054;  //.  s.  A 
227 ;  Dorstestow,  wouldst  thou  dare,  T. 
i.  767,  I  pf.  s.  iubj.  might  dare,  2.  60. 
Srt  Durre. 

Dare,  p'.pL  doze.  B  1293. 

Darketh,  pr.  s.  lies  hid.  L.  816. 

Darreyne,  ger.  to  decide  one's  right  to, 
A  1853;  to  decide,  A  163 1  :  to  decide 
your  claims  (to).  A  1609.  O.  F.  deraunier. 

Dart,  s.  dart,  6.  40 ;  (given  as  a  prize  in  an 
athletic  contest),  D  75. 

Daswen, /*/.;>/.  dase,  are  dazzled,  H  31; 
pp.  confused,  HF.  658.  O.  F.  daser 
(Godefroy). 

Date-tree,  s.  date-tree.  R.  1364. 

Daun:  see  Dan. 

Daunce,  s.  dance,  R.  808;  play,  T.  iv. 
1431 ;  set,  company.  HF.  639 ;  tht  newt  d., 
the  new  dance.  T.'ii.  553;  thf  olde  i/..the 
old  game,  the  old  way  of  love,  A  476,  C  79. 

Dauncen,  v.  dance,  A  2202. 

Daunger,  s.  disdain,  R.  1524;  imperious- 
ness,  7.  186;  liability,  A  1849;  sparing, 
stint,  R.  1147;  power,  control,  R.  1470; 
Power  to  harm  (personified).  I..  160; 
//;  d.,  within  his  jurisdiction,  under  his 
control.  A  663  ;  in  htr  d.,  at  her  disposal, 
R.   1049;  with   d.,  sparingly,  charily,   D 

Daungerous,  adj.  forbidding,  sparing,  A 
517;  niggardly,  D  1427;  grudging,  hard 


to  please,  R.  1482,  1492;  leluctant,  D  514; 
inhospitable.  R.  490. 
Daunten,  t-.  tame,  subdue.  R.  880;  pr.  s. 
l.  ii.  399,   iv.  1589;    //.   frightened,   D 

Dawe.  f.  dawn.  B3872,  E  1832. 
Daweningre,  /.  dawn,  A  4234,  B  4072. 
Dawes,  s.p/.  days.  F  1180. 
Daw^ing:,    1.  the    Uawn   (Aurora),  T.  iii. 

1460. 
Dawning,  i.  dawn,  3.  292. 
Day.  s.  day.  A  iq :  time,  B  3374 ;  appointed 

time   for   repaymg  money,   G    1040;   on 

a   day.   one    day,    some    day,    R.    1493; 

Dayes,  p/.  appointed  days  for  payment, 

F  1568, 1575;  lifetime,  B  118;  now  a  dayes, 

at  this  time,  E  1 164. 
Dayerye,  s.  dairy,  A  597;  //.  D  871. 
Dayesye,  (.  daisy,  L.  182.  184,  218. 
Debaat.  s.  strife.  A  3230.  B  2867;  war,  B 

130;  mental  conflict,  3.  1192;  quarrelling, 

Debate,  v.  fight,  war,  B  2058  ;  quarrel,  C 

412. 
Debonair,    ady.    calm,     benign,    gentle, 

I    658;  Uebonaire,  /em.  well-mannered 

B  4061 ;  gracious,  courteous,  R.  797;  as 

s.  kind  person,  3.  624. 
Debonairely,     adv.     meekly,     I     660; 

graciously,   3.   851,    1284;    with   a   good 

grac<-,    HF.  2013:    courteously.  3.   518; 

T.  ii.  1259. 
Debonairetee,    s.    gentleness,    I    467 ; 

^,'i.iciousno^,s,  6.  108. 
Deceivable,  adj.  deceitful,  15.  3;  E  2058. 
Declamed,  p/.p/.  discussed,  T.  ii.  1247. 
Declinacioun,    s.    declination,    angular 

distance  N.  or  S.  of  the  equator,  E  2223, 
'        F 1033. 
Declyneth,  pr.  s.  turns  aside,  B  4.  p  6. 

195;  pr.  s.  possesses  declination,  A.  ii. 
I         19.  12. 

'   Declyninge,  adj.  sloping,  B  5.  m  i.  19. 

Decoped,  pp.  lit.  '  cut  down  ' ;  hence, 
pierced,  cut  in  openwork  patterns,  R. 
843. 

D6de.  dead  ;  see  D66d. 

D6de.  ii-er.  to  grow  dead,  become  stupe- 
fied. HF.  552. 

Deden.  pi.  pi.  did.  T.  i.  82.    See  Doon. 
,   Dedicat.  pp.  dedicated.  I  964. 

Deduyt,  s.  pleasure,  .\  2177. 

Deed,  s.  deed,  act;   Dede,  dat.   1.45;   B 
1999;  in    dede,  indeed,   A  659,  B  3511; 
j        with  the  dede,  with    the   act    thereof,  D 
70  :  Dede,  //.  (A.  S.  dada),  5.  82. 

D66d,  adj.  dead,  R.  215 ;  dead,  livid  (of 
hue).  R.  441 :  /or  d.,  as  dead,  T.  iv.  733; 


(©loggarial  Inlnei. 


29 


Dede,  def.  L.  876 ;  d.  sUpe,  heavy  sleep, 
3.  127;  Dede,  //.  sluggish,  5.  187; 
ivoundes  dede,  deadly  wounds,  3.  121 1. 

D66dly,  adj.  mortal,  I  99;  dying,  L.  885; 
ileatlilike,  3.  162. 

D66dly,  adv.  mortallv,  G  476. 

D66f ,  adj.  deaf.  T.  i.  753  ;   Deve,  //.  G  286. 

Deel,  s.  part,  R.  1074;  never  a  dee/,  not 
at  all,  I  1007;  not  a  bit,  HF.  331 ;  every 
deel,  every  whit,  wholly,  T.  ii.  590;  Deel, 
pi.  times,  6.  35  ;  Del,  part,  R.  28  ;  share, 
3.  looi ;  every  d.,  every  whit,  A  1825; 
eche  a  d.,  every  whit,  T.  iii.  694  ;  a  greet 
del,  to  a  large  extent,  A  415  ;  very  often, 
3.  1159;  no  del,  no  whit,  T.  i.  1089; 
never  a  d.,  not  a  whit,  3.  543. 

Deer,  s.pl.  animals,  B  1926. 

Dees,  pi.  dice,  T.  ii.  1347,  iv.  1098. 

Dees,  s.  dais,  HF.  1360,  1658. 

Deeth,  s.  death,  B  3567;  pestilence, 
plague,  T.  i.  483;  the  deeth,  the  pesti- 
lence (with  special  references  to  the 
pestilences  of  1349,  1361,  and  1369),  A 
605. 

Defame,  s.  dishonour,  B  3788,  C  612. 

Defaute,  s.  fault,  22.  56;  fault  (as  a 
huntmg  term),  3.  384  (were  on  a  defaute 
y-falle,  had  a  check)  ;  lack,  defect, 
want,  3.  5,  25,  223;  sin,  B  3718,  C  370. 

Defence,  .r.  resistance,  L.  1931 ;  hin- 
drance, R.  VI42;  covering,  5.  273 ;  pro- 
hibition, T.  iii.  138;  denial,  D  467. 

Defendaunt,  s. ;  in  his  d.,  in  defending 
himself,  in  self-defence,  I  572. 

Defende,  ger.  to  defend,  B.  2631;  to 
turbid,  G  1470. 

Defet,  pp.  exhausted  (lit.  defeated),  T. 
V.  618;  cast  down,  T.  v.  1219. 

Deffendeth,  pr.  s.  forbids,  I  651 ;  pp.  I 
600. 

Defoulen,  v.  trample  down,  hence,  defile, 
1'  1418 ;  //.  trampled  down,  I  191 ; 
defiled.  1".  v.  1339;  disgraced,  B  4.  m 
7.  47  (  Lat.  titrpatus) . 

Defyne,  i  //-.  s.  pronounce,  declare,  T. 
iv.  390. 

Degree.T.rank,  5. 453;  condition, position, 
A  1841 ;  step,  R.  485  ;  footstep,  B4.  m  i. 
42  ;  horizontal  stripes,  B  1.  p  i.  38  ;  of  the 
zodiac,  F  386;  aflowe  degree,  R.  883; 
at  alle  degrees,  in  every  way,  A  3724. 

Degys6,  adj.  elaborate^  I  417. 

Deg-ysinesse.  s.  elaborate  style,  I  414. 

Deg'ysinge.  s.  elaborate  ornamentation, 
I  425- 

Dekne,  s.  deacon,  I  891. 

Del:  see  Deel. 

Delen,  ger.  to  have  dealing  with,  A  247; 


Dele,  ger.  to  have  dealings,  T.  iii.  322 ; 

to  deal,  L.  1158;   v.  argue,  T.  ii.  1749; 

Deled,  pt.  pi.  had  intercourse,  L.  1517; 

Deled, /;>.  apportioned,  D.  2249. 
Deliberen,  v.  deliberate,  consider,  T.  iv. 

169  ;  //.  s.  deliberated,  B  2916. 
Delicacye,  s.  amusement,  B  3669;  wan- 
tonness, 9.  58. 
I   Delicat,  adj.  delicious,  E  1646;  delicate, 
i       E  682  ;  daintv,  I  432. 
Delices,  s.  pi.  delights,  B  2602;  tender 

feelings,  B  2.  p  4.  78;   sinful  pleasures, 

B  3-  P  7-  1- 
Delicious,  adj.  giving  delight,  T.  v.  443. 
Deliciously.  adv.  luxuriously,  E  2025. 
Delitable,  adj.  delightful,    R.    1440;    de- 
licious, R.  1371 ;  //.  delightful,  F  899. 
Delitably,  adv.  pleasingly.  B  4.  p  1.  2. 
Delitous,  adj.  delicious,  R.  489. 
Deliver,  adj.  quick,  active,  A  84. 
Delivere,  v.  set  free,  13. 7  ;  do  away  with, 

T.  iii.  1012;  ger.  to  set  free  (after  a  legal 

decision),  5.  508. 
Deliverly,  adv.  nimblv,  B  4606 ;  quickly, 

T.  ii.  1088. 
Delivernesse,  s.  activity,  B  2355. 
'   Delphyn,   s.  the   constellation    Dolphin, 

HF.  ioo6. 
Delte,  pt.  s.  of  Delen. 
Delve,  V.  dig,  A  536;    Dalf,  i  //.  s.  dug, 

B   5.   p    I.  99;    i3olve,  pt.  s.  subj.   had 

digged,  B  5.  p  I.  87;  Dolven,//.  buried, 

3.  222.     A.  S.  del/an. 
Delyces,  .r.  //.  delights,  pleasures,  C  547, 

G  3 ;  favourites  (Lat.  delicias),  B  2.  p  3. 

Dely6,  adj.  delicate,  fine,  B  i.  p  i.  23. 
O.  F.  delte. 

Delyt,  s.  delight,  joy,  3.  606;  pleasing 
ornamentation,  L.  1199. 

Delytable,  adj.  delightful,  L.  321. 

Delyte,  v.  delight,  please,  5.  27 ;  rejl. 
take  ])leasure,  5.  66 ;  Delyte  me,  i  /;•.  s. 
delight,  L.  30. 

Delytous,  adj.  delicious,  R.  90. 

Demaunde,  s.  question,  T.  iv.  1694,  v. 
859- 

Deme,  v.  judge,  14.  6;  decide,  conclude, 
T.  ii.  371 ;  suppose,  4.  158  ;  give  a  ver- 
dict, G  595;  Demen,  v.  deem,  judge,  A 
3161 ;  decide,  B  3045;  i  pr.  s.  condemn, 
D  2024  ;  decree,  C  199  ;  suppose,  E  753  ; 
Demeth,  imp.  pi.  judge,  decide,  L.  453; 
sujipose,  A  3172. 

Demeine,  v.  manage,  HF.  959. 

Demeyne,  s.  dominion,  B  3855. 

Demonialc,  s.   madman,  D  2240. 

Demonstracioun,  .f.  jjroof,  HF.  727. 


so 


(©lossarial  Cntic 


Demonstratif,    ad/,    demonstrable,    D. 

2272. 

Denticle,  s.  pointer,  A.  i.  23.  i.  See  Al- 
mury. 

Denye,  z'.  refuse,  T.  ii.  1489;  Deneyed, 
/'/'.  tleniml,  B  3.  p  10.  16. 

Depardieux,  m/erj.  on  the  part  of  God, 
by  Cioil'.s  help,  T.  ii.  1058,  1212. 

Departe,  i'.  separate,  part,  7.  285 ;  sever, 
1.  ii.  531;  divide,  I  1006;  imf.  s.  dis- 
tinguish, T.  iii.  404. 

Departlngre,  s.  dividing,  I  425,  1008 ; 
departure,  5.  675  ;  separation,  4.  25. 

Depe,  ,jJ::  deeply,  3.  165;  7.  8. 

Depeynted,  />/>.  depicted,  L.  1025; 
p.iinted,  R.  478;  stained,  T.  v.  1599. 

Depper,  ijciv.  comp.  deeper,  T.  ii.  485 ; 
11  630. 

Depraven,  pr.  pi.  calumniate,  4.  207. 

Depressioun,  s.  the  angular  distance  of 
the  southern  pole  from  tlie  horizon,  A. 
ii.  25.  10. 

Dere,  adj.  dear,  I.  99;  4.  147. 

Dere,  adv.  dearly,  1.  86,   18.  a6. 

Dere,  s.  dat.  deer,  R.  1453. 

D6re,  v.  injure,  harm.  T.  i.  651.  A.  S. 
de>  tan. 

Derelingr,  s.  darling,  A  3793. 

Derk,  adj.  dark,  R.  1009;  inauspicious, 
4.  120;  (ij  J.  inauspicious  position,  4. 122. 

Derke,  5.  darkness,  gloom,  3.  609. 

Derkest,  adj.  superl.  d.irkcst,  B  304. 

Derkly,  ,;./:•.  darkly,  HF.  31. 

Derknesse,  t.  darkness,  B  i4!;i. 

Derne,  .j,//.  secret,  A  3200,  327'8. 

Derre,  adv.  comp.  more  dearlv,  T.  i.  136, 
174 ;  A  1448. 

Derth,  (.  dearth,  HF.  1974. 

Deryveth,  pr.  s.  is  derived,  A  3006. 

Desceivaunce,  s.  deception,  B  3.  p  8.  53. 

Descencioun,  s.  descension,  A.  ii.  4.  55. 
The  technical  signification  seems  to  be 
—  the  ■  house "  or  portion  of  the  sky 
just  above  the  western  horizon,  so  that 
a  planet  in  his  descension  is  about  to 
set. 

Descensories,  s.  pi.  G  792.  '  Descenso- 
rtes,  vessels  used  in  chemistry  for  extract- 
ing oils  per  descensum  ; '  Tyrwhitt. 

Desceme,  i.  discern,  T.  iv.  200. 

Descharge.  pr.  s.  subj.  disburden,  I  360. 

Desclaundred,  //.  slandered,  B  674. 

Descry  ve.  z:  describe,  R.  705  ;  HF.  H05. 

Desdeyn,  s.  disdain,  contempt,  A  789. 

Desert,  s.  merit,  4.  31 ;  //.  merits,  T.  iii. 
1267. 

Deserte.  adj.  lonely.  HF.  417. 

Deservedest,  apt.  s.  didst  deserve,  C  216. 


Desespaired,  pp.  in  despair,  6.  7. 

Desespeir.  <.  despair,  T.  i.  605,  ii.  6. 

Desesperaunce,  s.  hopelessness,  T.  ii. 

^530.  1307. 

Desheiite,  ^er.  to  disinherit,  B  3025. 

Deshonestee,  s.  unseemliness,  I  833. 

D68ir6u8,  adj.  ambitious,  9.  59;  ardent, 
F  23. 

Deslavee,  adj.  foul,  I  629;  inordinate, 
unrestrained,  I  834.  '  Deslave,  pp.  non 
lavtf-,  crasseux,  sale  ;  '  Godefroy. 

Desordeynee,  adj.  unregulated,  inor- 
dinate, I  818,  915. 

Desordinat,  adj.  inordinate,  I  415. 

Despeired,  pp.  sunk  in  despair,  2. 91 ;  T. 
V.  7'3- 

Despence,  s.  expense,  D  1874 ;  expendi- 
ture, money  for  expenses,  B  105. 

Despende,  v.  spend,  T.  iv.  921;  z  pr.  s. 
w.asiest   B  2121 ;  pp.  spent,  A  3983. 

Despendours,  pi.  spenders,  B  2843. 

Despenses,  pi.  expenditure,  B  2842. 

Desperacioun,  s.  despair,  1.  21. 

Ddspitous,  adj.  spiteful,  R.  173;  angry, 
jealous,  D  761 ;  merciless,  A  516;  scorn- 
ful, A  1777,  1  395. 


Despltously,   adv.   scornfully,   B  3785; 
angrily,    .\    42J 
cruelly,  E  S35. 


angrily,   A   4274;    maliciously,    B    605; 


Desplayeth,  pr.  s.  spreads  open,  A  966. 

Desponetb,  pr.  s.  disposes,  T.  iv.  964. 

Desport,  s.  diversion,  merriment,  amuse- 
ment, r.  i.  592;   B  2158. 

Desporte,  v.  rejoice,  T.  v.  1398. 

Despoyled,  pp.  robbed,  I  665. 

Despyt,  5.  malice,  spite,  T.  i.  207;  con- 
tempt, disdain,  D  1876;  scorn,  L.  372; 
malice,  L.  1771;  ill-humour,  I  507;  a 
deed  expressing  contempt,  B  3738 :  in 
d.  of,  in  contempt  of,  5.  281;  tn  your  d., 
in  contempt  of  you,  B  1753;  in  his  d.,  in 
scorn  of  him,  L.  134. 

Desray,  s.  confusion,  I  927. 

Dessaveraiince,  s.  separation,T.  iii.  1424. 

Destemperaunce,  s.  inclemency,  B  3. 
p  II.  130. 

Destempred,//.  distempered,  I  826. 

Destinal,  adj.  fatal,  B  4.  p  6.  172;  pre- 
destined, B  4.  p  6.  no. 

Destourbe,  ger.  to  disturb;  d.  of,  to 
disturb  in,  C  340;  pr.  s.  hinders,  I  576; 
interrupts,  B  2167. 

Destourbingr,  s.  trouble,  18.  44. 

Destrat,  pp.  distracted,  B  3.  p  8.  19. 

Destreyne,  v.  distress,  T.  iii.  1528;  ger. 
constrain,  force,  H  161. 

Destroubled,  pp.  disturbed,  3.  524. 

Desyring-e,  adj.  desirous,  B  2767. 


(Slogsartal  Sntiei. 


31 


Determinat,  adj.  determinate,  exact, 
fixed,  D  1459;  properly  placed  (on  the 
astrolabe),  A.  ii.  18  (rubric). 

D6termyne,  v.  come  to  an  end,  T.  iii. 
379;  Determined,  pp.  settled,  B  5.  p 
4.  9. 

Dette,  s.  debt,  L.  541 ;  A  280. 

Dettelees,  adj.  free  from  debt,  A  582. 

Dettour,  s.  debtor,  B  1587,  D  155. 

Deus  hic,  God  (be)  here,  D  1770. 

Deve,  pi.  of  Deef,  deaf. 

Devil,  s.  L.  2493;  «/>4a/rf.,what  the  devil, 
L.  2694 ;  how  d..  how  the  devil,  T.  i.  623 ; 
a.  d.  meye,  in  the  way  to  the  devil,  in 
the  devil's  name,  A  3134;  «  twenty  devil 
tvay,  in  the  way  of  twenty  devils,  i.  e. 
to  utter  destruction,  L.  2177;  an  excla- 
mation of  petulance,  A  3713,  4257. 

Devoir,  s.  duty,  T.  iii.  1045;  A  2598. 

Devyn,  .t.  astrologer,  T.  i.  66. 

Devyne,  v.  guess,  T.  v.  288 ;  ger.  T.  iii. 
765;  to  prophesy  (by),  5.  182;  Devyne, 
pr.  pi.  suspect,  T.  ii.  1745;  Devyne, 
pr.  s.  suhj.  let  (him)  guess,  HF.  14. 

Devy neresse ,  s. female  diviner, T.  v.  1522. 

Devys,  s.  contrivance,  R.  1413;  suppo- 
sition, R.  651;  direction,  ,\  816;  at  his 
d.,  according  to  his  own  wish,  R.  1326; 
at  point  d.,  with  great  exactness  or 
exactitude,  R.  830;  Devyses,  ;>/.  heraldic 
devices,  badges,  L.  1272. 

Devyse,  v.  to  relate,  tell,  describe,  T.  iii. 
41;  A  34;  recommend,  T.ii.  388;  devise, 
suggest,  ordain,  L.  437;  plan,  L.  1453; 
ger.  to  tell,  describe,  5.  398;   to  relate, 
A  994;  to  frame,  E  739;  to  tell  of,  T.  i. 
277  ;  pr.  s.  narrates,  describes,   5.  317; 
pr.  pi.   imagine,   discourse,   F  261 ;  pp. 
described  to,  told,  R.  476. 
Devysing,  j.  arrangement,  A  2496. 
Dewe,  adj.  due,  I  867. 
Dextrer,  s.  a  courser,  war-horse,  B  2103. 
Fr.    destrier,    a     war-horse,    Low    Lat. 
dextrarius.     The   squire  rode   his   own 
horse,     and     led     his     master's     horse 
beside  him,  on  his  right  hand. 
Deye,     s.    dairywoman,    B   4036.     Icel. 

deigja. 
Deye,  v.  die,  5.  469,  651 ;  Deyde,  pt.  s.  A 
2846 ;  Deyed,  pp.  R.  456 ;   Deyde,  pt.  s. 
subj.  should  die,  A  3427. 
Deyen,  ger.  to  dye,  to  dip,  B  4.  m  6.  14. 
Deyinge,  s.  death,  B  1850;  lay  on  deytng, 

lay  a-(lying,  B  3906. 
Deyne.'z/.  deign,  7.   231;    Deyneth  him, 
pr.   s.   he   deigns,   7.  181;    L.  395;    him 
deyned,   he  deigned,   B  3324,   4371 ;    hir 
deyned,  she  deigned,  4.  39. 


Deynous,  adj.  scornful,  A  3941. 

Deyntee,  s.  worth,   value,  D   208;  took 

lesse   d.  for,   set  less    value    on,  7.   143; 

a   peculiar   pleasure,   B    139;    pleasure, 

F681, 1003;  Deyntees,;0/.  dainties,  A  346. 

Deyntee,  s.  as  adj.  dainty,  pleasant,  rare, 

T.  V.  438  ;  good,  A  168. 
Deyntevous,  adj.  dainty,  E  265. 
Deys,    s.   dais,   platform,  the    high   table 

in  a  dining-hall,  A  370,  2200. 
Diademe,  s.  diadem,   crown   of  an   em- 
peror, 14.  7. 
Didpred,  //.   as  adj.   variegated,   diver- 
sified with  figures,  A  2158. 
Dich,  s.  ditch,  A  3964. 
Dichen,  v.  make  a  dyke  round,  L.  708 ; 

pp.  provided  with  a  moat,  A  l888. 
Dide.  Didest;  see  Doon. 
Diete.  s.  du-t,  daily  food,  .A  435. 
Diffamacioun,  s.  defamation,  D  1304. 
Diffame,  s.  ill  report,  E  540,  730. 
Diffame,  ger.  to  dishonour,  HF.  1581 ;  v. 

cry  down,  I)  2212.- 
Dimnicloun,  s.  clear  exposition,  D  25. 
Difanisshe,  pr.  s.  subj.   define,   B  5.  p 

1.36. 
Difflnitif,  adj.  definite,  final,  C  172. 
Diffusioun,  s.  prolixity,  T.  iii.  296. 
Diffye,  \  pr.  s.  defy,  spurn,  D  1928. 
Diffyne,,^^r.  define,  state  clearly,  5.  529; 

2/r.  pi.  conclude,  HF.  344. 
Digestible,  adj.  easy  to  be  digested,  A 

437. 
Dighte,    V.   prepare.    L.    1288;    prepare 
(himself),  L.  1000;   Dighte  me,  prepare 
myself    to   go,   B   3104;    ordain,    place, 
T.  iv.  1188;  lie  with,  D  767;  pt.  s.  reft. 
hastened,   betook    himself,   T.    ii.   948; 
lay    with,    D    398;    Dight,   //.   arrayed, 
equipped,   T.  iii.  1773;  served,  H   312; 
prepared,  R.  941 ;   prepared  him  to  go, 
B   3719;    Dighte,  pp.  pi.    prepared,    L. 
261 1.     A.  S.  dihtan;  from  Lat.  dictare. 
Digne,  ai^'.  worthy,  T.  i.  429;  honourable, 
noble,  B   1175,  C  695;  suitable,  B  778; 
proud,  disdainful,   A  517;   scornful,   re- 
pellent, A  3964. 
Dignely,  adv.  scornfully,  T.  ii.  1024. 
Dignitee,  s.  worth,  dignity,  C  701,  782; 
rank,    E    470.      Dignity,    in    astrology, 
signifies  the  advantages  which  a  planet 
has   when  in  a  particular    position    in 
the   zodiac,   or  in  a  particular   position 
with  regard  to  other  planets  (Bailey). 
Dilatacioun,  s.  diffusoness,  B  232. 
Diluge,  s.  deluge,  I  839. 
Dint,  s.  stroke,  HF.  534. 
Direct,  a(^'.  directed,  addressed,  18.  75; 


32 


(Slossarial  5nl)fi. 


in  dirtcU,  in  a  line  with,  A.  ii.  44.  26. 

A   planet's    motion    is    direct  when    it 

moves    in    the    same   direction  as  the 

sun  in  the  zodiac. 
Directe,  i  pr.  s.  address,  T.  v.  1856. 
Disavaunce,  v.  defeat,  T.  ii.  511. 
Disaventure,  s.  misfortune,  T.  ii.  41s. 
Disblameth,    /w/>.  p/.    free    (me)    from 

blame,  T.  li.  17. 
Disceyvingr,  s-  deception,  R.  1590. 
Dischevele,  aJJ.  with  (his)  hair  hanging 

loosely  down,  A  683;  with  hair  in  dis- 
order, L.  1315. 
Disciplyne,    s.   bodily    mortification,    I 

1052. 
Disclaundre,   s.  reproach,  T.    iv.  564; 

slander,  I  623. 
Disconflture,  s.  defeat,  A  1008;   grief, 

7.  326. 
Disconfort,  s.  discouragement,  discom- 
fort, A  2010.  grief,  woe,  T.  iv.  311. 
Disconforten,  v.  discourage,  A  2704. 
Discordable.  discordant,  T.  iii.  1753. 
Discordances,  s.  pi.  discords,  I  275. 
Discorden.  pr.  pi.  disagree,   B  4.  p  6. 

20S. 
Discordinge,  adj.  different,  B  3.  p  2. 140. 

(Lai.  di^udfittes.) 
Discovered,  pp.  revealed,  G  1468. 
Discovert,  pp.  uncovered;   at  d.,  when 

unprotected,  I  714. 
Discryve,i'.describe,T.v.267 ;  Discreven, 

V.  T.  iv.  802. 
Discure,  v.  reveal,  discover,  3.  549. 
Discussed, //.  discussed,  5.  624;  driven 

away,  B  I.  m  3.  i. 
Disdeyn.  s.  disdain,  R.  296. 
Disencreseth,  pr.  s.  decreases,  B  5.  p 

6.  85. 
Disese,   s.    discomfort,   grief,   misery,  4. 

216,  277  ;  T.  ii.  987  ;  sorrow,  7.  226;  dis- 
pleasure, T.  ii.  147;  disease,  ill,  HF.  89; 

inconvenience,   I  609;    distress,  B  616; 

unrest,  F  1314. 
Disesen,  ^er.  to  trouble,  T.  iii.  1468 ;  v. 

vex,  T.  iv.  1304;  distress,  T.  i.  573. 
Disesperat,  adj.  without  hope,  HF.  2015. 
Disflgurat,  adj.  disguised,  5.  222. 
Disflgilre,  s.  disfigurement,  D  960. 
Disfigure,     v.    disguise,     L.    2046;   //. 

chan.ije.l,  A  1403. 
Disgressioun,  digression,  T.  i.  143. 
Disgryse,  c""-  'o  disguise,  T.  v.  1577. 
Disherited,  //.    di"^5inherited,   deprived, 

L.  1065. 
Dish-metes,  pi.  spoon-meat,  broth,  I  455. 
Dishonest,  adj.  unfaithful,  H  214;  Dis- 

honeste,  shameful,  E  876. 


I  Disjoynt,  s.  failure,  A  2962;  difficult 
position,  B  i6oi ;  dat.  peril,  T,  iii.  496, 
v.  1618. 

Dismal,  s.  unlucky  day,  3.  1206. 

Dismembred, />/■.//.  dismembered,  I  591. 

Dismembringe,  s.  dismeinbering,  I  591. 

Disobeysaunt.  adj.  disobedient,  5.  429. 

Disordenaunce,  s.  violation  of  rules, 
HF.  27. 

Disparage,  s.  disgrace,  E  908. 

Disparage,  v.  dishonour,  A  4271 ;  pp. 
misallied,  U  1069. 

Dispeire  yow,  imp.  pi.  despair,  E  1669. 

Dispence,  s.  expenditure,  expense,  A 
441;  what  I  spend,  D  1432;  cost,  B 
1 195;  lavish  help,  HF.  260;  Dispenses, 
//.  expenses,  R.  1144. 

Dispende,  v.  spend,  B  3500;  pp.  spent, 
shared,  H  2560. 

Dispeyred,  adj.  despairing,  F  1084. 

Dispitous,  adj.  spiteful,  R.  156;  T.  iii. 
1458;  grievous,  sad,  T.  v.  199;  Dis- 
pit6use,  -joc.  pitiless,  T.  ii.  435 ;  de/. 
firm,  cruel,  3.  624. 

Dispitously,  (ji/z/.  angrily,  A  1124;  spite- 
fully. T.  v.  1806;  cruelly,  HF.  161. 
I   Displesant,  adj.  displeasing,  I  544,  697. 
I  Displesaunce,  s.  displeasure,  T.  iii.  480; 
offence,  C  74 ;  Displesances,  pi.  annoy- 
I       ances,  C  420. 

I   Dispone,  imp.  s.  dispose,  T.  v.  300;  pr.  s. 
I       disposes,  orders,  regulates,  B  4.  p  6.  60. 
j  Disport,  s.  sport,  pleasantry,  A  137,  775 ; 
I       amusement,  diversioun,  D  839 ;  pleasure, 
i       B  143 ;  sport,  4.  177. 

Disporte,  ger.  to  amuse,  HF.  571;  to 
exhilarate,  T.  ii.  1673;  ^-  cheer,  T.  iii. 
1 133  ;  pr.pl.  sport,  play,  E  2040. 

Disposed,  pt.  s.  purposed,  E  244;  pp. 
disposed,  T.  ii.  682;  ready,  T.  iv.  230; 
-uel  d..  in  good  health  (the  reverse  of 
indisposed),  H  33. 

Disposlcioun,  .f.  disposal,  T.  ii.  526,  v.  2; 
position.  A  1087;  frame  of  mind,  B 
2326. 

Dispoylinge,  s.  spoil,  B  4.  m  7.  32. 

Dispreisen,  ger.  to  disparage,  R.  1053; 
V.  blame,  B  2261 ;  pres.  pt.  depreciating, 
H  2741. 

Dispreisinge,  s.  blame,  I  497 ;  contempt, 
H  2876. 

Disputisoun,  s.  argument,  E  1474 ;  dis- 
pute, B  4428,  F  890. 

Dispyt,  s.  despite,  scorn,  L.  1822;  dis- 
dain. HF.  1716;  vexation,  R.  1487;  in 
d.  or.  in  spite  of,  HF.  1668. 

Disserveth,  pr.  s.  deserves,  I  756. 

Dissever,  v.  part,  2.  115;  17.  15;  ger.  to 


©loggartal  Knticx. 


33 


part,   G  875;    //.  separated,   B  4.  p  3. 

19. 
Disseveraunce,  s.  severing,  B  3.  p  11. 64. 
Disshevele,  adj.whb  hair  flowing  down,   | 

5.  235.    See  Dischevele.  i 

Dissimulen,  v.  dissimulate,  T.  i.  322,  iii. 

434- 
Dissimulinge,  s.  dissimulation,  dissem- 
bling, T.  V.  1613,  G  1073. 
Dissiinulour,  s.  dissembler,  B  4418.  1 

Disslaundred, //.  defamed,  L.  1031. 
Dissolveth,  pr.  s.  puts  an  end  to,  B  2. 

P  3-  92. 
Distantz,  adj.pl.  distant;  evene  distatitz, 

equidistant,  A.  i.  17.  52. 
Distemperaunce,  s.  inclemency,  I  421. 
Distempre,  adj.  distempered,  furious,  B 

4.  p  3.  125. 
Distempre,  v.  vex,  B  2426;   imp.  s.  be 

out  of  temper,  D  2195. 
Disteyne,  v.  stain,  bedim,  dull,  L.  255. 
Distingwed,//.  distinguished,  B2.p 5. 75. 
Distourbe,  v.  disturb,  T.  iv.  563;    (to) 

interfere  with,  T.  iv.  934;  prevent,  T.  iv. 

1103.    See  Destourbe. 
Distreyne,    v.    constrain,   A    1816;    get 

into    his   grasp,    clutch,   20.   8;    imp.    s. 

constrain,  T.  v.  596;   Distreyneth,  pr.s. 

secures,  clutches,  grasps,  5.  337  ;  afflicts, 

F  820;  pp.  misled,  T.  ii.  840;  assessed, 

taxed,  I  752. 
Disturbed,  pp.  altered,  T.  ii.  622. 
Disturne,  v.  turn  aside,  T.  iii.  718. 
Ditee,  s.  ditty,  song,  B  3.  p  i.  2;  pi.  \\V. 

622.    See  Dyte. 
Diurne,  adj.  diurnal,  E  1795. 
Divers,  <J(//'.  diverse,  various,  3.  653;  dat. 

different,  2.  17. 
Diversely,   adv.   in    different    ways,   R. 

1629. 
Diversitee,  s.  variety,  T.  v.  1793. 
Divinistre,  s.  theologian,  A  2811. 
Divisioun,  s.  distinction,  A  1781;  differ- 
ence, 10.  33 ;   of  my  d.,  under  my  influ- 
ence, 4.  273. 
Divynailes,  //.  divinations,  I  605. 
Divynen,  v.  guess,  T.  iii.  458;    i  pr.  s. 

declare,  12.  19 ;  pres.  pt.  guessing,  A  2515. 
Divyninge,  s.  opinion,  A  2521. 
Divynis,  pi.  theologians,  A  1323. 
Divynour,   s.   seer,   soothsayer,   B   5.  p 

Do ;  see  Doon. 

Doctour,  s.  doctor,  A  411;  (i.e.  St.  Au- 
gustine), C  117;  theologian,  I  85;  //. 
teachers,  D  1648. 

Dogerel,  adj.  doggrel,  B  21 15. 

Dogge,  s.  dog,  D  1369.  E  2014. 


Doghter,  s.  daughter,  L.  114;  B  151; 
Dojghtren,  //.  L.  1963;  Doughtren, //. 
T.  iv.  22. 

Doinges,//.  deeds,  L.  168 1. 

Doke,  s.  duck,  5.  498,  589;  A  3576. 

Dokke,  f.  dock  (plant),  T.  iv.  461. 

Dokked,  pp.  cut  short,  A  590. 

Dolve,  Dolven;  see  Delve. 

Domb,  adj.  dumb,  HP.  656. 

Domesday,  s.  doom's  day,  HF.  1284. 

Domesman,  s.  judge,  B  3680,  I  594. 

Dominacioun,  s.  power,  A  2758 ;  do- 
minion, C  560;  chief  influence,  F  352; 
supremacy,  H  181. 

Domiiius;  see  Corpus. 

Domits  Dedali,  the  labyrinth  of  Daedalus, 
HF.  1920. 

Don,  imp.  s.  don,  put  on,  T.  ii.  954. 

Don,  Done;  see  Doon. 

Dong-carte,  s.  dung-cart,  B  4226. 

Dongeoun,  s.  keep-tower,  A  1057. 

Donne,  adj.  pi.  dun,  dusky,  T.  ii.  908 ; 
dun-coloured,  5.  334. 

Doom,  s.  judgement,  F  928 ;  opinion,  B 
3127;  sentence,  decision:  hir  d.,  the 
decision  passed  on  them,  5.308;  Dome, 
dat.  opinion,  T.  i.  100;  judgement,  HF. 
1905  ;  C  637  ;  to  my  d.,  in  my  opinion,  R. 
901 ;  stonde  to  the  d.,  abide  by  the  de- 
cision, 5.  546;  Domes,  //.  judgements, 
A  323. 

Doon,  V.  do,  execute,  A  960;  do,  3.  194; 
act,  B  90;  cause,  B  3618  ;  doon  us  houge, 
cause  us  to  be  hung,  C  790;  don  her 
companye,  accompany  her,  4.  125 ;  leet 
don  cryen,  caused  to  be  cried,  F  46 ;  Do, 
V.  cause,  T.  iv.  1683;  use,  B  2204;  fulfil, 
B  1653  ;  make,  3.  145  ;  do  iverclie,  cause 
to  be  built,  G  545;  T)one,ger.  to  do,  T. 
i.  1026;  7v/iat  to  done,  what  is  to  be  done, 
3.  689  ;  for  to  done,  a  fit  thing  to  do,  I  62  ; 
to  be  done,  L.  1597  ;  'Doox\,^er.  to  do,  A 
78,  768;  to  commit,  I  90;  to  cause,  R. 
1178  ;  to  force,  5.  221 ;  to  don,  from  doing, 
B  4.  p  6.  323  ;  Do,  ger.  to  make,  3.  1260 ; 
to  cause,  T.  ii.  1022;  to  commit,  I  129; 
Doost,  2  pr.  s.  makest,  C  312;  Dostow, 
doest  thou,  L.  315 ;  Booth,  //-.  s.  causes, 
A  2396  ;  Doth,  ;>/•.  J.  makes,  2.  7  ;  causes, 
6.  21;  Doth  forth,  continues,  E  1015; 
Doon,  pr.pl.  do,  A  268  ;  Do,  imp.  s.  make, 
H  12;  bring  (it)  about,  A  2405;  cause,  G 
32  ;  do  //a;/^^,  cause  me  to  be  hung,  G  1029; 
do  fecche,  cause  to  be  fetched,  B  662;  do 
■wey,  put  away,  lay  aside,  G  487 ;  take 
away,  A  3287  ;  do  stryken  hir  out,  cause 
her  to  be  struck  out,  D  1364;  do  come, 
cause  to  come,  B  2035  ;  Dooth,  imp.pl.  do 


34 


(Slosgartal  IcnDei. 


ve,  C  745, 1  105 ;  as  dooth,  pray  do,  F  458 ; 
Didest,  2  pt.  i.  didst,  T.  iii.  363 ;  Dide, 
pt.  s.  did,  3.  373 ;  caused,  R.  607 ;  put  on, 
B  3047;  dide  hem  drawe.  caused  to  be 
drawn,  B  1823  ;  didt  don  sleen,  caused  to 
be  slain,  caused  (men)  to  have  them 
slain  (sleen.  like  don,  is  in  the  infin. 
mood),  U  2042  ;  dide  of,  took  off,  3.  516; 
Uide,  pt.  s.  iuhj.  should  do,  F  1404; 
Diden,  pt.  pi.  made,  22.  28 ;  //.  //.  subj. 
should  do,  L.  723;  Doon,  pp.  done, 
I.  54;  past,  ended,  3.  40;  doon  to  dethe, 
done  to  death,  I,.  889;  doon  make, 
caused  to  be  made,  E  253;  hath  doon 
yow  kept,  has  caused  you  to  be  pre- 
served, E  1098 ;  doon  ther  write,  caused 
to  be  written  (or  described  there),  R. 
413;  don  to  rfy^.done  to  death,  murdered, 
R.  1063 ;  Do,  pp.  done,  L.  957  ;  ended,  E 
2440. 

Dore,  s.  door,  R.  537,  A  550 ;  out  at  d.,  out 
of  .loors,  D  1757.  H  306. 

Dormant,  t.  table  dormant,  a  permanent 
M.l.--t.ibk-,  A  3S3- 

Dorre,  Dorrtngr ;  see  Durre,  Durrlng. 

Dorste ;  see  Dar. 

Dortour,  i,  dormitory,  D  1855. 

Doseyn.  s.  a  dozen.  A  578. 

Dossers,  pi.  baskets  to  carry  on  the  back, 
\\V.  1940. 

Dostow,  doest  thou.  D  239. 

Dotard,  adj.  foolish,  D  291. 

Dote,  I',  dote,  grow  foolish,  I^  261  a; 
Uoten,  act  foolishlv.  G  983. 

Doth,  pr.  s.  causes,  R.  389 ;  Doth  . . .  carie, 
causes  to  be  carried,  A  3410;  makes,  F 
12^7;  /m/>.^/.  do  ve.  B2785.    See  Doon. 

Double,  adj.  twofold,  4.  109;  deceitful, 
HI'   2-^t;. 

Doublenesse,  s.  duplicity,  7.  159;  9.  63. 

Doucet,  adj.  dulcet,  i.  e.  dulcet  (pipe), 
sweet-sounding  (pipe),  HF.  1221. 

Dougrhter,  s.  daughter,  T.  iii.  3 ;  Dough- 
tren.  pi.  T.  iv.  22. 

Doumb,  adj.  dumb,  A  774. 

Doun.  /.  down,  soft  feathers,  9.  45. 

Doun,  adv.  down,  F  323;  up  and  doun,  in 
ail  directions,  in  all  ways,  B  53. 

Doune,  dat.  down,  hill.  B  1986. 

Dounere,  adv.  more  downward,  A.  ii.  12. 
22. 

Doun-rlght,  adv.  at  once,  H  228. 

Dounward,  adv.  outward,  southward,  A. 
n.  40.  03. 

Doutance.  s.  doubt,  T.  iv.  963 ;  //.  per- 
p!exities.  T.  i.  200. 

Doute,  s.  doubt,  I.  25;  fear,  F  1096, 1  91 ; 
peril,  L.  1613;  suspense,  E  1721 ;  lack. 


T.  ii.  366;  out  of  doute,  doubtless,  A  487; 
sans  d.,  without  doubt,   U   1838;    with- 
outen  d.,  certainly,  L.  383. 
Doutelees,  adv.  without  doubt,  certainly, 

1.  ii.  494;  A  1831. 
Douten.  v.  fear,  I  648;  pr.  s.  fears.  I  953; 

Doiiieth,  imp.pl.  fear,  T.  i.  683. 
Doutous,  adj.  doubtful,  r.  iv.  992. 
D'outremere,  adj.  from  beyond  the  seas, 

forciijn.  imported,  3.  253. 
Douve.  «.  dove,  5.  341 ;  pigeon,  C  397. 
Dowalre,  s.  dower,  E  848. 
Do  we.  I  pr.  .t.  grant,  give,  T.  v.  230. 
I   Dowve ;  see  Douve. 
I   Dradde ;  see  Drede. 
1    Draf.  s.  draff,  refuse  (of  corn),  chaflT,  I  35  ; 
I       L.  3I2.J. 

J   Draf-sek,  s,  sack  full  of '  draff,"  A  4206. 
Dragrg'es,    //.    digestive    sweetmeats.    A 
42<j    (in    MS.   Marl,   only;    other    MSS. 
have  dro^ges). 
Dragroun,  s.  dragon,  I,.  1430,  1581;  tail 
of  the  dr.,  the  Dragon's  tail,  A.  li.  4.  36; 
I       the  point  where  a  planet  (esp.  the  moon) 
I       passed  from  the  northern  to  the  southern 
side  of  the  ecliptic.     (The  opposite  node 
I       was  called  the  Dragons  Head.) 
'   Draaty,(i<i(/.  filthy,  worthless,  B2113,  2120. 

Ct.  A.  S.  drestrn,  dcxrstan,  dregs. 
;    Drat,/»r.  J.  <i/Urede. 
'   Drauerbt   (of  drink),  L.  2667;   move  at 
I        chess,  3.  682. 

j  Drawe,  v.  draw,  incline,  E  314 ;  dr.  him, 
withdraw  himself,  F  355;  bring  forward, 
R.  6;  f.  attract,  R.  1183;  recall,  A  2074; 
ger.xo  draw,  to  carry,  A  1416;  to  bring 
back,  I  239 ;  Draweth  along,  pr.  s.  pro- 
longs, B  1.  m  I.  32  (Lat.  protrahit)  ;  pr, 
pi.  reji.  withdraw  themselves,  F  252; 
Drougli,//.  s.  drew,  A  4304;  drew  along, 
T.  V.  1558;  rjr/f. drew  himself,approached, 
B  1710;  Drow,//.  s,  drew.  B  3292;  drew 
near,  D  993;  moved  (as  the  sun),  5.  490; 
hoisted,  L.  1563 ;  Drew,  //.  s.  attracted, 
3.  864 ;  drowe  to  record,  didst  bring  to 
witness,  16.  22;  Drowe,  pt.  pi.  drew,  R. 
1678:  Drawe,  pp.  drawn,  T.  iii.  674; 
pres.part.  resorting,  B  1217. 
Drecche,  v.  be  tedious,  T.  ii.  1264;  ^er. 
to  vex,  T.  ii.  1471;  2/>r.  pi.  tarry,  T.  iv. 
1446 ;  pp.  vexed,  troubled,  B  4077. 
Drecchingre,     s.    prolonging,    I     1000; 

iJrecching,  delay,  T.  iii.  853. 
Drede,  s.  dread,  fear,  A  1998  ;  uncertainty, 
17.  28 ;  doubt,  5.  52 ;  it  is  no  drede,  with- 
out doubt,  B  869,  E  1155;  out  0/  drede, 
without  doubt,  E  634;  //.  fears,  T.  i. 
463- 


(@los0arial  InOtx, 


35 


Drede,  z'.  dread,  fear,  i.  76;  re/,  dread, 
A  660 ;  ^er.  to  be  dreaded,  to  be  feared. 
B  4253;  DrM.pr.  s.  dreadeth,  dreads,  T. 
iii.  328  ;  Dredde,  i//.  s.  was  afraid,  T.  ii. 
482;  Dradde,  pt.  s.  feared,  B  3402; 
Dradde  liim,  was  afraid,  B  3918;  Drad- 
den,  />/.  />/.  G  15  ;  Drad,  />/>.  E  69. 
Dredeles,  adj.  fearless,  B  3.  m  12.  11. 
Dredeles,  adv.  without  doubt,  certainly, 

3-  764- 
Dredful,   adj.  terrible,   B  3558;    fearful, 

timid,  L.  109;  cautious,  A  1479. 
DredfuUy,  adv.  timidly,  T.  ii.  1128. 
Dreint,  -e ;  see  Drenchen. 
Dremed  me,  />/.s.  I  dn-amt,  R.  51. 
Dreminges,  />/.  dreams,  B  4280. 
Drenchen,  (i)  ^<rr.  to  drown,  A  3617; 
Drenche,   v.   drown,    HF.   205;    do   me 
drenche,  make   (men)   drown  me,  cause 
me  to  be  drowned,  IC2201 :  Drenchen  (2) 
V.  be  drowned,  A  3521 ;  be  overwhelmed, 
L.  2919;  pr.s.  swamps,  I  363;  Dreinte, 
pt.s.  (i)  drowned,  3.  72;  Dreynte. />/.  j. 
drowned,  I  839;  Dreynie,  pt.  s.  (2)  was 
drowned,  B  923 ;  Dreynte,  2  //.  pt.  were 
drowned,  '1'.  iv.  930 ;  pt.  pt.  drowned,  F 
1378;  Drenched,  pp.  drowned,  L.  2178; 
Dreynt,  //.  3.   148;   Dreynte,  pp.  as  def. 
adj.  drowned,  B  69 ;  pp.  'pt.  HF.  233. 

Drenching,  s.  drowning,  .\  2456,  B  485. 

Drerinesse,  s.  sadness,  T.  i.  701. 

Drery,  adj.  sad,  E514;  terrified,  L.  810. 

Dres3e,  v.  diiect,  14. 3 ;  dispose,  get  ready, 
T.  ii.  71 ;  prepare,  E  1049;  set  in  order, 
A  106 ;  V.  refl.  address  oneself,  E  1007 ; 
direct  himself,  go,  A  3468 ;  direct  myself. 
R.  no;  address  himself,  direct  himself 
{or  perhaps,  mount),  T.  v.  37;  Dresse 
her,  settle  herself,  L.  804 ;  Dresse,  ger. 
to  direct,  B  2308 ;  ger.  refl.  prepare  him- 
self, T.  V.  279 ;  prepare,  5.  88 ;  pt.  s.  refl. 
raised  himself,  T.  iii.  71 ;  took  up  his 
station,  A  3358 ;  pp.  arrayed,  E  2361 ; 
prepared,  5.  665. 

Dreye,  adj.  dry,  .\  3024 ;  as  s.,  5.  380. 

Dreyeth,  pr.  s.  dries  up,  drains,  I  848. 

Dreynt,  -e;  see  Drenche. 

Droggres,  pt.  drugs,  A  426. 

Drog-h:  see  Drawe. 

Droghte,  s.  drought,  A  2.  595. 

Dronkele'we,  adj.  addicted  to  drink,  B 
2383,  C  495,  D  2043. 

Drough,  p/.  s.  of  Drawe. 

Droughte,  s.  thirst  (stti),  B  2.  p  7.  44. 

Drouped,  pt.  s.  were  draggled,  A  107. 

Drovy,  adj.  dirtv,  muddy,  I  816. 

Drow,  -e ;  sec  Drawe. ' 

Druerye,  s.  affection,  R.  844. 


Drugge ,  .f ^n  to  drudge,  A  1416. 
Drunken,  adj.  causing  drunkenness,  5. 

181. 
Drye,,^^/-.  to  endure,  T.  v.  42;  v.  suffer, 

endure,  4.  251. 
Dryve,  v.  drive,  F  183;  hasten,  D  1694; 
whirl  round,    10.  46;   pass  away,  '1".  v. 
394 ;    dryve  away,  pass    away,    C   628 ; 
Dryveth  forth,  pr.  s.  continues,  goes  on 
with,  T.   I.  1092;    Dryfth, //-.  s.   impels, 
T.  V.  1332 ;  Dry ven  (the  day) ,  pr.  pt.  pass 
(the  day),  L.'2620;  Droof,//.  j.  drove, 
brought',  T.  V.  475;  incited,  T.  iii.  994; 
Drive,  pp.   driven,   passed   away,   T.    v. 
'       389;  completed,  F  1230. 
I  Duetee,  s.  duty,  A  3060;  debt,  D  1391 ; 
I        sum  due,  D  1352. 
Dulcamon,  s.  an  inexplicable  dilemma, 

one's  wit's  end,  T.  Hi.  931. 
Dulle,  ger.  to  feel  dull,  T.  ii.  1035  ;  makes 
dull,  stupefies,  G  1073,  1 172;  Dulled,//, 
made  of  none  effect,  I  233. 
Dun,  adj.  swarthy,  R.    1213;   Donne,//, 
dusky,  T.  ii.  908 ;  dun-coloured,  5.  334. 
'   Dun,  i.  the  dun  horse,  H  5.    '  Dun  is  in 
I       the  mire '  is  the  name  of  an  old  rustic 
game. 
Dungeoun,  s.  keep-tower,  chief  castle,  L. 

'       937- 

Dure,  v.  last,  endure,  A  2770;  remain,  A 
'       1236;  live,  T.  iv.  765  ;  continue,  F  836. 

Duresse,  s.  hardship,  T.  v.  399. 
'   Durre,,^('r.to  dare  (todo),T.  v.  840.    See 

Darren  in  Stratmann  ;  and  see  Dar. 
1   Durring,    s.    daring,    bravery;    d.  don, 
daring  to  do,  courage  to  execute,  T.  v. 
I       837. 

1  Durste  ;  see  Dar. 
]   Dusked,  //.  //.  grew  dim,  A  2806. 
Dwale,  s.  soporific  drink,  A  4161. 
Dwelle,  V.  remain,  A  1661 ;  tarry,  stay,  3. 
712;  _^<r/-.  to  delay,  HF.  252;   Dwelled,//, 
dwelt,  A  1228;  imp.s.  remain,!",  iv.  1449. 
Dwellinges,  s.  pi.  delays,  B  i.  m  i.  33 

( Lat.  moras). 
Dwyned,  //.  as  adj.  dwindled,  R.  360. 
Dy,  say;  Je  vous  dy,  I  tell  vou,  D  1832, 

1838. 
Dye,  V.  die,  2.  7  ;  ger.  to  die,  B  1 14 ;  Dyde, 
pt.   s.   died,   HF.    106,   380;  //.  s.  stibj. 
would  die,  D  965.     See  Deye. 
Dyen,  ger.  to  dye,  B  4648. 
Dyere,  s.  dyer,  A  362. 
Dyinge,  s.  death,  B  3073. 
Dyke,  v.  to  make  dikes  or  ditches,  A  536. 
Dys,  //.  dice,  A  1238.    See  Dees. 
Dyte,  t.  ditty,  23.  16.     See  Ditee. 
Dy verseth, /r.  t.  varies,  T.  iii.  1752. 


36 


(glossarial  Iribtx. 


Ebbe,  s.  low  water,  F  259. 

Ebben,  :■.  ebb.  T.  iv.  1145. 

Ecclesiaste,  s.  minister,  A  708. 

Ech,  .j./y.  each,  A  39.  369. 

Eche,  v.  increase,  augment,  T.  i.  887,  iii. 
1509;  ^<^''-  enlarge,  add  to,  HF.  2065. 

Echines,  s.  pL  sea-urchins,  B  3.  m  8.  20 
( Lilt,  echinis). 

Echoon.  each  one,  L.  290;  A  2655; 
Ivjhoiif.  />/.  (?),  all,  every  one,  C  113. 

Edified,  pp.  built  up,  B  4.  p  6.  284. 

Eels,  adv.  also,  eke,  moreover,  A  5,  41. 

Eem,  s.  uncle,  T.  i.  1022.    A.  S.  iam. 

Best,  adv.  eastward,  3.  88. 

Eet,  -e :  see  Bte. 

Effect,  s.  deed,  reality,  T.  i.  748;  result, 
HF.  5;  Theflfect  (/or  the  eflfect),  the 
sequel,  L.  622;  tn  effect,  in  fact,  in 
reality,  in  practice,  A  319. 

Eft,  adv.  again,  A  1669;  another  time,  3. 
41- 

Eft-sone,  adv.  soon  after.  G  1288;  im- 
mediately afterwards,  I  89;  soon  after 
this,  H  65;  hereafter,  G  933;  again,  B 
909 ;  Eftsones,  adv.  very  soon.  L.  2322. 

Egral,  adj.  equal.  T.  iii.  137. 

Egal,  adi\  equally.   T.  iv.  660. 

Egalitee,  s.  equality.  I  949. 

Egaly,  adv.  equably,  B  2.  p  4.  141 ;  im- 
partially, B  5.  p  3.  142. 

Egrer©,  i.  edge,  sharp  side,  T.  iv.  927  ;  sword, 
9.  19. 

Eggeth,  pr.  s.  incites,  R.  182. 

Eggemeat,  s.  instigation,  incitement,  B 
842. 

Eg-g-ing,  s.  instigation,  E  2135. 

Egle,  s.  eagle,  HF.  499. 

Egre,  adj.  sharp,  sour,  R.  217;  bitter,  B 
2367;  keen,  I  117. 

Egremoine.  s.  agrimony,  G  800. 

Egren,  v.  incite  (lit.  make  eager),  B  4. 
P  (J-  335- 

Eighte.  eighth.  F  1280. 

Eightetene,  eighteen,  A  3223. 

Eightetethe.  ord.  adj.  eighteenth,  B  5. 

Eir,  s.  air.  A  1246,  3473. 

Eisel,  s.  vinegar.  R.  217. 

Ekko,  s.  echo.  E  1189. 

Elde,  s.  old  age.  age.  T.  ii.  393,  399 ;  long 
lapse  of  time.  7.  12. 

Elde,  V.  grow  old.  R.  396;  pr.  s.  ages, 
makes  old.  R.  391. 

Elder,  adj.  older.  B  1720.  3450. 

Elder-fader,  j.  grandfather,  B  2.  p  4. 
50. 

Eldres,  //.  ancestors.  B  3388. 


Eleccioun,  s.  choice,  5. 409,  621 ;  election 
(in  astrology),  B  312. 

Elenge,  adj.  miserable,  B  1412,  D  1199. 

Elevat,  pp.  elevated.  A.  ii.  23.  29. 

Elf-queen,  s.  fairy-queen,  B  1978,  D  860. 

Ellebor,  t.  hellebore,  Hellebortis  niger.  B 
4154- 

Elles,  adv.  else,  otherwise,  3.  997 ;  tiles 
god  forbede,  God  forbid  it  should  be 
otherwise.  G  1046. 

Elongacioun,  s.  angular  distance,  A.  ii. 
25.  66. 

Elvish,  adj.  elvish,  i.  e.  absent  in  demea- 
nour, B  1893;  foolish,  G  751,  842. 

Embassadrye,  s.  embassy,  negociation, 

Embaume,    v.    embalm.     L.    676;    //. 

covered  with  balm.  R.  1663. 
Embelif,  adj.  oblique,   A.  i.   20.  3;    (as 

applied   to   angles)    acute,  A.   ii.  26.  39. 

Sec  the  New  E.  Diet. 
Embelised,  pp.  beautified,  B  2.  p  5.  75. 
Embosed,  pp.  plunged    deeply  into   the 

thicket,  quite  hidden,  3.  353. 
Embracinge,  s.  embrace,  I  944. 
Embrouded, /i/.  embroidered,  adorned, 

A  89. 
Embroudinge,  .r.  embroidery,  I  417. 
Embusshement8,//.ambuscades,B2S09. 
Emeraude,  f.  imcrakl.  B  1799. 
Ernes.  xv«.  uncle's.  T.  ii.  466.    See  Eem. 
Emfortb,  prep,  as  far  as  extends,  to  the 

extent  of,  A  2235.     Em-   is  from  A.  S. 

emn,  for  efen,  even. 
Emisperies.  ^./Z.  hemispheres,  A.  i.  18.9. 
Empeireden,  pt.  pi.  made  worse,  B  2209. 
Emplastre,  ■2pr.pi.  plaster  over,  bedaub, 

V.  2207. 
Empoisoned,  pp.  poisoned,  B  2519,  3850. 
Empoisoning,  5.  poisoning,  C  891. 
Empoysoner,  s.  poisoner,  C  894. 
Emprenting,  s.  impression,  F  834. 
Emprinteth,  imp.  pi.  impress,  E   1193; 

Emprcnted.;*/.  imprinted.  V  831;  taken 

an  impression  of.  E  2117. 
Empryse,  s.  enterprise,  undertaking,  L. 

617,  1452. 
Empte,  V.  empty,  make  empty,  G  741; 
pp.  <jf  adj.  exhausted,  B  I.  p  i.  10;  worn 

out,  shrunken  (Lat.  effeto),  B  i.  m  i.  20. 
Enbasshinge,   s.  bewilderment,  amaze- 
ment, B  4.  p  I.  43. 
Enbatailled,  adj.  embattled,  R.  139. 
Enbibing,  s.  absorption,  G  814. 
Enbrace,  v.  embrace,  hold  firmly,  21.  11; 

En  braced, /ij*.  surrounded,  T.  v.  1816. 
Enbrouden,  v.  embroider,  L.  2351 ;  pp. 

L.  119,  227. 


(gloggarial  Kntjex. 


37 


Encens,  s.  incense,  A  2429. 

Encense,  v.  to  offer  incense,  G  395,  413. 

Enchantours,  //.  wizards,  I  603. 

Enchaufeth,  pr.  s.  burns,  B  5.  m  3.  19. 

Enchaunten,  v.  enchant,  T.  iv.  1395. 

Enchesoun,  s.  occasion,  reason,  B  2783 ; 
cause,  1'.  i.  681. 

Enclos.  ff).  enclosed,  R.  138,  1652. 

Enclyning',  s.  inclination,  HF.  734. 

Encomberous,  adj.  cumbersome,  op- 
pressive, burdensome,  18.  42;   HF.  862. 

Encombraunce,  s.  encumbrance,  E  i960. 

Encombre,  z'.  encumber,  L.  2006;  />/>. 
endangered,  stuck  fast,  A  508;  ham- 
pered, R.  889;  hindered,  I  687;  embar- 
rassed, weary,  A  718. 

Encorporing,  s.  incorporation,  G  815. 

Bncrees,  s.  increase,  A  2184. 

Encrese,  v.  increase,  2.  103;  Encressed, 
pfi.  E  408;  enriched,  B  1271. 

Endamagen,  v.  harm,  B  i.  p  4.  91 ;  //. 
compromised,  B  i.  p  I.  73. 

Ende,  s.  end,  A  15;  purpose,  B  481; 
point,  R.  973. 

Ended.  />p.  finite,  B  2.  p  7.  113. 

Endelees,  adj.  infinite,  H  322. 

Endelong,  adv.  all  along,  A  2678  ;  length- 
ways, A  1991. 

Endelong,  prep,  all  along,  F  992;  along, 
L.  1498  ;   down  along,  F  416. 

Endentinge,  s.  indentation,  I  417.  £tt- 
dented  or  Indented  is  an  heraldic  term, 
signifying  notched  with  regular  and 
equal  indentations. 

Endere,  s.  cause  of  the  end,  A  2776;  i.  e. 
who  dost  end,  C  218. 

Endetted,  pp.  indebted,  G  734. 

Ending-day,  s.  death-day,  18.  55. 

Enditements,  s.  pi.  indictments,  I  800. 

Endlang,  adv.  along,  lengthways.  See 
Endelong. 

Endouted,  pp.  feared  (with  me),  R. 
1664. 

Endyte,  v.  write,  dictate,  A  95,  325;  en- 
dite,  compose,  write,  L.  414,  2356 ;  re- 
late, G  80;  tell,  L.  1678;  indict,  B  3858; 
pp.  related,  B  3170. 

Endyting,  s.  composing,  18.  77  ;  pi.  com- 
positions, I  1085. 

Enfamyned,  pp.  starved,  L.  2429. 

Enfecteth, //-.  s.  infects,  E.  2242. 

Enforcen,  ger.  to  enforce,  B  2233; 
strengthen  (your  position),  D  340;  i  //-. 
-t.  refi.  insist,  T.  iv.  1016 ;  Enforcen,  pr. 
pi.  gain  strength,  B  2355 ;  imp.  s.  en- 
deavour, B  2237. 

Enformed,  pp.  informed,  E  738,  F  335; 
instructed,  I  658. 


Enforttined,  //.  j.  endowed  with  powers, 
4-  259- 

Engendre,  v.  procreate,  B  3148;  pro- 
duce, B.  2582 ;  V.  beget,  E  1272 ;  pr.  pi. 
are  produced,  B  41 13. 

Engeudringe,  s.  product,  B  2580. 

Engendrure,  s.  procreation,  B  3137; 
begetting,  5.  306;  generation,  D  128, 
134 ;  progeny,  offspring,  I  621 ;  frater- 
nity, I  375- 

English,  s.  power  of  expression  in  Eng- 
lish, L.  66. 

Engreggen, /r. //.  burden,  I  979. 

Engyn,  s.  contrivance,  T.  iii.  274  ;  device, 
R.  511;  machine,  F  184;  skill,  HF.  528. 

Engyned,  pp.  tortured,  racked,  B  4250. 

Enbabit,  pp.  devoted,  T.  iv.  443. 

Enhauncen,  v.  raise,  A  1434;  ger.  to 
exalt,  I  614 ;  Enhaunceth,  pr.  s.  elevates, 
I  730 ;  pt.  s.  raised,  B  2291 ;  pp.  promoted, 
L.  1411. 

Enhaused,  //.  elevated,  lifted  above 
(the  horizon),  A.  ii.  26.  37. 

Enhausing,  s.  elevation,  A.  ii.  39.  26. 

Enhorte,  ger.  to  exhort,  A  2851. 

Enlaceth,  pr.  s.  entangles,  B  i.  m  4. 
23 ;  pp.  involved,  made  intricate,  B  3.  p 
8.6. 

Enlumine,  v.  illumine,  I  244;  pt.  s.  E 
33- 

Enluting,  s.  securing  with  '  lute,'  daubing 
with  clay,  ..Sec.,  to  exclude  air,  G  766. 

Enoynt,  pp.  anointed,  A  2961. 

Enpeiren,  v.  injure,  B  4.  p  3.  56. 

Enpoysoninge,  j.  poisoning,  B  i.p  3.59. 

Enprented,  pp.  imprinted,  E  2178. 

Enpresse,  v.  make  an  impression  on, 
21.  8. 

Enquere,  v.  enquire,  A  3166;  search 
into,  B  629. 

Enqueringe,  s.  inquiry,  B  888. 

Ensample,  s.  example,  A  496,  505 ;  pat- 
tern, 3.  911 ;  warning,  R.  1539;  instance, 
R.  1584;  in  e.,  to  signify,  A.  i.  21.  41; 
;*/.  examples,  F  1419;  cases,  A  2842. 

Ensaumpler,  s.  prototype,  B  3.  m  9.  17. 

Enseigne,  s.  ensign,  standard,  R.  1200. 

Enseled,  pp.  sealed  up,  T.  v.  151 ;  fully 
granted,  T.  iv.  559. 

Entails,  s.  cutting,  intaglio-work,  R.  108 1 ; 
Entayle,  shape,  description,  R.  162. 

Entaile,  v.  carve,  R.  609 ;  //.  R.  140. 

Entalenten,  pr.  pi.  stimulate,  B  5.  p  5.  6. 

Bntame,  v.  re-open  (lit.  cut  into),  1.79. 
O.  F.  entamer. 

Enteccheth,  pr.  s.  infects,  B  4.  p  3.  83 ; 
pp.  endued  with  (good)  qualities,  T.  v. 
832.     O.  F.  cntecfiier,  entachier. 


38 


&\o!i&axia\  inbtx. 


EntenciouD,  s.  intent,  C  408 ;  attention, 
T.  i.  52;  design,  T.  i.  211. 

Enten'de,  v.  attend,  T.  iii.  414;  give 
attention  to,  D  1478;  dispose  oneself, 
F  689;  £^er.  to  apply  oneself,  B  3498; 
to  aim  (after),  incline  (to),  T.  ii.  853;  ■ 
Entcnde.  i  />/-.  s.  perceive,  T.  iv.  1649; 
attend.  R.  597;  pres.  part,  looking  in-  ■ 
tentlv,  B  I.  p  2.  3. 

Entendement,  s.  perception,  HF.  983. 

Elntente,  s.  intention,  intent,  A  958,  1000; 
design,  B  3835;  wish,  18.  68;  meaning,  ; 
F  400.  959;  attention,  D  1374;  endeav- 
our, G  6;  feeling,  5.  532,  580;  mmd,  B  , 
1740;  plan,  B  147,  ao6;  do  thyn  <r.,  give 
heed,  3.  752;  as  to  comiin  e.,  in  plain 
language,  F  107. 

Ententeden,  pi.  fit.  gave  their  attention, 

L-  1155-  ' 

Bntentif,  Ententyf,  adj.  attentive,  HF. 

1 120;    B  2205;    eager,  R.  685;    diligent, 

R.   436;    devoted,    R.    339;    careful,    E 

1288. 
Ententifly.  adv.  attentively,  HF.  616.  . 
EDtermedled,  //.  intermixed,  R.  906. 
Entraille,  s.  entrails,  B  1763;  inside,  E 

1188. 
Entre,..f'<'r.  to  enter.  5.  147.  153.     In  A.  ii. 

44.  4,  t'/iti-rt-  hit  =  set  down  in  writing. 
Entrechaungeden,//.  //.  interchanged, 

exchanged,      T.     iii.     1369;     //.     inter- 

ch.inged,  T.  iv.  1043. 
Entrechaunginges,    s.   pi.   mutations, 

B  I.  ni  5.  38;   vicissitudes  (Lat.  uices), 

V,  2.  m  3.  20. 
Entrecomunen,    v.    intercommunicate, 

r.  iv.  1354. 

Entrecomuninge,  s.  mterchange,  B  2. 

P  7-  63. 
Entredited,  pp.  interdicted,  I  965. 
Entree,  entry,  entrance.  R.  517,  530,  538; 

pi.  entiances,  HF.  1945. 
Entrelaced,  pp.  intricate,  B  3.  p  12.  166. 
Entremedled,    pp.    intermingled,    HF. 

2124. 
Entremes,  s.  intervening  course,  5.  665. 

'Entremets,     certaine      choice       dishes 

served    in    between    the    courses    of  a 

feast ;  '   Cotgrave. 
Entremette,   v.  refi.   interfere,   D   834; 

Entremeten  (him),  meddle  with,  5.  515; 

imp.  5.  take   part   (in),   meddle   (with), 

T.  i.  1026. 
Entreparten.  ger.  to  share,  T.  i.  592. 
Entreteden.  pt.pl.  treated  of,  discussed, 

B  2466. 
Entryketh,  pr.  s.  hold  fast  in  its  subtle 

grasp,  ensnares,  5.  403;    Entryked,  pp. 


entrapped,  R.  1642 ;  '  Intriguer,  to  intri- 
cate, involve ; '  Cotgrave. 
Entune.  v.  intone,  tune,  T.  iv.  4. 
Entunes,  s.  pi.  tunes,  3.  309. 
Entysinge,  s.  allurement,  I  353. 
Envenirainge.    s.    poisonous    effect,   E 

2060  ;    poison,  I  854. 
Envenyme,  z:  infect,  D  474;  pp.  B  3314. 
Environinge,  s.  surface,  B  5.  m  4.  172; 

circumference,  B  4.  p  6.  85. 
Enviroun,  adv.  roundabout.  L.  300. 
Enviroune,  v.  encompass,  B  3.  m  g.  45; 

pies. part,  skirting,  going  round,  R. 526. 
Env61uped,  //.  enveloped,  involved,  C 

942. 
Envye,  s.  envy,  B  3584;  longing,  R.  1653 ; 

to  e.,  in  rivalry,  3.  173. 
Envye,  v.  vie,  strive,  3.  406;  vie  (with), 

HF.  1231. 
Envyned,  //.  stored  wiih  wine,  A  342. 
Episicle,  s.  epicycle,  A.   ii.  35.  29.     A 
small  circle,  the  centre  of  which  moves 
along  the  circumference  of  a  larger  one. 
Equacion,  s.  equal   partition.  A.  ii.  37. 
24;    Equacions,  pi.  equations,  F  1279; 
Equaciouns,  A.  ii.  36  (rubric) ;   calcu- 
lations, A.   i.   23.   5.     By   'equations  of 
houses '   is    meant    the   division   of  the 
sphere    into    twelve    equal   portions    (or 
'  houses  '),  for  astrological  purposes. 
Equales,  adj.  pi.  of  equal  length ;  houres 
eiiiiales,    hours    each    containing     sixty 
minutes,  A.  ii.  8.  3. 
Equinozial,  s.  equinoxial  circle,  B  4046. 
Er,  adv.  before,  formerly,  A  3789. 
Er,   conj.  before,  A   1040,   1155;    er  that, 

before,  A  36. 
Er,  prep,   before,    C   892;    er  tho,  before 

then,  L.  1062;  er  now,  ere  now,  F  460. 
Erbe,  s.  herb,  L.  109  a. 
Erbe  yve,  j.  herb  ive,  ground  ivy,  Ajuga 

(  hamaepitys,  B  4156. 
Erber,  s.  arbour,  L.  97  a.    See  Herber. 
Erchedeken,  s.  archdeacon,  D  1300. 
Ere  (66r3),  s.  ear,  D  636;  at  ere,  in  (her) 

ear,  T.  i.  106. 
Ere,  s.  ear  (of  corn),  L.  76. 
Ere  (i.n),ger.  to  plough,  A  886;  pp.  HF. 

485.     A.  S.  erian. 
Erl,  s.  earl,  B  3597,  3646. 
Erme,  v.  feel  sad,  grieve,  3.  80;  C  312. 

A.  S.  ciirmian.yrman. 
Ernestful,  adj.  serious,  T.   ii.   1727;    E 

ii/T. 
Erratik,  adj.  wandering,  T.  v.  1812. 
Erraunt,    adj.    arrant,    H    224;    errant, 
strav  (because  near  the   middle  of  the 
chess-board),  3.  661.. 


(Sloggatial  IlnlJei. 


39 


Brrest,  zpr.  s.  wanderest,  T.  iv.  302. 
Ers,  s.  buttocks,  A  3734.  A.  S.  ears. 
Erst,  adv.  first,  at  first,  HF.  2075 ;  A  776; 

before,   16.  21;  aforetime,  R.  692;   a/ e., 

first,  for  the   first  time,  B  1884,  G  151 ; 

at  last,  T.  i.  842 ;  e.  than,  before,  A  1566 ; 

long  e.  er,  long  first  before,  C  662. 
Erthes,    s.  pi.    lands,    countries,    B    i. 

m  5.  61. 
Eschaufen,  get:  to  burn;  //•.  s.  chafes, 

I  657 ;  pp.  heated,  I  546. 
Bschauflnge,  s.  heating,  I  537 ;  pi.  en- 
kindlings,  I  916. 
Eschaunge,  s.  exchange,  A  278;  //.  in- 

terchangings,  HF.  697. 
Eschew,   adj.  averse,   I   971;   Eschu,  h 

1812. 
Eschevre,  v.  escape;   Eschue,  v.  avoid, 

T.  ii.  696;  A  3043;  shun,  G  4;  2pr.  pi. 

eschew,  avoid,  T.  i.  344;  Eschewed,//. 

B  4528  ;  imp.  s.  T.  ii.  1018. 
Ese,    s.    ease,    E  217,  434;    amusement, 

delight,  A  768,  G  746;  do  yaw  e.,  give 

you  pleasure,  6.  78 ;  wel  at  e.,  fully  at 

ease,  T.  ii.  750. 
Ese,  V.  ease,  3.  556;  relieve,  L.  1704;  give 

ease  (to),  R.  316;  Esen.^irr. to  entertain, 

A  2194;  //.  entertained,  A  29. 
Esement,  s.  benefit,  A  4179.  4186. 
Espace,^.  space  of  time,  B  2219. 
Especes,  s.pl.  kinds,  varieties  (of  sin),  I 

448. 
Espiaille,  s.  sets  of  spies,  B  2509,  D  1323. 
Espye,  s.  spy,  T.  ii.  1112. 
Espye,  ger.  to  observe,  R.  795 ;   v.  per- 
ceive, HF".  706;  enquire  about,  B  180; 

look  about,  L.  858. 
Essoyne,  s.  excuse,  I  164.  Mod.  E.  essoin. 
Est,  s.  east,  B  297,  493,  3657. 
Estableth,  pr.  s.  settles,  causes,  B  4.  p 

4-  51- 
Estat,  s.  state,  condition,   L.   125;   rank, 

T.   V.   1025;    position,   E   1969;    Estaat, 

state,  condition,  rank,  B  973,  3592,  3647 ; 

way,  E  610  ;  term  of  office,  D  2018. 
Estatlich,  adj.  stately,  dignified,  A   140; 

suitable  to  one's  estate,  B  3902. 
Estatuts,  s.  ordinances,  B  2.  p  i.  48. 
Estraunge,  adj.  strange,  T.  i.  1084. 
Bstres,    pi.    inward    parts,    recesses    (of 

a  building),  L.  1715;  A  1971;  recesses, 

R.  1448  ;  interior,  A  4295. 
Esy,  adj.  easy,  A  223;  moderate,  A  441; 

gentle,  5.  382. 
Ete,  V.  eat,'A  947;  Et,/r.  s.  eats,  L.  1389; 

Eet,  pt.  s.  ate,  T.  v.  1439;  A  2048,  3421 ; 

Eete,  pt.  pi.   ate,    9.    11;    Ete,  pt.  pi.   3. 

432;  Eten,//.  eaten,  A  4351. 


Bterne,   adj.  eternal,    A   1109,   1990;   s^ 

eternity,  T.  iv.  978. 
Ethe ,  adj.  easy,  T.  v.  850. 
Etik,  the  Ethics  of  Aristotle,  L.  i66. 
Bvangyle,  s.  gospel,  R.  445 ;  //.  B  666. 
Even,   adj.   even,  equal,   same,  HF.  10; 

exact,  R.  1350. 
Even,    adv.    exactly,   3.  441;   evenly,    D- 

2249 ;  regularly.  R.  526 ;  Evene  joynant. 

closely    adjoining,    A    1060;    /iil    even^ 

actually,  3.  1329. 
Bvene-cristene,    s.    fellow-Christian,    I 

395.  805. 
Even-lyk,  adj.  similar,  B  5.  p  2.  25. 
Ever,  adv.  ever,  always,  A  50,  &c. ;  Ever 

in    oon,   always    alike,    continually,    T. 

V.  451 ;  incessantly,  A  1771. 
Bverich,   each,  A    1186;    every,  A  241; 

each   one,  A   371;    every  one,  E   1017; 

e.   of  hem,   either   of   the   two,   B    1004; 

Everich  other,  each  other,  7.  53. 
Bverichoon,  every  one,  A  31,  747;  each 

one,  L.  2567 ;  Everichone,  //.  each  one 

(of  us),  HF.  337;  each  of  them  all,  all 

of  them,  T.  iii.  412. 
Ever-mo,   adv.    for    ever,    always,   con- 
tinually, L.  1239,  2035,  2634. 
Everydeel,  adv.  every  whit,  A  368,  D  162 ; 

altogether,  A  3303. 
Evidently,  adv.  by  observation,  A.  ii.  23, 

rubric. 
Ew,  s.  vew-tree,  A  2923  ;  {^collectively)  yew- 
trees,' R.  1385. 
Exaltacioun,  s.  (astrological)  exaltation, 

D  702,  E  2224. 
Exaltat,  as  pp.  exalted,  D  704. 
Exametron,  s.  a  hexameter,  B  3169. 
Excusascioun,J.false  excuse,  1 680;  plea, 

I  164. 
Exctise,  s. ;  for  myn  e.,  in  my  excuse,  7. 

305. 
Executeth,  pr.  s.  performs,  A  1664 ;  Exe- 

cut,  pp.  executed,  T.  iii.  622. 
Executour,  s.  executant,  D  2010. 
Executrice,  s.  causer,  T.  iii.  617. 
Bxercitacioun,  s.  exercise,  B  4.  p  6.  298. 
Existence,  s.  reality,  HF.  266. 
Exorsisaciouns,  //.  exorcisms,  spells  to- 

raise  spirits,  HF.  1263. 
Expans,  adj.  (calculated)  separately,  F. 

1275.     See  Anni  expansi. 
Bxpoune,  v.  explain.  B  3398,  G  86;  Ex- 

pouned,//.  s.  B  3346,  3399. 
Bxpres,   adj.   expressed,   made   clear,  D 

1 169. 
Bxpres,  adv.  expressly,  C  182,  D  719. 
Bxpresse,,^<?r.  to  declare,  17.  5 ;  v.  relate,. 
C  105. 


40 


(Slossarial  h\'btx. 


Expulsif,  adj.  expellent,  A  2749. 

Extenden, //-.//.  are  extended,  B  461. 

Extree,  f.  axle-tree,  A.  i.  14.  2. 

Ey,  .'.  egg,  B  4035,  G  806. 

By,  in/erj.  eh  !  T.  ii.  128 ;  alas !  T.  iv.  1087 ; 
what!  C782. 

Eye,  s.  eye;  at  eye,  evidently,  L.  100; 
Even,  //.  eyes,  i.  105;  Even  sight,  eye- 
sight, U  2060.    See  Ye.  ' 

Eyed,  adj.  endowed  with  eyes,  T.  iv.  1459. 

Eyle,  V.  ail,  A  3424. 

Eyr,  s.  air.  HF.  954  ;  L.  1482;  Eir,  A  1246, 
3473  ;  Eyre,  dat.  air,  gas,  G  767. 

Eyr,  s.  heir,  L.  1598,  1819. 

Ejrrish,  adj.  of  the  air,  aerial,  HF.  932, 965. 

Eyse,  s.  ease,  D  2101.    See  Ese. 


Face,  .(.  face,  A  199, 458  ;  a  technical  term 
in  astrology,  signifying  the  third  part 
of  a  sign  (of  the  zodiac),  ten  degrees  in 
extent,  F  50.  1288. 

Facound,  adj.  eloquent,  5.  521. 

Facounde,  t.  eloquence,  fluency,  3.  926; 
C  50. 

Faciiltee,  s.  capacity,  authority,  or  dis- 
position, A  244;  branch  of  studv,  HF. 
248. 

Fade,  adj.  faded,  R.  311. 

Fader,  s.  father,  A  100 ;  Fader,  gen.  A 
■jZx;  fader  day,  father's  time,  B  3374; 
fader  kin,  father's  race,  ancestry,  G  829 ; 
pi.  ancestors,  E  61 ;  originators,  B  129. 

Fadme,  //.  fathoms,  A  2916. 

Fadres-in-law^e, //.  parents-in-law,  B  2. 

P  3-  42- 

Faile,  s.  failure;  7i>ithouten  f,  without 
fail,  2.  48  ;  sans  faille,  B  501. 

Failen,  v.  fail,  grow  dim,  5.  85  ;  pres.part. 
failing,  remote,  A.  ii.  4.  30. 

Pair,  adj.  fine,  D  2253 ;  good,  excellent.  A 
154;  a  fair,  a  good  one,  A  165;  as  s.,  a 
fair  thing,  excellent  thing  (sarcasti- 
cally), T.  iii.  850;  voc.O  fair  one!  HF. 
518';  //.  A  234;  clean,  R.  571;  specious, 
K.  437- 

Faire,  adv.  fairly,  R.  774,  798;  honestly, 
.A  539;  courteously,  R.  592;  clearly,  D 
1142;  prosperously,  L.  186,  277. 

Faire,  s.  fair,  market,  B  1515. 

Faire  Rewthelees,  Fair  Unpitying  One, 
La  KeL'e  Dame  sans  Mcrci,  6.  31. 

Fairnesse,  s.  beauty,  A  1098  ;  honesty  of 
lile,  A  ^19. 

Fair-Seinblaunt,  Fair-show,  R.  963. 

Falding-,  s.  a  sort  of  coarse  cloth,  A  391, 
3212. 


Fallen,  v.  happen,  T.  iv.  976;  light,  E 
I2t);  suit,  E259;  prosper,  L.  186;  pr.  s. 
siibj.  may  befall,  R.  798;  impcrs.  may  it 
befall,  L.  277;  pr.  s.  comes  as  by  acci- 
dent, 6.  4;  comes,  3.  706;  suffers  de- 
pression (an  astrological  term),  D  702, 
705;  Fallcs. /r.  s.  (Northern  form),  falls, 
A  4042;  belongs,  3.  257;  Fallen, />r. //. 
happen,  come  to  pass,  R.  20;  Fel,  ipt.s. 
fell.  2.  15;  Fil.  pt.  s.  fell.  A  845;  hap- 
pened, L.  589,  1 162;  was  fitting,  L.  2474  ; 
//  on  slepe,  fell  asleep.  HF.  114;  //  of 
his  accord,  agreed  with  him,  V  741 ;  as 
fer  as  resonfil,  as  far  as  reason  extended, 
F  570;  Fille,  I  //.  //.  fell,  became.  D 
812;  Fillen,  //.  //.  fell.  B  3183.  3620; 
Fille,//.//.  HF.  1659 ;///<•  tn  speclie  = 
fell  to  talking,  F  964;  Falle. //.  fallen, 
L.  1726.  1826;  happened,  A  324;  acci- 
dentally placed,  F  684;  Falling,  pres. 
pt.  felling,  causing  to  fall,  T.  ii.  1382. 

Fals,  adj.  false,  3.  6i8;  false  get,  cheating 
contrivance,  G  1277;  voc.  B  4416. 

Falsen,  v.  falsify,  A  3175 ;  deceive,  L.  1640 ; 
betray,  T.  v.  1845 ;  False,  v.  be  untrue 
to,  3.  1234;  pp.  falsified,  broken  (faith), 
F627. 

Falwe,  adj.  fallow,  yellowish,  HF.  1936; 
A  1364. 

Falwes, //.  fallow-ground,  D  656. 

Fame,  s.  notoriety,  A  3148;  rumour,  L. 
1242;  good  report,  E  418;  Fames,  //. 
rumours,  HF.  1292. 

Familer,  s.  familiar  friend,  B  4,  p  6.  255. 

Famulier,  adj.  familiar,  at  home,  A  215, 
B  1 221 ;  of  one's  own  household,  E  1784  ; 
Famulere,  affable,  L.  1606. 

Fan.  s.  vane,  quintain,  H  42. 

Fanne,  s.  fan,  A  3315. 

Fantastyk,  adj.  belonging  to  the  fancy, 
A  1376.  Used  with  reference  to  the 
portion  of  the  brain  in  the  front  of  the 
hciul. 

Fantasye,  s.  fancy,  HF.  593;  delight,  A 
3191 ;  imagining,  HF.  992;  fancy,  pleas- 
ure, D  190;  imagination,  A  3835,  3840; 
imaginary  object,  9.  51;  desire,  will,  B 
3475;  Pantasyes,  //.  fancies.  F  205; 
uislips.  B  3465. 

Fant6rae.  s.  phantasm,  delusion.  B  1037. 

Farced,//,  stuffed.  L.  1373. 

Fare,  s.  behaviour,  conduct,  A  1809,  B 
1453;  condition,  2.  62;  good  speed,  HF. 
682;  business,  goings-on,  T.  iii.  1106; 
bustle,  ado,  HF.  1065;  company,  T.  iii. 
605  ;  evelfare,  ill  hap,  2.  62. 

Faren,  v.  behave,  T.  iv.  1087;  doth  fare, 
causes  to  behave  or  feel,  T.  i.  626;  Fare, 


@l000arial  Iribtx. 


ger.  to  go,  travel,  T.  v.  21,  279;  to  pro- 
ceed, A  2435  ;  Fare,  i  pr.  s.  go,  G  733 ;  it 
is  with  me  (thus),  7.  320;  am,  B  1676; 
Farest,  2  pr.  s.  actest,  5.  599;  art,  HF. 
887;  Fareth,  pr.  s.  acts,  D  io88 ;  is,  3. 
113;  happens,  HF.  271 ;  i  pr.pl.  live,  G 
662;  2  pr.  pi.  behave,  D  852;  pr.  pi. 
seem,  I  414;  Fare,  pr.  s.  subj.  may  fare, 
F  1579;  Ferde,  i  pt.  s.  fared,  T.  ii.  1006; 
felt,  3.  99,  785  ;  was  placed,  5.  152  ;  pt.  s. 
behaved,  A  1372;  happened,  T.  i.  225; 
was.  R.  876;  seemed,  R.  249 ;  went  on, 
HF.  1522;  Ferden,  pt.  pi.  behaved,  A 
1647 ;  Ferde,  pt.  s.  subj.  should  fare,  R. 
271 ;  Faren,  pp.  fared,  T.  v.  466  ;  D  1773  ; 
gone,  B  4069 ;  Fare,  //.  fared,  D  1782, 
gone,  A  2436 ;  walked,  L.  2209 ;  P'erd, 
//.  fared,  T.  iv.  1094;  Faringe, //vf^./C. 
as  adj.;  best  f.,  best  looking,  fairest  of 
behaviour,  F  932 ;  /  aright,  prosper,  T. 
i.  878;  /&r  wtf/,  farewell,  B  116;  Fareth, 
imp.  pi.  fare,  E  1688 ;  /  wel,  farewell,  T. 
v.  1412. 

Fare-cart,  s.  travelling  cart,  T.  v.  1162. 

Fare- wel,  interj.  it  is  all  over!  F  1204,  G 
907  ;  go  farewel,  be  lost  sight  of,  A.  11.23. 
12. 

Farsed,//.  stuffed,  A  233. 

Fasoun,  s.  fashion,  appearance,  R.  708 ; 
shape,  R.  551. 

Fast,  s.  fasting,  T.  v.  370. 

Fast,  adj.  firm,  7.  313. 

Faste,  adv.  closely,  R.  1346;  close,  near, 
A  1478;  tight,  R.  431;  fast,  quickly,  T. 
i.  748  ;  asf.,  very  quickly.  G  1235  i  hard, 
soundly,  5.  94;  intently,  eagerly,  R. 
793 ;  f'i^le  by.  near  to,  A  1476 ;  faste  by, 
close  at  hand,  3.  369. 

Faster,  adv.  closer,  B  3722. 

Fatte,  V.  fatten,  D  1880. 

Faucon,  s.  falcon,  F  411,  424. 

Fauconers,  s.pl.  falconers,  F  1196. 

Fauned,  //.  s.  fawned  on,  3.  389. 

Faunes,  //.  Fauns.  A  2928. 

Fawe,  adj.  fain,  glad.  D  220. 

Fawe,  adv.  fain,  anxiously,  T.  iv.  887. 

Fay,  s. ;  see  Fey. 

Fayerye,  s.  troop  of  fairies,  E  2039; 
troops  of  fairies,  D  859;  enchantment, 
E  1743;  Fairye,  fairy-land,  F  96;  en- 
chantment, F  201 ;  pi.  fairies,  D  872. 

Fayn,  adj.  glad.  L.  130. 1137  ;  fond,  R.  1376. 

Fayn,  adv.  gladly,  A  766;  wolde  /., 
would  be  glad  to.  E  696. 

Feblesse,  s.  weakness.  T.  ii.  863;   I  1074. 

Fecches,  //.  vetches,  T.  iii.  936. 

Pecchen,  ger.  to  fetch,  T.  v.  485  ;  ger.  to 
fetch,  to  be  brought  (i.  e.  absent),  T.  iii.   | 


609;    Fette,  2  pt.  s.  didst  fetch.  T.  iii. 
723:  pt.  s.  fetched,  L.  676;   brought.  T. 
V.  852;  pt.  pi.  B  2041 ;   Fet.  //.  fetched. 
A  2527;  brought,  A  819;  brought  home, 
D  217. 
Fecching,  s.  fetching,  rape,  T.  v.  890 
Fedde,//.  s.  fed.  A  146. 
Fee,  s.  reward,  pay.  7.  193  ;  Fee  simple,  an 
absolute   fee   or   fief,   not   clogged  with 
conditions.  A  319. 
Feeld,  s.  field.  A  886,  3032 ;  (in  an  heraldic 

sense),  B  3573. 
Feendly,  adj.  fiendlike,  devilish    B  7^1 
^783. 

Feet,  s.  performance,  E  429.    E.  feat. 
Fette,  V.  enfeoff,  endow,  preseiit,  T.  iii. 
901 ;  ger.  to  present,  T.  v.  1689;  pp.  en- 
feoffed, put  in  possession,  endowed.  E 
1698. 
Fel,  s.  skin.  T.  i.  91. 

Fel,  adj.  dreadful.  T.  v.  50 ;  cruel.  A  2630 ; 

deadly,  D  2002;  terrible.  B  2019;   Felle, 

vi^c.  cruel,  A  1559 ;  destructive.  T.  iv.  44. 

Pelawe,  s.  companion,  comrade,  A  395. 

648. 
Felaweshipe,   s.  partnership,   A    1626; 
companionship.  B  2749;  company,  A  26. 
Felawshlpeth,  pr.  s.  accompanies,  B  4. 

m  I.  12. 
Feld,  pp.  <5/- Felle. 

Feldefare,  s.  field-fare.  5.  364  ;  T.  iii.  861 ; 
farexuel  f.,  i.  e.  farewell,  and  a  good  rid- 
dance;   because  fieldfares  depart  when 
the  warm  weather  comes. 
Felden,  pt.  pi.  ofVzW^. 
Fele,  adj.  many,  R.  189;   E  917. 
Felen,   v.  feel,  experience.  L.  692;    Fele, 
understand    by    experiment.    HF.    826; 
try  to  find  out,  T.  ii.  387 ;  Felte,  i  pt.  s. 
4.  217;   Felede,  //.  s.  G  521;    Feled,//. 
perceived,  T.  iv.  984. 
Fele-folde,  adj.  manifold,  B  2.  p  i.  16. 
Feling,  s.  affection,  3.  1172. 
Felle,//.  andvoc.  s.  ofYfi\,  adj. 
Felle,  V.  fell,  A  1702  ;  Felden,//'.//.  caused 
to   fall,  R.  911;    Feld,  //.  cut  down,  A 
2924. t 
Fellen,  //.  //.  happened,  T.  i.  134.     See 

Fallen. 
Felliche,  adj.  bitingly,  severely,  B  2.  m 

3-  13- 
Felnesse,  s.  fierceness,  B  i.  m  6.  11. 
Felon,  adj.  angry,  T.  v.  199. 
Felonous,  adj.  fierce,  wicked,  B  i.  m  4. 

15  ;   mischievous,  I  438. 
Felonye,  s.  injustice,  B  4.  p  6.  278 ;  crime, 
A  1996;   treachery,  R.  165,  978;  //.  in- 
iquities, 1  281. 


42 


(gloggarial  Inbtx. 


Femele,  adj.  female,  D  122,  I  961. 
Femininitee,  s.  feminine  form,  B  360. 
Fen,    .1.    chapter   or   subdivision    of   Avi- 

cenna's  book  called  the  Canon,  C  890. 
Fenel.  s.  fennel,  R.  731. 
Fenix,  s.  phoenix,  3.  982. 
Fer,  adj.  far,  A  388,  491;   Ferre,  de/.  A 

3393. 
Fer,  adv.  far,  B  1781 ;  Fer  ne  ner.  neither 

later  nor  sooner,  A  1850;  how/,  so,  how- 
ever far,  5.  440. 
Ferd,  s.  dot.  fear,  T.  iv.  607.     (Always  in 

phr.  /or  /erd,  ox  for  ferde.) 
Ferd, />/.  o/'Fere,  v. 
Ferd.  -e ;  see  Faren,  v. 
Fere,  f.  dat.  fear,  B  3369;  panic,  HP".  174. 
Fere,  (.  companion,  L.  969 ;  mate,  5.  410, 

416;  wife,  T.  iv.  791 ;  pi.  companions,  T. 

i.  224. 
Fere,  s.  dat.  fire,  T.  iii.  978. 
Fere,  v.  frighten,  T.  iv.   1483;   Fcred,/*/. 

afraid,  G  924;   Ferd./>/>.  afraid.  T.  ii.  124. 
Ferforth,  adv.  far;  as  f.  as,  as  far  as,  T. 

iv.  8yi  ;    as  long   as,  T.  i.  121 ;  so  f.  to 

such  a  degree,  I.  170;  M«i /,  thus  far, 

T.  ii.  iy6o. 
Ferforthly,   adv.  thoroughly;    so  f.,  to 

such  an  extent,  A  960;    so  far,  L.  682; 

as  f..  as  completely,  D  1545. 
FerifuUeste,  most  timid,  T.  li.  450. 
Ferly.  ddj.  strange,  A  4173. 
Fermacies.  pt.  remedies,  A  2713. 
Ferme,  ajj.  firm,  E.  663. 
Ferme,  imp.  s.  make  firm,   B  i.  m  5.  61 

\\,.K\.firma). 
Ferme,  s.  rent,  A  252  b. 
Fennely,  adv.  firmly,  T.  iii.  1488. 
Fermerere,  s.  friar  in  charge  of  an  infirm- 
ary, D  1859. 
Ferinour,  s.  farmer  of  taxes,  L.  378. 
Fern,  adv.  long  ago ;    so  fern  =  so  long 

ago,  V  256. 
Fem-asshen,  s.  pi.  ashes  produced  by 

burning  ferns.  F  254. 
Feme,   pi.   of  Ferren,    distant,   remote, 

A  14. 
Feme ;  f.yere,  last  year,  T.  v.  1176. 
Ferre.  adj.  def  distant,  A  3393. 
Ferre,    comp.    adv.    farther,    HF.    600; 

Ferrer,  A  835. 
Ferreste.  superl.pl.  farthest,  A  494. 
Fers,  s.   queen   (at  chess),   3.  654,  655; 

Kerses.  //.  the  pieces  at  chess,  3.  723. 
Fers,  adj.  fierce,  T.  i.  225 ;  voc.  7.  i. 
Fersly,  adv.  fiercely,  T.  iii.  1760. 
Ferthe,  fourth,  T.  iv.  26,  v.  476. 
Ferther,  adj.  farther,  B  1686,  E  2226. 
Farther,  adv.  further,  i.  148,  3.  1254. 


Ferther-over,  conj.  moreover,  A.  ii.  26. 
13- 

Ferthing,  s.  farthing,  D  1967;  a  very 
small  portion,  A  134. 

Fery,  adj.  fierv,  T.  iii.  1600. 

Fest,  s.  fist,  A'4275,  C  802. 

Feste,  -f.  feast,  festival,  A  883,  B  418;  to 
f,  to  the  feast,  B  380;  encouragement, 
r.  ii.  361 ;  meriiment,  T.  ii.  421 ;  \laketh 
feste,  flatters,  3.  638;  //.  tokens  of 
pleasure,  T.  v.  1429. 

Festeth,  pr.  s.  feasts,  A  2193. 

Festeyinge,  pres.  part,  feasting,  enter- 
taining, F  345. 

Festeyinge,  s.  festivity,  T.  v.  455. 

Festlich.  adj.  fond  of  feasts,  F  281. 

Yeatne,ger.  to  fasten,  A  195. 

Fet ;  see  Fecchen. 

Fete,  dat.  pi.  feet,  3.  199,  400,  502. 

Fether,  s.  wing,  A  2144. 

Fetis,  adj.  neat,  well-made,  handsome, 
A  157;  R.  776;  splendid,  R.  1 133;  grace- 
ful, C  478. 

Fetisly,  adv.  elegantly,  A  124,  273 ;  neatly, 
trimlv,  A  3205,  3319;  exquisitely,  R. 
837.  ■ 

Fette ;  see  Fecchen. 

Fetys,  (7 <^.  well-made,  R.  532;  handsome, 
R.  821;  splendid,  R.  1133;  graceful, 
C  478. 

Fetysly,  adv.  exquisitely,  neatly,  R.  123=;. 

Fey,  s.  faiih,  A  1126,  3284  ;  fidelity,  L.  778. 

Feyn,  adj.  glad,  7.  315. 

Feyne,  f.  feign,  pretend,  A  736;  speak 
falsely,  2.  4;  feyne  lis,  feign,  pretend, 
B  351;  Feigne,  who-so  f.  may,  let  him, 
who  can,  pretend,  B  3.  p  10.  93. 

Feynest,  adv.  most  gladly,  5.  480. 

Feyningr,  s.  pretending,  cajolery,  F  556 ; 
pretence,  feigning,  L.  1556. 

Feynt,  adj.  feigned,  R.  433. 

Feyntest,  2  pr.  s.  enfeeblest,  B  926. 

Ficchen,  ,^'er.  to  fix,  B  5.  m  4.  18. 

Fiers,  adj.  fierce.  A  1598 ;  proud,  R.  1482. 

Fifte,  fifth,  R.  962,  982;  16.  9. 

Figes,  pi.  fig-trees,  R.  1364. 

Flghten.  v.  fight,  L.  1996 ;  Fight,  pr.  s. 
fights.  5.  103;  Faught,  pt.  s.  fought,  A 
399 ;  Foughten.  //.  A  62. 

Figiire,  s.  shape,  16.  27  ;  form  (as  a  man). 
B3412;  figure,  1.94;  figure  (of  speech), 
A  499;  Figure,  type,  i.  169;  pi.  figures 
(of  speech),  E  16;  markings,  A.  pr.  75. 

Figuringe,  s.  form,  L.  298;  figure,  G  96. 

Fil.  pt.s.  of  FMen. 

Fild,//.  filled,  5.  610. 

Finch,  s.  finch  (bird),  R.  915;  pul/e  a 
finch,  pluck  a  dupe,  A  652. 


(glflsaatial  Entiex. 


4S 


Finde,   v.  find,    i.  72;    A   648;    invent, 

A  736 ;  ger.  to  provide  for,  C  537 ;  Fint, 

pr.  s.  finds,  G  218  ;  Fynt,  pr.  s.  L.  1499 ; 

Fond,  //.  s.  discovered,  A   2445  ;   found 

out,   T.  i.  659 ;    provided  for,    B   4019 ; 

Fonda, /^.  s.  subj.  could  find,  5.  374;  pp. 

found,    E     146;    Founden,    //.    found, 

B  612;   provided,  B  243. 
Finding,  s.  provision,  A  3220. 
Fint,  pr.  s.  finds,  G  218. 
Firre,  s.  fir-tree,  A  2921. 
Firste,    adj.  def.  first,  3.  1166;  my  firste, 

my  first  narration,  F  75;  with  the  firste, 

very  soon,  T.  iv.  63. 
Fish',  s.  the  sign  Pisces,  F  273. 
Fit,   s.  a  '  fyt '   or  '  passus,'  a  portion  of 

a  song,  B  2078  ;  bout,  turn,  A  4184. 
Fithele,  s.  fiddle.  A  296. 
Fixe,  pp.  as  adj.  fixed,  T.  i.  298  ;  solidified, 

G779. 
Flambe,  s.  flame,  I  353. 
Flatour,  s.  flatterer,  B  4515. 
Flaumbe,  s.  flame,  HF.  769. 
Flayn, //.  flayed,  I  425. 
Fledde,  pt.  s.  fled,  avoided,  B  3445,  3874; 

Fledde  herself,  took  refuge,  L.  1225. 
Flee   (i),  V.  fly.  F  503;  leet  fiee.  let  fly, 

A   3806;  Fleigh,  pt.   s.    flew,   HF.   921, 

2087  ;  Fley,  //.  s.  B  4362  ;  P'lowen,  pt.  pi. 

flew,  B  4581 ;  pp.  flown,  HF.  905. 
Fleen  (2),  t/.  escape,  A  1170;  flee, L.  1307, 

2020;  Fleeth,  imp. pt.  4.6;  Fleigh,//.  s. 

fled,  B  3879. 
Fleen,  s.  pi.  fleas,  H  17. 
Flees,  s.  fleece,  L.  1428,  1647. 
Fleet,  pr.  s.  floats,  B  463. 
Flekked,  pp.  spotted,  E  1848.  G  565. 
Flem8n,^^r.  to  banish.  T.  ii.  852;/>r.  j. 

H  182;  pp.  banished,  G  58. 
Flemer,  s.  banisher,  driver  away,  B  460. 
Flemings,   s.  banishment,   flight,  T.  iii, 

933- 
Plen,  pr.  pi.  fly,  T.  iv.  1356. 
Fleshly,  arfz/.'carnallv,  B  1775. 
Flete,  ty.  float,  bathe,  T.  iii.  1971 ;  \pr.s, 

subj.  may   float,  A   2397  ;   Fleteth,  pr.  s. 

floats,  B  901  ;  flows,  abounds   (Lat.    in- 

fluat),  B  I.  m  2.  28;  Fleet, /r.  J.  floats, 

B  463;  pres.  pt.  floating,  A  1956;  Flet- 

\ngQ,pres.  pt.  flowing,  B  i.  p  3.  78  (Lat. 

liwphante) . 
Flex,  s.  flax.  A  676. 
Fley,  pt.  s.  flew,  B  4362. 
Flikered,  pt.  s.    fluttered,  T.  iv.   1221 ; 

pres.  pt.  pi.  fluttering,  A  1962. 
Plitte,  V.  pass  away,  I  368 ;  pp.  removed, 

T.  V.  1544;  pres.pt.  unimportant,  3.  801. 
Flo,  s.  arrow,  H  264. 


I   Flokmele,    adv.  in  a  flock,    in   a  great 
1        number,  E  86. 

[   Flood,  s.  flood-tide,   F  259;  on  a  fi.,  in 
a  state  of  flood,  T.  iii.  640. 
Florisshinges,//.  florid  ornaments,  HF. 

1301. 
Florouns,  s.  pi.  florets,  L.  217,  220. 
Floteren,  pr.  pi.  fluctuate,  waver,  B  3. 
j       p  II.  227. 
Flotery,  adj.  fluttering,  wavy,  A  2883. 
Plough,  2pt.  s.  didst  fly,  B  4421. 
Flour,  s.  (I)  flower,  L.  48  ;  of  alle  jloures 
flour,  flower  of  all  flowers,  i.  4;  flower, 
i.  e.  choice,  A  4174;   choice  part,  A  982; 
time  of  flourishing,  A  3048 :    (2)  flour, 

R.  356. 

Plour-de-lys,  s.  fleur-de-lis,  lily,  A  238. 

Floureth,  pr.  s.  flourishes,  T.  iv.  1577; 
blooms.  7.  306. 

Plourettes,  s.  pi.  flowerets,  buds,  R.  891. 

Floury,  adj.  flowery,  3.  398. 

Floute,  s.  flute,  HF.  1223. 

Floutours,  //.  flute-players,  R.  763. 

Flowen,  ;*/.  pi.  and  pp.  of  Flee  (i). 

Floytinge, //-«./>/.  playing  on  the  flute, 
A  91. 

Pneseth,  pr.  s.  breathes  heavily,  puff's, 
snorts,  H  62. 

Po,  s.  foe,  enemy,  B  1748;  Foo,  A  63; 
Foon,//.  B  3896;  Foos,//.  B  2160. 

Fode,  f.  food,  D  1881,  I  137. 

Foisoun,  s.  plenty,  abundance,  R.  1359. 

Folde,  s.  fold,  sheepfold,  A  512. 

Polden, />/.  folded.  T.  iv.  359,  1247. 

Poled,//,  foaled,  born.  D  1545. 

Folily,  adv.  foolishly,  B  2639. 

Polk,  s.  folk,  people,  A  12,  25  ;  sort,  com- 
pany, 5.  524 ;  //.  companies,  5.  278. 

Polowed  wel,  followed  as  a  matter  of 
course,  3.  1012 ;  Folweth,  imp.  pi.  imi- 
tate, E  1 189. 

Foly,  adv.  foolishly,  3.  874. 

Folye,  s.  folly,  foolishness,  A  3045. 

Polyen,  pr.  pi.  act  foolishly,  B  3.  p  2. 
100. 

Fomen,  //.  foe-men,  T.  iv.  42. 

Fomy,  adj.  foaming,  covered  with  foam, 
A  2506. 

Pond ;  //.  s.  of  Finde. 

Ponde,  V.  endeavour,  R.  1584 ;  v.  attempt, 
try,  E  283 ;  try  to  persuade,  B  347. 

Fonde,//.  s.  subj.  could  find,  5.  374. 

Fonge,  V.  receive,  B  377. 

Fonne,  s.  fool  (Northern),  A  4089. 

Font-ful  water,  fontful  of  water,  B  357. 

Fontstoon,  s.  font,  B  723. 

Foo ;  see  Fo. 

Poo,  s.  foo', /or  foot,  A  3781. 


44 


(^losearial  hxtitx. 


Fool,  adj.  foolish,  silly,  R.  1253. 

Fool,  s.  fool,  A  3005;  jester,  B  3271 ;  //. 
wicked  persons,  E  2278. 

Fool-largre,  adj.  foolishly  liberal,  B  2789, 
28 10. 

Fool-Iargresse,  s.  foolish  liberality,  I  813. 

Foom,  (.  foam,  A  1659,  G  564. 

Foo-men.  >. //.  (oes,  B  3255,  3507. 

Foon,  Foos  ;  see  Fo. 

Foot,  ,!</■/.  feet,  A  4124. 

Foot-brede,  j.  foot-breadth,  HF.  2042. 

Foot-hot,  iidv.  instantly,  on  the  spot, 
H  438. 

Foot-mantel,  s.  foot-cloth, '  safeguard  '  to 
cover  tlie  skirt.  A  472. 

For, />r^/i.  for,  A  486,  &c. ;  in  respect  of, 
5.  336 ;  by  reason  of,  R.  1564 ;  for  the 
sake  of.  B  4.  p  6.  190 ;  /or  me,  by  my 
means,  T.  ii.  134 ;  /or  which,  wherefore, 
F  1525;  against,  to  prevent,  in  order 
to  avoid,  L.  231 ;  /ar  /ay ling,  to  prevent 
failure,  T.  i.  928 ;  m  spite  of,  C  129 ;  /or 
al,  notwithstanding,  A  2020;  /or  my 
dtthe,  were  I  to  die  for  it.  4.  186;  to 
have  for  excused,  to  excuse.  A.  pr.  31. 

For,  conj.  for,  A  126,  &c. ;  because,  3.  735, 
789 ;  in  order  that,  B  478,  F  102. 

For  to,  with  tnfin.  in  order  to,  to,  A  13, 
78,  &c. 

Forage,  s.  provision  of  fodder,  E  1422; 
food,  B  1973;  winter-food,  as  hav,  &c., 
A  3868. 

For-bede,  v.  forbid,  T.  iii.  467;  For- 
bedeth,  pr.  s.  B  2774 ;  Forbet,  /or  For- 
bedeth./r.  s.  forbids,  T.  ii.  717;  in  phr, 
god  f.,  or  Crist  f.  =  God  forbid.  Christ 
forbid.  T.  ii.  113.  716;  Forbad,  pt.  s. 
E  570 ;  Forbode.  pp.  forbidden.  E  2206. 

Forbere,  v.  forbear  (to  mention),  A  885; 
leave  (him)  alone,  D  665  ;  spare,  A  3168  ; 
little  consider,  T.  ii.  1660;  Forbar,  //. 
s.  forbare,  T.  i.  437 ;  imp.  pi.  forgive.  L. 
80. 

For-blak.  adj.  extremely  black,  A  2144. 

Forbode,  s.  prohibition  ;  goddes  /orbode, 
it  is  God's  prohibition  (i.  e.  God  forbid). 
L.  10  a. 

Forbrak.  1  //.  i.  broke  off,  interrupted. 
B  4.  p  I.  7. 

For-brused.  pp.  badlv  bruised.  B  3804. 

Forby.  adv.  by,  past,  L.  2539. 

Forbyse.^cr.  to  instruct  by  examples,  T. 
ii.  1390.  (A  false  form;  iox /orbisne(n) , 
the  former  n  being  dropped  by  confusion 
with  th.-it  in  the  suffix.) 

Force :  see  Fors. 

Forcracchen.^^r.  to  scratch  excessively, 
K-  323- 


Forcutteth,//-.  s.  cuts  to  pieces,  H  340. 
For-do,  V.  destroy,  '  do  for,"  T.  i.  238.  iv. 

1681 ;  For-didc,//.  s.  slew,  L.  2557;  For- 

doon,  //.   overcome,    vanquished,  T.  i. 

525 ;    ruined,  T.  v.  1687 ;    destroyed,   H 

290;  slain.  L.  939. 
Fordriven,/'/.  driven  about,  B  i.  p  3.71. 
For-dronken,  pp.    extremely   drunk.  A 

3120.  4150. 
Fordrye,    adj.    very   dry,   withered    up, 

F  40y. 

Fordwyned,  adj.  shrunken,  R.  366. 

Fore,  s.  path,  trace  of  steps,  D  no; 
course,  track,  D  1935.     A.  S. /dr. 

Foreyne,  adj.  extraneous,  B  3.  p  3.  73. 

Foreyne,  i.  outer  chamber  (or  court- 
yard ?),  L.  1962. 

Fbrfered.  pp.  exceedingly  afraid;  /or- 
/■red  of-  very-  afraid  for.  F  527. 

Forfeted,//.  t.  did  wrong,  I  273. 

Forgraf ,  //.  s.  0/  Foryeve. 

Forgat.  //.  s.  0/  Foryete. 

Forglft,  s.  forgiveness,  L.  1853. 

For-go,  pp.  overwalked,  exhausted  with 
walking,  HF.  115. 

Forgon,  ger.  to  give  up.  forego,  (better 
forgo),  T.  iv.  195  ;  lose,  R.  1473  •  Forgoon, 
pp.  lost.  B  2183. 

Forheed,  s.  forehead,  R.  860;  Forheved, 
B  i.p4.  139. 

For-hoor,  adj.  very  hoary.  R.  356. 

Forkerveth,  pr.  s.  hews  in  pieces.  H  340. 

Forlaf  t,  pp.  abandoned,  C  83. 

Forleseth,  pr.  s.  loses,  I  789.  See  For- 
lorn. 

For-leten,  v.  abandon,  give  up,  C  864; 
yield  up,  B  1848 ;  Forlete,  pr.  pi.  for- 
sake, I  93 ;  Forleten,  pp.  abandoned, 
given  up,  HF.  694. 

Forliven,  v.  degenerate,  B  3.  p  6.  56; 
VotWvcA,  pp.  as  adj.  degenerate,  ignoble, 
B  3.  m  6.  13. 

Forlorn,  pp.  utterly  lost,  L.  2663.  See 
Forlese. 

Forlost.  //.  utterly  lost,  T.  iii.  280. 

Forloyn,  s.  note  on  a  horn  for  recall,  3. 

Forme,   s.  form.  A   305;   form,  lair  (of 

.1  hare),  B  1294. 
Forme-fader,   t.  fore-father,  first  father, 

B  2293. 
Formel,   s.   companion  (said  of  birds), 

5-  371.  373- 
Formely,  adv.  formally,  T.  iv.  497. 
Former,  s.  Creator,  C  19. 
Former  age,  the  Golden  Age  of  old,  9.  2. 
Formest.  adj.  sup.  foremost.  3.  890. 
Forn-cast,  pp.  premeditated,  B  4407. 


(§lo20arial  Ivibtx. 


45 


Forneys,  s.  furnace,  A  202,  559. 

For-old.  iidj.  extremely  old,  A  2124. 

Porpampred,//.  exceedingly  pampered, 
spoilt  by  pampering,  9.  5. 

For-pyned,  //.  wasted  away  (by  torment 
orpine),  A  205. 

Fors,  s.  force,  A  2723  ;  no  for s,  no  matter, 
no  consequence,  A  2723,  B  285  ;  710  force, 
no  matter,  18.  53;  no  fors  is,  it  is  no 
matter,  T.  iv.  322;  no  force  of  no  matter 
for,  10.  13 ;  no  fors  of  me,  no  matter 
about  me,  4.  197  ;  thereof  no  fors,  never 
mind  that,  3.  1170;  make  no  fors,  pay 
no  heed,  H  68  ;  I  do  no  fors,  I  care  not, 
D  1254 ;  /  do  no  fors  thereof,  it  is  nothing 
to  me,  3.  542 ;  doth  no  fors,  tai<es  no  ac- 
count, I  711;  what  fors,  what  matter, 
T.  ii.  378. 

Forsake,  v.  deny,  B  i.  p  4.  164;  leave, 
B  3431 ;  Forsook,  //.  s.  forsook,  R.  1538  ; 
Forsaken,  //.  R.  1498;  imp.  pi.  give  up, 
C  286. 

Forseid,  pp.  as  adj.  aforesaid,  5.  120. 

Forseingre,  s.  prevision,  T.  iv.  989. 

Forshapen,  //.  metamorphosed,  T.  ii.66. 

For-shrig'ht.  //.  exhausted  with  shriek- 
in  t;,  r.  iv.  1 147. 

For-sig-ht.  s.  foresight,  T.  iv.  961. 
For-sleuthen,  v.  waste  in  sloth,  B  4286. 
Forsleweth,  //-.  .f.  wastes  idly,  I  685. 
Forslug-geth,  pr.  s.  spoils,  allows  (goods) 

to  S]10ll,  1  685. 

Forsongen,  pp.  tired   out  with   singing, 

R.  '164. 
Forster,  s.  forester,  A  117. 
Forstraught,  pp.  distracted,  B  1295. 
Forswor  him,  pt.  s.  was  forsworn,  HF. 

389 ;  Forswore,  //.  falsely  sworn  by,  L. 

2522  ;   Forsworn,  forsworn,  L.  927. 
Forth,  adv.  forth,  on,  further,  onward,  5. 

27;    D  1569,  F  604,  605,  964;    forward. 

HF.  2061;    out,  5.  352;    continually,   F 

1081;  away,  T.  i.  n8 ;   still,  4.  148;  tho 

f,  thenceforth,  T.  i.  1076;  forth  to  love, 

i.  e.  they  proceed  to  love,  T.  ii.  788. 
Forther,   adv.    more    forward,  A   4222; 

Further,  (go)  further,  A  4117. 
Fortheren,  ^^r.  to  further,  T.  v.  1707. 
Forthering,  s.  furtherance,  aid,  L.  69  a. 
Forther-moor,  adv.  further  on,  A  2069  ; 

Fdrihermorc,  moreover,  C  357. 
Forther-over,  adv.  moreover,  C  648. 
Forthest,  adj.  and  adv.  furthest,  B4.  p  6. 

13';. 
For-thinke,  v.  seem  amiss,  {or  here)  seem 

serious,  T.  ii.  1414 ;  //•.  r.  irnpers.  seems 

a   pity   (to  me),  E  1906;    Forthoughte, 
//.  s.  subj.  should  displease,  R.  1671. 


Forthren,  ger.  to  further,  help,   assist, 

L.  71,  472,  1618;  ger.  to  further,  T.  v. 

1707. 
Forth-right,      adv.      straightforwardly, 

straightforward,  R.  295;    F  1503. 
Forthward,  adv.  forwards,  B  263.  F  1169. 
For-thy,  adv.  therefore,  on  that  account, 

A  1841.  4031. 
Fortroden,  //.   trodden    under   foot,    1 

190. 
Fortuit,  adj.  fortuitous,  B  5.  p  i.  91. 
Fortuna  tiiator,  a  name  for  the  auspicious 

planet  Jupiter,  T.  iii.   1420.      (Or  else, 

a  cluster  of  stars  near  the  beginning  of 

Pisces  ;  cf.  Dante,  Pu?g.  xix.  4.) 
Fortunel,  adj.  accidental,  B  5.  m  i.  16. 
Fortunen,   v.   to    give    (good   or  bad) 

fortune  to,  A  417;    Fortunest,  2  /;•.  s. 

renderest  lucky  or  unlucky,  A  2377 ;  pt. 

pi.  happened,  chanced,  3.  288 ;  //.  en- 
dowed by  fortune,  4.  180. 
Fortunous,    adj.   fortuitous,   accidental, 

B  I.  p  6.  9. 
For- waked,  //.  tired  out  with  watching, 

3.  126;  B  596. 
ForAVard,    adv.   foremost ;   first  and   f., 

first  of  all,  B  2431. 
Forward,  s.  agreement,  covenant,  A  33, 

829. 
Porwelked,     adj.    withered,    wrinkled, 

deeply  lined,  R.  361. 
Forweped,  //.  weary,  exhausted  through 

weeping.  3.  126. 
Forwered,  //.  worn  out,  R.  235. 
For-wery,  adj.  very  tired,  5.  93. 
Forwes.  pi.  furrows,  9.  12. 
For-why,  conj.  for  what  reason,  T.  iii. 

1009  ,  wherefore,  why,  HF.  20 ;  because. 

3- 461,  793- 
For-witer,  s.  foreknower,  B  5.  p  6.  329. 
Forwiting,  s.  foreknowledge,  B  4433. 
For-w^ot,  // .  s.  foreknows,  foresees,  HF. 

45- 
Forwrapped, //.  wrapped  up,  C  718; 

eonce;iled,  I  320. 
For-yede,  pt.  s.  gave  up,  T.  ii.  1330. 
Foryelde,  v.  yield  in  return,  requite,  E 

831. 
Foryetelnesse,  s.  forgetfulness,  I  827. 
Foryeten,  v.  forget,  'I',  iii.  55 ;  pr.  s.  for- 
gets, T.  ii.  375 ;    Forget,  for  Forgeteth, 
pr.  s.   forgets,   R.   61 ;    Forgat,    i  pt.  s. 
forgot,  C  919 ;   For-yat,  pt.  s.  T.  v.  1535 ; 

For-yeten,  pp.   forgotten,  A   2021 ;    For- 
geten,  pp.  B  2602. 
Foryetful,  adj.  forgetful,  E  472. 
Foryetinge,  s.  forgetfulness,  B  2.  p  7.  98. 
Foryeve,  v.  forgive,  B  994;  Forynf, pt.  s. 


46 


(gloesarial  Entei. 


I 

forgave,  T.  iii.  1129,  1577;  Forgaf,  pt.  s. 

L.  162 ;  Foryeve,  //.  //.   L.  1848 ;    For- 

yeven,/'/.  torgiven,  T.  ii.  595. 
Foryifnesse,  s.  forgiveness,  B  2963. 
Fostreth,    pr.    s.    cherishes,    E     1387; 

Fostred,    //.    s.    nouiished,    fed,    kept, 

E  222,  H   131 ;  pp.  nurtured,  nourished, 

C  219. 
Fostring,  s.  nourishment,  D  1845. 
Fote,  J.  foot,  short  distance,  F  1177;  dat. 

L.  2711;  htm  to  /.,  at  his  foot,  L.  1314;   , 

on  f.,  on  foot,  F  390.  ' 

Fother,  s.  load,  properly  a  cart-load,  A  1 

530;  great  quantity,  A  1908.  I 

Fot-hoot,    adv.   hastily,   immediately,   3.   • 

Foudre,  .f.  thunderbolt.  HF.  535. 

Foughten,  pp.  fought,  A  62.  i 

FovQ.  i.  bird,  F  149 ;  pi.  birds,  L.  37,  130.    1 

Foule,  adv.  vilely,  D  1069;  foully.  3.  623  ; 
5.  517;    evilly,  A  4220;    shamefully,   L.   . 
1307;    hideously,   D    1082;    meanly,   R.   ^ 
1001.  ] 

FovUer,  adj.  comp.  uglier,  D  999. 

Fouler,  s.  fowler,  L.  132. 

Founde  ( 1 ) ,  ger.  to  found,  T.  i.  1065.  j 

Founde  (2),  v.  seek  after,  7.  241 ;  i  pr.  s. 
try,  endeavour,  7.  47. 

Foundement.  s.  foundation,  HF.  1132. 

Foundred,  p/.  s.  foundered,  stumbled, 
A  26S7. 

Founes,  s.  pi.  fawns,  3.  429;  Fownes 
( metaphorically) ,  young  desires,  T.  i.  465. 

Fourneys,  s.  furnace,  B  3353. 

Fourtenight,  fourteen  nights,  a  fort- 
night, T.  iv.  1327. 

Fowel,  s.  bird,  A  190,  2437. 

Foyne,  pr.  s.  imp.  let  him  thrust.  A  2550; 
pr.  s.  A  2615  ;  pr.  pi.  A  1654. 

Foyson,  s.  abundance,  plenty,  A  3165. 

Fraknes,//.  freckles.  A  2169. 

Frame,  ger.  to  put  together,  build.  T.  iii. 
^30. 

Ff anchyse,  s.  liberality,  E  1987 ;  noble- 
ness, F  1524  ;  privilege.  I  452. 

Frankeleyn,  s.  franklin,   freeholder,  A 

331- 

Prankes,  //.  franks.  B  1371,  1377. 

Frape,  s.  company,  pack,  T.  iii.  410. 
O.  F.  p>a/e,  troop. 

Fraught,  pp.  freighted,  B  171 ;  han  doon 
fr.,  have  caused  to  be  freighted. 

Frayneth.  pr.  s.  prays,  beseeches.  B  1790. 

Free.  adj.  liberal,  generous,  B  1366,  1854; 
bounteous,  liberal.  3.  484;  noble,  beau- 
tiful, C  35;  profuse,  lavish,  A  4387;  as 
s.  noble  one,  6.  104. 

Freedom,  s.  liberality,  L.  1127. 


Freele,  adj.  frail,  fragile,  I  1078. 

Freend.  s.  friend,  A  670. 

Freendlich,  adj.  friendly,  A  2680. 

Freletee,  s.  frailty,  C  78^  D  92. 

Fremede,  adj.  foreign  ;  Fremed  {before  a 
vowel),  strange,  wild;  fremed  and  tame, 
wild  and  tame,  every  one,  T.  iii.  529; 
FrL'inde,  foreign,  F  429.    A.  "6.  fremede. 

Frenesye,  .1.  madness,  D  2209. 

Frenetyk,  adj.  trantic,  T.  v.  206. 

Frenges.  pi.  fringes.  U  1383 ;  borderings, 
HF.  1318. 

Frere,  <■.  friar,  A  208,  D  829. 

Fresshe,  adv.  newly,  L.  204. 

Fresshe,  v.  refresh.' R.  1513. 

Fret,  s.  ornament,  L.  215,  225,  228. 

Freten,  v.  eat  (governed  by  saugh),  A 
2019 ;  pr.  s.  devours,  R.  387  ;  pi.  pi.  con- 
sumed, D  561 ;  Freten,  //.  eaten,  de- 
voured, A  206S  ;   Frete,  pp.  B  475. 

Fretted,//,  adorned,  set.  L.  1117. 

Freyne,  v.  ask.  question,'!",  v.  1227;  //.  s. 
B  3022 :  pp.  G  433. 

Fro,  prep,  from,  A  44;  out  of,  4.  254;  to 
and  fro,  L.  2358,  2471. 

Frogges,  //.  frogs,  R.  1410. 

From.  prep,  from,  A  128  ;  apart  from,  T. 

iv.  766 ;  from  the  time  that,  R.  850. 
Frosty,  adj.  frosty,  cold,  A  268;    which 

comes  in  the  winter,  5.  364. 
Frote.  ger.  to  rub,  T.  iii.  1115;  pr.  s.  A 

3747- 
Frothen.  pr.  pi.  become  covered  with 

foam,  A  1659. 
Fro-this-forth,  henceforward,  T.  iv.  314. 
Frounced,  adj.  wrinkled.  R.  365. 
Frounceles,  adj.  unwrmkled,  R.  860. 
Frount,  s.  true  countenance,  B  2.  p  8.  7. 
Fructuous,  adj.  fruitful,  I  73. 
Fruit,  s.  fiuit,  I.  38;  result,  F  74. 
Fruytesteres,  s.  pi.  fern,  fruit-sellers,  C 

478. 
Frye.  v.  fry,  A  383.  D  487. 
Fugitif,  adj.  fleeing  from  {^■aX.profugm), 
HF.  146. 
I  Ful,  adj.  satiated,  T.  iii.  1661 ;   atte  fulle, 
at  the  full,  completely,  A  651. 
Ful,  adv.   fully,    F    1230;    very,    quite,    B 

3506.  F  52 ;  /  many,  very  many,  F  128. 

FulflUe,  V.  fulfil.  6.  17;  Fulfelle  (Kentish 

form)..^^r.  T.  iii.  510;  Fulfuldest,  2//.  s. 

I       didst  satisfy,  B  2.  p  3.  66;   Fulfilled,//. 

\       quite  full,  L.  54. 

Fulsomnesse,  s.  copiousness,  excess,  1' 

j       405- 

Fvmae,  s.  vapour,  B  41 14. 
I  Fumetere.  s.  fumitory,  Fumaria  offici- 
nalis. B  4153. 


(gloBsarial  Jtnbei. 


47 


Fumositee,  s.  fumes  arising  from  drunk- 
enness, C  567,  F  358. 

Fundement  (i),  i.  foundation,  D  2103; 
(2)  fundament,  C  950. 

Funeral,  adj.  T.  v.  302  ;  funereal,  A  2864, 
2912. 

Furial,  aJj.  tormenting,  furious,  F  448. 

Furie,  s.  monster,  A  2684;   rage,  T.  v.  212. 

Furlongs,  //.  furlongs,  A  4166  ;  Furlong- 
wey,  a  short  distance,  B  557 ;  Forlong- 
wev,  a  brief  time  (lit.  time  of  walking 
a  furlong,  25  minutes),  T.  iv.  1237. 

Furre, .(.  fur,  R.  228. 

Furred,  pp.  furred,  trimmed  with  fur, 
R.  227,  408. 

Furriuge,  s.  fur-trimming,  I  418. 

Further-over,  moreover,  2.  85. 

Furthre,^,fr.  to  help,  HF.  2023;  pp.  ad- 
vanced, 7.  273. 

Fusible,  adj.  capable  of  being  fused, 
G  856. 

Fustian,  s.  fustian,  A  75. 

Futur,  adj.  future,  T.  v.  748. 

Fyle,  V.  file,  smoothe  by  filing,  5.  212; 
¥y\ed,pp.  A  2152. 

Fyn,  s.  end,  R.  1558;  death,  T.  ii.  527; 
result,  B  3348,  3884;  aim,  E  2106;  object, 
r.  ii.  425,  iii.  553;  for  fyn,  finally,  T.  iv. 
477- 

Fyn,  adj.  fine,  strong,  A  1472;  of  fyne 
force,  of  very  need,  T.  v.  421. 

Fyne,  v.  finish,  T.iv.  26;  cease,  end,  T.  ii. 
1460. 

Fynt,  pr.  s.  finds,  A  4071 ;  Fint,  G  218. 

Fyr,  ,f.  fire,  B  3734 ;  Fyr  of  Seint  Antony, 
erysipelas,  I  427. 

Fyr-makinge,  s.  making  of  the  fire,  A 
2914. 

Fysicien,  s.  physician,  B  i.  p  3.  4. 


Gabbe.^^r.  to  boast,  prate,  A  3510 ;  \pr.s. 

lie,  speak  idly,  3.  1075;  Gabbestow,  liest 

thou,   T.  iv.  481. 
Gabber,  s.  liar,  idle  talker,  I  89. 
Gable,  s.  gable-end,  A  3571. 
Gadeling,  s.  idle  vagabond,  gad-about,  R. 

938. 
Gadereth,  pr.  s.  gathers,  A  1053. 
Gaderinge,  s.  gathering,  B  2765. 
Gaillard,   adj.  joyous,    merry,    lively,   A 

4367- 
Galantyne,  s.  a  kind  of  sauce,  galantine, 

9.  16  ;   12.  17. 
Galaxye,  s.  the  Galaxy,  Milky  Wav,  5. 

56;  HF.  936. 


Gale,  V.  sing,  cry  out,  D  852;  pr.  s.  subj. 
exclaim,  D  1336. 

Galianes,  s.  pi.  medicines,  C  306.  So 
named  after  Galen. 

Galingale,  s.  sweet  cyperus,  A  381.  (A 
spice  was  prepared  from  the  root  of  the 
plant.) 

Galle,  ,f.  sore  place,  D  940. 

Galles,  pi.  feelings  of  envy,  9.  47. 

Galoche,  s.  a  shoe,  F  555. 

Galoun,  s.  gallon,  H  24. 

Galping,//-«.  pi.  gaping,  F  350. 

Galwes,  s.pl.  gallows,  B  3924. 

Gamed,  //.  s.  tmpers.  it  pleased,  A  534. 

Gamen,  s.  game,  sport,  T.  ii.  38,  iii.  250; 
joke,  jest,  E  733  ;  amusement,  fun,  merri- 
ment, A  2286,  4354. 

Gan,  pt.  s.  of  Ginne. 

Ganeth,  pr.  s.  yawneth,  H  35. 

Gape,  V.  gape,  gasp,  B  3924;  Gapeth,/r. 
s.  opens  his  mouth,  L.  2004;  Gape  {also 
Ca^e.), pr.pl.  gape,  stare,  A  3841. 

Gapinges,  s.pl.  greedy  wishes,  B  2.  m  2. 
17  ( Lat.  hiatus). 

Gappe,  s.  gap,  A  1639,  1645. 

Gardin-wal,  s.  garden-wall,  A  1060. 

Gardinward,  adv.  gardenward  ;  to  the  g., 
towards  the  garden,  Y  1505. 

Gargat,  s.  throat,  B  4524. 

Garleek,  s.  garlick,  A  634. 

Gamement,  s.  garment,  R.  896. 

Garnere,  s.  garner,  granary,  R.  1148. 

Garnisoun,  s.  garrison,  B  2217. 

Gas,  pr.  s.  goes  (Northern),  A  4037. 

Gastly.  adv.  terrible,  A  1984. 

Gastnesse,  s.  terror,  B  3.  p  5.  29. 

Gat, /A  .r.  o/Geten. 

Gat-tothed,  adj.  having  the  teeth  far 
apart,  A  468,  D  603. 

Gaude,  r.  gaud,  toy,  pretence,  T.  ii.  351 ; 
trick,  C  389;  pi.  pranks,  I  651. 

Gaud6,  adj.  dyed  with  weld,  A  2079.  Fr. 
gander,  to  dye  with  weld. 

Gauded,//.  furnished  with  beads  called 
gauds,  A  159.  (The  bead  or  gaud  was 
formerly  called  gaudee,  from  Lat.  imp. 
pi.  gaudete.) 

Gaure,  v.  stare,  T.  ii.  1157;  ger.  to  stare, 
gaze,  A  3827. 

Gay,  adj.  finely  dressed,  A  74,  iii ;  joyous, 
R.  435  ;  wanton,  A  3769. 

Gaylard,  adj.  lively,  A  3336. 

Gayler,  s.  gaoler,  A  1064. 

Gayneth,/r.  s.  avails,  A  1176;  //.  s.  pro- 
fited, T.  i.  352. 

Gaytres  beryies,  berries  of  the  gay-tree 
or  gait-tree  (goat-tree),  berries  of  the 
Rhaninus   catharticus,    or   buckthorn,   B 


48 


@lo£!sartal  J^viOtx. 


4155.  CaWed^e/iars  trd,  goat-berry-tree, 
in  Swedish  dialects  (Rietz). 

Geaunt,  s.  giant,  B  1997,  3298. 

Gebet,  s.  gibbet,  gallows,  HF.  106. 

Geen, />/.  gone  (Northern),  A  4078. 

Geeth,/r.  s.  goes,  L.  2145. 

Generally,  adv.  everywhere,  T.  i.  86. 

Gent,  adj.  refined,  exquisite,  noble,  B 
1905;  slim,  A  3254;  fern,  graceful,  R. 
1032. 

Genterye,  .r.  nobility,  inagnanimity,  L. 
394;  gentility,  D  1146;  gentle  birth,  I 
452 ;  rank,  I  461 ;  sign  of  good  birth, 
I  601. 

Gentil,  adj.  gentle,  refined,  A  72;  gentle, 
worthy,  B  1627  ;  excellent,  A  718;  mild 
in  manner,  compassionate,  A  647 ;  well- 
bred,  D  hi;  beautiful,  R.  108 1 ;  charm- 
ing. R.  1016. 

Gentillesse,  s.  gentleness,  noble  kindness, 
courtesy,  good  breeding,  L.  610,  loio, 
1080;  A  920;  nobility,  B  3854;  gentility, 
D  1 109;  worth,  E  96;  kindness,  G  1054; 
condescension,  B  853  ;  high  birth,  I  585  ; 
slenderness,  symmetry,  F  426;  delicate 
nurture,  E  593. 

Gentilleste,  adj.  sup.  noblest,  E  72,  131. 

Gentilly,  adv.  gently,  honourably,  A 
3104;  courteously,  B  1093;  fr^mkly,  F 
674. 

Gentils,  s.pl.  gentlefolk,  A  3113. 

Geomancie,  j.  divination  by  figures  made 
on  the  earth.  I  605. 

Geometriens,  s.pl.  geometricians,  B  3. 
P  10.  143- 

Gere,  s.  gear,  armour,  A  2180;  equip- 
ment, A  4016;  property,  B  800;  utensils, 
A  352 ;  apparel,  A  365  ;  //.  contrivances. 
F  1276. 

Gere,  s.  changeful  manner,  A  1372 ;  pi. 
changeful  wavs,  A  1531. 

Gerful,  adj.  changeable,  T.  iv.  286;  A 
1,38.    Cf.  Gery. 

GeHand,  s.  garland,  R.  566. 

Gerner.  s.  gamer,  A  593. 

Gery,  adj.  changeable,  A  1536. 

Gesse,  :■.  suppose,  imagine.  R.  1115;  \ pr. 
s.  suppose,  A  82, 117  ;   B  3435,  3960. 

Gessinge.  s.  opinion.  B  i.  p  4.  315. 

Gest.  s.  guest,  HP".  288. 

Geste,  t.  romance,  tale,  story,  T.  ii.  83, 
iii.  450;  in  geste,  in  romance-form,  like 
the  common  stock-stories,  B  2123;  //. 
stories,  D  642 ;  occurrences,  T.  i.  145 ; 
exploits,  affairs,  T.  ii.  1349;  histories, 
historv.  B  1126;  deeds,  HF.  1434. 

Gestours,  s.  pi.  story-tellers,  B  2036. 
Gestiours,  HF.  1198. 


Get  (jet),  s.  contrivance,  G  1277. 
Geten,  v.  obtain,  get,  L.  2370;  beget,  E 

1437;  Get,;>r.  .f.  procures,  1  828;  Gete, 

2pr.pl.  asfut.  (ye)  will  get, 5.  651;  Gat, 
pt.  s.  begat,  B  715  ;  got,  7.  206;  procured 

for,  A  703;  Geten, /I/,  gotten,  obtained, 

A  291;  won,  L.  1753;  begotten,  L.  1402; 

han  geten   hem,   to   have    acquired    for 

themselves,  F  56. 
Gif,  conj.  if  (Northern),  A  4181,  4190. 
Gigges,//.  rapid  movements,  HF.  1942. 
Qiegvage,  pres.  pt.  pi.  fitting  with  straps, 

A  2504.     From  O.  V.guigue,  a  handle  of 

a  shield. 
Gilden,  adj.  golden,  3.  338. 
Gilt.  s.  guilt,  offence,  F  757,  1039  ;  //.  sins, 

B  3015. 
Giltelees,  adj.  guiltless,  innocent,  A  1312. 
Giltif,  adj.  guilty.  T.  iii.  1019. 
Gin,   ,(.   contrivance,  snare,   G   1165;   //. 

traps,  snares,  R.  1620. 
Gingebreed,  s.  gingerbread,  B  2044. 
Gingere,  s.  ginger,  R.  1369. 
Ginglen,  v.  jingle,  A  170. 
Ginne,  v.  begin,  attempt,  HF.  2004;  Gan, 

I  //.  s.   began,  T.  i.   266;   {as  auxiliary 

verb),  did,  R.  734,  1129;   Gonne,//.  did, 

E  1 103;  HF.  944,  1002;  began,  C  323; 

Gonnen, //.  ^/.   began,   5.  531;    Gunne, 

//.//.  began,  HF.  1658;  did,  HF.  1384; 

Gunnen, pt.pl.  did,  T.  ii.  150. 
Ginninge,  s.  beginning,  T.  i.  377. 
Gipoun,  s.  a  short  cassock  or  doublet, 

A  75,  2120. 
Gipser,  s.  pouch,  purse,  A  357. 
Girdel,  5.  girdle,  A  358,3250;  central  line, 

or  great  circle,  A.  i.  17.  49. 
GirdLen.ger.  to  strike,  B  3736.    Properly 

to  switch. 
Girdilstede,  s.  waist,  R.  826. 
Girles,  //.  young  people,  whether   male 

or  female,  A  664. 
Girt.//-,  s.  girds,  L.  1775 ;  //.  girded,  A  329. 
Giser.  s.  gizzard,  liver,  B  3.  m  12.  47. 
Giterne,  s.  kind  of  guitar,  cittern,  A  3333. 
Giteminge,  s.  playing  on  the  gittern,  or 

cittern,  .A  3363. 
Glade,  ger.   to   gladden,  cheer,   E  1174; 

ger.  to  console,  A  2837  ;  to  rejoice,  5.  687  ; 

Gladed,  pt.  s.  cheered,  T.  i.  116;   imp.  s. 

2,  p.  may  he  comfort.    E   822;    Gladeth, 

imp.  pi.  rejoice.  4.  i . 
Glader,  s.  one  that  cheers,  A  2223. 
G\aA\s.adv.  fitly,  887;  willingly,  F  224; 

bv  preference.  L.  770;  that  beengl.  wyse, 

that  would  be  thought  wise,  F  372. 
Gladsom,  adj.  pleasant,  B  3968. 
Glareth,  pr.  s.  glistens,  shines,  HF.  272. 


@l00gartal  Entjex. 


49. 


Glase,  ger.  to  glaze,  furnish  with  glass,  T. 
V.  469.  To  glaze  one's  hood  =  to  provide 
with  a  useless  defence. 

Glasing,  s.  glass-work,  3.  327. 

Glede,  s.  burning  coal,  glowing  coal  or 
ashes,  B  ill;  coloured  as  the  glede,  of 
a  bright  red,  gules,  B  3574;  pi.  glowing 
coals,  L.  235.     See  Gleed. 

Gledy,  adj.  glowing  (as  a  coal),  burning, 
L.  105. 

Glee,  J.  music,  T.  ii.  1036;  entertainment, 
B  2030;  pi.  musical  instruments,  HF. 
1209. 

Gleed,  s.  glowing  coal,  L.  735. 

Glente,//. //.  glanced,  T.  iv.  1223. 

Glewe,  V.  fasten,  glue,  HF.  1761. 

Gleyre,  s.  white  (of  an  egg),  G  806. 

Gllden,  pp.  o/" Clyde. 

Glimsing,  j.' imperfect  sight,  E  2383. 

Gliteren, //-.//.  glitter,  A  977. 

Glood,  pt.  s.  (7/Glyde. 

Glose,  J.  glosing,  comment,  L.  328;  F 
166;  explanation,  D  1792;  commentary, 
hence  margin,  3.  333. 

Glose,  ger.  to  interpret,  explain,  T.  iv. 
1410 ;  to  flatter,  B  3330 ;  speak  with 
circumlocution,  E  2351 ;  persuade  cun- 
ningly, T.  iv.  147 1 ;  cajole, _D  509;  com- 
ment on,  B  1 180. 

Glosinge,  s.  explaining,  D  1793. 

Glyde,  v.  glide,  A  1575;  ascend,  G  402; 
slip,  T.  iv.  1215 ;  up  gl.,  rise  up  gradually, 
F  373 ;  Glood,  //.  s.  went  quickly,  B 
2094;  Gliden,//.  glided,  passed,  E  1887. 

Gniden, /A //.  rubbed,  9. 11.  From  A.  S. 
gmdan. 

Gnof,  s.  churl  (lit.  thief),  A  3188.  Mod. 
E.  gonoph. 

Gnow,//.  s.  gnawed,  B  3638. 

Gobet,  s.  piece,  morsel,  fragment,  A  696. 

God,  J-.  A  769 ;  God  be  with  you,  farewell, 
C  748;  Goddes,  God's,  Christ's,  B  1166; 
{pronounced  god's),  D  1096;  Goddes, 
//.  gods,  false  gods,  3.  1328. 

Godhede,  s.  divinity,  A  2381. 

Godlihede,  s.  beauty,  T.  iii.  1730. 

Godsib,  s.  sponsor,  I  909. 

Gold,  s.  made  of  gold,  R.  1193. 

Gold-bete,  adorned  with  beaten  gold, 
gilt,  7.  24.    Cf.  Y-bete. 

Goldes,  //.  marigolds,  A  1929. 

Gold-he'wen,  //.  hewn  of  gold,  cut  out 
of  <ir  made  of  gold,  A  2500. 

Goldlees.  adj.  moneyless,  B  1480. 

Goldsmithrie,  s.  goldsmiths'  work,  A 
2498. 

Golee,  s.  gabble  (lit.  mouthful),  5.  566. 
O.  F.  golee. 


■   Golet,  s.  throat,  gullet,  C  543. 

,   Goliardeys,  s.  buffoon,  scurrilous  talker, 

A  560. 

j  Gomme,  s.  gum,  L.  121. 

j    Gon,  V.  go,  proceed,  F  200 ;  walk,  L.  1399 ; 

j        move,  A  2510;    lete  it  goon,  let  it  go,  G 

1475  ;  to  walk,  I  105  ;  move,  F921 ;  roam,. 

L.   2066 ;    Goost,  2  pr.  s.  goest,  G  56 ; 

Goth,  pr.  s.  goes,  I.  68;    Gooth   about, 

seeks  for,  T.  i.  1091 ;  Gooth,  goes,  B  385  ; 

Geeth,    L.    2145;    Gas    (Northern),  A 

4037;  Goon, pr.pl.  proceed,  go  along,  E 

898  ;  Goon,  pp.  gone,  L.  792  ;  B.  17  ;  Go, 

//.  gone,  G  907;    Geen  (Northern),  A 

4078  ;  Go,  pr.  s.  subj.  may  walk,  L.  2069 ; 

Go  we,  let  us  go,  T.  ii.  615 ;  Goth,  imp. 

pi.  go,  B  3384. 

Gonfanoun,    s.    gonfanon,    gonfalon,   a 

sacred  banner,  R.  1201. 
Gonge,  .(.  privy,  I  885. 
Gonne,  s.  missile,  L.  637;   gun,  cannon, 

HF.  1643. 
Gonne,  -n;  see  Ginne,  v. 
Good,  s.  property,  goods,  5.  462;  Gode, 
dat.  benefit,  HF.  i,  58  ;  property,  wealth, 
L.  2638  ;  Godes,//.  goods,  B  2605. 
Goodlich,  adj.  kind,  bountiful,  G  1053. 
Goodliheed,   s.   seemliness,   '1'.   ii.  842; 
goodly  seeming,  HF.  330;  a  goodly  out- 
side, HF.  274. 
Goodly,  adj.  kindly,  B  2921;    excellent, 
L.  77 ;    pleasing,   right,  B  3969 ;    portly, 
B  4010. 
Goodly,  adv.  patiently,  T.  iii.  1035 ;  well, 
B  2420 ;  kindly,  HF.  ^65  ;  reasonably,  T. 
iii.  990;    favourably,  T.  iii.  654;  rightly, 
B  2860. 
Good-man,  s.  master  of  the  house,  C  361 ; 
,       householder,  L.  1391. 
.   GooSj  s.  goose,  5.  358 ;  Gees,//.  E  2275. 

Goosish,  adj.  goose-like,  foolish,  T.  iii.. 
,       584. 

1   Goost,  2pr.  s.  goest,  B.  2501. 
I   Goot,  .r.  goat,  A  688,  G  886. 
i   Gore,  s.  '  gore  '  or  gusset  of  a  garment,  B 
i        1979;   a  triangular  piece  cut  out,  A  3237. 
j   Goshauk,  s.  goshawk,  B  1928. 
Gossib,   s.   female    companion,    D    529; 
male  (spiritual)  relation,  D  243  ;  Godsib, 
I       sponsor,  I  909. 
I   Gossomer,  s.  gossamer,  F  259. 
Gost,  s.  spirit,  ghost,  HF.  185  ;  soul,  i.  56  ; 
mind,  L.  103;  ghost  (ironically),  H  55; 
the    Holy  Spirh,  I.  93 ;   G  328;  yeldeth 
lip  the  gost,  gives  up  the  ghost,  L.  886. 
Gostly,  Goostly,  adj.  spiritual,  I  392. 
Gostly,    adv.    spiritually,    mystically,    G 
109 ;  devoutly,  truly,  T.  v.  1030. 


C3 


5° 


©Iflggarial  Intiei. 


Goter,    f.  gutter,   channel  for  water,  L. 

•2705- 
Goune-clooth,  s.  cloth  to  make  a  gown, 

D  2247,  2252. 
Governaille,  s.  mastery.  E 1192 ;  p/.  rules, 

B  I.  p  o.  32. 
Governaunce,  s.  management,  control, 

rule,  HF.  945,  958;    providence,    T.   ii. 

467 ;     dominion,    B    3541 ;     manner    of 

action,  F  311;   self-control,  T.  ii.  1020; 

charge,  care,  C  73;    demeanour,  T.  ii. 

2iq. 

Gov6rne,  v.  control,  T.  iii.  475;  imp.  pi. 
.iriange,  regulate,  B  1451,  F  322. 

Gov6meresse,  s.  fem.  governor,  ruler, 
niislress,  I.  141  ;   2.  80. 

Govemour.  s.  ruler,  umpire,  A  813; 
leader,  L.  1060. 

Grace,  s.  favour,  i.  46;  mercy,  F  999; 
pardon,  B  647;  good  opinion,  R.  1169; 
virtue,  R.  1099;  hir  j^ace,  her  favour 
(i.  e.  that  of  the  Virgin),  B  980 ;  of  grace, 
out  of  favour,  in  kindness,  F  161 ; 
sory  grace,  ?ix\  ill  favour,  HF.  1790;  dis- 
favour, D  746;  harde  grace,  displeasure, 
5.  65;  displeasure,  disgust.  D  2228; 
severity,  HF.  1586;  disfavour,  misfor- 
tune, r.  i.  713;  ill  luck  (i.  e.  a  curse  upon 
him),  G  665;  Graces,^/,  thanks,  B  2994. 

Gracelees.  adj.  unfavoured  by  God,  G 
1078  :  out  of  favour.  T.  i.  781. 

Grame,  s.  anger,  grief,  harm.  7.  276. 

Grange,  s.  barn,  granary,  A  3668. 

Grant  mercy,  best  thanks.  G  1380. 

Grapenel,  s.  grM)nel,  L.  640. 

Gras  (i),  J.  grass,  R.  1419. 

Gras  (2),s.  grace.  B  2021. 

Graspe,  v.  grope.  T.  v.  223. 

Gras-tyme,  s.  time  of  eating  grass,  time 
of  youth.  A  3868. 

Graunges,  pi.  granges,  barns,  granaries, 
HF.  698. 

Graunt,  s.  grant,  R.  851. 

Graunt  mercy,  best  thanks,  G  1156. 

Graunten,  v.  grant,  R.  1483;  fix.  name, 
F  179 ;  pt.  s.  assented  to,  L.  2665 ;  pt.  pi. 
consented  to,  A  786. 

Grave,  s.  A  2778 ;  pit.  L.  680. 

Graven,  v.  engrave.  F  830 ;  Grave,  v.  dig  ; 
doth  she  gr.,  she  causes  to  be  dug,  L.  678  ; 
bury.  E  68r;  to  engrave,  C  17;  Graven. 
pp.  engraved,  graven,  HF.  193;  buried, 
L.  785  ;   Grave,//,  graven,  HF.  157. 

Grayn,  s.  dye;  in  grayn,  in  dye,  i.  e. 
dved  of  a  fast  colour.  B  1917. 

Graythe,  ger.  to  clothe,  dress.  R.  584. 

Grece,  s.  grease.  A  135. 

Gredy,  adj.  greedy,  ready,  T.  iii.  1758. 


Gree  (i),j.  favour,  good  part,  R. 42;  good 
will,  18.  73  ;  ill  gree,  favourably,  T.  11.529. 
Gree  (2),  s.  degree,  rank,  L.  1313;  supe- 
riority, .-^  2733. 

Greef,  s.  grievance,  D  2174. 

Greet,  adj.  great,  3. 954 ;  principal,  B  1181 ; 
voc.  H  1797  ;  //.  L.  929;  luxuriant,  C  37; 
a  greet,  a  great  one,  A  339 ;  Grete.  def. 
adj.  as  s.,  the  chief  part,  L.  574. 

Grehoundes,  s.pl.  greyhounds,  A  190. 

Greithe,  v.  prepare,  B  3784. 

Gr6ne,  adj.  as  s.,  green  colour,  R.  573;  A 
103;  green  clothing  (the  colour  of  in- 
constancy), 21.  7;  green  place,  green 
space,  F  862. 

Grenehede,  v.  greenness,  wantonness,  B 
163. 

Grenningr,  pres.  part,  grinning,  R.  156. 

Gres,  s.  grass,  T.  ii.  515;  //.  grasses,  HF. 

Grete.  v.  greet ;  imp.  s.  L.  2299 ;  Grette, 

I  /•/.  s.  L.  116. 
Gretter,  adj.  comp.  greater.  A  197. 
Grevaunce,  s.  grievance,  trouble,  hard- 
ship, B   2676;    complaint   (against   us). 

I.  63;  discomfort,  5.  205;  affliction,  10. 

47 ;  //.  distresses,  T.  i.  647. 
Greve,  s.  grove,  T.  v.  1144;  //.  A  1495; 

boughs,  sprays,  L.  227. 
Greve,  ger.  to  harm,  R.  1042 ;  feel  vexed, 

grumble,  T.  i.  343 ;  pr.  s.  grieves,  harms, 

A  917  ;   impers.  it  vexes,  E  647. 
Grevous,    adj.  grievous,  painful,   T.   v. 

1604. 
Greyn,  s.  grain,  corn,  A  596;  grain  (dye), 

B  4649 ;   m  greyn,  of  a  fast  colour,  F  511 ; 

Greyn   de   Paradys,  grains  of  paradise, 

R.    1369;    Greyn,   grain    (of   paradise), 

caidamom,  A  3690. 
Greythen,  pr.  pi.  prepare  (themselves), 

get  ready.  A  4309 ;  ger.  to  adorn,  clothe, 

dress.  R.  584.     \<z^\.  gretSa. 
Griffon,  i.  griffin.  A  2133. 
Grille,  adj.  pi.  horrible,  R.  73. 
Grim,  adj.  angry,  A  2042;  fierce.  A  2519. 
Grimnesse,  s.  horror.  I  864. 
Grinte.  pt.  s.  grinned,  D  2161. 
Grintinge,  s.  gnashing  (of  teeth),  I  208. 
Grisel,   s.  name   given   to   an   old   man, 

whose  hair  is  gray  (lit.  old  horse),  16.  35. 
Grisly,    adj.   horrible,   terrible,   awful,   A 

1363,  1971 ;  very  serious,  T.  ii.  1700. 
Grobbe,  v.  dig,  grub  (up),  9.  29. 
Grome,   s.  man ;   gr.   and  wenche,   man 

and  woman,  HF.  206;  //.  men,  R.  200. 
Gronte,  pt.  s.  groaned.  B  3899. 
Grope,  V.  tr\'.  test,  examine,  A  644;  ger. 

to  search  out,  D  1817. 


(©loggartal  JEnliei. 


51 


Grot,  J.  particle,  atom,  D  1292. 
Grote,  s.  groat,  (Dutch)  coin,  C  945. 
Grounded,  />p.  well  instructed,  A  414; 

founded,  T.  iv.  1672. 
Groyn  {i),s.  (a  swine's)  snout,  I  156. 
Groyn  {2),  s.  murmur,  T.  i.  349. 
Groyning-,  s.  murmuring,  A  2460. 
Grucche,  v.  murmur,  T.  iii.  643  ;  ^er.  to 

grumble,  D  443, 
Grucching,    f.  grumbling,   complaining, 

murmuring,  D  406,  I  499. 
Gruf,    adv.   on    tiieir  faces,   grovellingly, 
in   a  grovelling   posture,  A  949,  B  1865. 
Cf.  Icel.  agriifa,  face  downwards. 
Grypen,  ger.  to  grasp,  R.  204. 
Grys,  adj.  gray,  G  559;  ponicly giys,  i.  e. 

dapple-gray. 
Grys,  s.  a  gray  fur,  A   194.     The  fur  of 

the  gray  squirrel. 
Guerdon,  s.  recompense,  meed,  reward, 
R.  1526 ;  him  to  g.,  as  a  reward  for  him, 
L.  2052. 
Guerdone,  v.  reward,  I  283 ;  pp.  B  2462. 
Guerdoning:,  s.  reward,  5.  455. 
Gyde,   s.  guide,   A    804;    ruler,    G  45; 

guide,  wielder,  5.  136. 
Gyde,  ger.  to  direct,  lead,  T.  i.  183 ;   to 
guide,  T.  iii.   1811 ;   //-.  pi.  conduct,  T. 
ii.  1104. 
Gyderesse,  s.  conductress,  B  4.  p  i.  9. 
Gydingr,  s.  guidance,  T.  v.  643. 
^y©.  '"■  guide,  A  1950,  E  1429;  conduct 
(myself),  L.  K045  ;  govern,  A  3046;   rule, 
B  3587;  instruct,  control,    B  1286;  ge>: 
to  guide,  T.  v.  546;  to  regulate,  I   13; 
as  wisly  he  gye,  so  verily  may  he  guide, 
25.8. 
Gyle,  s.  deceit,  A  2596 ;  trick,  T.  iii.  777. 
Gylour,  s.  beguiler,  trickster,  A  4321. 
Gyse,    s.   guise,   way,    A    663;    manner, 
R.  789,  A  1208,  1789;   custom,  A  993; 
way,  plan,  T.  iv.  1370. 
Gyte,    s.   dress,  perhaps  skirt  or   mantle, 
A  3954  ;  pl-  D  559.    Ci.gyde  in  Jamieson's 
Diet.,  where   the   sense   is   dress,   skirt, 
or  mantle.     Gascoigne   uses  gite  in  the 
sense  of  dress  in  his  Philomena,  1.  117: 
'A  stately  Nimph,  a  dame  of  heauenly 
kinde,  Whose  glittering  gite  so  glimsed 
in  mine  eyes.' 


Ha  !  ha  !   interj.  B  4571. 
Haberdasaher,  s.  seller  of  hats,  A  361. 
Habergeoun,  s.  a  hauberk   or  coat  of 

mail,  A  76,  21 19. 
Habitacle,  .r.  habitable  space,  B  2.  p  7. 

59;  Habitacles,//.  niches,  HF.  1194. 


Haboiindaunt,  pres.  pt.  abounding,   B 

3.  p  2.  32. 
Habounde,  v.  abound,  B  3938,  E  1286. 
Habundant,  adj.  abundant,  E  59. 
Habundaunce,  s.  plenty,  B  2322. 
Habyten,/;-.  pi.  inhabit,  R.  660. 
Hacches,  //.  hatches,  L.  648. 
Hailes,  pi.  hail-storms,  HF.  967. 
Hainselins,   s.  pi.  short  jackets,  I   422. 

O.  F.  hanisenn,  hamcellin,  a  sort  of  robe  ; 

cf  G.  Hemd,  shirt. 
Haire.  c.  hair-shirt,  R.  438. 
Hakeney,  .f.  old  horse,  R.  1137;  G  559. 
Halde. //.  held,  esteemed  (Northern),  A 

4208. 
Hale,    V.    draw,    attract,    5.    151 ;  pr.    s. 

draws  back,  i.  68. 
Half,  s.  side,   HF.   1136;    behalf,    T.    ii. 

1734;  Halfe,  dat.  5.   125;    on   iny  hal/e, 

from    me,     3.    139;    a  goddes    halfe,   on 

God's  side,  in  God's  name,  D  50;  Halve, 

dat.   side,   part,   T.    iv.   945;  //.   sides, 

A  3481. 
Half-g-oddes,  //.  demi-gods,  L.  387. 
Half-yeer  age,  of  the  age  of  half  a  year, 

A  3971. 
Haliday,  s.  holiday,  A  3309,  3340. 
Halke,  s.   corner,    R.   464;    hiding-place, 

L.  1780;   nook,  F  1 121 ;  //.  G  311. 
Halle,  s.  hall,  A  353 ;  dining-room,  T.  ii. 

1170;  parlour,  B  4022. 
Halp,  pt.  s.  of  Helpe. 
Hals,  s.  neck,  H  F.  394 ;  B  73  ;  cut  the  hals, 

cut  in  the  throat,  L.  292  a. 
Halse,   I  pr.  s.  I   conjure,   B  1835.     The 

proper  meaning  of  A.  S.  healsian   is  to 

clasp  round  the  neck  (A.  S.  heals),  and 

thence  to  beseech,  supplicate. 
Halt,  pr.  s.  of  Holde  and  Halten. 
Halten,  ger.  to  limp,  T.  iv.  1457;  Halt, 

pr.  s.  goes  lame,  3.  622. 
Halve    goddes,   pi.   demigods,    T.    iv. 

1545- 
Halvendel,  s.  the  half  part  (of),  T.  v. 
^335- 

Halwen,  ger.  to  hallow,  I  919. 
Halwes,  pi.  saints,  B  1060;   apostles,  3. 

831 ;  shrines  of  saints,  A  14. 
Haly-dayes,  pi.  holy-days,    festivals,  A 

3952,  I  667. 
Ham,  s.  home  (Northern),  A  4032. 
Hameled,  pp.   cut    off,  T.   ii.  964.     (It 
refers    to    the    mutilation    of    dogs    that 
were     found     to    be     pursuing     gaine 
secretly.       They     were      mutilated     by 
cutting  off  a  foot.)     A.  S.  hamelian,  to 
mutilate. 
Hamer,  s.  hammer,  A  2508. 


52 


@lo0sartal  Intiei. 


Hampred,  //.   hampered,  burdened,  R. 

Hand,    s.   hand,   A    io8 ;    in    his    hande, 

loading  bv  his  hand,  L.  213. 
Handebrede,  s.  hands  breadth,  A  3811. 
Handwerk,  s.  creatures,  things  created, 

D    1^02. 

Hangeth,  pr.  s.  asfut.  will  hang,  R.  193; 
lUong,/*/.  J.  hung,  A  3250;  Heng,/>/.  j. 
hung,  R.  224,  240;  (wiiich)  hung,  E 
1883;  hung  down,  T.  ii.  689;  Hanged, 
pp.  hung  round,  A  2568  ;  hung,  T.  ii.  353. 

Hap,  s.  chance,  E  2057 ;  luck,  success, 
H  3928,  G  1209;  good  fortune,  3.  1039; 
/;.  other  grace,  a  mere  chance  or  a 
special  favour,  3.  810;  pi.  occurrences, 
3-  1279- 

Happe,  V.  happen,  befall,  A  585;  h.  how 
h.  may,  happen  what  may,   I.  v.  796. 

Happen,//-,  s.  subj.  (it)  may  happen,  L. 
78. 

Happy,  adj.  lucky,  T.  ii.  621. 

Hard,  adj.  hard,  A  229;  of  hard,  with 
difficulty,  T.  ii.  1236;  dcf.  cruel,  6.  106; 
F  499 ;  TLHth  h.  grace,  with  displea&ure, 
severity  (see  Grace). 

Harde.'jrfi'.  tightly,  A  3279. 

Hardely,  adv.  boldly.  R.  270;  unhesitat- 
inglv.  6.  118;  scarcely,  R.  4;  certainly, 
IlV.'359. 

Hardiment,  s.  boldness,  T.  iv.  533. 

Hardiness©,  s.  boldness.  A  1948,  B  3210; 
fool-h.xrdiness,  B  2508  ;  insolence.  I  438. 

Harding,  s.  hardening,  tempering,  K  243. 

Hardn6sse,  s.  cruelty,  4.  232 ;  hardship, 
I  (.88. 

Hardy,  adj.  bold,  A  405;  sturdy,  F  19; 
rash.  R.  1038. 

Harie.  gcr.  to  drag.  I  171;  Haried, /^. 
pu'led  forcibly.  A  2726. 

Harlot,  s.  a  person  of  low  birth,  servant- 
lad.  D  1754;  ribald.  A  647;  rogue, 
rascal,  A  4268;  Harlotes.  pi.  thieves, 
pick-pockets,  R.  191.  (Used  of  both 
sexes.) 

Harlotrye,  s.  ribaldry,  A  3145 ;  wicked- 
ness, D  1328;  evil  conduct,  E  2262;  pi. 
ribald  jests,  A  561. 

Harm,  s.  harm,  3.  492;  A  385;  broken 
harm,  occasional  injury,  petty  annoy- 
ance. E  1425. 

Harneised,  //.  equipped  (lit.  harnessed), 
A  114. 

Harneys,  s.  armour.  A  1006;  gear,  ar- 
rangement, I  974;  fittings,  A  2896; 
harness.  I  433;  provision,  D  136. 

Harpe-stringes,  pi.  harp-strings,  HF. 
777- 


Harping,  s.  playing  on  the  harp,  A  266. 

Harpour,  s.  harper.  T.  ii.  1030. 

Harre,  .f.  hinge,  A  550.     A.  S.  heorra. 

Harrow  !   mterj.  help  !  A  3286.  O.  F.  haro. 

Harwed,//.  s.  harried,  despoiled,  A  3512, 
U  2107.  (Alluding  to  the  harrying  or 
harrowing  of  hell  by  Christ.)  A.  S. 
hergian. 

Hasard,  s.  dice-play,  C  465.  591. 

Hasardour,  s.  gamester,  C  596. 

Hasardrye,  f.  gaming,  playing  at  hazard, 
C  5QO. 

Hasel-wode.  .f.  hazel-wood,  i.  e.  no  news 
(sec  below).  T.  V.  505,  1174;  pi.  haxel- 
bushes,  T.  iii.  890.  (Hazel-woods  shake, 
i.  e.  that  is  no  news,  it  is  of  no  use  to 
tell  me  that.) 

Hasps,  s.  hasp,  A  3470. 

Hast,  hast  thou  (so)?  A  4268. 

Hast.  f.  haste.  T.  iii.  1438. 

Hasteth,  imp.  pi.  make  haste,  1  72. 

Hastif .  adj.  hasty.  A  3545. 

Hastifnesse,  s.  hastiness.  B  2312. 

Hastow,  ipr.  s.  hast  thou.  A  3533. 

Hateful,    adj.    hateful.    D    366;    odious 

(Lat.  odibilc),  D  1195. 

Hateredes,  s.  pi.  hatreds.  B  4.  m  4.  2. 

Haubergeons,  j^/.hauberks.1 1052,1054. 

Hauberk,  s.  coat  of  mail.  A  2431,  B  2053. 
I  Haunche-bon,  s.  thigh-bone,  A  3803; 
//.  haunch-bones,  A  3279. 

Haunt,  s.  abode,  B  abode,  B  2001 ;  '  limit," 
usual  resort,  A  252  c;  use,  practice, 
skill.  447. 

Haunteth,  pr.  s.  habitually  uses,  T.  v. 
1556 ;  is  used  to.  A  4392 ;  practises,  C 
547 ;  pr.  pi.  resort  to,  I  885 ;  practise, 
I  780.  847. 

Hauteyn,  adj.  proud,  stately,  5.  262; 
loud,  C  330;  Hautein,  haughty,  I  614. 

Haven,  v.  have,  T.  iii.  1463 ;  Han,  v.  F  56 ; 
keep,  retain,  C  725;  take  away,  C  727; 
obtain.  G  234 ;  possess  (cf.  '  to  have  and 
to  hold').  B  208;  Hast.  2  pr.  s.  hast 
thou  so?  A  4268 ;  Hath,  pr.  s.  has,^ 
L.  2700;  Han,  i  pr.  pi.  have,  L.  28; 
2pr.pl.  A  849;  Han,//-.//.  E  188,381; 
possess,  A.  pr.  24;  Hadde,  i  //.  s.  pos- 
sessed, 2.  34;  Hadde,//.  J.  had,  L.  1859; 
had,  possessed,  E  438;  took,  E  303; 
Hade  (used  for  the  rime),  //.  s.  A  554, 
617 ;  Fladden,  //.  //.  had,  kept,  E  201 ; 
Hadde,//.//.  L.  1841 ;  /hadde  lever,  I 
would  rather.  B  3083;  Have,  imp.  s. 
take.  F  759;  Have  doon,  make  an  end, 
5-  492- 

Havlnge,   s.  possession   (habendi),  B  2. 

m  S-  33- 


(iloggarial  ItittJei. 


53 


Hawe,  (i),  J.  haw,  yard,  enclosure,  C  855. 

Hawe,  (2),  J.  haw  (fruit  of  dog-rose),  D 
659 ;  -with  hawe  bake,  with  baked  haws, 
i.  e.  with  coarse  fare,  B  95. 

Hay,  s.  hedge,  R.  54. 

Hayl,  interj.  hail !  A  3579. 

Hayt,  interj.  come  up !  D  1543. 

He,  pron.  he,  A  44,  &c. ;  used  for  it,  G  867, 
868; //4a^,4<r,  that  man,  HF.  2069;  He... 
he,  this  one  .  .  .  that  one,  5.  166 ;  He  and 
he,  one  man  and  another,  T.  ii.  1748 ; 
Him,  dat.  and  ace.  himself,  A  87;  Him 
or  here,  him  or  her,  HF.  1003;  him 
sented,  it  seemed  to  him,  he  appeared, 
B  3361 ;  Hem,  pi.  dat.  and  ace.  them, 
A  II ;  hem  seemed,  it  seemed  to  them, 
they  supposed,  V  56. 

Hed,  pp.  hidden,  L.  208. 

Hede,  s.  heed,  A  303;  tak  ^.,  take  care, 
1.47. 

Hede,  v.  provide  with  a  head,  V.  ii.  1042. 

H66d,  s.  head,  A  198,  293,  455;  source, 
16.  43;  beginning,  F  1282;  on  his  h., 
at  the  risk  of  his  head,  A  1725;  ynalgre 
hir  hede,  in  spite  of  all  they  can  do, 
4.  220;  maugree  hir  heed,  in  spite  of  all 
she  could  do,  D  887 ;  maugre  thyn  heed, 
in  spite  of  all  thou  canst  do,  B  104; 
Hedes,//.  heads,  or  first  points  of  signs, 
A.  i.  17.  20 ;  Hevedes,  heads,  B  2032. 

Heef ,  pt.  s.  of  Heve. 

Heeld,  /;-.  s'.  of  Holde. 

Heelp,/^  J.  0/  Helpe. 

Heengr,  pt.  s.  of  Hange. 

H66p,  s.  heap,  i.  e.  crowd,  host,  A  575 ; 
great  number,  crowd,  T.  iv.  1281. 

H66r,   s.   hair.   R.  549;    Hferes,  pi.    HF. 

H66r,  adv.  here,  B  1177 ;  Heer  and  ther, 
never  long  in  one  place,  G  1174;  her 
and  ther,   hither    and    thither,   B  5.   p 

Heer-ag'ayns,  prep,  against  this,  I  668. 
Heer-bifom,    adv.    here-before,    before 

this,  F  1535. 
Heer-forth,  adv.  in  this  direction,  D  looi. 
Heer-mele,   s.  the  thickness  of  a  hair, 

a  halt's  breadth,  A.  ii.  38.  17. 
Heeste,  s.  commandment,  I  845. 
Heet,/^^.  (7/ Hote. 
Hegge,  s.  hedge,  T.  v.  1144;  //.  B  4408. 
Heigh,    adj.   high,  A   316,  522;  great,  A 

1798;    lofty,    B    3192;    learned,   E    18; 

severe,  B  795 ;    Heighe,  def.  C  633 ;    in 

h.    and    lowe,    in    both    high   and    low 

things,  i.  e.  wholly,  A  817,  B  993. 
Heighe,  adv.  high  up,  T.  iv.  996;  heigh, 

B  4607  ;   an  heigh,  on  high,  F  849. 


Heighly,  adv.  strongly,  T.  ii.  1733. 

Helde,  v.  hold,  retain,  D  272.  See  Holde 
(the  usual  form). 

Helde,  //.  //.  poured  out,  HF.  1686. 
(Better  than  '  held.')     See  Hielde. 

Hele,  s.  health,  L.  1159;  recovery,  well- 
being,  I.  80;  prosperity,  L.  296.  A.  S. 
hcelii. 

H61e,  dat.  heel,  T.  iv.  728. 

Hele,  v.  conceal,  B  2279;  //.  hidden,  B 
4245.     A.  S.  helan. 

Helelees,  adj.  out  of  health,  T.  v.  1593. 

Helen,  v.  heal,  11.  4;  pp.  h  zjoS. 

Helle,  s.  hell,  4.  120;  L.  2,  6. 

Helpe,  s.  helper,  assistant,  L.  1616. 

Helpe ,  I'.help,  A  258  ;  H.  of,  cure  of,  A  632  ; 
Heelp,  1  pt.  s.  helped,  A  4246;  Heelp, 
//.  J.  B920;  Halp,//.  J-.  A  1651;  Helpeth, 
imp.  pi.  L.  68  ;  Holpe,^/.  s.  subj.  helped, 
R.  1230;  Holpen,  pp.  helped,  aided, 
F  666 ;    healed,  A  18. 

Helply,  adj.  helpful,  T.  v.  128. 

Hem.  them  ;  see  He. 

Hemi-spere,  hemisphere,  T.  iii.  1439. 

Hem-self,  pron.  pi.  themselves,  B  145; 
Hem-selven,  F  1420. 

Hen,  s.  hen,  A  177;  (as  a  thing  of  small 
value),  D  1112. 

Hende,  adj.  courteous,  polite,  gentle, 
A  3199,  3272,  3462. 

Henne,  adv.  hence,  T.  i.  572. 

Hennes,  adv.  hence,  T.  v.  402;  now,  HF. 
1284. 

Hennes-forth,  adv.  henceforth,  R.  701. 

Hente,  v.  catch,  I  355;  seize,  A  3347; 
acquire,  get,  A  299 ;  circumvent,  T.  iv. 
137 1 ;  dide  her  for  to  hente,  caused  her 
to  be  seized,  L.  2715 ;  Hent,/n  s.  seizes, 
catches,  T.  iv.  5;  Hente,  pr.  s.  subj. 
may  seize,  G  7 ;  Hente,  /;*.  s.  caught, 
took,  A  957;  caught  away,  B  1144; 
seized,  caught  hold  of,  T.  ii.  924  ;  grasped, 
C  255;  took  forcibly,  E  534;  took  in 
hunting,  B  3449;  lifted,  G  205;  pt.  pi. 
seized,  A  904;  caught,  R.  773;  pp. 
caught,  A  1581. 

Henteres,  s.  pi.  filchers,  B  i.  p  3.  89. 

H6pe,  s.  hip,  the  fruit  of  the  dog-rose,  B 

1937- 
Hepen,  pr.  pi.  augment,  B  5.  p  2.  46 ;  pp. 

accumulated,  T.  iv.  236. 
Her,  Hir,  pron.  pass,  their,  B  136.    A.  S. 

heora,  /lira,  of  them  ;  gen.  pi.  of  he,  he. 
Heraud,  s.  herald,  A  2533. 
Heraude,  ger.   to  proclaim  as   a  herald 

does,  HF.  1576. 
Herber,  s.  garden,  T.  ii.  1705  ;  arbour,  L. 

203. 


54 


(3\oQmxia\  intitx. 


Herbergage,  s.  a  lodging,  abode,  A  4329 ; 

li  417"- 
Herbergeours,   s.  pi.    harbingers,  pro-  j 

viders  of  lodgings,  B  997. 
Herberwe,  or  Herberw,  .t.  harbour,  A  I 

403;    inn,   A   765;    lodging,   shelter,  A   I 

4119;  dwelling,  position,  F  1035.  { 

Herberwe,  ,5'd-r.  to  shelter,  R.  491;  Her-  1 

hcrwedcn, //.//.  lodged,  B  2.  p  6.  75.  ! 

Herberwing,  s.  lodging,   sheltering,  A 

4332. 
Her-bifom,  adj.  before  this  time,  L.  73; 

a  while  ago,  3.  1136. 
Her-by,  adv.  with  respect  to  this  matter,   ' 

I J  2204;  hence,  HF.  263.  \ 

Herds,   s.  shepherd,  G   192;    keeper  of  [ 

e.Ulle,  A  603.  I 

Herde-gromes. //.  herdsmen,  HF.  1225.  I 
Herdes,  pi.  coarse  flax, '  hards,'  R.  1233. 
Herdesse,  s.  shepherdess,  T.  i.  653.  1 

H.ere,pron.  her,  R.  1260;  &c.  j 

Here, />w^. //-£)«.  her,  T.  i.  285;  &c. 
Here,   adv.  here,   in   this  place,  on  this 

spot, T.  V.  478.  (Dissyllabic.)    See  Heer. 
Here,  v.  hear,  A  i69;'Heren,  v.  HF.  879; 

Herestow,  2  pr.  s.  hearest  thou,  A  3366; 

Herth,  pr.  s.  hears,   L.    327   a;   Herde, 

p/.  s.  heard,  A  221 ;   Herdestow,  heardest 

thou,  .-\  4170;   Herd,  pp.  heard,  3.  129. 
Here-agayns,  against  this,  A  3039;  Here- 

ayeins,  in  reply  to  that,  T.  ii.  1380. 
Here  and  howne,  T.  iv.  210;  perhaps 

gentle    and    savage,    i.  e.    one    and    all   \ 

(doubtful).     Cf.  here,   gentle,   in  Strat-  ; 

mann  ;  and  A.  S.  Huna,  a  Hun.  i 

Herie.   v.  praise,  T.   iii.   1672;    Heriest, 

2  pr.  s.  worshippest,   B  3419;  pr.  s.  B  j 

1155;  pt.pl.  worshipped,  L.  786;  pp.  B  ' 

872.     A.  S.  herian.  \ 

Herke. /w;^.  J.  hearken,  E  1323;  Herketh,   | 

imp.  pi.  D  1656.  : 

Herknen,   v.   hearken,  listen,  I  81 ;  ger. 

to  listen  to,  3.  752;   Herkne,  v.  G  1006; 

ger.  B  3159;  pt.  s.  listened  to,  A  4173; 

Herkned,  pp.  listened,  R.  630;  h.  after, 

expected,  F  403. 
Heme.  s.  corner,  F  1121 ;  //.  G  658. 
Herneys,  s.  armour,  A  2496;  //.sets  of 

ai  niour,  A  1630. 
Heroner,  .<..  falcon  for  herons,  T.  iv.  413. 
Heronere.  iidj.  used  for  flying  at  herons, 

L.  1120.    Said  of  a  falcon.' 
Heronsewes,  s.  pi.   hemshaws,    young 

herons,    F    68.      Heronsew    is    derived, 

regularly,    from  A.   F.    herouncel,     later 

herounfeau :  a   diminutive  from  heroun, 

like  lioncel  from  lion. 
Herse,  s.  hearse,  2.  15,  36. 


Hert,  s.  hart,  3.  351 ;   5.  195. 

Herte,  s.  heart,  A  150,  229 ;  dear  one,  T.  ii. 

1096;    courage,    3.    1222;     Hertes,  gen. 

heart's,    i.  164;   Herte,  .,f<^//.    T.    ii.  445, 

Herte  rote,  root  (bottom)  of  the  heart. 

R.  1026 ;  myn  hertes.  of  my  heart,  4.  57. 
Herte,  //.  s.  hurt,  3.  883. 
Herte-blood,  heart's  blood,  A  2006,0902. 
Hertelees,  adj.  heartless,  without  heart, 
T.  V.  1594;  deficient  in  courage,  B  4098. 
Hertely,  adv.  heartily,  A  762 ;  thoroughly, 

L.  33;  earnestly,  3.  1226;  truly,  3.  85. 
Herte-rote,  s.  root  of  the  heart,  depth  of 

the  heart,  L.  1993. 
Herte-spoon,  s.  '  the  concave  part  of  the 

breast,   where    the     ribs    unite   to   form 

the   cartilago  ensiformis'   (Tyrwhitt),  A 

2606. 
Hert-hunting,  s.  hunting  of  the  hart,  3. 

1313- 
Herth,  pr.  s.  heareth,  L.  327  a. 
Hertly,   adj.  heartfelt,   honest,  L.   2124; 

hearty,  E  176,  502,  F  5. 
Heryinge,  s.  praising,  I  682;  praise,   B 

1649,  glory,  T.  iii.  48. 
Heste.  s.  command,  commandment,  be- 
hest, B  382;  promise,  F  1064;   Heeste, 

commandment,  I  845. 
H6te,  s.  heat,  R.  1508;  passion,  4.  127; 

heat,  but  put  for  surge,  B  I.  m  7.  4. 
Hete,  V.  proiiiise,  vow,  6.  77;  pr.  s.  subj. 

promise,  A  2398;   i  pr.  s.  B  334;   Hette, 

pt.  s.  4.  185.    See  Hote. 
Heterly,  adv.  fiercely,  L.  638. 
Hdthen,  adv.  hence  (Northern),  A  4033. 
Hethenesse,  s.  heathen   lands,  A  49,  B 

1 1 12. 
Hething,    s.    contempt,    A    4110.     Icel. 

heeHing. 
Hette,  pt.  s.  heated,  inflamed,  5.  145. 
Hette,  pt.  s.  promised,  4.  185.   See  Hote. 
Heve,   V.  heave,  lift,  A   550;  ger.  to  use 

exertion,  labour,  T.  ii.  1289;  pr.  s.  lifts 

up,  B  5.  m  5.  18 :  Haf,  pt.  s.  heaved,  A 

3470;   Heef.pt.  s.  lifted.  B  I.  p  1.  19. 
Heved,  s.  head,  HF.  550;  beginning,  A. 

ii.  16.  3;  Hevedes,//.  B  2032. 
Heven,    s.   heaven,   A    519;  the  celestial 

sphere,  B  3300;  supreme  delight,  F"  558; 

beautiful  sight,  T.  ii.  637;   Hevene,^^«. 

heaven's.  D  1 181,  G  542. 
Hevenish,  adj.  heavenly,  HF.    1395;  of 

the  spheres,  4.  30. 
Hevieth,  pr.pl.  weigh  down,  B  5.  m  5.  x6. 
Hevy,  adj.  heavy,  R.  229;  sad,  4.  12. 
Hewe,    (I),   s.  hue,    colour,    complexion, 

A  394,  1364 ;  outward  appearance,  mien, 

D  1622;  pretence,  C  421. 


(ilossatial  Jtribtx, 


55 


Hewe,  {2),s.  (household) -servant,  domes- 
tic, E  1785.    A.  S.  /iiwa. 

Hewed,  adj.  coloured,  R.  213. 

Hey.  s.  hay,  A  3262;  grass,  B  3407. 

Hey  !  inter/',  hey  I  L.  1213. 

Heye,  adj.  def.  high,  A.  i.  16.  11. 

Heyghte,  s.  height,  A.  ii.  22.  8. 

Heyne,  s.  wretch,  G  1319. 

Heynous,  adj.  heinous,  odious,  T.  ii.  1617. 

Heyre,  adj.  hair,  made  of  hair,  C  736. 

Heyre,  s.  hair-shirt,  G  133. 

Heysugge.  s.  hedge-sparrow,  5.  612. 

Heyt,  uiterj.  come  up,  D  1561. 

Hider,  adv.  hither,  4.  165. 

Hidous,  adj.  hideous,  A  3520;  terrible, 
horrible,  dreadful,  A  1978,  B  4583 ;  ugly, 
R.  158. 

Hidously,  adv.  terribly,  A  1701. 

Hielde,  pr.  s.  subj.  pour  out,  shed,  B  2. 
m  2.  2  {\ja.\.  fundat) . 

Hierdes,  female  guardian,  protectress, 
T.  iii.  619.    See  Herdesse. 

Hig-ht,  Highte  ;  see  Hote. 

Highteth,  pr.  s.  adorns,  gladdens,  B  i. 
m  2.  25. 

Hild,  pt.  s.  bent,  inclined,  3.  393. 

Hinde,  s.  hind,  3.  427. 

Hindre,  v.  hinder,  R.  1039. 

Hindreste,  super/,  hindmost,  A  622. 

Hipes,  //.  hips,  A  472. 

Hir,  (i),  pers.  pron.  dat.  and  ace,  to  her, 
her,  A  126,  B  162,  &c. 

Hir,  \2),poss.  pron.  her,  A  120,  B  164,  &c. 

Hir,  {-i),  gen.  pi.  of  them;  Hir  aller,  of 
them  all,  A  586;  Hir  bothe,  of  both  of 
them,  B  221. 

Hir,  (4) ,  poss.  pron.  their,  A  11,  B  140,  &c. ; 
Her,  B  3536.  &c. 

Hir  thankes,  with  their  good  will,  will- 
ingly, A  2114. 

Hires,  hers,  5.  482,  588. 

Himia,  s.  hernia,  I  423. 

His,  gen.  masc.  his,  A  47,  50,  &c. ;  neut. 
its,  I.  178;  T.  iii.  1088,  V.  1379;  in  phr. 
Mars  his  =  of  Mars,  L.  2593. 

His  thankes,  with  his  good  will,  will- 
ingly, A  2107. 

Historial,  adj.  historical,  C  156. 

Hit,  pron.  it,  2.  117  ;  Hit  am  I,  it  is  I,  3.  186, 
L.  314 ;   Hit  weren,  they  were,  HF.  1323. 

Hit,  pr.  s.  hides,  F  512.  ////  is  a  con- 
tracted form,  equivalent  to  hideth. 

Ho,  interj.  hold  !  stop  I   B  3957. 

Ho,  s.  exclamation  commanding  silence, 
A  2533 ;  stop,  cessation,  T.  ii.  1083. 

Hochepot,  s.  hotch-potch,  mixture,  B 
2447- 

Hoke,  dat.  (i/Hook. 


Hoker,  s.  scorn,  frowardness,  A  3965.. 
A.  S.  hocor. 

Hokerly,  adv.  scornfully,  I  584. 

Hold,  s.  possession,  B  4064;  grasp,  F  167  ; 
keeping,  D  599 ;  fort,  castle,  B  507. 

Holde,  V.  keep,  preserve,  D  1144;  hold, 
keep,  B  41 ;  continue,  go  on  with,  T.  ii. 
965;  restrain,  7.  309,  310;  keep  to  (see 
Proces),  F  658  ;  Holden,  v.  hold,  keep, 
F  763;  keep,  F  1163;  think,  consider, 
L.  857;  do  than  holde  herto,  keep  to  it 
then,  3.  754;  Holde  up,  hold  up,  2.  24; 
Holde  his  pees,  hold  his  peace,  B  4625; 
Holde,  I  pr.  s.  consider,  deem,  G  739; 
Holdest,  2  pr.  s.  accountest,  L.  326; 
Halt,  pr.  s.  holds,  11.  16;  T.  v.  348; 
keeps,  T.  ii.  37;  holds  fast,  T.  iii.  1636; 
considers,  G  921 ;  esteems,  D  1185  ;  per- 
forms, 3.  621;  remains  firm,  10.  38; 
Holt,//-,  s.  holds,  T.  iii.  1374;  Holden, 
2  pr.  pi.  keep,  L.  2500  ;  Holde,  2  pr.  pi. 
esteem,  deem,  T.  v.  1339;  Heeld,  i  pt.  s. 
considered,  E  818;  Heeld,//.  5.  held,  A 
175  ;  took  part,  A  3847 ;  esteemed,  C  625  ; 
ruled,  B  3518;  Holden,  //.  esteemed, 
held,  A  141 ;  considered,  E  205  ;  observed, 
F  1587  ;  esteemed,  L.  1709 ;  bound,  T.  ii. 
241 ;  made  to  be,  C  958 ;  Holde,  //. 
esteemed,  A  1307  ;  bet  for  the  have  holde, 
tetter  for  thee  to  have  held,  5.  572; 
Hold  up,  imp.  pi.  hold  up,  A  783; 
Holdeth,  imp.  pi.  keep,  B  37;  consider, 
A  1868. 

Holdinge  in  hondes,  cajolery,  HF. 
692. 

Holly,  adv.  wholly,  T.  iii.  145. 

Holm,  s.  evergreen  oak,  A  2921. 

Holour,  s.  lecher,  adulterer,  D  254. 

Holpe.  -n;  see  Helpe. 

Holsom,  adj.  wholesome,  T.  i.  947  ;  heal- 
ing, 5.  206. 

Holt,  s.  plantation,  A  6. 

Holt,  pr.  s.  holds,  T.  iii.  1374. 

Holwe,  adj.  hollow,  G  1265. 

Holwe,  adv.  hollow,  A  289. 

Horn,  adv.  homewards,  F  635. 

Homicyde  {i),s.  man-slayer,  E  1994. 

Homicyde  (2),  manslaughter,  murder, 
C  644. 

Hond,  s.  hand,  A  193,  399 ;  Beren  him  on 
h.,  make  him.  believe,  T.  iv.  1404;  Bere 
on  h.,  accuse  (of),  D  226;  Bar  on  h., 
made  (them)  believe,  D  380;  Bar  him 
on  h.,  assured  him,  T.  iii.  1154;  Holden 
in  h.,  retain,  cajole,  T.  ii.  477;  Holde 
in  h.,  T.  iii.  773  ;  delude  with  false  hopes, 
3.  1019. 

Honest,  adj.  creditable,  A  246;  honour- 


S6 


(Slossartal  }cnl)ri. 


able,   worthy,   B    1751 ;    seemiy,   decent, 

C  328 ;  luxurious.  E  2028. 
Honestee,  s.  honour,  L.  1673 ;  goodness, 

B  3157  ;  honourablcness,  2.  40 ;  womanly 

virtue,  C  77. 
Honestetee,  j.  honour,  E  42a ;  modesty, 

I  429,   neatness,  I  431. 
Honestly,    aJv.    honourably,    B    1434; 

richly,  E  2036. 
Honere,  1'.  hang,  A  2410 ;  be  hung,  C  790 ; 

i/i'  me  h.,  cause  me  to  be  hanged,  T.  i. 

833;  %  pr.pl.  subj.  hesitate,  T.  ii.  1242. 
Hony,  i.  honey,  A  2908:   beloved   one, 

A  3617. 
Hony-comb,    a    term    of    endearment, 

sweet  one,  A  3698. 
Hony-swete,  sweet  as  honey,  E  1396. 
Hoodless,  adj.  without  a  hood,  3.  1028. 
H661C.  s.  hook,  T.  v.  777;  sickle,  B  3.  m  i. 

3:  crosier,  D  1317. 
H6bl,    adj.   whole,   T.  i.  961 ;    sound,   D 

1370;    unwounded,   F  iiii;    perfect,  G 

111,    117;    restored  to  health,  L.  2468, 

entire,  3.  554. 
H6bl,  adj.  as  adv.  wholly,  T.  i.  1053 ;   al 

hoot,  entirely,  T.  iii.  1013. 
Hoolly.  <j</f.' wholly,  k.  1163. 
Hoolnesse,  s.  integriiy,  B  4.  p  6.  202. 
Hoolsorae,  adj.  wholesome,  B  2285.     . 
HoolsomnesBO.  s.  health,  H  2303. 
H66m,  /.  as  adv.  home,  homewards,  L. 

lOlg. 

Hoomlinesse,  s.  domesticity,  E  429; 
f.imili.irily.  B  2876. 

Hoomly.  adj.  belonging  to  one's  house- 
liokl.  K  1785. 

Hoomward,  adv.  homeward,  T.  iii.  621 ; 
Homward,  A  2956. 

Hd6r,  adj.  hoary,  white-haired,  grey- 
headed, A  3878. 

Hoors,  adj.  ,•  see  Hors. 

Hoost,  s.  army.  A  874. 

H66t,  adj.  hot',  L.  914;  fervent.  I  117;  at 
s.  5.  380;  Hole,  def.  hot,  5.  266;  vora- 
cious, 5.  362;  (as  epithet  of  Aries,  which 
induced  heat  of  blood),  F  51. 

Hope,  s.  expectation.  G  870. 

Hope.  I  pr.  s.  fear.  A  4029. 

Hoper.  s.  hopper,  .\  4036.  4039. 

Hoppe.  V.  dance.  A  4375. 

Hoppesteres,  pi.  dancers :  used  as  adj., 
dancing,  A  2017. 

Hord,  s.  hoard,  treasure,  C  775  ;  store  (of 
apples),  A  3262;  treasure-house,  I  821; 
avarice,  13.  3. 

Hore,  pL  o/Hoot.  adj. 

Horn,  s.  horn,  T.  ii.  642;  (musical  instru- 
ment,  used   metaphorically).   H  90;  pi. 


drinking-horns,  A  2279;    horns  (of  the 
moon),  T.  v.  652. 

Horoscope ;  in  horoscopo,  within  that  part 
of  ihe  sky  considered  as  the  ascendent, 
A.  ii.  4.  14. 

Horowe,  adj.  pi.  foul,  scandalous,  4.  206. 
Cf.  A.S.  A^ry,  filthy. 

Hors,  s.  hors.  A  168 ;  the  '  horse,'  a  name 
for  the  little  wedge  that  passes  through 
a  hole  in  the  end  of  the  'pyn,'  A.  i.  14. 
7  (.Arabic  alpheraz,  the  horse)  ;  Hors,  ^/. 
A  74,  598. 

Hors,  adj.  hoarse,  3.  347;  Hoors,  T.  iv. 
1 147.     A.S.  Air. 

Horsly,  adj.  like  all  that  a  horse  should 
be,  F  194. 

Hose,  s.  hose,  covering  for  the  feet  and 
I^K^.  -^  3933.  G  726;  Hosen,  //.  A  456; 
n..Ms.f>/.  A  3319. 

Hospitaliers,  s.  pi.  knights  hospitallers, 
I  891. 

Hoste,  s.  host  (of  an  inn),  keeper  of  a 
lodging,  A  747.     Often  spelt  oste. 

Hostel,  s.  hostelry.  HF.  1022. 

Hostelrye,  s.  hostel,  inn,  A  23. 

Hostiler,  .1.  innkeeper.  A  241 ;  //.  ser- 
vants at  an  inn,  I  440. 

Hote,  adj. ;  see  Hoot. 

Hote,  adz:  holly,  A  97,  1737. 

Hote,  V.  conjmand,  promise;  also,  be 
called,  R.  38  ;  Hoten,  v.  be  called,  D  144 ; 
Hote,  I  pr.  s.  command.  HF.  1719; 
Hight,  //.  s.  as  pr.  s.  is  called,  L.  417; 
Highten,  pt.  pi.  as  pr.  pi.  are  called,  L. 
423.  Hight.  //.  s.  was  named,  L.  725; 
Higlite,  //.  s.  was  called,  was  named, 
R.  588,  745;  1  ft.  s.  was  called,  A  4336; 
I  //.  s.  promised.  17.  5;  Highte,  //.  s. 
promised,  T.  v.  1636;  2  pt.pl.  promised, 
E  496;  Hatte,  //.  s.  as  pr.  s.  is  called,  is 
named,  T.  iii.  797'.  Hatte,  pt.  pi.  were 
called,  were  named.  HF.  1303;  Hette, 
I  //.  s.  promised,  4.  185  ;  Heet,  //.  s.  was 
named,  HF.  1604;  (who)  was  called,  F 
1388;  Hete  (far  Heet).  3.  200;  Hoten. 
pp.  called,  A  3941 ;  H\gh\,  pp.  promised, 
I  T.  ii.  492 ;  named,  H  F.  226.  A.  S.  hatan. 
The  parts  of  the  verb  show  great  con- 
fusion. 

Hottes.  pi.  baskets  carried  on  the  back, 
HF.  1940.     O.  F.  hotte. 

Hound.  J.  dog.  T.  iii.  764. 

Houndflsh.  s.  dogfish.  E  1825. 

Houped,  pt.  pi.  whooped,  B  4590. 

j   Hous,  s.  house,  A  252,  343;    to  hous,  to 

a  reception  by,  L.  1546 ;  Hous  and  hoom, 

house  and  home,  H  229;   Hous  by  hous, 

to  each  house  in  order.  D  1765 ;  a  house- 


(^lossartal  Intsei. 


57 


hold,  F  24 ;  a  'mansion'  of  a  planet  (in 

astrology),  V  672;  a  'house'  or  portion 

of  the  sky  (in  astrology),  B  304.    The 

whole  celestial  sphere  was  divided  into 

twelve  equal  portions,  called  kouses,  by 

six  great    circles    passing  through   the 

north  and  south  points  of  the  horizon; 

two  of  those  circles  being  the  meridian 

and   the   horizon.    A  house,  when  used 

for  A  '  mansion,"  is  a  sign  of  the  zodiac; 

til  us  Aries  was  the  mansion  of  Mars. 
H6usbonde,  v.  husband,  B  2241. 
Housbondrye,    s.    economy,    .A.    4077 ; 

household  goods,  D  288. 
Housled,  pp.   made  a  recipient  of  holy 

communion,  I  1027. 
Hove,  V.  hover,  dwell,  T.  iii.  1427 ;  pr.pl. 

wait  in  readiness,  hover,  L.  1196;  pt.  s. 

waited  about,  T.  v.  33. 
How,  niUrj.  ho!  .V  3437,  3577. 
Howne,  savage  (?),T.  iv.  210.  See  Here. 
Howve,  s.  hood,  T.  iii.  775;  Sette  his 

howve,  set  (awry)  his  hood,  make  game 

ot  hiu,,A39ii. 
Humanitee,  s.  kindness,  E  92. 
Humbely,  adv.  humbly,  T.  v.  1354. 
Humblely,rt(/i'.humbly,T.ii.i7i9;  L.156. 
Humblesse,  s.  meekness,  A  1781,  B  165. 
Humbling,  .r.  low  growl  (lit.  humming), 

UK.  1039. 
Humme,  ^w.  to  hum,  T.  ii.  1199. 
Hunte,  s.  huntsman,  A  2018,  2628. 
Hunter,  s.  huntsman,  A  1638. 
Hunteresse,   s.  /em.   female   hunter,   A 

2347- 
Hurlest,    2  pr.  s.   dost  hurl,  dost   whirl 

round,  B  297. 
Hurt,  pr.  s.  hurteth,  hurts,  T.  v.  350. 
Hurtleth,  pr.  s.  pushes,  A  2616 ;  pr.  pi. 

dish  together,  L.  638. 
Husht, //.  hushed,  silent,  L.  2682;   Hust, 

as  imp.  s.  be  silent,  A  3722. 
Hy,  adj.  high,  A  306;   Hye,  dat.  HP".  1133; 

great,  E  135;   Hye  weye,  dat.  (the)  high 

way,  main  ro.id,  A  897. 
Hyde,  v.  hide,  A  1477. 1481 ;  lie  concealed, 

V  141;    Hydestow,  hidest  thou,  D  308; 

Hit,//-,  s.  hides,  F  512;   Hidde,  i  pt.  s. 

hid,  F  595;  Hed,  pp.  hidden,    L.  208; 

H\d,pp.  hidden,  R.  1598. 
"RyQ.adv.  high,  aloft,  HF.  905;   L.  1200; 

loudly,  3.  305 ;  proudly,  T.  ii.  401. 
Hye,  V.  hasfeii,  hie,  A  2274,  G  1151 ;  h.  me, 

make    haste,    G     1084;    ger.    to    bring 

hastily,  F  291;  to  hasten,  HF.  1658;  Hy 

thee,  /////.  s.  refl.  G.  1295. 
Hye,   s.   haste ;    only   in   phr.   in   hye,   in 

haste,  T.  ii.  88,  1712. 


Hyene,  s.  hyasna,  10.  35. 

Hyer,  adj.  higher,  upper,  HF.  1117. 

Hyne,   s.  hind,  servant,  peasant,  A   603, 

C  688.     A.  S.  hlna. 
Hyre,  s.  hire,  A  507  ;  reward,  i.  103  ;  jiay- 

meiit,  D  1008;  ransom,  T.  iv.  500. 


I. 

I-,  common  prefix   of  past  participles  ;  see 

Icched,  pp.  itched,  A  3682. 
\c\\.,  pron.  I,  T.  i.  678,  iii.  1818. 
I-comen,  pp.  come,  T.  iii.  1668. 
I  Idus,  s.pl.  ides,  F47. 

Igiiottim,   s.   an   unknown    thing,   G    1457. 
I       Lat. /^//c//////,  an  unknown  thing ;  comp. 

ignolius,  a  loss  known  thing. 
I-graunted.  pp.  granted,  T.  iv.  665. 
I   I-halowed,   //.    view-hallooed    (of    the 

hart),  3.  379. 
Ik,  I,  A  3867,  3888. 
I   II,  adj.  evil,  A  4174.     (A  Northern  word.) 
Il-hayl,  bad  luck  (to  you),  A  4089.     (A 
I       Northern  form.) 

!   like,    adj.    same,   very,   A  64,    175;    that 
I       like,  that  same,  B  3663 ;  ilke  same,  very 
I       same,  L.  779. 
Imaginatyf,  adj.;  No-thing  list  him  to 

been     imaginatyf  =  it    did     not   at    all 

please  him  to  imagine,  he  did  not  care 

to  think,  F  1094. 
Imagining,   s.  plotting,   A   1995;    fancy, 

18.  36. 
Imperie,  s.  government,  rank,  B  2.  p  6. 13. 
Impertinent,  adj.  irrelevant,  E  54. 
Impes,  pi.  grafts,  scions,  B  3146.    A.  S. 

imp. 
Impetren,  pr.  pi.  impetrate,  ask  for,  B  5. 

P  3-  225. 
Importable,  adj.  insufferable,  B  3792,  E 

1 144. 
Impossible,   adj.  impossible,  T.  i.  783; 

as  r.,  thing  impossible,  D  688. 
Impressen,  f.  imprint,  T.  iii.  1543;  im- 
print  (thonisolves),  find    an  impression, 

1*^    1578 ;    //-.  pi.   make    an    impression 

(upon),  G  1071. 
Impressioun,  s.  remembrance,  F  371 ;  //. 

notions,  HF.  39. 
In,  s.  dwelling,  house,  A  3547,  3622;  inn, 

B  4216;  lodging,  B  1097. 
In,  prep,  in,  A  3,  &c. ;   into,  B  119  ;  =  come 

within,  20.  6;  on,  I  105;  against,  I  695. 
/n  mani/s  titas,  into  Thy  hands  (I  commend 

my  spirit),  A  4287. 
/«  principio,  in   the   beginning,  A  254,   B 

4353.     Part  of  .St.  John,  i.  i. 


C4 


(©lossnrial  Enticr. 


Inde.  adj.  indigo,  dark  blue-,  R.  67. 
Indeterminat,  adj.  not  marked  upon  tlie 

.\-~tr'>  alio,  A.  ii.  17.  rubric. 
Indifferently,  adv.  impartially,  B  5.  p  3. 

\.\z. 
Induracioun,  s.  hardening,  G  855. 
Inequal,  adj.  unequal,  A  2271 ;  Inequalcs, 

pi.  of  varying  length  ;    houra  inequales, 

hours  formed    by  dividing  the  duration 

of  d.iylight  by  twelve,  A.  ii.  8.  I. 
Infect,  adj.  of  no  effect,  A  320;  dimmed, 

H  4.  m  5.  12. 
In-fere.  adv.  together.  B  328,  D  924.  Orig. 

iti  uii\  in  company. 
Infoitunat,    adj.    unfortunate,   unlucky, 

iniuspicious,  B  302. 
Infortiine,  s.  misfortune,  ill  fortune,  T. 

111.    I->2'.,   IV.    185. 

Infoi^iined,  pp.  ill-starred,  T.  iv.  744. 
Infortuning,  s.  unlucky  condition,  A.  ii. 

4-  43- 

Ingot,  J.  a  mould  for  pourmg  metal  mto, 
(i  1206.  1209.  ^ 

Inhelde.  imp.  s.  pour  in.  infuse,  T.  iii.  44. 

Injure,  .-.  injury,  T.  iii.  1018. 

In-knette,  pt'.  s.  knit  up.  drew  in,  T.  iii. 
1088. 

Inly,  adv.  inwardly,  intimately,  ex- 
tremely, greatly,  T.  i.  140;  exquisitely, 
3.  27^^' 

In-mid.  prep,  amid,  HF.  923. 

Inmortal.  adj.  immortal,  T.  i.  103. 

Inne,  dat.  <>/ In,  s. 

Inne,  ././;.  In,  within,  T.  i.  387,  821. 

Inned.  pp.  housed,  lodged,  A  2192. 

Inobedience.  f.  disobedience,  I  391. 

Inobedient.  adj.  disobedient,  I  392. 

Inordinate,  adj.  unusual,  I  414. 

Inpacience.  .<.  impatience,  H  2734. 

Inpacient,  adj.  impatient,  B  2730. 

Inparflt.  adj.  imperfect,  B  3.  p  10.  18. 

Inplitable,  adj.  intricate,  impracticable. 
H  I.  p  4.  90. 

Inpossible.  .f.  impossible  thing.  F  1009. 

Inset.  /»/».  implanted,  B  2.  p  3.  19. 

Inspired,  pp.  quickened.  A  6. 

Instable,  adj.  unstable,  E  2057. 

Instance.  /.  suggestion,  T.  ii.  1441 ;  urgent 

RHpi.^St,    K    161 1. 

Intendestow,  dost  thou  intend,  T.  v.  478. 

Intervalle,  s.  interval,  B  2724. 

In-til.  prep,  unto,  as  far  as,  R.  624. 

Into,  p'cp.  unto.  B  2423. 

Intresse,  s.  interest,  10.  71. 

In-with,  prep,  within,  in,    B    1794,   2159, 

E  S70.  1394,  1586,  1944. 
Ipocras,  a  kind  of  cordial  drink,  E  1807. 

Named  after  Hippocrates. 


Ipocrite,  .t.  hypocrite,  R.  414. 

Ire,    (.   irritability,   R.  314;    quickness  of 

temper.  1  665;  anger,  .-\  1997. 
Irous.  adj.  angry,  B  2315,  D  2014. 
Irregular,  adj.  asinncr  against  hisorders, 

I  782. 
Is,  I  pr.  s.  am  (Northern),  A  4031,  4045, 

4202;  2/>/-.  s.  art  (Northern),  A  4089. 
Issest,  2  pr.  s.  issuest,  B  3.  p  12.  168. 
Issue,  .f.  outlet,  vent,  T.  v.  205. 
It  am  I,  it  is  I,  A  1736. 
I-wis,  adv.  certainly,  truly,  verily,  6.  48. 


Jade,  V.  a  ja<le,  i.  e.  miserable  hack,  B  4002. 
Jagounces./t/  garnets  (o/- rubies) ,  R.  1 1 17. 
JalOUS.  adj.  jealous,  A  1329. 
Jalousye,  s.  jealousy,  A  3294. 
Jambeux,  s.  pi.  leggings,  leg-armour,  Ii 

2065.     From  F.  jam  be,  the  leg. 
Jane,  s.  a  small  coin  of  Genoa,  B  1925, 

E999. 
Jangle,  v.  chatter,  prate,  T.  ii.  666. 
Janglere,  s.  story-teller,  jester,  babbler, 

A  5tx);  talkative  person,  H  343. 
Jangleresse,     s.    (female)     chatterbox, 

prattler.  D  638. 
Janglerye,  f.  gossip,  T.  v.  755 ;  talkative- 
ness, H  2252. 
,   Jangles,  s.  pi.  idle  pratings,  HF.  i960; 

ilispules,  arguments,  U  1407. 
Janglinge,    s.  chattermg,    idle    talking, 
I       1  649. 
'    Jape,  s.  jest,  trick,  A  3390,  3799, 4201 ;  jest, 

foolish  conduct,  D  1961 ;  laughing-stock, 

HF.414. 
Jape,  V.  jest,  T.  i.  929 ;  ger.  to  jest,  L. 

1699;  H  4;  Japedest,  2pt.  s.  didst  jest, 

T.  i.  508,  924;  pp.  tricked,  A  1729. 
Japere.  s.  jester,  T.  ii.  340;  mocker,  I  89. 
Japerie,   s.  buffoonery,    I    651 ;    jesting 

mood,  E  1656. 
Jape-w^orthy,  adj.  ridiculous,  B  5.  p  3. 

14S. 
Jargon,  s.  talk,  E  1848. 
Jargoning,  s.  jargoning,  chattering,   R. 

716. 
Jaunyce,  s.  jaundice,  R.  305. 
Jeet,  s.  jet,  B  4051. 

Jelous.  adj.  jealous,  suspicious,  4.  140. 
Jet.    .  fashion,  mode,  A  682. 
Jeupardyes,  s.  pi.  problems  (at  chess), 

3.  f)66. 
I   Jewerye,  s.  Jewry,  Jews'  quarter,  B  1679. 
Jo,  V.  take  effect,  come  about,  T.  iii.  33. 

O   Y.joer  (V.jouer). 
Jogelour.  _f.  juggler,  D  1467  ;  pi.  R.  764. 


#Iti00arial  Kntiei. 


59 


Jogelrye,  s.  jugglery,  F  1265. 

Jolif,  adj.  joyful,  merry,  R.  109,  A  3355; 

in  good  spirits,  B  4264;   jovial,  R.  435; 

frisky,  A  4154;  pretty,  R.  610. 
Jolily,  adv.  merrily,  A  4370. 
Jolitee,  s.  sport,  amusement,  merriment, 

A  1807;  joviality,  jollity,  mirth,  R.  616; 

enjoyment,    F    344;     comfort,    A    680; 

excellence,  H  197;   happiness,  HF.  682. 
Joly,    adj.    full    of    merriment,    D    456; 

jolly,  jovous,  R.  620;  delightful,  L.  176; 

fest'ive,  B  1185.     See  Jolif. 
Jolyer,  adj.  comp.  handsomer,  F  927. 
Jolyf ;  see  Jolif. 
Jolynesse,  s.  festivity,  F  289 ;  amusement, 

\>  926. 
Jolytee ;  see  Jolitee. 
Jompre,  imp.  s.  jumble,  T.  ii.  1037. 
Jordanes,  pi.  chamberpots,  C  305. 
Jossa,    down   here,  A  4101.     O.  F.  jos, 

down  ;  ca,  here. 
Jouken,'  v.  slumber,  T.  v.  409.      O.  F. 

Joijutcr,  Jouquier,  Stre  en  repos,  jucher. 
Journee.   s.  day's  work,  R.  579;   day's 

march,  A  2738  ;  journey,  E  783. 
Jowes,  s.  pi.  jaws,  B  i.  p  4.  107  (where 

the    Latin    te.\t    has   faiicibus)  ;     jaws, 

jowls,    HF.    1786    (riming   with    clowes, 

claws). 
Joynture,  s.  union,  B  2.  p  5.  51. 
Jubbe,  s.  vessel  for  holding  ale  or  wine, 

.•\  3628,  B  is6o.     ( It  held  4  gallons.) 
Judicial,    adj.    judicial,    A.    ii.    4.    59. 

Judicial  astrology  pretended  to  forecast 

the     destinies    of    men     and    nations; 

natural  astrology  foretold  natural  events, 

such  as  the  weather  and  seasons. 
Juge,  s.  judge,  A  814;    umpire,  A  1712, 

1864. 
Juge,   s.  judge ;    but    an    error  for  Jug, 

a  yoke,    I   898.     Belial  is    explained  to 

mean  '  absque  iugo,'  in  the  Vulgate. 
Juge.   I  pr.  s.  judge,  decide,  5.  629;  //. 

HK.357. 
Jugement,    s.  judgement,    decision,   A 

778;  opinion,  B  1038;  sentence,  5.  431. 
Juggen,   V.  judge,  T.  ii.  21 ;    deem,  T. 

v.  1203;   imp.pl.  judge  ye,  T.  iii.  1312. 
Juparte,   2  pr.  pi.  jeopard,  imperil,  en- 
danger, T.  iv.  1566. 
Jupartye,  s.  jeopardy,  peril,  hasard,  T. 

ii.  465,  772.     O.  V.  Jeu  parti  (Lat.  iocus 
partitas),  a  divided  game. 
Just,  adj.  just,  exact,  correct,  D  2090. 
Juste,  V.  joust,  tourney,  tilt,  A  96,  2604. 
Justes,   t.  pi.  as  sing,  a  jousting-match, 

A  2720. 
Justing,  t.  jousting,  L.  1115. 


Justyse,  s.  judge,  B  665,  C  289. 

Justyse,  s.  judgement,  condemnation,  i. 
142;  administration  of  justice,  C  587. 

Juyse,  s.  justice,  judgement,  B795;  sen- 
tence, A  1739.     O.  F.Juise. 


K. 


Kalender,  s.  calendar,  almanack,  A.  i. 

II.  I ;  hence,  a  complete  record  of  exam- 
ples, L.  542 ;  pi.  I.  73. 
Kalendes,  i.  e.  beginning,   introduction, 

T.  V.   1634.     (Because  the   Kalends  fall 

on  Xhe  first  of  the  month.) 
Karf,  //.  J.  <?/"Kerve. 
Kaynard,  i.  dotard,  D  235.    O.  V.  caig- 

tnii  d,  cagnard,  sluggard. 
Kecche.V.  catch,  clutch,  T.  iii.  1375. 
Kechil,   s.  small   cake,   D    1747.    O.   E. 

coecil,  small  cake. 
Keep.  s.  care,  heed,  notice  (only  in  the 

phrase  take  keep);  tak  keep,  take  notice, 

D431. 
Keep,  imp.  s.  take  care !  mind !  A  4101. 
Kekl  interj.  (represents  the  cackle  of  a 

goose) ,  5.  499. 
Kembe,  ger.  to  comb,  R.  599;  pr.  s.  E 

201 1 ;    Kembde,  pt.  s.  V  560 ;    Kempte, 

pt.    s.    A    3374;    Kembd,  //.    combed, 

trimmed,  A  2143. 
Kempe,  adj.  pi.  shaggy,  rough,  A  2134. 

Cf.     I  eel.     kawpr,     beard,     moustaches, 

whiskers  of  a  cat;  and  see  Camp,  s.  (4) 

in  the  New  E.  Diet. 
Ken,   s.  kin,   kindred,  men,  3.  438.     (A 

Kentish  form.) 
Kene,  adj.  keen,  eager,  21.  6;   cruel,  10. 

27  ;  bold,  B  3439  ;  sharp,  A  2876. 
Kene,  adv.  keenly,  6.  63;   11.  3. 
Kenne,  v.  discern,  HF.  498. 
Kepe,   V.  take  care   (of),  A  130;   keep, 

preserve,  L.  384;   I  pr.  s.  care,  L.  1032; 

intend,  T.  i.  676;   regard,  reck,  A  2238; 

/  kepe  han,  I  care  to  have,  G  1368;  pr. 

s.  siibj.  may  (He)  keep,   F  889;   pf.   s. 

E  223;    retained,  A  442;    took  care  of, 

A  415,  512,  B   269;    imp.  s.  take  caie! 

A  4101 ;   imp.  pi.  keep  ye,  B  764. 
Kepe,  s.  heed   (only  in  the  phrase  take 

kepe  or  take  keep) ;  I  take  kepe,  3.  6. 
Keper,  s.  keeper,  i.  e.  prior,  A  172. 
Kerchief,  finely  woven  loose  covering,  5. 

272;   kerchief,  B  837. 
Kers,    s.   cress;    thing  of  small  value,  A 

3756. 
Kerve,   v.  carve,  cut,  T.  ii.  325,  F  158; 

Karf,  pt.  s.  carved,  A  100;  cut,  B  3647, 


-^60 


(ilossatial  Jinbti. 


3791;  Corven, /^.  cut,  A  2696;  carved, 
HF.  1295;  slashed,  A  3318. 

Kerver,  s.  carver,  A  1899. 

Kerving,  j.  carving,  A  1925;  cutting, 
crossing  over,  A  i.  19.  4. 

Kerving-toles,  s.  pi.  tools  to  cut  with, 
T.  i.  632. 

Kesse,  v.  kiss,  E  1057 ;  Keste,  //.  s.  F  350. 
(A  Kentish  form.)     See  Kissen. 

Kevere,  v.  to  recover,  T.  i.  917 ;  //. 
covered,  HF.  275,  352. 

Keye.  j.G  1219;  key  {in place  c/ rudder), 
B  3.  p  12.  80.  Chaucer  has  translated 
claiio  (rudder),  as  if  it  were  claue  (key). 

Kichenes,//.  kitchens.  D  869. 

Kid,  Kidde ;  sec  Kythen. 

Kike.  V.  kick,  D  941. 

Kimelin,  .<.  a  large  shallow  tub,  A  3548, 
3621. 

KLin,  s.  kindred,  R.  268 ;  som  kin,  of  some 
kind,  B  1137  ;  ulles  kinnes,  of  every  kind, 
HF.  1530. 

Kinde,  s.  nature,  R.  412,  1699;  race, 
lineage,  stock,  D  iioi ;  seed,  I  965  ;  nhe 
natural  world,  HF.  584;  natural  bent, 
F  608,  619;  natural  disposition,  HF.  43; 
natural  ordinance,  3.  494 ;  kind,  species, 
5.  174;  of  k.,  by  nature,  naturally,  F 
768  ;  pi.  sorts,  HF.  204. 

Kinde,  adj.  kind,  .A  647;  natural,  HF. 
834,  836. 

Kinde,  adv.  kindlv,  7.  267. 

Kindely,  adj.  natural,  HF.  842. 

Kindely,  adv.  by  nature,  D  402;  natu- 
rally, HF.  832. 

Kindenesse,  .t.  kindness,  4.  298;  love, 
devotion,  L.  665. 

Kinges  note,  the  name  of  a  tune,  A  3217. 

Kinrede,  s.  kindred,  B  2558;  relations, 
A  1286;  birth,  .A.  2790;  family,  L.  2094. 

Kirtel.  .(.  kirtle,  A  3321.  A  klrtU  usually 
means  a  short  skirt  with  a  body. 

Kissen,  v.  kiss,  L.  761;  Kiste,'/>/.  pi.  R. 
788;  kist  they  been,  they  have  kissed 
each  other,  B  1074.    See  Kesse. 

Kitte.  //. .(.  cut,  B  600,  1761. 

Knakkes,  s.  pi.  tricks,  I  652;  contempti- 
ble- ways,  3.  1033. 

Knarre,  s.  a  thickset  fellow,  sturdy  churl, 
A  549- 

Knarry,  adj.  gnarled,  A  1977. 

Knave,  s.  boy,  servant-lad,  page,  R.  886; 
man-servant,  servant,  L.  1807 ;  peasant, 
D  1190;   Knave  child,  male  child,  B  715. 

Knavish,  adj.  rude,  H  205. 

Kuede,  v.  knead,  A  4094;  Kneden,  //. 
kneaded,  R.  217. 

Knet.  Knette;  see  Knitte. 


Knettinge,  s.  chain,  B  5.  p  i.  39. 
Knightly,  adv.  bravely,  L.  2085. 
Knitte,  get.  to  knit,  1   47  ;    2  pr.  s.  rejl. 

joincst  "(ihyself),   art  in  conjunction,  B 

307;  Knit, //.  L.  89;   conjoined,  5.  381 ; 

agreed,  F  1230;   wedded,  F  986;  joined 

in  love,  4.  50;   Knet,//.  R.  1397. 
Knittinges,  //.  connections,  B  5.  m  3. 18. 
Knobbes,  //.  large  pimples,  A  633. 
Knoppe,  s.  bud,  R.  1702. 
Knotte,  i.  knot,  gist  of  a  tale,  F  401,  407. 
Kuotteles,  adj.  m  ithout  a  knot,  T.  v.  769. 
Knotty,  adj.  covered  with  knots,  A  1977. 
Knowe,  dat.  knee,  T.  ii.  1202. 
Knowe,   v.  know,  A  382;    Knowesfow, 

thou  knowest,  A  3156 ;    Knewe,  2  pt.  s. 

knewest,   10.   21;    Knew,  //.  s.  A  240; 

Knewe,  i  //.  s.  subj.  could  know,  F  466; 

Knewe,  //.  //.  D    1341  ;    Knewe,  pt.  s. 

subj.  were  to  know,  R.  282;  Knowen,//. 

known,  L.  421;  shown,  B  2702;  Knowe, 

//.  known,  L.  1382. 
Knowing,  s.  knowledge,  R.  1699;   con- 
sciousness, 6.  114. 
Knowinge,  adj.  conscious,  B  3.  p  11. 168 ; 

Knowinge  with    me,  i.  e.  my  witnesses, 

B  I.  P4-SO- 
Knowlecheth,  pr.  s.  acknowledges,  B 

2904. 
Knowleching,  s.  knowing,  knowledge, 

G  1432;  cognition,  B  5.  p  5.  3. 
Konning.  s.  cunning,  skill,  F  251. 
]   Konninge,  adj.  skilful,  T.  i.  302. 
i   Kukkow  !  ntt.  cuckoo !  5.  499. 
i   Kyken,  //-.  //.  peep,  A  3841 ;  //.  gazed, 
I        A  3445.     I  eel.  kikja,  Swed.  kika. 
Kyn.  pi.  kine,  cows,  B  4021. 
Kyndely,  adj.  natural,  3.  761. 
I   Kyndely,    adv.   naturally,   by   nature,  3. 

778. 
Kyte,  f.  kite  (bird),  A  1179. 
;   Kythe,   v.   shew,   shew  plainly,   display, 

F  748 ;  declare  to  be,  7.  228 ;  shew,  10. 

63 ;  /'•.  s.  shews,  L.  504 ;    Kidde,  //.  s. 

shewed,  T.  i.  208 ;  Kid,  //.  made  known, 

L.    1028;    known,    9.   46;    Kythed,  //. 

shewn,   G  1054;   Kvthe, //-.  s.  subj.  may 

she« ,  B  636 ;  Kvth,  imp.  s.  shew,  T.  iv. 

538;    display,    t.    iv.    619;    HF.    528; 

Kvtheth,  imp.pl.  4.  298. 


Laas ;  see  Las. 

Labbe,  s.  blab,  tell-tale,  A  3509. 

Labbing,  pres.  part,  blabbing,  babbling, 

E  2423. 
Label,    t.   the   narrow  revolving  rod   01 


(Slossartal  Inliei. 


6i 


rule  on  the  front  of  the  astrolabe,  A.  i. 

22.  I. 

Ldborous,  adj.  laborious,  D  1428. 

Lacche,  s.  snare,  springe,  R.  1624. 

Lace ;  see  Las. 

Laced,  pp.  laced  up,  A  3267. 

Lacerte,  s.  a  fleshy  muscle,  A  2753. 

Lache,  adj.  lazy,  dull,  B  4.  p  3.  132. 

Lachesse,  s.  laziness,  I  720. 

Lacinge,  s.  lacing  ;  with  layneres  /.,  with 
the  fastening  up  of  straps,  A  2504. 

Lad,  Ladde ;  see  Lede. 

Lade,  ger.  to  load,  cover,  T.  ii.  1544. 

Lady,  gen.  lady's,  .\  88,  695. 

Laft,  Lafte;  see  Lave. 

Lak,  J.  want,  defect,  lack,  3.  958 ;  blame, 
dispraise,  L.  298  a;  Lakke,  dat.  lack, 
want,  5.  87,  615 ;  loss,  F  430 ;  ace.  fault, 
E  2199. 

Lake,  s.  a  kind  of  fine  white  linen  cloth, 
B  2048.  The  word  probably  was  im- 
ported from  the  Low  Countries,  as 
laken  is  a  common  Dutch  word  for 
cloth  or  a  sheet. 

Lakken,  v.  find  fault  with,  disparage, 
blame,  R.  284 ;  pr.  s.  lacks,  B  1437 ;  pr. 
s.  impers.  lacks  ;  me  lakketh,  I  lack,  2.  105. 

Lakking,  .f.  lack,  stint,  R.  1147. 

Lambish,  adj.  gentle  as  lambs,  9.  50. 

Lampe,  j.  lamina,  thin  plate,  G  764. 
F.  lame,  a  thin  plate,  Lat.  lamina. 

Lange,  adj.  long  (Northern),  A  4175. 

Lang6ur,  s.  weakness,  i.  7  ;  slow  starva- 
tion, R.  214;  B  3597;  languishing,  R. 
304;  sickness,  F  iioi. 

Lang-uisshe,  v.  fail,  HF.  2018. 

Lapidaire,  a  treatise  on  precious  stones, 
HF.  1352. 

Lappe,  s.  fold,  lappet,  or  edge  of  a  gar- 
ment, F  441,  G  12;  lap,  A  686;  a  wrap- 
per, E  585. 

Lappeth,  pr.  s.  enfolds,  embraces,  4.  76. 

Large,  adj.  large,  A  472,  753  ;  great,  I  705  ; 
wide,  broad,  R.  1351 ;  liberal,  bounteous, 
R.  1168;  at  his  I.,  free  (to  speak  or  to  be 
silent),  A  2288;  free  to  move,  HF.  745; 
at  our  I.,  free  (to  go  anywhere),  D  322. 

Large,  adv.  liberally,  i.  174. 

Largely,  adv.  fully,  A  1908 ;  in  a  wide 
sense,  I  804. 

liberality,  I  1051. 
3,  s.  liberality,  R.  1150;  bounty, 
B  2465  ;   liberal  bestower,  i.  13. 
jas,  s.  lace,  snare,  entanglement,  L.  600; 
net,  A  2389  ;   Laas,  lace,  I  e.  thick  string, 
A  392 ;  band,  G  574 ;  lace  (i.  e.  laces) ,  R. 
843  ;   Lace,  snare,  entanglement,  18.  50. 
adj.   camp,   less,   R.   118;    lesser. 


A  1756;  smaller,  B  2262;  less  (time), 
A  3519;  lasse  and  more,  smaller  and 
greater,  i.  e.  all,  E  67 ;  the  lasse,  the 
lesser,  R.  187. 

Lasse,  adv.  less,  3.  927;  the  las,  the  less, 
3-67S- 

Last,  s.  pi.  lasts,  i.  e.  burdens,  loads, 
B  1628.  A.  S.  hlisst,  a  burden,  load, 
a  ship's  freight. 

Laste,  adj.  last,  10.  71 ;  atte  I.,  at  last,  3. 
364 ;   lastly,  A  707. 

Lasts,  V.  endure,  4.  226;  Last,  ^r.  s.  lasts, 
E  266;  Laste,  //.  j.  lasted,  B  1826; 
delayed,  L.  791. 

Late,  adj.  late;  bet  than  never  is  late, 
G  1410;  til  nozo  late,  till  it  was  already 
late,  3.  45. 

Late,  -n,  let ;  see  Lete. 

Lathe,  s.  barn  (Northern),  HF.  2140; 
A  4088.     Icel.  hlatia. 

Latls,  J.  lattice,  T.  ii.  615. 

Latitude,  s.  (i)  breadth,  A.  i.  21.  43; 
(2)  the  breadth  of  a  climate,  or  a  line 
along  which  such  breadth  is  measured, 
A.  ii.  39.  42 ;  (3)  astronomical,  the  angu- 
lar distance  of  any  body  from  the  ecliptic, 
measured  along  a  great  circle  at  right 
angles  to  the  ecliptic,  A.  pr.  no;  (4)  ter- 
restrial, the  distance  of  a  place  N.  or  S. 
of  the  equator,  E  1797. 

Latoun,  s.  latten,  a  compound  metal, 
like  pinchbeck,  containing  chiefly  copper 
and  zinc,  A  699. 

Latrede,  adj.  tardy,  dawdling,  I  718. 
A.  S.  latrcede. 

Latter,  adv.  more  slowly,  I  971. 

Laude,  s.  praise,  honour,  HF.  1575 ;  //. 
lauds,  a  service  held  at  2  or  3  a.m.,  A 
3655- 

Laughe,  v.  laugh,  A  474;  Laugheth  of, 
smiles  on  account  of,  A  1494;  Lough, 
strong  pt.  s.  laughed,  R.  248  ;  Laughede, 
weak  pt.  pi.  R.  863. 

Launce,  v.  rear,  HF.  946. 

Launcegay,  s.  a  kind  of  lance,  B  1942, 
201 1.     Originally  of  Moorish  origin. 

Launcheth,  pr.  s.  pushes,  lets  slide,  D 
2145- 

Launde,  s.  a  grassy  clearing  (called  dale 
in  5.  327) ,  5. 302 ;  glade,  plain  surrounded 
by  trees,  A  1691. 

Laure,  s.  laurel-tree,  HF.  1107. 

Laureat,  adj.  crowned  with  laurel,  B 
3886,  E31. 

Laurer,  s.  laurel-tree,  5.  182. 

Laurer-crouned,  laurel-crowned,  7.  43. 

Laurlol,  .f.  spurge-laurel,  Daphne  Lau- 
rcola,  B  4153. 


62 


(Slossartal  J^xibcx. 


Laus,  adj.  loose,  B  4.  p  6.  147. 

Laven,  ^er.  to  exhaust,  B  4.  p  6.  14; 
Laved,  pfi.  drawn  up,  B  3.  m  12.  125. 
A.  S.  /ii^.tn. 

Lavender,  .t.  laundress,  L.  358. 

Laverokkes,  //.  sky-larks,  R.  662. 

Lavours.//.  basins,  D  287. 

Laxatif ,  ajj.  as  s.  looseness,  A  2736 ;  s. 
laxative,  B  4133. 

Lay  ( I ) ,  s.  song,  lay,  B  1959 ;  Layes,  //. 
songs,  F  710,  712,  947. 

Lay  ( 2) ,  s.  law ;  hence  belief,  faith,  T.  i. 
340:   creed,  L.  336. 

Layneres,  pi.  straps,  thongs,  A  2504. 
O.  I-',  laiiicre ;  mod.  E.  lanyard.  \ 

Layser,  t.  leisure,  T.  ii.  227. 

Lazar,  s.  leper,  A  242. 

Leche,  s.  physician,  A  3904,  C  916. 

Lechecraft,  s.  art  of  rnedicine,  T.  iv.  436 ; 
skill  of  a  physician,  A  2745. 

Lecher,  s.  healer,  B  4.  p  6.  238. 

Lechour,  s.  lecher,  B  1935. 

Lede,  v.  lead,  T.  i.  259 ;  carry.  T.  iv.  1514 ; 
lead,  take.  L.  2021 ;  draw,  R.  1608 ; 
govern,  B  434;  lead  (his  life),  R.  1321 ; 
lead,  R.  1129;  Lede,^^r.  to  lead,  spend, 
F744;  to  guide,  R.  400 ;  Let,  ;»r.  j.  leads, 
T.  ii.  882;  Ladde,  pt.  s.  led,  R.  581; 
brought,  7.  39;  carried,  L.  114;  con- 
ducted, B  3747;  continued,  R.  216; 
Ladden, />/.  ;>/.  led,  R.  1310;  Ledden, 
pt.pl.  9.  2;  Ladde, //.//.  B  3920;  Lad, 
pp.  led,  L.  1 108,  1948;  brought,  A  2620;  \ 
conducted,  A  4402  ;  carried,  L.  74. 

Leden,  adj.  leaden,  G  728. 

Ledene.  s.  (dat.)  language,  talk,  F  435, 
478. 

Leed,  s.  lead  (metal),  HF.739, 1448, 1648; 
a  copper,  or  caldron,  .A  202. 

Leaf,  adj.  lief,  A  1837;  dear,  R.  103;  pre- 
cious, G  1467  ;  lief,  pleasing,  T.  v.  1738 ; 
pleasant,  R.  1688  ;  yow  so  leef.  so  desired 
by  you.  C  760;  that  leef  me  were,  which 
I  should  like,  HF.  1999;  Leve.  def.  dear 
(one),  A  3393  ;  vocative,  HF.  816;  Lefe, 
adj.  /em.  voc.  HF.  1827  ;  Leve,  //.  dear, 
T.  iv.  82,  V.  592. 

Leef,  adj.  as  s.  what  is  pleasant ;  for  I.  ne 
looth,  for  weal  nor  for  woe,  L.  1639; 
what  is  dear  (to  him),  T.  iv.  1585;  be- 
loved one,  lover,  lady-love,  T.  iii.  3. 

Leef,  s.  leaf,  L.  72 ;  Leves,  pi.  leaves,  R. 
56;   (of  a  book),  D  790. 

Leefful;  see  LevefuL 

Leefsel,  s.  the  '  bush  '  or  leafy  bundle  (as 
a  sign),  at  a  tavern-door,  I  411 ;  Levesel, 
arbour  of  leaves,  A  4060.  Cf.  Swed. 
lofsal,  a  hut  made  of  green  boughs. 


Leek,  s.  leek,  R.  212 ;  a  thing  of  no  value, 

('  795- 
Lean.  imp.  s.  of  Lene. 
Leep  (I66p),  ^/.  s.  of  L^pe. 
Lees  (I6s6),  s.  leash,  G  19;  snare,  7.  233. 
Lees,  adj.  untrue,  R.  8. 
Lees   (166s),  s.  deceit,  fraud;    a  shrewed 

lees,  a  wicked  fraud,  L.  1545 ;  wtthouten 

lees,  without  deceit,  verily,  HF.  1464. 
Lees,  pt.  s.  of  Lese. 
Leeste,   adj.  sup.  least,  B  2513;   atte  I. 

■weye,  at  the  very  least,  A  1121. 
Leet,  pt.  s.  of  Lete. 
Lef,  imp.  s.  of  Leve  (leave). 
Lefe,  adj.  fern.  voc.  dear,  HF.  1827. 
Leful ;  see  Leveful. 
Legge,  -n ;  see  Leye,  v. 
Leide,  1  //.  s.  of  Leye. 
Leigh,  //.  s.  of\j^^  (2). 
Lekes,  pi.  leeks,  A  634. 
Lemes,  pi.  flames,  B  4120.    A.  S.  leoma. 
Lemman,  s.  m<uc.  (male)   lover,  sweet- 
heart, A  4240,  4247  ;  fern,  (female)  lover, 

L\dy-love,  A  3278, 3280 ;  concubines,  I  903. 
Lendes,  pi.  loins,  A  3237,  3304.    A.  S. 

lenden,  pi.  lendenu. 
Lene,  adj.  lean,  thin,  R.  318,444;  weak, 

T.  ii.  132. 
Lene,  ger.  to   lend,  give,  A  611;   Lene, 

imp.  s.  lend,  B  1376 ;   Leen,  imp.  s.  give, 

A  3082.     A.  S.  lanan. 
Lene,  v.  lean,  incline,  B  2638. 
Lens,  (idv.  longer;    ever  I.  the  wers,  the 

worse,  the  longer  it  lasts,  A  3872. 
Lengrer,  adj.  longer,  L.  450,  2025. 
Lenger,  adv.  longer,  B  374,  2122,  3709; 

ever  the  I.,  the  longer,  the  more,  7.  129; 

ever  I.  the  more,  E  687. 
Lengest,  adv.  sup.  longest,  5.  549. 
Lente,  s.  Lent-season,  D  543. 
Lenvoy,  s.  I'envoy,  i.  e.  the  epilogue  or 

postscript   addressed  to  the  hearers  or 

readers,  E  1177  (rubric). 
Leonesse,  s.  lioness,  L.  805. 
Leonyn,  adj.  lionlike,  B  3836. 
Leos,  s.  people,  G  103,  106.    Gk.  Aeois. 
Leoun,  s.  lion,   L.  627,   829;    L6on,  the 

sign  Leo,  F  265. 
Lepd,rt,  s.  leopard,  A  2186;  Libardes,//. 

R.  894. 
Lepe,  V.  run,  A  4378 ;  leap,  L.  2008  ;  Lepe 

up,  V.  leap  up,  HF.  2150;    L66p,  //.  s. 

leapt,  A  2687. 
Lere,  s.  flesh,  skin,  B  2047.    Properly  the 

muscles,  especially  the   muscles  of  the 

thigh,  which  special   sense   is   perfectly 

suitable  here.     A.  S.  lira,  flesh,  muscle. 
'L,eTe,ger.  (i)  to  teach,  7. 98;  i/.teach,T.  iv. 


(gloggarial  IntJei. 


63 


441 ;  (2)  to  learn,  T.  v.  161 ;  Lere,  ger.  to 
learn,  find  out,  D  909;  \.fix&,pr.pL  (l) 
teach,  5.  25;  (2)  learn,  F  104;  Lered,//. 
(2)  learnt,  T.  iii.  406. 
Lered,    adj.   instructed,   learned,  C  283; 

A.  S.  lired. 
Leme,  v.  learn,  A  308,  D  994;  Lerned  of, 
taught  by,  G  748.     (Chaucer  here  uses 
the  word  wrongly,  as  in  mod.  provincial 
English.) 
Lese,  s.  dat.  pasture,  T.  ii.  752;  HF.  1768. 

A.  S.  las. 
Lese,  V.  lose,  A  1215,  1290;  Lese  me,  v. 
lose  myself,  be  lost,  5.  147 ;    Lees,  pt.  s. 
lost,   L.    945;    Leseth,   imp.  pi.   B    19; 
Loren,/^  lost,  L.  1048;   Lorn,//,  lost, 
T.   i.   373,   iii.    1076,    iv.   1613;    forlorn, 
wasted,  R.  366. 
Lesing,   s.  falsehood,  lie,   HF.  2089;  G 
479;    Lesinges,  //.   lies,   deceits,   R.   2; 
lying  reports,  HF.  2123. 
Lesinge,  ^.  loss,  1  1056;  Lesing,  A  1707; 

for  lesinge,  for  fear  of  losing,  B  3750. 
Lessoun,  s.  lesson,  lection,  A  709. 
Lest,  s.  pleasure,  3.  908 ;  delight,  A  132 ; 
desire,   E    619;    inclination,    HF.    287; 
Lestes,//.  desires,  HF.  1738.    A  Kentish 
form ;  for  lust. 
Lest, /r.  J.  impers.  (it)   pleases,  L.  1703; 
(it)   pleases    (me),  D  360;  Thee  lest,  it 
pleases  thee,  5.  114;  Lesteth,  (it)  pleases, 
L.48oa;  l.fHe,pt.s.  impers.  (it)  pleased, 
T.  V.  517;  pers.  was  pleased,  T.  iii.  452; 
Leste,/ir.  s.  subj.  (it)  may  please,  L.  1338  ; 
As  yow  leste,  as  it  may  please  you,  L. 
449 ;   (it)  would  please,  F  380 ;  Her  leste, 
it  should  please  her.   5.   551.     Kentish 
forms. 
Leste,  adj.  superl.  least,  T.  i.  281 ;  at  the 
I.,  at  least,  3.  973 ;  atte  /.,  at  least,  B  38 ; 
Leste,  as  s.,  the  least  one,  3.  283  ;  at  the 
leeste  weye,  at  any  rate,  E  966. 
Let,  pr.  s.  of  Lede. 

Lete,  V.  let,  B  3524;  let,  leave.  A  1335; 
give  up.  let  go.  T.  v.  1688 ;  forsake.  T. 
iv.  1199;  let  alone,  leave,  D  1276;  quit, 
I.  72 ;  give  up,  lose.  G  406  ;  omit,  depart 
from,  5.  391 ;  Lete  of.  ger.  to  leave  off. 
18.  52 ;  Leten,  v.  let,  L.  2107  ;  give  up,  R. 
1690 ;  forsake,  T.  iv.  1556  ;  Leten,  ger.  to 
let  go,  T.  i.  262 ;  Late,  v.  let,  T.  iii.  693  ; 
Laten,  v.  let,  A  3326 ;  Lete,  i  pr.  s.  leave. 
7.  45  ;  Let,  pr.  s.  lets  go,  repels,  5.  151 ; 
Lat,//-.  J.  lets,  permits,  T.  iv.  200;  Lete, 
2  pr.  pi.  abandon,  B  2505  ;  Le6t,  //.  s. 
let,  A  128;  let  go,  A  1206;  allowed,  HF. 
243;  left  off,  A  3311;  left,  A  508;  caused, 
permitted.     B    373;     caused,    B    2194; 


caused  (to  be).  B  959;  leef  .  .  .  fecche, 
commanded  (men)  to  fetch.  D  2064;  leet 
don  cryen,  caused  to  be  proclaimed,  F 
45;  leet  make,  caused  to  be  made,  B 
3349 ;  leet  binde,  caused  to  be  bound,  B 
18 10;  Let,  //.  s.  caused,  L.  2624;  let 
calle,  caused  to  be  called.  L.  1684 ;  let,  5. 
279;  Lete, //■.//.  let,  B  3898;  Lete, //.  ,f. 
subj.  were  to  let,  T.  iii.  1762;  Leet,  imp. 
s.  let,  C  731;  Lat,  imp.  s.  let,  i.  79,  84; 
let  alone,  give  up,  T.  ii.  1500 ;  Lat  be.  let 
be,  do  away  with,  A  840;  let  me  alone, 
A  3285  ;  give  up,  HF.  992 ;  Lat  do.  cause. 
C  173;  Lat  take,  take,  G  1254,  H  175; 
Lat  see,  let  us  see,  A  831 ;  Lat  goon,  let 
slip  (the  dogs) ,  L.  1213 ;  Laten  blood.//, 
let  blood,  A  4346.  A.  S.  Icstan. 
Lette,  s.  hindrance.  T.  i.  361 ;  delay,  T. 

iii-  235. 
Lette,  V.  hinder.  T.  li.  732;  prevent.  L. 
732 ;  oppose,  stay,  B  3306 ;  cause  delay, 
B  1117;  wait,  B  1440;  tarry,  B  4224; 
stop,  desist, B  4279;  cease, R.279;  Letten, 
ger.  to  put  obstacles  in  the  way  (of) ,  to 
decline  (from),  A  1317;  Let,/r.  s.  pre- 
vents. B  3.  p  10.  162;  Lette, /r.  s.  subj.; 

lette  him  no  man,god  forbede,  God  forbid 

that    any    should    hinder    him,    T.    iii. 

545 ;    Letted,  //.  s.   hindered.  A    1891; 

was  hindered.  B  2591;  Letteth,  imp.pl. 

hesitate,  T.  ii.  1136. 
Lette-game,  s. '  let-game,'  one  who  hin- 
ders sport,  T.  iii.  527. 
Lettres,  //.  letters  {also  as  sing,  a  letter), 

B  736 ;  5.  19. 
Lettrure,  s.  learning,  B  3486;  book-lore. 

B  3686. 
Letuarie,  s.  electuary,  remedy,  C  307; 

//.  electuaries,  A  426.     Lat.  electuarium. 
Leve,  dear;  see  Leef. 
Leve,  s.  leave,  B  1637,0  908;  permission, 

L  2281 ;    bisyde  hir    leve,  without    her 

leave,  T.  iii.  622. 
Leve  (i) ,  t'.  leave,  E  250 ;  let  alone,  G  714 ; 

let  go,  3.  ilii;  go  away,  5.   153;   leave 

alone.  T.  i.  688 ;  ger.  to  leave  off,  1".  i. 

686 ;  to  forsake,  G  287 ;   Leve,   i  pr.  s. 

leave,   2.  50;   Leveth,  pr.  s.  remains,  3. 

701 ;  Lafte.  i  pt.  s.  left,  C  762  ;  Lefte,  left 

off,  F  670;   Laften,  pt.  pi.  L.  168;   Left, 

//.   omitted,    I    231 ;    Laft,  //.    left,    L. 

1260;    Leef,    itnp.   s.   leave,   T.   iv.   852; 

leave  (it)  alone,  T.  v.  1518  ;   Lef,  imp.  s. 

forego,   D   2089;   Leve,  imp.  s.  leave,  A 

1614;     Leveth,    imp.   pi.    leave,    C   659. 

A.  S.  lafan. 
Leve  (2) ,  z^.  believe,  5.  496 ;  L.  10 ;  ger.  to 

be    believed,   HF.  708;    Levestow.   be- 


64 


©Iflssatial  Unbn. 


lievest  thou,  G  212  ;  Leveth.  irti/>.  pi. 
believe.  6.  88.     A.  S.  tifan,  lyfan. 

Leve  (,'i^,ger.  to  allow,  L.  2280;  god  Icve, 
God  grant,  L.  2083,  2086.  A.  S.  lifan, 
lyfan. 

Leveful,  adj.  allowable,  A  3912;  per- 
missible, D  37;  Leefful,  allowable,  I  41, 
917  ;  Leful,  permissible,  T.  iii.  1020. 

Levene,  s.  flash  of  lightning,  D  276. 

Lever,  adj.  comp.  liefer,  rather ;  me  were 
lez'er,  I  had  rather,  T.  i.  1034,  iii.  574  ;  me 
nis  lever,  L.  191 ;  thee  were  /.,  thou  hadst 
rather,  B  2339 ;  him  was  I.,  \  293 ;  him 
were  I.,  L.  2413;  have  II.,  I  would  rather. 
T.  ii.  471 ;  F  1360 ;  hadde  I  I.,  D  168 ; 
hath  I.,  F  692  ;  hadde  I.,  L.  1536 ;  had  hir 
/.,  she  would  rather,  E  444;  him  had 
be  I.,  he  would  rather,  A  3541. 

Levesel ;  see  Leefsel. 

Levest,  sup.  dearest,  most  desirable,  HF. 
87. 

Lowed,  adj.  ignorant,  .A  502,  574 ;  un- 
learned, C  283;  unskilled,  rude,  HF. 
1096;  wicked,  foolish,  F  1494;  wanton, 
E2129.    A.S.  Icened. 

Lewedly,  adv.  simply,  HF.  866;  igno- 
rantly,  B  47  ;  ill,  G  430. 

Lewednesse,  s.  ignorance,  ignorant  be- 
haviour, D  1928. 

Ley,  lied  ;  pt.  s.  of  Lye. 

Leye,  v.  lay,  4.  205 ;  lay,  cause  to  lie,  T. 
iii.  659;  lay  a  wager,  HF.  674;  pledge, 
T.  ill.  1605;  Leyn,  ger.  to  lay  up,  to 
hoard,  R.  184;  huggen.  ger.  to  lay,  A 
3269;  Legge.  V.  A  3937  ;Leyth,/r.  j.  A 
4229;  Leith,/r.  s.  D  2138;  Leye,  ipr.pl. 
lay  out,  expend,  G  783;  Leyn,  pr.  pi. 
lay,  H  222  ;  Leyde,  pt.  s.  3.  394 ;  Leyde, 
2  pt.  pi.  L.  2501 ;  Ley  den  forth,  //.  //. 
brought  forward,  B  213;  Leyd,//.  laid, 
A  3262;  placed,  R.  1184;  overlaid,  R. 
1076 ;  /  was  leyd,  I  had  laid  myself 
down,  L.  208;  Leyd,  pp.  laid,  A  81; 
fixed,  3.  1146;  set,  3.  1036;  Ley  on,  lay 
on,  A  2558. 

Leyser,  s.  leisure,  R.  462;  A  1188;  de- 
liberation, B  2766;  opportunity,  A  3293. 

Leyt,  s.  flame  (of  a  candle),  I  954.  A.  S. 
I'get.  lyget,  M.  E.  leit,  lightning. 

Libardes, //.  leopards,  R.  894. 

Libel,  s.  written  declaration,  D  1595. 

Licentiat,  adj.  one  licensed  by  the  pope 
to  hear  confessions,  independently  of 
the  local  ordinaries,  A  220. 

Liche,  adj.  like,  R.  1073;  similar,  7.  76; 
it  liche,  like  it,  F  62. 

Liche,  adv.  alike,  HF.  10. 

Liche-wake,  j.watch  overacorpse,  A  2958. 


Licoryce,  s.  liquorice,  R.  1368. 

Lic6ur,  i.  moisture,  A  3;  liquor,  T.  iv. 
520 ;  Licour,  juice,  C  452. 

Lief,  adj.  dear,  A  3501 ;  Lief  to,  glad  to, 
given  to,  A  3510;  cherished,  E  479; 
goode  lee/  my  wyf,  my  dear  good  wife, 
B  3084  ;  hadde  as  lief,  would  as  soon,  D 
1574 ;  as  s.  dear  one,  B  4069. 

Lift,  adj.  left  (said  of  the  left  hand  or 
side),  R.  163. 

Lige,  adj.  liege,  C  337;  Lige  man,  vassal, 
L.  379 ;  Liges,  s.  pi.  vassals,  L.  382 ;  pi. 
sulijects,  B  240.  F.  lige,  from  O.  H.  G. 
ledic  (G.  ledig) ,  free.  A  liege  lord  was  a 
free  lord ;  in  course  of  time  his  subjects 
were  called  lieges,  from  Confusion  with 
Lat.  ligare,  to  bind. 

Llgeaunce,  s.  allegiance,  B  895. 

Llggen,  -'.  lie,  B  2101;  Ligginge,/r«. //. 
lying,  T.  iv.  29;  Ligging,  A  loii. 

Light,  adj.  lightsome,  joyous,  R.  77 ;  3. 
1175;  active,  nimble,  R.  832;  easy,  3. 
526 ;  wearing  but  few  clothes  (a/jo,fickle), 
21.  20;  Lighte, //.  light  (of  weight),  5. 
188;  easy,  A.  pr.  36. 

Llgrhte,  adv.  brilliantly,  R.  1109. 

Lights, ,^f/-.  (i)  to  make  light,  rejoice,  T. 
V.  634;  to  render  cheerful,  T.  i.  293; 
alleviate,  T.  iii.  1082;  (2)  ger.  to  feel 
light,  to  be  glad,  F  396,  914;  Lighte, 
pt.  s.  lighted;  either  in  the  sense  (l) 
lightened,  made  light,  made  happy,  or 
(2)  illuminated,  B  1661. 

Lighte,  V.  alight,  descend,  HF.  508 ;  pt.  s. 
alighted,  B  786. 

Lighten,  V.  shine,  I  1037 ;  Lighted,  pp. 
brightened,  1.  74;  Light,//,  illuminated, 
L.  2506;   Lighte,  imp.  s.  illumine,  G  71. 

Lightly,  adv.  lightly,  F  390;  readily,  4. 
205;  quickly,  I  534;  easily,  T.  ii.  289; 
carelessly,  1  1023 ;  joyfully,  A  1870. 

Lightned,  //.  enlightened,  illuminated, 
F  1050. 

Lightnesse  (i),  s.  brightness,  5.  263. 

Liphtnesse  (2),  s.  agility,  A  3383. 

Lightsom,  adj.  gay,  R.  936. 

Ligne.  s.  line,  T.  v.  1481. 

Ligne-aloes,  wood  of  the  aloe,  T.  iv. 
1137.  (Properly  a  compound,  i.  e.  ligne- 
aloes  ;  where  aloes  is  a  plural  form.) 

Likeroxis,  a^^.  lecherous,  H  189;  wanton, 
A  3244,  3345,  E  214;  gluttonous,  C  540; 
greedy  after  indulgence,  D  466;  eager, 
F  1 1 19;  very  vile  (Lat.  nequissimi),  B  3. 

P  4-  3'- 
Likerousnesse,  s.  lecherousness,  D  611 ; 
licentiousness,  I  430;  greediness,  I  377; 
eagerness,  I  741 ;  appetite,  C  84. 


(^lossarial  Kntex. 


65 


Lilting'-liome,  s.  horn  to  be  played  for 
a  Hit,  HF.  1223. 

Liimaille ;  see  Lymaille. 

Lime,  s.  limb,  3.  499;   Limes,//.  R.  830. 

Liraitacioun,  s.  limit,  D  877. 

Limitour,  s.  limitor,  a  filar  licensed  to 
beg  for  alms  within  a  certain  limit,  A 
209,  D  874. 

Linagre,  J-.  lineage,  race,  A  mo;  family, 
D  1 135;  noble  family,  R.  258;  high 
birth,  B  3441;  kinsfolk,  B  2192;  kin- 
dred, B999;  consanguinity,  L.  2602. 

Lind,  s.  lime-tree,  A  2922. 

Lipsed,  />t.  s.  lisped,  A  264. 

Lisse,  s.  comfort,  T.  v.  550;  joy,  T.  iii. 
343;  assuaging,  HF.  220;  solace,  3. 1040 ; 
alleviation,  F  1238.     A.  S.  /iss. 

Lissen,  v.  alleviate,  T.  i.  702 ;  soothe,  6. 
6;  Lissed,  //.  relieved,  F  1170.  A.  S. 
/issia/i. 

List  (i),  s.  pleasure,  T.  iii.  1303;  will, 
U633. 

List  (2) ,  s.  ear,  D  634.    A.  S.  Afysi. 

List,  />r.  s.  impers.  it  pleases  {usually  with 
dat.),  A  1021,  B  521 ;  me  list  right  evel,  I 
was  in  no  mind  to,  3.  239 ;  you  list, 
it  pleases  you,  11.  77;  List,  pr.  s. 
pers.  is  pleased,  pleases,  T.  i.  518,  797; 
wishes,  A  3176;  Listeth,  //-.  s.  impers. 
(it)  pleases,  T.  ii.  700;  pers.  pleases,  is 
pleased,  HF.  511;  likes,  F  689;  Listen, 
-z pr.pl.  are  pleased,  T.  iii.  1810;  Listen, 
pr.  pi.  list,  choose,  B  2234;  Listen 
trete,  choose  to  write,  L.  575;  Liste, 
//.  s.  impers.  (it  pleased),  L.  332;  her 
liste,  it  pleased  her,  she  cared,  7.  190; 
him  liste,  he  wanted,  4.  92;  hem  liste, 
(it)  pleased  them,  F  851.    A.  S.  lystan. 

Listes,  //.  in  sing,  sense,  lists,  a  place 
enclosed  for  tournaments,  A  63. 

Listes,  t.  pi.  wiles  ;  ///  his  I.,  by  means  of 
his  wiles,  I.  85. 

Listeth,  imp.  pi.  listen  ye,  B  1902. 

Litarge,  s.  litharge,  ointment  prepared 
from  protoxide  of  lead,  A  629 ;  protoxide 
of  lead,  G  775. 

Litargie,  s.  lethargy,  B  i.  p  2.  22. 

Lite,  adj.  little,  I  295;  as  s.,  a  little,  T.  i. 
291 :  adv.  little,  T.  iv.  1330. 

Litestere,  s.  dyer, 9. 17.    Icel.  lita,  to  dye. 

Lith,  t.  limb  (viz.  of  herself) ,  B  4065.  A.  S. 

nn. 

Litherly,  adv.  ill,  A  3299.    A.  S.  lyfier,  evil. 
Livere  (i),  .f.  liver,  D  1839. 
Livere  (2),  j. liver  (one  who  lives),  B  1024. 
Liveree,  s.  livery,  A  363. 
Livinge,  s.  life-time,  7.  188 ;    manner  of 
life,  C  107;  state  of  life,  G  322. 


Lixt,  liest;  see  Lye  (2). 

Lode.  .(.  load,  A  2918. 

Lodemenage,  s.  pilotage,  A  403.  Lode- 
manage  is  the  hire  of  a  pilot,  for  con- 
ducting a  ship  from  one  place  to  another. 

Lodesmen,  s.  pi.  pilots,  L.  1488. 

Lode-sterre,  s.  polar  star,  lodestar,  A 
2059. 

Lofte,  dat.  upper  room,  L.  2709;  on  lofte, 
in  the  air,  HF.  1727;  aloft,  B  277. 

Logge, .(.  resting-place,  B  4043. 

Logging,  s.  lodging,  B  4185. 

Loke,  V.  (weak)  lock  up,  D  317. 

Lolsen,  ger.  to  look,  A  1783;  v.  behold, 
R.  812;  Loked, //.  s.  looked,  A  289; 
Lokeden,  //.  pi.  L.  1972 ;  imp.  s.  see,  HF. 
893;  take  heed,  D  1587;  Loke  he,  let 
him  take  heed,  1  134;  Loketh,  imp.pl. 
behold,  G  1329;  search  ye,  C  578. 

Loken,/>/.  of  strong  verb  (Louken) ,  locked 
up,  B  4065! 

Loking,  s.  look,  gaze,  3.  870;  counte- 
nance, B  2332 ;  glance,  L.  240 ;  glance  (of 
the  eye),  A  2171 ;  aspect,  4.  51;  examin- 
ing, 5.  no;  appearance,  R.  290;  looks, 
F  285. 

Lokkes,  //.  locks  of  hair,  A  81,  677. 

LoUer,  s.  a  loller,  a  lollard,  B  1173.  toiler 
(one  who  is  sluggish)  was  confused  with 
the  name  Lollard. 

Lomb,  s.  lamb,  L.  1798. 

Lend,  J.  land,  A  194,  400,  579;  country, 
B  3548;  upon  lond,  in  the  country,  A 
702. 

Lone,  s.  dat.  loan,  B  1485 ;  gift,  grace,  D 
1861. 

Ijong,  prep.;  the  phrase  w/4f/--w/  .  .  long 
—  long  on  wher,  along  of  what,  G  930; 
Long  on,  along  of,  because  of,  G  922. 

Long,  adj.  {before  a  vowel),  tall,  R.  817;^ 
//.  tall,  high,  R.  1384;  long,  A  93. 

Longe,  adv.  long,  A  286;  for  a  long  time, 
L.  2261. 

Longe  (i),  V.  desire,  long  for,  L.  2260; 
yearn,  T.  ii.  546;  Longen  (2),  v.  belong, 
A  2278  ;  pr.  s.  belongs,  R.  754;  (it)  con- 
cerns, T.  ii.  312;  pr.  pi.  belong,  F  1131; 
pt.  s.  befitted,  R.  1222;  Longing  for, 
suitable  for,  F  39. 

Longes,  //.  lungs,  A  2752. 

Longitude,  s.  the  distance  between  two 
given  meridians,  A.  ii.  39.  19;  the  length 
or  extent  of  a  'climate,'  in  a  direction 
parallel  to  the  equator,  or  rather  a  line 
along  which  to  measure  this  length ; 
A.  ii.  39.  28.  The  longitude  of  a  star  is 
measured  along  the  zodiac ;  that  of  a 
town,  from  a  fixed  meridian. 


^6 


©lossatial  JIntiex. 


Loos,   s.  praise,   renown,   B    2834,   3036. 

O.  F.  /OS. 
Loos,  adj.  loose,  A  4064, 4138  ;  Ix)us,  free, 

HF.  1286. 
Looth  (166th),  adj.  loath,  odious,  A  486; 

hateful,   A   3393;    '"e  were  /.,  it  would 

displease  me,  B  91 ,  as  s.,  what  is  hate- 
ful, nii-^ery,  L.  1639. 
Loothly,  jJj.  hideous,  D  iioo. 
Loppe.  J.  a  spider,  A.  i.  3.  6. 
Loppewebbe,  s.  cobwel),  A.  i.  21.  3. 
Lordeth,  f>r.  s.,  rules  over,  4.  166. 
Lordings,  s.p/.  sirs,  C  329,  573. 
Lore,  s.  teaching,  L.  2450;  advice,  T.  i. 

1090;  lesson, 'r.  i.  645,  754;  instruction, 

B  342 ;  learning,  B  761 ;  study,  G  842 ; 

profit,  5.  15;  doctrine,  A  527.    A.  S.  Jar. 
Lore,/>/>.  o/Lese. 
Lorel,     s.    worthless     man,    abandoned 

wretch,  D  273. 
Loren,  />/>.  of  Lese. 
Lorer,  s.  laurel,  R.  1379. 
Lorn,  pp.  of  Lese. 

Los  ( I ) ,  i.  loss,  A  2543 ;  occasion  of  per- 
dition, D  720. 
Los  (2),  s.  praise,  renown,  fame,  L.  1514; 

report,   L.  1424 ;   ///  her  loses,  in  praise 

of  them,  HF.  1688.    O.  F.  los. 
Losengere,  s.  flatterer,  R.  1050;  pi.  R. 

lojb.     O.  F.  losengeiir. 
Losengerie,  s.  flattery,  I  613. 
Losenges, />/.  lozenges,  HF.  1317;  small 

diamond-shaped  shields,  R.  893. 
Lost,  -f.  loss,  B  2.  p  4.  185. 
Loth,  adj.  loath,  3.  8;  displeasing,  R.  233. 
Lother,  iidj.  comp.  more  hateful,  L.  191. 
Lothest,  adj.  superl.  most  loath,  F  1313. 
Lotinge,  pres.part.  lurking,  G  186.    A.  S. 

lutiati,  to  lurk. 
Loude,  adv.  loudly,  A  171. 
Lough,  pt.  s.  of  Laughe. 
Louke,  s.  accomplice,  A  4415. 
Loured,/;*,  frowned,  HF.  409. 
Lous.  adj.  loose,  free,  HF".  1286. 
Lousy,  adj.  full  of  lice,  miserable,  D  1467. 
Loute.  V.  bow,  do  obeisance,  T.  iii.  683; 

ger.  to  bow  down,  B  3352 ;  \pt.  s.  stooped, 

bent,  R.  1554. 
Love,  s.  love,  A  475  ;  fern,  lady-love,  4.  31 ; 

voc.  O  my  love,  A  672 ;  masc.  lover,  L. 

862. 
Lovedayes,  pi.  davs  for  settling  disputes 

bv  arbitration,  A  2^8  ;   HF.  695. 
Love-drury,  s.  affection,  B  2085.    The 

latter  part  of  the  word  is  O.  F.  drurie, 

druerie.  love,  passion. 
Loveknotte,  s.  looped  ornament,  A  197. 
Loves,  s.pl.  loaves,  B  503. 


Lovyere,  s.  lover,  A  80. 

Lowenesse,  s.  lowliness,  I  1080. 

Lowly,  adj.  humble,  .\  99. 

Luce,  s.  luce,  pike,  A  350. 

Lucre,  s.  lucre,  gain,  G  1402;  lucre  of 

vilanye  =  vile  gain,  B  1681. 
Lufsorn,  adj.  lovely,  T.  v.  911 ;  lovable,  T. 

V.  465. 

LuUeth,  //•.  s.  lulls,  soothes,  B  839. 

Luna.  s.  the  moon,  G  826;  a  name  for 
silver,  G  1440. 

Lundrie,  s.  hmary,  moon-wort,  G  800. 

Lure,  s.  a  hawk's  lure,  D  1340;  fl,  entice- 
ments, L.  1371. 

Lussheburghes,  pi.  spurious  coin,  B 
3152.  Named  from  the  town  of  Luxem- 
bourg. 

Lust,  s.  desire,  R.  1653;  amusement,  R. 
1287;  pleasure,  R.  616;  delight,  i.  106; 
will,  desire,  wish,  B  188;  interest  in  a 
story,  F402;  //.  delights,  3.  581.  A.  S. 
lust. 

Lusteth,//-.  J.  impers.  (it)  pleases,  L.996; 
Lust.^r.  s.pers.  pleases,  E  1344;  impers. 
(it)  pleases,  E  322;  Luste,  //.  s.  pers. 
desired,  G  1344;  Luste,//.  s.  impers.  it 
pleased,  G  1235. 

Lustier,  more  joyous,  G  1345. 

Lustihede,  s.  cheerfulness,  3.  27 ;  delight, 
H  274;  enjoyment,  F  288;  vigour,  L. 
1530. 

Lustily,  adv.  gaily,  merrily,  R.  1319. 

Lustinesse,  s.  pleasure,  jollity,  A  1939; 
vigour.  R.  1282. 

Lusty,  adj.  pleasant,  gay,  A  80;  jocund, 
F  272;  lusty,  H  41;  joyous,  R.  581; 
happy,  R.  1303 ;  joyful,  A  1513 ;  vigorous, 
L.  1038. 

Luxures,  s.  pi.  lusts,  B  3.  p  7.  12. 

Luxurie,  s.  lechery,  B  925,  C  484. 

Lyard,  adj.  grey,  D  1563. 

Lycorys,  s.  liquorice,  A  3690. 

Lye  (i),v.  lie,  remain,  10.  52;  Lye.^^r.  to 
lodge,  D  1780;  Lye  .  .  by,  v.  lie  beside, 
B  3470 ;  Lye  upright,  lie  on  one's  back, 
lie  dead,  R.  1604;  Lystow,  thou  liest,  H 
276;  Lyth,  pr.  s.  lies,  is,  remains,  R. 
782;  lies,  3.  146,  181;  (he)  lies,  B  634; 
(that)  lies,  D  1829;  remains,  resides,  B 
3654;  lies  (dead),  3.  143;  Lyth  therto, 
belongs  here,  is  needed,  3.  527;  Lay, 
\pt.  s.  lodged,  A  20;  was,  A  538;  Laye, 
pt.  s.  subj.  would  lie,  T.  iv.  1560;  Ly, 
imp.  s.  T.  ii.  953. 

Lye  (2),  V.  tell  lies,  lie,  A  763;  Lixt,  2 
pr.  s.  liest.  D  1618,  1761 ;  Ley,  strong 
pt.  s.  lied,  T.  ii.  1077 ;  Lyed,  weak  pt.  s. 
lied,  A  659.     A.  S.  leogan. 


(glasgarial  Intiei. 


67 


Lye  (3),  V-  blaze,  D  1142.  A.  S.  lyge,s. 
flame. 

Lyer,  s.  liar,  B  2256. 

Lyes,  s.pl.  lees,  dregs,  HF.  2130. 

Lyes,  //.  (i)  lees;  or  (2)  lies,  D  302. 
Perhaps  a  double  meaning  is  intended. 

Lyf,  s.  life,  A  71,2776;  Lyves,  ^t'«.  life's, 
6.  60;  of  my  life,  3.  920;  Our  present 
worldes  lyves  space,  the  space  of  our 
present  life  in  the  world,  5.  53;  Lyves 
day,  lifetime,  L.  1624  ;  Ly  ve,  dat.  L.  59 ; 
On  lyve,  alive,  L.  1792;  in  his  time,  D 
43;  Upon  lyve,  alive,  T.  ii.  1030;  Of 
lyve,  out  of  life,  T.  v.  1561 ;  Bringe  of 
lyve,  cause  to  die,  T.  ii.  1608 ;  My  lyve, 
in  my  life,  T.  ii.  205 ;  By  thy  lyf,  during 
thy  life,  B  1621 ;  Thy  lyf,  during  thy 
lifetime,  17.  19;  His  lyve,  in  his  life,  L. 
1099;  Hir  lyve,  in  their  life,  D  392; 
Lyves,  pi.  B  3284. 

Lyflode,  f.  means  of  living,  I  685.  Mod. 
E.  livelihood. 

Lyfly,  adv.  in  a  lifelike  way,  A  2087. 

Lyke,  v.  please,  T.  i.  431 ;  ger.  HF.  860; 
to  be  liked,  R.  1357;  Lyketh,  pr.  s. 
pleases,  E  1031 ;  impers.  (it)  pleases,  E 
311,  84s;  us  I.  yow,  it  pleases  us  with 
respect  to  you,  E  106 ;  Lyke,  pr.  s.  subj. 
may  please,  D  1278 ;  thee  I.  nat,  it  may 
not  please  you,  I^.  490;  Lyked,  pt.  s. 
impers.  pleased,  R.  1312. 

Lyking,  s.  pleasure,  C  455;  delight,  B 
3499- 

Lyking,  adj.  pleasing,  R.  868;  pleasant, 
R.  1416;  thriving,  R.  1564. 

Lyklihed,  s.  dat.  likelihood,  E  448. 

Lyklinesse,  s.  probability,  22.  15. 

Lykly,  adj.  likely,  like,  16.  32. 

Lykne,  i  pr.  s.  compare,  3.  636. 

Lyknesse,  j.  parable,  A  2842. 

Lym.  s.  lime,  F  1149;  quicklime,  L.  649. 

Lymaille,  s.  filings  of  any  metal,  G  1162; 
Lymail,  G  1164;   Limaille,  G  853. 

Lyrne.,^^/-.  to  cover  with  birdlime,  T.  i.353. 

Lymere,  s.  hound  held  in  leash,  3.  365. 

Lymrod,  s.  lime-twig,  B  3574. 

Lyne,  s.  line,  T.  i.  1068 ;  fishing-line,  4. 
242;  line  of  descent,  D  1135;  as  lyne 
rii;ht,  straight  as  a  line,  T.  iii.  228. 

Lyned,  //.  lined,  A  440. 

Lyne-right,  adj.  in  an  exact  line,  exactly 
in  a  line  with,  A.  i.  21.  31. 

Lyoun,  s.  lion,  T.  iii.  1780;  v.  830; 
Lyouns, />/.  R.  894.    See  Leoun. 

Lyst,  2  pr.  s.  liest,  reclinest,  T.  ii.  991 ; 
Lystow,  liest  thou,  H  276. 

Lytargye,  s.  lethargy,  T.  i.  730. 

Lyte,    adj.   small,   little,    R.   532;    slight. 


I  689 ;   Lyte,  s.  a  little,  L.  29,  535  ;  Lyte, 

//.  little,  A  494. 
Lyte,  adv.  little,  3.  884;    a  little,  E  935; 

in  a  small  degree,  G  632,  699;  /.  and  /., 

by  little  and  little,  D  2235. 
Lythe,  adj.  easy,  soft,  HF.  118. 
Lythe,^*"/-.  to  alleviate,  cheer,  T.  iv.  754. 
Lyve ;  see  Lyf. 

Lyvely.  adv.  in  a  lively  way,  3.  905. 
Lyves;  see  Lyf. 
Lyves,  adv.  in  life  ;   hence,  as  adj.  living, 

alive,  T.  iv.  252;    no  lyves  creature,  no 

living  creature,  T.  iii.  13. 


M. 


M',  soiiietih 


put  for  Me  (before  a  vowel)  ; 
as  in  mastertey^r  me  asterte. 

Ma  fey,  my  faith !  T.  iii.  52. 

Maad;  //.  ^Make. 

Maat,  adj.  dejected,  B  2.  p  4.  42. 

Mad,  pp.  made,  L.  286.    See  Make. 

Madde,  v.  go  mad,  4.  253;  ger.  to  be 
furious,  T.  i.  479. 

Mader,  s.  madder,  9.  17. 

Magik,  s.  magic,  A  416. 

Magistral,  s.  magistracy,  B  3.  p  4.  26. 

Maheym,  s.  maiming,  I  625.  Mod.  E. 
viaim. 

Maille,  s.  mail,  ringed  armour,  E  1202. 

Maister,  s.  master,  B  1627;  doctor,  D 
2184;  doctor  (of  divinity),  D  1638;  (as 
a  term  of  address),  17.  i ;  one  in  authority, 
A  261. 

Maisterful,  adj.  masterful,  T.  ii.  756. 

Maister-strete,  s.  main  street,  L.  1965. 

Maister-temple,  s.  chief  temple,  L.  1016. 

Maister-toun,  s.  chief  town,  L.  1591. 

Maister-tour,  s.  chief  tower,  F  226. 

MaistOW,  mayest  thou,  HF.  699. 

Maistresse,  s.  mistress,  L.  88;  govern- 
ess, C  106. 

Maistrye,  s.  mastery,  great  skill,  A  3383; 
mastery,  F  747,  764 ;  control,  B  3689,  C 
58;  superiority;  for  the  maistrye,  as 
regards  authority,  A  165;  victory,  B 
3582;  specimen  of  skill,  HF.  1074;  art, 
elegance,  R.  842 ;  a  masterly  operation 
(cf.  F".  coup  de  maitre),  G  1060. 

Majestee,  s.;  his  real  majestec  =  his  royal 
majesty,  i.  e.  high  treason,  B  1.  p  4.  162. 

Make,  s.  mate,  D  270,  H  186;  equal, 
match,  A  2556;  wedded  companion,  wife, 
B  700;  bride,  E  1882;   husband,  D  85. 

Make,  v.  make,  A  184;  compose,  write, 
L.  69 ;  ger.  to  compose,  to  write  (about), 
R.  41 ;  pretend  to,  counterfeit,  T.  ii. 
1522;  cause  (it),  T.  ii.  959;   Makestow, 


68 


(ilossarial  IrntJex. 


2  pr.  s.  B  371 ;  Makcth,  pr.  s.  causes,  A 
3035  ;  Maken,  //•.  //.  make,  utter,  A  9  ; 
Maked,  //.  s.  made,  A  526 ;  Makeden, 
pt.  pi.  \.  iv.  121 ;  Made,//,  s.  subj.  may 
have  made,  4.  227;  Made".  .  .  broglit, 
caused  to  be  brought,  HF.  155;  Maked, 
pp.  made,  A  1247;  composed,  5.  677; 
.\Iaad,  pp.  made,  A  394 ;   Mad,  pp.  3.  415. 

Makelees,  adj.  peerless,  T.  i.  172. 

Making,   s.   poetry,  composition,   L.  74, 

413.  4«3- 

Malapert,  adj.  for\vard,  T.  iii.  87. 

Male  (I),  s.  bag,  wallet,  A  694,  31 15. 

Male  (2),  s.  male,  D  122. 

Maleflce.  .r.  evil  contrivance,  I  341. 

Mal6ncolyk,  adj.  melancholy,  A  1375. 

Malgre,  prep,  in  spite  of,  4.  220. 

Malison,  s.  curse,  I  443 ;  cursing,  I  619. 

Malliable,  adj.  malleable,  such  as  can 
bf  worked  by  the  hammer,  G  1130. 

Malt,  pt.  s.  melted,  HF.  922. 

Maltalent,  s.  ill-will,  ill-humour,  resent- 
ment, k.  273,  330. 

Man,  s.  .\  167,  209,  223;  (used  indefinitely) 
one,  B  43,  D  2002 ;  hero,  B  3331 ;  servant, 
I  772;  Mannt-s,  gen.  of  mankind,  T.  ii. 
417;  Men,  //.  men,  people,  18.  26;  A 
178  ;  sing,  (unemphatic  form  ofnvAn),  one 
( with  sing,  verb ) ,  A  149.  232,  C  675,  G  392. 

Manace,  .^vr.  to  threaten,  E  1752. 

Manasinge.  s.  threatening,  A  2035. 

Mandement,  s.  summons,  D  1346. 

Maner.  /.  manor,  place  to  dwell  in.  3.  1004 

Manere.  s.  manner,  A  858,  D  1229;  de 
portment,  A  140;  disposition,  L.  251; 
manner,  way,  3.  1130;  ease  of  behaviour 
3.  1218;  goodly  courtesy  of  manner,  4 
294;  0/ manere,  in  his  behaviour,  F  546; 
Maner,  way,  3.  433;  manner,  kind,  sort 
(used  without  oi  following),  as  in  maner 
doctrine,  B  1689;  pi.  kinds,  R.  1406. 

Manhede,  s.  manliness,  A  1285. 

Mannish,  .idj.  manlike,  T.  i.  284;  human, 
B  ^45-1 ;   unwomanly,  B  782. 

Mannish,  adv.  like  a  man,  boisterously, 
E  1536. 

Mansioun,  s.  dwelling,  A  1974;  (a  term 
in  astrology),  F  50;  mansion  (of  the 
moon),  F  1285;  //.  daily  positions  or 
'  stations  '  of  the  moon,  F  1130.  A  man- 
sion of  a  planet  is  the  sign  (or  signs)  of 
the  zodiac  in  which  the  planet  was 
thought  to  be  peculiarly  at  home.  A 
mansion  of  the  moon  refers  to  its  posi- 
tion (lav  by  day  in  the  sky. 

Mansuete.  adj.  courteous,  T.  v.  194. 

Mansuetude.  s.  meekness,  I  654. 

Mantelet,  s.  short  mantle,  A  2163. 


Manye,  s.  mania,  A  1374. 

Mappemounde,  map  of  the  world,  12.  2. 

Mapul,  ,(.  niajjlc-tree,  A  2923. 

Marble-stoon,  s.  jjiece  of  marble,  R. 
1462. 

Marchal,  s.  marshal,  E  1930. 

Marchandyse,  s.  barter,  1  777. 

Marchant,  s.  merchant,  A  270. 

Marcial,  adj.  warlike,  T.  iv.  1669. 

Marcien,  adj.  devoted  to  Mars,  D  610. 

Mareys,  .(.  marsh,  D  970;  Mareys,  //. 
I        marshes,  B  2.  p  7.  42. 

Marie,  interj.  marry,  i.  e.  by  St.  Mary,  G 
1062. 

Mark  (i),s.  mark,  fixed  spot,  L. 784 ;  sex, 
race,  D  696;  sign,  I  98. 

Mark  (2),  s.  a  piece  of  money,  of  the 
value  of  ly.  ^d.  in  England,  G  1026;  //. 
Mark,  C  390. 

Market-beter,  s.  swaggerer  in  a  market, 
A  3936- 

Markis,  s.a.  marquis,  E  64;  gen.  sing. 
marquis's,  E  994. 

Markisesse,  s.  a  marchioness,  E  283. 

Martyre,  s.  martyrdom,  T.  iv.  818. 

Marty'reth,  pr.  s.  torments,  A  1562. 

Mary.  >.  marrow,  pith,  C  542. 

Mary-bones,  s.pl.  marrow-bones,  A  380. 
'  Mase,  s.  maze,  labyrinth,  L.  2014;  be- 
I  wilderment,  T.  v.  468  ;  bewildering  posi- 
tion, B  4283. 

Mased,  adj.  bewildered,  B  526;  stunned 
with  grief,  7.  322. 

Masednesse,  s.  amaze,  E  1061. 

Maselyn,  s.  a  bowl  made  of  maplewood, 
B  2042. 

Massedayes,  pi.  massdays,  B  4041. 

Masse-peny,  s.  penny  for  a  mass,  D  1749. 

Mast,  s.  mast,  i.  e.  the  fruit  of  forest- 
trees,  acorns  and  beech-nuts,  9.  7,  37. 

Masty,  adj.  fattened,  sluggish,  HF.  1777. 
Lit. '  fattened  on  mast.' 

Mat,  adj.  dejected,  A  955;  exhausted,  T. 
iv.  342;  dead,  L.  126;  defeated  utterly, 
B  935- 

Mate,  interj.  checkmate!  3.  660;  adj. 
exhausted,  7.  176. 

Materes.  //.  materials  (of  a  solid  char- 
acter), G  779. 

Matrimoine,  s.  matrimony,  A  3095,  E 

1573- 
Maugre,  Maugree,  in  spite  of;  as  in 
maugre  al  thy  might,  .K  1607;  maugree 
hir  eyen  two,  A  1796 ;  maugree  thyne yen, 
D  315  ;  ni.  her,  \,.  1772;  m.  Philistiens,  B 
3238 ;  m.  my  heed,  in  spite  of  all  I  can 
do,  3.  1201 ;  m.  thyn  heed,  B  104;  m.  hn 
I       heed,  .\  1 169 ;  m.  her  (hir)  heed,  L.  2326. 


i3lo&mxia\  Entei. 


69 


D  887;  in.  your  heed,  in  spite  of  all  you 

can  do,  B  4602. 
Maumet.  s.  idol,  I  860. 
Maumetrye,  s.  Mahometanism,  idolatry, 

B    236.      Maumet    is    a    corruption     of 

Mahomet  or  Muhammed;  our  ancestors 

wrongly  held    the    Mahometans   to  be 

idolaters. 
Maunciple,    j.    manciple,    A    544.    An 

officer  who    purchases  victuals    for  an 

inn  or  college. 
Mavis,  s.  song-thrush,  R.  619. 
Mawe,  s.  maw,  stomach,  B  486. 
May,  s.  maiden,  B  851. 
Mayde  child,  girl,  B  1285. 
Maydenheed,  s.  maidenhood,  virginity, 

D  888. 
Mayle,  s.  mail-armour,  T.  v.  1559. 
Mayntene,  v.  maintain,  R.  1144  ;  uphold, 

A  1778. 
Mayster-hunte,   s.  chief  huntsman,  3. 

375- 
Maystres,  i.  pi.  masters,  B  3.  m  2.  12. 
Maystrie,  s,  masterly  act ;  No  maystrie, 

an  easy  matter,  L.  400. 
Maze,  2pr.pl.  are  in  a  state  of  bewilder- 
ment, E  2387. 
Mechel,  adj.  much  ;  /or  as  mcchel,  for  as 

much,  A.  pr.  6. 
Mede  (i),  s.  mead  (drink),  B  2042.    See 

Meeth. 
Mede,  ,f.  (2).  mead,  meadow,  A  89. 
Medeleth, //•.  s.  mingles,  L.  874. 
Medeling,  s.  admixture,  B  i.  p  4.  279. 
Medewe,  s.  meadow,  R.  128. 
Mediatours,  s.  pi.  go-betweens,  I  967. 
Media,  v.  mingle,  HF.  2102  ;  meddle,  take 

part  in,  G  1184;  dye  {miscere),  B  2.  m  5. 

10;  Medly,  v.  mingle,  mix,  B  2.  m  5.  7 ; 

imp.  pi.  meddle,  G  1424. 
Medlee,  adj.  of  a  mixed  colour,  A  328. 
Meed,  s.  reward,  L.  1662 ;  M6de,  meed, 

reward,  A  770;  to  inedes,iox  my  meed, 

for  my  reward,  T.  ii.  1201. 
Meel-tyd,  s.  meal-time,  T.  ii.  1556. 
Meeth,  s.  mead,  A  3261,  3378;  Meth,  A 

2279. 
Megre,  adj.  thin,  R.  218,  311. 
Meinee ;  see  Meynee. 
Meke,  i  //•.  s.  humble,  B  2874. 
Meke,  adv.  meekly,  7.  267. 
Melancolious   {accented  m61anc61ious), 

adj.  melancholy,  HF.  30. 
Meldncolye,  .r.  melancholy,  3.  23. 
Mele,  J-.  meat  (of  flour),  A  3995. 
Melle,  s.  mill,  A  3923,  4242. 
Melte,  V.  melt,  T.  iv.  367 ;    Malt,  //.  s. 

HF.  922;  Molte,//.  HF.  1145,  1149. 


Memorial,  adj.  which  serves  to  record 
events,  7.  18. 

Memdrie,  s.  memory,  G  339;  remem- 
brance, A  3112,  B  3164. 

Men,  //.  c)/ Man  ;  also  a  weakened  form  of 
Man,  in  the  sense  of  '  one,'  or  '  some 
one  ' ;  used  with  a  singular  verb.  See 
Man. 

Mendinants,  //.  mendicant  fiiars,  D 
1907,  1912. 

Mene,  adj.  middle,  B  3.  m  9.  28;  mene 
whyle,  mean  while,  G  1262;  of  middle 
size,  T.  v.  806;  Mene,  adj.  pi.  inter- 
mediate, 7.  286. 

Mene,  s.  means,  way,  11.  36;  middle 
course,  T.  i.  689;  instrument,  E  1671 ; 
mediator,  i.  125  ;  go-between,  T.  iii.  254; 
intermediary,  I  990;  the  mean,  L.  165; 
//.  means,  instruments,  D  1484. 

Meneliche,  adj.  moderate,  B  i.  p  6.  iii. 

Menen.^tv.  to  say,  HF.  1104;  to  signify, 
B  3941 ;  i/n  J.  intend,  A  793;  Menestow, 
meanest  thou,  G  309;  Mente,  i  //.  s. 
meant,  intended,  B  4614;  purposed,  18. 
50;  declared,  7.  160;  Ment,//.  intended, 
5-  158. 

Mene-whyle,  mean  time,  D  1445. 

Mening-,  s.  intent,  F  151. 

Menivere,  s.  miniver,  a  fine  fur,  R.  227. 

Menstralcies, //.  minstrelsies,  HF.  1217. 

Mente,  pt.  t.  of  Menen. 

Mentes,  pi.  plants  of  mint,  R.  731. 

Mercenarie,  s.  hireling,  A  514. 

Merciable,  adj.  merciful,  B  1878,  3013. 

Mercy,  j'.  i.  7  ;  (have)  mercy,  1. 36 ;  graunt 

,-.■  mercy,  much  thanks,  10.  29. 

Mere,  s.  mare,  A  541 ;   Mare,  A  4055. 

Meridian,  adj.  at  the  moment  of  south- 
ing, souihern,  A.  pr.  93. 

Meridie,  s.  midday,  A.  ii.  44.  48. 

Meridional,  adj.  southern,  F  263. 

Merier,  adj.  pleasanter,  sweeter,  B  2024, 
4041. 

Meritone,  adj.  meritorious,  I  831. 

Merk,  s.  image,  F  880. 

Merken,  v.  brand,  B  i.  ]i  4.  139. 

Merlion,  s.  merlin,  small  hawk,  5.  339. 

Mermaydens,  sirens,  R.  680,  682. 

Mersshy,  adj.  marshy,  D  1710. 

Merveille,  s.  marvel,  B  2736. 

Merveillous,  adj.  marvellous,  B  1643. 

Mery,  adj.  merry,  gay,  R.  580;  pleasant, 
A  23s,  757;  pleasant  to  hear,  B  1186; 
Meriemen,  followers,  B  2029. 

Mes  ;  at  good  mes,  at  a  favourable  distance, 
so  as  to  have  a  fair  shot,  R.  1453.  O.  F. 
mes. 

Meschaunce,  s.  misfortune,  A  2009 ;  evil 


70 


(glogssarial  Unbtx. 


occurrence,  T.  i.  92;  a  miserable  con- 
dition, B  3204 ;  unfortunate  conduct,  C 
80;  ill  luck,  B  4623;  ill  luck  (to  him), 
B  896;    wit/i   m.,   with    a    mischief,    H 

193- 
Meschief .  s.  misfortune,  A  493,  B  3513 ; 

trouble,  mishap,  A  2551 ;  tribulation,  H 

76. 
Mesel,  s.  leper,  I  624.    O.  F.  wese/. 
Meselrie,  s.  leprosy,  I  625. 
Mess&ge,  s.  (i),   message,  T.   iii.  401; 

errand,  B  1087;   (2)   messenger,  B  144, 

333- 
Messagrer,  s.  messenger,  A  1491. 
Messagerye,  s.  a  sending  of  messages 

(iH-rsonified),  5.  228. 
Messanger,  s.  messenger,  HF.  1568. 
Messe,  s.  mass,  B  1413. 
Messuage,  s.  dwelling-house,  A  3979. 
Meste,  />/.   most.   i.  e.  highest   in   rank, 

greatest,  E  131 ;  a/  the  m.,  at  most,  T.  v. 

Mester,  s.  service,  oflfice,  occupation,  A 
1340.     O.  F.  mester  ;  Lat.  ministeriutn. 

Mesurable,  ./<j>.  moderate,  A  435 ;  modest, 
1  ^^y^. 

Mesurably,  adv.  moderately,  B  2795. 

Mesure,  s.  moderation,  3.  881 ;  measure, 
E  256 ;  plan,  5.  305 ;  bym.,  not  too  much. 
3.  872 ;  moderately,  R.  543 ;  Cc'er  m., 
immeasurably,  5.  300;  out  of  m.,  im- 
moderately, B  2607 ;  withoute  m.,  beyond 
measure,  3.  632. 

Mesviring,  s.  measure,  R.  1349. 

Met,  s.  measure  of  capacity,  I  799. 

Metamorphoseos,^<?«.  s.  (the  book)  of 
Metamorphosis;  it  should  be  pi.  Meta- 
morphoseon  ;  B  93. 

Mete,  adj.  meet,  befitting,  3.  316;  fit,  L. 
1043  ;  //.  meet,  A  2291. 

Mete,  s.  equal,  3.  486. 

Mete,  s.  meat,  food,  A  136,  1900;  meat, 
L.  1108;  repast,  T.  ii.  1462;  eating,  A 
127. 

Mete,  V.  meet,  L.  148;  find,  5.  698;  to 
meet  together,  B  1873;  Meteth,  pr.  s. 
meets  (men  being  singular  =  o«i») ,  A 
1524;  'S\ene,pt.p/.  met,  E  390;  Metten, 
p't.p/.  HF.  227:  wei  met.  D  1443. 

Mete,  V.  dream,  T.  iii.  1559,  iv.  1396,  v.  249 ; 
Met,  pr.  s.  5.  104,  105  ;  Mette,  I  pt,  s.  5. 
95 ;  Me  mette,  i  //.  s.  refl.  I  dreamt,  R. 
26 ;  //.  s.  impers.  3.  276 ;  Met,  pp.  B  4445. 

Mete,  1  pr.  s.  (I)  measure,  A.  ii.  41.  8. 

Metely,  adj.  well-proportioned,  R.  822. 

Meth.  .f.  mead  (drink),  A  2279. 

Meting  {1),  s.  meeting,  L.  784. 

Meting  (2),  s.  dream,  3.  282. 


Meve,  V.  move,  stir,  T.  i.  472;  to  Aim 
niez'ed,  urged  against  him,  L.  344. 

Mewe,  s.  mew,  i.  e.  coop  wherein  fowls 
were  fattened,  A  349 ;  properly,  a  coop 
for  hawks  when  moulting,  F  643; 
hiding-place,  T.  iii.  602. 

Mewet,  adj.  mute,  T.  v.  194. 

Mexcuse, yi'r  Me  excuse,  excuse  myself, 
16.  36. 

Meynee,  s.  household,  B  1238;  company, 
R.  1305 ;  followers,  suite,  retinue,  re- 
tainers, household-servants,  R.  615,  634; 
household,  menials,  A  1258  ;  army,  troop, 
B  3532;  assembly,  HF.  933;  Meinee, 
retinue,  I  437 ;  troop,  A  4381 ;  Meiny, 
crew,  L.  2201.  O.  V.  meisnee,  maisnee, 
household. 

Meyntenaunce,  s.  demeanour,  3.  834. 

Michel,  adj.  much,  A.  ii.  23.  30. 

Mid.  adj.  middle,  3.  660. 

Middel,  s.  waist,  R.  1032. 

Midel,  adj.  neither  tall  nor  short,  7.  79. 

Mikel,  adj.  great,  7.  99;   much,  L.  1 175. 

Mile-wey,  s.  a  space  of  5°,  which  answers 
to  twenty  minutes  of  time,  the  average 
time  for  walking  a  mile;  hence  the 
term,  A.  i.  7.  ii. 

Milksop,  s.  a  piece  of  bread  sopped  in 
milk;  hence,  a  weak,  effeminate  man, 
B  3100. 

Milne-Stones,  pi.  mill-stones,  T.  ii.  1384. 

Minde,  s.  remembrance,  T.  ii.  602; 
memory,  B  527  ;  in  m.,  in  remembrance, 
V  109,  607. 

Ministres,  //.  officers,  B  4233. 

Ministreth.  pr.  s.  administers,  governs, 
B  3.  m  6.  3. 

Minne,  imp.  s.  remember,  mention,  16.48. 

Minstralcye,  s.  minstrelsy,  E  1718; 
musical  instrument,  H  113;  sound  of 
music,  F  268. 

Mintinge,/r«.//.  intending,  B  i.  m  2.  3. 

Miracle,  s.  wonder,  A  2675;  legend,  B 
1881 ;  pleyes  of  m.,  miracle-plays,  D  558. 

Mirour,  s.  mirror,  R.  567,  1585. 

Mirre.  s.  myrrh,  A  2938. 

Mirthe,  s.  pleasure,  amusement,  R.  601 ; 
Mirthe,  Sir  Mirth  (personified),  R.  733. 

Mirtheles.  adj.  sad,  5.  592. 

Mis,  adj.  wrong,  amiss,  T.  iv.  1348  ;  bad, 
HF.  1975;  blameworthy,  G  999. 

Mis,  s.  wrong,  evil,  L.  266  a. 

Mis,  adv.  amiss,  wrongly,  T.  i.  934. 

Mis,  I   pr.  s.  lack,  have  not,  6.  47. 

Misacounted.   //.    miscounted,    T.    v. 


Misaunter, 
T.  766. 


misadventure,  misfortune, 


(gloggarial  Ivibtx. 


Misaventure,  s.  misadventure,  mishap, 

B  6i6;   mischief,  R.  422. 
Misavyse,//-. //.  re/l.  act  unadvisedly,  D 

230. 
Misbileve.  s.  suspicion,  G  1213. 
Misbileved,  infidels,  i.  146. 
Misboden,  //.  offered  (to  do  you)  evil, 

insulted,  A  909. 
Misborn,  pp.   misbehaved,    B  3067    (lit. 

'  borne  amiss'). 
Miscarie,  v.  go  amiss,  A  513. 
Mischaunce,  s.  ill  luck,  R.   1548 ;  mis- 
chance, R.  251;  misfortune,  L.  1826;  to 

mischaunce,  i.  e.  to  the  devil,  T.  ii.  222, 

V.  359 ;  hoiu  m.,  how  the  mischief,  T.  iv. 

1362. 
Miscbeef ,  s.  misfortune,  L.  1278 ;  danger, 

4.  58  ;   harm,  R.  253. 
Misconceyveth,  pr.  s.  misunderstands, 

E  2410. 
Miscounting,  s.  fraudulent  reckoning,  R. 

196. 
Misdemeth,  pr.  s.  misjudges,  E  2410. 
Misdeparteth,  pr.  s.  parts   or   divides 

amiss,  B  107. 
Misdooth,  pr.  s.  ill-treats,  B  3112. 
Misdrawinges,   s.  pi.  way  of  drawing 

aside,  B  3.  p  12.  107. 
Misericorde,  s.  (there  is)  mercy,  pity,  T. 

lii.  1 177;  pity,  B  2608. 
Mis6rie,  s.  misery,  B  3167. 
Misese,  s.    trouble,   I    806;    discomfort, 

I  177 ;  pi.  injuries,  B  I.  p  4.  73. 
Misesed,  pp.  vexed,  I  806. 
Misfllle,//.  s.  subj.  it  went  amiss  (with), 

A  2388. 
Misforyaf ,  pt.  s.  misgave,  T.  iv.  1426. 
Misgoon,/iy>.  gone  astray,  I  80. 
Misg-overnaunce,  s.  misconduct,  B  3202. 
Misgyed,  pp.  misconducted,  B  3723. 
Mishap,  s.  ill  luck,  B  3435. 
Mishappe,   v.   meet  with  misfortune,  B 

2886 ;  pr.  s.  subj.  (it)  may  happen  ill  for, 

A  1646. 
Misbappy,  adj.  unhappy,  B  2758. 
Misknowinge,  j.  ignorance,  B  3.  m  11.27. 
Mislay,  pt.   s.   lay   in  an   uncomfortable 

position,  A  3647. 
Misledden,  pt.pl.  misconducted,  T.  iv.  48. 
Misledinges,  //.  misguiding  ways,  B  3. 

p  8.  2. 
Mislyketh,  pr-.  s.  displeases,  L.  1293. 
Mislyved,  pp.  of  ill  life,  treacherous,  T. 

iv.  330. 
Mismetre,  pr.  s.  subj.  scan  amiss,  T.  v. 

1796. 
Mis-sat,  pt.  s.  was  not  where  it   should 

be,  3.  941 ;  misbecame,  R.  1194. 


V.  fail,  D  1416;  draw  to  an  end,  5. 

40;  pt.  s.  was  wanting  (to),  T.  iii.  445; 

//.  missing,  T.  iii.  537. 
Mis-set,  pp.  misplaced,  3.  1210. 
Misseye,  ipr.  s.  speak  amiss,  7.  317  ;  pr.  s. 

slanders,  I  379 ;   missayd  or  do,  said  or 

done  wrong,  3.  528. 
Misspeke,  i  pr.  s.  subj.  speak  wrongly,  A 

3139- 

Mistaketh,  2  pr.  pi.  transgress,  trespass, 
R.  1540. 

Mister,  s.  trade,  handicraft,  occupation, 
A  613;  need,  R.  1426;  Mester,  occupa- 
tion, A  1340;  what  m.  men,  men  of  what 
occupation,  what  sort  of  men,  A  1710. 
See  Mester. 

Misterye,  s.  ministry,  profession,  I  895. 
From  Lat.  ministerium. 

Mistihede,  s.  mystery,  4.  224. 

Mis-torneth,  pr.  pi.  turn  aside,  B  3. 
P3-9- 

Mistyde,  v.  be  unlucky,  B  2886. 

Miswanderinge,  adj.  straying  (Lat. 
deiiitis),  B  3.  p  2.  27. 

Miswent,  //.  gone  amiss,  T.  i.  633. 

Mis-weyes,  s.  pi.  by-paths,  B  3.  m  11.  3. 

Miteyn,  s.  mitten,  glove,  C  372. 

Mixen,  s.  dunghill,  I  911. 

Mo  (moo),  a;//',  more,  A.  pr.  27  ;  more  (in 
number),  A  576,  849;  besides,  L.  917; 
others,  E  2113  ;  another,  E  1039  ;  (others) 
besides,  E  2263;  many  others  besides, 
D  663  ;  tymes  mo,  at  other  times,  E  449 ; 
othere  mo,  others  besides,  G  looi ;  na  7no, 
no  more,  none  else,  B  695. 

Mo,  ai/z/.  more,  any  longer,  D  864;  ?iever 
the  mo,  never  mo,  never,  D  691,  1099. 

Mochel,  adj.  great,  L.  1966;  much,G  61  r. 

Mochel,  adv.  much,  B  3959. 

Mochel,  s.  size,  3.  454,  861. 

Moder,  s.  mother,  B  276;  the  thickest 
plate  forming  the  principal  part  of  the 
astrolabe  (Lat.  mater  or  rotula),  A.  i.  3. 
I ;    Modres,  gen.   B   1783 ;    Modres,  //. 

C93- 
Moeble,  adj.  moveable,  A.  i.  21.  80. 
Moeble,    s.    moveable    goods,    personal 

property,  T.  iv.  1380,  1460 ;  //.  G  540. 
Moedes,  s.pl.  moods,  strains  (of  music), 

B  2.  p  I.  50. 
Moevable,  adj.  fickle,  B  4.  m  5.  32;  as  s. 

The  firste  m.,  the  '  primum  mobile,'  A.  i. 

17.  so. 
Moevabletee,  s.  mobility,  B  4.  p  6.  126. 
Moeve,,^^/-.  to  stir  up,  B  2218;  v.  move, 

Ii33- 
Moevere,  s.  mover,  A  2987. 
Moevinge,  s.  moving,  motion,  A.  pr.  99; 


72 


(glossarial  Jtnticx. 


Firste  tnoeving,  the  '  primum  mobile,' 
A.  i.  17.  45. 

Moiste,  //.  supple,  A  457. 

Moiste,  i:dj.  nj  s.  moisture,  R.  1564. 

Mokereres,  s.  pi.  misers,  B  2.  p  5.  18. 

Mokre,  f.  iioard  up,  T.  iii.  1375. 

Molestie,  s.  trouble,  B  3.  p  9.  105. 

MoUiflcacioun,  .r.  softening,  G  854. 

Molte.//. ;  see  Melte. 

Monche,  v.  munch,  T.  i.  914. 

Mone,  s.  moon,  A  2077;  i.  e.  position  or 
'quarter'  of  the  moon,  A  403;  Mone, 
j;t:n.  B  2070;  Mones,.^£'/7.  Y  1154. 

Mone,  s.  moan,  com|)laint,  A  1366,  F  920. 

Mone,  :■.  lefl.  to  lament,  T.  i.  98. 

Monstre,  s.  prodigy,  F  1344;  //.  B  3302. 

Montaigne,  s.  mountain,  B  24. 

Mood,  s.  anger,  A  1760;  thought,  C  126. 

Moon,  .(.  moan,  lamentation,  complaint, 
L.  1169,  1799. 

Moorne.  i  //•.  f.  mourn,  A  3704. 

Moorninge,  v.  mourning,  plaint,  A  3706. 

Moot,  t.  //.  notes  on  a  horn,  3.  376. 

Moot,  1//-.  s.  must,  shall,  B  1853;  //-.  s. 
must,  ought  to,  A  232;  is  to  (go),  B  2*94; 
Mot,  I  pr.  s.  may,  4.  267;  must,  have 
to,  B  227 ;  Most,  2  pr.  s.  B  104 ;  Mot, 
//-.  s.  must,  lias  to,  L.  388,  1945 ;  Mote, 
2  pr.  pi.  may,  T.  ii.  402;  Moten.  must, 
L.  343  ;  Mote  (or  Moot),//-,  s.  subj.  may, 
HF.  102;  L.  843;  is  sure  to,  L.  1632; 
Moot  (or  Mote)  I  goon,  may  I  still  go, 
may  I  still  retain  the  power  to  walk, 
F  777;  So  moot  (or  mote)  I  thee,  as 
I  may  thrive,  as  I  hope  to  thrive,  C 
309;  As  ever  mote  I,  A  832;  Foule 
moot  thee  falle,  ill  may  it  befall  thee, 
H  40;  Moot  (or  Mote)  thou,  maystthou, 
B  1626;  Moste,  \  pt.  J.  must  (go),  B282; 
Moste,  //.  .f.  must,  4.  250;  had  to,  B 
886 ;  ought  to  (be) ,  F  38 ;  was  made  to, 
B  3700;  Mosten,  pt.  pi.  should,  L.  99; 
Moste,  pt.  s.  subj.  might,  L.  1573;  us 
moste,  we  must  resolve  to,  G  946. 

Moral,  adj.  excellent  in  character,  T.  iv. 
1672. 

Moralitee,  s.  moral  tale,  I  38;  moral 
writing,  I  1088. 

Mordre,  s.  murder,  R.  1136;  m.  wol  out, 
B  4242. 

Mordre,  ^<-;-.  to  murder,  kill,  L.  1536. 

Mordrer,  s.  murderer,  5.  353,  612. 

Mordring,  s.  murdering,  A  2001. 

More,  adj.  greater,  B  2396,  E  1231 ;  larger, 
HF.  500;  More  and  lesse,  all  alike, 
every  one,  B  959 ;  More  and  more,  HF. 
532;  with-outen  more,  without  further 
trouble,  T.  iv.  133. 


More,   adv.   more,  A  219;   in   a  greater 

degree,  B  3745. 
More,  s.  root,  l".  v.  25.    A.  S.  moru. 
Mormal,  s.  sore,  gangrene,  A  386. 
Morne.  s.  morning;  ntorne  m ilk, mormng- 

milk,  A  358,  3236. 
Morsel,  s.  morsel,  bit,  A  128;  m.  breed, 

morsel  of  bread,  B  3624. 
Morter,  s.  mortar,  9. 15 ;  a  metal  bowl  for 

holding  wax,  with  a  wick  for  burning, 

T.  iv.  1245. 
Mortifye,    v.  kill;    used    of  producing 

change    by    chemical    action,   G    1431; 

pp.  deadened,  I  233. 
Mortreux,  pi.  thickened   soups  or  pot- 
tages,  A    384.     (Also   spelt   7nortrewes ; 

thus  .r  is  for  s.) 
Morwen,  s.  morning,  morrow,  T.  ii.  1555 ; 

Morwe,  L.  49,  108 ;  fore  part  of  a  day, 

T.  iv.  1308 ;  by  the  morwe,  early  in  the 

morning,  A  334. 
Morweninge.f.  morning,  A  1062;  dawn- 

iiii,',  4.  26. 
Morwe-song,  s.  morning-song,  A  830. 
Morwe-tyde,  s.  morning-hour,  E  2225; 

///  t'lc  III.,  in  the  morning,  B  4206. 
Mosel,  s.  muzzle,  A  2151. 
Most,  2  pt.  s.  oughtest  (to),  8.  3;  Moste, 

pt.  s.  must,  ought    (to),  A  3088;    must 

(go),  HF.  187;  had  to  go,  T.  v.  5;  was 

obliged  to,  T.  iii.  540;   must,  might,  E 

2102 ;  pt.  s.  subj.  might,  L.  1594  ;  Mosten, 

//.  pi.  must,  might,  T.  ii.  1507;   could, 

HP".  2094. 
Moste,   adj.  sup.  greatest,  F  199;    chief, 

D  1041 ;  chiefest,  F  361. 
Mote  (i),s.  atom,  T.  iii.  1603;  Motes,//. 

specks  of  dust,  D  868. 
Mote  (2),  s.  motion  (Lat.  motiis),A.  ii.  44. 

22.    The  '  mene  mote '  or  mean  motion 

is  the  average   motion  of  a  planet  dur- 
ing a  given  period. 
Motre.^vr  to  mutter,  T.  ii.  541. 
Mottelee,  s.  motley  ariay,  A  271. 
Motthes,  s.  pi.  moths,  B  2187. 
Motyf,   s.  motive;   hence  idea,  notion,  B 

628,  E  1491. 
Moulen,  v.  grow  mouldy,  B  32;  //.  A 

3870. 
Mountance,  s.  amount,  value,  quantity, 

A  1570;  amount  (of  time), L.  307;  length, 

T.  ii.  1707;  value,  H  255. 
Mourdaunt,  s.  chape,  or  metal  tag,  at 

the  end  of  a  girdle,  R.  1094.     (Not  'the 

tongue  of  a  buckle.') 
Moustre,  s.  pattern,  3.  912. 
Moveresse,  s.  a  fomentress  of  quarrels, 

R.  149. 


(glogsarial  IntJei. 


73 


Mowe,  s.  grimace,  T.  iv.  7  ;  //.  HF.  1806. 
Mowen,  v.  be  able;    moweii  sheiuen,  be- 


come evident,  B  5.  p  4.  163;  Mowen, ^^r. 

to  hiive  power,  T.  ii.  1594;   May,  \pr.  s. 

may,  B  89;  can,  B   231;    Maystow,  may- 

est  thou,  A   1918;   Mowe,   i  pr.pl.  can, 

B  2939;  may,  HF.  1735;   Mowen,  2 //-. 

//.  can,  19.  25;    Mowe,  2  pr.  pi.  may,  L. 

92;    can,   3.    552;     Mowen,  //■.  pi.   are 

able    to,   D    1722;     Mowe,  //•.  //.    may, 

can,  A  2999;   Mowe,  ipr.  s.  sitbj.  mayest, 

tl  460 ;  Mighte,  pt.  s.  might,  A  169,  &c. ; 

I  //.  s.  siibj.  could,  E  638. 
Mowinge,  s.  ability,  B  4.  p  4.  32. 
Mowled,  pp.  decayed,  A  3870. 
Moysoun,  s.  crop,  growth,  R.  1677.    O.  F. 

iiioison  ;   Lat.  ace.  mensionem. 
Moyste,  adj.  fresh,  new,  B  1954,  C  315. 
Moysty,  adj.  new  (applied  to  ale),  H  60. 
Muable,  adj.  changeable,  T.  iii.  822. 
Muchel,   adj.    much,   great,   A    2352 ;    a 

great    deal    of,   F   349;    in  so  vt.,  in    so 

much,  B  2644;   many,  G  673. 
Muchel,   adv.  greatly,  A  258;    much,  F 

1129. 
Mulier    est    horninis    confiisio,    woman    is 

man's  confusion,  B  4354. 
MuUok.  s.  a  heap  of  refuse,  .\  3873 ;    con- 
fused heap  of  materials,  G  938,  940. 
Multiplicacioun,    s.    multiplying,    i.  e. 

thi'  art  of  alchemy,  G  849. 
Multiplye,  v.  to  make  gold  and  silver  by 

the  arts  of  alchemy,  G  669. 
Murmuracion,  s.  murmuring,  I  499. 
Murmuringe,  s.  murmur,  A  2432. 
Mu'i'the,  s.  mirth,  joy,  E  1123. 
Murye,  adj.  merry,  A  1386. 
Muscle,  s.  mussel,  D  2100. 
Muse,  s.  muse,  poetic  faculty,  16.  38. 
Muse,  !^er.  to  consider,  T.  iii.  563 ;  pr.  s. 

Sizes  into,  R.  1^92;  pp.  gazed,  R.  1645. 
Musice,  Music,  B  2.  p  i.  49. 
Musyke,  music,  5.  62;   Musik,  B  4483. 
Muwe,  s.  mew,  pen    (for    hawks),   cage, 

r.  i.  381 ;    in  muwe,  cooped   up,  T.  iv. 

4Q6, 
Muwe,  V.  change,  T.  ii.  1258. 
Myle,   s.   mile,   HF.    1038;   jyve   m.,  five 

miles,  G  555. 
Mynde,  s.  dat.  mind,   recollection,  3.  15; 

ace.  reason,   2.   34;    3.  511;    have  minde 

upon,  remember,  19.  26. 
Myne,  v.  undermine,  T.  iii.  767. 
Mynour,  .?.  one  who  mines,  A  2465. 
Myrie,  adj.  merry,  A  1499. 
Myrie,  adv.  merrily,  A  3575. 
Myrier.  adv.  comp.  merrier,  R.  876. 
Mys,  pi.  mice,  B  2.  p  6.  37. 


Myte  (i),  s.  mite,  thing  of  no  value,  A 

1558. 
Myte  (2),  mite,  insect;  //.  D  560. 

N. 
N',  for   ne,   not;    as   in  nacheveth  for  ve 

acheveth,  and  the  like. 
Na,  no  (Northern),  A  4175. 
Na  mo,  i.  e.  no  more,  none  else,  B  695. 
Nacheveth,   for  ne  acheveth,   achieves 

not,  T.  v.  784. 
Nadde,//.  s.  {for  ne  hadde),had  not,  R. 

457- 
Naddre,  s.  adder,  E  1786. 
Nadir,  s.  the  point  of  the  ecliptic  exactly 

opposite    to    that   in   which   the   sun   is 

situate,  A.  ii.  6.  i ;  see  I.  12. 
Nadstow,  2  //.  s.  haddest  thou  not,  didst 

thou  not,  A  4088. 
Naille,  imp.  s.  3  /.  let  it  nail,  let  it  fasten, 

E  1184. 
Naiteth,  pr.  s.  refuses,  B  i.  m  i.  25. 
Nake,  ■2pr.pi.  make  naked,  B  4.  mi  7.  70; 

Naked,  pp.  as  adj.  naked,  A  1956,  I  105  ; 

bare,    HF.    133;     destitute,    void,    weak, 

G  486  ;  simple,  plain,  A.  pr.  30. 
Nakers, /i/.  kettle-drums,  A  2511.     From 

the  Arabic. 
Nale ;    atte  nale,  at   the   ale,  at   the  ale- 
house, D  1349. 
Nam,    {for   ne   am),   i  pr.  s.  am  not,  A 

1 122,  B  2710;  nam  but  deed,  am  only  a 

dead  man,  3.  204. 
Nam,  pt.  s.  took,  G  1297. 
Name,  s.  good  name,  reputation,  L.  1812; 

title,  B  3.  p  6.  36. 
Namely,  adv.  especially,  A  1268,  2709. 
Namo,  {for  na  mo),  no  more  in  number, 

A   loi,   544;    none    other,    no    one   else, 

D  957. 
Namore,  adv.  no  more,  A  98. 
Napoplexye,   for   Ne    apople.\v«,    nor 

apoplexy,  B  4031. 
Nappeth,   */.  s.  naps,  slumbers,   nods, 

H9. 
Narette ;  see  Arette. 
Nart,  (  for  ne  art),  art  not,  G  499. 
Narwe,   adj.  small,  B  4012;  pi.  A  625; 

close,  closely  drawn,  D  1803. 
Narwe.  adv.  narrowly,  closelv,  A  3224; 

tightly,  L.  600;  carefully,  E  1988. 
Nas,  {for  ne  was),  was' not,  A  251,  288; 

/  nas  but,  I  was  simply,  2.  21. 
Nassayeth,   for   ne    assayeth,   attempts 

not,  T.  v.  784. 
Nat,    adv.    not,    A    74;    Nat    but,  only, 

merely,  L.  1899;  quite,  L.  2091. 
Nat,  {/or  ne  at),  nor  at,  B  290. 


74 


(glossarial  hxtin. 


Nat  forthy,  arfi/.  notwithstanding,  B  2165. 
Natal,  iidj.  who  presides  over  nativities, 

T.  iii.  150. 
Nath,    (/i>r  ne  hath),  pr.  s.  hath  not,  A 

923- 

Nathelees,  nevertheless,  A  35. 

Natxire,  s.  nature,  A  11;  kind,  race,  5. 
615;  seed.  I  577. 

Naturel.  adj.  natural,  A  416.  A  '  day 
natural '  is  a  period  of  24  hours. 

Naught,  adv.  not,  B  1701 ;  not  so.  G  269. 

Nave,  s.  nave  (of  a  wheel),  D  2266. 

Naxe,  {/or  ne  axe),  ask  not,  I",  v.  594. 

Nay.  luh'.  nay,  no,  G  1339;  (opposed  to 
yea),  E  355  ;  (answers  a  direct  question), 
B  740;  surely  not!  3.  1309;  as  s.  nay, 
untruth,  3.  147;  It  is  no  nay,  there  is 
no  denying  it,  B  1956. 

Nayte,  v.  withhold,  deny,  I  1013. 

Ne.  adv.  and  conj.  not,  A  70;  nor,  A  179, 
526;  tie  .  .  .  ne,  neither  .  .  .  nor,  A  603; 
(when  used  with  a  verb,  a  second  neg- 
ative is  often  added). 

Nece,  s.  niece,  B  1290. 

Necesseden,  pt.  pi.  compelled,  B  %.  m 
9.8. 

Neddre,  s.  adder ;  pi.  L.  699. 

Nede,  s.  need,  extremity,  B  102,  658, 
2360;  extremity,  difficult  matter,  B 
2917 ;  peril,  B  3576 ;  at  nede,  at  need, 
I.  112;  for  nede,  if  needful,  R.  1123; 
s.  as  adj.  needful,  A  304;  pi.  matters  of 
business,  B  174,  1266;  necessities,  T.  ii. 
954;  ne^ds,  G  178;  for  nedes,  for  very 
need,  3.  120I. 

Nede,  adv.  necessarily,  of  necessity,  R. 
144 1,  1473. 

Nede.  v.  be  necessary.  B  871 ;  Nedeth, 
pr.  s.  (it)  is  necessary!  (it)  needs,  A  462; 
■what  n.,  what  is  the  need  of,  A  849; 
Xeded^,  pt.  s.  impers.  (there)  needed,  A 
402«.  4161 ;  us  neded,  we  should  need, 
-r.  iv.  1344. 

Nedely,   adv.   of   necessity,  necessarily, 

B  4435- 
Nedes.  adv.  needs,  necessarily,  of  neces- 

sitv,  L.  1298. 
Nedes-cost,   adv.  of  necessity,  A  1477, 

Needly,  adv.  necessarily,  B  3.  p  9.  87. 
Sr  •  Nedely. 

Neen,  no  (Northern),  A  4185,  4187. 

Near,  adv.  comp.  nearer.  .\  839.  968 ;  neer 
and  neer,  A  4304 ;  as  pos.  adv.  near,  A 
143Q  ;  fer  or  neer,  far  or  near,  T.  i.  451. 

Neet.  />/.  neat,  cattle,  A  597. 

Neg'ardye,  s.  niggardliness.  10.  53. 

Neghen.  v.  draw  nigh,  L.  318. 


Neigh,  adj.  near,  nigh,  B  2558. 
Neigh,  adv.  nearly,  I",  i.  60. 
Neighebour,  s.  neighbour,  A  535. 
Neighen,  v.  draw  near,  T.  ii.  1555. 
Neither  nother,    (in)   neither  the   one 

nor  llu-  other,  H  5.  m  3.  53. 
Nekke-boon,  s.  neck-bone,  B  1839;  neck, 

D  900  ;   nape  of  the  neck,  B  669. 
Nel,  I  pr.  s.  will  not,  'I',  ii.  726. 
Nempnen,  v.  name,  B  507. 
Nenvye,  for  ne  envye,  imp.  s.  envy  not, 

r.  V.  1789. 
Ner,  adv.  comp.  nearer,  3.  888 ;  T.  i.  448  ; 

Nere,  3.  38;   ner  and  ner,  B  1710;  Ner 

the  les,  nevertheless,  4.  130. 
Nercotikes,  pi.  narcotics,  A  1472. 
Nere  {for  ne  were),  -2  pt.  s.  wast  not,  4. 

112;   pt.  pi.  were  not,  A  875,  D   1944; 

I  //.  s.  subj.  should  not  (I)  be,  T.  ii.  409 ; 

Nere,  pt.  s.  siihj.  would   not  be,  should 

not  be,  A   1129;  were  not,  B  3984;  were 

it  not,  B   132;    were  it  not  (for),  i.  24, 

180. 
Nere,  adv.  nearer,  R.  1454. 
Nerf ,  s.  nerve,  i.  e.  sinew,  T.  ii.  642. 
Nescapest  (for  Ne  escapest),  escapest 

not,  L.  2643. 
Nest,  s.  D  1691  ;  wikked  nest,  i.  e.  mau  ni, 

or    Miiunv     (referring    to     Sir    Oliver 

Maunv).  B  3573;  //.  HF.  1516. 
Net-herdes,  gen.  neat-herd's,  B  2746. 
Nether,  adj.  lower,  A  3852. 
Netherest,  adj.  superl.  lowest,  i.e.  outer- 
most, A.  i.  18.  7. 
Nevene,  v.  name.  G  821 ;  herd  hir  name 

n.,   heard    (him)    name   her    name,    T. 

i.   876;   pr.   pi.  subJ.   may   mention,    G 

1473- 
Never,   adv.   never,  A  70;    n.  dide  but, 
never  did   aught   that  was   not,  4.  297 ; 
n.  the  n,-er,  none  the  nearer,  G  721. 
Neveradel,  adv.  not  a  bit,  C  670. 
Never-mo,    adv.    never    oftener,    never 
(with  two  exceptions) ,  A.  ii.  31.5;  never, 
3.  1 125. 
i  Nevew,  .r.  nephew,  L.  1442;   grandson, 

L.  2659. 
I   Newe,  adv.  newly,  freshly,  afresh,  A  365, 
'       428;  o/'//fM»(r,  new,  fresh,  T.  ii.  20;   Newe 
and  newe.  again  and  again.  T.  iii.  116; 
continually,  C  929. 
Newed,  pi.  s.  had  something  fresh  in  it, 
j       3.  906;  pp.  renewed,  B  3036. 
!   Newefangel,  adj.  fond  of  novelty,  F  618, 
H  193. 
New-fangelnesse,  s.  fondness  for  nov- 
elty, L.  154  ;  F  610. 
Newe-thought,  s.  Inconstancy,  R.  982. 


(glossatial  Intitx. 


7S 


Nexte,  adj.  sup.  nearest,  A  1413;  easiest, 

T.  i.  697. 
Ney,  adj.  nigh,  A.  ii.  3.  78. 
Nigard,  adj.  niggardly,  R.  1172. 
Nig'ard,  s.  miser,  niggard,  B  4105. 
Nigardye,  s.  miserliness,  B  1362. 
Nighte,  ger.  to  grow  dark,  become  night, 

r.  V.  515- 

Nighter-tale,  s.  ;  by  n.,  in  the  night-time, 
A  97.  This  expression  seems  to  have 
resulted  from  a  confusion  of  Icel.  a 
nattar-peli,  in  the  dead  of  night,  with 
Icel.  nattar-tal,  a.  tale  or  number  of 
nights. 

Night-spel,  s.  night-spell,  night-incan- 
tation, A  3480. 

NigTomanciens,  s.  pi.  necromancers, 
I  603. 

Nil,  I  pr.  s.  will  not,  3.  92,  1125;  will  (I) 
not,  shall  (I)  not.  T.  v.  40,  43,  44;  desire 
not,  dislike,  E  646;  Nille,  i  pr.  s.  will 
not,  G  1463;  Nil, /A-,  s.  will  not,  B  972; 
will  not  (have),  3.  586;  will  (she)  not, 
3.  1140 ;  Nilt,  2  pr.  s.  wilt  not,  T.  ii.  1024 ; 
Niltow,  thou  wilt  not,  T.  i.  792. 

NiUinge,  s.  refusmg,  B  5.  p  2.  23. 

Nin,  for  Ne  in,  nor  in,  E  151 1,  F  35. 

Nis,  for  ne  is,  is  not,  2.  77 ;  Ther  nis  no 
more  but,  all  that  remains  is  that,  L. 
847. 

Niste,  I  pf.  s.  knew  not,  F  502;  pi.  s. 
knew  not,  A  3414,  4225. 

Noble,  s.  a  £old  coin,  A  3256;  //.  HF. 
1315.     (Worth  6s.  Sd.) 

Nobledest,  pi.  s.  2  p.  ennobledest,  didst 
ennoble,  G  40.  A  translation  of  Dante's 
nob'tlitasti. 

Noblesse,  s.  nobleness,  R.  780;  noble 
cheer,  T.  v.  439;  nobility,  D  1167;  (title 
of  respect),  B  2956;  magnificence,  B 
3438 ;  high  honour,  B  3208 ;  nobility, 
rank,  R.  1034;  worthy  behaviour,  B 
185,  248. 

Nobley,  s.  nobility,  dignity,  splendour, 
HF.  1416;  noble  rank,  T.  iv.  1670; 
assembly  of  nobles,  G  449 ;  state,  F  77. 

Nof  [for  Ne  of),  nor  of,  D  571,  660. 

Noght,  adv.  not,  A  107 ;  by  no  means, 
in  no  respect,  A  1226;  Noght  but  for, 
only  because,  D  645. 

Nog-ht,  s.  nothing,  C  542;  N.  worth, 
worth  nothing,  H  200. 

Noisen,  ■z  pr.pl.  cry  aloud,  B  3.  m  6.  10. 

Nokked,  pp.  notched,  R.  942. 

Nolde,  I  //.  s.  would  not,  did  not  want, 
5.  90;  (I)  should  not  desire,  G  1334; 
Noldest,  2  //.  s.  wouldst  not,  3.  482; 
Noldestow,   if  thou  wouldst  not,  T.  iii. 


1264;    Nolde,  pt.  s.  would   not,   i.  31; 

would  not  (have),  A  1024. 
Nombre,    s.  number,   A   716;    amount, 

sum,  A.  ii.  24.  5. 
Nombred,  pp.  counted  in,  T.  iii.  1269. 
Nomen,  //.  taken,  T.  v.  514  ;  put,  R.  408  ; 

Nome,  //.  L.  822,   1018,   1777.     Pp.   of 

nimen. 
Nones,  for  the,  for  the  nonce,  for  the 

occasion,  for  this  occasion,  A  379,  523, 

545.  879;  on  the   spur   of  the    moment, 

T.  i.  561 ;  for  the  time,  T.  ii.  1381 ;   With 

the  nones,  on  the  condition,  HF.  2099, 

L    1540.     Originally  for   then   anes,   for 

the  once;  where  then  is  the  dat.  of  the 

def.  article  (A.  S.  (Sam). 
Nonne,   s.   nun,  A   118;   Nonnes  Freest, 

Nun's  I'riest,  B  4637. 
Nonnerye,  s.  nunnery,  A  3946. 
Noon,  none,  no,  A  318,  449;  or  noon,  or 

not,  or  no,  D  2069. 
Noot,  I  pr.  s.  know  not,  E.  2660;  Not,  L. 

193;  Nost,knowest  not,  3. 1137;  Nostow, 

thou  knowest  not,  HF.  loio;  Noot,//-.  j. 

knows  not,  C  284;  Not,  4.  214.    A.  S. 

ndt. 
Norice,  s.  nurse,  B  4305. 
Norice,  v.  nourish,  foment,  B  2204;  pp. 

brought  up,  E  399. 
Norlssing,  s.  nutriment,  A  437;  growth, 

A  3017 ;    Norishinge,    bringing    up,    E 

1040;    //.    refections,     B    4.    p    6.    38 ; 

sustenance,  B  i.  p  6.  93  (LaX.  fomilem). 
Noriture,  s.  nourishment,  T.  iv.  768. 
Nortelrye,  s.  education,  A  3967. 
Northren,  northern,  A  1987. 
Norture,  s.   instruction,  good   manners, 

R.  179. 
Nory,   s.    pupil     (lit.    foster-child),   B  3. 

p  II.  233 ;   Norry,  B  i.  p  3.  14. 
Nose-thirles,  pL  nostrils,  A  557,  I  209. 
No8kinnes,/()/-  Noneskinnes,  of  no  kmd, 

HF.    1794.     From    nones,   gen.    of  noon, 

none ;  and  kinnes,  gen.  of  kin. 
Nost,  Nostow,  Not;  see  Noot. 
Not  but,  only,  4.  121 ;  T.  iii.  1636. 
Nota,  1.  e.  observe,  A.  ii.  26.  33. 
Notabilitee,  s.  notable  fact,  B  4399. 
Notdble,  adj.   notorious,  remaikable,   B 

1875- 
Notaries,  s.  pi.  scribes,  I  797. 
Note,  J.  (i),note(in  music),  A  235,  B  1737  ; 

musical  note,  peal,  HF.   1720;   tune,  5. 

677 ;  by  n.,  accordmg  to  musical  notes, 

by  note,  R.  669;   in  concord,  all  at  once, 

T.  iv.  585. 
Note,  s.  (2),  employment,  business,  task, 

job,  A  4068.    A.  S.  notu. 


76 


&\o66wcial  Itnliex. 


Noteful,  iiifj.  useful,  A.  pr.  120. 

Notemuge,  t.  nutmeg,  B  1953. 

Notes,  t.//.  nuts,  R.  1360. 

Not-heed,  s.  crop-head,  a  head  with  hair 
cropped  short,  A  109. 

Nother,  neither, 7.  253;  neither  (of  them), 
L.  192. 

Nothing:,  itdv.  in  no  respect,  in  no  degree, 
not  at  all,  A  2505;  for  n.,  bv  no  means,   [ 
D1121.  ■  I 

Notiflcacions,  //.  hints,  B  5.  m  3.  23.         ; 

Notifle,  pr.  pi.  indicate,  I  430;  pp.  pro- 
claimed, B  256. 

Nouchis,  J. //.  jewelled  ornaments,  jewels 
(properly,  setting  for  jewels),  clasps, 
HF.  1350;   Nowches,  K  382.     ^E..  ouch. 

Nought,  adv.  not,  T.  ii.  575,  673 ;  not  at 
all,  3.  3  ;   B  2262. 

Noumbre,  s.  number,  3.  440. 

Noumbre,  v.  number,  3. 439 ;  //.  counted 
in,  T.  iii.  1269. 

Noun-certeyn,  s.  uncertainty,  18.  46;  T. 

••  337- 
Noun-power,  s.  impotence,  B  3.  p  s.c2. 
Nouthe,    now,  T.  i.   985;   as  nouthe,   at 

l)resi'nl,  A  462. 
Novelrye,  s.  novelty,  T.  ii.  756. 
Now.  adv.  now,  A  715;  for  now,  for  ihe 

present,  7.  343;  now  and  now,  from  time 

to  time,  occasionally,  V  430. 
Nowches ;  sec  Nouchis. 
Noyous,  adj.  troublesome,  HF.  574.  Short 

for  anoyoiis. 
Ny,  adj.  near,  B  2562  ;   Nye,  def.  the  one 

who  is  near,  A  3392. 
Ny,  adv.  nigh,  nearly,  B  2735;  as  ny  as, 

as  close  to,  A  588  ;  wel  ny,  almost,  A 

1330- 
Ny.  /'"'•/.  nigh,  B  550. 
Nyce,  adj.  foolish,'B  3712,4505;  ignorant, 

R.  1257;  foolish,  weak,  B  1083,  G  493; 

ludicrous,  A  3855  :  scrupulous,  A  398. 
Nycely,  adv.  foolishly,  T.  v.  11^2. 
Nycetee,  s.  folly,  G  463;   simplicity,  A 

4046;    foolish    behaviour,    pleasure,    D 

412;  scrupulousness,  T.  ii.  1288. 
Nye :  see  Ny. 
Nyfles,  //.  mockeries,  pretences,  D  1760. 

Lit.  '  sniffings  ' ;  O.  F.  nijler,  to  sniff. 


O  (66),  one,  A  304,  363  ;  a  single,  B  5.  p  6. 
158;  one  and  the  same,  T.  ii.  37;  one 
continuous  and  uniform,  HF.  iioo.  See 
Oon. 

Obeisant.  adj.  obedient,  E  66,  I  264. 

Obeisaunce,   s.  obedience,   E  24,  502; 


obedient  act,  E  230;  obedient  farewell, 
L.  2479;  in  your  o.,  in  obedience  to  you, 
2.  84;  unto  her  o.,  in  obedience  to  her, 
L.  587;  C)beisaunces, //.  acts  of  dutiful 
attention,  L.  149;  observances,  L.  1268. 

Obeisingr,  adj.  yielding,  L.  1266. 

Objecte,  adj.  presented,  B  5.  p  5.  5. 

Obligacioun.f.bond,  15.2;  Obligaciouns, 
p/.  sureties,  B  3018. 

Oblige,  -'.  ,•  0.  to  you,  lay  an  obligation  on 
you  (to  make  me),  '1'.  iv.  1414. 

Obs6quies,  //.  funeral  rites,  A  993. 

Observaunce,.t.  respect,  A  1045  ;  homage, 
7.218;  observance,  I,.  KioS ;  ceremony, 
T.  ii.  112;  heed,  I  747;  //.  customary 
attentions,  F  956 ;  duties,  L.  150. 

Observe,  v.  favour,  B  1821 ;  pr.  s.  takes 
heed,  I  303. 

Occasioun,  s.  cause,  L.  994. 

Occident,  t.  west.  B  297. 

Occidentale,  adj.  western,  A.  i.  5.  9. 

Occupye,  v.  take  up,  F  64 ;  pr.  s.  follows 
close  upon,  T.  iv.  836 ;  dwells  in,  B  424 ; 
hnp.  s.  hold  to,  B  4.  p  7.  103. 

Octogamye,  s.  marrying  eight  times,  D 

33- 

01,  prep,  of,  A  2,  &c. ;  by,  R.  1260;  con- 
cerning, about,  ]•"  1 179;  during,  B  510; 
for,  13.  19;  off,  from,  3.  964;  on  account 
of,  B  2208 ;  as  to,  as  regards,  in  respect 
of,  F  425 ;  as  to,  3.  966 ;  upon,  5.  555 ; 
over,  B  2947 ;  with,  A  2055 ;  some,  A 
146 ;  of  a  purpos,  on  purjjose,  deliber- 
ately, 6  2273  ;  0/  al  my  lif,  in  all  my  life, 
5.  484;  of  grace,  by  his  favour,  out  of 
his  favour,  E  178;  fulfild  of,  filled  with, 
7.  42. 

Of,  adv.  off,  away,  5.  494 ;  (come)  off,  T. 
iv.  1106;  off,  K  ifyjb;  com  of,  be  quick, 
have  done,  A  3728. 

Offensioun,  damage,  A  2416. 

Offertorie,  s.  offertory,  A  710. 

Office,  t.  office,  employment  of  a  secular 
character,  A  292;  employment,  B  3446; 
duty,  5.  236;  property,  D  1144;  place  of 
office,  D  1577 ;  with  o.,  by  the  use  of 
(Lat.  officio),  B  i.  p  1.3;  houses  of  0., 
servants'  offices,  E  264. 

Of-newe,  adv.  newly,  again,  R.  1613; 
latrlv.  E  938. 

Of-shbwve,  v.  repel  (lit.  shove  off),  A 
3912. 

Of-taken,  pp.  taken  away,  B  1855. 

Ofte,  adj.pl.  many;  Ofte  sythes,  often- 
times, .A  485;  Ofte  tyme,  often,  A  52; 
Tymes  ofte,  E  226. 

Oft'er.  adv.  comp.  oftener,  E  215. 

Of  that.  conj.  because,  L.  815. 


©logsarial  Intei. 


77 


Of-thowed, //>.  thawed  avvav,  HF.  1143. 

Oght,  s.  aught,  anything,  F  1469 ;  any- 
thing of  value,  G  1333;  as  adv.  ought, 
at  all,  B  1792. 

Og-hte ;  see  Owen. 

Oke,  Okes;  see  Ook. 

Olifaunts,  s./>L  elephants,  B  3.  p  8.  29. 

Oliveres,  s.p/.  olive-trees,  R.  1314;  olive- 
yards,  B  3226. 

Olyve,  s.  olive-tree,  5.  181. 

Omelies,  s.pl.  homilies,  I  1088. 

On,  p/dj>.  on,  A  12 ;  in,  F  921 ;  at,  T.  iii. 
32 ;  of,  T.  iii.  18  ;  as  regards,  E  1424 ; 
against,  T.  ii.  865;  towards,  4.  298; 
binding  on,  10.  43;  Air  on,  upon  her,  3. 
1217;  o/i  eve,  in  the  evening,  E  1214;  on 
reste,  at  rest,  F  379. 

On,  one;  see  Oon. 

Onde,  s.  envy,  R.  148.     A.  S.  anda. 

Oneden,  pt.  pi.  united,  I  193  ;  pp.  united, 
complete,  D  1968. 

Ones,  adv.  once,  B  588  ;  united  in  design, 
C  696;  at  ones,  at  once,  A  765. 

On-lofte,  adv.  aloft,  up  in  the  air,  in  the 
sky,  s.  203,  683 ;  above  ground,  E  229. 

On-ly  ve,  adv.  alive,  F  932.     Lit. '  in  life." 

Oo,  one ;  see  Oon. 

Ook,  s.  oak,  A  1702;  Oke,  dat.  3.  447; 
(collectively) ,  oaks,  R.  1384. 

Oon,  one,  R.  624 ;  always  the  same,  the 
same,  one  and  the  same,  B  2142;  united, 
agreed,  T.  ii,  1740;  alone,  unwedded,  li 
66;  the  same,  i.  e.  of  small  consequence, 
3.  1295;  the  same  thing,  alike,  F  537; 
oon  the  faireste,  one  of  the  fairest,  E 
212 ;  in  oon,  in  the  same  state,  un- 
changeably ;  ever  in  oon,  ever  alike, 
always  in  the  same  manner,  E  602; 
continually,  D  209;  oon  and  oon,  one  by 
one,  A  679;  after  oon,  equally  good,  A 
341;  that ^  oon,  one  thing,  T.  iv.  1453; 
the  one,  C  666;  ?nany  oon,  many  a  one, 
A  317,  E  775 ;  felle  at  oon,  came  to  one  I 
agreement,  T.  iii.  565 ;  many  on,  many 
a  one,  D  680 ;  everich  on,  every  one,  B 
1 164  ;  Oo,  one,  G  207  ;  a  single,  R.  1236 ; 
one  and  the  same,  3.  1293. 

Ooned,  pp.  united,  B  4.  p  6.  81. 

Open-ers,  s.  fruit  of  the  medlar,  A  3871. 

Open-heeded,  with  head  uncovered    D 

^645. 

Opie,  J.  opium,  A  1472;  Opies,//.  opiates, 

L.  2670. 
Opned,//.  opened,  T.  iii.  469. 
Opposen,  V.  oppose;    0.  me,  lay  to  my 

charge,  D  1597. 
Oppresse,  v.  suppress,  lo.  60;  violate,  F 
141 1 ;  ger.  to  put  down,  G  4. 


Oppressioun,  s.  oppression,  wrong,  L. 
2S92;  tyranny,  10.  19;  violation,  L. 
i8b8. 

Or,  conj.  ere,  G  314. 

Or,  prep,  before,  R.  864. 

Or,  conj.  or,  A  91,  &c. ;  Or  .  .  .  or,  either 
.  .  .  or,  R.  261. 

Oratorie,  ,s.  closet  for  prayers,  A  1905. 

Ordal,  s.  ordeal,  T.  iii.  1046. 

Orde,  dat.  point,  L.  645.  A.  S.  ord.  And 
see  Word. 

Ordenee,  adj.  well-ordered,  B  4.  p  i.  46. 

Orden61y,  adv.  conformably,  in  order, 
B  4.  p  6.  313. 

Ordenour,  s.  ruler,  B  3.  p  12.  102. 

Ordeyned.  //.  provided,  A  2553;  ap- 
pointed, F  177;  prepared,  G  1277; 
ordered,  I  336;  (=  ordeynee) ,//.  regu- 
lated, T.  i.  892. 

Ordinaat,  adj.  orderly,  E  1284. 

Ordinatly,  adj.  methodically,  I  1045. 

Ordinaunce,  s.  arrangement,  A  3012; 
provision,  B  250;  orderly  arrangement. 
A  2567  ;  consideration,  18.  38  ;  order,  B 
2303;    resolve,  B   2258;    command,   10. 

Ordred,  pp.  as  adj.  ordained,  I  782. 

Ordure,  s.  filthiness,  I  841 ;  rubbish,  T. 
V.  385. 

Ore,  s.  grace;  tltyn  0.,  (I  pray  for)  thy 
grace,  A  3726.     A.  S.  dr. 

Ore,  s.  ore  (of  metal),  D  1064.    A.  S.  dr. 

Ores,  s.  pi.  oars,  L.  2308. 

Orfrays,  s.  gold  embroidery,  gold  braid, 
fringe  with  golden  threads,  R.  462,  869, 
1070.     A.  F.  or/reis,  O.  F.  or/rois. 

Organs,  s.pl.'  organs,'  the  old  equivalent 
of  organ,  G  134. 

Orgon,  pi.  as  sing,  organ  (Lat.  orgaita) ,  B 
4041. 

Orient,  s.  east,  A  1494. 

Oriental,  adj.  eastern ;  (hence)  of  supe- 
rior quality,  L.  221. 

Orisonte,  s.  horizon,  T.  v.  276. 

Orisoun,  j.  prayer,  A  2372. 

Orison  rectum,  or  right  horizon,  A.  ii.  26. 
35.  This  means  the  horizon  of  any 
place  situate  on  the  equator,  which 
could  be  represented  by  a  straight  line 
upon  a  disc  of  the  astrolabe. 

Orloge,  s.  clock,  5.  350;  B  4044. 

Orphelin,  adj.  orphaned,  B  2.  p  3.  33. 

Orpiment,  s.  orpiment,  G  759,  774,  823. 
'  Orpiment,  trisulphide  of  arsenic ' ; 
Webster. 

Oruscupum,  i.  e.  horoscope,  A.  ii.  3.  rubric. 

Osanne,  i.  e.  Hosannah,  B  642. 

Ost,  s.  host,  army,  L.  1906. 


78 


@l02Sartal  JnTJci. 


Ostelments,  s.  pi.  furniture,   household 

goods,  B  2.  p  5.  135.     (L.  stipelUcttlis). 

Cf.  V.  outil. 
Ostesse,  s.  hostess,  B  4.  m  3.  23. 
Otes.  s.pl.  (of)  oats,  D  1963. 
Other,  adj.  second,  R.953,  976;  the  other, 

A    427;  -,uhat  o.,   what   else,   T.  i.  799; 

that  o.,   the    other,    F    496;    Other,  //. 

others,    R.    1304;    Othere.  //.   other,   A 

794;  others,  HF.  2151 ;  ,^<r«. />/.  others". 

HF.    2153,     Otheres,    gen.   sing,    each 

other's  (ht.  of  the  other),  C  476. 
Other,   conj.  or.  3.  810;    Other  ...  or, 

I'illier  ...  or,  G  1 149. 
Other-whyle,  adv.  sometimes,  B  2.  p  i. 

120. 
Ouche,  t.  nouch,  clasp,  D  743.  See  Nou- 

chi3. 
Ought,  s.  anything,  3.  459;  as  adv.  at  all, 

1 .  ii.  268;  in  ought  that,  in  as  far  as,  T. 

iii.  1241. 
Oughtestow.  oughtest  thou,  L.  1957. 
Oule,  s.  owl,  D  1081. 
Oule3,   pi.  awls;    spiked    irons    for   tor- 

nunting  men,  D  1730.     A.  S.  awtl. 
Ounces,  pi.  small  portions,  A  677 ;  ounces, 

li  7=;6. 
Ounded,  pp.  wavy,  T.  iv.  736. 
Oundlngre.    s.    adornment    with    waved 

lines.  I  417. 
Oundy.  adj.  wavy,  HF.  1386.     F.  onde. 
Out,  adv.  out,  A  45,  &c. :  used  for  come 

out.  HF.  2139;  go  out,  T.  iv.  210;  fully, 

1.  iii.  417;   mordre  wil  out,  murder  will 
out,  B  1766;  Out  and  out,  entirely,  T.  ii. 

739- 
Out,  interj.  alas  I   A  3825  ;  Out  I  harrow  I 

H  4570. 
Out  of,  prep,  without,  C   157 ;  out  of,  A 

Out-breke.  v.  break  out,  break  silence, 

2.  12. 

Out-breste.  v.  burst  out,  T.  iv.  237. 

Out-bringe,  v.  utter,  L.  1835. 

Outcast,  pp.  cast  out.  T.  v.  615. 

Out-caughte.  pt.  s.  drew  out,  B  1861. 

Out-drawe,  pp.  drawn  out,  T.  iv.  1226. 

Oute,  adv.  away,  T.  v.  553;  out,  i.  e. 
uttered,  D  977. 

Outen,  V.  put  out,  utter,  exhibit,  G  834; 
utter,  E  2438 ;  Oute,  i  pr.  s.  utter,  offer, 
D  521.     A.  S.  utian. 

Outereste,  adj.  superl.  uttermost,  far- 
thest, B  2.  m  6.  17. 

Outerly,  adv.  utterly,  entirely,  E  335. 

Outfleyinge,  s.  flying  out,  HF.  1523. 

Out-hees,  s.  outcry,  hue  and  cry,  alarm, 
A  2012. 


Outher,  conj.  either,  R.  250. 
Outherwhyle,  adv.  sometimes,  B  2733, 

2S=;7. 
Outlandish,  adj.  foreign,  9.  22. 
Outrage,  t.  excess  (luxu),  B  2.  m  5.  5; 

cnifliy,  injustice,  A  2012. 
Outrageous,  adj.  excessive,  B  2180;  im- 
moderate,   I    743;    violent,  rampant,   R. 

174;  excessively  bold,  R.  1257. 
Outrageously,  adv.  excessively,  A  3998. 
Outrance,  s.  great  hurt,  excessive  injury, 

24.  26. 
Outraye,  v.  lose  temper,  E  643.    O.  F. 

oiitreer,  to  surpass. 
Outrely,  adj.  utterly,  B4419;  entirely,  B 

2943.  3072;  decidedly,  B  2210. 
Out-ringe,  v.  ring  out,  T.  iii.  1237. 
Out-rood.  //.  s.  rode  out,  T.  v.  604. 
Out-rydere,  s.  rider  abroad,  A  166.    The 

name  of  a  monk  who  rode   to   inspect 

granges,  &c. 
Out-springe,  v.  come  to  light,  T.  i.  745; 

Oui-sprong,  pt.  s.  spread  abroad,  C  iii. 
Out-sterte. />/.^/.  started  out,  B  4237. 
Out-straughte,  pt.  s.  stretched  out,  R. 

15 15- 
Out-taken,  pp.  excepted,  B  277. 
Out-twyne,  2  pr.  pi.  twist  out,  utter,  12. 

II. 
Out-wende.  v.  proceed,  HF.  1645. 
Over,  pri-p.  above,  R.  1475;    beyond,  D 

1661 ;  besides,  F   137 ;    Over  hir  might, 

to  excess,  C  468. 
Over,  adj.  upper,  A  133 ;  Overest,  superl. 

uppermost,  A  290. 
Over-aJ,   adv.   evervwhere,  A   216,   249, 

1207 ;  in  all  directions,  T.  i.  928 ;  on  all 

sides,    D   264;    in   every   way,   E   2129; 

throughout,    E   1048;    Over   al   and   al, 

beyond  every  other,  3.  1003. 
Over-blowe] />/.  past,  L.  1287. 
Overcaste.  v.  overcast,  sadden,  A  1536. 
Overcotner,  s.  conqueror,  B  i.  m  2.  15. 
Overdoon,  pp.  carried  to  excess.  G  645. 
Over-gilt,   adj.  worked  over  with   gold, 

R.  873- 
Over-goon,  v.  pass  away,  T.  i.  846 ;  over- 

spreiid,  B  2.  p  7.  42. 
Overkerveth,  pr.  s.  cuts  across,  crosses, 

A.  i.  21.  90. 
Overlad,//.  put  upon,  B  3101.    Lit.  led 

over. 
Overlade,  v.  overload,  L.  621. 
Overlight,  adj.  too  feeble,  B  4.  m  3.  34. 
Over-loked,  pp.  perused,  3.  232. 
Overlyeth,  pr.  s.  lies  upon,  I  575. 
Over-passeth,  pr.  s.  surpasses,  B  5.  p  6. 

117. 


@lo00artal  Entiei. 


79 


Over-raugrhte,  pt.  s.  reached  over,  hence, 
iirtjed  on,  T.  v.  1018. 

Over-shake,//,  shaken  off,  5.  681. 

Overshote, //. ;  had  overshote  hem,  had 
over-run  the  scent,  3.  383. 

Over-skipte,  i  //.  s.  skipped  over, 
omitted,  3.  1208. 

Oversloppe.  s.  upper-garment,  G  633. 
Cf.  I  eel.  yfirslcppr,  an  upper  garment. 
See  Sloppes. 

Oversprede,  v.  spread  over,  cover,  E 
1799 1  Over-sprat,  pr.  s.  over-spreadeth, 
T.  ii.  767 ;  Overspradde,  pt.  s.  covered, 
A  2871. 

Overspringe,  pr.  s.  subj.  overpass,  F 
1060. 

Overtake,  v.  overtake,  attain  to,  G  682; 
Overtook,  i  pt.  s.  caught  up,  3.  360. 

Overte.  adj.  open,  HF.  718. 

Overthrowe ,  v.  be  overturned,  be  ruined, 
HF.  1640. 

Over-throwinge,  adj.  overwhelming,  B 
I.  m  2.  2;  headlong  (Lat.  praeciptti), 
B  2.  m  7.  I ;  headstrong  ( Lat.  praecipiti) , 
B  I.  m  6.  25;  revolving,  B  3.  m  12.  43. 

Overthrowinge,  s.  falling  down,  B  2755 ; 
pi.  destruction  (Lat.  ruinis),  B  2.  m  4.  17. 

Overthwart,   adv.  across,  A   1991 ;  op-  | 
posite,  T.  iii.  685;  askance,  R.  292. 

Overtymeliche,  adv.  untimely,  B  i.  m 
I.  18. 

Over-whelveth,  pr.  s.  overturns,  turns 
over,  agitates,  B  2.  m  3.  17. 

Owen,  V.  owe,  own,  possess;  Oweth, 
pr.  s.  owns,  possesses,  C  361;  Oweth, 
pr.  s.  rejl.  it  is  incumbent  (on  him), 
L.  360  a ;  Oghte,  i  pt.  s.  ought,  4.  216 ; 
Oughtestow,  2  pt.  s.  oughtest  thou,  T. 
V.  545 ;  L.  1957 ;  Oghte,  pt.  s.  impers.  it 
were  necessary,  B  2188  ;  him  oghte,  he 
ought,  L.  377;  it  became  him,  B  1097; 
hir  oghte,  became  her,  E  1120;  us  oghte, 
it  behoved  us,  we  ought,  i.  119;  hem 
oghte,  they  ought,  G  1340;  us  oghte 
(subj.),  it  should  behove  us,  we  ought, 
E  1150;  Oghte,  pt.  s.  owed,  L.  589; 
ought,  A   505 ;  Owed,  //.   due,   B  4.   p 

Owene,  adj.  def.  own,  C  834  :  myn  owene 
woman,  independent,  T.  ii.  750;  his 
owne  hand,  with  his  own  hand,  A  3624. 

Owh,  interj.  alas,  B  I.  p  6.  25. 

Owher,  adv.  anywhere,  A  653. 

Oxe,  J.  ox,  C  354 ;  Oxes,  gen.  E  207  ;  Oxen 
pi.  A  887. 

Oxe-stalle,  s.  ox-stall,  E  398. 

Oynement,  s.  ointment,  unguent,  A  631. 

Oynons,//.  onions,  A  634. 


Paas,  s.  pace,  step,  L.  284;  goon  a  paas, 
go  at  a  footpace,  C  866. 

Pace,  V.  pass,  go,  A  1602;  pass,  T.  i.  371 ; 
go  away,  15.  9 ;  pass  away,  A  175 ;  sur- 
pass, go  beyond,  T.  iii.  1272;  walk,  T.  v. 
1791 ;  overstep,  HF.  392;  come,  HF. 
720 ;  p.  of,  pass  over,  T.  ii.  1568  ;  of  this 
thing  to  p.,  to  pass  this  over  in  review, 
HF.  239;  to  pace  of,  to  pass  from,  B 
205;  ipr.  s.  pass  over  (it),  go  on,  HF. 
1355;  proceed,  go  on,  A  36;  i  pr.  s. 
subj.  depart,  F  494;  2  pr.  s.  subj.  go, 
D  911. 

Paillet,  s.  pallet,  T.  iii.  229. 

Paire,  s.  pair,  A  473;  set,  A  159;  as  pi. 
pairs,  5.  238.  {Pair,  in  the  sense  of 
'  set,'  is  applied  to  many  things  of  the 
same  kind  and  size.) 

Paisible,  adj.  peaceable,  9.  i. 

Palasye,  s.  palsy,  R.  1098. 

Pale,  s.  perpendicular  stripe,  HF.  1840. 

Palestral,  adj.  athletic,  pertaining  to 
wrestling,  T.  v.  304. 

Paleth,  pr.  s.  renders  pale,  B  2.  m  3.  3. 

Paleys-,  or  Palais -chaumbres,  //. 
palijce-chambers,  9.  41. 

Paleys-gardyn,  palace-garden,  T.  ii.  508. 

Paleys-ward,  to,  toward  the  palace,  T. 
ii.  1252. 

Paleys-yates,  //.  gates  of  the  palace, 
4.  82. 

Palinge,  .f.  adorning  with  (heraldic) 
pales,  or  upright  stripes,  I  417. 

Palis,  s.  palisade,  stockade,  B  I.  p  6.  41 ; 
paling,  rampart,  B  i.  p  3.  86.  O.  F. 
palis.  paleis. 

Palled,  pp.  pale,  languid,  H  55. 

Pan,  s.  brain-pan,  skull,  A  1165. 

Panade,  s.  kind  of  knife,  A  3939,  3960. 

Panier,  s.  pannier,  E  1568;  pi.  baskets 
for  bread.  HF.  1939. 

Panne,  s.  pan,  A  3944. 

Panter,  s.  bag-net  for  birds,  L.  131 ;  //. 
nets,  R.  1621.     O.  F.  pantiere. 

Papejay,  s.  popinjay,  B  1559,  1957,  E  2332 ; 
applied  in  England  to  the  green  wood- 
pecker ( Gecinus  viridis) . 

Paper,  s.  account-book,  A  4404. 

Paper-whyt,  adj.  white  as  paper,  L. 
1198. 

Papingay,  s.  popinjay,  R.  81.  See  Pape- 
jay. 

Par  amour ;  see  Paramour. 

Par  cos,  by  chance,  C  885. 

Par  companye,  for  company,  A  3839,  4167. 

Paradys,  s.  paradise,  R.  443. 


8o 


(Sloesattal  intttx. 


Pardge,  s.  kindred,  birth,  D  250;  rank, 
D  1 120. 

Paraments, //.  mantles,  si^lendid  cloth- 
ing, A  2501.    See  Parements. 

Paramour,  {for  par  amour).. idv.  for  love, 
B  2033;  longingly,  B  1933;  with  devo- 
tion, A  1 155;  Paramours,  passionately, 
T.  V.  332;  A  2112 ;  with  excessive 
devotion,  L.  2boa  ;  by  way  of  passionate 
love,  T.  v.  158 ,  for  p..  for  the  sake  of 
passion,  E  1450 ;  for  paramours,  for  love's 
sake,  A  3354. 

Paramour,  s.  (i)  concubine,  wench,  D 
454 ;  P^-  -^  3756 ;  lovers,  paramours,  T. 
ii.  236;  Paramour  (2),  love-making,  A 
4372- 

Paraunter,  perhaps,  L.  362. 

Paraventtire,  peradventure,  perhaps,  F 

955- 
Parcel,  s.  part,  F  852;  small  part,  2. 106. 
Parchemin,  s.  parchment,  B  5.  m  4.  14. 
Pardee,  (V.par  Dicu),  a  common  oath, 

A  ^63,  3084;  Pardieux,  T.  i.  197. 
Pardoner,   s.  seller    of   indulgences,   A 

?43.  t:  318. 

Paregal.  adj.  fully  equal,  T.  v.  840. 

Parements,  s.  pi.  rich  hangings  or  oma- 
monts,  (applied  to  a  chamber),  L.  1106; 
F  269.    See  Paraments. 

Parentele,  s.  kmship,  I  908. 

Parfey,  by  my  faith,  in  f.iith,  HF.  938. 

Parflt,  aJj.  perfect,  A  72,  422. 

Parfltly.  adv.  perfectiv,  R.  771;  wholly, 
B  23S1. 

Parfourne,  v.  perform,  B  2402;  Par- 
fournc,  ger.  to  fulfil,  B  3137;  p.  up, 
complete.  D  2261. 

Parfouminge,  s.  performance,  I  807. 

Parisshens.;)/.  parishioners,  A  482. 

Paritorie,  s.  pellilory,  Parietaria  offici- 
nal h,  G  581. 

Parlement,  s.  (i)  deliberation,  decision 
due  to  consultation,  A  1306;  (2)  par- 
liament, T.  iv.  143;  /.  of  Briddes, 
Parliament  of  Birds,  I  1086. 

Parodie,  s.  period,  duration,  T.  v.  1548. 
(A  curious  confusion  of  parodie  (so 
pronounced)  with  period.) 

Parsoneres,  s.  pi.  partners,  partakers, 
I?5.  p  5.  loi. 

Parten,  v.  share,  T.  i.  589;  ger.  To  p. 
with,  participate  in,  L.  465 ;  i  pr.  s. 
part,  depart,  T.  i.  5  ;  Parteth,  pr.  s. 
departs,  L.  359;  Parted, //.  dispersed, 
T.  i.  960;  gone  away,  taken  away,  L. 
1 1 10. 

Parteners,  s.  pi.  partners,  partakers,   I 


Parting-felawes,  s.  pi.  fellow-partakers, 
I  637. 

Part>-le8,  adj.  without  his  share,  B  4.  p  3. 
44- 

Partrich,  s.  partridge,  A  349. 

Party,  adv.  partly,  A  1053. 

Party e,  J.  portion,  A  3008;  partial  um- 
pire, taker  of  a  side,  A  2657;  portion, 
T.  ii.  394- 

Parvys,  s.  church-porch,  A  310. 

Pas,  s.  pace,  B  399;  step,  D  2162;  dis- 
tance, R.  525 ;  foot-pace,  A  825 ;  grade, 
degree,  4.  134 ;  grade,  I  532  ;  passage, 
B  2635 ;  a  pas,  at  a  footpace,  T.  ii.  627, 
v.  60;  F  388;  pi.  paces,  yards,  A  1890; 
thousand  pas,  a  mile,  B  i.  p  4.  270. 

Passage, .;.  period,  R.  406. 

Passant,  pres.  pt.  as  adj.  surpassing,  A 
2107. 

Passen,  ger.  to  surpass,  exceed,  conquer, 
A  3089;  overcome,  L.  162;  outdo,  G 
857 ,  pr.  s.  passes  away,  F  404 ;  Paste, 
//.  s.  passed,  T.  ii.  658;  passed  by,  T. 
ii.  398;  Passing,  pres.  pt.  surpassing, 
A  2885;  pp.  past,  spent,  E  610;  sur- 
passed, 7.  82 ;  passed  by,  5.  81 ;  over- 
blown, gone  off,  R.  1682. 

Passing,  adj.  excellent,  F  929;  extreme, 
E  1225. 

Passioun,  s.  suffering,  B  1175;  passion, 
I.  162;  passive  feeling,  impression,  B 
5.  m  4.  52. 

Pastee,  s.  pasty,  A  4346. 

Patrimoine,  /.  patrimony,  I  790. 

Patroun,  s.  patron,  4.  275;  protector,  7. 
4 ;   pattern,  3.  910. 

Pawmes,//.  palms  (of  the  hand),  T.  iii. 
1114. 

Pax,  s.  the  '  osculatorium,"  or  '  paxbrede," 
a  disk  of  metal  or  other  substance,  used 
at  Mass  for  the  '  kiss  of  peace,'  I  407. 

Pay,  s.  pleasure,  5.  271 ;  more  to  pay,  so 
as  to  give  more  satisfaction,  5.  474. 

Paye,  v.  pay,  A  806;  pt.  s.  A  539;  pp. 
satisfied,  pleased,  9.  3;  holde  her  payd, 
think  herself  satisfied,  3.  269. 

Payen,  adj.  pagan,  A  2370. 

Payens,  s.  pi.  pagans,  L.  786. 

Payndemayn,  s.  bread  of  a  peculiar 
whiteness,  B   1915.     Lat.  panis  Domini- 

Payne,    s.    pain;   dide    his  payne,   took 

pains,  F.  730. 
Payre,  .f.  a  pair,  R.  1386;  Paire,//.  pairs, 

R.  1698. 
Pece,  s.  piece,  5.  149;  pi.  pieces,  T.  i.  833. 
Peches,  pi.  peaches,  R.  1374. 
Pecok,  t.  peacock,  5.  356. 


(glossarial  Intiex. 


8r 


Pecok-arwes,  //.  arrows  with  peacocks' 

feathers,  A  104. 
Pecunial,  adj.  pecuniary,  D  1314. 
Pees,   s.   peace,   A  532,    1447 ;    in  p.,  in 

silence,  B  228. 
Pees,  peace  !  hush  !  be  still  I  B  836. 
Pekke,  s.  peck  (quarter  of  a  bushel),  A 

4010. 
Pekke,  imp.  s.  peck,  pick,  B  4157. 
Pel,  s.  peel,  small  castle,  HF.  1310.     O.  F. 

pel :  from  Lat.  a.cc.  palum. 
Pelet,  s.  pellet,  stone   cannon-ball,   HF. 

1643. 
Penaunt.  s.  a  penitent,  one  who  does 

penance,  B  3154. 
Pencel  (1),  s.  pencil,  brush,  A  2049. 
Pencel  (2),  j.  small  banner,  sleeve  worn 

as  a  token,  T.  v.  1043.    Short  ioxpciioncel. 
P6nible,  aay'.  painstaking,  B  3490;  Feni- 

ble,  careful  to  please,  E  714;    Penvble, 

inured,  D  1846. 
Penitauncer,  s.  confessor  who  assigns  a 

penance,  I  1008. 
Penitence,  s.  penance,  I  loi,  126. 
Penne.  s.  pen,  quill,  L.  2357. 
Penner,  s.  pen-case,  E  1879. 
Penoun,  s.  pennon,  ensign  or  small  flag 

boine  at  the  end  of  a  lance,  A  978. 
Pens ;  see  Peny. 
Peny,  s.  penny,  R.  451;  money,  A4119; 

Penyes,   //.    pence,   R.    189 ;    Pens,  //. 

pence,  C  376. 
Per  cos,  by  chance,  L.  1967. 
Per  coinei/uens,  consequently,  D  2192. 
Peraventure,  adv.  perhaps,  HF.  304;  C 

935- 
Percen,  v.  pierce,  B  2014;  pr.  s.  pierces 

with  his  gaze,  5.  331. 
Perche,  s.  perch  (for  birds  to  rest  on), 

A  2204  ;  wooden  bar,  R.  225  ;  a  horizon- 
tal rod,  A.  ii.  23.  44.     L.M.  per/ica. 
Percinge,  s.;    for  percinge  =  to  prevent 

any  piercing,  B  2052. 
Perdurable,    ad/,    everlasting,    eternal, 

B  2699  ;  Perdurables,  adj.pl.  everlasting, 

I  811. 
Perdurabletee,  s.  immortality,  B  2.  p  7. 

63,  103. 
Pere  s.  peer,  equal,  B  3244,  F  678. 
Peregryn,  adj.   peregrine,  i.  e.   foreign, 

F  428. 
Pere-jonette,   s.   a   kind    of   early-ripe 

pear,  A  3248. 
Peres,  pi.  pears,  R.  1375,  E  2331. 
Perflt,  adj.  complete,  A.  i.  18.  4. 
Perfitly,  adv.  perfectly,  A.  pr.  21. 
Perfourne,  ger.  to  perform,  B  2256;  be 

equivalent  to,  A.  ii.  10.  16. 


Peril,  s.  B  2672 ;  in  p.  in  danger,  4.  108 ; 
upon   my  /.,  (I   say  it)   at  my  peril,  D 

561. 
Perisse,  v.  perish,  I  254. 
Perle,  s.  pearl,  L.  221. 
Perled,  pp.  fitted  with  pearl-like  drops, 

A  3251. 
Perr66,    s.    jewellery,    precious    stones,. 

gems,  B  3495.  3550. 
Perrye,  s.  jewellery,  A  2936;  Perrie,  HF. 

1393- 
Pars,    adj.   of    Persian    dye,    light-blue, 

R.  67. 
Pers,  s.  stuff  of  a  sky-blue  colour,  A  439,, 

617. 
Pers6veraunce,  s.  endurance,  T.  i.  44; 

constancy,  3.  1007. 
Persevere,  v.  continue,   D    148;  pr.  s. 

lasts,  C  497- 
Pers^veringe,  s.  perseverance,  G  117. 
,'   Persly,  s.  parsley,  A  4350. 
Pers6ne,   s.   person,   figure,   T.   ii.  701 ; 

P^rsoun,  parson,  A  478. 
Pert,  adj.  forward,  frisky,  A  3950.     Short 

for  apert. 
Pertinacie,  s.  pertinaciousness,  I  391. 
Pertinent,  adj.  fitting,  B  2204. 
1  Pertourbe .  ..ftv-.  to  perturb,  T.  iv.  561. 
i  Perturbacioun,  s.  trouble,  B  i.  p  i.  98. 
Perturbinge,  s.  perturbation,  D  2254. 
Pervenke,   s.  periwinkle,  R.  903;    Per- 

vinke,  R.  1432. 
Pesen,//.  peas,  L.  648. 
j  Pesible,  adj.  calm,  B  i.  p  5.  3. 
I   Pestilence,  s.  the  (great)  pestilence,  A 

442,  C  679 ;  curse,  B  4600,  D  1264. 
Peter,  interj.  by  St.  Peter,  B  1404,  G  665. 
Peyne,  s.  pain  of  torture,  A   1133,   T.  i. 

674;    in    the   p.,   under   torture.   T.    iii. 

1502;  care,  F  509;  toil,  G  1398;  penalty, 

B  3041;    endeavour,  R.  765;    penance, 

B  2939 ;  tipon  p.,  under  a  penalty,  E  586. 
Peyne,  v.  rejl.  take  pains,  endeavour,  B 

4495;  put  (myself)  to  trouble,  HF".  246; 

Peyne,    i  pr.  s.  reJl.  take  pains,  C  330, 

395  ;    Peyned  hir,  pf.  s.  rejl.  took  pains, 

A  139,  E  976;  Peyned  hem,//,  pi.  rejl. 

R.  107. 
Peynte,   v.  paint,  C  12;   colour  highly, 

HF.  246;  smear,  L.  875;  do  p.,  cause  to 

be  painted,  3.  259;  pt.s.  F  560;   Peynted, 

pp.  painted,  L.  1029;   Pevnt,/^  R.  248. 
Peyntour,  s.  painter,  T.  ii.  1041. 
Peynture,  s.  painting.  C  33. 
Peyre,  s.  pair,  A  2121 ;  a  set  (of  similar 

things).  D  1741. 
Peysible,   adj.  tranquil,   B   3.   m  9.  51. 

(L.  tranquilla.) 


D3 


82 


©loggatial  Iribzx. 


Peytrel,  s.  poitrel,  breast-piece  of  a 
horse's  harness;  properly,  the  breast- 
plate of  a  horse  in  armour,  (j  564;  //. 
I  433.     A.  Wpeitrel,  \jaX.  pectoraU. 

Phitonesses,  //.  pythonesses,  witches, 
HF.  1 201. 

[Physices,  j^en.  of  physics,  or  natural 
philosophy.  B  1189.  I^t.  physices,  gen. 
oi  physice,  natural  philosophy.  (I  pro- 
pose this  reading.)] 

Pich.  f.  pitch,  .\  3731,  I  854. 

Pietee,  s.  pity,  T.  iii.  1033,  v.  1598. 

Pietous,  adj.  piteous,  sad,  T.  iii.  1444; 
sorrowful,   r  V.  451 ;   merciful,  F  20. 

Pigrges-ny©  (lit.  pig's  eye),  a  dear  little 
thing,  A  3268. 

Pighte,  //.  s.  refl.  pitched,  fell,  A  2689 ; 
//.  .V.  subj.  should  pierce,  should  stab, 
I.  163  (but  this  is  almost  certainly  an 
error  io\  prighte,  pt.  s.  subj.  oiprikke). 

Piked, />/*.  s.  stole,  L.  2467. 

Pikerei,  s.  a  young  pike  (fish),  E  1419. 

Pilche,  s.  a  warm  furred  outer  garment, 
20.  4. 

Pile,  ger.  to  pillage,  plunder,  I  769;  v. 
rob.  despoil.  D  1362. 

Piled,  pp.  deprived  of  hair,  very  thin, 
A  627 ;  bare,  bald  (lit.  peeled),  h  3935. 

Pileer.  s.  pillar,  HF.  1421. 

Pilled,  pp.  robbed,  L.  1262. 

Pilours,  pi.  robbers,  pillagers,  A  1007, 
1020. 

Pilwe,  t.  pillow,  E.  2004. 

Pilwe-beer,  s.  pillow-case,  A  694. 

Piment,  s.  sweetened  wine,  A  3378. 

Pin.  s.  pin.  small  peg.  F  127,  316;  fasten- 
ing, brooch,  A  196;  thin  wire,  A.  ii. 
38.  8 ;  Hangeth  on  a  jolv  pin,  is  merry, 
K  1516. 

Pinche,  v.  find  fault  (with),  pick  a  hole 
(in),  A  326;  Pinchest  at,  2pr.s.  blamest, 
10.  57  ;  pp.  closely  pleated,  A  151. 

Piper,  s.  as  adj.  suitable  for  pipes  or 
horns.  5,  178. 

Pissemyre,  s.  pismire,  ant,  D  1825. 

Pistel,  f.  epistle,  E  1154;  message,  sen- 
tence, D.  1021. 

Pit.  pp.  put  (Northern),  A  4088. 

Pitaunce.  (.  pittance,  A  224. 

Pitee.  s.  pity,  i.  68;  Pite  were,  it  would 
be  a  pity  (if),  3.  1266. 

Pith,  .(.  strength,  R.  401 ;  D  475. 

Pit6us,  Pitous,  adj.  compassionate,  A 
143;  merciful,  C  226;  pitiful,  A  953; 
plaintive,  R.  89,  497;  mournful,  R. 
420 ;  piteous,  sad,  sorrowful,  A  955 ; 
pitiable,  B  3673 ;  Pitouse,  fern,  full  of 
compassion,  L.  2582. 


Pitou3ly,  adv.  piteously,  B  1059;  pitiably, 

1'.  3729;  sadly,  A  11 17'. 
Place,    s.  place,    A    623;    manor-house 

(residence  of  a  chief  person  in  a  small 

town  or  village),  B  1910,  D  1768. 
Placebo,   vespers  of   the  dead,  so   called 

from   the  initial  word   of  the   antiphon 

to  the  first  psalm  of  the  office  (see  Ps. 

cxiv.  9  in  the  Vulgate  version),  I  617;  a 

song  of  flattery,  D  2075. 
Plages,  s.  pi.  regions,  B  543 ;  quartets  of 

the  compass,  A.  i.  5.  12. 
Plain,  adj.:  see  Playn. 
Plane,  s.  plane-tree,  A  2922. 
Planed,  //.  s.  planed,  made  smooth,   D 

1758. 
Plante,  s.  slip,  cutting,  D  763;  piece  of 

cut  wood,  R.  929. 
Piastres,  s.  pi.  plasters,  F  636. 
Plat,  adj.   flat,   certain,  A    1845;    Platte, 

dat.  flat  (side  of  a  sword),  F  162,  164. 
Plat,   adv.  flat,  B   1865;  plainly,  B  886; 

fnlly,  T.  ii.  579. 
Plate,  s.  plate-armour,  9.  49;  stiff  iron 

defence    for  a    hauberk,   B    2055;    the 

'  sight '  on  the  '  rewle,'  A.  i.  13.  2. 
Plated,  pp.  covered  with  metal  in  plates, 

HF.  1345. 
Platly,  adv.  flatly,  plainly,  T.  iii.  786,  881. 
Plaunte,  s.  plant,  F  1032. 
Plaunte,  imp.  s.  plant,  T.  i.  964. 
Playen  me,  v.  refl.  to  amuse  myself,  R. 

113- 
Playing,  s.  sport,  R.  112. 
Playn,    adj.   smooth,  even,   R.   860;     in 

short  and  pi.,  in   brief,   plain   terms,   E 

577  ;   Plain,  flat,  H  229. 
Playn,  s.  plain.  B  24. 
Plede.  ,^cr.  to  dispute,  B  2559. 
Pleding.  s.  pleading,  3.  615. 
Pledoures,  pi.  pleaders,  lawyers,  R.  198. 
Plea,  s.  plea,  5.  485;  //.  suits,  5.  loi. 
Plegges,  s.  pi.  pledges,  B  3018. 
Pleinedest,  2  pt.  s.  didst  complain,  B  4. 

p.  4.  168. 
Pleinte,  f.  complaint,  lament,  B  66. 
Plen6re,  adj.  plenary,  full,  L.  1607. 
Plentee,   s.   plenitude,  fulness,    I    1080; 

abundance,  R.  1434. 
Plentevous.  adj.  plentiful,  A  344. 
Plentevously,  adv.  plenteously,  B  2.  p  2. 

86. 
Plesaunce,  s.  pleasure,  C   219,  D  408; 

delight,  A   2409;  pleas.int  thing,  3.773; 

pleasure,  will,  A  1571 ;  kindness,  E  mi ; 

pleasing  behaviour,  F  509 ;  pleasantness, 

L.  1373;  happiness,  L.  1150;  amusement, 

F  713;  will,  delight,  B  149. 


(glossarial  Inttx. 


83 


Plesaunt,     ad/,    pleasant,     satisfactory,  j 

pleasing,  A  138,  222.  | 

Plesen,  v.  please,  A  610,  F  7C7. 
Plesinges,  adj.pl.  pleasing,  B  711.  ; 

Plesure,  s.  pleasure,  6.  126. 
P16te,  ^er.Xo  plead,  bring  a  law-suit,  T. 

u.  1468. 
Pletinges,  //.  law-suits,  B  3.  p  3.  67. 
Pley,  s.  play,  sport,  A  1125  ;   dalliance,  4. 

178;   jesting,    I    539;    delusion,  3.  648; 

//.   games,   T.  v.  304;    plays,    D    558; 

funeral  games,  T.  v.  1499. 
Pleye,   v.  amuse  oneself,  B  3524,  3666; 

ger.  to  play,   be   playful,  be  amused,  A 

772;    to    amuse    (myself),    B    3996;    to 

amuse   (ourselves),  L.  1495;    play   (on   | 

an  instrument),  A  236;    i  pr.  s.  jest,  B 

3153 ;   I  P^-  pi-  play.  B  1423  ;  /''•  pi-  f 

900;  pt.  s.  played,  rejoiced,  T.  i.  1013 ; 

was  in  play,  3.  875  ;  Pleyd,//.  3.  618. 
Pleyinge,  s.  amusement,  sport,  A  io6i. 
Pleyinge,  <;</>.  playful,  B  3.  m  2.  27. 
Pleyn  (i),  adj.  full,  A  2461;   complete, 

A  315,  337. 
Pleyn  ( 2),  a^^'.  plain,  clear,  L.  328  ;  honest, 

5.  528;    plain,   i.  e.   open,  A  987;    as  s. 

plain  (fact),  A  1091 ;  //.  smooth,  5.  180. 
Pleyn  (i),  adv.{\x\\,'l'.y.  1818;  entirely, 

A  327. 
Pleyn  (2),  adv.  plainly,  A  790;  openly,  E 

637. 
Pleyne,   v.  complain,   lament,    B    1067; 

rejl.  6.  50;  V.  to  whinny  (as  a  horse),  7. 

157;  //.  upon,  cry  out  against,  L.  2525; 

I  pr.  s.  make  complaint,   L.   2512;   pp. 

said  by  way  of  complaint,  L.  326  a. 
Pleyningr,  s.  complaining,  lamenting,  3. 

599- 
Pleynly,  adv.  plainly,  openly,  (or,  fully), 

A  1733. 
Pleynte,  s.  plaint,  complaint,  2.  47;   PI. 

of  Kynde,  Complaint  of  Nature,  5,  316. 
Plighte   (i),  //.  s.  plucked,  drew,    T.  ii. 

1 120;  pulled,  B   15;   //.  plucked,   torn, 

D    790.     The  infin.  would   be  plicchen, 

variant  oi  plukkien  ox  plukken. 
Plighte  (2),  i/r.^.  plight,  pledge,  F  1537; 

pt.  s.  L.  2466;  //.  pledged,  C  702. 
Piomet,  s.  plummet,  heavy  weight,  A.  ii. 

23.  42. 
Plom-rewle,  J.  plummet-rule,  A.  ii.  38. 10. 
Plough-harneys,  s.  harness  for  a  plough, 

i.  e.  parts  of  a  plough,  as  the  share  and 

coulter,  A  3762. 
Ploumes,  5.  pi.  plums,  R.  1375. 
Ploungen,  ger.  to  plunge,  bathe,  B  3.  p 

2.48. 
Ploungy,  adj.  stormy,  ramy,  B  i.  m  3.  9. 


Plowman,  s.  ploughman,  E  799. 
Plukke,  V.  pluck,  pull,  T.  iv.  1403. 
Plye.i-.plv,  mould,  E  1430;  bend,  E  1169. 
Plyght,/'>.  plighted,  T.  iii.  782. 
Plyt,  s.  plight,  T.  ii.  712,  1731 ;  condition, 

B  2338;   position,  T.  ii.  74;    Plyte,  dat. 

mishap,    wretched     condition,    5.    294; 

plight,  23.  19;  state,  G  952. 
Plyte,  ger.   to  fold,   T.   ii.    1204;  pt.  s. 

turned  backwards  and  forwards,  T.  ii. 

697. 
Poeplish,  popular,  T.  iv.  1677. 
Poesye,  s.  poetry,  T.  v.  1790. 
Poinant,  adj.  poignant,  I  130,  131. 
Point,  Poynt,  s.  point,  A  114;  position, 

I  921 ;    m  point,  on  the  point  of,  about 

to,  B  331,  910;    at  point,  ready,   T.   iv. 

1638 ;  in  good  p.,  in  good  case,  A  200 ; 

fro  p.  to  p.,  from    beginning  to  end,   B 

3652;  p.  for  p.,  in  every  detail,  E  577. 
Point-devys ;  at  p.,  with  great  neatness, 

exactly,  carefully.  HF.  917;   A  3689.  F 

560. 
Pointel,  s.  style,  i.  e.  stylus,  writing  im- 
plement, B  I.  p  I.  3. 
Poke.  s.  bag,  A  3780,  4278. 
Poked,  pt.  s.  incited,  T.  iii.  116;  nudged, 

A  4169. 
Pokets,  s.pl.  little  bags,  G  808. 
Pokkes,  s.pl.  pocks,  pustules,  C  358. 
Pol  (I),  s.  pole,  long  stick;   Pole,  i/<7/.  L. 

2202. 
Pol  (2) ,  J.  pole  (of  the  heavens) ,  A.  i.  14. 9. 
Polax,  s.  pole-axe,  L.  642. 
Polcat,  s.  polecat,  C  855. 
Policye,  s.  public  business,  C  600. 
PoUax,  s.  pole-axe,  A  2544. 
Polut,//.  polluted,  B  I.  p  4.  281. 
Polyve,  J.  pulley,  F  184. 
Pomel,  s.  round  part,  top,  A  2689. 
Pomely,  adj.  marked  with  round  spots 

like  an  apple,  dappled,  A  616;   Pomely- 

gris,  dapple-gray,  G  559. 
Pomgarnettes,  s.  pi.  pomegranates,  R. 

1356. 
Pompe,  s.  pomp,  A  525. 
Pool,  f.  pole  (of  the  heavens),  A.  i.  18.  20. 
Pope-Holy,  i.  e.  Hypocrisy,  R.  415. 
Popelote,  s.  poppet,  darling,  A  3254. 
Popet,  s.  puppet,  doll;  spoken  ironically, 

and  really  applied  to  a  corpulent  person, 
B  1891. 
Popinjay,  s.  popinjay,  R.  913. 
Popl6r,  s.  poplar-tree,  A  2921 ;    (collec- 

tivelv)  poplar-trees,  R.  1385. 
Popped,  pt.  s.  rejl.  tricked  herself  out, 

R.  1019. 
Popper,  f.  small  dagger,  A  3931. 


84 


(Slogsarial  Enlifi. 


PoralUe,  s.  poor  people,  A  247. 

Porche.  s.  Porch,  B  5.  m  4.  i. 

Pore ,  .;./>.  poor,  L.  388. 

Porisme,  s.  corollary,  B  3.  p  10.  166. 

Porphilrle,  s.  a  slab  of  porphyry  used  as 

a  mortar,  G  775. 
Port  (i),  s.  port,  carriage,  behaviour,  A 

09;   hearing,  mien,  L.  2453. 
Port  (2),  s.  haven,  I",  i.  526,  969. 
Portatlf,  adj.  portable,  3.  53. 
Porthors,  s.  portcsse,  breviary,  B  1321. 

From  porter,  to  carry,  kort,  abroad. 
Portours,  pi.  porters,  T.  v.  1139. 
Portrelture,  s.  drawmg,  picture.  R.  827; 

set  of  drawings,  .A  1968;  picturing,  HF. 

131- 
Portreye,    v.   pourtray,   depict,    i.    81; 

Portrayed,  pp.  painted  in  fresco,  R.  140; 

full  of  pictures,  R.  1077. 
Portreyingr.  s.  a  picture,  A  1938. 
Pose,  J.  a  cold  in  the  head.  A  4152,  H  6a. 

A.  a.  j^e-pose. 
Pose,  I  pr.  s.  put  the  case,  (will)  suppose, 

A  1162. 
Positlf.  adj.  positive,  fixed,  A  1167. 
Positioun,    s.    supposition,    hypothesis, 

U  5.  p  4.  48. 
Possessioners,  s.  pi.  men  who  are  en- 
dow.d.  1)  1722. 
PossessiouD.  s.  great  possessions,  wealth, 

F  f>So ;  endowments,  D  1926. 
Posseth,  pr.  s.  pushcth,  tosseth.  L.  2420. 
Post,  s.  support,  A  214;  pillar,  A  800. 
Postum,  s.  imposthumc,  abscess,  B3.  p  4. 

'4- 
Pot&gre,  s.  broth,  B  3623,  C  368. 
Potente,  /.  crutch,  R.  368;  staff,  D  1776. 
Potestat.  s.  potentate,  D  2017. 
Pothec6.rle,  s.  apothecary,  C  852. 
Pouche,    s.  pocket,  A  3931 ,  pi.  money- 
bags, .A  368. 
Poudre.  <.  dust,  HF".  536,  powder,  G  760 : 

gunpowder,  HF.  1644. 
Poudred.  pp.  besprinkled,  R.  1436. 
Poudre-marchaunt,  /.  the  name  of  a 

kin.l  ..|  spiue,  A  381. 
Pounage,  s.  pannage,  swine's  food,  9.  7. 
Pound,  pi.  pounds,  A  454. 
Poune.  s.  pawn  at  chess,  3.  661. 
PoTonsoned,  pp.  as  adj.  stamped,  pierced, 

1  421. 
Pounsoningre,  s.  punching  of  holes  in 

gaimenis.  I  418. 
Pouped,  pt.  pi.  blew  hard,  puflfed,  B  4589; 

pp.  blown,  H  90. 
Poure,  ger.  to  pore,  look  closely,  A  185 ; 

to  pore  over  (it),  R.  1640;   ipr.pl.  (we) 

pore,  gaze  steadily,  G  670. 


Poured,//,  poured,  R.  1148. 

Pourlngr,  s.  pouring  (in),  '1".  iii.  1460. 

P0U8,  s.  pulse,  1.  iii.  1114. 

Poustee,  s.  power,  B  4.  p  5.  13. 

Povertee,  s.  poverty,  3.  410;  Pov^rte,  j. 
poverty,  T.  iv.  1520;  P6vert,  poverty, 
R.  450 ;   I'ov^rt,  C  441. 

Povre,  adi.  poor,  R.  466,  A  225. 

Povre,  adj.  as  i.  poor,  hence  poverty,  10.  2. 

Povre.  adv.  poorly,  E  1043. 

Povrellche,  adj.  poorly,  in  poverty,  E  213, 
105;. 

Povrely,  adv.  in  poor  array,  A  1412. 

Povrest,  adj.  superl.  poorest,  C  449,  E  205. 

Poynaunt,  adj.  pungent,  A  352,  B  4024. 

Poynt,  J.  sharp  point,  7.  2H  ;  very  object, 
aim,  A  1501;  point,  bit  (of  it),  part,  R. 
1236;  a  stop,  (j  1480;  up  p..  on  the 
point,  T.  iv.  1153;  tn  p.  is,  is  on  the 
point,  is  ready,  i.  48;  fro  p.  to  p.,  in 
every  point,  5.  461 ;  to  the  p.,  to  the 
p>oint,  5.  372 ;  at  p.  deiys,  exact  at  all 
points,  R.  830;  to  perfection,  exquisitely. 
R.  1215  ;  //.  lags,  A  3322. 

Poynte,  X"'-  '"  describe,  T.  iii.  497;  pr. 
pi.  Stat),  R.  1058:  //.  pointed,  R.  944. 

Poyntel,  s.  style  for  wnting,  U  1742. 

Practlsour,  s.  practitioner,  A  423. 

Praktlke,  s.  practice.  U  187. 

Praye,  t.  prey,  i.  64. 

Praye,  pr.  pi.  petition,  make  suit,  1  785. 

Praylngr.  s.  request,  prayer,  R.  1484. 

Preamble,  s.  \i  831. 

Preambulacloun,  s.  preambling,  D  837. 

Precedent,  adj.  preceding,  A.  ii.  32.  4. 

Preche,  v.  preach,  A  481,  712;  Prechc- 
stow.  thou  preaches!,  \)  366. 

Prechour.  s.  preacher,  U  165. 

Preciousness,  s.  costliness,  I  446. 

Predestinee,  s.  predestination,  T.  iv.  966. 

Predicacioun,  s.  preaching,  sermon,  B 
1 179. 

Preef,    f.  proof,   assertion,    D    247;    ex- 
perience, L.  528  a;    test,  proof,  G  968; 
1        the  test,  H  75. 

!  Prees,  s.  press,  crowd,  B  393,  646;  the 
I  throng  of  courtiers,  13. 4 ;  press  of  battle, 
I       9-  33  :  '"  P-  '"  '^'^  crowd,  5.  603. 

Preessetb,  pr.  s.  throngs.  .\  2580. 
I   Prefectes.  x^n.  prefect's,  Cj  369.     Lit.  ■  an 
'        officer  of  the  prefect's  (ofiftccrs).' 

Preferre.  pr.  s.  subj.  precede,  take  pre- 
cedence of,  D  96. 

Preigrnant,  pres.  pt.  plain,  convincing, 
T.  iv.  1 179. 

Preisen,  ger.  to  praise,  (worthy)  of  being 
'       praised,  R.  70;  v.  appraise,  estimate,  R. 
H15  ;  prize,  esteem,  R.  1693. 


(Slossarial  Inbtx. 


85 


s.p/.  praisers,  B  2367. 
Preisinge,  s.  honour,  glory,  I  949. 
Preldt.  s.  prelate,  A  204. 
Premisses,  //.    statements    laid    down, 

B  3.  p  10.  121. 
Prenostik,  s.  prognostic,  prognostication, 

10.  54. 
Prente,  s.  print,  D  604. 
Prenten,  ^er.  to  imprint,  T.  ii.  900. 
Pr6nti8,  s.  apprentice,  A  4365. 
Prentishood,  s.  apprenticeship,  A  4400. 
Prescience,  s.  foreknowledge,  A  1313. 
Prese,  ^er.  to  press  forward,  T.  i.  446; 

i'.  hasten,  2.  19. 
Presence,   s.    i.   19;   in  pr.,   in   a   large 

assembly,  E  1207. 
Present,  adv.  immediately,  5.  424. 
Presentarie,  adj.  ever-present,  B  5. p  6.78. 
Presented,  pp.  brought,  L.  1297. 
Presenting,  s.  offering,  L.  1135. 
Presently,  adv.  at  the  present  moment, 

B  5.  p  6.  123. 
President,  s.  the  one  who  presided  in 

parliament,  T.  iv.  213. 
Pres6un,  f.  prison,  T.  iii.  380. 
Press,  s.  throng,  T.  i.  173;   Presse,  dat. 

instrument   exercising    pressure,  A    81 ; 

mould,  A  263  ;  on  presse,  under  a  press, 

in  a  suppressed  state,  down,  T.  i.  559; 

press,  a  cupboard  with  shelves  (for  linen, 

&C.).A32I2. 

Prest,  s.  priest,  B  1166. 

Prest,  ad;,  ready,  prepared,  prompt,  5. 
307  ;  //.  prompt,  T.  iv.  661. 

Pretende,  v.  attempt  to  reach,  seek 
(after),   1'.  iv.  922. 

Preterit,  s.  past  time,  D  5.  p  6.  48. 

Pretorie,  s.  the  Roman  imperial  body- 
guard, the  Pretorian  cohort,  B  I.  p  4.  94. 

Preve,  s.  proof,  B  4173 ;  experimental 
proof,  A.  ii.  23  rubric:  at  p.,  (when  it 
comes)  to  the  proof,  'I",  iii.  1002;  at  p., 
in  the  proof,  T.  iv.  1659 ;  amies  preve, 
proof  of  fighting  power.  T.  i.  470. 

Preve,  v.  prove,  C  169;  bide  the  test, 
G  645;  succeed  when  tested,  G  1212; 
I'reved,  pp.  proved  to  be  so,  T.  i.  239; 
tested,  G  1336;  approved,  E  28;  ex- 
emplified, E  826;  shewn,  F  481. 

Prevetee,  s.  secret  place,  recess,  T.  iv. 
nil. 

Prevey,  adj.  secret,  B  4.  p  3.  122. 

Previdence,  s.  seeing  beforehand,  B  5. 
p6.  131. 

Prevy,  adj.  privy,  unobserved.  3.  382;  not 
uonfidential,  HF.  285. 

Preye,  ger.  to  beseech,  T.  ii.  1369;  to 
pray,    2.     20;    Preyde,   //.     s.    B    391; 


Preyeden,  pt.  pi.  D  895  ;  Preyed,  //.  E 
773- 

Preys,  s.  praise,  B  3837. 

Pricasour.  s.  a  hard  rider,  A  189. 

Prighte,  //.  s.  pricked,  F  418  (inferior 
MSS.  have  pighte).  No  doubt,  the 
reading  pighte  in  i.  163  should  also  be 
prigkte.    See  Priken. 

Prlken,  v.  incite,  urge,  T.  iv.  633 ;  Prik, 
I  pr.  s.  spur,  rouse,  5.  389;  Priketh,//-. 
s.  excites,  A  11,  1043;  spurs,  D  656; 
pricks,  aches,  D  1594;  Prighte,  pt.  s. 
F  418  (see  above)  ;  Priked,//.  .r.  spurred, 
B  1964. 

Priklng,  s.  hard  riding,  .\  191,  2599. 

Prikke,  s.  point,  HF.  907;  sting,  I  468; 
a  small  mark,  a  peg,  A.  ii.  42.  4;  a  dot, 
A.  ii.  5.  20 ;  piercing  stroke,  A  2606 ; 
point,  critical  condition,  B  119. 

Principals,  adj.pl.  cardinal,  A.  ii.  31.  17. 

Priiicipto  in,  in  the  beginning  (St."  John, 
Li),  A  254. 

Pris,  s.  prize,  A  2241. 

Privee,  adj.  secret,  A  3295 ;  private, 
1  102;  intimate.  R.  600;  closely  atten- 
dant, E  192;  privee  man,  private  in- 
dividual, B2.  p  3.  77. 

Privee,  adv.  secretly,  F  531 ;  Privee  and 
apert,  secretly  and  openly,  D  1114;  pr. 
tie  ap.,  neither  secretly  nor  openly,  U  1136. 

Privee,  s.  privy,  C  527,  E  1954. 

Prively,  adv.  secretly,  A  652;  unper- 
ceived,  R.  784. 

Privetee,  s.  privacy,  R.  1294;  secrecy, 
B  548;  secrets,  secret,  D  531,  542,  1637; 
private  affairs,  A  1411;  private  apart- 
ment, A  4334 ;  privy  parts,  B  3905. 

Privy,  adj.  secret,  L.  1267,  1780. 

Proces,  s.  process,  B  2665 ;  proceeding, 
^  1345 ;  process  of  time,  F  829 ;  argu- 
ment, B  3.  p  10.  62;  matter,  T.  ii.  485; 
L.  1914;  story,  HF.  251;  occurrence  of 
events,  B  3511;  dat.  course  (of  time),  3. 
1331- 

Procutour,  used  for  Procurator,  proctor, 
D  1596. 

Proeve,  s.  proof,  B  5.  p  4.  83. 

Proeve,  i  pr.  s.  approve,  B  5.  p  3.  28; 
pr.  s.  shews,  B  2.  m  i.  17. 

Professioun,  s.  profession  of  religion, 
D  1925;  oath  of  profession  (as  a  monk), 
I'  1345- 

Proferestow,  dost  thou  offer, 'I. iii.  1461. 

Prof  re,  t.  offer.  L.  2079. 

Proheme,  s.  proem,  prologue,  Ii  43. 

Prolaciouns,  s.pl.  utterances,  B  2.  p  i.  50. 

Prolle,  2  pr.  pi.  prowl  about,  search 
widely,  G  1412. 


86 


i§lossatial  JEntiei. 


Pronounced,  pp.  announced,  T.  iv.  213. 
Proporcionables,  adj.  pi.  proportional, 

B  3.  m  g.  20. 

Proporcioned,  pp.  made  in  proportion, 
K  192. 

Proporcionels,  s.pl.  proportional  parts, 
F  1278. 

Propre,  adj.  own,  T.  iv.  83;  especial,  B 
2175 ;  peculiar,  D  103 ;  well-grown,  A 
3972 ;  well-made,  A  3345  ;  comely,  A  4368  ; 
handsome,  C  309;  l^ropres,  ^/.  own.  B 
I.  m  6.  20;  of  propre  kmde,  by  their  own 
natural  bent.  F  610. 

Proprely,  adv.  fitly,  A  1549;  literally.  I 
285;  naturally,  D  1191;  appropriately, 
A  729. 

Propretee,  s.  peculiarity,  10.  69;  charac- 
teristic. B  2364;  peculiar  possession,  T. 
iv.  392. 

Prose,  V.  write  in  prose,  16.  41. 

Prospecty ves,  s.  pi.  perspective-glasses, 
lenses,  F  234.  Chaucer  here  makes  the 
usual  distinction  between  reflecting  mir- 
rors and  refracting  lenses. 

Prospre.  •tdj.  prosperous;  prospre  for- 
tunfs,  wi-11-being,  B  i.  p  4.  62. 

Protestaciotin,  s.  protest,  A  3137. 

Prove.  V.  test,  A.  ii.  23.  rubric ;  Proveth, 
pr.  s.  prt>vcs,  F  455. 

Prov6rbed, //.  said  in  proverbs,    I.  ni.   1 

293- 

Provost,   s.   prefect.   B   I.   p  4.  64;   chief  1 
nia^i'^lratc,  B  1S06. 

Provostrie.  s.  practorship.  B  3.  p  4.  90. 

Prow,  s.  profit,  advantage,  B  1598,  4140,   ' 
C  300,  G  609.  I 

Prowesse,  s.  prowess,  T.  i.  438 ;  excel- 
lence, D  1 129;  profit,  B  4.  p  3.  71.  , 

Proyneth,  pr.  s.  prunes,  i.  e.  trims,  makes  | 
(bmi^clfi   ne.-\i,  E  2011.     O.Y.proigner. 

Prydelees.  adj.  without  pride,  6.  29. 

Prye,  .^vr.  to  pry,  peer,  T.  ii.  404 ;  to  gaze, 
A  3458  ;  V.  spy,  T.  ii.  17 10.  1 

Pryme.  s.  prinie  (of  day),  usually  9  A.M., 
A  2189,  2576,  3554 ;  fully  pr.,  the  end  of  | 
the  first  period  of  the  day  (from  6  A.M. 
t0  9A.M.),B20l5;  ^r. /ar^^, past  90'clock,   | 
F360;  /ajj^(^/»r.,  past  9  o'clock,  D  1476; 
half -way  pryme,  half  way  between  6  and   [ 
9  A.M..  half-past  seven,  A  3906. 

Pryme  face,  s.  the  first  glance.  T.  iii.  919. 

Prymerole.  s.  primrose,  A  3268. 

Prys,  s.  price,  value,  R.  1134;  worth,  ex-   ; 
cellence,  F  911;  praise,  E  1026;  esteem, 
F  934;    glory,   L.  2534;    reputation,   D 
1 152;  renown,  A  67,  237;  prize,  I  355.        1 

Pryse,  ger.  to  esteem,  to  be  esteemed,  R. 


Pry  ved,  pp.  deprived,  exiled,  i.  146. 
Pryvee,  adj.  secret,  A  2460. 
Puffen.^^r.  to  blow  hard,  WY.  1866. 
Pulle,   s.   a   bout   at   wrestling,   a  throw. 

5.  104. 
Pulle,  V.  pluck.  T.  i.  210 ;  to  draw,  T.  ii. 

657  ;  pulle  a  finclie,  pluck  a  finch,  cheat 

a  novice,  A  652;  a  pulled  hen,  a  plucked 

hen,  A  177. 
Pultrye.  s.  poultry,  A  598. 
Puplissben,  pr.pl.  refl.  are  propagated, 

B3.  p  II.  135. 
Purchacen,  ger.  to  procure,  acquire,   I 

742,   1066;   gain,    I    1080;   win,   21.   19; 

buy,  A   608;   pr.  pi.  promote,   B  2870; 

imp.  s.  3  p.  may  (He)  provide,  B  873; 

Purchace,  irnp.pl.  provide  (for  yourself), 

T.  ii.  1125. 
Purchas,  s.  proceeds,  gifts  acquired,  A 

256;  gain,  D  1451,  1530. 
Purchasingr,   s.    conveyancing,   A   320; 

acquisition  of  property,  D  1449. 
Purchasour,  .1.  conveyancer,  A  318. 
Pure,  adj.  very  (lit.  pure),  A   1279;   utter, 

3.  1209,  the  p.  deth,  death  itself,  3.  583. 
Pure,  adv.  purely,  3.  1010. 
Pured,  pp.  as  adj.  pure,  F  1560;  very  fine, 

D  143- 
Purfiled.  pp.  ornamented  at  the   edge, 

trimmed,  A  193. 
Purgacioun,  s.  discharge,  D  120. 
Purgren,  ger.   to   purge,    B   4143;  pt.    s. 

expiated,  B  4.  m  7.  4  ( \ja.\.  piauit)  ;  pp, 

cleansed  (by  baptism),  G  181. 
Ptirpos.  s.  purpose,  R.  1140;    design,  A 

1684;  to  purpos,  to  the  subject,  5.  26;  it 

cam  him  to  p.,  he  purposed,  F  606. 
Purposen,  v.  purpose,  I  87 ;  pr.  pi.  pro- 
pose, T.  iv.  1350. 
Purpre.  adj.  purple,  T.  iv.  869. 
Purpre,  s.  purple,  R.  1071 ;  purple  raiment, 

1  933- 
Purs.  s.  purse,  A  656. 
Purse vauntes,  s.  pi.  pursuivants,  HF. 

1321. 
Ptirsuit.    s.   continuance,    perseverance, 

T.  ii.  959;  continuance  in  pursuit,  T.  ii. 

1744;  appeal  to  prosecute,  D  890. 
Purtreye,  v.  draw,  A  96;  pt.  s.  E  1600. 
Purtreyour,  j.  draughtsman,  A  1899. 
Purveyable,  adj.   with   provident  care, 

H  3.  Ill  2.  5. 
Purveyaunce,  j.providence,A  1252,1665 ; 

foresight,  D  566,  570;  equipment,  B  247; 

provision,  A    3566,  F  904;   pre-arrange- 

ment,  T.  iii.  533;  unto  his  p.,  10  provide 

himself  with  necessaries,  L.  1561. 
Purveyen,  v.  provide,  B  3532;  pr.  s.foie- 


(gl0!30arial  Intitx. 


87 


sees,  T.  iv.  1066;  /.  o/,  provided  with, 

D591. 
Purveying'e,  s.  providence,  T.  iv.  986. 
Put,  s.  pit,  T.  iv.  1540. 
Puterie,  s.  prostitution,  I  886. 
Putours,  !.  pi.  pimps,  procurers,  I  886. 
Putten,  V.  put,  lay,  7.  344 ;  v.  suppose,  B 

2667;   Put,  pr.  f.'puts,  I   142;    Put  him, 

puts  himself,  L.  652 ;   Putte,  pt.  s.  B  1630 ; 

set,  L.  675  ;  /.  up,  put  away,  2.  54. 
Pye,  s.  magpie,  A  3950,  B  1399. 
Pye,  5.  pie,  pasty,  A  384. 
Pyk,  s.  pike  (fish),  12.  17. 
Pyke,  V.  (i)   peep,  T.  iii.  60;  ger.  (2)  to 

pick   at,   T.   ii.   1274;   pr.  s.   (3)  makes 

(himself)  tidy  or  smooth,  E  2011. 
Pykepurs,  s.  pick-purse,  A  1998. 
Pyled,  pp.  peeled,  bare,  bald,  A  4306. 
Pyn,    the  pin  which  passes   through  the 

central    hole   in   the   Astrolabe   and    its 

plates,  A.  i.  14.  i. 
Pyn,  s.  pine-tree,  R.  1379. 
Pyne,  s.  pain,  torment,  T.  v.  6;  hurt,  5. 

335;    toil,   HF.  147;    place   of  torment, 

HF.  1512;  suffering,  A  1324.,  2382;  woe, 

torment,  B  3420;    the  passion,  B  2126. 

A.  ^.p'tn. 
Pyne,  ger.  to  torture,  A  1746  ;  pr.  s.  pines 

away,  7.   205;    grieves,  bemoans,  I   85; 

//.  examined  by  torture,  B  4249. 
Pype.  s.  pipe,  musical  instrument,  B  2005  ; 

//.  pipes,  tubes,  A  2752. 
Pypen,  v.  pipe,  whistle,  A  1838  ;  play  on 

the   bag-pipe,   A   3927;    Pype,   make   a 

piping  noise,  T.  v.  1433 ;   play  upon  a 

pipe,  A    3876;    //.  faintly  uttered,  HF. 

785  ;  pres.pt.  piping  (hot) ,  hissing, A  3379. 
Pyrie,  s.  pear-tree,  E  2217,  2325.    A.  S. 

pyrige. 


Quaad,  adj.  evil  (Flemish),  .\  4357; 
Quad,  bad,  B  1628.     Du.  kwaad. 

Quaille,  s.  quail,  E  1206. 

Quake,  v.  tremble,  shiver,  R.  462;  quake, 
A  3614;  shake,  T.  iii.  542;  Quook,//.  .f. 
quaked,  A  1576,  1762;  Quaked,  pp.  B 
3831 ;  Quaketh,  imp.  pi.  quake,  fear,  T. 
ii.  302. 

Quaking,  s.  fear,  7.  214. 

Quakke,  s.  a  state  of  hoarseness,  A  4152. 

Qualm,  s.  pestilence,  A  2014  ;  evil,  plague, 
^^-  357  ;  foreboding  of  death,  T.  v.  382. 

Quappe,  V.  heave,  toss  (lit.  shake,  pal- 
pitate), L.  1767;  beat  repeatedly,  L.  865; 
])alpitate,  T.  iii.  57. 

Quarter-night,  the  time  when  a  fourth 
part  of  the  night  is  gone,  9  P.M.,  A  3516. 


Quayles,  gen.  pi.  quails,  5.  339. 

Queinte,  adj.  curious,  B  1426. 

Quek  !   int.  quack !  5.  499,  594. 

Quelle,  V.  kill,  C  854;  pr.pl.  strike,  T.  iv. 
46. 

Queme,  v.  please,  T.  695;  pr.  pi.  sub- 
serve, T.  ii.  803. 

Quenche,  v.  put  a  stop  to,  T.  iii.  846 ;  be 
quenched,  I  341 ;  Queynte,  //.  s.  was 
quenched,  A  2334,  2337  ;  Queynt,//.  ex- 
tinguished, A  2321,  2336. 

Quene,  s.  queen,  R.  1266. 

Querele,  s.  quarrel,  I  618  ;  //.  complaints,. 
B  3.  p  3.  67. 

Quern,  s.  hand-mill,  9.  6;  dat.  B  3264. 

Questemong-eres,  s.pl.  questmen,  jury- 
men, I  797. 

Qucstio,  quid  iuris,  the  question  is,  how 
stands  the  law,  A  647. 

Questioun,  s.  dispute,  A  2514;  problem, 
D  2223. 

Queynt,  adj.  strange,  3.  1330;  curious, 
dainty,  R.  65;  adorned,  R.  1435;  well- 
devised,  HF.  228;  neat,  R.  98;  sly,  A 
3275;  curiously  contrived,  HF.  126;  F 
234 ;  hard  to  understand,  3.  531 ;  grace- 
ful, R.  610. 

Queynte,  adv.  artfully,  HF.  245. 

Queynte,  s.  pudendum,  A  3276,  D  332, 

Queynteliche,  adv.  curiously,  cunningly, 
HF.  1923;  daintily,  R.  569;  strangely,. 
R.  783. 

Queyntise,  s.  finery,  I  932;  art,  I  733; 
ornament,  R.  840. 

Qui  cum  patre,  D  1734,  I  1092.  The  for- 
mula used  at  the  end  of  a  sermon. 

Qui  la,  who's  there?  B  1404. 

Quik,  adj.  alive,  F  1336;  lively,  A  306; 
ready,  1  658. 

Quiken,  v.  quicken,  revive,  T.  i.  443  ;  ger. 
to  grow,  T.  i.  295  ;  to  make  alive,  quicken, 
G  481 ;  ger.  to  take  life,  burst  forth,  HF. 
2078;  pt.  s.  burst  into  flame,  A  2335; 
pp.  endowed  with  life,  F  1050. 

Quikkest,  adj.  superl.  liveliest,  busiest, 
F  1502. 

Quiknesse,  s.  life,  3.  26. 

Quinible,  s.  shrill  treble,  A  3332. 

Quirboilly,  s.  boiled  leather,  B  2065. 

Quisshin,  s.  cushion,  T.  ii.  1229. 

Quistroun,  s.  scullion,  kitchen-drudge, 
R.  886.     O.  F.  coistron. 

Quit,  -te;  see  Quyte. 

Quitly,  adv.  freely,  wholly,  .\  1792. 

Quod,  pt.  s.  said,  A  1234. 

Quoniam,  pudendum,  D  608. 

Quook,  pt.  s.  (7/Quake. 


88 


(Slossavial  h\b(x. 


Quyte,  V.  requite,  reward,  repay,  recom- 
pense, give  in  return,  R.  1542;  5.  112; 
10.  75;  HF.  670;  free,  ransom.  A  1032; 
^er.  to  remove,  free,  7.  263 ;  </urff  7vith, 
to  requyte  with,  A  3119;  hir  cost  for 
to  quyte,  to  pay  for  her  expenses,  B 
3564;  qiiyte  hir  ivhyle,  repay  her  lime, 
i.  e.  her  trouble,  B  584 ;  pi.  s.  repaid,  R. 
1526;  pt.  pi.  released,  T.  iv.  205;  Quit, 
//.  rewarded,  requited,  HF.  1614;  set 
free,  G  66;  discharged,  quit,  F  1758;  as 
adj.  free,  F  1534. 


B£Ui,  s.  roe  (Norlhern),  A  4086. 

Raby,  Rabbi.  D  2187. 

Rad.  -de;  see  Rede. 

Radevore,  s.  piece  of  tapestry,  L.  2352. 

From    F.  ras  de    I  'ore,  serge   from    La 

N'aur. 
Rafles,  .f.  p/.  raffles.  I  793. 

Raft,  -e ;  see  Reve. 

Raere,  s.  passion,  R.  1613 ;  craving,  R.  1657 ; 
madness,  3.  731;  L.  599;  violent  grief, 
F  836;  violent  rush,  fierce  blast.  A  1985. 

Ragre,  v.  romp,  tov  wantonlv,  A  257,  3273, 
3058. 

Ragrerye,  s.  wantonness,  E  1847 ;  passion, 

U  4=;=;- 

Baked,  pp.  raked.  B  3323.  Literally,  the 
sentence  is  —  '.Amongst  hot  coals  he 
hath  raked  himself;  the  sense  is,  of 
course,  '  he  halh  raked  hot  coals  around 
hintself." 

Rakel.  adj.  rash,  T.  i.  1067;  hasty.  T.  iii. 
I-437- 

Rakelnesse,  s.  rashness,  H  283. 

Rake-stele,  s.  handle  of  a  rake,  D  949. 
See  Stele. 

Raket.  s.  the  game  of  rackets,  T.  iv.  460. 

Rakle,  v.  behave  rashly.  T.  iii.  1642. 

Ram,  s.  ram,  L.  1427  ;  {as  prize  at  a  wrest- 
ling-match), A  548;  Aries,  the  first  sign 
in  the  zodiac,  A  8. 

Rammish,  adj.  ramlike,  strong-scented, 
G  887. 

Rampeth,  pr.  s.  (lit.  ramps,  romps,  rears, 
but  here)  rages,  .lets  with  violence,  B 
3094.  We  should  now  say  —  'Shejties 
in  mv  face." 

Rancour,  .t.  ill-feeling,  ill-will,  malice,  R. 
1261. 

Ransaked.  pt.  s.  ransacked,  came  search- 
insj  out,  4.  28. 

Rape,  s.  haste,  8.  7.     Icel.  /trap. 

Rape,  V.  ;  in  phrase  rape  and  renne.  cor- 
rupted from  an  older  phrase  repen  and 
r'tnen   (A.  S.  hrepian  and  hr'inan),  i.  e. 


handle  and  touch,  clutch  and  seize,  G 

1422. 
Rascaille,  s.  mob,  T.  v.  1853. 
Rated,    pp.   reproved,    scolded,   A  3463. 

Short  for  araled,  variant  of  aretted ;  see 

Arette. 
Rathe,  adv.  soon,  HF.  2139;  early,  A  3768. 
Rather,  adj.  comp.  former,  T.  iii.  1337. 
Rather,  adv.  sooner,  3.  562;    more  will- 
ingly, .\  487  :   Ih,-  r.,  the  sooner,  2.  82. 
Raughte ;  see  Reche. 
Raunson,  .t.  ransom,  A  1024. 
Rave.  2//.  pi.  are  mad,  T.  ii.  116. 
Raven,  s.  the  constellation  Corvus,  HF. 

1004. 
Ravines,  .t.  //.  rapines,  thefts,  I  793. 
Ravinour,  s.  plunderer,  B  4.  p  3.  117. 
Ravisshe.  v.  snatch  away,  B  2.  m  7.  32; 

.<'('  r.,  go  and  ravish,  T.  iv.  530;  pp.  rapt, 

!•'.    1750;    overjoyed,   F  547;   part.  pres. 

sn^itehing  away.  B  4.  m  6.  39. 
Ravlsshingr,  adj.  swift,  violent.  B  i.  m  5. 

4;  enchanting,  5.  198;  destroying,  B  1. 

ni  5.  60  (I^t.  rapidos). 
Ravyne,  s.  ravening,  greediness,  5.  336; 

ravin,   prey,   5.   323;    Ravines,  thefts,   I 

793.     O.  F".  ravine,  L.  rapina. 
Ravysedest,  2/.  s.pl.  didst  draw  (down) , 

B  i6:;9. 
Rayed,  pp.  striped,  3.  252. 
Real,  adj.  royal,  regal,  T.  iii.  1534 ;  L.  214, 

284.  1605. 
Realtee.  s.  royalty,  sovereign  power,  10. 

'Vj. 
Reaume,  (.  realm,  kingdom,  L.  2091. 
Rebekke.  .<.  old  woman,  dame,  D  1573. 
Rebel,  adj.  rebellious,  A  833,  3046. 
Rebelling',  s.  rebellion.  A  2459. 
Rebounde.  v.  return,  T.  iv.  1666. 
Rebuked,  pp.  snubbed,  I  444. 
Recche  ( i ),  v.  reck,  care,  heed,  5.  593 ;  is 

noux/il  to  r.,  no  matter  for.  T.  ii.  434; 

pr.  s.  recks,  cares,  A  2397;   Recche  of  it, 

care  for  it,  pr.  pi.  F  71 ;  //  recche.  pr.  s. 

subj.  may  care  for  it,  T.  iv.  630;  Roghte, 

pt.   s.   recked,   cared,   regarded,  3.  887; 

impers.  he  cared,  L.  605  ;   Koughtc,  pt.  s. 

recked,  cared,  T.  i.  496. 
Recche  (2),pr.  s.  subj.  interpret,  expound, 

B  4086. 
Recchelees,   adj.  careless,   reckless,  R. 

340:  regardless.  HF.  668. 
Recchelesnesse,  s.  recklessness,  1   iii, 

611. 
Receit.  s.  receipt,  i.  c.  recipe  for  making 

a  mixture,  G  1353. 
Rechased,  pp.  headed  back,  3.  379. 
Reche,  v.  reach,  give,  hand  over,  3.  74 ; 


(3\aQ&mal  linbtx. 


89 


Raughte,  p/.  s.  reached,  A  3696 ;  reached 
up  to,  A  2915  ;  reached  (out,  or  forward), 
A  136;  proceeded,  T.  ii.  446;  Reighte, 
/>f.  J.  reached,  touched,  HF.  1374. 

Reclaiming,  s.  enticement,  L.  1371. 

Reclayme,  v.  reclaim  (as  a  hawk  by 
a  lurr),  i.  e.  check,  H  72. 

Recomaunde,  z:  recommend, T.  ii.  1070. 

Recomende,  .ff/-.  to  commit,  G  544. 

Recomforte,  ^c/-.  to  comfort  again,  T.  ii. 
1672. 

Recompensacioun,  s.  recompense,  HF. 

Reconciled,  //.  re-consecrated,  I  965. 
Reconforte,  z>.  comfort  again,  A  28i;2.  B 

2168. 
Record,   s.   report.   D   2049;    testimony, 

3-934- 
Kecorde,   v.  witness,  bear  in   mind,  A 

1745;   remember,  T.  V.  445;   (to)  record, 

recoidmg,  5.  609;  Recorde,  i  '/>/:  s.  bring 

(it)  to  your  remembrance,  .\  829. 
Recours,  s.  recourse,  B  2632  ;  resort,  T.  ii. 

1352;  viol  have  my  r.,  will  return,  F  7c;; 

pi.  orbits,  B  I.  m  2.  14. 
Recovere,  v.  regain,  T.  iv.  406. 
Recoverer,  s.  recovery,  22.  3.    O.  F.  >e- 

lovrier,  recoverer. 
Reddour,  .r.  violence,  vehemence,  10.  13. 
Rede,  v.  read,  A  709 ;  advise,  counsel,  L. 

2217;    interpret,    3.     279;    Ret,    //-.    s. 

advises,  T.ii.  413;  Redeih,//-.  j.  advises 

T.  iv.   573;  Redde,  //.  s.  read,  D   714. 

721 ;  interpreted,   3.    281 ;    Raddi-,  pt.   s. 

read,  T.  ii.  1085  ;  D  791 ;  advised,  5.  579  ; 

Red,//,  read,  3.  224;  Rad,//.  read,  B 

43II- 
Rede,  dat.  counsel,  T.  iv.  679 ;  see  Reed. 
Rede,  adj.  red;  see  Reed. 
Rede,  adj.  made   of"  reed ;    referring  to 

a     musical     instrument    in    which    the 

sound  was  produced  by  the  vibration  of 

a  reed,  HK.  1221. 
Rede,  s.  red  (i.  e.  gold),  T.  iii.  1384;  the 

blood,  B  356;  red  wine,  C  526,  562. 
Redelees,     adj.    without    counsel;     not 

knou  iiig  which  way  to  turn,  2.  27. 
Redely,    adv.   soon,    HF.   1392;    readily, 

irulv,  HF.  1127. 
Redoute.  v.  fear,  B  i.  p  3.  21. 
Redouting-e,  s.  reverence,  A  2050. 
Redresseth, //-.  J.  amends,  I  1039;  pr.pl. 
refl.ftreci  (themselves)  again,  rise  again, 
T.  ii.  969;   Redressed, /A  s.   reasserted] 
vmdicated,    F     1436;     Redresse,   imp.  s. 
reform,    i.   129;   Redressed,//,   roused 
B  4.  p  2.  139.  '   J 

Keducen,  v.  sum  up,  B  3.  p  8.  6i.  | 


Redy,  adj.  ready,  A  21,  352;  dressed,  F 
387  ;  at  hand,  2.  104. 


s.  counsel,   advice,  plan,  A    1216, 
3527;    profit,    help,     remedy,     3.     203- 
counsel,  adviser,   A   665;    /  ea/i   no  r., 
I  know  not  what  to  do,  3.  1187;  without 
reed,    lielpless,    3.    587;    to  rede,   for   a 
counsel;  dcst  to  rede,  best  for  a  counsel, 
best  to  do,  T.  iv.  679  (not  a  verb). 
Reed,   adj.  red,    A    153;    (of   the   com- 
plexion), 3.  470;    Rede,   adj.   def.   red, 
A  957;  indef.  (rare),  L.  2589;   Rede,//. 
1.89. 
Reed,  s.  redness,  L.  533. 
Reed.  imp.  s.  read,  H  344. 
Reednesse,  s.  redness,  G  1097. 
Rees,  v.  great  haste,  T.  iv.  350. 
Refect,//-  restored,  B  4.  p  6.  414. 
Refere,  v.  return,  'I",  i.  266;  Referred  //. 

brought  back,  B  3.  p  10.  180. 
Re&gnringe,  pres.  pt.  reproducing,  T.  v. 

473- 
Refreiningre,  s.  refrain,  burden,  R.  749. 
Refreyden,  v.  grow    cold,    T.  v.  507; 

Rf-frevd,  cooled  down,  12.  21. 
Refreyn,  s.  refrain,  T.  ii.  1571. 
Refreyne.  v.  bridle,  curb,  I  385. 
Refresshinge,  s.  renewing,  I  78. 
Reft,  -e ;  see  Reve. 

Refus,//.  as  adj.  refused,  rejected,  T.  i.S70. 
Refut,  s.  place  of  refuge,  refuge,  i.  14; 

safeiv,  I.  33. 
Regals,  pi.  royal  attributes,  L.  2128. 
Regalye,  s.  rule,  authority,  2.  65. 
Regard ;    to    the    r.   of,   in     comparison 

u  ith,  B  2.  p  7.  126 ;  at  r.  of,  s;.  58. 
Registre,  .r.  narrative,  A  2812. 
Regne,  s.  kingdom,  dominion,  realm,  A 

866;  dominion,  rule,  A  1624. 
Regnen,  pr.  pi.  reign,  4.  50. 
Reherce,  v.  rehearse,  repeat  with  exacti- 
tude, A  732 ;  ger.  to  enumerate,  I  239 ; 
recount,  B  89. 
Rehersaille,  s.  enumeration,  G  852. 
Rehersing,  s.  rehearsal,  A  1650;  recital. 

L.  1 185. 
Reighte,  //.  s.  reached,    touched,    HF. 

1374.     Pt.  t.  o^reche. 
Reines.  s.pl.  rain-storms,  HF.  967. 
Rejoye,  v.  rejoice,  T.  v.  395. 
Rejoyse,  ger.  to  make  rejoice,  i.  loi ;  feel 

glad.T.  v.  1165. 
Rekene,  ger.  to  reckon,  A  401. 
Rekening,  s.  reckoning,  account,  3.  699 ; 

.A  600. 
Reketh.  //.  s.  reeks,  smokes,  L.  2612. 
Rekever,  \  pr.  s.  (iox  future),  (\)  shall 
retrieve,  do  away,  HF.  354. 


D4 


9° 


i^lossarinl  hxticx. 


Bekke,  i  pr.  s.  care,  C  405,  E  1090 ;  pr.  s. 

impers.    (it)    recks    (him),  he  cares,  L. 

365 ;  yow  /-.,  you  reck,  7.  303 ;   what  r. 

me,  what  do  I  care,  D  53. 
Rekne.  v.  reckon  {a/so  i  pr.  .r.),  A  1933. 
Relayes,  s.  pi.  fresh  sets  of  hounds,  re- 

s(^evo  packs,  3.  362. 
Relees,  s.  release,  i.  3;    ceasing;  out  of 

r,/fi-'.  without  ceasing,  G  46. 
Relente,  :■.  melt,  G  1278. 
Relesedest.   2  //.  s.  forgavcst,   I    309; 

kilrssed,//.  s.  forgave,  B  3367. 
Relesing',  s.  remission,  I  1026. 
Releve,  ^er.  to  raise   up,  relieve,    T.   v. 

1042;  pp.  restored,  I  945;  Relcved,  //. 

revived.  L.  128;  recompensed,  A  4182; 

mad--  rich  again,  G  872. 
Relevingre,  s.  remedy,  I  804. 
Reli^loun,   s.  religion,  A   477;    state  of 

religion,    life  of   a   nun,    K.   429;    a   re- 
ligious   order,    B    3134;     the    religious 

orders,  153144. 
Religious,  adj.  belonging  to  a  religious 

order,  B  3150;   devoted   to  a  religious 

order,  I .  ii.  759 ;  as  s.,  a  monk  or  nun, 

I  8qi. 
Relik,  s.  relic,  L.  321. 
Reme,  s.  realm,  B  1306. 
Remede.  s.  remedy,  T.  i.  661. 
Remedies,  p/.  (Ovid's)  Remedia  Amoris, 

3.  56L, 
Remembre,  i-.  remember,  I  135 ;  pr.  pi. 

remind,    I"    1243;  pr.    s.    recurs   to  the 

mind,  4.  150;   Remembringe   him,  call- 
ing to  remembrance,  T.  ii.  72. 
Remenant,  .f.  remainder,  rest,  A  888. 
Reraeve,  v.  remove,  T.  i.  691. 
Remorde./>r..f..t//^/.  cause  (you)  remorse, 

r.     iv.     1491 ;     pr.    s.    vexes,     plagues, 

trouldes,  B  4.  p  6.  293. 
Remors,  s.  remorse,  T.  i.  554. 
Remounted,  pp.  comforted,  B  3.  p  i.  9. 
Remuable  (i),  adj.  changeable,  variable, 

T.  iv.  1682. 
Remuable  (2),  adj.  capable  of  motion 

(Lat.  mobiliiiis),  B  5.  p  5.  37. 
Remuen,  v.  remove,  B  2.  p  6.  55.     (Lat. 

jwouebis.) 
Ren,  s.  run,  A  4079. 
Renably,  adv.  reasonably,  D  1509. 
Rende,  ;•.  rend.  T.  iv.  1493;  Rent,  pr.  s. 

rrnds,  tears,  L.  646  a ;   Rente,//,  s.  tore, 

.\  000. 
Rendingr,  s.  tearing,  A  2834. 
Renegat,  s.  renegade,  apostate,  B  932. 
Reneye,   v.   deny,    renounce,    abjure,   B 

376.  3751- 
Reneyinge.  s.  denying,  I  793. 


Renged,  //.  ranged,  placed  in  rows,  R. 
1380. 

Rengres,  pi.  ranks,  A  2594. 

Renue  (i),  v.  run,  I  721;  ger.  A  3890; 
pr.  s.  runs,  D  76;  is  current,  E  1986; 
approaches  quickly,  T.  ii.  1754;  goes 
easily,  A.  i.  2.  i ;  arises,  L.  503;  spreads, 
L.  1423 ;  reiinetli  for,  runs  in  favour  of, 
B  125;  Ronnen,  //.  //.  ran,  A  2925, 
3827;  Ronnen,  pp.  advanced,  lit.  run, 
R.  320;  IS  r.,  lias  run,  has  found  its 
way  (into),  HF.  1644. 

Renne  (2),  v.;  only  in  the  phrase,  rape 
and  rcnne,  G  1422.     See  Rape. 

Renomed,  pp.  renowned,  H  3.  p  2.  124. 

Renomee,  s.  renown,  L.  1513. 

Renoun.  s.  renown,  fame,  2.  88. 

Renovelances,  s.  pi.  renewals,  HF.  693. 

Renovelle,  v.  renew,  B  3035;  are  re- 
newed, I  1027. 

Rente,  s.  revenue,  income,  A  256;  pay- 
ment, tribute,  3.  765 ;  to  r.,  as  a  tribute, 
r.  ii.  830. 

Repair,  s.  resort,  repairing,  B  1211,  D 
1224. 

Repaire,  ^er.  to  go  home.  B  1516;  to 
repair,  find  a  home,  T.  iii.  5;  to  go 
back  (to),  HF.  755;  v.  return,  F  589. 

Reparaciouns, //.  reparations,  makings 
up,  HF. ',88. 

Repentaunce,  /.  penitence,  A  1776. 

Repentaunt,  adj.  penitent,  A  228. 

Repenting,  s.  repentance,  L.  147. 

Repeyre,  v.  repair,  return,  T.  v.  1571. 

Repleccioun,  s.  repletion,  B  4027. 

Repleet,  adj.  replete,  full,  B  4147. 

Replenissed.  pp.  filled,  I  1079. 

Replicacioun,  s.  reply,  A  1846;  involu- 
tion. 1',  3.  p  12.  170. 

Replye,  v.  object,  E  1609. 

Reporte.  :■.  relate,  tell,  C  438. 

Reportour.  s.  reporter,  A  814.  (The  host 
is  so  called  because  he  receives  and 
remembers  the  tales ;  they  were  all 
addressed  to  him  in  particular.  Thus 
'  reporter'  has  here  almost  the  sense  of 
'  umpire.') 

Reprehencioun,  s.  reproof,  T.  i.  684. 

Reprehende,  v.  reproach,  T.  i.  510 ;  pr.pl. 
blame,  criticise,  B  3.  p  12.  134. 

Repressed,  pp.  kept  under,  L.  2591. 

R6prev6ble,  adj.  reprehensible.  C  632; 
r.  to,  likely  to  cast  a  slur  on,  15.  24. 

Repreve,  Jr.  reproof,  B  2413;  shame,  C 
:;95  ;   reproach,  E  2206. 

Repreve,  v.  reproach,  F 1537  ;  reprove,  H 

Reproved,  pp.  as  adj.  blamed,  accused. 


(©losgarial  EnlJex. 


91 


R.  113s ;  Reproeved,  //.  stultified,  B  2. 
p  6.  127. 

Repugnen,  ger.  to  be  repugnant  (to),  B 
S-  P  3-  6. 

Requerable,  adj.  desirable,  B  2.  p  6.  32. 

Requeren,  v.  entreat,  seek,  B  2927;  ask, 
D  1052 ;  pp.  necessitated,  T.  iii.  405. 

Resalgar,  s.  realgar,  G  814.  '  Realgar,  a 
combination  of  sulphur  and  arsenic,  of 
a  brilliant  red  colour  as  existing  in 
nature  ;  red  orpiment ; '  Webster. 

Resceived,  pp.  received ;  wel  resceived, 
favourably  situated  with  respect  to  other 
planets,  ike. ;  A.  ii.  4.  51. 

Rescous,  s.  a  rescue,  help,  T.  iii.  1242;  A 
2643. 

Rescowe,  v.  (to)  rescue,  save,  T.  iii.  857 ; 
rescue,  T.  v.  231. 

Rescowinge.  s.  rescuing,  I  805. 

Rese,  ger.  to  shake,  A  1986. 

R6sembld.ble,  adj.  alike,  R.  985. 

Resolven,  pr.  pi.  flow  out,  B  5.  m  i.  i; 
Resolved,  //.  dissolved,  melted,  B  2.  p  7. 
164. 

Resonable,  adj.  talkative,  3.  534. 

Resort,  s.  resource,  T.  iii.  134. 

Resoun,  s.  reason,  right,  A  37,  847; 
argument,  speech,  sentence,  T.  i.  796. 

Res6uneth, /r.  s.  resounds,  A  1278. 

Resport.  .f.  regard,  T.  iv.  86,  850. 

Respyt,  s.  delay,  B  948;  respite,  delay, 
reprieve,  G  543;  wtthotite  more  respyt, 
without  delay,  forthwith,  R.  1488;  out 
of  more  respyt,  without  any  delay,  with- 
out any  hesitation,  T.  v.  137. 

Respyte,,f^fr.  to  hesitate,  7.  259. 

Reste,  s.  rest,  repose,  F  355;  at  reste,  at 
rest,  fixed,  T.  ii.  760;  at  his  reste,  as  in 
its  home,  5.  376 ;  to  reste,  (gone)  to  rest, 
A  30 ;  Restes,  pi.  times  of  repose,  T.  ii. 
1722. 

Reste,  V.  remain  (with),  T.  iii.  1435;  rest, 
repose,  T.  ii.  1326. 

Restelees,  adv.  restlessly,  R.  370. 

Resurreccioun,  s.  resurrection,  i.  e.  re- 
opening (of  the  daisy),  L.  no. 

Ret,  /or    Redeth.   pr.    s.    advises,    T.   ii. 

413- 
Retenue,  s.  retinue,  troop  of  retainers, 

suite,  A  2502;   E  270;  at  his  r.,  among 

those  retained  by  him,  D  1355. 
Rethor.  s.  orator,  B  4397,  F  38. 
Rethorien,  adj.  rhetorical,  B  2.  p  i.  46. 
Rethorien  {ivritten  Retorien),  s.  orator, 

B  2.  p  3.  61. 
Retorneth,  pr.  s.  brings  back,  B  5.  p  6. 

301  ;  pres.pt.  revolving,  T.  v.  1023. 
Retourninge,  s.  return,  A  2095. 


Retracciouns,  s.  pi.  retractions,  things 

which  I  withdraw,  I  1085. 
Retreteth,  //-.  ,f.  reconsiders,  B  5.  m  3. 

57- 
Retrograd,  adj.  moving   in  a  direction 

contrary  to  that  of  the  sun's  motion  in 

the  ecliptic,  A.  ii.  4.  53. 
Reule,  s.  rule,  A  173. 
Reulen,  v.  rule,  B  4234 ;  Reule  hir,  guide 

her  conduct,  E  327. 
Reuthe,  s.  ruth,  1. 127. 
Reve,   s.   reeve,  steward,  bailiff,  A  542, 

3860. 
Reve,  ger.  to  rob  (from),  T.  iv.  285;  to 

take  away,  G  376 ;   to  r.  >io  man  fro  his 

lyf,  to  take  away  no  man's  life,  L.  2693 ; 

Reven,  ger.  to  reave,  plunder,  I  758;   to 

bereave,  T.  i.  188;    Reveth, //-.  j-.  forces 

away,  5.  86;   Rafte,  pt.  s.  bereft,  D  888; 

reft.   B  3288;    Refte,  //.  s.   bereft,  HF. 

457;    Raft,  pp.   torn,   reft,   T.   v.   1258; 

taken  from,  L.  2590;  bereaved,  F  1017. 
Revel,   s.   revelry,  sport,  A   2717;    min- 
strelsy, A  4402. 
Re  valour,  s.  (the)  Reveller,  A  4371;   a 
\       reveller,  A  4391. 
Revelous,  adj.  fond  of  revelry,  B  1194. 
Reverberacloun,  s.  vibration,  D  2234. 
j   Reverdye,   s.  rejoicing,   R.  720.    O.  F. 

reverdie,   '  feuill^e,    verdure;    joie,    all6- 

gresse ;  '  Godefroy. 
Reverence,  s.  respect,  A  141 ;  respectful 

manner,  A  305;   fear,  I  294;   thy  r.,  the 

respect  shewn  to  thee,  B  116. 
Revers,  s.  reverse,  contrary,  18.  32. 
Revesten,  pr.  pi.  clothe  again,  T.   iii. 

353- 
Revoken.  ger.  to  recall,  T.  iii.  1118. 
Revolucloun,  i.  revolving  course  (orbit), 
„4-3o-  ^ 
Reward,  s.  regard,  attention,  T.  ii.  1133, 

V.  1736;  ,^az'/«f /-./<?,  considering,  5.  426; 

take  r.  of,  have  regard,  I  151. 
Rewde,  adj.  plain,  unadorned,  A.  pr.  49. 
Re'we,  s.  row,  line,  A  2866 ;    by  rewe,  in 

order,  D  506. 
Rewe,  ger.  to  have  pity,  A  2382 ;  be  sorry, 

T.  ii.  455;    do  penance  for,  G  447;  pr. 

s.  impers.  makes  (me)  sorry,  I  am  sorry, 

A  3462,  B  4287. 
Rewel-boon,  s.   (probably)   ivory   made 

from  fhe  teeth  of  whales,  B  2068. 
Rewful,    adj.  lamentable,  sad,   L.   1838; 

sad  (one),  B  854. 
Rewfulleste,  adj.  sup.  most  sorrowful,  A 

2886. 
RewfuUy,  adv.  sadly,  T.  iii.  65. 
Rewle,  s.  the  revolving  long  and  narrow 


92 


@las0aTtaI  Snbei. 


plate   or   rod   used   for   measuring   and 

taking  altitudes,  A.  i.  i.  6;  it  revolves  at 

the  back  of  the  Astrolabe ;  pi.  rules,  A. 

pr.  44. 
Rewledest,  2  pr.  s.  didst  control,  B  i.  p 

4.  238. 
Bewliche,  .iJj.  pitiable,  B  2.  p  3.  67. 
Rewme.  f.  realm.  R.  495. 
Rewthe,   s.   ruth,  pity,   E  579;   a  pitiful 

>ighi,  li  ^62. 
Rewthelees,  .;<//  ruthless,  unpitying,  5. 

013;  6.  31. 
Reye.  s.  rye,  U  1746. 
Reyes,  />/.  round  dances,  HF.  1236.    Mid. 

Du.  reye, '  a  round  daunce ' :   Hexham. 
Reyn,  s.  rain,  A  492;   storm  of  rain,  A 

35»7-  .      .      „ 

Reyne,  f.  rein,  A  4083. 

Reyne,  :•.  rain  down,  T.  v.  1336;  rain,  4. 
2S7.    See  Ron. 

Reynes,  s.p/.  loins,  I  863. 

Reyae.^i'cr.  to  build  up,  D  3102;  r.  up.  to 
exact.  ■  realise,"  D  1390. 

Reysed,  pp.  gone  on  a  military  expedi- 
tion, A  54.  O.  F.  reise.  'expedition 
mililaire,  incursion  sur  une  terre  enne- 
mie ; '  Godctroy. 

Rhetorlce,  Rhetoric,  B  2.  p  i.  48. 

Riban.  j.  as  pi.  ribbons,  HF.  1318. 

Ribaningres,  pi.  silk  trimmings,  borders, 
k.  1077. 

Ribaudye,  /.  ribaldry,  ribald  jesting,  A 

^?-<y^.  c  324- 

Ribible,  .(.  rebeck,  lute  with  two  strings, 

A  4396. 
Ribybe,  s.  term  of  reproach  for  an  old 

wom.in,  D  1377. 
Riche.  adj.  pi.  rich  people,  A  248. 
Richely,  adv.  richly,  F  90. 
Richesse.  s.  riches,  wealth,  D  mo,  in8; 

Richesses,  pi.  wealth,  riches,  B  2560. 
Rideled,  pp.  plaited,  gathered  in  (at  the 

neck,  or  waist).  R.  1235,  1243.     '  Rideli, 

plisse; '  Godefroy. 
RIden, //.//.  and  pp.  rode,  ridden. 
Riet,   -rete,"  A.   i.  3.  5.     The  'rete"   or 

'  net '   is   the   circular   plate   with    many 

openings     which     revolves    within    the 

'  mother.' 
Right,    adj.    straight,    upright,    R.    1701 . 

right,  I.  75;  voc.  own,  F  1311. 
Right,    adv.   just,    exactly,   A   257,   535; 

w  holly,  C  58  ;  even,  B  2173 ;   Right  that, 

that  very  thing,  3.  1307. 
Right,  i.  I.  21 ;  by  right,  justly,  B  44 ;  by 

atle  r.,  in  all  justice,  T.  ii.  763 ;  at  alle 

righteK  in  all  respects,  fully,  A  iioo. 
Rightful,  adj.  perfect ;  rightful  age,  (in) 


her  prime,  R.  405  ;  just,  i.  31 ;  righteous, 
5.  55  .   hiwful.  I  744. 
RightwiS.  adj.  righteous,  just,  L.  905. 
Riyhtwisnesse,  s.  righteousness,  C  637, 

D  1909;  justice,  14.  8. 
Rikne,  imp.  s.  reckon,  compute,  A.  ii.  27. 

10.    See  Rekene. 
Rinde,  s.  rind,  buik,    r.  iv.   1139;    hard 

skin,  T.  ii.  642. 
Ring,  s.  ring,  F  83 ;   concourse,  L.  1887 ; 

lyk  r.,  i.  e.  in  ringlets,  A  2165. 
Ringe,  V.  make  to  resound,  A  2431 ;  ring, 
resound,  T.  ii.  233 ;  Rong,  //.  s.  rang,  5. 
492;   Ronge, //.  T.  ii.  805. 
Riot,  J.  riotous  conduct,  gaming,  A  4395, 

4392. 
Riote,  V.  riot,  gamble,  A  4414. 
Risen,  pp.  of  Ryse. 
Risshe,  s.  rush.  T.  iii.  1161. 
Rist.  pr.  s.  of  Rvse. 
Rit.  pr.  s.  of  Ryde. 
Riveer,  s.  river,  B  1927. 
Robbour.  s.  robber,  B  3818. 
Roche,  s.  rock,  F  500;  //.  HF.  1035. 
Rode,  (.  complexion,  A  3317,  B  1917. 
Rode.  -(.  nom.  rood,  cross,  HF.  57. 
Rode-beem,  j.  rood-beam,  D  496.     (A 
beam  acrobs  the  entrance  to  the  choir  of 
a  church,  supporting  a  rood  or  cross.) 
Rody,  adj.  ruddy,  F  385,  394. 
Roes,  pi.  of  Roo. 
Roggeth    (Ruggeth),  pr.   s.   shakes,    L. 

2708.     I  eel.  rugga. 
Roket,   s.   rochet,   tunic,   R.   1240,  1242, 
1243.       An    outer    garment,    usually    of 
Imc  white  linen. 
Rokke,  s.  rock,  L.  2195. 
Rokken,  ger.  to  rock,  A  4157. 
RoUe,  s.  roll,  C  911. 

Rollen,  ger.  to  roll,  revolve,  T.  ii.  659; 
//.  s.  revolved,  D  2217;  pp.  much  talked 
of.   1".  V.  1061. 
Romaunce,  s.  romance,  T.  iii.  980. 
Rombled,  pt.  s.  fumbled,  moved   about 

with  his  hands,  groped  about,  G  1322. 
Rombled,   pt.    s.    buzzed,    muttered,    B 

3725- 
Romen,  v.  roam,  wander,  A  1099;  Romed, 

pt.  s.  A  1065,  1069 ;  pp.  gone,  L.  1589. 
R5n.  pt.  s.  rained,  T.  iii.  640,  677.     A.  S. 

ran.  pt.  s.  rained. 
Rond.  adj.  round,  circular,  A.  ii.  38.  i. 
Rong, -e,  see  Ringe. 
Ronges,  pi.  rungs,  rounds  of  a  ladder,  A 

3625.     A.  S.  hrting. 
Ronne, -n;  see  Renne. 
Roo.  f.  roe,  5.  195  ;  Roes,  pi.  roes,  R.  1401. 
Rood,  pt.  ..  of  Ryde. 


(glo0garial  Intjei. 


93 


Roof,  ft.  s.  of  Ryve. 

Roon,  s.  rose-bush,  R.  1674.  Halliwell 
gives  roan,  a  clump  of  whins,  as  a 
Northumberland  wojd ;  and  we  find 
the  spelling  ranes  in  the  allit.  Morte 
Arthure,  923. 

Roos,  pt.  s.  of  kyse. 

Roost,  s.  roast  meat,  A  206. 

Ropen,  pp.  reaped,  L.  74. 

Rore,  s.  uproar,  T.  v.  45. 

Rore,  ger.  to  roar,  T.  iv.  373;  pr.  s.  re- 
sounds, A  2881. 

Roring',  s.  loud  lament,  E  2364. 

Rose,  s.  rose,  R.  1700;  ger.  of  the  rose,  A 
1038. 

Rose-leef,  s.  rose-leaf,  R.  905. 

Rose-garlond,  s.  garland  of  roses,  HF. 

135- 

Rosen,  adj.  made  of  roses,  R.  845;  Ro- 
sene,  adj.  def.  rosy,  B  2.  m  8.  6. 

Roser.  s.  rose-bush,  R.  1651,  1659;  I  858. 

Rose-reed,  adj.  red  as  a  rose,  G  254. 

Roste,  V.  roast,  A  383 ;  //.  A  147. 

Rosy  hewed,  of  rosy  hue,  T.  ii.  1198. 

Rote,  s.  (i)  root,  A  2,  423;  the  radix,  fun- 
damental principle,  G  1461 ;  source, 
B  358;  i.  e.  foot,  E  58;  on  rote,  firmly 
rooted,  T.  ii.  1378 ;  htrte  rote,  bottom 
of  the  heart,  D  471 ;  (2)  root,  the  tabu- 
lated number  written  opposite  a  given 
fixed  date,  A.  ii.  44.  2;  the  'epoch'  of 
a  nativity,  B  314. 

Rote,  s.  rote;  by  rote,  by  rote,  by  heart, 
A  327,  B  1712. 

Rote,  s.  a  musical  stringed  instrument, 
a  kind  of  fiddle,  of  Celtic  origin ;  said 
to  he  a  fiddle  with  three  strings,  A  236. 
O.  F.  rote,  from  O.  H.  G.  hrotta,  rotta. 
Low  Lat.  chrotta ;  of  Celtic  origin,  from 
O.  Irish  crot  (Gael,  cruit,  W.  crwtA)  ; 
whence  also  E.  crowd. 

Rotelees,  adj.  rootless,  T.  iv.  770. 

Roten.  adj.  rotten,  A  3873  ;  corrupt,  filthy, 
I  139. 

Roteii-herted,  adj.  rotten-hearted,  I 
oSi). 

Rotie.  pr.  s.  subj.  render  rotten,  A  4407. 

Roughte ;  see  Recche. 

Rouketh,  pr.  s.  cowers,  crouches,  is  hud- 
dled up,  A  1308. 

Roule.  <■.  gad  (lit.  roll),  D  653. 

Roum,  adj.  roomy,  spacious,  A  4126. 

Roum,  f.  room,  spare,  L.  1999. 

Roumer,  adj.  larger,  A  4145. 

Rouncy,  s.  a  hackney,  nag,  A  390. 

Rounde,  adv.  roundly,  i.  e.  easily,  with 
an  easy  (not  jerky)  motion,  B  2076; 
melodiously,  C  331. 


Rounded,//,  s.  stood  out  in  a  rounded 

form,  A  263. 
Roundel,  s.  roundel,  roundelay,  a    kind 

of  poem,  A   1529;    a   small   circle,  HF. 

791,  798. 
Roundnesses,  //.  orbs,   orbits,  B  4.  m 

6.52. 
Roune.  v.  whisper,  B  2025;  ger.  D  1572; 

//.  s.  HF.  2044.     A.  S.  runian. 
Route,   s.   company,   rout,   troop,    band, 

train,  .\  622,  889,  2153  ;  number,  R.  1667  ; 

flock,  R.  909 ;  //.  T.  ii.  620. 
Route  (i),  V.  roar,    1'.  iii.  743;   murmur, 

HF.  1038;  ger.  to  snore,  3.  172;  //•.  s. 

snoros,  A  3647.    A.  S.  hrutan. 
Route  (2),  V.  assemble  in  a  company,  B 

540- 
Routhe,  s.  pity,  ruth,  compassion,  mercy, 

F   1261,   1349;    lamentation,   L.   669;    a 

pity,  a  sad  thing,  A  914. 
Routhelees,    adj.    ruthless,    pitiless,    B 

863. 
Routing,  s.  snoring,  A  4166,  4214;  whiz- 
zing noise,  HF.  1933. 
Ro'We,  s.  row,  3.  975 ;  line,  HF.  448 ;  by  r., 

in  a  row,  T.   ii.  970;    Rowes,  //.   rays, 

beams  (of  light),  4.  2. 
Rowe,  adv.  roughly,  angrily,  G  861. 
Rowed,  //.  rowed,  T.  i.  969. 
Rowm,   adj.    roomy,    large,    wide,  A.   i. 

2.3- 
Rowne,  ger.  to  whisper,  T.  iii.  568. 
Rowthe,   s.   ruth,   pity,   3.  465;    sorrow, 

3-97- 
Royaltee,  s.  royalty,  E  928. 
Royleth,  //-.  s.  meanders,  wanders,  B  i. 

m  7.  10. 
Royne,  s.  roughness,  R.  553. 
Roynous,  adj.  rough,  R.  988. 
Rubbe,  V.  rub  out,  8.  6. 
Rubee,  s.  ruby,  HF.  1362. 
Rubible,  s.  ribibe,  rebeck,  A  3331. 
Rubifying,  s.  rubefaction,  reddening,  G 

707- 
Rubriche,  s.  rubric,  D  346. 
Ruby,  f.  ruby,  12.  4.     Rubies,//.  4.  246. 
Ruddok,  s.  redbreast,  robin,  5.  349. 
Rude,    adj.  harsh,  R.  752;  poor,  E  916; 

inhospitable,   H   170;    of  humble  birth, 

D  1172. 
Rudeliche,  adv.  rudely,  A  734. 
Rudenesse,  s.  boorishness,  T.  iv.  1677: 

rusticity,  E  397. 
Rugg-y,  adj.  rough,  A  2883. 
Rule,  imp.  pi.  regulate,  order,  I  592 ;  //. 

as  adj.  well-mannered,  L.  163. 
Rum,   ram,    ruf;    nonsense    words,   to 

imitate  alliteration,  I  43. 


94 


(^iflggatial  Unbex. 


Rumbel,  s.  rumbling  noise,  A  1979; 
rumour,  E  997. 

Rumbleth,  f>/.  s.  moves  to  and  fro  with 
an  indistinct  murmuring  noise,  HF. 
1026. 

Rumblingre,  s.  noise,  D  2133. 

Rused,  //.  .1.  roused  herself,  rushed  away, 
3-381. 

Russhing-,  />/-«.  //.  rushing,  A  1641. 

Rubte,  ^^'cr.  to  rust,  A  502;  /r.  s.  sitbj. 
rust,  A  500. 

Rusty,  adj.  rusty,  A  618;  besmirched  as 
Willi  rust,  R.  159. 

Ryal,  adj.  royal,  i.  144  ;   Rial.  2.  59. 

Ryde,  v.  ride,  A  27.  94,  102 ;  ride  at 
anchor,  L.  908;  Ryden,.^^/-.  (jf/M  out), 
to  go  on  expeditions,  A  45  ;  Ryde,  ^er. 
\wUh  o\xX),  to  ride  abroad  to  insjject,  B 
1255;  (see  Outrydere);  Rydestow. 
ridest  thou,  D  1386;  kit,  pr.  s.  rides, 
A  974;  Rood,//,  s.  rode,  A  169;  Riden, 
I  //.//.  (wo)  rode.  A  825  ;  pt.pl.  C  968; 
Riden./*/.  ridden,  B  1990. 

Rydlng',  s.  jousting,  or  riding  in  proces- 
sion, A  4377. 

Rym,  s.  rime  (usually  misspelt  rhyme), 
B  2115,  21 18;  Ryme,  dat.  HF.  623;  a 
tale  in  verse,  B  1899;  verse,  D  1127; 
//.  B  96.     A.  S.  rim. 

Ryme,  v.  describe  in  verse,  put  into  rime 
(or  rhyme).  .A  1459,  B  2122. 

Rymeyed,//.  rimed,  or  rhymed,  F711; 
see  above. 

Ryming,  s.  riming,  or  rhyming,  verse- 
making,  B  2120;  the  art  of  riming,  B 
48. 

Ryot,  s.  riotous  living,  C  465. 

Ryotoixr,  s.  roysterer,  C  692. 

Rys,  s.  spray,  branch,  twig,  R.  1015;  A 
3324.    A.  S.  hris. 

Ryse,  ffer.  to  rise,  A  33 ;  to  get  up,  F  375 ; 
Rist,/r.  s.  rises,  A  3688,  4193 :  arises,  T. 
i.  944:  Roos.  I//,  s.  rose,  2.  17;  //.  s.  A 
823;  Risen,//.  A  1065;  Riseth, //«/.//. 
I  161. 

I^yve,  ger.  to  pierce,  T.  v.  1560;  v.  thrust, 
L.  1793;  pierce,  C  828;  tear,  E  1236; 
Roof,  //.  s.  rove,  rived,  pierced,  L.  661, 
1351.     Icel.  r'l/a. 


Sable,  s.  sable,  black,  4.  284. 
Sachels.  s.  pi.  bags,  B  i.  p  3.  83. 
Sacrament,  s.  the  eucharist,  I  582. 
Sacrifye.  v.  do  sacrifice,  L.  1348. 
Sacrifyse.  s.  sacrifice,  L.  1310. 
Sacrilege,   s.   1   801;  sorcery,  B  i.  p  4. 
282. 


Sad,  adj.  stable,  firm,  I  129,  310;  staid, 
A  2985;  sober,  E  220,  237;  fi.xed,  con- 
stant, unmoved,  settled,  E  693,  754; 
sad,  R.  2H ;  devoted,  23.  9;  trusty, 
H  275;  serious,  grave,  3.  918;  calm, 
settled,  G  397;  staid,  L.  1581,  1876; 
earnest.  H.V.  2089;  Sadde,  //.  grave, 
E  1002;  steady,  3.  860;  discreet,  B  135; 
sure.  H  258. 

Sadel,  s.  saddle,  L.  1199. 

Sadel-bowe.  s.  saddle-bow,  A  2691. 

Sadly,  adv.  firmly,  A  2602;  discreetly,  B 
1206;  steadfastly,  1  laj;  carefully,  D 
2164;  firmly,  tightly,  E  iioo;  unstint- 
inszly,  B  743. 

Sadnesse.  s.  soberness, staidness,  E  1591; 

p.llK-IU.-,    E452. 

Saffron  with,  ger.  to  tinge  with  saffron, 
to  c iir,  C  345. 

Saffroun,  s.;  like  saffron  =  of  a  bright 
vellowisli  colour.  B  1920. 

Sak,j.s.iLk,R.457  ;  .Sakkes,//.bags,L.iii8. 

Sakked.  />/.  put  in  a  sack,  A  4070. 

Sal,/'/.  <   >h,ill  (.Northern),  A  4043. 

Sal  armouiak,  (.  sal  ammoniac,  G  798, 
824.  I^t.  sal  armemacum,  Armenian 
salt.  6a/  ammoniac,  chloride  of  am- 
monium. The  word  armoniac  certainly 
answers  to  the  Lat.  .-irmeniacum  in  the 
old  treatises.  Yet  the  right  spelling  is 
ammontac. 

Sal  peter,  f.  saltpetre,  G  808.  Lat.  sal 
pctrii,  lock-salt;  nitrate  of  potassa;  — 
called  mIso  nitre. 

Sal  preparat,  s.  prepared  salt,  G  810. 

Sal  tartre,  s.  salt  of  tartar,  G  3io.  '  Hall 
of  tat  tar,  carbonate  of  potash;  .  .  . 
first  prepared  from  cream  of  tartar ; ' 
Webster. 

Salowe,  adj.  sallow,  R.  355.  (But  read 
falowe. ) 

Salte.  adj.  def.  salt,  L.  1462. 

Salew^e.  v.  saiute,  I  407;  pr.  s.  B  1284; 
Salewed,//.  F  1310. 

Salviing,  .t.  salutation,  A  1649. 

Saluwe.  ^er.  to  salute,  T.  iii.  1785 ;  Salued, 
I//./.L.  315. 

Salvacioun,  s.  salvation,  4.  213;  secunty, 
B  2361. 

Salve,  s.  salve,  cure,  T.  iv.  944;  //.  heal- 
ing remedies.  A  2712. 

Salwes,//.  \vil low-twigs,  osiers,  D  655. 

Samit,  s.  samite,  a  rich  and  glossy  silk 
material,  T.  i.  109;  robe  made  of  samite, 
R.  836,  873. 

Sang^.  s.  song  (Northern),  A  4170. 

Sangwin,  s.  stuff  of  a  blood-red  colour, 
A  439- 


(glossaital  Entei. 


95 


Sangwyn,  adj.  very  ruddy,  A  2168  ;  blood- 
red,  A  333. 
Sans,  prep,  without,  B  501. 
Saphires,  s.  pi.  sapphires.  B  3658. 
Sapience,  wisdom,  B  2184;  pi.  kinds  of 

iiiteliigence,  G  338. 
Sarge.  s.  serge,  A  2568. 
Sarpulers,  s.  pi.  sacks  made  of  coarse 

canvas,  B  i.  p  3.  82.     Cf.  F.  serpilliere. 
Sarsinesshe,    adj.   Saracenic,    R.    1188. 

If  sarsinesshe  can  be  taken  as  a  sb.,  it 

may  refer  to  sarsnet. 
Sa,t  {  pf.s.  o/Sine. 
Satin,  s.  satin,  3.  253. 
Satisfaccioun,  s.  penance,  I  87;    resti- 

(ufiun,  I  108. 
Sauf,   adj.   safe,   safely   kept,  G  950;    in 

safety,  4.  197. 
Sauf,  prep,  save,  except,  A  2180. 
Saufly,   adv.  safely,  with  safety,  B  2373, 

4398. 
Sangh.,  pt.  s.  o/See. 
Saule,  s.  soul  (Northern),  A  4187. 
Sauns,  prep,  without ;  saiins  faille,  with- 
out fail,  certainly,  HF.   188,  429.      See 

Sans. 
Sauter,  s.  psalter,  R.  431. 
Sautrye,  s.  psaltery,  a  kind  of  harp,  A 

2^6,  3213,  3305,  H  268. 
Savacioun,  s.  salvation,  T.  ii.  381,563; 

witlioute  any  savacioun,  without  saving 

any,  HF.  208. 
Save,  5.  sage  (the  plant),  A  2713. 
Save,  prep,  and  conj.  save,  except,  A  683  ; 

Save  your  grace,  by  your  leave,  B  2260. 
Saven,  ger.  to  save,  keep,  i.  117;  pr.  s. 

siibj.  may  (He)  save,  A  3108;  //.kept 

inviolate,  F  531. 
Save-garde,  s.  safe-conduct,  T.  iv.  139. 
Saveour,  s.  saviour,  19.  16. 
Saveren,  pr.pl.  mind,  care  for,  I  820. 
Savinge.  prep,  except,  A  2838. 
Savoringe,  s.  taste,  I  207. 
Savorous,  adj.  pleasant,  R.  84. 
Savory,  adj.  pleasant,  T.  i.  405. 
Savour,  s.  savour,  D  2196 ;  pleasantness, 

F  204;  pleasure,  10.  20;   smell,  G  887; 

scent,   R.   925;    interest,  T.  ii.  269;  //. 

odours,  5.  274. 
Savoure,  v.  taste,  D  171;  //-.  //.  mind, 

care  for,  I  820 ;  imp.  s.  have  relish  for, 

13-  5- 
Savoured,  adj.  perfumed,  R.  547. 
Savouringe,  s.  tasting,  I  959." 
Savourly,  adj.  enjoyably,  A  3735. 
Sawcefleem,  adj.  covered  with  pimples 

(due    to    an    excess   of  humour   called 

salsa  phlegma) ,  A  625. 


Sawe,  s.  saying,  speech,  A  1163;    word, 

B  2925  ;   discourse,  G  691. 
Sawe,  Say;  see  See. 
Sayde,  said;  see  Seye. 
Saylours,  //.  dancers  (who  leap  in  danc- 
ing) ,  R.  770.    '  Sailleor,  Sailleur,  sauteur, 

danseur;  '  Godefroy. 
Scabbe,   s.  scab,   R.  553;    a  disease  of 

sheep,  C  358. 
Scalded,  //.  burnt,  A  3853. 
Scale,  s.  scale,  or  rather,  double  scale, 

for  measuring  both  by  umbra  recta  and 

umbra  versa,  A.  i.  12.  3. 
Scalle,  s.  scab,  8.  3. 
Scalled,  //.   having    the    scall,   scabby, 

scurfy,  A  627. 
Scantitee,  s.  scantiness,  I  431. 
Scantnesse,  s.  scarcity,  I  420. 
Scapen.  v.  escape,  T.  v.  908. 
Scarlet-reed,  adj.  scarlet-red,  B  4351. 
Scarmishing,  s.  skirmish,  L.  1910. 
Scarmyche,  s.  skirmish,  T.  v.  1508. 
Scars,  adj.  parsimonious,  B  2789. 
Scarsetee,  s.  scarcity,  B  2790. 
Scarsly,  adv.  parsimoniously,  A  583. 
Scatered, //.  scattered,  G  914. 
Scathe,  s.  scathe,  harm,  misfortune,  'a 

pity,'   A   446;    Polyniites  to  sc,   to   the 

harm  of  P.,   T.  v.  938. 
Scatheles,  adv.  harmlessly,  R.  1550. 
Science,   s.  science,   knowledge,  5.   25; 

learned  writing,  B  1666;  wisdom,  I  229. 
Sclat,  J.  slate,  II.  34. 
Sclaundre,   s.   slander,    HF.   1580;    ill- 
fame,  disgrace,  E722;  scandal,  I  137. 
Sclavs,  s.  slave,  T.  iii.  391. 
Sclendre,  adj.  slender,  slight  in   make, 

A  587  ;  thin,  B  3147;  poor,  B  4023. 
Scochouns,    //.    escutcheons,    painted 

shields,  R.  893. 
Scole,  s.  school,  B  1685,  1694;   manner, 

fashion,    A    125,    3329;    discipline,  T.  i. 

634  ;    '  the  schools  ' ;   D  2186. 
Scole-naat6re,  s.  subject  for  disputation 

in  tlie  schools,  D  1272. 
Scoler,  s.  scholar,  A  260. 
Scolering,  s.  young  scholar,  note  to  D 

44 ;   line  6. 
Scole-termes,  //.  school-terms,  E  1569. 
Scole  ward;      to      scoleward  =  toward 

school,  B  1739. 
Scoleye,,^«r/-.  to  study,  A  302. 
Scomes,  s.  pi.  foam,  lather,  B  4.  m  7.  61. 

Lit.  '  scums.' 
Score,  imp.  s.  notch,  cut,  mark,  B  1606. 
Scorkleth,  pr.  s.  scorches,  shrivels,  B  2. 

m  6.  28. 
Scorned,  pt.  s.  3.  927;  jested  at,  B  4277. 


96 


®lossnr(al  Entiri. 


Scorning',  s.  scorn,  T.  i.  105. 
Scorpion,  s.  E  2058;    sign  of  Scorpio, 

HF.  948. 

Scot,  ;i  horse's  name,  A  616,  D  1543. 
Scourg-es,  s.p/.  whips,  plagues,  E  1157. 
Scourging',  s.  correction,  4.  42. 
Scrippe,  f.  scrip,  bag,  D  1737. 
Scripture,  s.  writing,  inscription   (on  a 

ring),    1'.  iii.   1369;    passage  of  writing, 

L.  1 144;  //.  manuscripts,  A  2044. 
Scrit,  f.  writing,  deed,  E  1697;    T.  ii.  1130. 
Scrivenish,  adv.  like  a  Scrivener,   I",  ii. 

1026. 
Scriveyn,  s.  scribe,  8.  i. 
Seche.^<r/-.  to  seek,  i.  e.  to  be  sought  for 

(it  was  easily  had),  A  784;  to  seek  out, 

D909. 
Secree,  ad/,  secret,  trusty,  5.  395 ;  secret, 

B  2251 ;  able  to  keep  secrets,  D  946. 
Secree,  udv.  secretly,  F  1109. 
Secree.  s.  a  secret,  B  3211;    Secree  of 

secrees,  secret   of  secrets,  I^nt.  Secreta 

Secretorum  (the  name  of  a  book),  G 

1447- 
Secreenesse,  s.  secrecy,  B  773. 
Secrely,  adv.  secretly.  E  763. 
Sects,  .(.  sect,  company,  E  1171 ;  religion, 

faith  (lit.  •  following')',  F  17. 
Seculer,  s.  a  layman,  B  4640. 
Sede,  V.  bear  seed,  7.  306. 
See,  s.  sea,  A  59 ;  /;///<•  see,  high  tide,  A. 

ii.  46.  4. 
See,  t.  seat,  HF.  1361 ;  seat  of  empire,  B 

3339;  fi^-  seats,  HF.  1210. 
See,  V.  see,  L.  2560;  ^^er.  to  see,  look,  F 

366;   to   look   (upon),  3.   1 177;   as  fiit. 

shall  see,  4.  190;    Seestow,  seest  thou, 

HF.  911;   Say,  i  pt.  s.  saw,  T.  v.  992;   i 

Say,  //.  s.  saw,  B  4304;  Sey,  />/.  s.Bi,  j 

7;    Seigh,    I  pf.  s.  s.aw,  .\   '193;    Seigh, 

pf.   s.  A    1066,  F  850;    Saugh,   i  pt.  s. 

saw,  A  764 ;  //.  s.  A  850,  1400 ;  Sy,  pi.  s. 

G  1381;    Sawe,  2  pt.  s.  sawest,  B  848; 

Saugh,  2  pf.p/.  G  1 106  (with  ve);  Sawe, 

//.  p/.  B  2i8 ;    Seve,  //.  //.  saw,  T.  iv. 

720;  Seven,  //.  p/'.  G  no;    Sven,  pf.p/. 

B  2879.  4568;    Sye.  ;)/.  //.  E'1804;  pr. 

s.  subj.  may  (he)  behold  or  protect,  B 

156;   Sawe,  pt.  s.  subj.  were  to  see,  A   | 

144;  Seyn, />/.  seen,  B  1863;   Sey e,  pp.   1 

D  552. 
Seed-foul,  s.  birds  living  on  seeds,  5.  ; 

SI  2.  i 

Seek,  adj.  sick,  ill,  L.  2409,2436;  def.  \  ! 

424 ;  Seke,  def.  as  s.  man  in  a  fever,  5. 

104 ;   Seke,  pi.  A  18,  245. 
Seel  (i),  s.  bliss,  A  4239.     A.  S.  sci/. 
Seel  (2),  s.  seal,  B882. 


Seemlinesse,  s.  dignity  of  bearing,  L. 
104 1. 

Seemly,  adj.  delicate,  pleasing,  12.  11 ; 
seemlv,  L.  2074. 

Seestow,  seest  thou,  HF.  911. 

Seet,  //.  .f.  sat  (false  form,  due  to  pi. 
si-len ) ,  A  2075. 

Seetes,  //.  seats,  A  2580. 

Seeth,//.  s.  seethed,  boiled,  E  227. 

Sege,  s.  throne,  B  1.  p  4.  285;  siege,  L. 
1696. 

Seggen,  \  pr.pl.  say,  T.  iv.  194. 

Seigh,//.  J.  o/See. 

Sein,.^^n.-  That  is  to  sein,  that  is  to  say, 
.\.  pr.  26. 

Seinte,  adj.  fern,  holy,  D  1824. 

Seintuarie,  s.  sanctuary,  I  781;  a  conse- 
crated object,  C  953. 

Seistow,  savest  thou,  A  1125. 

Seith,  pr.  s.  savs,  A  178. 

Seke ;  see  Seek,  adj. 

Seke,  V.  search  through,  B  60;  seek,  B 
1633;  ger.  A  13,  510;  to  seek,  i.  e.  a 
matter  for  search,  G  874 ;  Sekestow, 
seekest  thou,  T.  iii.  1455  ;  Seken  to,  i  pr. 
pi.  press  towards,  2.  91 ;  2  //•.  //.  search 
through,  B  127;  Soghfe,  i  pt.  s.  sought, 
A.  ii.  45.  II ;  //.  s.  subj.  were  to  examine, 
C  488. 

Sekemes,  s.  security,  7.  345. 

Sekirly,  adv.  certaiiily,  L.  163  a. 

Selde,  adj.pl.  few,  E  146. 

Selde,  adv.  seldom,  A  1539,  B  2343; 
Selden,  B  2594;  Seld,  B  2343. 

Seled,  //.  sealed,  B  736. 

Seles,  //.  seals,  T.  iii.  1462. 

Selily,  adv.  happily,  B  2.  p  4.  96. 

Selinesse,  s.  happiness,  T.  iii.  813. 

Selle,  s.  dat.  boarding,  A  3822.  A  Kentish 
form;  M.  E.  sulle,  sille ;  A.  S.  syll. 
(Flore  =  ground  beneath  the  boards.) 

Selle,  V.  sell,  F  1563;  barter,  A  278;  for 
to  selle,  for  sale,  D  414 ;  to  selle,  for  sale, 
A  3821 ;  Solde,  pt.  s.  subj.  were  to  sell, 
R.  452. 

Selly,  adj.  wonderful  (MSS.  sely),  HF. 
513.     A.  S.  sell'ic,  seldlic,  strange. 

Sely.  adj.  happy,  T.  iv.  503;  kind,  4.  89; 
good,  B  1702;  holy,  B  682;  innocent, 
simple,  .\  3404;  poor,  pitiable,  T.  i.  871 ; 
wretched,  A  3896;  hapless,  L.  1254,  1336. 
A.  S.  sVrlig. 

Semblable,  adj.  like,  B  2294. 

Semblaunce,  s.  likeness,  R.  425  ;  appear- 
ance. R.  145. 

Semblaunt,  s.  appearance,  semblance, 
look.  E  928,  F  516;  in  hir  s.,  apparently, 
R.  863. 


(glogsatial  Intjei. 


97 


(.  V.  appear,  seem,  F  102;  ^er.  to 
seem  (to),  T.  i.  747  I  /''■  P^-  F  869  ;  //.  s. 
(there)  seemed,  A  2970;  t»?/>ers.  (it) 
seemed,  A  39,  E  296;  /ihn  semed,  it 
seemed  to  them,  they  supposed,  F  56; 
the  peple  semed  =  it  seemed  to  the 
people,  the  people  supposed,  F  201. 
Semelihede,  s.  seemliness,   comeliness, 

R.  1 130;  gracefulness,  R.  777. 
Semely,  adj.  seemly,  comely,  A  751. 
Semely,  adv.  becomingly,  A  123. 
Semes,  f.  pi.  seams,  I  622. 
Semicope,  s.  half-cope,  short  cope,  A  262. 
Seming,  s.  appearance,  3.  944;  to  my  s., 

as  it  appears  to  me,  B  1838. 
Semisoun,  s.  half-sound,  i.  e.  suppressed 

sound,  A  3697. 
Sanatoria,  s.  senatorial  rank,  B  3.  p  4.  93. 
Senatour,  s.  senator,  L.  584. 
Senear,  s.  censer,  A  3340. 
Sencinge,  pres.  pt.   censing,   perfuming 

uith  incense,  A  3341. 
Sandal,  s.  a  thin  silk,  A  440. 
Sanda,  v.  send,  B  144;  Sent,//-,  j.  £1151 ; 
Sende,  //.  s.  sent,  A  4136 ;  Sente,  //.  -f. 
B  3927  ;  Sendeth,  imp.pl.  send  ye,  C  614  ; 
Sente,//.  s.  siibj.  would  send,  B  logi. 
Sane,  adj.  visible,  manifest,  apparent,  A 
134.  924,  F  645.     A.  S.  geseite,  gesyne,  adj. 
evident,  visible. 
Sena,  ^tf/-.  to  behold,  to  see,  L.  1034;  to 
look  at,  L.  2649;  to  look  on,  D  1245;  to 
seem,   L.   224;   on  to  sene,  to  look  on, 
I..  2425. 
Sanga,  v.  singe,  D  349 ;  Seynd, //.  broiled, 

t5  4035. 
Sangla,  adj.  single,  unmarried,  E  1667. 
Senith,  s.  (i)  the  zenith,  A.  i.  18.  4,  22.  6; 
(2)    the    point   where  a   given  azimuth- 
circle    meets   the   horizon,  A.  i.  19.   12; 
the  point  of  sunrise,  A.  ii.  31.  13. 
Sensibilitees,   s.  pi.  perceptions,   B    5. 

m  4.  8. 
Sensible,  adj.  perceptible  by  the  senses, 

85.  p  4- 212. 
Sent,  -a  ;  see  Sende. 
Sentement,  s.  feeling,  fancy.  T.  ii.  13; 

susceptibility,  T.  iii.  43;  passion,  L.  69. 
Sentence,  s.  meaning,  drift,  E  2288  ;  con- 
tents, C   190;  subject,  B   1753;   opinion, 
B  113,3992;  decision,  5.  530;   meaning, 
sentiment,  instruction,  A  306,  798  ;  tenor, 
theme,    HF.    iioo;  decision,   speech,  5. 
383;   judgement,   order,    I    17;    verdict, 
G  366;   (general  meaning,  1  58. 
Saptemtrioun,  s.  north,  B  3657.    , 
Septentrional,  adj.  northern,  A.  ii.  40. 
50;  Septentrionalis,//.  A.  ii.  40.  36. 


Sepulcre,  s.  tomb,  D  498. 

Sepulture,  s.  mode  of  burial,  T.  v.  299; 
buri.il,  L.  2553;  tomb,  A  2854. 

Serchan.  v.  search,  B  2597;  pr.  pi.  go 
about,  haunt,  D  867. 

Sereyns,  s.  pi.  sirens,  R.  684. 

Sargeaunt  of  the  Lawa,  sergeant-at- 
!aw,  A  309. 

Seria,  s.  process,  argument,  A  3067. 

Sermone,  gcr.  to  preach,  speak,  C  879. 

Sermoning,  s.  argument,  A  3091 ;  talk, 
A  3597- 

Sermoun,  s.  discourse,  L.  2025 ;  T.  ii.  965 ; 
tale,  T.  ii.  1115;  //.  writings,  B  87. 

Sarvage,  s.  servitude,  thraldom,  A  1946, 
B368. 

Servant,  s.  lover,  A  1814 ;  servant,  D  1501. 

Servisable,  adj.  willing  to  serve,  A  99; 
serviceable,  E  1911 ;  useful,  E  979. 

Servitour,  s.  servant,  D  2185. 

Servitute,  s.  servitude,  E  798. 

Servyse,  s.  service,  serving,  A  250;  reli- 
gious service,  T.  i.  315;  musical  per- 
formance, 3.  302. 

Sese,  pr.  s.  subj.  seize,  5.  481 ;  //.  caught, 
4.  240;  seised,  possessed,  T.  iii.  445. 

Sesoun,  s.  season,  F  1034 ;  prime,  R.  1678. 

Sestow,  seest  thou,  T.  iii.  46. 

Seta,  s.  seat,  throne,  B  3715,  1  162. 

Sate,  -n;  see  Sitta. 

Setewale,  s.  zedoary,  setwall,  R.  1370. 
See  Cetewale. 

Sethe,  V.  seethe,  boil,  A  383. 
Sette,  ger.  to  set,  place,  L.  540;  setten 
a  myte,  care  a  mite,  T.  iii.  900;  Sette, 
I /r.  J.  suppose,  T.  ii.  367  ;  B2681;  Sette 
cas,  imagine  the  case,  B  3041;  2//-.  //. 
esteem,  T.  ii.432;  Sette,  1  pr.  s.  subj.  set, 
A  3911;  Set,//-,  s.  setteth,  sets,  2.  loi ; 
D  1982 ;  cares,  T.  iii.  832 ;  puts,  3.  635 ; 
Srtte,  1  pt.  s.  counted,  regarded,  D  659; 
Sette  me,  placed  myself,  L.  115;  sette 
tiat  a  kers,  nccounXed  not  worth  a  cress, 
A  3756;  Sette  at  nought,  counted  as 
nothing,  F  821;  Seite  him,  sat  down. 
C  207;  Sette  hir,  sat,  B  329;  Sette  her 
on  knees,  knelt  down,  B  638;  Sette  hem, 
seated  themselves,  L.  301 ;  C  775  ;  Setten 
hem  adoun,  set  themselves,  G  396;  Set, 
//.  placed,  A  132,  2528  ;  put,  B  440;  set, 
R.  846;  appointed,  4.  52;  E774;  wholly 
devoted,  6.  100;  ivel  set,  seemly,  3.  828; 
set  the  wriglites  cappe  =  made  a  fool  of 
him,  A  3143;  Set,  imp.  s.  stake  (as  at 
dice),  T.  iv.  622. 
Seur,  adj.  sure,  B  2642,  2953. 
Seur,  adv.  surely,  T.  iii.  1633. 
Seurly,  adv.  surely,  B  2913. 


98 


(@lo00artal  Sntex. 


Seurtee,  s.  surety,  A  1604,  B  243. 

Sewe,  V.  follow,  25.  12;  ensue,  B  2619, 
2692;  //.  s.  pursued,  B  4527. 

Sewes,  s.  pi.  lit.  juices,  gravies;  used 
here  for  seasoned  dishes,  delicacies, 
F67. 

Sewingr,  adj.  conformable,  in  proportion, 
similar,  3.  959.     Lit.  •  following.' 

Sexte,  sixth,  HF.  1727. 

Sexteyn,  s.  sacristan,  B  3216. 

Sey,  I //.  J.  saw,  3.  1089;  Seyn, //>.  seen, 
B  172,  024.    See  See. 

Seye,  v.  say,  A  738 ;  to  be  told,  B  706 ;  to 
seyn,  A  284 ;  for  to  seye,  to  say,  A  468 ; 
this  is  to  seyn,  A  181 ;  that  is  to  seyn,  A 
797;  Seistow,  sayesi  thou,  B  110;  as 
who  seyth,  like  one  who  sa_\s,  i.  e.  so  to 
speak,  r.  V.  883  ;  beggen,  i  pr.pl.  say,  T. 
iv.  194;  Seydestow,  saidest  11100,0334; 
Sevd,//.  B  49;  Seyeth,  imp.  pi.  say  ye, 
A  1868. 

Seyl.  s.  sail,  A  696,  3532. 

Seyn.  pp.  seen,  B  1863,  4471. 

Seynd.  //.  singed,  i.  e.  broiled,  B  4035. 

Seynt.  s.  saint,  3. 1319 ;  Seynt  (dissyllabic), 
.\  120.  509.687,  D  1564;  Seynte,  saint 
{or  holy),  .\  1721. 

Seyst,  2  pr.  s.  sayest,  B  109;  Seystow, 
2  pr.  V.  savest  thou,  .\  3400. 

Shaar.  s.  a'  plough-share,  A  3763. 

Shad,  -de ;  see  Sbede. 

Shad  we,  s.  shadow,  B  7,  10;  shade,  3. 
420,  scene,  B  2.  p  3.  89;  Shadowe,  re- 
fliition.  R.  1529. 

Sbadwed.  pp.  shadowed,  shaded,  A  607. 

Shaft,  s.  wooden  part  of  an  arrow,  A 
1362 ;  //.  shafts  of  spears,  A  2605. 

Sbal,  1  pr.  s.  owe,  T.  iii.  1649 ;  owe  (to) ,  T. 
iii.  791;  shall  (do  so),  F  688;  must,  A 
853  ;  am  to  be,  2. 53  ;  am  to  ( go) ,  G  303 
Shalt,  ipr.s.  must  go,  D  1636;  Shallow 
2  pr.  s.  shalt  thou,  A  3575 ;  Shal,  pr.  s 
shall  be,  T.  v.  833;  is  to  be,  HF.  82 
must,  is  to,  A  187;  must  (come),  T.  iv, 
1106;  will,  L.  1276;  must  (do so),  R.  387 
owes,  F  750 ;  Sholde,  i  pt.  s.  should, 
B  56;  ought  (to  have  done  so),  3.  1200 
Sholdestow,  shouldst  thou,  10.  60 
■wouldst  thou,  D  1944;  Sholde,  //.  s 
should,  A  184;  ought  to,  B  44;  had  to 
E  515 ;  was  to,  B  3891 ;  would,  B  3627 
Shul,  I  pr.  pi.  must,  have  to,  B  351 
must,  B  1900;  Shullen,  2  pr.  pi.  shall, 
B  4652;  Shullen,  ;>r.  pi.  must,  A  3014. 

Shale,  t.  shell,  HF.  1281. 

Shalmyes,  pi.  shawms.  HF.  1218. 

Shame,  s.  A  503;  Shame  of  his  degree, 
i.  e.  lest  it  should  shame   his  condition 


(as   husband),    F    752;    Shaines   deth, 

shameful  death,  B  819,  E  2377. 
Shamen,  v.  put  to   shame,  F  1565 ;  thee 

shameth,     it     shames     thee,    thou    art 

ashamed,  B  loi. 
Shamfast,  adj.  modest,  shy,  A  2055,  C  55 ; 

sliamc-faccd,  ashamed,  R.  467. 
Shamfastnesse,  s.  modesty, A 840 ;  sense 

111  shame,  I  985. 
Shap,  s.  A  1S89;  privy  member,  I  423. 
Shapen,   v.  plan,   devise,  A  3403;    find 

means  (to  do),  A  809;  pr.  s.  intends,  L. 

1289;    Shape,//-,  pi.   dispose,  B  2989; 

Shapen  hem,  intend,  F  214 ;  Sh66p,  pt. 

s.  bclel,  T.  ii.  61 ;  devised,  planned,  T.  i. 

207  ;  made,  gave,  L.  2569 ;   prepared  for. 

E  198 ;  plotted,  B  2543;  created,  E  903: 

contrived,  E  946;  Shoop  me,  \pt.  s.  rejl. 

addressed  myself,  2.  20 ;    prepared    my- 
self, L.  180;  Shoop  him,  pt.  s.  reJl.  got 

ready,    L.    625;    determined,    Y     809; 

Shopen,  pt.  pi.   made    ready,   B   2995 ; 

Shapen,  pp.   determined,    A   1108;  des- 
tined, A  1392;  shaped,  L.  2014  ;  planned, 

B  951;   prepared,  B  249;    appointed,  B 

253;  disposed  (themselves),  B  142;  built, 

7.  357 ;  cut  out,  T.  iii.  734 ;   Shape,  pp. 

destmed,  ordained,  A  1225 ;  allotted,  T. 

ii.  282;  created,  B  3099;   imp.pl.  reft. 

dispose  yourself,  B  2307. 
Shaply,  adj.  fit,  A  372;  likely,  T.  iv.  1452. 
Sharpe,  adv.  sharply,  B  2073. 
Shave.  ;■.  shave,  A  3326;  Shaven,//,  cut 

smooth,  R.  941 ;  Shave,  pp.  shaven,  A  588. 
Shavingr,  s.  a  thin  slice.  G  1239. 
Shawe,  s.  wood,  A  4367,  D  1386. 
She,  she,  A  446 ;  She  .  .  .  she,  one  woman 

and  another,  T.  ii.  1747. 
She-ape,  s.  female  ape,  I  424. 
Shedeth,  pr.  s.  sheds,  I  577 ;  Shedde,//.  ,1. 

shed,  B  3447;  Shadde, //.  s.  poured,  B 

3921 ;   Shad,//,  distributed,  B  I.  m  i.  18. 
Sheef,  s.  sheaf,  A  104;  Sheves,  //.  HF. 

2140. 
Sheep,  s.  a  sheep,  A  506 ;  a  meek  person, 

D432. 
Sheld,    s.    shield,  A    2122;    //.  French 

crowns    (coins  worth   3J.  4</.),  A   278; 

Sliepld,//.  B  1521. 
Shelde.  pr.  s.  subj.  may  he  shield,  HF.  88. 
Shende,  v.  disgrace,  T.  iv.  1577  ;   ruin,  B 

927;    render  contemptible,    T.   v.   893; 

reproach,  T.  v.  1060;  destroy,  HF.  1016; 

Shent,/r.  J.  ruins,  I  848;  defiles,  I  854; 

Shente,  //.  s.  harmed,  injured,  B  4031 ; 

Shente,  //.  .f.  subj.  should  destroy,  T.  ii. 

357  ;  Shent,  //.  spoilt,  T.  ii.  37 ;  defeated, 

L.  652;  scolded,  B  1731. 


#lo00arial  Uuticx. 


99 


ShendsMpe,  s.  shame,  I  273. 

Shene,  adj.  bright,  A  115;  glistening,  R. 

127;    fair,  E  2528;    beautiful,  B  692,  F 

1045.     A.  S.  sce/ie,  scyne. 
Shene,  adv.  brightly,  4.  87. 
Shepe,  s.  hire,  I  568.     See  Shipe. 
Shepne,   s.   stable,  shed,  A   2000.    A.S. 

uypt-n.    Sec  Shipnes. 
Shere,  s.  pair  of  shears,  A  2417. 
Share,  t^er.  to  shear,  cut,  B  3257. 
Shering-hokes,  //.  shearing-hooks,  con- 

triv.mces  for  severing   ropes   in   a   sea- 
fight,  L.  641. 
Sherte,  s.  shirt,  A  1566 ;  chemise,  T.  iv. 

90. 
Shet,  pp.  0/ Shette. 
Shete,  J.  sheet,  G  879 ;  //.  A  4140. 
Sheten,  v.  shoot,  I  714 ;    Sheteth,  /;•.  s. 

shoDts,  R.  960. 
Sheter,   s.  as  adj.  fit  for  shooting   (lit. 

shooter),  5.  180. 
Shethe,  s.  sheath,  R.  2066. 
Shette,    V.   shut,   enclose,    T.   iii.    1549; 

shut,  close,  D  1141 ;  Shette,  //.  s.  shut, 

A  3499;  closed,  fastened  up,  T.  ii.  1090; 

Shetten,  pt.  pi.  shut  up,  enclosed,  T.  i. 

148  ;   Shet,  pp.  shut,  R.  529. 
Sheves,  pi.  sheaves,  HF.  2140. 
Sheweth,  pr.  s.  pretends,  appears,  B  2386 ; 

appears  as,  is  shewn,  A.  i.  7.  9. 
Shifts,  V.  provide,  distribute,  ordain,   D 

104;  assign,  G  278. 
Shilde,  pr.  s.  subj.  shield,  T.    ii.    1019; 

defend,  B  2098;  forbid,  A  3427. 
Shimering,  s.  glimmer,  A  4297. 
Shine,  s.  shin,  A  386. 
Shined,  pt.  s.  shone,  L.  2194. 
Ship,  .f.  I.  16 ;  Shipe,  dat.  (into  the)  ship, 

(into  the)  ark,  A  3540. 
Shipe,  s.  hire,  pay,  reward,  7.  193;  Shepe, 

hire,  I  568.    A.  S.  scipe,  stipendium. 
Shipnaan,  s.  sailor,  skipper,  A  388. 
Shipnes,  //.  stables,  sheds,  D  871.    See 

Shepne. 
Shirreve,  ,r.  sheriff,  A  359.     Lit.  '  shire- 
reeve.' 
Shiten,//.  defiled,  dirty,  A  504. 
Shitting-,  ,f.  shutting,  R.  1598. 
Shivere.  s.  thin  slice,  D  1840. 
Shiveren, //■.//.  break,  A  2605. 
Sho.  shoe,  A  253. 

Shod,//,  provided  with  shoes,  HF.  98. 
Shode,  s.  parting  of  the  hair,  A  3316;  the 

temple  of  the  head,  A  2007. 
Shof,  pt.  s.  pushed,  T.  iii.  487. 
Shoken,  //.  pi.  shook,  R.  363. 
Sholder-bone,  s.  shoulder-blade-bone,  C 

350- 


Shonde,  s.  disgrace,  HF.  88 ;  B  2098. 
Shoo,  s.  shoe,  D  492 ;  Shoos,  //.  A  457  ; 
!       Shoon,//.  B  1922. 
Shoof,  //.  s.  I  /.  shoved,  pushed,  R.  534; 

pt.  s.  drove,  L.  2412. 
Shoon  (sh66n),//.  0/  Shoo. 
Shoon  (shoon),//.  s.  o/Shyne. 
Shorn,  //.  shaven,  B  3142. 
I   Shorte,    v.   shorten,    D    1261 ;    to  s/iortg 
!       wtt/t  your  weye,   to   shorten    your   way 
\       with,  A  791. 
;   Shortly,  adv.  briefly,  A  30. 
I   Short-sholdred,  adj.  short  in  the  upper 
arm,  A  549. 
Shot,  s.  a  missile,  B  4539 ;  arrow,  A  2544. 
I   Shot-windowe,  s.  a  window  containing 
a   square    division    which    opens    on    a 
hinge,  A  3358,  3695. 
Shour,  s.  shower,  T.  iv.  751 ;  onset,  con- 
flict, T.  iv.  47;  //.  assaults,  T.  i.  470. 
Cf.  E.  '  a  shower  of  darts." 
]   Showving,  s.  shoving,  pushing,  H  53. 
{   Shredde,  //.  s.  shred,  cut,  E  227. 
I   Shrewe,  s.  scoundrel,   accursed   wretcli, 
'       D  284;  shrew,  peevish  woman,  E  1222, 
2428;   planet  having  an   evil   influence, 
A  ii.  4.  54;  evil  one,  G  917. 
Shrewe,  adj.  evil,  wicked,  G  995. 
;   Shrewe,  i  pr.  s.  beshrew,  curse,  B  4616. 
j   Shrewed,  adj.  evil,  wicked,  bad,  L  1545 ; 
[       accursed,  D  54. 
I   Shrewedly.  adv.  cursedly,  D  2238. 
j   Shrewednesse,   s.  wickedness,  evil,  B 
I       2721 ;  cursedness,  D  734;  //.  evil  deeds, 

I  442. 
!   Shrifte-fadres,  //.  father-confessors,  D 

I       1442- 

]   Shrighte,  //.  s.  shrieked,  A  2817;  //.  T. 

I       V.  320. 

Shrimpes,  //.   small    creatures,   dwarfs, 
1       B  3145. 
'   Shroud,  s.  robe,  R.  64. 

Shrouded,//,  clad,  R.  55. 

Shryked,  pt.pl.  shrieked,  B  4590. 

Shryking-,  .t.  shrieking,  T.  v.  382. 

Shryned,  pp.  enshrined,  C  955;  canon- 
ised (ironically),  21.  15. 

Shry  ve,  ,<^er.  to  confess,  I  129. 

Shulder-boon,  s.  blade-bone,  I  603. 

Shuldres,  //.  shoulders,  R.  328. 

Shull,  ShuUen,  Shulde ;  sec  Shal. 

Shyne,^<?/-.  to  shine,  10.  62 ;  ^\\hox\,  strong 
pt.  s.  shone,  A  198  ;  Shynede,  weak  pt.  s. 
shone,  L.  1119;  Shined,  L.  2194. 

Sib,  adj.  related,  akin,  B  2565. 

Sicamour,  s.  sycamore,  HF.  1278. 

Sicer,  s.  strong  drink,  B  3245. 

Sig-h,  I//,  s.  saw,  R.  818. 


^loesarial  lEnliei. 


Sig-hte,//.  J.  <»/"Syke. 

Signet,  s.  signet-ring,  T.  ii.  1087. 

Signiflaunce,  s.  signification,  R.  9W5 ; 
significancf,  HF.  17;  prediction,  R.  16. 

Significavit,  a  writ  of  excommunication, 
A  062. 

Sik,  adj.  sick,  ill,  A  1600. 

Siker,  adj.  sure,  A  3049,  B  4353;  safe, 
G  864,  certain.  G  1047;  sure,  steady, 
U  2069 ;  in  security,  17.  28. 

Siker,  adv.  uninterruptedly,  T.  iii.  1237; 
surciv,  T.  ii.  991. 

Sikered,  pp.  assured,  L.  2128. 

Sikerer,  adj.  surer,  more  to  be  trusted, 
B  4043. 

Sikerly,  adv.  certainly,  surely,  truly,  A 
137- 

Sikernesse,  ,f.  security,  safety,  confi- 
dence, B  425;  state  of  security,  T.  ii. 
773- 

Sikly,  adv.  ill,  with  ill  will,  E  625. 

Silver,  s.  money,  A  232,  713. 

Silver,  adj.  silvery,  A  1496. 

Similitude,  s.  comparison;  hence,'pxo- 
position,  statement,  G  431;  sympathy, 
likeness,  V  480;  one  like  himself.  A  3228. 

Simphonye,  s.  a  kind  of  tabor,  B  2005. 

Simple,  adj.  modest,  R.  1014 ;  innocent, 
3.  861. 

Simplesse,  s.  Simplicity  (personified). 
R.  954- 

Sin,  conj.  and  adv.  since.  4.  273. 

Singe,  v.  sing,  A  236 ;  Singestow,  singest 
thou,  H  244;  Song,  ipt.  J.  sang,  3. 1158; 
Songe,  2  //.  s.  didst  sing,  H  294 ;  Song, 
pt.  s.  A  1055  ;  Songen,  //.  //.  sang,  F  55  ; 
Songe,  pt.  s.  siibj.  were  to  sing,  3.  929 ; 
Songen,  //.  sung,  T.  v.  645;  Songe,  //. 
A  266 ;  recited,  T.  v.  1797. 

Singularitees,  s.  pi.  separate  parts,  par- 
ticulars. B  5.  m  3.  45. 

Singuler,  adj.  particular,  B  2.  p  7.  64; 
single,  I  300;  a  single,  G  997;  private, 
B  262=; ;  singular  profyte,  special  advan- 
tage. HF.  310. 

Singulerly,  adv.  singly,  B  4.  p.  6.  77. 

Sinne.  s.  sin,  A  561. 

Sinwes,  s.  pi.  sinews,  I  690. 

Sippe,  V.  sip,  taste,  D  176. 

Sire,  sir,  my  master,  A  355;  Sires,  gen. 
sire's,  father's,  i.  e.  Saturn's,  E  2265. 

Sis  cink,  i.  e.  six-five,  a  throw  with  two 
dice,  B  125. 

Sisoures,//.  scissors,  HF.  690. 

Sit.  //-.  s.  sits :  see  Sitte. 

Site,  s.  situation,  HF.  1114;  E  199. 

Sith,  conj.  since,  A  930;  Sith  that,  since, 
F  930,  H  120. 


Sith,  adv.  afterwards,  C  869;  then,  L. 
302. 

Sithen,  conj.  since,  B  2947;  Sifhen  that, 
since.  A  2102. 

Sithen,  adv.  since,  ago,  A  1521 ;  since 
then,  R.  164 1 ;  since,  T.  iii.  244;  after- 
wards, A  2617;  then,  next,  L.  304;  goon 
s.  a  greet  whyl,  a  great  while  ago,  L. 
427 ;  gon  s.  longe  whyle,  long  ago,  T.  i. 
718. 

Sithes,  pi.  times,  A.  ii.  42.  9. 

Sitte,  v.  sit,  A  94;  Sit,  pr.  s.  sits,  dwells, 
•A  I599.  3641;  befits,  suits,  B  1353;  is 
fitting,  T.  i.  246;  yz'el  it  sit,  it  is  un- 
becoming, E460;  Sat,  pt.  s.  sat,  A  469; 
affected,  T.  iv.  231;  suited,  L.  1735; 
became,  R.  750;  sat  on  knees,  knelt,  3. 
106 ;  hit  sat  me  sore,  it  was  very  painful 
for  me,  3.  1220;  T.  iii.  240;  Sect,//,  s. 
sat  (false  form,  due  to  ^X.siten),  A  2075; 
Seten,  //.  //.  sat,  A  2893;  Sete,  pt.  s. 
subj.  would  befit,  T.  i.  985,  ii.  117;  were 
tosit.  3.  436;  was  sitting,  3.  501;  Seten, 
pp.  sat,  D  420 ;  dwelt,  A  1452 ;  welsittinge, 
well  suited,  R.  986. 

Sittingest.  sup.  adj.  most  fitting,  5.  551. 

Sive,  s.  sieve.  G  940. 

Sixte,  sixth,  U  45,  F  906. 

Skant,  adj.  scanty,  sparing,  niggardly,  i. 
'75- 

Skarmish,  s.  skirmish,  T.  ii.  611. 

Skars,  adj.  scarce,  9.  36. 

Skathe,  s.  harm,  T.  iv.  207. 

Skile,  s.  reason,  cause,  HF.  726;  gret  sk., 
good  reason,  E  1152;  reasonable  claim, 
L.  1392;  //.  reasons,  arguments,  HF. 
867. 

Skilful,  adj.  reasonable,  L.  385  ;  discern- 
ing, B  1038. 

Skilfully,  adv.  reasonably,  with  reason, 
G  320;  particularly,  4.  155. 

Skllinge,  s.  reason,  B  4.  p  6.  155. 

Skinketh,//.  s.  pours  out,  E  1722. 

Skippe,  ger.  to  skip,  jump.  T.  i.  218; 
v.  dance.  A  3259;  leap,  E  1672;  pass 
over.  L.  622 ;  Skiple.  //.  -f.  leapt,  F  1402. 

Skulle,  s.  skull,  A  3935,  4306. 

Skye,  s.  cloud,  HF.  1600. 

Slake,  V.  assuage.  R.  317;  slacken,  abate, 
F  841;  desist  (from),  E  705;  cease, 
E  137;  end,  E  802;  Slake  of,  omit,  L. 
619;  Slake,/;-,  s.  subj.  grow  slack,  wane, 
T.  ii.  291 ;  Slakede,  pt.  s.  subj.  should 
relax.  B  2.  m  8.  18. 

Slakke,  adj.  slow,  A  2901;  def.  slack, 
E  1849. 

Slakker,  adj.  pi.  slacker,  more  tardy, 
B  1603. 


©Ujssarial  InHex. 


Sledes,  s.  pi.  sledges,  vehicles,  B  4.  p  i. 

78.     ^\.olsled. 
Slee,  V.  A  661 ;  Sleen,  ger.  to  slay,  A  1222  ; 

Siee.  I  pr.  s.  as  fut.  shall  slay,  B  2002 ; 

Sleeth,/r.  s.  slays,  A  1118  ;   Slowe,  2  //. 

s.   didst   slay,   T.    iv.   506;    Slow,  pt.  s. 

slew,    B    627;     extinguished,    B    3922; 

Slough,  pt.  s.  7.  56;    Slawe,  pp.  slain, 

A  943 ;    Slawen,  pp.  E  544 ;    Slayn,  //. 

slain,  A  63. 
Sleep,  //.  s.  of  Slepe. 
Sleere,  s.  slayer,  A  2005. 
Sleet,  s.  sleet,  L.  1220 ;  F  1250. 
Sleigrh,  adj.  sly,  artful,  A  3201. 
Sleighly,  adv.  cunningly,  T.  v.  83. 
Sleigrbte,  s.  trickery,  T.  iv.  1459;    trick, 

B  2386;  sleight,  T.  ii.  1512;  contrivance, 

E  1102;  plan,E2i3i;  dexterity,  A  1948  ; 

cunning,  L.  1382  ;  skill,  G  867  ;  //.  plans, 

T.  iv.  1451 ;  devices,  tricks,  E  2421. 
Slely,  adv.  slily,  i.  e.  skilfully,  A.  ii.  29.  20. 
Slepe,  s.  sleep,  F  347 ;  on  slepe,  asleep,  L. 

209. 
Slepe,  V.  sleep,  3.3;  Slepestow,  sleepest 

thou,  A  4169;   Sleep,  I  //.  J.  slept,  HF. 

119;  Sleep,  pt.  i.  A  98  ;  Slepte,  weak  pt. 

s.  E  224  ;  Slepe,  pt.  pi.  3.  166,  177. 
Sleping,  s.  sleep,  B  4202. 
Sleping-tyme,  s.  time  to  sleep,  6.  54. 
Slepy,  adj.  sleep-bestowing,  A  1387. 
Slewthe,  s.  sloth,  I  388. 
Sleye,  //.  sly,  subtle,  T.  iv.  972. 
Sleyly,  adv.  slily,  T.  ii.  1185;  subtly,  T. 

ii.  462. 
Slider,  adj.  slippery,  A  1264. 
Slighte,  s.  sleight,  cunning,  C  131. 
Slike,  adj.  sleek,  R.  542. 
Slinge-stones,  //.  stones  from  a  sling, 

T.  ii.  941. 
Slinke,  ger.  to  slink,  T.  iii.  1535. 
Slippe,  V.  slip,  L.  623. 
Slit,;>r.  J.  o/Slyde. 
Slitten,  V.  pierce,  F  1260. 
Sllvere,  s.  a  slice,  portion,  T.  iii.  1013. 
Slo,  s.  sloe.  R.  928  ;  Sloo,  A  3246. 
Slog-ardye,   s.  sluggishness,  sloth,  lazi- 
ness, A  1042. 
Slombrestow,  slumberest  thou,  T.  i.  730. 
Slombry,  adj.  sleepy,  1  724. 
Slomeringe,  s.  slumber,  T.  ii.  67. 
Slong,  pt.  s.  threw,  flung,  H  306.     Pt.  t. 

of  slingen. 
Sloo,  s.  sloe,  A  3246 ;  Slo,  R.  928. 
Sloppes,  s.  pi.  loose  garments,  I  422. 
Slough,  s.  slough,  mire,  H  64. 
Slough,  //.  s.  slew,  A  980 ;  see  Slee. 
Slouthe,  s.  sloth,  T.  ii.  959. 
Slow.  t.  slough,  D  1565;  Slough,  H  64. 


Slow,//.  J.  ^ySlee. 

Slowh,  //.  J.  slew,  B  4.  m  7.  43. 

Slugg-y,  adj.  sluggish,  1  706. 

Sluttish,  adj.  slovenly,  G  636. 

Sly,  adj.  L.  1369;  sly  (one),  A  3940;  Slye, 

def.  cunning,  crafty,  7.  48  ;  skilful,  F  672  ; 

pi.  artfully  contrived,  F  230. 
Slyde,  V.  slide,  T.  v.  351 ;  pass,  go  away, 

E  82,  F  924 ;    Slit,  pr.  s.  passes  away,  5. 

3;  G  682;    Slydinge,  pres.  pt.   as   adj. 

moving,  i.  e.  unstable,  T.  v.  825. 
Slyk  (/(jr  Slyke?),  adj.  sleek,  D  351. 
Slyk,  adj.  such  (Northern),  A  4130,  4170. 
Slyly,  adv.  sagaciously,  A  1444. 
Smal,  adj.  small,  A  153;  a  smal,  a  little, 

6.  113. 
Smal,   adv.   little,   D  592;    but  smal,  but 

little,  F  71;  high  (of  musical  notes),  12. 

II. 
Smalish,  adj.  smallish,  R.  826. 
Smart,  adj.  brisk  (said  of  a  fire),  G  768. 
Smatre,  ;>/■.//.  rejl.  taste  slightly,  I  857. 
Smert,  adj.  smart,  quick,  R.  831 ;   brisk, 

G  768 ;  //.  painful,  3.  507. 
Smerte,  s.  pain,  smart,  F  480,  856,  974; 

anguish,  A  3813. 
Smerte,    adv.   smartly,   sharply,   A   149; 

sorely,  E  629. 
Smerte, ^dfr.  to  smart,  L.  502;  Smert,//-. 

s.  pains  (me),  i.  152;  Smerte,//'.  s.subj. 

(it)    may  pain,  A   1394;    Smerte,  //.  s. 

felt  pain,  T.  ii.  930;   Smerte,  //.  s.  subj. 

impers.  (it)  might  give  pain  to,  A  230. 
Smit,  -en;  see  Smyte. 
Smithed,  pt.  s.  forged,  A  3762. 
Smitted,  //.  sinutted,  i.  e.  besmirched, 

sullied  with  dishonour,  T.  v.  1545. 
Smoking,  pres.  pt.  reeking  with  incense 

or  perfume,  A  2281. 
Smokless,  adj.  without  a  smock,  E  875. 
Smoky,  adj.  smoke-like,  T.  iii.  628. 
Smoot,  pt.  s.  of  Smyte. 
Smoterliche,  adj.  smirched  in  reputa- 
tion, A  3963. 
Smothe,  adj.  sinooth,  A  690. 
Smothe,  adv.  smoothly,  A  676. 
Smyler,  s.  smiler,  flatterer,  A  1999. 
Smyte,  v.  strike,  A   1220;    Smyten   of, 

smite    off,    L.    1817;     Smyteth,    pr.    s. 

knocks,    L.    393;    Smit,  pr.    s.    smites, 

E  122;   Smoot,  pt.  s.  smote,  struck,  A 

149;  Smiten,//.  struck,  T.  ii.  1145. 
Snewed,  //.  s.  abounded,  A  345. 
Snibben,    v.   reprove,  chide,  lit.  '  snub,' 

A  523  ;  pp.  reprimanded,  A  4401. 
Snorteth,  pr.  s.  snorts,  A  4163  ;  pt.  s.  was 

drawn  together  (as  in  sniffing) ,  R.  157. 
Snow,   f.  R.  558;    argent    (in   heraldry). 


^losdactal  l^nbti. 


white,    B    3573;   //.    snow-storms,   HF. 

967.  , 
Snowish,  adj.  snowy,  white,  T.  iii.  1250. 
So,  adv.  so,  A  102;  such,  B  2205;  in  such 

a  way,  such,  T.  iii.  1579 ;  so,  i.  e.  pray 

(with  verb  in  subj.  mood),  T.  iii.  1470; 

So  as,  as  well  as,  as  far  as,  4.  161 ;   so 

have  I  Joye,  as  I  hope  to  have  bliss,  3. 

1065. 
So,  conj.  provided  that,  L.  1319;   So  as, 

whereas,  B  4.  p  3.  40;  So  that,  provided 

that,  C  186. 
Sobrely.  adv.  gravely,  F  1585;  Soberly, 

saillv,  with  a  melancholv  look,  .\  289. 
Sobrenesse,  s.  sobriety,!  834. 
Socour,  succour,  help,  A  918,  F  1357  ;  do 

yo-iU  s.,  help  you,  4.  292. 
Socouren,  v.  aid,  T.  iii.  1264. 
Socours,  s.  help,  L.  1341. 
Soden,  //  sodden,  boiled,  I  900. 
Sodein,  adj.  prompt,  forward,  T.  v.  1024. 
Sodeinly.  adv.  suddenly,  F  1015. 
Softe,   adj.  soft,  A    153;    gentle,  slow,  B 

399;  mild,  D  1412. 
Softe,  adv.  softly,  A  2781 ;  gently,  C  252; 

tenderly,  B  275;  timidly,  3.  1212. 
Softely,   adv.  softly,   F  636;   quietly,  G 

408  ;  in  a  low  tone,  L.  2126. 
Softneth,  pr.  s.  assuages,  L.  50. 
Sojoume,  v.  dwell,  T.  v.  1350;    tarry,  R. 

381 ;   remain,  D  987. 
Soken.  s.  toll,  A  3987.    A.  S.  socn. 
Sokingly,  adv.  gradually,  B  2766.    '  So- 

kvnglv,    idem     quod    esylv ' ;      Prompt. 

Par  v.' 
Sol,  Sol  (the  sun),  G  826. 
Solas,   s.  amusement,  A  798 ;    solace,  I 

206;  comfort,  F  802;  consolation,  T.  ii. 

460;   relief,  B  1972;   diversion,  B  1904; 

pleasure,  B  3964;    playfulness,  R.  844; 

jov,  T.  i.  31 ;  ease,  L.  1966. 
Solde,;>/.  s.  ()/"Selle. 
Solempne,  adj.  festive,  grand,  E  1125; 

cheerful,    A    209 ;     important,    A    364 ; 

illustrious,  B  387  ;  superb,  F  61 ;  public, 

I  102. 
Solempnely,     adv.     pompously,     with 

poinp,  .\  274. 
Solempnitee,  f.  pomp,  A  870;  outward 

show,  C  244 ;  due  ceremony,  E  1709. 
Soleyn,  adj.  sole,  solitary,  3.  982 ;    un- 

mated.  5.  607,  614. 
Solstlcioun,  s.  the  solstice,  or  point  of 

the  ecliptic  most  remote  from  the  equa- 
tor, A.  i.  17.  9. 
Som   (sum),  indef.  pron.  some,  A  640,  B 

1182;  one,  a  certain  man,  G  922;  one, 

3.  305 ;  another,  5.  476 ;  som  shrewe  is. 


some  one  (at.  least)  is  wicked,  G  995 ; 
Som  .  .  .  som,  one  . .  .  another,  A  3031 ; 
Somme,  pi.  some,  B  2139;  some  (of 
them),  L.  1050. 

Somdel,  adv.  somewhat,  B  4011 ;  a  little, 
I        L.  1183;  in  some  measure,  A  3911. 
I   Somer,    s.    summer,    A    394;    Someres 
game,  summer-game,  athletic  e.Nhibition, 
D  648. 

Somer-sesoun,  f.  spring,  early  summer, 
B  3.  p  8.  43. 

Somme,  pi.  some,  T.  iv.  995  ;  see  Som. 

Somme,  s.  sum,  F  1220;  chief  point, 
upshot,  L.  1559;  pi.  sums  of  money, 
H  1407,  G  675. 

Somne,  z*. ;  see  Sompne. 

Somnour,  s.  sum  m  oner,  apparitor,  an 
officer  who  summoned  delinquents  be- 
fore the  ecclesiastical  courts,  A  543. 

Somonce,  s.  summons,  D  1586. 

Sompne,  v.  summon,  D  1577  ;  Somne,  v. 
D  1347. 

Sompnolence,  s.  somnolence,  I  706. 

Somtyme,  adv.  once,  A  65,  85;  some- 
times, B  1667;  some  day,  B  no. 

Sond,  s.  sand,  B  509,  4457. 

Sonde,  s.  message,  B  388,  1049;  sending, 
I  625 ;  gifts,  B  1049 ;  visitation,  B  760, 
826;  trial,  B  902;  message  {or  messen- 
ger), G  525. 

Sonded,  pp.  sanded,  T.  ii.  822. 

Sondry,  adj.  various,  A  14.  25. 

Sone  (sun;)),  s.  son,  A  79,  336. 

Bone,  adi\  soon,  A  1022;  speedily,  D  1264. 

Sone-in-la'we,  s.  son-in-law,  E  315. 

Sonest.  adv.  superl.  soonest,  B  3716. 

Song,  -e,  -en  ;  see  Singe. 

Sonne,  s.  sun,  .A  7,  30. 

Sonne-beem,  j.  sunbeam,  D  868. 

Sonnish,  adj.  sun-like,  golden,  T.  iv.  736, 
8x6. 

Soor,  s.  sore,  wound,  A  1454. 

Soor,  adj.  wounded,  grieved,  A  2695; 
sore,  F  1571 ;  sad,  T.  v.  639. 

Soot,  s.  soot,  an  emblem  of  bitterness,  T. 
iii.  1194. 

Sooth,  adj.  true,  L.  14 ;  as  adv.  truly,  C 
636. 

Sooth,  s.  truth,  A  284;  Sothe,  G  66a; 
Sofhe,  dot.  B  1939. 

Soothfastnesse,  s.  truth,  B  4518. 

Soothly,  adv.  truly,  A  117. 

Sooty,  adj.  begrimed  with  soot,  B  4022. 

Sop,  s.  sop  (of  toasted  bread),  E  1843; 
Sop  in  wyn,  wine  with  bread  soaked  in 
it,  A  334. 

Soper,  s.  supper,  A  348 ;  Sopeer,  F  1189. 

Sophistrye,  s.  evil  cunning,  L.  137. 


(glogsarial  Intiex. 


Sophyme,  s.  a  sophism,  trick  of  logic,  E 

5  ;  //.  deceits,  F  554. 
Sore,  adv.  sorely,  A  148  ;  dar  so  sore,  bore 

so  ill,  E  85. 
Sore,  ^er.  to   soar,   HF.   531 ;    to   mount 

aloft,  F  123. 
Sorer,  adv.  more  sorely,  L.  502. 
Sorest,  adv.  most  sorely,  5.  404. 
Sormounte,  ger.  to  surpass,  R.  667 ;  //-. 

s.  rises  above,  T.  iii.  1038. 
Sort,  s.  lot,  T.  ii.  1754 ;  destiny,  chance, 

A  844;    kind,  A  4381;   divination,  T.  i. 

76. 
Sorted,//,  s.  allotted,  T.  v.  1827. 
Sorwe,  s.  sorrow,  grief,  A  951 ;    mourn- 
ing, B  2171;    sympathy,  compassion,  F 

422 ;  wM  sorwe,  with  ill  luck  to  you,  D 

308. 
Sorwestow,   thou  sorrowest,  B  i.  p  6. 

80;  pr.  s.  I  85  ;  pr.p/.  A  2824. 
Sorweful,  adj.  sorrowful,  L.  1832. 
Sorwefulleste,  adj.  most  sorrowful,  E 

2098. 
SorwefuUy,  adv.  sadly,  A  2978. 
Sorwing-,  s.  sorrow,  3.  606. 
Sory,   adj.  sorrowful,  mournful,  A  2004, 

2010;  sad,  B  2899;  unlucky,  B  1949;  ill, 

C  876 ;  miserable,  H  55. 
Sory,  adv.  sorely,  B  2.  p  4.  100. 
Soster,  s.  sister,'  A  3486. 
Sote,  adj.  sweet,  A  i,  B  2348. 
Sote,  adv.  sweetly,  L.  2612. 
Sotel,  adj.  subtle,  cunning,  18.  43. 
Soteltee,  subtlety,  skill,  18.  77. 
Soth,  adj.  true,  B  169;  Sooth,  L.  14. 
Sothe,  s.  truth,  A  845.    See  Sooth. 
Sother,  adj.  com  p.  truer,  G  214. 
Sothfastnesse,  s.  truth,   B  2365 ;    cer- 
tainty, I  380. 
Sothly,  adv.  verily,  soothly,  A.  pr.  23. 
Soth-sawe,    s.    true   saying,   truth,   HF. 

2089;  pi.  HF.  676. 
Sotil,  adj.  subtle,  cunning,  L.  1556,  2559 ; 

subtly  woven,  A  1054;  thin,  A  2030. 
Sotilly,  adv.  skilfully,  R.  11 19;  cleverly, 

R.  772- 
Sotted,  adj.  besotted,  befooled,  G  1341. 
Souded,  pp.  confirmed,  B  1769. 
Sought,  -e;  see  Sake. 
Souke,  ger.  to  suck,  .■X  4157  ;  to  embezzle, 

A  4416 ;  pp.  been  at  the  breast,  E  450. 
Soul,  adj.  sole,  single,  E  2080. 
Soule,  s.  soul,  A  656,  781. 
Soulfre,  s.  sulphur,  HF.  1508. 
Soun,  s.  sound,  musical  sound,  A  674,  E 

271 ;   vaunt,  L.  267;  pi.  sounds,  A  2512. 
Sound,  adj.  unhurt,  L.  1619;  //.  in  strong 

heallh,  T.  iii.  1526. 


Sounde,  ger.  to  heal,  make  sound,  7.  242 ; 
v.  heal,  R.  966. 

Soune,  ger.  to  sound,  to  utter,  T.  ii.  573; 
imitate  in  sound,  speak  alike,  F  105; 
Sounen,  v.  sound,  hence,  tend,  redound, 
T.  i.  1036;  Souneth,  //•.  s.  tends  (to- 
wards), relates  (to),  T.  iii.  1414;  is  con- 
sonant (with),  B  3157;  makes  (for),  H 
195 ;  Sounen,  pr.  pi.  tend,  I  1068  ;  pt.  s. 
inclined,  T.  iv.  1676;  pres.  pt.  accordant 
with,  in  agreement  with,  A  275;  Soun- 
inge  in,  tending  to,  A  307. 

Souned  ;  i^cj/^j., best-sounding,  T.  ii.  1031. 

Soupe,  v.  sup,  T.  ii.  944. 

Souper,  s.  supper,  T.  ii.  947. 

Souple,  adj.  pliant,  A  203. 

Sourdeth,  pr.  s.  arises,  1  475. 

Sovire,  adj.  bitter,  cruel,  B  i.  p  4.  88. 

Soure,  adv.  sourly,  bitterly,  B  2012. 

Soures,  s.  pi.  sorrels,  bucks  of  the  third 
year,  3.  429. 

Sourmounteth,  pr.  s.  surmounts,  rises 
above,  T.  iii.  1038. 

Sours,  s.  source,  origin,  T.  v.  1591 ;  E  49 ; 
a  springing  aloft,  HF.  544;  swift  up- 
ward flight,  D  1938,  1941. 

Souter,  s.  cobbler,  A  3904. 

Soutiltee,  s.  device,  D  576. 

Souvenance,  s.  remembrance,  24.  14. 

Soveraynetee,  s.  sovereignty,  E  114,  F 
751;  supremacy,  D  818. 

Sovereyn,  adj.  supreme,  very  high,  A  67  ; 
chief,  B  3339 ;  sovereign,  D  1048 ;  supe- 
rior, A.  ii.  28.  39  (a  technical  term, 
applied  to  the  western  signs  of  the 
zodiac)  ;  as  s.  lord,  i.  69;  master,  G  590; 
Sovereyne,  /em.  5.  422 ;  Sovereyns,  pi, 
superiors,  I  392,  402. 

Sovereynly,  adv.  royally,  B  2462 ;  chiefly, 
B  4552- 

Sovereyntee,  s.  supremacy,  D  1038. 

So-wdan,  s.  sultan,  B  177. 

Sowdanesse,  s.  sultaness,  B  358. 

Sowe,  V.  sew  up,  T.  ii.  1201,  1204;  //. 
sewn,  A  685. 

Sowen,  V.  sow,  B  1182;  Sowen,  //.  R. 
1617;  Sowe,  pp.  T.  i.  385. 

Sowle,  s.  soul,  life,  T.  ii.  1734. 

Sowled,//.  endued  with  a  soul,  G  329. 

Sowne,  V.  sound,  play  upon,  A  565; 
sound,  T.  iii.  189;  Sowneth,  pr.  s. 
sounds,  1  160;  signifies,  A.  i.  21.  62;  pr. 
pi.  play,  F  270;  Sowneth.  pr.  pi.  tend 
(to),  are  consonant  (with),  F517;  Souned, 
//.  //.  tended,  B  3348.    See  Soune. 

Space,  s.  room,  T.  i.  714 ;  space  of  time, 
A  87;  while,  C  239;  opportunity,  spare 
time,  A  35  ;  course,  A  176. 


104 


(^lo0satial  hxbtx. 


Spak,  />/.  s.  spake,  A  124 ;  see  Speke. 
Span,  pt.  s.  spun,  I-.  1762. 
Spanne,  s.  span,  A  155. 
Span-newe,  aiij.  span-new,  T.  iii.  1665. 

Lit.  '  nt-wly  spun." 
Spare,  f.  spare,  refrain,  A  192;   cease,  5. 

6gg  ;  />/'.  passed  over,  L.  2602. 
Sparhauk,  s.  sparrow-hawk,  B  1957. 
Sparinge,  s.  moderation,  I  835. 
Sparkle,  s.  small  spark,  B  2095. 
Sparow,  s.  sparrow,  5.  351. 
Sparre,  s.  wooden  beam,  A  990.  1076. 
Sparth,  s.  battle-axe,  A  2520. 
Sparwe,  s.  sparrow,  A  626. 
Spaynel,  s.  spaniel,  D  267. 
Spece,  t.  species,  sort,  1  407 ;  />/.  kinds,  A 

3013.  I  865. 
Speche,  .(.  speech,  L.  1084;  discourse,  A 

307 ;    talk,  A  783,  D   1020 ;    address,  3. 

1131  ;  oratory,  F  104. 
Special,  a^'.' special ;    in  special,   espe- 

ci.illv,  in  particular,  A  444,  1017. 
Spectacle,  s.  eye-glass,  D  1203. 
Spede.  ,;vr.  to  succeed,  C  134 ;  Spede  me, 

:■.  Ik'  quick,  5.  385;    Spede, />r.  s.'subj. 

speed,  prosper,  A   769;    Spedde,  pt.  s. 

hastened,  moved  quickly,  A  3649;  made 

to  prosper.  B  3876;  //.  s.  refi.  hasted,  A 

1217  ;   I  pt.  s.  tefl.  L.  200 ;  pp.  terminated, 

determined,    5.    loi ;    accomplished,    G 

Speed,  s.  help,  T.  ii.  9;  success,  T.  i.  17; 

for  coiiiiine  spede,  for  the  good  of  all,  5. 

507- 
Speedful,  adj.  advantageous,  B  727. 
Speere,  s.  sphere,  F  1283. 
Speke,    V.    speak,    3.    852;    Spekestow, 

speakest  thou,   G  473 ;    Spak,   i  pt.  s. 

spake,  L.  97  ;  //.  s.  3.  503 ;  Speken,  pt.  pi. 

3.  350;   Spaken   {better  Speken),//.  pi. 

spa'ke,  T.  i.  565  ;  Speke,//.  s.  subj.  might 

speak,  T.  ii.  1119;  Spoken,//.  A  31. 
Speking,   s.  speech-making,   oratory,   5. 

4S8  ;  speaking,  H  335. 
Spelle.  s.  dat.  a  story,  B  2083. 
Spence,  .»-.  buttery,  t)  1931. 
Spending-silver,    s.    silver    to    spend, 

money  in  hand,  G  1018. 
Spere,  J.  spear,  A  114;   as  nigh  as  men 

mav  casten  with  a  spere,  a  spear's  cast, 

HK.  1048. 
Spere,  s.  sphere,  orbit,  4.  137;  16.  11. 
Sperhauk,  .r.  sparrowhawk,  B  4647. 
Sperme,  s.  seed,  B  3199. 
Sperred,//.  barred,  T.  v.  521. 
Spete,  -•.  spit,  T.  ii.  1617;  Spetten,//.  //. 

I  270. 
Spewe,  v.  vomit,  B  2607. 


Spewing,  s.  vomit,  I  138. 
Spicerye,  s.  mi.vture  of  spices,  B  2043. 
Spille,  V.  spill,  drop,  T.  v.  880;   kill,  L. 

1574;    destroy,  ruin,  E  503;    perish,  6. 

121 ;  ger.  to  destroy,  T.  v.  588 ;    to  sp. 

labour,  to  lose  labour,  H   153;   doth  vie 

sp.,  causes  me  to  die,  6.  14;   SpiUestow 

teres,  leltest  thou  tears  iaW  (Lat.  vianas), 

B  I.  p  4.4;  //.  killed,  B  857;  lost,  i.  180, 

ruined,  D  1611;  confounded,  D  388. 
Spirit,    s.  A   2809;    Spiritcs,   the    (tour) 

spirits  in  alchemy  (sulphur,  sal  ammo- 
niac, quicksilver,  arsenic),  G  820;  vital 

forces,  3.  489. 
Spitous,  adj.  malicious,  R.  979 ;  inhospi- 

t,il)le,  22.  13. 
SpitOUSly,  adv.  spitefully,  D  223;   vehe- 

nu'ntly,  A  3476. 
Spoke,  pp.  of  Speke. 
Sponne,  2  pt.pl.  did  spin,  T.  iii.  734. 
Spoon,  s.  spoon,  F  602;   Spones,  //.  C 

908. 
Spore,  s.  spur,  A  2603;  //.  A  473. 
Sporne,  ger.  to  spurn,  kick,  13.  11 ;  //.  s. 

spuins,  treads,  T.  ii.  797;  //.  s.  tripped 

himself  up,  A  4280. 
Spot,  .r.  defect,  E  2146. 
Spousaille,  s.  espousal,  wedding,  E  115, 

180. 
Spoused,  //.  wedded,  E  3,  386. 
Spouted,  pp.  vomited,  B  487. 
Sprayned ;  see  Springen. 
Sprede.  v.  spread,  open,  4.  4;  ger.  to  ex- 

jxmd,  R.  1679;  Spradiie,  //.  s.  spread,  E 

418,    722;    covered,   7.   40;     Sprad,  //. 

spread,    A     2903;     dispersed,     3.     874; 

Spi  adde,  //.  //.  wide  open,  T.  iv.  1422. 
Spreynd;  see  Springen. 
Spring,  s.  c!awn,  A.  ii.  6.  6;    first  growth, 

R.  834;  //.  merry  dances,  HF.  1235. 
Springe,   strong  v.  spring   up,  grow,   A 

3018  ;  rise,  B  4068  ;  spread  abroad,  7.  74  ; 

spring,  be  carried,  L.  719;  ger.  to  rise 

(as  the  sun) .  A  2522 ;  to  dawn,  A  822 ;  to 

arise,  i.  133;    Sprang,  //.  s.  grew  up,  R. 

1425  ;  Sprong,  pt.  s.  spread  out,  R.  1704  ; 

Spronge,  //.   become  famous,  A    1437 ; 

grown,  L.  1054;    spronge  amis,  alighted 

in  a  wrong  place,  HF.  2079. 
Springen,     weak    v.    sprinkle,    scatter, 

sow  broadcast,    B    1183;    Spreynd,  pp. 

sprinkled,    B   422,   1830;    Sprayned,  //. 

B  2.  p  4.  132.     A.  S.  sprengan. 
Springers,  s.pl.  sources,  origins,  I  387. 
Springing,  s.  source,  E  49. 
Spvume,  V.  spurn,  kick,  F  616. 
Spyce,  s.  spice,  R.  1367, 1371 ;  //.  spicery. 

L.  mo;  species,  kinds,  1  83,  102. 


(SloemxM  IntJex. 


105 


Spyced,  pp.  spiced,  A  3378  ;  scrupulous, 

A  526,  D  435. 
Spycerye,  ^'collection  of  spices,  mixture 

of  spices,  A  2935,  B  136. 
Spyr,  s.  spire,  shoot,  T.  ii.  1335. 
Squames,  s.pl.  scales,  G  759. 
Squaymous,    adj.    squeamish,    sparing 

(except  rarely),  A  3337. 
Squiereth,  pr.  s.  attends,  accompanies, 

D  SOS- 
Squire,  s.  a  '  square,"  a  carpenter  s  mstru- 

ment    for    measuring    right    angles,    D 

2090 ;  p/.  measuring-rules,  A.  i.  12.  3. 
Squyer, .(.  squire,  A  79. 
Stable,  adj.  abiding,  A  3004,  3009 ;  firm, 

3.  64s;   sure,  E  1499;   constant,  4.  281; 

steadfast,  F  871. 
Stablissed,  pp.  established,  A  2995. 
Stadie,  s.  race-course.  B  4.  p  3.  11. 
Staf,  ,v.  staff,  sticl<,  L.  2000;    (perhaps  a 

l)ed-staff),  A  4294,4296;  Staves,  ^f«.  of 

the  shaft  of  a  car,  7.  184. 
Staf-slinge,  s.  a  staff-sling,  sling  with  a 

handle,  B  2019. 
Stages,  p/.  positions,  HF.  122. 
Stak,  //.   f.  stuck,  T.  iii.  1372;   was  fast- 
ened on,  R.  458. 
Stakereth,//-.  s.  staggers,  L.  2687. 
Stal,  //.  .f.  0/  Stelen. 
Stalke,  s.  stalk,  A  1036;  piece  of  straw, 

A  3919;  Stalkes,//.  {La.t. pa/?nifes),B  i. 

m  6.  15  ;  stems,  T.  ii.  968  ;  uprights  of  a 

ladder,  A  3625. 
Stalke,  t/.  creep  up  (to),  T.  ii.  519;  move 

stealthily,  L.  1781;  pr.  s.  walks  stealthily, 

A  1479;  moves  slowly,  A  3648. 
Stalle,  J.  ddL  ox-stall,  T.  v.  1469. 
Stamin,  j.  a  coarse  harsh  cloth,  famine, 

tammy,  L.  2360  ;   I  1052.    0.¥.  e'stamine. 
Stampe,  pr.  pi.  bray  in  a  mortar,  C  538. 
Stanched, //I.  staunched,  B  2.  p  2.  53. 
Stank,  .f.  lake,  tank,  pool,  I  841.     E.  tank. 
Stant,  stands;  see  Stonde. 
Stapen,  pp.  advanced,  B  4011,  E  1514  {in 

MS.  E.). 
Stare,  .?.  starling,  5.  348. 
Starf,  pt.  s.  of  Sterve. 
Stark,   adj.   strong,   E    1458 ;    severe,    B 

3560. 
Startling,  moving  suddenly,  L.  1204. 
Staunchen,  v.  satisfy,  B  3.  m  3.  3. 
Stede,  s.  place,  HF.  731;  in  stede  of,  in- 
stead of,  B  3308. 
Stede,  s.  steed,  A  2157. 
Stedfastnesse,  s.  constancy,  firmness, 

E  699  ;  stability,  15.  7. 
Steer,  s.  bullock,  A  2149. 
Steked,  pp.  stuck,  L.  161  a. 


Stele,  s.  lit.  handle;  i.  e.  the  (cool)  end, 
A  3785- 

Stelen,  v.  steal,  A  562;  Steleth,  pr.  s. 
steals  away,  B  21 ;  Stal,  pt.  s.  stole,  L. 
796;  came  (or  went)  cunningly,  HF. 
418 ;  went  stealthily,  B  3763 ;  stal  aivay, 
stole  away,  3.  381 ;  Stole,  //.  stolen,  A 
2627. 

Stellifye,  v.  make  into  a  constellation, 
HF.  586,  1002. 

Stemed,  pt.  s.  shone,  glowed,  A  202.  A.  S. 
std///an. 

Stenten,  v.  leave  off,  A  903 ;  £'er.  to  stay, 
A  2442 ;  V.  cease,  leave  off,  B  3925 ; 
Stente,  2/r.  s.  subj.  cease,  18.61 ;  Stente, 
pt.  s.  ceased,  stopped,  3.  154;  L.  1240; 
reinained,  L.  821;  stayed,  T.  i.  273; 
Stente,  //.  pi.  ceased,  T.  i.  60 ;  delayed, 
L.  633 ;  //.  stopped,  A  1368. 

Stepe,  adj.  pi.  glittering,  bright,  A  201, 
753.     A.  S.  st'eap. 

Steppes,  pi.  foot-tracks,  L.  829,  2209. 

Stere,  s.  helm,  rudder,  B  833;  pilot, 
helmsman,  guide,  B  448;  in  stere,  upon 
my  rudder,   F.  v.  641. 

Stere,  v.  steer,  rule,  T.  iii.  910;  i  pr.s. 
steer,  T.  ii.  4;  pp.  controlled,  L.  935. 

Stere,  v.  stir,  move,  excite,  T.  i.  228  ;  pro- 
pose, 1".  iv.  1451 ;  pr.  s.  stirs,  HF.  817. 

Sterelees,  adj.  rudderless,  B  439. 

Steresman,  s.  steersman,  HF.  436. 

Steringe,  s.  stirring,  motion,  HF.  800. 

Sterlinges,  //.  sterling  coins,  C  907. 

Sterne,  adj.  stern,  E  465 ;  violent,  T.  iii. 
743- 

Sterre,  s.  star,  5.  68,  300;  constellation, 
HF.  599. 

Stert,  s.  start,  T.  v.  254 ;  at  a  stert,  in  a 
moment.  A  1705. 

Sterte,  v.  start,  go  quickly,  T.  ii.  1634; 
move  away,  T.  iii.  949 ;  pass  away,  B 
335 ;  leap,  skip,  R.  344 ;  Stert,  //■.  s. 
rouses,  HF.  681 ;  Sterte,  i  //.  s.  departed, 
T.  iv.  93;  rushed,  L.  811 ;  leapt,  A  952; 
went,  T.  ii.  1094;  went  at  once,  L.  660; 
Sterting,  pres.  pt.  bursting  suddenly, 
L.  1741. 

Sterve,  v.  die,  A  1249;  die  of  famine,  C 
451 ;  Starf,  pt.  s.  L.  1691 ;  A  933,  B  283; 
Storven, //.;>/.  C  888. 

Stevene,  s.  voice,  sound,  language,  A 
2562;  rumour,  talk,  T.  iii.  1723;  time, 
moment,  esp.  of  an  appointment,  A 
1524;  sound,  L.  1219;  meeting  by  ap- 
pointment, 4.  52 ;  sette  st,,  made  ap- 
pointment, A  4383. 

SteWe,  .r.  a  fish-pond,  A  350;  a  small 
room,  closet,  T.  iii.  6oi ;  brothel,  HF.  26. 


io6 


(ilosgartal  Sntex. 


Stevre-dore,  s.  closet-door,  T.  iii.  698.        1 

Steyre,  s.  degree  (La.t.  ^rad/ts),  4.  129; 
Sif\rcs,,^t;u.  stair's,  T.  iii.  205.  1 

Stiborn.  ad/,  stubborn,  D  456,  637. 

Stidefast,  udj.  steadfast,  B  2641.  j 

Stif,  ad/,  strong,  A  673;    bold,  R.  1270;    • 
hard,  D  2267.  1 

Stiken,  ^er.  to  stick,  T.  i.  297 ;    Stiked,   j 
/>/.  s.  stuck,  B  509 ;  fixed,  B  2097  ;  Stikede, 
//.   s.   pierced,   B   3897;    Stikkcd,  fixed, 
L.    2202 ;   /V>.  stabbed,  B  430 ;    a  stiked 
s-i'vn,  a  stuck  pig,  C  556. 

Stikinge,  s.  sticking,  setting,  I  954. 

Stikkea,  />/.  p.dings,  B  4038. 

Stillatorie,  s.  still,  vessel  used  in  distil- 
i.iiion,  G  580. 

Stille,  adv.  quietly,  L.  816;  still,  D  2200. 

Stille,  ,i,'ir.  to  silence,  T.  ii.  230. 

Stingeth,  />/.  s.  pierces,  L.  645. 

Stinte,  V.  leave  off,  A  1334 ;  cease,  G  883 ; 
cause  to  cease,  1.63  ;  end.  E  747  ;  ger.  to 
cease,  B  2164;  to  slop,  T.  ii.  383;  cease, 
I  720;  restrain,  R.  1441 ;  stop,  avert, 
L.  1647  ;  Stinte,  i  pr.  s.  leave  off  telling. 
HF.  I417;  pr.pl.  cease,  I  93;  pt.  s.  subj. 
may  cease,  B  413 ;  Stinte,  //.  s.  ceased, 
A  2421;  was  silent,  3.  1299;  //.  pi. 
stopped  {or pr.pl.  stop).  L.  294;  Stinte, 
pt.  s.  subj.  should  cease.  T.  i.  848;  pp. 
stopped,  T.  iii.  1016;  stint  thy  clappe, 
hold  your  tongue,  A  3144;  Stinteth, 
imp.  pi.  stay.  T.  ii.  1729. 

Stintinge,  s.  ceasing,  end,  B  2.  m  7.  37. 

Stiren.  f.  stir,  excite,  B  2696. 

Stiropes,  s.pl.  stirrups.  B  1163. 

Stirte,  pt.  s.  started,  D  1046;  rushed,  H 
303  ;  went  quickly,  E  2153. 

Stith,  s.  anvil,  A  2026.     Icel.  st^i. 

Stod,  -e  :  see  Stonde. 

Stok,  s.  a  block  of  wood,  A.  ii.  38.  6; 
source,  14.  i;  race,  A  1551 ;//.  stumps, 
A  2934 ;  posts,  T.  iii.  589. 

Stoke,  ..firr.  to  stab,  thrust,  A  2546. 

Stokked,  pp.  fastened  in  the  stocks,  T. 
iii.  380. 

Stole,  s.  stool,  frame  for  tapestry-work, 
L.  2352;  pi.  chairs,  D  288. 

Stole,  pp.  (j/Stelen. 

Stomak,  s.  stomach,  T.  i.  787;  appetite, 
D  1847;  compassion,  D  1441. 

Stomblen,/r.//.  stumble,  A  2613. 

Stonde,  v.  stand,  B  1050;  be  placed,  A 
745  ;  be  understood,  be  fixed,  E  346 ;  be 
set  in  view  (as  a  prize  at  a  game),  B 
1931 ;  fynt  stonde,  finds  standing,  L. 
1499  ;  Stont,  pr.  s.  stands,  is,  T.  iii.  1562 ; 
Stant,  pr.  s.  stands,  B  618;  consists,  I 
107,  1029 ;  is,  B  1304 ;  Stood,  pt.  s.  A  354 ; 


stuck   fast,  D   1541;    Sfonden,  pp.   HF. 

1928. 
Stongren,  pp.  stung,  A  1079. 
Stoon,  s.  stone,  A  774;    precious  stone, 

gem,  R.  1086. 
Stoon-wal,  stone-wall,  L.  713. 
Stoor,  .(.  store,  stock  (of  a  farm),  .\  598; 

store,  D  2159 ;  value,  D  203. 
Stopen,//.  advanced,  E  15 14  (MS.  E.  has 

stapen). 
Stoppen,  V.  stop,  T.  ii.  804. 
Store,  s.  store,  value,  B  4344 ;  possession, 

I-  2337- 
Store,  _i^er.  to  store,  B  1463. 
Store,  adj.  voc.  audacious,  bold,  E  3367. 

Icel.  storr. 
Storial,  adj.  historical,  A  3179;    Storial 

sooih,  historical  truth,  L.  702. 
Storie,   s.  history,  legend  of  a  saint   (or 

the  like),  A  709;  history,  E  1366;  tale, 

story,  7.  10;  //.  books  of  history,  T.  v. 

1044. 
Storven,  //.  pi.  o/Sterve,  died,  C  888. 
Stot,   s.   a   stallion,   horse,   cob,   A   615; 

heifer  (a  term  of  abuse),  D  1630. 
Stounde,  s.  hour,   time,  while,  A    1212, 

4007  ;    short  time,  B  1021 ;    moment,  L. 

949 ;    in  a  stounde,  at  a  time,  once,  A 

3992 ;  upon  a  stounde.  in  one  hour,  T.  iv. 

625 ;  pi.  hours,  seasons,  T.  iii.  1752. 
Stoundemele,   at  various   times,   from 

time  to  time,  T.  v.  674. 
Stoupe,.^^'r.  to  stoop,  G  1311. 
Stour,  s.  battle,  contest,  R.  1270. 
Stout,  adj.  strong,  A  545. 
Straighter,    adj.    more    stretched    out, 

mo/e  expanded,  R.  119. 
Strake,  v.  move,  proceed,  3.  1312. 
Strange,  adj.  strange,  F  89 ;  external,  D 

1161;    not  its  own,  A.  ii.  19.  7.     Every 

star  has  its  own  degrees  (of  longitude) 

in  the  equator  and  ecliptic. 
Strangenesse,  s.  estrangement,  B  1576. 
Stranglen,  pr.  pi.  strangle,  worry,  I  768. 
Strangling,  s.  A  2458 ;  of  sir.,  caused  by 

strangling,  L.  807. 
Straught,  -e;  see  Strecche. 
Straunge,  adj.    strange,    foreign,  A   13; 

unwonted,    7.    202;     difficult,    hard    to 

agree  upon,  F  1223;  like  a  stranger,  T. 

ii.  1660;   unfriendly,  estranged,  R.  1065; 

distant,    unbending,    5.    584 ;     not    well 

known,  A.  ii.  17.  rub.;   [a  strange  star  is 

one   that    is   not   represented    upon   the 

Rete  of  the  Astrolabe]  ;  //.  strangers,  T. 

ii.  411. 
Straungely,  adv.  distantly,  T.  v.  955. 
Straw.  J. T. iii. 859;  (7x;n/^'.  astraw!  F695. 


(Sbssarial  Entiei. 


107 


Stra'wen,  v.  strew,  L.  207 ;  2  pr.  s.  subj. 

F  613  ;  pp.  strewn,  I  918. 
Strayte,  s.  strait,  B  464. 
Strecche,  v.  stretch,  B  4498  ;  extend,  T. 

ii.   341 ;    reach,  7.  341 ;    Streighte,  //.  s. 

stretched,  HF.  1373;    Straughte,  pt.  pi. 

extended,   A    2916;    Straughten,  //.  //. 

stretched  out,  R.  1021 ;  Streight,  stretched 

out;    long  str.,  stretched   at  full  length, 

T.  iv.  1 163;    pp.  as  adv.  straight,  T.  ii. 

599- 
Stree,  s.  straw,  A  2918  ;  pi.  3.  718. 
Streem,  j^.  river,  current,  L.  2508;  stream, 

A  464  ;  ray  (of  light),  2.  94. 
Streen,   s.  strain,   i.  e.    stock,    progeny, 

race,  E  157. 
Streig-ht,  adj.  straight,  3.  957. 
Streight,   adv.   straight,    straightway,   A 

671. 
Streight,  -e ;  see  Strecche. 
Streit,  adj.  narrow,  .\   1984;    scanty,  R. 

457;    B  4179;   strict,  A  174;  pi.  scanty, 

small,  D  1426.     A.  F.  estrelt. 
Streite,  pp.  as  adj.  def.  drawn,   B  4547. 

(It  here  represents  Lat.  str-iclus.) 
Streite,  adv.  closely,  T.  iv.  1689;  strictly, 

L.  723  ;  tightly,  A  457. 
Streitnes,  s.  smallness,  A.  i.  21.  55. 
Stremeden,  pt.  pi.  streamed,  T.  iv.  247. 
Streng,  s.  string,  D  2067 ;  //.  5.  197. 
Stronger,  adj.  comp.  stronger,  B  2410. 
Strongest,  strongest,  T.  i.  243. 
Strengest-feythed,  strongest  in   faith, 

T.  i.  1007. 
Strengthe,  s.  strength,  A  84;    force,  3. 

351 ;  pi.  sources  of  strength,  B  3248. 
Strepen,   v.   strip,    E   1958;   do  str.  me, 

cause  me  to  be  stripped,  E  2200. 
Strete,    s.   street,    T.    ii.   612;    dat.    HF. 

1049 ;   street,  road,  way,  i.  70 ;   B  1683. 
Streyne,  v.  compress,  T.  iii.  1205;  strain, 

press,  E  1753;    constrain,  E  144;    hold, 

confine,   R.    1471 ;  ger.  to  compress,  T. 

iii.    1071;    Streyne,    pr.  pi.    strain    (as 

through  a  sieve),  C  538. 
Streyt,  adj.  small,  B  3.  m  2.  26. 
Strike,  s.  hank  (of  fiax),  A  676. 
Strogelest ;  see  Strugle. 
Stroke,  ger.  to  stroke,  T.  iii.  1249. 
Strokes,  pi.  of  Strook. 
Strompetes,  s.  pi.  strumpets,  B  i.  p  i. 

Stronde,  dat.  shore,  L.  2189;  Strondes, 

pi.  shores,  A  13. 
Strong,  adj.  difficult,  B  2635;  pi.  severe, 

A  1338.  2771- 
Stronge,  adv.  securely,  R.  241. 
Stroof ,  pt.  s.  of  Stryve. 


Strook,  s.  stroke,  A  1701 ;  Strokes,  //.  T. 

iii.  1067. 
Strouted,  //.  s.  stuck  out,  A  3315. 
Strowe,  V.  strew,  L.  loi  a. 
Stroyer,  destroyer,  5.  360. 
Strugle,  V.  struggle,  E  2374;  Strogelest, 

2  pr.  s.  C  829. 

Stryf,  s.  quarrel,  strife,  A  1187,  2784; 
took  stryf  =' took  up  the  cudgels,"  B  i. 
P  4-  93- 

Stryk,  s.  stroke,  mark,  A.  ii.  12.  19. 

Stryke,  v.  strike ;  Stryken  out,  strike 
out,  D  1364;  Strike, /I/,  struck,  11.  35. 

Stryve,  v.  strive,  struggle,  10.  30 ;  oppose, 
E  170;  Stroof, /A  s.  strove,  vied,  A  1038. 

Stryvinge,  s.  striving,  strife,  B  2674. 

Stubbel-goos,  s.  fatted  goose,  A  4351. 

Stubbes,  pi.  stumps,  A  1978. 

Studie,  s.  study,  A  303;  state  of  medi- 
tation, A  1530;  Study,  library,  F  1207, 
1214;  Studies,  pi.  endeavours,  B  3.  p  2. 
93  ;   desires,  B  4.  p  2.  56. 

Studie,  V.  study,  A  184;  ^^r.  give  heed,  I 
1090;  Studieth,//-.  J.  deliberates,  E  1955. 

Stuffed,  pp.  filled,  E  264. 

Sturdely,  adv.  boldly,  4.  82. 

Sturdinesse,  s.  sternness,  E  700. 

Sturdy,  adj.  cruel,  hard,  harsh,  stern,  E 
698,  1049;  firm,  T.  ii.  1380;  D  2162. 

Sty,  s.  pig-sty,  D  1829. 

Stye,  ger.  to  mount  up,  B  4.  p  6.  414. 

Style  (i),  J.  a  stile,  a  means  to  get  over 
a  barrier  by  climbing,  C  712,  F  106. 

Style  (2),  s.  style,  mode  of  writing,  F  105. 

Styves,  pt.  stews,  D  1332. 

Sty  ward,  s.  steward,  B  914. 

Suasioun,  s.  persuasiveness,  B  2.  p  i.  45. 

Subdekne,  s.  subdeacon,  I  891. 

Subgit,  adj.  subject,  T.  v.  1790;  Subget, 
T.  i.  231. 

Subgit,  s.  subject,  T.  ii.  828 ;  pi.  servants, 
D  1990. 

Subjeccion,  J. '(i),  suggestion,  (a  thing 
subjected  to  the  mind),  I  351;  (2),  sub- 
jection, obedience,  B  270;  submission, 
4.  32 ;  subjection,  governance,  B  3656, 
3742. 

Sublymatories,  s.  pi.  vessels  for  subli- 
mation, G  793. 

Sublymed,  pp.  sublimed,  sublimated,  G 
774.  '  Sublimate,  to  bring  by  lieat  into 
the  state  of  vapour' ;  Webster. 

Sublyming,  s.  sublimation,  G  770. 

Submitted,  pp.  subjected,  B  5.  p  i.  44; 
ye  ben  s.,  ye  have  submitted,  B  35. 

Subtil,  adj.  subtle,  C  141 ;  ingenious,  A. 
pr.  60;  skilful,  L.  672;  finely  woven,  5. 
272. 


io8 


(^loesartal  Sntex. 


'Subtilltee,  s.  subtlety,  craft,  secret  knowl- 
edge, G  620;  skill,  craft,  G  844;  //. 
tricks,  E  2421. 

>Subtilly.  iiJv.  craftily,  A  610;  subtly,  F 

"222. 

Subtiltee,  s.  subtlety,  F  140;  specious 
reasoning,  HF.  855;  skill,  B4509;  trick, 
D  1420. 

Succedent,  si.  a  '  succedent "  house,  A. 
ii.  4.  48.  The  succedent  houses  are  the 
u-cond,  fifth,  eighth,  and  eleventh,  as 
these  are  about  to  follow  the  most  im- 
portant houses,  which  are  the  first, 
fourth,  seventh,  and  tenth. 

Sucre,  s.  sugar,  T.  iii.  1194. 

Sucred.  pp.  sugred,  T.  ii.  384. 

SxiflBsaunce,  s.  sufficiency,  A  490 ;  suffi- 
cient tood,  D  1843;  enough,  a  com- 
petence. 10.  15;    contentment,  B  4029; 

3-  703- 

Sufflsaunt,  adj.  sufficient,  good  enough, 
A  1631 ;  A.  pr.  7  ;  capable,  L.  2524 ;  well 
endowed,  L.  1067. 

Sufflsauntly,  adv.  sufficiently,  A.  pr.  4<; 
avan.iblv.  B  2492. 

Suffrable.  adj.  patient.  D  442. 

Suffraunce.  s.  longsuffering.  B  2479; 
patience.  E  1 162;  Suffiancc,  longsuffer- 
ing, V>  2654  ;  permission,  F  788. 

Suffraunt,  pres.  pt.  as  s.  patient  man, 
r.  iv.  1584;  as  adj.  patient,  tolerant,  3. 
1010. 

Suffre,  V.  suffer,  permit,  A  649;  endure, 

X  412- 

Suffyse,  V.  sutTice.  B  3648  ;  Suffyseth,  (it) 
suffices.  12.  15  ;  Suffyce,  imp.  s.  be  con- 
tent (spend  frugally),  13.  2. 

Suggestioun,  s.  a  criminal  charge.  B 
3t)07;  hint,  I  331. 

Sugre.  s.  sugar.  B  2046. 

Sukkenye,  s.  short  frock,  tunic.  R.  1232. 
O.  F.  soui/uanie :  V .  souqucnie  (CoXgrAwe). 

Summitted.  pp.  submitted.  B  3.  p  10. 15 ; 
subjected,  B  4.  p  6.  145. 

Superflce,  s.  surface,  A.  i.  21.  42 ;  in  the 
s.  of,  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood 
of,  A.  i.  21.  32. 

Superfluitee,  s.  superfluity,  excess,  A 
436 ;  over-abundance,  A.  pr.  50. 

Supplier!,  v.  supplicate,  entreat,  B  3. 
pS.  II. 

Supportacioun.  s.  support.  B  2332. 

Supprysed,  pp.  surprised.  T.  iii.  1184. 

Surcote.  .(.  upper  coat.  A  617. 

Surement,  s.  pledge,  F  1534. 

Suretee,  s.  security.  D  903  ;  careless  con- 
fidence, 7.  215. 

Surfeet,  s.  surfeit,  I  913. 


Surmounteth,  pr.  s.  surpasses.  L.  123. 

Surplys.  t.  surplice.  A  3323.  G  558. 

Surquidrie.  s.  over-confidence,  presump- 
tion. I  403;  arrogance,  T.  i.  213.  O.  F. 
surquidei  ie. 

Sursanure,  s.  a  wound  healed  outwardly, 
hut  not  inwardly,  F  11 13. 

Surveyaunce,  s.  surveillance,  C  95. 

Suspecioun,  t.  suspicion,  T.  ii.  561. 

Suspecious.  adj.  ominous  of  evil.  F  540. 

Suspect,  adj.  suspicious,  ominous  of  evil. 

Suspect,  s.  suspicion,  B  2385. 

Sustenance,  s.  support,  living,  E  202. 

Sustene.  v.  sustain,  support,  F  861 ;  main- 
tain, I.  22;  endure.  B  2654;  uphold, 
preserve,  B  160;  hold  up  (herself),  7. 
177. 

Suster,  s.  sister,  L.  592,  986 ;  Her  suster 
love,  love  for  her  sister,  L.  2365;  Sus- 
tren,;>/.  T.  iii.  733;  Sustres.//.  B  4057. 

Suwe,  ger.  to  follow,  T.  i.  379. 

Suyte,  J.  suit,  array  (of  like  kind),  A  2873: 
Suie,  uniform  pattern.  3.  261. 

Swa,  so  (Northern),  A  4040. 

Swal.  pt.  .(.  of  Swelle. 

Swalowe.  v.  swallow.  HF.  1036. 

Swalwe,  s.  swallow,  A  3258. 

Swappe.  s.  a  swoop,  the  striking  of  a 
bird  of  prey,  HF.  543. 

Swappe,  ger.  to  swap,  strike,  E  586; 
Swapte,  //.  s.  dashed,  T.  iv.  256;  fell 
suddenly,  E  1099;  Swap,  imp.  s.  strike 
off,  G  366. 

Swartlsh,  adj.  as  adv.  dark,  HF.  1647. 

Swatte,  //.  s.  of  Swete. 

SwajTTi,  s.  servant-lad,  young  man,  A 
4027. 

Sweigh,  s.  motion,  sway,  B  296. 

Swelleth,  pr.  s.  swells,  A  2743;  Swal, 
//.  s.  D  967;  up  swal,  was  puffed  up 
with  anger,  B  1750;  Swollen,  pp.  proud, 
E  950. 

Swelte,  V.  die,  T.  iii.  347 ;  Swelt,  pr.  s. 
dies,  4.  128;  pt.  s.  died,  E  1776;  lan- 
guished, fainted,  A  1356. 

Swelwe,  V.  swallow,  B  2808. 

Swerd,  s.  sword,  A  112. 

Swere,  v.  swear,  A  454;  Swoor,  i  //.  s. 
E  2312;  Swore,  2  pt.  s.  L.  1378;  Swoor, 
pt.  s.  swore,  7.  loi ;  Sworen,  pt.  pi.  swore, 
B  344;  Sworn,  pp.  sworn  (to  the  con- 
trary), T.  iv.  976.  A  1089;  sworn  (to  do 
it),  G  681;  bound  by  oath.  F  18;  sworr. 
(it  should  not  be  so),  D  640. 

Swering,  s.  swearing,  C  631. 

Swete,  adj.  sweet.  A  5,  2427 ;  as  s.  sweet 
one.  love.  3.  832. 


(§l000arial  Mtitx, 


109 


Swete,  s.  sweetness,  5.  161. 

S-wete,   V.  sweat,  G  579;    Swatte,  pt  s. 

sweated,  B  1966. 
Swete  herte,  sweetheart,  T.  iii.  69. 
Swete-Loking,  Sweet-Looking,  R.  920. 
Swetnesse,  s.  sweetness,  i.  51 ;  nourish- 
ment, 3.  415. 
Swetter,  aSj.  comp.  sweeter,  R.  622,  768. 
Swety,  ad/,  sweaty,  9.  28. 
Sweven,  s.  dream,  R.  28;  //.  dreams, 

R.  3. 
Swevening,  s.  dream,  R.  26;    Sweven- 

in?es  (pron.  swev'ningez) ,  R.  I. 
Sweynte,//.  as  def.  adj.  tired  out,  sloth- 
ful, HF.  1783.     Vp.  oi  swenchen. 
Swich.  adj.  such,  A  3,  243,  313;  such  a 

thmg,  B  4626;  Suich  a,  such  a,  B  3921 ; 

Swich  oon,  such  a  one,  F  231. 
Swimme,  v.  swim,  A  3550,  L.  2450 ;  Swom- 

men,  pt.  pi.  were  filled  with  swimming 

things,  5.  188. 
Swink,  s.  labour,  toil,  A  188,  540. 
Swinke,   v.  toil,    labour,   T.    v.   272;    to 

cause  to   labour,   HF.  16;  pr.pl.  work 

for,  G  21 ;  Swonken,//!.  toiled,  A  4235. 
Swinker,  s.  labourer,  toiler,  A  531. 
S'wire,  s.  neck,  throat,  R.  325. 
Swogh,  s.  (i)  sough,  low  noise,  5.  247; 

murmur,  HF.  1031 ;  sigh,  groan,  A  3619; 

rustling  noise,  blast,  A   1979;    whizzing 

noise,  HF.  1941 ;  Swogh,  (2)  swoon,  D 

709;  Swoiv,  grief,  3.  215. 
Swollen.  //.  proud,  E  950. 
Swolow,  s.  gulf,  L.  1 104. 
Swolwe,  V.  swallow,  H  36. 
Swommen,  pr.  pi.  were  filled  with  swim- 

mmg  things,  5.  188. 
Swonken,  pp.  toiled,  .\  4235. 
SwOOt,  (.  sweat,  G  578. 
Swote,  adj.  sweet, 'a  2860,  3205;  //.  R. 

60.    See  Sote,  Swete. 
Swote,  adv.  sweetly,  T.  i.  158. 
Swough,  Swow  :  see  Swogh. 
Swoune,  Swowne,  v.  swoon,  faint,  T. 

ii.   574;    Swouned,  pt.   s.   swooned,    A 

2943  ;  pp.  .\  913. 
Swow,  s.  swoon  ;  hence,  anguish,  3.  215. 
Sw^oiivne,  s.  swoon,  F  1080;  Aswowne,  in 

a  swoon,  C  245. 
Swow^ning,  s.  swooning,  C  246. 
Swyn,  (.swine,  boar,  F  1254;  hog,  D  460. 
Swynes-heed,  s.  pig's  head  (a  term  of 

abuse),  .\  4262.  j 

Swythe,  adv.  quickly,  C  796;  as  sw.,  as 

soon,  T.  V.  1384;  as  quickly  as  possible,   | 

immediately,  B  637,  G  936. 
Swyve,   V.  lie  with,  A    4178;    pp.   dis-  i 

honoured,  A  3850. 


Sy,  saw  ;  pi.  t.  of  See. 

^yB,ger.  to  sink  down,  T.  v.  182. 

Sye,  Syen,  saw;  see  See. 

Syk,  adj.  sick,  ill;  for  syk,  on  account 
of  being  sick,  D  394;  Syke,  def.  F  iioo; 
//.  sick  persons,  T.  iii.  61. 

Syk,  s.  sigh,  F  498. 

Syke,  V.  sigh,  T.  iii.  1360;  Syke,  ger.  to 
sigh  (put perhaps  read  syte,  i.  e.  to  grieve, 
for  the  rime),  T.  ii.  884;  Syketh, /r.  s. 
sighs,  5.  404 ;  22.  62  (men  sigh) ;  Syked, 
pt.  s.  sighed,  A  2985;  Sighte,  pt.  s. 
sighed,  B  1035. 

Sykllche,  adj.  sickly,  T.  ii.  1528. 

Symonials.  s.pl.  simoniacs,  I  784. 

Symonye,  s.  simony,  D  1309. 

Syre,  j-.  master  of  the  house,  D  713;  mas- 
ter, 5.  12. 

Sys.  tium.  six  (at  dice),  B  3851. 

[Syte,  V.  to  grieve;  perhaps  the  right 
reading  in  T.  ii.  884.] 

Sythe,  s.  time,  R.  80;  Sythe,  //.  (orig.  a 
gen.  pi.),  A  1878;  ofte  sythe,  oftentimes, 
E  233,  G  1031 ;  Sythes,//.  times,  A  485. 

Sythe,  s.  scythe,  L.  646. 


T',  for  'Vo,  frequently  prefixed  to  verbs  ;  as 
tabyde,  tamende,  &c. 

Taa.  V.  take  (Northern),  A  4129. 

Tabard,  s.  a  herald's  coat-of-arms,  hence, 
(i)  the  same,  as  an  inn-sign,  A  20;  (2) 
a  ploughman's  loose  frock,  A  541. 

Tabernacles,  //.  shrines,  HF.  123,  1190. 

Table,  s.  table,  A  100 ;  table  dormaunt, 
permanent  side-table,  A  353;  tablet, 
writing-tablet,  3.  780;  tablet,  plate, 
HF.  142;  table  (of  the  law),  C  639;  one 
of  the  thin  plates  on  which  almican- 
teras  are  engraved,  A.  ii.  21.  6;  at  table, 
at  board,  i.  e.  entertained  as  a  lodger, 
G  1015 ;  Tables,  //.  tables  (for  calcula- 
tion), F  1273;  dining-tables,  B  1442; 
writing-tablets,  D  1741 ;  plates,  A.  i.  14. 
3  ;  the  game  of '  tables '  or  back-gammon, 
F  900. 

Tabour,  s.  small  drum,  D  2268. 

Tabouren./r.//.  drum,  din,  L.  354. 

Tabregge,  for  To  abregge,  to  abridge, 
shorten,  T.  iii.  295. 

Tabreyde,  for  To  abreyde,  to  awake,  T. 
V.  520. 

Tabyde,   for  To  abyde,  to  abide,  T.  v. 

Tache,  s.  defect,  21.  18.    See  Tecches. 
Tacheve,  for  To  acheve,  to  achieve,  L. 
2111. 


(^lossarial  hxbcx. 


Tacompte,  /or  To  acompte,  to  reckon 

up,  22.  17. 

Tacord,  /or  To  accord,  i.  e.  to  agreement, 

H98. 
Tacorde,  /or  To  acorde,  to  agree,  i.  27. 
Tacoye,  /or  To  acoye,  to  decoy,  T.  v. 
^782. 

Taffata,  s.  taffeta,  A  440. 
Taffraye,  /or  To  aftraye,  to  frighten,  E 

TaiUages,  s.p/.  taxes,  I  567. 

Taille,  s.  tally,  an  account  scored  upon 

two  similarly  notched   sticks,  A  570,  B 

1606. 
Take,  v.  seize,  T.  ii.  289;  present,  offer, 

G  223;  ^er.  to  take,  A  34;   Takestow, 

tokest  thou,  G  435 ;     Take  me,  l  /r.  s. 

betake  myself,   B  1985;    Took,    i  pi.  s. 

drew  in,  breathed  in,   B  I.  p  3.  3  (Lat. 

hausi)  ;  hit,  D  792 ;  pt.  s.  handed  over, 

gave,  B  1484  ;  had,  B  192  ;  Toke,  2  pf.  s. 

tookest,  3.  483;    Toke,  //.  //.  took,   F 

1240;  received,  F  356;  Take,  ;>^.  taken, 

A  3007;    entrusted,  I   880;    brought,    i. 

20 ;  Tak,  imp.  s.  receive,  6117;  accept 

as  a  result,  A.  il.  25.  57 ;  /ak  kept,  take 

heed,  observe,  B  3757;   tak  she.  let  her 

take,    5.    462,     Taketh,    imp.   pi.    take, 

4-9- 
Takel,  s.  tackle,  archery-gear,  arrows,  A 

106. 
Ta.\6.,pp.  told  (Northern),  A  4207. 
Tale,  s.  tale,  A  3126;  story,  A  36,  831; 

account,  B  4308;    enumeration,  E  383; 

/  ^an  /nde  a  tale  to  him,  I  thought  of 

something  10  say   to  him,  3.  536;   telle 

tale,  give  an  account  of.  A  330. 
Tale,   V.   tell   a   tale,   talk,  speak,  T.   iii. 

1235;    Talen.  ger.  to  tell   tales,  A  772; 

pr.  s.  sub),  talk  about,  I  378. 
Talent,   s.   inclination,    wish,    desire,    B 

2439;    desire,  appetite,  C  540;    longing, 

R  2.  p  I.  12. 
TaUng.  s.  tale-telling.  B  1624. 
Talighte.  /or  To  alighte,  i.  e.  to  alight, 

E909. 
Talle.  adj.  docile,  obsequious,  4.  38.     (A 

rare  sense.) 
Tamende,  /or  To  amende,  to  redress.  E 

441. 
Tanoyen,   for  To  anoyen,  to  injure,  B 

492. 
Tanswere,  i.  e.  to  answer,  D  1589. 
Tapes,  //.  tapes,  A  3241. 
Tapicer,  s.  upholsterer,  maker  of  carpets, 

A  362. 
Tapite,  v.  cover  with  tapestry,  3.  260. 
Tappe,  s.  tap,  A  3890,  3892. 


Tappestere,  s.  female  tapster,  barmaid, 

A  241,  3336. 
Tarditas,  s.  slowness,  I  718. 
Tare,  s.  tare,  kind  of  weed,  A  1570. 
TareBte, /or  To  areste,  to  arrest,  F  1370. 
Targre,  s.  target,  shield,  A  471 ;  defence, 

I.  176. 
Tarien.   v.    tarry,   B   983;    delay    (used 

actively),    F  73';     i  pr.  s.   tarry,  T.    iii. 

"95 ;  AP-  delayed,  T.  ii.  1739. 
Tarraye,  /or  To  arraye,  to  array,  arrange, 

E961. 
Tart,  (idj.  of  sharp  flavour,  pungent,  A  381. 
Tartre,  s.  tartar,  G  813,  oille  0/  Tartre, 

(probably)  cream  of  tartar,  or  bitartrate 

of  potassium,  A  630. 
Taryingre,  s.  tarr>ing,  delay,  A  821. 
Tas.  (.  heap,  A  1005, 1009, 1020.    O.  F.  tas. 
Tassaille,  /or  To  assaille,  i.  e.  to  assail, 

E  1180. 
Tassaye,  /or  To  assaye,  to  test,  prove, 

try.  E  4j4.  1075. 
Tasseled.    pp.    fringed,    provided    with 

tassels,  R,  1079,  A  3251. 
Tassemble,  /or  To  assemble,  to  bring 

together.  D  89. 
Tassoille,  /or  To  assoile,  i.  e.  to  absolve, 

^  933- 
Taa8ure,/or  To  assure,  B  1231. 
Tast,  s.  taste,  relish  (for),  5.  160. 
Ta«te,   V.   try,   test,    L.    1993;    pt.  s.  ex- 
perienced, T.  i.  639;  imp.  s.  feel,  G  503. 
Taughte,  pt.  s.  o/'l'eche. 
Tavemer,  s.  innkeeper.  C  685. 
Tavyse,  /or  To  avyse  (me),  to  deliberate, 

H  1426. 
Tawayte,/»r To  awaytc,  to  dwell,  remain, 

Taylagre,  s.  taxation,  9,  54. 

Tecchee,  pi.  evil  qualities,  defects,  T.  iii, 
935;  characteristics,  HF.  1778. 

Teche,  v.  teach,  instruct,  A  ■y^.ger.  to 
show,  R.  518  ;  Techen,  v.  direct,  B  4139; 
ger.  to  inform  (him  of),  D  1326;  Taughte. 
I  pt.  s.  taught,  told,  D  1050. 

TV  deum.  the  anthem  so  called,  D  1866. 

Teer,  j.  tear,  E  1104. 

Tehee,  mterj.  (denoting)  laughter,  hee- 
hee  !  A  3740, 

Telle,  V.  tell,  recount,  relate,  A  38 ;  com- 
pute, 3.  440 ;  ger.  to  tell,  to  be  told,  F 
447  ;  I  pr.  s.  account,  B  4344 ;  Telle  no 
tale,  set  no  store,  5.  326 ;  Telles,  pr.  s. 
(Northern  form),  tells,  3.  73;  HF.  426; 
Tolde,  I  pt.  s.  counted,  HF.  1380;  ac- 
counted, D  203,  208;  //.  pi.  esteemed, 
T.  i.  131;  herd  told,  heard  (it)  told.T.  i, 
197;  Tolde,//,//,  told,  B  56. 


@lo00arial  Intel. 


Tembrace,  for  To  embrace,  T.  v.  224; 

E  iioi. 

Temen,  v.  bring;  temen  us  on  here,  bring 
us  on  our  bier,  let  us  die,  HF.  1744. 

Temper,  s.  mood,  R.  346. 

Temperaunce,  s.  temperance,  modera- 
tion, F  785. 

Tempest,  s.  storm,  A  406;  tempest  (al- 
luding to  a  passage  in  Statius),  A  884. 

Tempest  thee,  imp.  5.  violently  distress 
thyself.  13.  8  ;  2  pr.  s.  subj.  vex,  perturb, 
B'2.  P4-75- 

Tempestous,  adj.  tempestuous,  T.  ii.  5. 

Temple,  s.  inn  of  court,  A  567. 

Temprede,  pt.  s.  modulated,  B  3.  m  12. 
22;  //.tempered,  G  926.  (In  alchemy, 
to  temper  is  to  adjust  or  moderate  heat.) 

Temps,  s.  tense ;  futur  temps,  future 
tense,  time  to  come,  G  875. 

Temptour,  s.  tempter,  D  1655. 

Ten,  ten,  A  454;  ten  so  wood,  ten  times  as 
mad,  L.  735. 

Tenbrace,  to  embrace,  B  1891. 

Tencresen,  to  increase,  E  1808. 

Tendure,  to  endure,  E  756,  811. 

Tendyte,  for  To  endyte,  to  compose, 
write,  T.  i.  6;  to  relate,  A  1209. 

Tene,  s.  vexation,  A  3106;  sorrow,  grief, 
r.  v.  240 ;  cross,  trouble,  T.  ii.  61.  A.  S. 
teona. 

Tenour,  s.  outline  of  the  story,  L.  929. 

Tenquere,  for  To  enquere,  to  ask,  E 1543. 

Tenspyre,  for  To  enspyre,  i.  e.  to  in- 
spire, G  1470. 

Tenthe,  tenth.  HF.  63.  iii;  Tenthe 
some,  company  of  ten,  T.  ii.  1249. 
(Sometimes  tenthe  some  means  'ten  in 
all.') 

Tentifly,  adv.  attentively,  carefully,  E 
334- 

Tercel,  adj.  male  (of  an  eagle),  5.  393, 
449  ;  //.  5.  540 ;  as  s.  male  eagle,  5.  405. 

Tercelet,  s.  male  falcon,  5.  529,  533;  F 
504,  621 ;  Tercelets,  //.  male  birds  of 
prey,  5.  659 ;  male  hawks,  F  648. 
'  Tiercelet,  m.  the  tassell,  or  male  of 
any  kind  of  hawke,  so  tearmed,  be- 
cause he  is,  commonly,  a  third  part 
lesse  then  the  female  ' ;  Cotgrave. 

Tere,  s.  tear,  B  3251. 

Tere,  v.  tear,  B  1326;  scratch,  R.  325; 
Torn,//.  L.  2103. 

Terms,  s.  pi.  tarins,  siskins,  R.  665.  F. 
tarin. 

Terme,  s.  set  time,  appointed  time,  T.  v. 
696;  period,  space  of  time,  'term,'  a 
portion  of  the  zodiac,  being  one-third 
of  a  '  sign,'  or  io'\  F  1288  ;   (during  the) 


term,  A  1029 ;  terme  of  his  lyve,  while 
he  lives,  G  1479 ;  ///  terme,  in  set  phrases, 
C311 ;  //.  pedantic  phrases, A  323;  legal 
jargon,  R.  199;  periods,  A  3028;  terms, 
C  51,  F  1266. 

Terine-day,  s.  appointed  day,  3.  730. 

Termyne,  v.  determine,  express  in  '  good 
set  terms,'  5.  530. 

Terrestre,  adj.  earthly,  E  1332. 

Terve,  pr.  s.  subj.  flay,  G  1274  {so  in  MS. 
E.)  ;  Terved  {not  Terned),  //.  skinned, 
G  1 171  {so  in  MS.  E.).  This  is  certainly 
the  right  word;  in  G  1171,  read  terved 
[not  torned],  and  in  G  1274,  read  terve 
[not  torne].  See  my  letter  in  the  Athe- 
naeum, Mar.  24,  1894.  So  in  Havelok, 
603,  for  tirneden  read  tirueden  =  tirve- 
den,  i.  e.  rolled  back. 

Tery,  adj.  tearful,  T.  iv.  821. 

Tescape,  to  escape,  F  1357. 

Tespye,  for  To  espye,  to  spy  out,  espy, 
B  1989,  4478. 

Testers,  //.  head-pieces,  A  2499. 

Testes,  .1.  //.  vessels  for  assaying  metals 
(Tyrwhitt),  G  818. 

Testif ,  adj.  heady,  headstrong,  T.  v.  802 ; 
A  4004. 

Tete,  s.  teat,  A  3704. 

Texpounden,  to  expound,  B  1716. 

Text,  s.  text,  quotation  from  an  author, 
B  45;  saying,  A  177,  182;  text  (as  op- 
posed to  a  gloss),  3.  333. 

Textuel,  adj.vi&W  versed  in  texts,  learned, 
H  23s  ;   I  57. 

Teyd,  //.  tied,  bound,  E  2432. 

Teyne,  .f.  a  thin  plate  of  metal,  G  1225, 
1229.     Lat.  i(Bnia. 

Th',  for  The ;  common,  as  in  thabsence, 
for  the  absence. 

Thabsence,  the  absence,  A  1239. 

Thadversitee,  the  adversity,  E  756. 

Thakketh,  pr.  s.  strokes,  pats,  D  1559. 
A.  S.  paccian. 

Thalighte,  for  Thee  alighte;  in  thee 
alighte,  alighted  in  thee,  B  1660. 

Thank,  s.  expression  of  thanks,  A  612; 
thanks,  E  2388;  can  th.,  owes  thanks, 
A  1808;  his  th.,  the  thanks  to  him, 
L.  452;  my  thankes,  by  my  goodwill, 
willingly,  R.  1666;  his  thankes,  of  his 
free  will,  willingly,  A  1626;  hir  thankes, 
of  their  own  will,  A  21 14. 

Thanke,  i  pr.  s.  thank,  E  1088;  Th.  hit 
thee,  thank  thee  for  it,  10.  51. 

Thanne,  adv.  then,  D  2004,  I  104;  Than, 
then,  A  12  ;  next,  5.  324 ;  er  than,  sooner 
than,  before,  G  899. 

Thar,  pr.  s.  impers.  (it)   is  necessary,  is 


t§log0nrtal  Jnliei. 


needful ;  thar  ye,  it  is  needful  that  ye, 
B  2258  ;  thar  thee,  it  is  needful  for  thee, 
you  need,  or  thou  needst,  D  329,  336, 
1365,  H  352;  htm  thar,  it  is  needful  Un 
him,  he  needs,  T.  ii.  1661 ;  he  must. 
A  4320;  Thurte,  pt.  s. ;  th.  him,  he 
needed,  R.  1089,  1324;  yow  thurfte,  you 
would  need,  you  need,  T.  iii.  572. 
Tharivaile,     the    arrivid,    the    landing, 

HF.451- 

Tharmes,  the  arms,  armorial  bearmgs, 
HF.  141 1. 

Tharray,  the  array,  A  716. 

Thascry,/(7r  The  ascry,  the  alarm,  T.  ii. 
611. 

Thassay,  the  assay,  the  endeavour,  5.  2. 

Thassege,  the  siege,  T.  iv.  1480;  the 
hcsieginr;  force.  T.  iv.  62. 

Thassemblee,  the  assembly,  B  403. 

Thassemblinge.the  assembling,  B  2431. 

That,  ret.  pron.  that  which,  whom.  3.  979; 
that  of,  from  whom,  3.  964;  That  oon, 
the  one,  A  4013;  That  other,  the  other, 
A  4013;  That,  with  reference  to  whom, 
G  236 ;  if  that,  if,  3.  969,  971. 

Thaventayle,  for  The  aventayle,  the 
mouthpiece  of  a  helmet,  T.  v.  1558. 

Thavision,  for  The  avision,  the  vision. 
3-  285. 

Thavys,  the  advice.  A  3076. 

The,  def  art.  A  2.  &c. 

The;  as  in  The  bet,  by  so  much  the 
better,  3.  668 ;  The  las,  by  so  much  the 
less,  3.  675. 

The.  for  Thee, pers.  pron.  F  676,  &c. 

Theatre,  s.  theatre,  area  for  a  tourna- 
ment, A  1885. 

Thedom,  s.  success,  B  1595. 

Thee,  :■.  thrive,  prosper,  R.  1067;  nei<cr 
mot  she  thee,  may  she  never  prosper, 
5.  569 ;  mot  he  never  thee,  may  he  never 
prosper,  T.  ii.  670 ;  lat  him  never  thee, 
let  him  never  prosper,  B  4622  ;  thou 
shall  never  thee,  E  1388 ;  he  shal  never 
thee,  G  641 ;  also  moot  I  thee,  as  I  may 
thrive,  as  I  hope  to  prosper,  D  1215, 
E  1226 ;  so  moot  I  thee,  D  361 ;  as  mote 
I  thee,  T.  i.  341 ;  so  theech,  for  so  thee  ich, 
as  I  may  thrive,  as  I  hope  to  prosper. 
C  947.  G  929 ;  so  theek.  for  so  thee  ik,  as 
I  hope  to  prosper,  A  3864. 

Theef,  s.  thief,  robber,  D  1338. 

Theefly,  adv.  like  a  thief,  L.  1781. 

Theffect,  for  The  eflfect,  the  result,  A 
1 189;  the  substance,  pith,  L.  1180,  2403; 
the  matter,  contents,  2.  56;  the  source, 
D  1451;  the  moral,  B  2148;  the  sum  (of 
the  matter),  A  2366. 


Theg-le,  the  eagle,  B  3573. 
Their,  the  air,  D  1939. 
Thembassadours,  the  ambassadors,  T. 

iv.  140,  145. 
Theme,  s.  text,  thesis,  C  333,  425. 
Themperotir,  the  emperor,  3.  368. 
Then,  lonj.  than.  L.  1693.  2092. 
Thencens.  tlie  incense,  A  2277,  2938. 
Thenchauntements,  //.  the  enchant- 

nienis,  A  1944. 
Thenche.  7 .  imagine,  A  3253. 
Thencheson,    for   The    encheson,    the 

reason,  cause,  T.  v.  632. 
Thencrees,  the  increase,  A  275. 
Thende,  tlie  end,  R  423,  965,  3269. 
Thengendring,  the  engendring,  the  pro- 
cess of  production.  HF.  968. 
Thengyn,    the    (warlike)     engine,    HF. 

1934- 
Thenke,  v.  think  of,  5.  311 ;  i  pr.  s.  think, 

intend,   E    641 ;     Thenkestow,    thinkest 

thou,  T.  iv.  849,  1088;  Thoghte,  1  pt.  s. 

thought,  3.  448 ;    Thenke  on,  think  of, 

16.  47. 
Thenne,  adj.  thin,  A  4066. 
Thenne,  adv.  then,  T.  ii.  210. 
Thenne,  adv.  thence,  D  1141. 
Thennes,   adv.  thence,    i.  e.  away    from 

that  place,  T.  iv.  695 ;   thence,  R.  791 ; 

as  s.  the  place  that,  G  66. 
Thennes-forth,  adv.  thenceforth,  B  1755. 
Thentencloun,  the  intention,  G  1+43. 
Thentente,  for  The  entente,  the  design, 

B  930;    the  ])urpose,  end,  G  1306;    the 

meaning,  T.  v.  1630. 
j  Thentree,  the  entrance,  A  1983. 
'  Thenvyous,  for  The  envyous,  the  spite- 
ful, malicious,  3.  642. 
Theologie,  s.  theology,  I  1043. 
Theorik,  s.  theory,   theoretical   explana- 
tion, A  pr.  98. 
Ther,  adv.  there,  B  62,  1190,  &c.;  where, 
!       T.   ii.   618;    when,    B  474;    whither,   at 

which,  B  469;  whereas,  D  1213,  G  724; 

wherefore,  T.  iii.  1437;  wherever,  D  128; 

as  to  which,  T.  ii.  588  ;  wherefore  (I  pray 

that),  D  1561. 
Ther-aboute,   adv.  about   it,  D    1837; 

therein.  G  832 ;  round  it,  A  937. 
Therafter,  adv.  afterwards,  3.  66. 
Ther-agayns,  prep,  against  that,  I  665; 

in  reply,  T.  ii.  369. 
Ther-as,  Ther  as,  there  where,  where, 

B  2384  ;   there,  I   162  ;  whereas,  D   1177  ; 

where   that,   A   34,   172;    when  that^  L. 

1277;  Ther-as  that,  where,  i.  160;  Ther 

that,  where,  F  267. 
Therbe.  the  herb,  HF.  290. 


(SIoBsarial  IntJei. 


113 


Ther-bifore,  adv.  before  that  time,  D  631 ; 
beforehand,  E  689,  729. 

Ther-biforn,  adv.  beforehand,  A  2034; 
previously,  A  3997. 

Therby,  by  it,  to  it,  D  984;  into  posses- 
sion of  it,  F  1115;  beside  it,  R.  1 184. 

Tber-fore,  adv.  therefore,  A  189 ;  for  that 
purpose,  A  809 ;  on  that  account,  L. 
1863;  on  that  point,  E  1141;   for  it,  L. 

1391- 

Therfro,  therefrom,  from  it,  HF.  895. 

Ther-inne,  therein,  in  it,  B  1945,  3573. 

Ther-of,  adv.  with  respect  to  that,  E  644; 
concerning  that,  3.  1132;  A  462;  from 
that,  3.  1166;   thereby,  I  314;  of  it,  20.  8. 

Ther-on,  adv.  thereupon,  A  160 ;  thereof, 

I'3- 

Ther-oute,  adv.  out  there,  out  in  the  open 
air,  B  3362;  outside  there,  G  1136. 

Therthe,  the  earth,  R.  1423. 

Therto.  adv.  besides,  moreover,  D  1251 ; 
to  il,  2.  100;  likewise,  R.  1262. 

Ther-upon,  adv.  immediately,  A  819. 

Ther-whyles,  whilst,  B  5.  p  6.  250. 

Therwith,  adv.  withal,  for  all  that,  3.  954 ; 
moreover,  F  931;  thereupon,  3.  275;  at 
the  same  time,  B  3210. 

Ther-with-al,  thereupon,  A  1078  ;  there- 
with, with  it,  by  means  of  it,  A  566; 
beside  it,  besides,  R.  226;  at  once,  L. 
148  ;  thereat.  L.  864. 

Theschaung-e,  the  exchange,  T.  iv.  146. 

Theschewing,  the  avoiding  (of  any- 
thing), 5.  140. 

Thestat,  the  estate,  the  rank,  condition, 
A  716. 

Thewed,  //. ;  wel  thewed,  of  good  dis- 
position, 4.  180. 

Thewes,  s.  pi.  habits,  natural  qualities, 
E  409,  1542;  good  qualities,  virtues, 
G  loi;  customs,  habits,  manners,  T.  ii. 
723;   morals,  HF.  1834. 

Tbexcellent,  the  excellent,  B  150. 

Thexcuse,  thee  excuse,  D  1611. 

Thexecucion,  the  execution,  10.  65. 

Thexp6ri6nce,  tlie  experience,  E  2238. 

Thider,  adv.  thither,  A  1263. 

Thider -ward,  adv.  thither,  A  2530. 

Thikke,  adj.  thick,  A  549;  stout,  plump, 
A  3973- 

Tliikke,  adv.  thickly,  R.  1396. 

Thikke-herd,  adj.  thick-haired,  A  2518. 

Thikke-sterred,  adj.  thickly  covered 
with  stars,  A.  ii.  23.  2. 

Thilke,  that,  R.  660,  &c.;  such  a,  A  182; 
that  same,  A  1193;  that  sort  of,  I  50; 
pi.  those,  HF.  173. 

Thimage,  the  image,  L.  1760. 


Thing,  s.  fact,  C   156;   property,  wealth, 

R.  206;    deed,   legal  document,  A  325; 

for  any  thing,  at  any  cost,  A  276 ;  Thing. 

//.    things,    L.    II,   2140;    Thinges,   //. 

things,  A   175 ;     matters  of  business,  B 

1407;   poems,  L.  364;   pieces  of  music, 

F  78  ;  services,  prayers,  B  128 1. 
Thingot,  the  ingot,  G  1233. 
Thinke,   v.   seem,   T.   i.  405;    Thinketh, 

pr.  s.  impers.  (it)  seems,  B  1901 ;   me  t/i., 

it  seems  to  me,  A  37,  2207 ;  kow  th.  yow, 

how    does    it    seem    to    you,    D    2204; 

Thoghte,  //.  s.  iinpen.  (it)   seemed,  L. 

1697;  me  thoughte,  it  seemed  to  me,  A 

385;  hnn  th.,  \\.  seemed  to  him,  A  682; 

us  th.,  it  seemed  to  us,  A  785;  hir  th.,  it 

seemed  to  her,  D  965,  967. 
Thinne,  adj.  thin,  A  679;    poor,  feeble, 

9.36;  E1682;  scanty,  limited,  G.  741. 
Thirleth,  /;-.  s.  pierces,  7.  211;  //.  A 

2710. 
This,  A  17s,  &c. ;  contracted  form  of  this 

is,  T.  ii.  363,  iii.  936,  v.   151 ;    This   is, 

pronounced  this,   5.   411,    620;    A    1091, 

D  91;  Thise  (dhiiz),//.  (monosyllabic), 

A  701,  B  59,  &c. 
Tho,  //.  those,  A  498,  1123,  2351,  3246. 
Tho,  adv.  then,  at  that  time,  A  993,  3329, 

&c. ;  still,  3.  1054. 
Thoccident,   the   Occident,   the  west,  B 

3864. 
Thofflce,  the  office,  the  duty,  B  2863. 
Thoght,  s.  anxiety,  B  1779,  E  80. 
Thoghtful,  adj.  moody,  I  677. 
Tholde,  pi.  the  old,  D  857. 
Tholed.  pp.  suffered,  D  1546.   A.  S.  polian. 
Thombe,  s.  thumb,  A  563. 
Thonder,  s.  thunder,  A  492. 
Thonder-dint,    s.    stroke    of   lightning, 

IJ  276;  -dent,  thunder-clap,  A  3807. 
Thonder-leyt,  s.  thunder-bolt,  B  i.  m  4. 

12  ;   lightning,  I  839. 
Thonk'e,  i/r.  5.  thank,  E  380. 
Thon6ur,  the  honour,  B  1767,  E  1449. 
Thorgh,  prep,  through,  5.  127,  129. 
Thorient,   the   orient,  the   east,  B  3871, 

3883. 
Thoriginal,  the  original,  L.  1558. 
Thorisonte,  the  horison,  E  1797,  F  1017. 
Thorisoun,   the    orison,   the    prayer,   A 

2261. 
Thorpes,  pi.  villages,  5.  350. 
Thorugh-passen,/r.//.  penetrate,  B  4. 

m  3.  49. 
Thought,  s.  anxiety,  T.  i.  579. 
Thoumbe,  s.  thumb,  A.  i.  i.  2. 
Thourgh-girt, /;>.  struck  through,  T.  iv. 

627.     From  y\..¥j. gurden,  to  strike. 


E3 


114 


(glossarial  lUnbex. 


Thral,   s.  thrall,  slave,  subject,    servant, 

B  3343,  C  183,  D  155. 
Thral,    adj.   enthralled,   A    1552,    I     137; 

'Ihralle,//.  enthralled,  B  2751 ;  Thral,  as 

pL,  L.  1940. 
Thraldom,  s.  slavery,  B  286,  338. 
Thralle,  v.  subject,  T.  i.  235 ;  subjugate, 

R.  882. 
Thraste,//.  j.  thrust,  T.  ii.  1155. 
Threde,  v.  thread,  R.  99. 
Threed,  s.   thread,  A   2030;    thread   (of 

destiny),  T.  v.  7. 
Threpe,  i  pr.  pi.  (we)  call,  assert  to  be, 

G  826.     A.  S.  preapian. 
Threshfold,  s.  threshold,  A  3482. 
Threste,  v.  thrust,  push,  A  2612;  pt.  pi. 

vexed,  T.  iv.  254. 
Threte,  v.  threaten,  L.  754. 
Threting,  s.  menace,  G  698. 
Thretty,  adj.  thirty,  F  1368. 
Thridde,  third,  A  1463.  2271. 
Thrift,    s.   success,   welfare,    T.    ii.    847; 

profit,  success,  G  739,   1425 ;  good  thrift 

bad,  prayed  for  the  welfare  (of),  blessed, 

T.  iii.   1249;  by  my  thrift,  if   I  succeed, 

T.  ii.  1483. 
Thriftieste,  most  successful,  T.  i.  1081 ; 

most  thriving,  T.  ii.  737. 
Thriftily,  adv.  carefully,  A   105;    profit- 
ably, A  3131 ;  encouragingly,  F  1 174. 
Thrifty,  adj.  profitable   (to   the  buyer), 

B  138 ;    serviceable,  D  238 ;    provident, 

7.  197. 
Thringe,  v.  press,  T.  iv.  66 ;  Throng,  pt.  s. 

forced  his  way,  7.  55 ;  thrust,  E  2353. 
Thriste,  pt.  s.  thrust,  T.  iii.  1574. 
Thrittene,  thirteen,  D  2259. 
Thritty,  thirty,  E  1421. 
Throf,  pt.  s.  o/Thryve. 
Throng,/'/,  s.  o/Thringe. 
Throp,  s.  thorp,  small  village,  E  199,  208. 
Throstel,  s.  throstle,  song-thrush,  5.  364. 
Throte,  s.  throat,  3.  945. 
Throte-boUe,  s.  ball  of  the  throat,  '  the 

protuberance  in  the  throat  called  Adam's 

apple,'  A  4273. 
Through-out,  quite  through,  n.  3. 
Throwe,  s.  short  space  of  time,  while, 

period,  B  953,  3326. 
Throwe,  ger.  to  throw,  T.  ii.  971 ;  Threw, 

//.  s.  T.  iii.  184 ;  Threwe,  pt.  pi.  R.  786 ; 

Throwe,  ;>/.  thrown,  L.  i960;  Throwen, 

pp.   cast,    HF.     1325 ;     twisted,    turned, 

T.  iv.  1159. 
Throwes,  pi.  torments,  T.  v.  206 ;  throes, 

T.  V.  1201. 
Thrustel,  s.  thrush,  B  1963. 
Thrusteth,  pr.  s.  thirsts,  yearns,  L.  103. 


Thrustle-cok,  s.  male  thrush,  B  1959. 
Thrye,  adv.  thrice,  T.  ii.  89,  463. 
Thryes,  adv.  thrice,  A  63,  463. 
Thry ve,  v.  thrive,  prosper,  E   172 ;  ger. 

G  1411;    so  thr.  I,  as  I  hope  to  thrive, 

D  1764;    Throf,  //.  s.  flourished,  B  3. 

m4.  5. 
Thryvinge,  adj.  vigorous,  B  5.  m  4.  24 

( Lat.  uigens). 
Thunworthiest,  the  unworthiest,  22.  19. 
Thurfte,  //.  s.  impers.  (with  yow),  you 

would  need,  you  need,  T.  iii.  572.     See 

Thar. 
Thurgh,  prep,  through,  i.  27 ;  by  means 

of,  A  920. 
Thurgh-darted,  //.  transfixed  with  a 

dart.  T.  i.  325. 
Thurghfare,  s.  thoroughfare,  A  2847. 
Thurgh-girt,   //.    pierced    through,    A 

lOIO. 

Thurghout,  prep,  throughout,  F  46;  all 

through,  B  256,  464;   quite  through,  C 

655. 
Thurgh-shoten,  //.  shot  through,  T.  i. 

325- 
Thurrok,    s.    sink,    the    lowest    internal 

part  of  a  ship's  hull,  I  363,  715.     A.  S. 

purruc. 
Thurst,  s.  thirst,  B  100. 
Thursteth, /r.  s.  thirsts,  T.  v.  1406;  pt.s. 

itnpers.  he  was  thirsty,  B  3239. 
Thurte ;  see  Thar. 
Thwitel,  s.  large  knife,  whittle,  A  3933. 
Thwyte,  pr.  pi.  whittle,  cut  up  for,  HF. 

1938 ;   Thwiten,  p>p.  carved,  whittled,  R. 

933- 
Tid,  pp.  of  Tyde. 
Tidifs,  .f.  pi.  small  birds,  F  648.    Cf.  Eng. 

titmouse,  titlark.     See  Tydif. 
Tikel,  adj.  unstable,  A  3428. 
Tikelnesse,  s.  instability,  13.  3. 
Tikled,  //.  j.  tickled,  D  395. 
Til  {before  a  vowel),  prep,  to,  A  180;  as  a 

Northern  word  (before  a  consonant) ,  A 

4110;  Til  and  fra,  toandfro  (Northern), 

A  4039.     Icel.  til. 
Til,  conj.  until,  A  1760 ;  til  that,  A  1490,  F 

360. 
Tilyere,  s.  tiller,  B  5.  p  i.  86. 
Timber,  .r.  material,  T.  iii.  530. 
Timbestre,     s.     female     timbrel-player, 

tambourine-player.  R.  769. 
Timbres,  s.  pi.  timbrels,  tambourines,  R. 

772. 
Tipet,  s.  tippet,  cape,  A  233. 
Tiptoon,  //.  tiptoes,  B  4497. 
Tissew,  s.  a  band,  T.  ii.  639. 
Tit,  pr.  s.  betides,  T.  i.  333.    See  Tyde. 


(glossatial  hxHtx. 


^5 


Titering,  s.  hesitation,  vacillation,  T.  ii. 

1744. 
Titleless,  ad/,  without  a  title,  usurping, 

H  223. 
To  (too),  J.  toe,  A  2726;  Toon,//.  84052; 

Toos,  //.  B  4370. 
To   (t66),  />re/>.  to,  A  2;  gone  to,  A  30; 

(used  after  its  case) ,  G  1449 ;  for,  1. 184 ; 

as  to,  as  for,  L.  2096;  Aim  to,  for  him,  3. 

771 ;  to  that,  until,  4.  239. 
To,  adv.  too,  B  2129;  moreover,  beside,  T. 

i.  540;  overmuch,  G  1423;  to  badde,  too 

evil,  very  evil,  L.  2597. 
To-  (i),  intensive  prefix,  lit.  in  twain,  asun- 
der.    A.  S.  to-,  G.  zer-. 
To-  (2),  prepositional  prefix,  as  in  To-forn. 

A.  S.  to-,  G.  ZU-. 
To-bete,  v.  beat  amain,  T.  v.  1762;  beat 

severely,  G  405. 
To-breke,  v.  break  in  pieces ;  pr.  s.  (it) 

breaks  in  pieces,  R.  277;  breaks  asun- 
der,   G  907;    is    violently   broken,    HF. 

779;  To-broken,  pp.   broken   in   pieces, 

destroyed,  16.  i ;    To-broke,  //.  broken 

in  half,  D  277 ;  severely  bruised,  A  4277. 
To-breste,  v.  burst  in  twain,  T.  ii.  608 ; 

pr.  s.  subj.  may  (she)  break  in  twain,  T. 

iv.  1546;  may  be  broken  in  twain,  i.  16; 

pr.  pi.  break   in  pieces,  A    2611 ;    To- 

brosten,//.  broken  in  twain,  A  2691. 
To-cleve,  v.  cleave  in  twain,  T.  v.  613. 
To-dasshte,//.  J.  dashed  violently  about, 

R-  337 ;  //■  much  bruised,  T.  ii.  640. 
Tode,  s.  toad,  I  636. 
To-drawen,  pr.  pi.  allure,  B  4.  m  3.  46; 

To-drowen,  pt.  pi.  tore  in  pieces,    B    i. 

p  3.  42 ;  To-drawen,  pp.  distracted,  B  i. 

P  5-  76. 
To-driven,  pp.  scattered,  L.  1280. 
To-forn,  prep,  before,  F  268  ;  god  to-forn, 

in  God's  sight,  T.  i.  1049. 
To-forn,   adv.  in  front,  beforehand,  B  5. 

p  6.  300. 
To-geder,  adv.  together,  5.  555  ;  To-gider, 

B  3222;    To-gidre,  A  824. 
Toght,  adj.  taut,  D  2267. 
To-gro,  pp.  dispersed,  L.  653. 
To-greve,   v.    grieve    excessively,   T.   i. 

lOOI. 

To-hangen,  v.  put  to  death  by  hanging, 

HF.  1782. 
To-hepe,  adv.  (lit.  into  a  heap),  together, 

T.  iii.  1764;  L.  2009. 
To-liewen,/>r.//.  hew  in  twain,  A  2609; 

//>.  cut  through,  T.  ii.  638;  To-hewe,//. 

hewn  in  pieces,  B  430. 
Toke,  ipt.  s.  tookest,  3.  483;  ;*/.//.  took, 

F  1240 ;  received,  F  356. 


To-laugh,  pr.  s.  laughs  out,  laughs  exces- 
sively, T.  ii.  1 108.    (Short  iQXto-lai4gheth.) 

Told,  -e  ;  see  Telle. 

ToUen  (i),  V.  take  toll,  A  562. 

ToUen  (2),  V.  attract,  entice,  B  2.  p  7.  18. 

Tombesteres,  s.  pi.  fem.  dancing  girls, 
lit.  female  tumblers,  C  477.  A.  S.  tum- 
bian,  to  tumble,  dance. 

Tomblinge,  pres.  pt.  as  adj.  fleeting, 
transitory,  B  2.  m  3.  21  (Lat.  caducis). 

To-melte,  v.  melt  utterly.  T.  iii.  348. 

Tonge,  J.  tongue,  3.  930;  A  265;  dat. 
speech,  language,  16.  21. 

Tonged,  pp.  tongued,  3.  927. 

Tongas,  s.  pi.  tongs,  I  555. 

Tonne,  s.  tun,  barrel,  cask,  A  3894. 

Tonne-greet,  adj.  great  as  a  tun,  A  1994. 

Toon.Toos,  pi.  of  To,  s. 

Tooth-ake,  s.  toothache,  R.  1098. 

Top,  s.  top,  A  2915;  top  (of  the  mast), 
main-top,  L.  639 ;  tuft  of  hair,  C  255 ; 
top  (of  the  head),  A  590;  crown  (of  the 
head),'!',  iv.  996;  Top  and  tail,  begin- 
ning and  end,  HF.  880. 

To-race,  pr.pl.  subj.  tear  in  pieces,  E  572. 
Here  race  is  probably  short  for  arace,  to 
tear  up. 

Tord,  s.  piece  of  dung,  B  2120,  C  955. 

To-rende,  pr.  pi.  subj.  tear  in  pieces,  T. 
ii.  790;  To-rente,  pt.  s.  distracted,  T.  iv. 
341;  rent  asunder,  B  3215;  tore  in 
pieces,  L.  820;  To-rent,  //.  rent  in 
pieces,  C  102,  E  1012. 

Torets,  //.  small  rings  on  the  collar  of  a 
dog,  A  2152.    See  Turet. 

Tormentlnge,  s.  torture,  E  1038. 

T6rrnent6ur,  s.  tormentor,  10.  18;  exe- 
cutioner, B  818. 

Tormentrye,  s.  torture,  D  251. 

Tormentyse,  s.  torment,  B  3707. 

Torn,  s.  turn,  C  815. 

Tornen,  v.  turn,  G  1403;  return,  .\ 
1488. 

Torney,  s.  tourney,  T.  iv.  1669. 

To-romblen,  v.  rumble,  crash,  L.  1218. 

Tortuos,  adj.  lit.  tortuous,  i.  e.  oblique, 
applied  to  the  six  signs  of  the  zodiac 
(Capricorn  to  Gemini),  which  ascend 
most  rapidly  and  obliquely ;  Tortuous, 
B  302. 

To-scatered, //.  dispersed,  D  1969. 

To-shake,  pp.  shaken  to  pieces,  L.  962 ; 
tossed  about,  L.  1765. 

To-shivered,  pp.  been  destroyed,  5.  493. 

To-shrede,  pr.  pi.  cut  into  shreds,  A 
2609. 

To-slitered,  //.  slashed  with  numerous 
cuts,  R.  840. 


(ilogsarial  Untiex. 


To-sterte,  v.  start  asunder,  burst,  T.  ii. 
980. 

To-stoupe.  V.  stoop  forwards,  D  1560. 

To-swinke,  pr.  pi.  labour  greatly,  C  519. 

To-tar,  pf.  s.  tore  in  pieces,  rent,  B  3801. 

Totelere.  sudsl.  as  adj.  tattling,  tale- 
bearing, L.  353. 

To-tere,  //-.  //.  rend,  tear  in  pieces,  C 
474 ;  To-tar,  pt  s.  rent,  B  3801 ;  To-tore, 
//.  G  635;  To-torn, //I.  much  torn,  5. 
110;  defaced,  r.  iv.  358 ;  dishevelled,  R. 
327- 

Tother;  f/ie  tother  {for  that  other),  the 
other,  L.  325  a. 

To-trede,  v.;  al  to-trede,  trample  under 
foot,  I  864. 

Toty,  adj.  dizzy,  A  4253.  Spenser  has 
totty  ;  F.  Q.  vii.  7.  39. 

Touchinge,  s.  touch,  I  207. 

Tough,  adj.  troublesome,  pertinacious,  in 
phr.  make  it  tough,  to  behave  in  a 
troublesome,  pertinacious,  and  forward 
manner,  T.  v.  loi ;  made  it  tough,  was 
captious,  3.  531 ;  behaved  pertinaciously, 
T.  iii.  87. 

Toumbling.  ndj.  perishing,  B  3.  p  9.  168. 
See  Tomblinge. 

Toun,  s.  town,  A  217;  farm,  B  4138; 
neighbourhood,  R.  446. 

Tour,  s.  tower,  F  176;  tower  (of  London), 
A  3256;  mansion  (in  astrology),  4.  113. 
(In  B  2096,  the  sense  is  that  his  crest 
was  a  miniature  tower,  with  a  lily 
above  it.) 

Touret,  s.  turret,  A  1909. 

Tourne.  v.  turn,  T.  li.  688;  return.  D 
9SS. 

Tourneyinge,  .(.  tournament,  R.  1206. 

Tourneyment,  s.  tournament,  B  1906. 

Tourning,  s.  turning  round,  R.  761. 

Toute,  s.  buttocks,  backside,  A  3812,  3853. 

ToverlDyde,^<^f/-.  to  survive,  D  1260. 

Towayle,  s.  towel,  cloth,  R.  161 ;  Towaille, 

^  B  393S.  3943- 

Towne  ;  out  oft.,  away,  I.  iii.  570,  577, 
1091. 

To-wonde,  pt.  s.  {with  substitution  of  the 
7veak  for  the  strong  form,  as  in  abreyde), 
flew  in  pieces,  became  broken,  4.  102. 
The  form  towond,  flew  in  pieces,  occurs 
in  Sir  Ferumbras,  2568. 

To-yere,  adv.  this  year,  HF.  84;  D  168. 

Trace,  s.  trace,  steps,  14.  3;  Traas,  pro- 
cession, L.  285. 

Trace,  \  pr.  pi.  go,  5.  54. 

Trad.//,  s.  o/Trede. 

Tragedien,  s.  writer  of  tragedy,  B  3. 
P  6.  3. 


I  Traisoun,  s.  treason,  B  4307. 
i   Traitorye,  treachery,  B  781. 
Traitour,  s.  traitor,  HF.  267. 
I   Translate!!,  ^^r.  to  translate,  L.  370;  pp. 
I       changed,  dressed  afresh,  E  385. 

Transmuwe,  v.   transform,  T.   iv.  467; 
j       pp.  T.  iv.  830. 

I   Transporter!,  v.  extend,  B  1.  p  4.  241. 
I  Trappe,  .t.  trap,  snare,  A  145 ;  trap-door, 

entrance,  T.  iii.  741. 
j   Trapped,  pp.  furnished  with  trappings,  A 
2890. 
Trappe-dore,  f.  trap-door,  T.  iii.  759. 
Trappures,  //.  trappings  for  horses,  A 

2499. 
Traunce,  j.  trance,  A  1572;  half-conscious 

state,  B  3906;  brown  study,  D  2216. 
Traunce,  ger.  to  tramp  about,  T.  iii.  690. 
Trave.  .f.  wooden  frame  for  holding  un- 
ruly horses,  A  3282.     O.  F.  tref  from  Lat. 
ace.  trabem,  beam. 
Travers.  s.  '  traverse,'  a  curtain,  screen, 

T.  iii.  674;  E  1817. 
Trayed,  pt.  s.  betrayed,  HF.  390 ;  L.  2486. 
Trays,  s.  traces,  T.  i.  222;  A  2139.    O.  F. 
trais,  pi.  of  trait,  a  trace.     The  E.  traces 
is  a  double  plural. 
Traysen.  ger.  to  betray,  T.  iv.  438. 
Trayteresse,  s.    fern,  traitress,  3.    620. 

813. 
Tray  tour,  .f.  traitor,  A  1130;  gen.  pi.  of 

traitors,  hence  traitorous,  C  896. 
Trecherye,    s.     treachery,    trickery,    B 

4520. 
Trechoures,  //.  traitors,  R.  197. 
Trede,  i  pr.pl.  tread,  A  3022;  1re\,pr.  s. 
treads,    D   2002 ;  Trad,  //.   s.  trode,   B 
4368;  Troden, //.//.  HF.  2153;  Troden, 
//.  stepped,  C  712. 
Trede-foul,  s.  treader  of  fowls,  B  3135. 

4641. 
Trag6die,   s.  tragedy,   sad    story,   T.  v. 

1786. 
Tregetour,  s.  a  juggler  who   used   me- 
chanical  contrivances,  HF.  1277;  //.  F 
1141. 
Trench,  s.  a  hollow  walk,  alley, -F  392. 
F.  trancher,  to  cut. 
j   Trenchant,  adj.  cutting,  sharp,  A  3930. 
I   Trenden,  v.  revolve,  B  3.  m  11.  4. 

Trentals,  //.  (sets  of)   thirty  masses  for 
j       the  dead,  D  1717,  1724. 
I    Tresor,  .r.  treasure,  wealth,  B  442,  C  779. 
j   Tresorere,  s.  treasurer,  i.  107 ;  19.  18. 
I   Tresorie,  s.  treasury,  HF.  524. 
i   Trespas,  s.  wrong,  B  2547  ;  transgression, 
!       L.  408,  463. 
Trespassours,  .?.  pi.  offenders,  B  2548. 


(©lossatial  ItiOtx. 


17 


Tresse,  s.  a  (three-fold)  plait  (of  hair), 

R.  779;  HF.  230;  A  1049. 
Tresse,  ^^er.  to  dress  (my)  hair,  to  plait, 

K.  599;  PJ>-  plaited,  D  344. 
Tressour,  s.  head-dress,  R.  568.     Proba- 
bly a  '  caul,'  or  net  of  gold  thread. 
Tret,/r.  s.  (j/Trede. 
Tretable,   adj.   tractable,   docile,  I  658; 

yielding,  L.  411;  inclinable,  3.  923;  in- 
clined to  talk,  3.  533. 
Trete,  v.  treat,    T.  iv.  58 ;  treat  of,  tell,  5. 

34;  ^er.  to  speak,  converse,  C  64;  pp. 

explained,  B  5.  p  i.  3. 
Tretee,  s.  treaty,  A  1288;    discussion,  F 

1219;  agreement,  E  1892. 
Tretis,  s.  treaty,  B   233;    account,  T.  ii. 

1697  ;  treatise,  A.  pr.  5  ;  story,  B  2147. 
Tretys,  adj.  well-proportioned,   long,   A 

152;    well-fashioned,  R.  1016;    graceful, 

R.  932.     O.  F.  tretis. 
Trewe,  adj.  true,  A  531 ;  honest,  L.  464 ; 

;*/.  the  faithful,  8456. 
Trewe,  adv.  correctly,  8.  4. 
Trewe,  s.  truce,  T.  iii.  1779,  iv.  58  ;  Trewes, 

fi/.  the  days  of  truce,  T.  v.  401. 
Trewe  love,  s.  true-love  (probably  a  leaf 

of  herb  pans  or  some  aromatic  confec- 
tion), A  3692. 
Trewely,  adv.  truly,  certainly,  A  481. 
Trewer,  adj.  truer,'  6.  117. 
Trewer,  adv.  more  truly,  3.  927. 
Treweste,  adj.  superl.  truest,  F  1539. 
Treye,  nmn. '  tray,"  three,  C  653. 
Triacle,  s.  a  sovereign  remedy,  B  479,  C 

314.     O.  F.  triacle. 
Trikled, //.//.  trickled,  B  1864. 
Trille,  v.  turn,  twirl,  F  316.     Cf.   Swed. 

triila,  to  turn  round. 
Trip,  s.  small  piece,  D  1747. 
Trippe,  v.  dance,  A  3328  ;  ger.  to  trip,  to 

move  briskly  with  the  feet,  F  312. 
Trist,  s.  trust,  T.  i.  154,  iii.  403. 
Triste,  s.  tryst,  station,  T.  ii.  1534. 
Triste,  v.  trust,  L.  333;  ger.  to  trust  (to), 

L.  1885. 
Trtslicia,  sadness,  I  725. 
Troden ;  see  Trede. 
Trogh,  s.  trough,  A  3627. 
Trompe,  s.  trumpet,  L.  635. 
Tromped,  //.  s.  sounded  the  trumpet,  E 

17 19. 
Trompes,  pi.  trumpeters,  7.  30;  A  2671. 
Tronchoun,  s.  broken  shaft  of  a  spear, 

A  2615.     O.  F.  tronckon. 
Trone,i.throne,  A  2529;  throne  (of  God), 

heaven,  C  842. 
Tropik,  s.  the  turning-point,  a  name  for 

the  solstitial  points,  A.  i.  17.  13. 


Tropos,   s.  a  turning;  but  interpreted  by 

Chaucer    to    mean    '  agaynward,'     i.  e. 

backward,  A.  i.  17.  13. 
Trotteth,  pr.  s.  trots,  i.  e.  goes,  is,  E  1538. 
Troublable,  adj.  disturbing,  B  4.  m  2. 

12. 
Trouble,   adj.  tempestuous,  turbid,  B  i. 

ni  7.  3;  dull,  H  279;  disturbed,  I  537; 

anxious,  E  465  ;  vexed,  6.  133. 
Troubly,  adj.  cloudy,  obscure,  B  4.  m  5. 

35- 
Trouthe,  s.  truth,  A  46 ;  fidelity,  L.  267 ; 

troth,  promise,  A  1610. 
Trowen,  v.  believe,  HF.  699 ;  i  pr.  s.  trow, 

believe,    imagine,    A    155;    Trowestow, 

dost  thou  think,  B  i.  p  3.  24. 
Troyewardes,  to,  towards  Troy,  T.  i.  59. 
Trufles,  s.pl.  trifles,  I  715. 
Trumpen,  v.  blow  the  trumpet,  HF.  1243. 
Trussed,  pp.  packed,  A  681. 
Truwe,  s.  truce,  T.  iv.  1312,  1314. 
Tryce,  v.  pull,  drag  away,  B  3715.     Cf.  E. 

tr/ce  up  (nautical  term). 
Trye,  adj.  choice,  excellent,  B  2046. 
Tryne  compas,  the  threefold  world,  con- 
taining earth,  sea,  and  heaven,  G  45. 
Tubbe,  s.  tub,  A  3621. 
Tuel,  s.  pipe,  slender  chimney,  HF.  1649. 

O.  F.  tuel,  F.  tuyau. 
Tukked,  //.  tucked,  A  621. 
Tulle,  V.  entice,  allure,  A  4134. 
Tung-e,  s.  tongue,  i.  128. 
Turet,  s.  the  eye  in  which  the  ring  of  the 

astrolabe   turned,  A.  i.  2.  i.     Cotgrave 

has  '  Touret,  the  little  ring  by  which  a 

Hawkes  lune  or  leash  is  fastened  unto 

the  jesses.'     See  Torets. 
Turndent,  s.  torment,  R.  274. 
Turmente,  ger.  to  vex,  L.  871. 
Turne.  ger.  to  turn,  A  2454 ;  v.  turn  (in  a 

lathe),  A  3928;    Turnen,  v.  return,    L. 

2619 ;  pp.  at  an  end,  3.  689. 
Turneyinge,    s.    tournament,    A    2557; 

mock  tournament,  R.  1407. 
Turtel,  s.  turtle-dove,  A  3706,  E  2080. 
Turves,  s.  pi.  turf-plots,  patches  of  turf, 

L.  204  ;  E  2235. 
Tusked,  provided  with  tusks,  F  1254. 
Tuskes,  pi.  tusks,  T.  v.  1238. 
Tuwel,  s.  hole,  D  2148.    See  Tuel. 
Twelf ,  twelve,  C  30. 
Twelfmonth,  s.  twelvemonth,  year,  A 

651,  D  909. 
Tw^elfte,  adj.  twelfth,  4.  139. 
Tweye,  two,  A  704,  792;  Twey,  B  2203; 

tw.  and  tw.,  in  pairs,  A  898. 
Tweyfold,  adj.  double,  G  566. 
Tweyne,  twain,  2.  76;  4.  95. 


i8 


®l0S0arial  Intei. 


Twigges,  s.pl.  twigs,  HF.  1936. 
Twighte,  pt.  s.  twitched,  drew  quickly, 

T.  iv.  1185 ;  Twight,  />p.  distraught,  (Ht. 

twitched),   I",   iv.  572;    pulled,  D  1563. 

The  infin.  is  twicchen. 
Twinkeling-,  s.  twinkling,  4.  222;    mo- 

nifiitary  blinking,  E  37. 
Twinkled,  //.  //.  twinkled,  A  267 ;    pp. 

winked,  B  2.  p  3.  79. 
Twinne,  v.  sever,  part,  T.  iv.   1197;   tw. 

from  his  wit,  lose  his  mind,  7.  102 ;  de- 
part,  B  3195,  F  577;   ger.   to  separate, 

B  517;  to  depart  (from),  C  430. 
Twinninge,  s.  separation,  T.  iv.  1303. 
Twiste,  s.  (1)  twist,  tendril,  T.  iii.  1230; 

(2)  twig,  spray,  E.  2349. 
Twiste,  V.  wring,  torment,  F  566;  i  pt.  s. 

tortured,  D  494;   //.  s.  wrung,  E  2005; 

Twiste,  //.  s.  subj.  would  compel,  con- 
strain, T.  iii.   1769;   Twist,  pp.  twisted, 

HF.  775. 
Two  so  riche,  twice  as  rich,  L.  2291. 

Ct.  Ten. 
Twyes,  adv.  twice,  A  4348;  Twye,  A.  i. 

16.  13. 
Tyd.  sb.  time,  hour,  T.  ii.  1739;  {usually) 

Tyde,  R.  1452;   season,  F  142;   Tydes, 

//.  tides,  A  401. 
Tyden,  v.  befall,  happen,  B  337;  pr.  s. 

comes  (to),  (a  Northern  form)  A  4175; 

Tit,  pr.  s.  betides,  T.  i.  333;    Tid,  pp. 

happened,  T.  i.  907. 
Tydif,  s.  small  bird,  perhaps  the  titmouse, 

L.  154.     See  Tidifs. 
Tyme,  s.  time,  A  35,  44;  by  tyme,  early, 

betimes,  L.  452;    in  good  tyme,  3.  370; 

T\mes, //.  hours,  5.  283;   moments,  R. 

380 ;    {preceded  by  a  number')  Tyme,  gen. 

pi.  times,  T.  i.  441. 
Tyne,  s.  barrel,  12.  9.    O.  F.  tine. 
Tyren,  v.  tear,  rend,  B  3.  m  12.  49;  pr. 

pi.  pull  to  pieces,  T.  i.  787. 
Tytled,  //.  dedicated,  I  894. 


U. 

Umbra  extensa,  or  recta,  the  lower  part  of 

the   '  skale  ' ;     Umbra  versa,   the   upper 

part  of  the  same,  A.  i.  12.  8. 
Umbreyde,/^.  s.  upbraided,  reproached, 

L.  1671. 
Unagreable,  adj.  miserable,  B  i.  m  i. 

32  ( Lat.  ingratas). 
Unbityde,  v.  fail  to  happen,  B  5.  p  4.  39. 
Unbodie,  v.  leave  the  body,  T.  v.  1550. 
Unbokele,  v.  unbuckle,  F  555. 
Unbrent,  pp.  unburnt,  B  1658. 
Unbroyden, //.  unbraided,  T.  iv.  817. 


Unbuxumnesse,    s.   unsubmissiveness, 

24.27. 
Uncircumscnpt,  pp.  boundless,  T.   v. 

1865. 

Unconning,  adj.  unskilful,  6.  75. 

Unconninge,  s.  ignorance,  B  3066. 

Unconvenable,  adj.  unsuitable,  I  431. 

Uncouple,  v.  to  let  loose,  B  3692. 

Uncouth,  adj.  curious,  A  2497;  strange, 
HF.  1279  (where  the  text  has  uncouthe, 
but  read  uncouth). 

Uncouthly,  adv.  uncommonly,  strik- 
ingly, R.  584. 

Uncovenable,  adj.  unseemly,  I  631; 
unfit  (for  good),  B  4.  p  6.  333. 

Uncunninge,  adj.  ignorant,  B  i.  p  i.  68. 

Uncurteisly.  adv.  rudely,  E  2363. 

Undefouled,  undefiled,  B  2.  p  4.  24. 

Undepartable,  adj.  inseparable,  B  4.  p 
3.  62. 

Undergrowe,  //.  of  short  stature,  A  156. 

Undermeles,  pi.  undern-times,  perhaps 
afternoons,  D  875.     See  below. 

Undern,  s.  B  4412,  E  260,  981.  A  par- 
ticular time  in  the  morning  is  here 
implied,  either  about  9  a.m.,  or  some- 
what later.  (Also  applied  to  signify 
mid-afternoon.) 

Undernom,  pt.  s.  perceived,  G  243; 
UiuUrnome, /5*.  reproved,  I  401. 

Underput,  //.  subjected,  B  i.  p  6.  97. 

Underpyghte,  //.  s.  stuffed,  filled  under- 
neath, B  789. 

Underspore,  v.  thrust  (the  staff)  under, 
push  beneath,  A  3465. 

Understonde,  v.  understand,  A  746;  pr. 
pi.  C  646;  Understode,//.  J.  subj.  should 
understand,  T.  i.  1035;  Understonde, 
pp.  understood,  T.  v.  1186. 

Undertake,  v.  affirm,  E  803  ;  ger.  to  con- 
duct an  enterprise,  A  405 ;  warrant,  R. 
461  ;  dare  say,  B  3516. 

Undevocioun,  s.  lack  of  devotion,  I  723. 

Undigne,  adj.  unworthy,  E  359. 

Undo,  ger.  to  unfold,  reveal,  3.  899;  v. 
unfasten,  T.  iii.  741 ;  pr.  s.  opens,  A  3727. 

Undoutous,  adj.  undoubting,  B  5.  p  i. 
32- 

Uneschewably,  adv.  inevitably,  B  5.  p 

3-  135- 
Uneschuable,  adj.  inevitable,  B  5.  p  i. 

105. 
Unethe,  adv.  scarcely ;  welunethe,  scarcely 

at  all,  HF.  2041. 
Unethes,  adv.  with  difficulty,  T.  ii.  566. 
Unfamous,  adj.  lost  to  fame,  HF.  1146. 
Unfestlich,  adj.  unfestive,  jaded,  F  366. 
Ungiltif,  adj.  guiltless,  T.  iii.  1018. 


(gloasarial  Intjex. 


Un-grobbed,  adj.  not  digged  round,  9. 14. 
Unhap,  s.  ill  luck,  T.  i.  552. 
Unhappily,  adv.  unluckily,  T.  v.  937. 
Unhardy,  adj.  cowardly,  A  4210. 
Unhele,  s.  misfortune,  sickness,  C  116. 
Unholsom,  adj.  ailing,  weak,  T.  iv.  330. 
Universe  ;  in  universe,  universally,  T.  iii. 

36. 
Universitee,  s.  the  universal,  B  5.  p  4. 

187. 
Unkinde,   adj.   unnatural,   B   88;    cruel, 

5-  434- 
Unkindely,  adv.  unnaturally,  C  485. 
Unkindenesse,  s.  unkindness,  B  1057. 
Unkonning,  adj.  unskilful,  A  2393. 
Unkorven,  adj.  uncut,  unpruned,  9.  14. 
Unkouth,  adj.  strange,  T.  ii.  151. 
Unkunninge,  adj.  ignorant,  R.  686. 
Unlaced,  pp.  disentangled,  B  3.  p  12.  166. 
Unle veful,  adj.  not  permissible,  I  593, 777. 
Unloven,^^;-.  to  cease  to  love,  T.  v.  1698. 
Unlust,  s.  disinclination,  I  680. 
Unlyklinesse,  j.  difficulty  in  pleasing,  T. 

i.  16. 
Unlykly,  adj.  unpleasing,  E  2180. 
Unnaanhod,  s.  an  unmanly  act,  T.  i.  824. 
Unmerie,  adj.  sad,  HF.  74. 
Unmighty,  adj.  unable,  T.  ii.  858. 
Unneste,  imp.  s.  leave  thy  nest,  T.  iv.  305. 
Unnethe,    adv.    scarcely,    hardly,     with 

difftcultv,  A  3121,  B  1050,  1816,  3611. 
Unnethes,  adv.  scarcely,  B  1675,  D  2168. 
Unordred,  adj.  not  belonging  to  a  re- 
ligious order,  I  961. 
Unparigal,  adj.  unequal  (Lat.  inparem), 

B3.  p  I.  13. 
Unpleyten,   v.  unplait,  explain,  unfold, 

B  2.  p  8.  II. 
Unpurveyed,  adj.  unprovided,  uncared 

for,  B  2.  p  I.  22. 
Unraced,   adj.  unbroken,   untorn,   B  4. 

P  I-  53- 
Unremeved,   pp.    unremoved,    without 

(its)  being  moved,  A.  ii.  46.  37. 
Unreste,  s.  restlessness,  D  1104. 
Unright,   s.  wrong,   T.   iv.   550;    injury, 

T.  ii.  453. 
Unrightful,  adj.  wicked,  L.  1771. 
Unsad,  adj.  unsettled,  E  995. 
Unsavory,  adj.  displeasing,  I  510. 
Unscience,    s.    unreal     knowledge,    no 

knowledge,  B  5.  p  3.  1 13. 
Unselinesse,  j\  unhappiness,  B  4.  p  4. 

38. 
Unsely,  adj.  unhappy,  B  2.  p  4.  8. 
Unset,  adj.  unappointed,  A  1524. 
Unshethe,   i  pr.  s.  unsheathe,  remove, 

T.  iv.  776. 


Unshette.//.  s.  unlocked,  E  2047. 
Unshette,  adj.pl.  not  shut,  HF".  1953. 
Unshewed, //.  unconfessed,  I  999. 
Unsittinge,  adj.  unfit,  T.  ii.  307. 
Unskilful,  adj.  foolish,  T.  i.  790. 
Unskilfully,  adv.  unreasonably,  B  i.  p  4. 

223. 
Unslekked,  adj.  unslacked,  G  806. 
Unsofte,  adj.  harsh,  E  1824. 
Unsolempne,    adj.   uncelebrated,   B   i. 

P  3-  64- 
Unspeedful,  adj.  unprofitable,  B  5.  p  6. 

337- 
Unstaunchable,  adj.  inexhaustible,  B  2. 

p  7.  126  (Lat.  inexhausta). 
Unstaunched,   adj.  insatiate,  B  2.  p  6. 

115  (Lat.  itiexpletani). 
Unstraunge,  adj.  well-known,  A.  ii.  17. 

rubric. 
UnS'welle,  v.  become  less  full,  T.  iv.  1146. 
Unswete,  adj.  bitter,  HP".  72. 
Unthank,  s.  no  thanks,  want  of  thanks, 

T.  V.  699 ;  a  curse,  A  4081. 
Unthrift,  s.  nonsense,  T.  iv.  431. 
Unthriftily,  adv.  poorly,  G  893. 
Unthrifty,  i;<7>'.  profitless,  T.  iv.  1530. 
Untold,  adj.  uncounted,  A  3780. 
Untressed,  adj.  with  hair  loose.  5.  268 ; 

unarranged,  E379;  unplaited,  A  1289. 
Untretable,  adj.  inexorable,  B  2.  p  8.  2. 
Untrewe,  adv.  untruly,  A  735. 
Untriste,  v.  distrust,  T.  iii.  839. 
Untyme;  in  nntyme,  out  of  season,  I  1051. 
Unwar,  adj.  unaware,  T.  i.  304 ;   unex- 
pected, B  427. 
Unwar,  adv.  unexpectedly,  unawares,  T. 

i-  549- 
Un-wrelde,  adj.  (unwieldy),  too  weak  to 

support  herself,  R.  359;  difficult  to  move, 

H  55  ;  difficult  to  control,  A  3886. 
Unwemmed,   adj.   unspotted,    spotless, 

B  924,  G  137,  225. 
UnAvened,  adj.  unexpected,  B  4.  p  6.  260. 
Unwist,  adj.  unknown,  T.  ii.  1294;    un- 

wist  of.  uninformed  of,  T.  i.  93  ;  unknown 

by,  L.  1653. 
Unwit,  s.  folly,  4.  271. 
Unwot,  pr.  s.  fails  to  know,  B  5.  p  6.  177. 
Unwrye,  v.  reveal,  T.  i.  858. 
Unyolden,  //.  without   having  yielded, 

A  2642. 
Up,   adv.   up ;   open    (outwards,   not   up- 
wards), A  3801 ;  as  V.  up  with,  HF.  1021 ; 

up  and  doun,  T.  ii.  659 ;  in  all  directions, 

A    977 ;    backwards    and    forwards,   A 

1052. 
\5x>,prep.  on,  upon,  A  2543;  up  peril,  on 

peril,    D    2271 ;    up    peyne,    under    the 


(Slodssarial  Jixibtx. 


penalty,  D  1587;  up  poyni,  on  the  point, 

ready,  T.  iv.  1153. 
TJp-bounde, //.  bound  up,  T.  iii.  517. 
Up-caste,/^  s.  cast  up,  B  906. 
Up-drow,  //.  s.  drew  up,  L.  1459. 
Up-enbossed,  //.  raised,  L.  1200. 
Up-haf. //.  s.  uplifted,  A  2428. 
Upon,  /;v/.    upon,   A    131 ;    in,    F   925 ; 

against,  D  1313. 
Upon,    t/sed  adverbially,    upon    (him    or 

her),  on,  D  559,  1382. 
Uppe,  adv.  up,  i.  e.  left  open,  F  615. 
Up-plight,  pp.  plucked   up,  pulled    up, 

B  3239- 
Upright,  adv.  i.  e.  reversed,  D  2266 ;  also, 

lying  on  ones  back  (mostly  of  people 

asleep  or  dead)  ;   A  4194;  B  1801. 
Up-rist,  pr.  s.  rises  up,  L.  1188 ;  A  4249. 
Up-riste,  s.  dat.  up-rising,  A  1051. 
Upronne,  ph.  ascended,  F  386. 
Up-so-doun,  adv.  upside  down,  A  1377, 

G  625. 
Upspringe,  v.  rise  (as  the  sun),  4.  14. 
Upsterte,  pt.  s.  upstarted,  arose,  A  1080, 

1299. 
Up-yaf ,  pt.  s.  yielded  up,  gave,  A  2427. 
Up-yolden,  pp.  yielded  up,  A  3052. 
Usdge,  s.  usage]   habit,  A  no;  haddi  in 

usage,  was  accustomed,  B  1696 ;  ivas  in 

usdj^e,  15  17 17. 
Uaaunce,  s.  custom,  R.  683. 
Usaunt,  pres.  pi.  as  adj.  addicted,  I  821 ; 

accustomed,  A  3940. 
Usen.^<r/-.  to  accustom,  I  245  ;  v.  use,  B44; 

Usetli,  pr.  s.  is  accustomed,  L.  364. 
Us-selve,  pron.  ourselves,  I  349. 
Usshers,  s.  pi.  ushers,  F  293. 
Usure,  f.  usury,  B  1681. 
Us-ward,  to,  towards  us,  B  2938. 
Utter,  adj.  outward,  G  498. 
Uttereste,  adj.  superl.  supreme,  E  787. 


Vache,  s.  cow,  beast,  13.  22.  The  reference 
is  to  a  quadruped  that  looks  down  to  the 
earth. 

Valance,  s.  {possibly)  sign  of  zodiac  op- 
posite the  mansion  of  a  planet,  4.  145 ; 
if  so,  the  reference  here  is  to  the  sign 
of  Aries. 

Val6ur,  s.  worth,  R.  957. 

Vane,  s.  a  weather-cock,  E  996. 

Vanish,  i  pr.  s.  shrink  up,  waste  away, 
C732. 

Variaunce,  s.  variation,  T.  iv.  985  ;  Vari- 
ance, difference,  I  427. 

Variaunt,  adj.  varying,  G  1175. 


Vassalage,  s.  prowess,  L.  1667. 
Vavassour,  s.  a  sub-vassal,  next  in  dig- 
nity to  a  baron,  A  360. 
Veine,  adj.  fern,  vain,  R.  447. 
Veluet,  J-.  velvet,  R.  1420;  Veluettes, />/. 
F  644. 
,   Venerian,  adj.  devoted  to  Venus,  D  609. 
Venerye,  s.  hunting,  A  166,  2308. 
Venge.  v.  revenge,  B  2471. 
1   Vengeresses,  s.pl.  avengeresses,  aveng- 
.        ing  deities,  B  3.  m  12.  38. 

Venim,  s.  venom,  poison,  R.  1089 ;  malice, 
;  B  891,  C  421 ;  corruption,  A  2751 ;  dye 
\        (Lat.  ueneno).  B  2.  m  5.  12. 

Ventusinge,  s.  cupping  (a  surgical  opera- 
[       tion),  A  2747. 

1   Venus,  venereal  pleasure,  D  464. 
Ver.  the  spring,  T.  i.  157. 
Veray,  adj.  very,  true,  real,  L.  1068. 
Verdegrees,  s.  verdigrease,  G  791. 
I   Verdit.  s.  verdict,  A  787. 
!   Verndge,  s.  a  wine  of  Italy,  B  1261. 

Vernicle,  s.  vemicle,  A  685.    A  copy  of 
'       the   sacred    handkerchief  on  which   the 
impression   of    the    Saviour's   face   was 
distinguishable. 
!    Vernisshed,    pt.    s.    varnished;     hence 
(jocularly),   lined    in    a    lavish   way,   A 
4149. 
Verre,  s.  glass,  T.  ii.  867. 
Verray,  adj.  very,  true,  A  72,  422 ;  v.  force, 

main  force,  B  3237. 
Verrayly,  adv.  verily,  truly,  2.  73. 
Verrayment,  adv.  verily,  B  1903. 
Versiflour,  j.  poet,  B  2783. 
'   Vertu,  s.  virtue,  A  307  ;  quickening  power, 
A  4;   power,  A  2249;    valour,  R.    1208; 
I       mental     faculty,     HF.    550;    magic    in- 
fluence,   F   146,     157;    V.  plese,    satisfy 
virtue,  be  virtuous,  E  216. 
Vertuous,  adj.  virtuous,  A  251 ;   full  of 
virtue,    D    1113;    full    of  healing  power, 
R.  1097  ;  holy,  1  455. 
Verye  (a  word  used  in  a  charm),  A  3485. 
Perhaps  for  weri,  an  accursed  creature ; 
A.  S.  wearg. 
Vese,  s.  rush  (Lat.  impetus'),  A  1985. 
Vessel,  s.  (collectively),  vessels,  plate,  B 

3338. 
Vestiment,  s.  clothing,  F  59. 
Veyne,  s.  vem,  A  3. 
Veyne-blood,  s.  bleeding  at  a  vein,  A 

2747. 
Vidge,  s.  voyage,  travel,  journey,  T.  ii.  75  ; 

expedition,  attempt.  T.  iii.  732. 
Vicaire,  s.  deputy,  deputed  ruler,  5.  379; 

Vicary,  a  vicar,  I  22. 
Victor,  s.  as  adj.  of  victory,  5.  182. 


(§lo00artal  Kntiei. 


Vigile,  s.  wake,  T.  v.  305. 

Vigilyes,  p/.  vigils,  A  377. 

Viker,  s.  vicar,  D  2008. 

Vileinous,  adj.  evil,  B  2693. 

Vileins,  Vileyns,  a^'. villainous,  L.  1824 ; 
rude,  D  1268;  sinful,  I  854,  914;  evil, 
wicked,  I  556. 

Vileinsly,  adv.  evilly,  I  154;  Vilaynsly, 
shamefully,  R.  1498.' 

Vileinye,  s.  vile  conduct,  B  2547;  great 
harm,  A  4191 ;  despiteful  language,  re- 
proach, D  34,  53;  disgrace,  A  942;  unfit 
speech,  A  70;  servitude,  I  143;  dis- 
courtesy, rudeness,  C  740  ;  vileness,  HF. 
96 ;  reproach,  T.  iv.  21 ;  evil-doing,  B 
1681. 

Vinolent,  adj.  full  of  wine,  D  467,  1931. 

Violes,  s.p/.  vials,  phials,  G  793. 

Virelayes,  s.pi.  ballads  with  a  particular 
return  of  rime,  F  948  ;   L.  423. 

Viritoot,  s.  brisk  movement,  A  3770. 

Viritrate,  s.  hag,  D  1582. 

Visage,  V.  put  a  face  (on  it),  disguise,  E 
2273. 

Visitaciouns,  s.pl.  visits,  D  555. 

Visyte,  ^i^r.  to  visit,  A  493,  1194. 

Vitaille,  5.  victuals,  provisions,  A  248,  569. 

Vitaille,  -j.  provide  with  victuals,  L.  1093. 

Vitamers,  //.  victuallers,  A  4366. 

Vitremyte,  s.  {probably)  a  woman's  cap, 
an  effeminate  head-dress,  B  3562. 

Voided,  pp.  removed,  F  1195;  cleared, 
emptied,  L.  2625. 

Vois,  s.  voice,  R.  751.    See  Voys. 

Volage,  adj.  giddy,  volatile,  R.  1284; 
wanton,  H  239. 

Volatyl,  ,f.  as  pi.  fowls,  B  1262. 

Voltor,  s.  vulture,  B  3.  m  12.  46 ;  //.  T.  i. 
788, 

Volupeer,  s.  night-cap,  A  4303  ;  Voluper, 
woman's  cap,  A  3241. 

Vouche,  v.;  only  used  tuith  sauf,  safe; 
Vouche  sauf,  v.  to  avouch  as  safe,  call 
safe,  vouchsafe,  grant,  deign,  permit, 
A  812,  B  1641,  E  2341 ;  I  pr.  s.  am  content, 
T.  iv.  90 ;  2  pr.  pi.  vouchsafe,  grant, 
deign,  L.  2038;  Voucheth  sauf,  imp.pl. 
vouchsafe,  E  885,  F  1043. 

Voyde  (voidee),j.  'voidee,'  alight  dessert, 
with  wine  and  spices,  T.  iii.  674. 

Voyden,  v.  get  rid  of,  expel,  A  2751,  E 
910,  F  188;  imp.  s.  depart  from,  E  806; 
Voydeth,  imp.pl.  send  away,  G  1136. 

Voys,  s.  voice,  A  688,  C  531 ;  rumour, 
E  629;  commendation,  E  1592;  report, 
T.  iii.  1723. 

Vulgar,  adj.  A.  ii.  9.  5.  The  day  vulgar 
is    the     length    of    the    '  artificial '    day. 


with     the    durations    of    morning    and 
evening  twilight  added  to  it. 
Vyce,  s.   fault,  error,  T.  i.  689;   F  loi ; 
defect,  D  955. 

W. 

Waast,  J.  waist,  B  1890. 

Waat,  pr.  s.  knows  (Northern),  A  4086. 

Wacche,  s.  sentinel,  B  2216. 

Wachet,    s.  light   blue   colour,  A   3321. 

Later  E.  watchet. 
Waden,!/.  pass,  E  1684;  wade  (through), 

D    2084;    enter   (into),   T.   ii.    150;    go, 

descend,  B  3684. 
Waf ,  //.  s.  wove,  L.  2364. 
Wafereres,  s.  pi.  makers  of  gaiifres  or 

wafer-cakes,  confectioners,  C  479. 
Wages,  //.   A    1803;    pay,   recompense, 

4.  244. 
"Wagging,  s.  shaking,  1.  ii.  1745. 
Waiten,   v.  attend   on,   L.   1269;  pr.  s. 

watches,  E  708;    itnp.  s.   observe,  A.  ii. 

Wake,  V.  be   awake,  lie  awake,   18.  27 ; 

Waken,   v.   act.   awake,  B    1187;   pr.  s. 

watches,  F  819 ;  Wook,  i  //.  s.  awoke,  5. 

695;  remained  awake,  B  3809;  Waked, 

//.  awaked,  3.  294 ;  kept  wake,  caroused, 

3-  977- 
Wake-pleyes,  //.  funeral  games,  A  2960. 
Waker,  adj.  vigilant,  5.  358. 
Waking,   s.   watching,   being   awake,  3. 

611;  period   of  wakefulness,   B  22;  pi. 

vigils,  I  257. 
W&let,  a  wallet,  A  686;  Wal6t,  A  681. 
Walked   {for  Walketh),  .f.  walking;    in 

phr.  go  walked,  for  go  a-walketh,  gone 

a-walking,  3.  387  ;  D  1778. 
"Walken,  ger.   to    walk,   roam,   A   2309; 

Welk,    I  //.   s.    walked,   T.    ii.   517;     is 

walked,  is  gone,  went,  A  2368. 
Walsh-note,  gen.    sing,  walnut's,    HF. 

1281. 
Walwe,  ger.  to  wallow,  roll  about,  T.  i. 

699 ;    pr.  pi.   wallow,   tumble,    A   4278 ; 

pr.  s.  tosses,  L.  1166 ;  rolls  about,  D  1085  ; 

//.   involved,    immersed,    12.    17 ;    Wal- 

winge,  pres.  part,  causing   to   roll,   B  i. 

m  7.  4  (Lat.  uolueiis). 
Wanges,  s.  pi.  molar  teeth,  A  4030. 
Wang-tooth,  s.  molar  tooth,  B  3234. 
Wanhope,  s.  despair,  A  1249. 
Wanie,  v.  wane,  A  2078. 
Wante,  v.  be  wanting,  be  absent,  L.  361 ; 

fail,  be  lacking,   I  514;  pr.  s.  is  lacking, 

H  338. 
Wantownesse,   s.  wantonness,    B    31; 

mannerism  (of  speech),  A  264. 


E4 


(glosgartal  lixbex. 


Wantrust,  s.  distrust,  T.  i.  794 ;  H  280. 
War,  adj.  prudent,  discreet,  cautious,  T. 

i.  203;  aware,  A  157,896,3604;  zvas  /  zv.. 

I  observed,  5.  218,  298  ;  /  was  w.,  3.  445  ; 

ben  w.,  beware,  T.  i.  635  ;  be  iv.,  beware, 

13.  II;  take  warning,  G  737;  be  w./ro, 

beware  of,  L.  473 ;  be/A  w.,  beware,  T.  iii. 

1 180;   B  1629,  3281. 
War  him,  let  liim  beware,  A  662;  war 

you\  nialve  way,  B  i88g. 
Warde,  .(.  dat.  (?)   keeping;  0/1  w.,  into 

his  keeping,  3.  248 ;  in  our  w.,  C   201 ; 

under  my  tc,  I  880. 
W^ardecors,  s.  body-guard.  D  359. 
Warde rere,  for  warde    rere,  look  out 

behind,  A  4101. 
Wardrobe,  s.  privy,  B  1762. 
W^are,  adj.  aware,  3.  1030. 
Ware,  s.  wares  (for  sale),  merchandise,  B 

140,  1246. 
Ware,  imp.  pi.  beware,  B  4416. 
Warente.  ^er.  to  warrant,  protect,  C  338. 
Wariang-les,  //.   shrikes,   butcher-birds, 

L)  1400. 
Warien,  ^er.  to  curse,  T.  ii.  1619;  1  pr.  s. 

B  372. 
Warisoun,  s.  requital,  R.  1537. 
Warisshe,  v.  cure,   I   998;    recover,  be 

cured,  B  2172;  pp.  cured,  B  2467. 
Warisshinge,  s.  cure,  B  2205. 
Warly.  adv.  warily,  carefully,  T.  iii.  454. 
Warne,   v.  reject^  refuse,  i.  11;  i  //-.  s. 

warn,  bid  you   take   heed,  B   16,   1184; 

invite,  B  2652;  2  pr.  s.  suhj.  inform,  HF. 

893;    PP-   forewarned,     L.    2658;    given 

notice,  B  157S. 
Warnestore,  ger.   to   fortify,  defend,  B 

24S7 ;    to    garrison,    B    2521;    //.    pro- 
visioned, B  I.  p  3.  85. 
Warnestoring,  s.  fortifying,  B  2525. 
Waryce,  v.  heal,  cure,  C  906. 
Waste,  (7(//'.//.  wasted, partially  destroved, 

A  1331- 
Wastel-breed,  s.  cake-bread,  bread  of  the 

very  best  quality,  A  147. 
Was'tour,  s.  waster,  E  1535. 
Watering,  s.  watering-place  (for  horses), 

A  826. 
Wawe,  s.  wave,  B  508,  I  363. 
Waxen,//. become, T.  V.  1014,  1374,  1376. 
Wayk,  adj.  weak,  L.  2428,  2713. 
Wayken,   ger.    to    grow    weak,    lessen, 

T.  iv.  1 144. 
Waymenten,  ger.  to  lament,  I  230. 
Waymentinge,   s.  lamenting,   lamenta- 
tion, A  995,  1921. 
Wayn,  ^.  car,  B  4.  ni  i.  34. 
Wayten,  ger.  to  observe,  T.  i.  190 ;   to 


watch  for,  F  1263;  to  watch,  F  444; 
V.  to  e.vpect,  B  467 ;  pr.  s.  seeks  occasion, 
A  1222. 

Webbe,  s.  a  weaver,  A  362. 

Wedde,  s.  dat.;  to  w.,  as  a  pledge,  in 
pledge,  A  1218,  B  1613. 

Wedde,  ger.  to  wed,  T.  v.  863. 

Wedding,  j-.  wedlock,  17.  24. 

Wede,  s.  weed,  robe,  garment,  A  1006, 
B  2107,  E  863. 

Weder,  ,f.  weather,  D  2253,  F  52 ;  storm, 
T.  ii.  2,  iii.  657. 

Wedes,//.  weeds,  T.  i.  946. 

Weel,  adv.  well,  A  926;  well  placed, 
luckily  situated,  B  308. 

Weeldinge,  s.  power,  control,  B  2800. 

Weep.  //.  J.  ('/  Wepe. 

Weeply,  ai//'."  tearful,  sorrowful,  B  i.p  i.  3. 

Weet,  s.  wet,  A  4107. 

Weex,  //.  s.  waxed,  grew,  G  513. 

Wegge,  s.  a  wedge,  A.  i.  14.  6. 

W^ehee,  s.  a  whinnying  noise,  A  4066. 

Weilawey,  alas !  D  216. 

Wei,  adv.  well,  A  384,  B  25;  much,  L. 
1386;  many,  L.  11;  certainly,  L.  452; 
fully,  A  29,  49;  about  (used  wii/i  num- 
bers), A  24;  wel  royal,  very  royal,  F  26; 
wel  ny,  very  nearly,  B  3230 ;  wel  the  bet, 
much  better,  T.  ii.  92 ;  wel  unethe, 
scarcely  at  all,  L.  33  a;  to  be  wel,  to 
be  in  favour,  3.  845;  wel  is  him,  it  is 
well  for  him,  T.  i.  350;  well  was  him, 
it  was  wel!  for  him,  B  4066; /«/  wel, 
verv  well,  A  122. 

Welawey,  int.  alas!  T.  iii.  1695. 

Welde,  s.  weld.  Reseda  Luteola,  9.  17. 

Welde.  s.  power,  control,  R.  395. 

Welden,  ger.  to  have  control  over,  to 
move  with  ease,  D  1947 ;  to  control, 
D  271;  to  wield,  L.  2000;  Welte, //.  s. 
B  3200. 

Weldy.  adj.  wieldy,  active,  T.  ii.  636. 

Wele,  s.  happiness,  success,  prosperity, 
well-being,  good  fortune,  A  895,  3101, 
B  122. 

Weleful.  adj.  prosperous,  happy,  B  2507  ; 
blessed,  Ii  451. 

Welefulnesse,  s.  happiness,  B  i.  p  3.  35. 

Welk.  //. .(.  of  Walken. 

Welked,  pp.  as  adj.  withered,  C  738,. 
D277. 

W^elken,  s.  heaven,  sky,  HF.  1601 ; 
Welkne,  10.  62. 

Welmeth,//-.  s.  wells,  gushes,  R.  1561. 

Welte,  pt.  s.  wielded,  i.  e.  lorded  it  over, 
possessed  for  use,  B  3200. 

Wel-willy,  adj.  benevolent,  benign,  bene- 
ficent, T.  iii.  1257. 


(Slagsarial  EntJei. 


23 


Wem,  ^.  blemish,  R.  930;  hurt,  F  121. 
Wemmelees,  adj.  stainless,  G  47. 
Wenden,  ger.  to  go,  A  21,  2214;    pass 

away,  A  3025  ;  go,  pass,  B  1683 ;  Went, 

pr.  s.  goes,  T.  ii.  36,  812;  Wente,  pt.  s. 

went,  A  78,  B  1739 ;   Wente  him,  //.  s. 

went,  G  no;    Wentestow,  2  pr.  s.  hast 

thou  gone,  A  3486 ;   Went,  pp.  gone,  L. 

165 1 ;  ;5^«  7i:;t'«/,  are  gone,  B  173  ;  is  xvenf, 

is  gone,  G  534. 
Wending,  s.  departure,  T.  iv.  1344,  1436. 
"Wene,  s.  supposition,  doubt,  T.  iv.  1593 ; 

ivithouten  wene,  without  doubt,  R.  574, 

Wenen,  v.  ween,  suppose,  imagine,  con- 
sider, L.  12;  G  676;  expect,  A  4320; 
Wenestow,  weenest  thou,  thinkest  thou, 
U  311;  Weneth,  //•.  s.  imagines  (with 
meti  —  owfi),  A  2195;  Wende,  i  pt.  s. 
imagined,  T.  v.  693;  supposed,  F  585; 
fancied,  A  1269 ;  Wendest,  2  pr.  s.  subj. 
shouldst  ween,  T.  i.  1031 ;  Wende,  pt.  s. 
suhj.  would  have  thought,  C  782 ;  \A''end, 
pp.  supposed,  T.  iv.  384;  imagined,  T.  v. 
1682. 

"Wenged,  adj.  winged,  HF.  21 18. 

Weng-es,  //.  wings,  L.  168  a. 

Weniiige,  s.  imagination,  supposition, 
T.  iv.  992. 

Went,  pr.  s.  and  pp.  of  Wenden. 

Wente,  //.  s.  of  Wenden. 

Wente,  s.  turn,  T.  ii.  63;  path,  passage, 
T.  iii.  787;  footpath,  18.  69. 

Wepe,  V.  weep,  A  144,  230;  Weep,  pt.  s. 
wept,  A  148,  B  606,  1052;  Wepte,  pt.  s. 
{weak  form),  B  267;  Wepen, //.  T.  i. 
941 ;  Wopen,  pp.  F  523. 

Wepen,  s.  weapon,  L.  t994. 

Werbul,  j-.  tune  (warble),  T.  ii.  1033. 

Werche.  v.  work,  perform,  B  566; 
Wroghtestow  {for  Wroghtest  thou), 
thou  didst  cause,'  B  3583 ;  Wroghte,//.  s. 
worked,  A  497;  contrived,  B  1788; 
made,  E  1152;  Wroughte,  i  pt.  s.  acted, 
A.  ii.  3.  46;  did,  R.  701;  Wrought,  pp. 
made,  formed,  R.  559;  born,  B  3619.; 
created,  G  326 ;   composed,  L.  372. 

Werde,//.  s.  0/ Were  (wear). 

Werdes,  s.  pi.  fates,  destinies,  B  i.  ni  i. 
M- 

Were,  s.  weir,  5.  138  ;  T.  iii.  35. 

Were,  s.  doubt,  3.  1295;  HF.  979;  men- 
tal struggle,  L.  2686.     Lowl.  Sc.  weir. 

Were,  2  //.  s.  wast,  T.  iv.  762 ;  it  were, 
they  were,  E  850;  al  were  it,  though  it 
were,  D  1172. 

Were  (wfera),  v.  wear,  21.  7;  Werede, 
//.  s.  wore,  A  1388,  3235  ;  Werde,  R.  875  ; 


Wered,  A  75  ;  Wered  upon,  i  //.  s.  wore 

upon  (me),  D  559. 
Were,  ger.  to  defend,  A  2550. 
Weringe,  s.  wearing,  I  1052. 
Werk,  s.  work,  A  479;  act,  L.  891. 
Werken,  v.  act,  A  3527 ;  pr.  s.  acts,  L. 

1385. 
Werkers,  //.  doers,  D  1937. 
Werkes,  pr.pl.  ache,  A  4030. 
Working,   5.    deed,    H    210;    mode    of 

operation,  G  1367. 
Werne,  ger.  to  refuse,  T.  iii.  149,  iv.  in ; 

V.  refuse,  R.   1485;    warn   off,   R.   636; 

Werned,//.  forbidden,  R.  442. 
Werning,  s.  let,  forbidding,  R.  1142. 
Werre,  s.  war,  T.  ii.  868 ;  trouble,  T.  v. 

1393;  of  werre,  in  war,  T.  i.  134;  to  w., 

in  enmity,  i.  116. 
Werre,  adv.  worse,  3.  616. 
Werreye,  ger.  to  make  war,  A  1484 ;  v. 

war  against,  A   1544 ;   pr.  s.  opposes,  I 

487. 
Werreyour,  s.  warrior,  L.  597. 
Wers,  adj.  worse,  A  3872. 
Werste,  adj.  siiperl.  worst,  T.  ii.  304. 
Werte,  j.  wart,  A  555. 
Wery,   adj.   (being)   weary,   T.  iv.  707 ; 

worn,  R.  440,  664;    beaten   repeatedly, 

lit.  weary,  IJ  4.  m  5.  17. 
Wesele.  .f.  weasel,  A  3234. 
Wesh,  //.  s.  of  Wasshe. 
Weste,  V.  turn  to  the  west,  L.  61,  197. 
Westren,  v.  to  go  to  the  west,  T.  ii.  906. 
Wete,  s.  perspiration,  G  11 87. 
Wete,  V.  wet,  HF.  1785. 
Wether,  s.  sheep,  T.  iv.  1374. 
Weven,   v.  weave,   L.   2352;   Waf, /A  J. 

wove,  L.  2364. 
Wex,  ,r.  wax,  A  675,  E  1430. 
Wexen,  v.  wax,  grow,  become,  B  2265,  G 

877  ;   I  pr.  s.  sulj.  may  I  become,  G  1377  ; 

Wexe,  2  pr.  pi.  increase,  grow   (in  ap- 
plauding),   E  998;    Wex,   pt.    s.   grew, 

became,   A    1362;    increased,    L.    727; 

Woxe,//.  grown,  R.  1460;  become,  HF. 

1494. 
Wexede,  //.  s.  coated  with   wax,  A.   ii. 

40.  28. 
Wey,  s.  way,  A  34;    path,  R.  1345;  the 

sun's  apparent  daily  path,  A.  ii.  30.  5  ; 

the  sun's  apparent   annual    orbit,   A.  i. 

21.  49;  a  furlong  wey,  a  short  time  (lit. 

short  distance),  E  516;  go  wey,  go  thy 

wav,  T.    i.  574;    do  wey,  take  away,  A 

3287. 
Weyen,  v.  weigh,  B  3776;    ogkte  weyen, 

ought  to  weigh,  L.  398. 
Weyere,   s.  the  '  weigher,'  a  translation 


124 


(Slasmxial  EntJei. 


of  the  Lat.  equator ;  because  the  days 

and  nights,  at  the  equinoxes,  are  equal ; 

A.  i.  17.  25. 
"Weyk,  adj.  weak,  7.  341. 
Weylaway,  interj.  alas  !  A  938. 
Weymentinge,   s.   lamenting,    A    902; 

lament,  T.  ii.  65. 
Weynes,  s.pl.  chariots,  B  4.  m  5.  6. 
Weyven,  ger.  to  turn  aside,  E  1483 ;  v. 

waive,  neglect,  T.  ii.  284;  put  aside,  D 

1176;  forsake,  G  276;  abandon,  B  2406. 
Whan,  when,  A  5,  18,  179. 
What,  whatever,  4.  170 ;  what  sort  of  a, 

L.  1305;  what  with,  B  21,  22;   why,  T. 

ii.  262,  292;  what!  how!  L.  1800;  What 

that,  whatever,  E  165 ;  What  man  that, 

whoever,  B  2645 ;  What  .  .  what,  partly, 

.  .  partly,  HF.  2058. 
Wheelen,  ^c;-.  to  cause  to  revolve,  T.  i. 

139- 
Whelkes,  //.  pimples,  blotches,  A  632. 
Whelp,  s.  cub,  A  2627. 
Whenne,  adv.  whence,  E  588. 
Whennes,  adv.  whence,  B  2400. 
Wher,  adv.  where,  B  1785,  &'c. ;  wherever, 

R.  1669;  Wher  as  {or  Wher-as) ,  where 

that,  where,  B  647,  1311. 
W^her,   whether,    (a    common    contracted  ] 

/;)/•;«  ('/'whether),  3.  91.  '    1 

Wher-as,  adv.  where  that,  where,  T.  iii. 

516.  I 

Whereof,  prep,  in  what  respect,  R.  703 ;   | 

lor  what,  R.  1552.  I 

Wherfore,  for  any  cause.  C  216.  | 

Wher-on ;  long  wher-on,  because  of  what, 

G  930. 
Wher-so,  whether,  B  294;  wherever,  L. 

43<5- 
Wher-through,  adv.  by  means  of  which, 

3.  120. 
W^herto,  adv.  for  wherefore,  T.  i.  409. 
Whete,  s.  wheat,  C  375. 
W^hether,  adj.  which  (of  two),  A  1856.       1 
'Wh.ette,pp.p/.  sharpened,  T.  v.  1760.        j 
Which,  pron.  which,  A   161 ;    whom,  A 

568;   what  kind  of.  L.  1883;  Which  a, 

what  kind  of  a,  what  a,  L.  668,  869,  &c. 
Whider,  whither,  T.  v.  428,  486. 
Whilk,  which  (Northern),  A  4078. 
Whilom,  adv.  once,  D  2017.  | 

Whippeltree  {detter  Wippeltree) ,  cornel- 
tree,  A  2923. 
W^hirle,  g^er.  to   rush,  go   swiftly,  T.  v. 

1019;  V.  be  whirled  round,  5.  80. 
Who,   interrog.  who,  T.  v.  371 ;    D  692 ; 

indef.  who    (it  might  be),  3.  244;    one 

who,  3.559;  whoever,  who,  T.  v.  1115; 

Who  was  who,  which  was  which,  A  4300. 


Whyle,  s.  time,  A  3299 ;  worth  the  wh., 

worth  while,  T.  v.  882. 
Whyl-er,  adv.  formerly,  G  1328. 
Whyles,  gen.  s.  as  adv.';  the  tvhyles,  whilst, 

3-  151- 
Whylom,  adv.  once,  formerly,  once  on  a 

time,  R.  10.  362. 
Whyne,  v.  whine,  whinny,  D  386. 
Whyt,  adj.  white,  A  238;    as  sb.,  white 

wine,  C  526,  562;  //.  innocent,  guileless, 

T.  iii.  1567;   specious,  flattering,  T.  iii. 

901. 
Whyte,  s.  white  (i.  e.  silver),  T.  iii.  1384. 
Widwe,  s.  widow,  A  253. 
Widwehode,    s.    widowhood,    I    916; 

Widwehed,  L.  295  a. 
Wierdes,  //.  fates,  T.  iii.  617 ;  Wirdes, 

L.  2580.     A.  S.  wyrd. 
Wight,  s.  a  person,  creature,  man,  living 

being,   A   71,  280;  whit,  short  while,  A 

4283  ;  Wightes,  pi.  creatures,  men, beings, 

A  3479- 
Wight,  adj.  active,  B  3457  ;  fleet,  A  4086. 
Wighte,  s.  weight,  HF.739;  A  2145,  2520. 
Wike,  s.  week,  C  362.    See  Wyke. 
Wiket,  s.  wicket-gate,  small  gate,  E  2045, 

2118. 
Wikke,  adj.  evil,  wicked,  bad,  A    1087, 

1580 ;    false,  B  2247  ;   depraved,  10.  55  ; 

much  alloyed,  HF.  1346. 
Wikked,  adj.  bad,  wicked,  L.  2395;  //. 

wicked,  1  112.     In  B  3576,  wikked  nest  is 

put  for  F.  man  ni,  i.  e.  Sir  Oliver  Mauny ; 

see  the  note  in  the  larger  edition. 
Wikkednesse,  s.  evil,  17.  7. 
Wil,  s.  will,  6.  83.     See  Wille. 
Wil,   I  pr.  s.  desire,  wish,  7.  244 ;   pr.  s. 

desires,  B  1843. 
Wilde,   adj.   wild;   Wilde  fyr,  wild   fire, 

fire   not   easily   put   out,  Greek   fire,  D 

373;    flaming  spirits,  1   445;    a  disease, 

erysipelas,  A  4172,  E  2252;  Wilde,  pt.  A 

2018. 
Wildnesse,  s.  wilderness,  9.  34. 
Wilen,/r.//.  will,  R.  1683. 
Wilful,  adj.  voluntary,  B  3.  p  11.  167. 
Wilful,  as  adv.  wilfully,  willingly,  5.  429. 
Wilfulhed,  s.  wilfulness,  L.  355  a. 
Wilfully,  adv.   willingly,    voluntarily,    of 

free  will,  by  choice,  B  4486,  C  441. 
Wilfulnesse,  s.  wish,  B  2572. 
Wille,  s.  own  accord,  will,  i.  45,  57 ;  plea- 
sure, desire,  E  326,  F  i,  8;  Willes,  gen. 

F  568  ;  as  by  his  w.,  willingly,  17.  12. 
Wille,  V.  will,  desire,  E  721. 
Willing,  s.  desire,  E  319. 
Willingly,  adv.  of  free  will,  E  362. 
Wilnen,  v.  desire,  A  2114;  Wilnest,  zpr. 


(glossatial  inliEi. 


125 


s.   desirest,  A  1609 ;  Wilned,  i  pi.  s.  3. 

1262,  1267.  A.  S.  wilnian. 
Wilninge,  s.  willing,  wishing,  B  3.  p   11. 

88  ;  //.  desires,  B.  3.  p  11.  175. 
Wilow,  s.  willow-tree,  A  2922. 
WiltOW,  2  pr.  s.  wilt  thou,  A  1 156 ;  wishest 

thou,  B  2116;  wilt  thou  (go),  D  1387. 
Wimpel,  s.  wimple,  a  covering   tor  the 

head,   gathered    round   it,   and  pleated 

under  the  chin,  A  151. 
Wimpletti,   pr.  s.  conceals    (as  with   a 

wimple),  B  2.  p  I.  66. 
Windas,  s.  windlass,  F  184. 
Wiude,  £-er.  to  turn,  T.  iii,  1541 ;   to  re- 
volve, T.  ii.  601 ;  to  roam  about,  L.  818  ; 

Winde,  v.  wind,  entwine,   T.  iii.    1232; 

intertwine,  5.  671 ;  ply,  bend,  T.  i.  257 ; 

bind  with  cloths,  E  583 ;  twist  and  turn, 

G  980 ;  Winde,  2  pr.  s.  siibj.  niayst  go, 

T.  iii.  1440 ;   Wond,  pt.  s.  wound,  went 

about,  L.  2253. 
Windinge,  s.  twisting,  I  417. 
Wind-melle,  s.  wind-mill,  HF.  1280. 
Windre,    ger.    to     trim,    R.    1020;    pp. 

trimmed,  R.  1018.     Cf.  O.  V.guignier. 
Windy,  adj.  unstable  as  wind,  B  2.  p  8. 

28. 
Winged,  provided  with  wings,  A  1385. 
Winke,  v.  wink,  B  4496;  nod,  F  348; 

remain  awake,  T.  iii.  1537 ;  Winke,  i  pr. 

s.  am  asleep,  5.  7. 
Winne,  ,^4?/-.  to  win,  gain,  A  427;  to  con- 
quer, F  214;  to  get  gain,  C  461 ;  w.fro, 

to   get  away   from,  T.  v.  1125;  Wan,  i 

//.  s.  got,  D   1477 ;  won,  gained,  A  442, 

989 ;  pt.  s.  used  as  pt.  pi.  F  1401 ;  Won- 

nen,  pp.  won,  A  877,  3381. 
Winning,  s.  gain,  profit,  A  275,  D  416. 
Winsinge,   pres.  pt.    wincing,     starting 

aside,  i.  e.  skittish,  A  3263. 
Winter,  //.  years,  T.  i.  811. 
Wirche,  v.  work,  A  3430 ;  provide,  E  1661 ; 

give  relief,  A  2759 ;  in  passive  sense,  to 

be  made,  HF.  474;  ger.  to  perform,  A 

3308 ;  Wirk,  imp.  s.  do,  E  1485. 
Wirdes,  //.  Fates,  L.  2580 ;  Wierdes,  T. 

iii.  617. 
Wirk,  imp.  s.  work,  do,  E  1485. 
Wirkinge,  s.  efficiency,  B  3.  p  11.   26; 

actions,  D  698 ;  calculation,  F  1280. 
Wis,   adv.  certainly,  verily,  surely,  T.   ii. 

381,  474,  563  ;  A  2786,  D  621 ;  as  luis,  as 

sure  (as),  T.  iv.  1655;  assuredly,  F  1470. 

See  Ywis. 
Wisly,    adv.    certainly,    truly,    verily,   A 

1863,  3994,  4162. 
Wisse,  V.  instruct,   T.  i.  622;   inform,  D    j 

14IS  ;  show,  tell,  D   1008  ;    2  pr.  s.  subj.   1 


teach,  5.  74;  imp.  s.  direct,  guide,  i.  155. 
A.  S.  wissia?!. 

Wissh,  \pt.  s.  washed,  R.  96,  125. 

Wisshe,  V.  wish,  T.  ii.  406. 

Wist,  -e  ;  see  Witen. 

Wit,  s.  reason,  R.  1535  ;  understanding,  B 
2702;  judgement,  A  279  ;  mind,  R.  1694  ; 
knowledge,  mental  power,  R.  401 ;  wis- 
dom, T.  iv.  1508 ;  proof  of  intelligence, 
E  459 ;  Wittes,  //.  senses,  B  202 ;  wits, 
F  706;  opinions,  F  203. 

Witen,  ger.  to  know,  to  wit,  T.  v.  1324 ; 
Wite,,^fr.  to  know,  3.  493;  to  discover, 
D  1450 ;  do  you  wite,  make  you  know, 
inform  you,  T.  ii.  1635 ;  Woot,  i  pr.  s. 
wot,  know,  A  389 ;  pr.  s.  knows,  2.  30 ; 
Wot,  ipr.s.  L.  4;  pr.  s.  knows,  B  195; 
Woost,  zpr.s.  knowest,  T.  i.  633;  Wost, 
2pr,  s.  L.  542;  Wostow,  thou  knowest, 
A  2304 ;  Witen,  i  pr.  pi.  wit,  know,  A 
1260;  Witen,  2 //-.//.  D  1890;  know  ye, 
H  1,82;  Woot  {wrongly  used  for  ^N\\^) , 
2  pr.  pi.  know,  A  740 ;  Wiste,  i  //.  s. 
wist,  knew,  E  814;  Wistest,  2  //.  s. 
knewest,  A  1156;  Wistestow,  knewest 
thou,  T.  iii.  1644;  Wiste,  pt.  s.  knew, 
R.  1344 ;  Wist,  //.  known,  B  1072 ; 
Witeth,  imp.  pi.  know,  T.  i.  687.  A.  S. 
witan ;  pr.  t.  wat,  wast,  wat,  pi.  witon  ; 
pt.  t.  7mste. 

With,  with,  A  5,  10,  &c. ;  to  hele  tvitk  your 
hurtes,  to  heal  your  wounds  with,  F  471. 

With-drow,  •i.pt.s.  subtracted,  A.  ii.  45. 
12. 

Withholden,,^^^.  to  retain,  I  1041 ;  Witli- 
holde,  //.  retained,  B  2202;  detained, 
G  345;  shut  up,  kept  in  confinement, 
A  511. 

Withinne-forth,  adv.  within,  B  5.  p  5. 
14. 

With-oute-forth,  adv.  outwardly,  I  172. 

Withouten,  prep,  besides,  as  we'll  as,  A 
461 ;  excepting,  T.  ii.  236. 

Withseye,  v.  contradict,  gainsay,  A  805; 
refuse,  L.  367;  renounce,  G  457. 

Withstonde,  v.  withstand,  oppose,  B 
3110;  Withstonde,//.  withstood,  T.  i. 
253- 

Witing,  s.  knowledge,  cognizance,  .V 
161 1. 

Witingly,  adv.  knowingly,  I  401. 

Witnesfully,  adv.  publicly,  B  4.  p  5.  11. 

Witterly,  adv.  plainly,  triily,  L.  2606. 

Wivere,  s.  wyvern,  snake,  T.  iii.  loio. 
O.  F.  wivre,  lit.  viper. 

Wlatsom,  adj.  disgusting,  B  3814;  hein- 
ous, B  4243. 

Wo,  s.  woe,  R.  319;  7ne  is  vjo,  I  am  sorry. 


126 


(glossarial  hxbzx. 


L.  1985 ;  wo  wc7-e  us,  woe  would  be  to 
us,  E  139. 

Wo,  adj.  unhappv,  R.  312;  sad,  grieved, 
A  351- 

Wode,  c2c/j.;  see  Wood. 

Wode-binde,  s.  woodbine,  honeysuckle, 
A  1508. 

Wodedowve,  s.  wood-pigeon,  B  i960. 

Wodewale,  s.  the  green  woodpecker, 
Geci/ius  viridis,  R.  914. 

Wodnesse,  s.  madness,  T.  iii.  794. 

Wol,  I  pr.  s.  (I)  will,  A  42 ;  desire,  E  646 ; 
Wole,  I  pr.  s.  am  ready  to,  T.  i.  589 ; 
Wolt,  2  pr.  s.  wilt,  E  314 ;  Woltow,  wilt 
thou,  A  1544;  dost  thou  wish,  D  840; 
Wol,  pr.  s.  will,  B  60;  wills,  desires, 
HF.  662;  wishes  for,  T.  ii.  396;  wishes 
(to  go),  will  go,  L.  1 191 ;  permits,  H  28  ; 
Wole,  will  go,  D  353  ;  wol  adoun,  is  about 
to  set,  I  72 ;  Wol  ye  so,  if  you  so  wish  it, 
E  2264  ;  Wil  ye,  wish  ye,  F  378  ;  Woln, 
pr.pl.  will,  wish  (to  have),  A  2121 ;  Wol- 
len,  pr.  pi.  will,  B  2561 ;  Wolde,  i  pt.  s. 
desired,  6.  48;  should  like,  B  1637; 
Woldestow,  if  thou  wouldst,  L.  760 ; 
wouldst  thou,  B  4536;  Wolde,  //.  s. 
would,  A  144;  would  like  to,  B  1182; 
wished,  L.  952;  required,  F  577;  would 
go,  would  turn,  F  496;  wished  to,  4. 
124;  T.  ii.  514;  Wolde  .  .  .  unto,  would 
go  to,  B  3786 ;  god  wolde.  oh  !  that  God 
would  grant,  3.  665  ;  wolde  god.  oh  !  that 
God  would  be  pleased,  D  1103;  Wolde 
whoso  nolde,  i.  e.  whoever  would  or 
would  not,  T.  i.  77 ;  Wold,  pp.  desired, 
18.  II  ;  willed,  B  2190,  2615. 

Wolde,  s.dat.  possession,  R.  451. 

Wolle,  .t.  wool,  L.  1791. 

Woln,  Woltow  ;  see  W^ol. 

Womtae,  s.  belly,  A  4290 ;  womb,  E  2414 ; 
the  depression  in  the  front  of  an  astro- 
labe. A.  i.  3.  3. 

Wombe-Slde,  the  front  of  the  astro- 
labe, A.  i.  6.  10. 

Wommanhede,  s.  womanhood,  B  851. 

Wond  ;  //.  s.  of  Wmde. 

Wonde,  V.  desist,  L.  1187. 

Wonder,  adj.  wonderful,  wondrous, 
strange,  T.  i.  419. 

Wonder,  adv.  wondrously,  R.  242. 

Wonderly,  adv.  wondrously,  A  84. 

Wonder-most,  adj.  sup.  most  wonderful, 
HF.  2059. 

Wonders,  adv.  wondrously,  R.  27. 

Wone  (wuna),  s.  custom,  usage,  wont, 
T.  ii.  318;  HF.76. 

Wone,  V.  dwell,  inhabit,  G  332;  Woneth, 
pr.  s.  dwells,  lives,  D   1573;    Woneden, 


pt.  pi.  d^eM,  A.  2927;  Woned, //.  dwelt, 

T.  i.  276 ;  wont,  accustomed,  T.  ii.  400, 

V.  277. 
Wones  (woonez),  //.   places  of  retreat, 

hence,  range  of  buildings,  D  2105.     See 

Woon. 
Wong-er,  j-.  pillow,  B  2102. 
Woning,  j-.  habitation,  house,  A  606. 
Wonne,  -n;  see  Winne. 
Wood  (wood),  s.  woad,  9.  17. 
Wood  {vi66A),adj.  mad,  A  184,  582,  636; 

mad  with   anger,  D   313 ;    for  wood,   as 

bemg  mad,  madly,   furiously,    L.   2420; 

for  pure   wood,   for   very  rage,  R.    276 ; 

ten  so  wood,  ten  times  as  fierce,  L.  736; 

Wode,  def.  adj.  mad,  T.  ii.  1355. 
Woodeth,  pr.  s.  rages,  G  467. 
Woodly,  adv.  madly,  A  1301. 
Woodnesse,   s.  madness,  rage,  A  2011, 

3452. 
Woon  (woon),  s.  resource,  T.  iv.  1181; 

plenty,    abundance,    L.    1652 ;    number, 

L.  2161 ;  retreat,  secure  place,  HF.  1166 ; 

of  sorwe  ztiipow,  abundance  of  sorrow,  3. 

475  ;  Wones,  pi.  places  of  retreat,  range 

of  buildings,  D  2105. 
Woost,  Woot;  see  Wite. 
Wopen,  //.  of  Wepe. 
W^orcher,  s.  worker,  maker,  4.  261. 
Worcheth,//-.  s.  works,  3.  815. 
Word,   s.  word,   A  304 ;  good  word,  ap- 
proval, T.  v.  1081 ;    w.  by  w.,   word  by 

word,  D  2244 ;  at  shorte  wordes,  briefly, 

in  a  word,  L.   2462;   hadde  the  wordes, 

was  spokesman,  I  67. 
Word  and  ende  {for  Ord  and   ende), 

beginning  and  end,  T.  ii.  1495,  iii.  702, 

v.  1669;   B  391 1. 
Worm-foul,  s.  birds  which   eat  worms, 

5-  SOS- 
Wort,  s.  unfermented  beer,  wort,  G  813. 
Wortes,  pi.  herbs,  B  4411,  E  226. 
Worthen,   v.  be,  dwell,  T.  v.  329;    to 
become,  4.  248;  Worth, /r.  s.  is,  (or,  as 
fut.)    shall  be ;   {hence)   Wo  worth,  it  is 
woe  to,   it  shall  be  woe  to,  it  is  ill  for, 
it  shall  be  ill  for,  T.  ii.  344;   Wei  worth 
of  dremes   ay  thise    olde  wyves,   it    is 
well    for    these    old    wives    as    regards 
dreams,   i.  e.  dreams  are   all  very  well 
for  old   women,  T.  v.  379;  Wei  worth 
[not  worthe]  of  this  thing  grete  clerkes, 
it   is   well   for   great  writers   as   regards 
this   thing,  i.  e.   this   thing    is    all   very 
well  for  great  writers,    HF.   53 ;   Worth 
upon,   gets  upon,    B    1941 ;     Worth   up, 
get  up  on,  mount,  T.  ii.  loii. 
West,  Wostow,  Wot  ;  see  Wite. 


©lossarial  Intiex. 


127 


Wouke,  s.  week,  T.  iv.  1278,  v.  492. 
"Wounde,  J.  wound,  i.  79;  plague  (Lat. 

plasma),  I  593;   Woundes  of  Egipte,  pi. 

plagues     of    Egypt    (unlucky    days    so 

called),  3.  1207. 
Wo  we.  .ft'/-,  to  woo,  T.  V.  1091. 
Wowing,  s.  wooing,  L.  1553. 
Woxen,  //.  of  Wexe. 
Wrak,  J.  wreck,  B  513. 
Wrak,  pf.  s.  avenged,  T.  v.  1468. 
Wrang.  adv.  wrongly,  amiss  (Nortiiern), 

A  4252. 
Wrastlen,  v.  wrestle,  B  3456. 
Wrathen,  ge>:  to   render  angry,  T.  iii. 

174. 
A^T'raw,  adj.  angry,  H  46 ;  Wrawe,  peevish, 

fretful,  I  677. 
Wraw^nesse,  s.  peevishness,  fretfulness, 

I  680. 
Wrecche,  s.  sorrowful  creature,  A  931 ; 

wretched  man,  T.  i.  708. 
Wrecche,  adj.  wretched,  F  1020. 
W^recchednesse,   s.    misery,    B    3540; 

mean  act,  F  1523;  folly,  I  34;  miserable 

performance,  F  1271 ;  miserable  fare,  H 

171. 
Wreche,  s.  vengeance,  T.  v.  890,  896. 
Wreek,  imper.  s.  of  Wreke. 
Wreen,  v.  cover,  clothe,  R.  56 ;  Wreigh, 

pi.  s.  covered,  hid,  T.  iii.  1056. 
Wreke  (wr^ka) ,  v.  wreak,  avenge,  C  857 ; 

//-.  s.  subj.  avenge,  L.  2340 ;    2  pr.  pi.  F 

454;  Wrak,  ft.  s.  T.  v.  1468;   Wreken, 

pp.  revenged,  F  784 ;  Wroken,  //.  T.  i. 

88. 
Wreker,  s.  avenger,  5.  361. 
Wrenches,    s.   pi.    frauds,     stratagems, 

tricks,  G  1081. 
Wreste,  v.  constrain,  force,  T.  iv.  1427. 
Wreye,  v.  bewray,  reveal,  A  3503. 
Wrig-hte,  s.  workman,  A  614. 
Wringe,  v.  squeeze,   force   a   way,  HF. 

21 10;    wring,   HF.   299;    Wrong,  pt.  s. 

wrung,  pinched,  D  492. 
Writ,  J-.  scripture,  A  739. 
Writ,  -e,  -en;  see  Wryte. 
Wroght, -e;  see  Werche. 
Wroken,  pp.  of  Wreke. 
Wrong,  s. ;   had  turong,   was   wrong,   3. 

1282. 
Wrong,  adv.  astray,  A  1267. 
Wrooth  (wrooth),  adj.  wroth,  angry,  3. 

5I3,  519- 
Wrot,  pf.  s.  wrote,  T.  i.  655. 
Wroteth,  pr.  s.  tears  with    the    snout, 

buries  the  snout,  pokes  about,  I  157. 
Wrye,  ger.  to  hide,  T.  iii.  1569;  to  dis- 
guise, T.  i.  329;  V.  cover,  E  887. 


Wrye,  v.  reveal,  discover,  flood  with 
light,  4.  91.  Variant  of  Wreye,  q.  v. 
[It  might  be  better  to  read  wreye,  and 
deye  in  1.  90.] 

Wryen,  v.  turn  aside,  3.  627 ;  ger.  to  turn, 
go,  T.  ii.  906;  pt.  s.  bent,  A  3283. 

Wryte,  v.  write,  A  96;  Writ,  //-.  j. 
writetli,  writes,  T.  i.  394;  Wroot, //".  s. 
B  725  ;  Wrot,  T.  i.  655  ;  Writen,  pt.  pi. 
wrote,  HF.  1504;  Write,  i  //.  .r.  subj. 
were  to  write,  B  3843;  Writen,  //. 
written,  2.  43. 

Wrythe,  ger.  to  turn  aside,  T.  iv.  9;  to 
wriggle  out,  T.  iv.  986;  Wrytheth,  pr. 
s.  writhes  out,  throws  forth  wreaths  of 
smoke  (Lat.  torquet),  B  I.  m  4.  10; 
Wryth,  pr.  s.  writhes,  wreathes,  T.  iii. 
1231. 

Wyd,  adj.  wide,  A  491. 

Wyde,  adv.  widely,  far,  T.  i.  629. 

Wyde-where,  far  and  wide,  everywhere, 
B  136. 

Wyf,  s.  woman,  C  71 ,  wife,  3.  1082;  mis- 
tress of  a  household,  G  1015 ;  to  tu.,  for 
wife,  A  i860 ;  Wyves,  //.  women,  wives, 
L.  484. 

Wyfhood,  s.  womanhood,  B  76. 

Wyflees,  adj.  wifeless,  E  1236. 

Wyfly,  adv.  womanly,  wife-like,  L.  1737. 

Wyke,  s.  week,  T.  ii.  430,  1273. 

Wyle,  J.  wile,  plot,  T.  iii.  1077;  subtlety, 
5-  215. 

Wyn,  s.  wine,  A  334;  -wyn  ape,  H  44, 
wine  which  made  a  man  behave  like  an 
ape  (%o  also  lion-wine,  pig-wine,  sheep- 
wine)  . 

Wynt,  pr.  s.  turns,  directs,  L.  85  ;  Wond, 
pt.  s.  wound,  L.  2253. 

Wyr,  s.  bit,  L.  1205. 

Wys,  adj.  wise,  prudent,  K  (A;  to  make 
it  wys,  to  make  it  a  subject  for  delibera- 
tion, to  hesitate,  A  785. 

Wyse,  s.  way,  manner,  L.  20. 

Wyser,  adj.  wiser,  one  wiser  than  you, 
L.  2634. 

Wyte,  s.  blame,  reproach,  G  953;  yaw  to 
wyte,  for  a  blame  to  you,  i.  e.  laid  to 
your  charge,  R.  1541. 

Wyte,  ger.  to  blame,  T.  i.  825  (under- 
stand is  before  nought)  ;  Wyten,  v. 
accuse,  I  1016. 


Y-,  a  prefix  used  especially  with  the  pp., 
like  the  A.  S.  ge-  and  G.  ge-.  See  below. 
It  also  occurs  in  the  infinitive,  as  in 
y-finde,    y-here,    y-knowe,    y-see,   y-thee. 


[28 


(Slo00artal  KntJei. 


It  also  occurs    in   the   adjective  y-sene. 

For   further  information,  see  under  the 

forms  of  the  infinitive   mood  ;    e.  g.  for 

the  infin.  oiy-bake,  see  Bake. 
Yaf ;  pt.  s.  of  Yeve,  to  give. 
Yald,/A  s.  of  Yelden,  to  yield. 
Yare,  adj.  ready,  L.  2270. 
Yate,  .f.  gate,  T.  ii.  617. 
Yave;  see  Yeve. 
Y-bake,//.  baked,  L.  709. 
Y-banisht,//.  banished,  L.  1863. 
Y-barred, //.  barred,  R.  480. 
Y-bathed,  pp.  bathed,  T.  iv.  815. 
Y-bedded,//.  put  to  bed,  T.  v.  346. 
Y-been,  //.  been,  B  4487. 
Y-benched,//.  furnished  with  benches, 

L.  98  a. 
Y-beten, //.  beaten,   T.  i.  741;   beaten, 

forged,  A  2162;  formed  in  beaten  gold, 

A  979;  struck,  coined,  L.  1122. 
Y-blent,  //.  blinded,  R.  1610;  A  3808; 

deceived,  3.  647. 
Y-blessed,//.  blessed,  B  4638. 
Y-bleynt,  //.  blenched,    turned    aside, 

A  3753- 
Y-blowe,//.  blown,  T.  i.  384. 
Y-boren,//.  bom,  C  704,  E  626;  Y-bore, 

born,  E  158;  borne,  carried,  T.  v.  1650; 

moved,  F  326. 
Y-bought,  pp.  bought,  T.  i.  810. 
Y-bounden,  pp.  bound,  5.  268. 
Y-bowed,  pp.  diverted,  B  4.  p  6.  179. 
Y-brend, //.  burnt,  G  318  ;  Y-brent,  HF. 

940. 
Y-broght,  pp.  brought,  L.  938. 
Y-brouded,  //.  embroidered,  L.   159  a. 

Cf.  A.  S.  brogden,  pp.  of  bregdan. 
Y-caught,  //  fixed,  3.  838. 
Y-chaped, />/.  furnished  with  chapes  or 

metal  caps   (which  were  placed   at   the 

end  of  the  sheath),  A  366. 
Y-cheyned,//.  chained,  17.  14. 
Y-clad,  pp.  clad,  clothed,  R.  890. 
Y-clawed,  pp.  clawed,  torn,  D  1731. 
Y-clenched,   //.    clinched,    riveted,    A 

199 1. 
Y-cleped,  pp.  called,  A  410,  867,  G  129, 

H  2;  invoked,  T.  iv.  504;    summoned, 

B  243s  ;  named,  A  3313  ;  Y-clept,  called, 

A  376. 
Y-comen,  //.  come,   HF.   1074;  ycome 

ahoutc,  come  about,  passed,  B  3364. 
Y-c6rouned.  //.  crowned,  L.  219. 
Y-corumped, //.  corrupted,  B  5.  p  2.28. 
Y-corven,  pp.  cut,   G  533;    Y-corve,   A 

2013.    See  Kerve. 
Y-coupled,//.  coupled,  wedded,  E  1219. 
Y-coyned,  //.  coined,  C  770. 


Y-crased,//.  cracked,  broken,  3.  324. 
Y-cristned,//.  baptized,  B  240. 
Y-crowe,//.  crowed,  A  3357. 
Y-dampned,  //.  condemned,  L.  2030. 
Y-darted,//.  pierced  with  a  dart,  T.  iv. 

240. 
Ydel,  adj.  idle,  empty,  vain,  B  2778;    in 

ydi'l,  in  vain,  B  2494,  F  867. 
Y-dight,  pp.  decked,  A  3205. 
Ydolastre,  s.  idolater,  B  3377. 
Ydole,  s.  idol,  3.  626. 
Y-doon,   pp.    done,    B    4610;     over,    E 

1894. 
Y-drad,  pp.  dreaded,  T.  iii.  1775. 
Y-dra'we,  pp.  drawn,  A  396,  944. 
Y-dressed,  //.   dressed,  arranged,    set, 

E381. 
Y-dronke,  pp  drunk,  B  2601. 
Y-dropped.  //.  bedropped,  covered  with 

drops,  A  2884. 
Ye,  s.  eye,  R.  296 ;  at  ye,  at  eye,  to  sight, 

evidently,  G  964,  1059 ;   Saugh  with  ye, 

perceived,  A  3415 ;  Yen,  //.  eyne,  eyes, 

B  3260,  3392. 
Ye.  adv.  yea,  verily,  T.  i.  534. 
Yeddinges,  //.  songs,  A  237. 
Yede,  //.  s.  walked,  went,  G  1141,  1281. 

A.  S.  code. 
Yeer,  s.  year,  A  347 ;  Yere  (in  phr.  many 

a  yere),  B  132;  Yeres  ende,  year's  end, 

D  916;    Yeer  by  yere,  year  after  year, 

B  1688;  Fro  yeer  to  yere,  5.  321 ;  Yeer, 

(archaic)  pi.  A  82 ;  Yeres,   (new)  pi.  B 

463- 
Yef,  imp.  s.  give,  T.  v.  308. 
Yeftes,  //.  gifts,  T.  iv.  392. 
Yelden,  ger.  to  yield  up,  D  912 ;  to  yield 

to,  pay,  D  1811;  Yelt,  pr.  s.  yields,  T.  i. 

385  ;  Yelde,  pr.  s.  suhj.  requite,  D  1772, 

2177  ;  Yald,  //.  s.  afforded,  B  4.  m  7.  25  ; 

Yeld,   imp.   s.   restore,  C    189;    Yolden, 

pp.  yielded,  T.  i.   801 ;    submissive,   T. 

iii.   96;    Yeldinge,  pres.  pt.  giving,    B 

2994. 
Yeldhalle,  s.  guild-hall,  A  370. 
Yelding,  s    produce,    lit.    'yielding,'    A 

596. 
Yelleden, //.//.  yelled,  B  4579. 
Yelpe,  ger.  to  boast,  A  2238  ;  pr.pl.  prate, 

T.  iii.  307. 
Yel-we,  adj.  yellow,  R.  310. 
Yeman,  s.  yeoman,  A  loi. 
Yemanly,  adv.  in  a  yeomanlike  manner, 

A  106. 
Yen  =  \ex\,pl.  eyes;  see  Ye. 
Y-ended,  pp.  ended,  R.  1315. 
Yerd,  s.  yard,  garden,  R.  492. 
Yerde,  .f.  rod,  stick,  T.  i.  257, 740 ;  switch. 


©lossarial  CntiEi. 


29 


A    149;   rod,   'caduceus,'  A   1387;  yard 

(in  length),  A  1050;  correction,  E  22. 
Yerne,  adj.  eager,  brisl<,  lively,  A  3257. 
Yerne,  ai/z-.  eagerly,  soon,  D  993;  briskly, 

quickly,  glibly,  5.  3;  C  398;   <»;'.,  very 

soon,  HF.  910. 
Yerne,  ger.  to  yearn  for,  to  be   longed 

for,  T.  iv.  198 ;  v.  desire,  T.  iii.  152. 
Yeten  (y^fetsn),  -v.  pour,  shed,  B  i.  m  7.  i. 

A.  S.  geotan. 
Yeve,    V.   give,   A   232;  Yevest,    2  pr.  s. 

givest,    F    1033;    Yeveth,  pr.    s.   E  93 ; 

Ye\e,pr.  s.  siihj.  may  (he)  give,  E  30; 

Yaf,  I  pt.  s.  gave,  E  861;  Yaven,//.  pi. 

G  415;  \<ts&x\,  pt.  pi.  subj.  would   give, 

HF.    1708;   Yeven,  //.   given,   A    1086; 

devoted,  7.  iii. 
Yeveres,  //.  givers,  I  791. 
Yeving,  s.  giving,  18.  37  ;  what  one  gives, 

4.  230. 
Yexeth,//-.  j.  hiccoughs,  A  4151. 
Y-fallen,  //.  fallen,   B  3166;   happened, 

G  1043;  having  befallen,  C  496. 
Y-fare,  //.  gone,  T.  iii.  577. 
Y-fela'Wshiped,  //.  made  companions, 

B  2.  p  6.  91. 
Y-fere,  together,  B  394,  E  1113,  G  380.    Cf. 

Infere. 
Y-fet,  pp.  fetched,  F  174,  G  1116. 
Y-fetered,//.  fettered,  A  1229. 
Y-fethered,//.  feathered,  R.  951. 
Y-feyned,    //.      feigned,     invented,     L. 

327  a ;  evaded,  E  529. 
Y-flcched,//.  fixed,  B  4.  p  6. 125. 
Y-flnde,  v.  find,  F  470;  Y-founde,//.  L. 

1668. 
Y-flit,  //.  moved,  whirled  along,  B  i.  m 

2.  14. 
Y-folowed,//.  followed,  3.  390. 
Y-forged,  pp.  made,  A  3256. 
Y-formed,  //.  created,  HF.  490. 
Y-fostred,  pp.  fostered,  sustained,  E  213  ; 

brought  up,  A  3946. 
Y-founde,  pp.  found,  A  1211,  3514. 
Y-founded,  //.  set   on  a  foundation,  5. 

231 ;  based,  3.  922. 
Y-freten,  //.  eaten,  devoured,  L.  1951. 
Y-frounced,  adj.  wrinkled,  R.  155. 
Y-fyned,  adj.  refined,  delicately  formed, 

R.  i6q6. 
Y-fyred,  pp.  fired,  L.  1013. 
Y-gerdoned,  //.   rewarded,    B  5.   p   3. 

182. 
Y-geten,//.  gotten,  procured,  A  3564. 
Y-glased,  //.  glazed,  3.  323. 
Y-glewed,  //.  fixed  tight,  F  182. 
Y-glosed, />/.  flattered,  H  34. 
Y-goon,//.  gone,  L.  2206,  2213. 


Y-graunted,  //.  granted,  C  388. 
Y-grave,  pp.  dug  up,  cut,  L.  204;  dug 

out,  3.   164;  engraved,  graven,  A  3796; 

buried,  D  496. 
Y-greved,//.  harmed,  A  4181. 
Y-grounde, //.  ground,  A  3991;  sharp- 
ened, pointed,  A  2549. 
Y-grounded,//.  grounded,  3.  921. 
Y-growen,  pp.  grown,  A  3973. 
Y-halwed, //.  consecrated,  L.  1871. 
Y-harded,//.  hardened,  F  245. 
Y-hated,//.  hated,  HF.  200. 
Y-hent,  //.  seized,  caught,  C  868. 
Y-herd,  pp.  as  adj.   covered  with    hair, 

A  3738. 
Y-here,  v.  hear,  T.  iv.  1313. 
Y-heried,  //.  praised,  T.  ii.  973. 
Y-hevied,//.  weighed  down,  B  5.  m  5. 

26. 
Y-hid,  //.  hid,  G  317. 
Y-hight,  //.  called,  T.  v.  541. 
Y-holde,  pp.   esteemed   to   be,   A   2374; 

celebrated,  A  2958;  considered,  C  602; 

indebted,  L.   1954;  continued,  E   1932; 

restrained,  HF.  1286. 
Y-hurt,  //.  hurt,  A  2709. 
Y-japed,//.  jested,  T.  i.  318. 
I   Yif,  conj.  if,  L.  2059,  2312. 
I   Yif,  imp.  s.  give  ;  see  Yive. 
Yift,  s.  gift,  3.  247,  69s,  1270. 
Yilden,    ger.    to    repay,    B   5.   p    i.    14; 

Yildeth,    pr.    s.    yields,   produces,    B   4. 

m  6.  31.    See  Yelden. 
Y-joigned,  //.  joined,  B  2.  p  6.  93. 
Yis,  yes,  L.  517. 
Yisterday,  yesterday,  R.  1040. 
Yit,  yet,  L.  4,  io6. 
Yive,  g^r.  to  give,  A  225;  Yiveth,/r.  s. 

gives,  18.  38  ;  pr.  s.  subj.  may  (he)  give, 

3.  683  ;  Yiven,//.  given,  granted,  3.  765. 
Yiver,  s.  giver,  L.  2228. 
Y-kempt,//.  combed,  A  4369. 
Y-kist,//.  kissed,  T.  iv.  1689. 
Y-kneled,  //.  kneeled,  L.  1232. 
Y-knet,  //.    knotted,   tightly   bound,  T. 

iii.  1734  ;  Y-knit,  joined,  6.  32. 
Y-knowe,   v.   know,  F  887 ;    recognize, 

HF.  1336;  discern,  D  1370;  //.  known, 
_3-  392- 

Y-korven,  pp.  cut,  B  1801. 
Y-koud,//.  known  well,  3.  666. 
Y-lad,//.  carried  (in  a  cart),  A  530. 
Y-laft,    //.    left,    A    2746;    left  behind, 

F  1128. 
Y-laid,  //.  laid,  L.  2141. 
Y-lain,  //.  lain,  remained,  L.  2410. 
Yle,  s.  isle,  island,  HF.  416,  44a;  region, 

province,  L.  1425. 


[30 


(glosgartal  Inbzx. 


Y-lent,  j9^.  lent,  G  1406. 

Y-lered,//.  educated,  T.  i.  976. 

Y-let,   //.    hindered,    obstructed,    B    5. 

P  4-  34- 
Y-leten,  />p.    left,    allowed,    B    4.    p    4. 

308. 
Y-leyd,  //.  laid,  A  3568. 
Y-liche,  adj.  alike,  similar,  L.  389. 
Y-liche,  adv.  alike,  equally,  A  2526. 
Y-lissed,  //.  eased,  T.  i.  1089. 
Y-lived,//.  lived,  T.  v.  933. 
Y-logge6.,pp.  lodged,  B  4181. 
Y-loren,  pp.  lost,  L.  26;  \ -lorn, pp.  lost, 

T.  iv.  1250. 
Y-lost.  pp.  lost,  HF.  183. 
Y-loved,  //.  loved,  T.  i.  594. 
Y-lyk,  adj.   like,  A  592;   alike,  A   2734; 

V-lyke,  like,  A  1539. 
Y-lyke,  adv.  alike,  equally,  L.  55,  731. 
Y-lymed,//.  caught  (as  birds  with  bird- 
lime), D  934. 
Y-maad,//.  made,  caused,  HF.  691. 
Yraag'6ries,  //.  carved  work,  HF.  1190, 

1304. 
Ymagined,  //.   considered,   intentional, 

I  448. 
Y-maked,  ;#^.  made,  L.  122,  222. 
Y-marked,  //.  set  down,   marked  out, 

planned,  HF.  1103. 
Y-masked, //.  enmeshed,  T.  iii.  1734. 
Y-medled,//.  mingled,  T.  iii.  815. 
Y-mel,  p/ep.  among  (Northern),  A  4171. 
Y-ment,  pp.  intended,  HF.  1742. 
Y-met,  //•  met,  A  2624 ;   Y-mette,  as  pi. 

adj.  met.  B  1115. 
Y-meynd,//.  mixed,  mingled,  A  2170. 
Y-moeved,  pp.  moved,  B  4.  m  6.  7. 
Ympne,   s.   lyric    poem    (lit.  hymn),   L. 

422. 
Y-mused.  //.    mused,    reflected,    HF. 

1287. 
Y-nempned,  //.  named,  I  598. 
Y-nogh,  adj.  enough,  sufficient,  A  373, 

3149;    Y-now,   G   1018;    Y-nowe,  //.  5. 

233- 
Y-nogh,  adv.  enough,  sufficiently,  6.  13 ; 

Y-nough,  R.  247. 
Y-nome,  pp.  caught,  overcome,  T.  i.  242; 

taken,  L.  2343. 
Y-norisshed,  //.  educated,  T.  v.  821. 
Y-ottred,  pp.  offered,  dedicated,  L.  932. 
Yok,  s.  yoke,  E  113.  1285. 
Yolde,  -n  ;  see  Yelden. 
Yolle,/r.//.  cry  aloud,  A  2672. 
Yomanrye,  s.  yeomanry,  A  3949. 
Yon,  adj.  yon,  A  4178. 
Yond,  adv.  yonder,  A  1099. 
Yong,  adj.  young,  A  79. 


Yonghede,  s.  dat.  youth,  R.  351. 

Yore,  adv.  formerly,  of  old,  B  174,  272 ; 
for  a  long  time,  a  long  while,  A  1813 ; 
long  ago,  long,  i.  150;  yore  agon,  long 
ago,  5.  17  ;  yore  ago,  A  3437 ;  //i/y.,  very 
long  ago,  7.  243,  346;  of  tyme  y.,  of  old 
time,  F  963. 

Youling,  5.  loud  lamentation,  A  1278. 

Y-painted,  //.  painted,  R.  892. 

Y-passed,  //.  passed,  R.  380;  past, 
E  1892. 

Y-payed,  //.  paid,  A  1802. 

Y-piked,  //.  picked  over,  G  941. 

Y-plesed.  //.  pleased,  D  930. 

Y-pleyned, //.  complained,  T.  iv.  1688. 

Y-pleynted,  //.  full  of  complaint,  T.  v. 
1597- 

Y-plounged,  pp.  plunged,  sunk,  B  3. 
p  II.  122. 

Y-plyted,  //.  pleated,  gathered,  B  i. 
P  2.  31- 

Ypocras,  Hippocrates;  hence  a  kind  of 
cordial,  C  306. 

Ypocryte,  s.  hypocrite,  F  514. 

Y-portreyd,  //.  covered  with  pictures, 
R.  897. 

Y-porveyed,  //.  foreseen,  B  5.  p  3.  45. 

Y-prayed,//.  invited,  E  269. 

Y-preised,//.  praised,  HF.  1577. 

Y-preved,//.  proved  (to  be),  A  485. 

Y-pulled,  //.  plucked,  i.  e.  with  super- 
fluous hairs  plucked  out,  A  3245. 

Y-purveyed,  //.  foreseen,  B  5.  p  3.  88. 

Y-queynt.  //.  quenched,  A  3754. 

Y-quiked,//.  kindled,  I  536. 

Y-quit, //.  quit,  acquitted,  F  673. 

Y-raft,  //.  bereft,  snatched  away,  A  2015 ; 
reft,  robbed,  L.  1572. 

Yre,  s.  ire,  anger,  vexation,  i.  30. 

Y-red,//.  read,  T.  iv.  799. 

Y-reke,  //.  raked  together,  A  3882. 

Y-rekened,  //.  accounted,  D  367 ;  taken 
into  account,  F  427. 

Yren,  s.  iron,  R.  1184. 

Yren,  adj.  iron,  G  759. 

Y-rent,  //.  taken,  T.  v.  1654;  torn,  B 
844. 

Y-ronge,  //.  rung,  told  loudly,  HF. 
1655- 

Y-ronne, //.  run,  A  8,  3893;  continued, 
L.  1943;  run  together,  A  2693;  inter- 
laced, R.  1396;    clustered,  A  2165. 

Y-rouued, //.  whispered,  HF.  2107. 

Y-satled,  pp.  settled,  E  2405. 

Y-sayd,//.  said,  3.  270. 

Y-scalded,  //.  scalded,  A  2020. 

Y-schette, //.//.  shut,  B  560. 

Yse,  s.  ice,  HF.  1130. 


#lo00arial  hibtx. 


131 


Y-see,  V.  behold,  T.  ii.  354;  m/.  j.  see,   ; 
look,  T.  ii.   1253;    Y-seyn,  //.  seen,   L. 
2076. 

Y-sene,  adj.  visible,  A  592,  F  996;  mani- 
fest, T.  iv.  1607;  L.  1394.    A.S.^esene,   1 

Y-set,  pp.  set,  A  4337  ;  placed,  5.  149 ;  set  j 

down,  F  173  ;  seated,  C  392;  appointed, 

A  163s  ;  planted,  R.  604. 
Y-seye, //.  seen,  HF.  1367 ;  Y-seyn,  T.  v. 

448. 
Y-seyled,  //.  sailed,  B  4289. 
Y-shad,  //.  scattered  (Lat.  spa/sas),  B  3. 

ni  2.  33. 
Y-shaken,  pp.  quivering,  sparkling,  B  i. 

m  3.  17. 
Y-shamed,//.  put  to  shame,  HF.  356. 
Y-shapen,  {strong)  pp.  shaped,  prepared, 

B  3420;    provided,  A  4179;    contrived, 

G  1080 ;  Y-shaped,  {weak)  pp.  prepared, 

T.  iii.  1240. 
Y-shave,  pp.  shaven,  A  690. 
Y-shent,   //.    put    to    shame,    severely 

blamed,  D  1312. 
Y-shette,  //.  pi.  shut,  B  2159. 
Y-shewed,  //.  shown,  T.  v.  1251 ;  made 

manifest,  4.  181. 
Y-shore,  pp.  shorn,  T.  iv.  996. 
Y-shove,//i.  borne  about,  L.  726. 
Y-slayn,  //.  slain,   HF.    159;    Y-slawe, 

B484. 
Y-smite,   //.    smitten,    wounded,    B    3. 

m  7.7. 
Y-songe,  pp.  sung,  D    1726;    Y-songen, 

L.  270. 
Y-sought,  pp.  sought,  T.  iii.  1317. 
Y-sounded,  //.  sunk,  T.  ii.  535. 
Y-sowen,  pp.  sown,  HF.  1488. 
Y-sped,  //.  sped,  A  4220. 
Y-spended,//.  spent,  B  5.  p  4.  15. 
Y-sprad,  pp.  spread,  B  1644;    Y-spred, 

A  4140. 
Y-spreynd,//i.  sprinkled,  A  2169. 
Y-spronge, />;>.  sprung,  shot  out,  R.  718; 

divulged,  HF.  2081. 
Y-stalled, //.  installed,  HF.  1364. 
Y-stiked,  //.   stuck,  A    1565;    stabbed, 

F  1476. 
Y-stint,  pp.  stopped,  D  390. 
Y-stonde,  pp.  stood,  been,  T.  v.  1612. 
Y-stonge,  pp.  stung,  C  355. 
Y-storve,  pp.  dead,  A  2014. 
Y-strawed, /■/.  bestrewn,  3.  629. 
Y-strike,  pp.  struck,  11.  34. 
Y-suffred,  pp.  suffered,  T.  v.  415. 
Y-sweped,  //.  swept,  G  938. 
Y-sworn, />/*.  sworn,  A  1132;   sworn  (to 

do  it),  T.  V.  283. 


Y-swowned, //.  swowned,  L.  1342. 
Y-take,  //.  caught,  B  3514;    taken,   L. 

617. 
Y-thanked,//.  thanked,  D  21 18. 
[   Y-thee,  v.  thrive,  T.  iv.  439. 
I   Y-thewed,  //.  disposed  ;    wel  y-thewcd, 
j       well-conducted,  5.  47  ;   R.  1008. 
Y-thonked,  pp.  thanked,  T.  iv.  2. 
Y-throngen, //.  confined,  B  2.  p  7.  53. 
Y-throwe,//.  thrown,  T.  iv.  6;  cast  out, 

2.  89. 
Y-told,  pp.  told,  A  3109. 
Y-torned, //.  turned,  B  4.  m  5.  i. 
Y-travailed,//.  laboured,  with  difficulty, 

E  5.  p  3.  45. 
Y-trespassed,  pp.  sinned,  B  2609. 
Y-tressed,  //.  plaited   in   tresses,   T.  v. 

810. 
Y-treted,  //.  discussed,  B  4.  p  i.  70. 
Y-tukked,  pp.  tucked  up,  L.  982. 
J   Y-turned,  pp.  turned,  A  1238,  2062. 
j   Y-twinned,  //.  parted,  T.  iv.  788. 
I  Yve,  B4156;  see  Erbe. 
;   Yvel,  adj.  ill,  evil,  T.  ii.  looi. 
Yvel,  adv.  ill,  R.  213,  1067. 
Yveles,  s.pl.  evils,  B  2618. 
Yvory,    j.    ivory,    B    2066;     Yvoire,    3. 

946. 
Y-voyded,  pp.  removed,  F  1159. 
Y-war,  adj.  aware,  T.  ii.  398. 
Y-warned,  pp.  warned,  B  4422. 
Y-'waxen,  pp.  grown,  become,  T.  v.  275 ; 

Y-waxe,  3.  1275. 
Y-wedded,  pp.  wedded,  L.  1179. 
Y-went,  //.  gone,  HF.  976. 
Y-'went,   //.    weened,    imagined,    T.    v. 

444- 
Y-wet,  pp.  wetted,  A  4155. 
Y-whet,  pp.  whetted,  7.  212. 
Y-wimpled,  //.  provided  with  a  wimple, 

A    470;     covered    with    a    wimple,    L. 

797- 
Y-wis,    adv.    certainly,    truly,    verily,    R. 

279.  35°.  357- 
Y-WlSt,  //.  known,  B  5.  p  3.  36. 
Y-wonne,  //.  gained,  T.  iv.  1315;  won, 

D  2293 ;  arrived,  L.  2427. 
Y-worthe,//.  become,  3.  579. 
Y-wrounde,  //.  wound,  covered  up,  12. 

18. 
Y-woven,    //.    woven,     completed,    L. 

2360. 
Y-woxen,  //.  grown,  E  1462. 
Y--writen,  //.  written,  5.  124,  141. 
Y-writhen,     //.     wreathed,      wrapped 

round,  R.  160. 
Y-wroght,  //.   made,  A   196,   B   2054; 

shaped,  L.  1173  ;  depicted,  3.  327  ;  orna- 


132 


(glossartal  l^nbtx. 


mented,     R.     897;     Y-wroghte,    //.    //. 

Z. 

fashioned,  5.  123. 

Y-wroken,  //.  avenged,  16.  26 ;  Y-\vroke, 

Zeles,  pL  zeal,  T.  v.  1859. 

wreaked,  T.  v.  589. 
Y-wronge,  />/.  forced,  I>.  2527. 

Zodia,  s.  pi.  beasts,  A.  i.  21.  61. 

Zodiac,  s.  zodiac,  A.  pr.  109.    An  imagi- 

Y-wryen,//.  hidden,  1.  iii.  1451;   cov- 

nary belt  in  the  heavens,  of  the  breadth 

ered,  A  2904. 

of  12°,  along  the  middle  of  which  runs 

Y-yeve.  />/>.  given,   T.  iii.  1376;    Y-yive, 

the  ecliptic.    The  Astrolabe  only  showed 

T.  iii.  1611. 

the  northern  halfoi  this  belt. 

GLOSSARY  TO   FRAGMENTS   B  AND   C  OF 
THE    ROMAUNT    OF    THE    ROSE. 

FRAGMENT  B  =  11.  1706-5810. 
FRAGMENT   C  =  11.  5811-7698. 

The  following  Glossary  (which  includes  proper  names)  is  separated  from  the  preceding  because 
Fragments  B  and  C  of  the  Romaunt  are  not  by  Chaucer. 

Fragment  B  abounds  in  Northern  words  and  forms.  Words  in  Fragment  C  have  '  C  '  prefixed 
to  the  number  of  the  line. 


A,  V.  (to)  have,  4322. 

Abandoun:    in  abandoun,  fully,  without 

stint,  2342. 
Abawed,    pp.    amazed,   3646;    Abawid, 

4041. 
Abaysshed,  //.  cast  down,  3370. 
Abey,  V.  {/or  Abeye),  suffer  (for  it),  pay 

(for  it),  C  6713.    See  Abye. 
Abiding,  s.  delay,  2222. 
Abit,  s.  habit,  dress,  religious  dress,  4914. 
Abit,  Abood;  see  Abyde. 
Abood.  s.  delay,  C  7697. 
Aboven,  adv.  in  luck,  4352. 
Abraide,  v.  start  up,  break  forth,  5156; 

Abraid,  i  pt.  s.  awoke,  1806;  Abreyde, 

//.  s.  broke  out,  3967. 
Abrede,  adv.  abroad,  2563. 
Absente,    pr.    s.    suhj.   abstain,    refrain, 

4911. 
Abstinence-Streyned,  i.  e.  Constrained 

Abstinence  (personified),  C  6341,  7366. 
Abyde,  ger.  to  await,  4910;    v.   expect, 

5329 ;     watch    for,    4913 ;     Abit,    pr.    s. 

dwells,  4977,  4989;   stays,  5012;  Abood, 

I  pt.  s.  endured,  waited,  3694. 
Abye,  v.  pay  for,  C  5888,  5976;  Abyeth, 

pr.  s.  C  7642. 
Accord,  I  pr.  s.  agree  to,  2083  ;  Accorded, 

pi.  pi.  agreed,  C  5815 ;   pp.  reconciled, 

C  5846. 


A-cold,  adj.  cold,  chilly,  2658. 

Acoye,  v.  quiet,  allay,  3564. 

Acquyte,  v.  defray  the  expense,  pay  for, 

C  6742. 
Ado  (for  at  do),  to  do,  5080. 
A-fere,  adv.  on  fire,  4073. 
Afered,  //.  afraid,  3604. 
Affray,  s.  terror,  3866;  fear,  2034. 
Affrayed, //.  frightened,  3113. 
Affye,  V.  trust,  3155. 
Aforn,  adv.  formerly,  3952. 
Aftir,  prep,  according  to,  2255. 
Afyne,  adv.  completely,  3690. 
Agast,  adj.  afraid,  C  6106. 
Ageyn-coming,  s.  returning,  2518. 
Ageyns,  prep,  in  comparison  with,  5536. 
Agilte,  pr.   s.  sinned    against,  offended, 

C  5833,  6784;  Agiltest,  Q.pt.  s.  C  7572. 
Ago,  pp.  gone,  2932. 
A-gree,  adv.  in  good  part,  4349. 
A-greef ,  adv.  in  bad  part ;  faie  not  agree/, 

take  it  not  amiss,  C  7573. 
Aken,  v.  ache,  C  6908. 
Al,  co>ij.  although,  1754. 
Al-day,  adv.  continually,  2484. 
Alder,  adj.  gen.  pi.  of  (us)  all,  C  6948. 
Alderflrst,  adv.  first  of  all,  C  7505. 
Alegged,  //.  //.   alleviated,   1768.     See 

Allege. 
Aleggement,  s.  alleviation,  1890,  1923. 


^11 


134 


(ilagsarial  Inbtx. 


Algate,  adv.  alway,  always,  5157,  C  7477  ; 

at  any  rate,  C  7152. 
Allege,  V.  exempt  (lit.  alleviate),  C  6626; 

Alleggith,/^.  s.  alleviates,  2588. 
Allegeaunce,  j.  alleviation,  1871. 
AllO'we,  V.  approve  of,  value,  5186. 
Almesse,  s.  alms,  C  6624. 
Al-only,  ,idv.  alone,  C  5819. 
Alosed,//.  noted,  famed,  2354. 
Al-OUt,  adzi.  altogether,  2101,  2935. 
Al-outerly,  adv.  utterly,  C  6302,  7663. 
Alowe,  V.  accept,  approve  of,  5175. 
Also,  to/tj.  as,  C  6767. 
Amende,  v.  advance,  succeed,  C  5876. 
Among',  adv.  sometimes,  2325,  3241,  3304. 
Amourettes,  s.p/.  sweethearts,  4755. 
Amyas,  a  curious  error ;    for  At  Myas, 

i.  e.  at  Meaux,  3826.     F.  text,  a  Afiaus. 
And,  co/ij.  if,  2051,  4441. 
Anger,  s.  pain,  anguish,  1877;    Angres, 

/>/.  torments,  2554,  3789. 
Angerly,  adv.  cruelly,  3511. 
Angre,  ^f/-.  to  vex,  3526. 
Angry,  adj.  cruel,  2628,  3265. 
Anguissous,  adj.  anxious,  1755. 
Anker,  s.  an  anchoress,  a  female  recluse 

shut    up   either   in    a    cell    attached    to 

a    church,   or   living   under   a    religious 

rule  in  her  own  house,  C  6348. 
Anon-right,  adv.  straightway,  1778. 
Anoy,  J.  discomfort,  pain,  vexation,  1919, 

2099,  4404. 
Anoynt.//>.  anointed,  1888. 
Apaired,//.  s.  injured,  C  7522. 
Apayed,  //.  satisfied,  2854,  5631. 
Apercey ved, //.  s.  perceived,  C  6312. 
Aperceyving,  s.  perception,  C  6318. 
Apart,  adj.  open,  obvious,  C  6621. 
Apostlis  newe,  i.  e.  the  preaching  friars, 

C  6270. 
Apparence,  s.  mere  outward  appearance, 

5550 ;  evidence,  C  7660. 
Apparent,  adj.  distinct,  2583. 
Appert,  adj.  open,  C  6150.    See  Apert. 
Appose,   V.  oppose,   C   6555,  7146.     F. 

text,  oposer. 
A-queynt.  pp.  acquainted,  3080. 
Aqueyntable,  adj.  affable,  2213. 
Arace,  v.  pull  out,  1752. 
Arblasters,j.//.men  with  crossbows, 4196. 
Aresdneth,  pr.  s.  reasons  with,  argues, 

C  6220. 
Arest,  s.  rest  (for  a  spear),  C  7561. 
Arette,  v.  impute,  3327. 
Areyse,  v.  raise  up,  4361 ;  rouse,  C  7159. 
A-rowe,  adv.  in  a  row,  C  7606. 
Ascape,  v.  escape,  get  out  of  the  diffi- 
culty, C  6515. 


Asker,  s.  one  who  begs,  C  6674. 

A-slope,  adv.  aside,  awry,  4464. 

Assay,  s.  attempt,  3449;   quality,  temper, 

.  4350. 

Assayed,//,  tried,  proved,  2688. 

Asseth,  a  sufficiency,  5600. 

Assoile,  V.  absolve,  C  6364 ;  //.  explained, 
C  6557. 

Assoiling,  s.  absolving,  C  6412. 

Assured,  pp.  secured,  4309. 

Astat,  s.  state,  plight,  2416;  Astate,  con- 
dition, 4672,  C  6856. 

Astoned,//.  astonished,  3859. 

A-sundir,  adv.  diversely,  4477. 

A-S'wone,  in  a  swoon,  1736. 

At,  prep,  at  the  hands  of,  from,  C  6870; 
At  al,  at  all  points,  5249 ;  a(  leeste  way, 
at  least,  C  5827  ;  at  zvofdis  fewe,  in  a  few 
words,  briefly,  2129. 

Attendith,  /;•.  .(.  attaches  itself,  apper- 
tains, 5309. 

Attour,  .f.  array,  3718. 

Augustins,  s.  'pi.  Austin  Friars,  C  7461. 

Aumenere,  5.  purse  for  alms,  2271. 

Auntre,  v.  reji.  venture,  2495. 

Avale,  V.  descend,  1803. 

Avaunced,/^.  promoted,  C  6951 ;  helped, 
3468. 

Avaunt,  adv.  in  advance,  forward,  3959, 
4790. 

Avaunt,  v.  reJl.  boast,  4788. 

Avauntage,  s.  profit,  5808. 

Avenaunt,  adj.  becoming,  seemly,  2058; 
pleasant,  3679;   condescending,  4622. 

Aventure,  s.  chance,  fortune,  fate,  2118, 
4376;   case,  C  7308. 

Avouterye,  s.  adultery,  4954. 

Avysed,  1  pt.  s.  reJl.;  Avysed  me,  ap- 
plied myself,  1807. 

Awayte.  s.  ambush,  4497. 

A'wayted,  //.  watched ;  awayted  with, 
watched  by,  3066. 

Axe,  V.  ask[  C  6559. 

Ayeinea,  prep,  against,  C  7178. 


Bachilere,  s.  young  knight,  2828. 

Bagge,  s.  purse,  C  6834. 
i   Baillye,    s.   custody,   jurisdiction,    4217; 
j       enclosure,  C  7574. 
I   Balaunce,  s.  suspense,  4667. 
I   Balis,  s.pl.  troubles,  sorrows,  4441. 

Bane,  ,f.  death,  4491. 

Baren.  pf.pt.  bare,  C  6243. 

Baronage,   s.   the    assembly   of  barons, 
i       C  5812. 

I  Bataile,  s.  host,  C  5849;  //.  battalions, 
C  7348. 


Eomaunt  of  t\)z  Eose:  Parts 


135 


Batayled,  pp.  battlemented,  4200. 

Bate,  s.  strife,  4235. 

Baud,  adj.  jolly  (lit.  bold),  5674. 

Bayly,  s.  bailiff,  C  6218. 

Beau-sire,  s.  fair  sir,  C  6053. 

Bede,  v.  stretch  out  (lit.  proiTer),  1710. 

Bede,  pt  s.  subj.  might  pray,  C  7374. 

Bedels,  s.pl.  officers,  C  6812. 

Beggar,   s.   Beguin,    hence,    mendicant, 

C  7282  ;  Beggers,  Beguins,  C  7256. 
Begyne,  j.  Beguine,  C  7368. 
Bemes,  s.  pi.  trumpets,  C  7605. 
Berafte,   pt.   pi.    suhj.    should    deprive, 

C  6669. 
Bern,  .v.  barn,  5589. 
Besaunt,  s.  bezant,  5592. 
Besinesse,  s.  diligence,  3624. 
Bestial,  adj.  stupid,  C  6716. 
Bete,  pr.  s.  subj.  cure,  4441. 
Bialacoil,  i.  e.  Bial  Acoil,  Fair  Reception, 

2984,  2999,  301 1. 
Big'oon,  adj.  ;  wel  bigoon,  well  off,  5533- 
Bigyns,  s.pl.  Beguines,  C  6861. 
Biheest,  s.  promise,  4446,  4474. 
Bihote,  V.  promise,  4446. 
Bihove,  s.  dat.  behoof,  2964. 
Bilefte,  \pt.  s.  remained,  3360. 
Bimene,    imp.  s.   rejl.    bemoan    thyself, 

2667. 
Biset,  pt.  s.  employs,  5262. 
Bishet, pp.  shut  up  (in  prison),  4488. 
Bit,  pr.  s.  abides,  5330. 
Bitaught,  pf.  s.  commended,  4438. 
Bitrasshed, //.  betrayed,  3910. 
Blake,    adj.  pi.    black    (monks),    Bene- 
dictines, C  6695. 
Blende,  ger.  to   blind,  to  deceive,  3954; 

Blent,//,  deceived,  C  6652. 
Blered,  //.  bleared,   dimmed,   deceived, 

3912. 
Blinne,  v.  desist  from,  C  661 1. 
Blyve,  adv.  quickly;  as  bl.,  very  quickly, 

2799. 
Boden,  //.  commanded,  2721. 
Boece,  Boethius,  5661. 
Book ;    (lie   book,   i.   e.  the    Canon    Law, 

C  6385  ;  the  Bible,  C  6636. 
[Borders,  s.pl.  C  691 1.     Better  reading: 

for  burdens.] 
Bordillers,  s.  pi.  brothel-keepers,  C  7034. 
Borowe,  s.  pledge,  C  7331. 
Bosarde,  s.  buzzard,  4033. 
Bote,  -f.  remedv,  1760. 
Botes,  s.  pi.  boots,  2265,  C  7262. 
Botoun,  s.  bud,  1721,  1761,  2960. 
Bougerons,  s.pl.  sodomites,  C  7022. 
Bought,  //. ;  a  bought,  to  have  bought, 

4322. 


Bountee,   .f.   kindness,    3147;    goodness, 

C  6597. 
Braide,  ger.   to   bestir    itself,  wake    up, 

C7128. 
Braste,  ger.  to  burst,  3186. 
Brede,  s.  breadth;  on  br.,  abroad,  3635. 
Breken,  v.  disobey,  3478. 
Brenne,  v.  burn,  2475. 
Brenning,  s.  burning,  2727. 
Brere,  .f.  briar,  C  6191. 
Brest,  V.  burst,  4107. 
Breve,  adj.  short,  2350. 
Brimme,  adj.  cruel,  1836. 
Brocages,  s.pl.  contracts,  C  6971. 
Brond,  s.  fire-brand,  3706. 
Burdens,  error  for  Borders,  C  6911. 
Burdoun,  s.  staff,  cudgel,  3401. 
Burnettes,  s.  pi.   dresses   made   of  fine 

woollen  cloth  dyed  brown,  4756. 
But-if,  couj.  unless,  1962. 
Buxom,  adj.  obedient,  pliant,  4419. 
By ,  prep,  in,  C  6616;   beside,  C  7032. 
By   and   by,   in   order,  2345 ;    precisely, 

4581. 
Bye,  V.  buy,  pay  for,  2052. 
By  tinge,  pres.  part,  cutting,  C  7420. 


Caas,  s.  case,    plight,    3374;   //.   cases, 

C  6759. 
Caleweys,  s.pl.  soft,  sweet  pears  (which 

came  from  Cailloux    in   Burgundy),  C 

7043- 
Calle,  V.  recall,  3974. 
Camelyne,  s.  camel's-hair  stuff",  C  7367. 
Can,  I  pr.  s.  (I)  know,  4796;  pr.  s.  under- 
stands,   C    5872;    Can    him    no    thank, 

offers    him    no     thanks,     21 12;     Canst, 

2  pr.  s.  feelest,  4399. 
Caribdis,  Charybdis,  4713. 
Carmes,  s.  pi.  Carmelites,  White  Friars, 

C  7462. 
Cas,  s.  occasion,  C  7481. 
Caste,  V.  reji.  apply  himself,  2031 ;  Cast, 

//-.  s.  casts,  4330 ;  considers,  5620 ;  Caste, 

pt.  s.  rejl.  set  himself,  i860. 
Castels  in  Spayne,  castles  in  the  air, 

2S7.S. 
Casting,  s.  vomit,  C  7288. 
Catel,  s.  property,  5376. 
Cause  ;  in  cause,  to  blame,  4525. 
Caytif,  s.  poor  wretch,  3554. 
Chace,  v.  chase  away ;   do  ch.,  caused  to 

be  chased  away,  C  7534. 
Chafe,  V.  irritate,  3685. 
Chamberere,  s.  chamber-maid,  4935. 
Chanoun,  .j.  canon,  3278. 


136 


©lagsarial  Inttx. 


Chapitre,  s.  chapter,  C  6532. 
Chapman,  s.  trader,  5591. 
Chargid.  //.  s.  instructed,  2145. 
Chasteleyn,    s.  castellan,    governor    of 

a  castle,  C  6327. 
Chasteleyne,  s.  the  wife  of  a  chastelain 

or  governor  of  a  castle,  3740. 
Chastye,  i  //•.  s.  reprove,  C  6993. 
Chere,     s.    countenance,     favour,     3952; 

appearance,  5486,  C  6474;  delight,  3805. 
Cherete,  s.  fondness,  3516. 
Chese,  v.  choose,  4426;  Chese  .  .  .  hem 

\o,  pr.pl.  choose  for  themselves,  C  6230. 
Chevered,  pp.  shivered,  1732. 
Chevisaunce,  s.  resource,  remedy,  3337. 
Ctievise,   v.    occupy    himself  (for    me), 

manage  (for    me),   settle    my   cause,   C 

6425. 
Chiche.  adj.  parsimonious,  5588. 
Chideresse,  s.  scold,  virago,  4266. 
Chinche,  adj.  mean,  avaricious,  C  5998. 

Nasalised  form  of  Chiche. 
Chinchy,  adj.  mean,  grudgmg,  niggardly, 

C  6002. 
Ciergis,//.  wax  tapers,  C  6248. 
Clarree,  s.  a  sweet  liquor  consisting  of 

a    mixture  of  wine,  clarified   honey  and 

various   spices,  as   pepper   and    ginger, 

&c.,  C  5967,  597 1. 
Clepe,  V.  call,  C  5907. 
Clipsy,  adj.  eclipsed,  dim,  5349. 
Clomhen,//'.  climbed  up,  C  6933. 
Cloos,  adj.  close,  discreet,  C  6104. 
Close.  V.  enclose,  4372. 
Closer,  s.  enclosure,  4069. 
Cloth,  s.  dress,  C  6345. 
Colour,  s.  way,  manner,  C  6282. 
Come,  s.  coming,  C  7628. 
Compas,  s.  circuit,  1842 ;  circumference, 

4183;  Conipace,  perfection,  3208. 
Compassen,    1    pr.   pi.   study,    observe 

closelv,  C  6932. 
Complisshen,  v.  accomplish,  2132. 
Comprende,  v.  consider,  include  (in  my 

exolanation),  C  6633. 
Compte.  s.  counting,  account,  5026. 
Comunably,   adv.    commonly,    usually, 

C  7237. 
Comunely,  adv.  publicly,  4801. 
Comuntee,  .r.  community,  common  pos- 
session, 5209. 
Concours,  j.  course,  result,  4360. 
Conestablerye,  s.  a  ward  of  a  castle 

under    the    command    of   a    constable, 

4218. 
Conlnges,  s.pl.  conies,  rabbits,  C  7044. 
Conisaunce,    .f.    understanding,    know- 
ledge, 5465,  5559;  acquaintance,  4668. 


Conjecte,  \  pr.pl.  conspire,  C  6928. 

Conne,  2  pr.  s.  subj.  mayst  be  well  in- 
structed, 2315. 

Consequence,  j.  result,  C  6448. 

Consolacioun,  the  '  Consolation  of  Phi- 
losophy,' 5661. 

Constreynaunce,  s.  constraint,  C  7438. 

Contene,  v.  remain,  2641 ;  reji.  bear  him- 
self, 2248;  Conteyne,z'. contain  (himself), 
4923 ;  Contene,  //-.  //.  reJi.  maintain 
themselves,  C  6805. 

Contrarie,  s.  perplexity,  4478. 

Contrarious,  adj.  hostile,  3354. 

Controve,  v.  compose  songs,  4249 ;  ger. 
to  invent,  C  7547. 

Contune,  v.  continue,  4354,  5332. 

Convay,_f£v.  to  accompany,  2428. 

Corage,  s.  mood,  temper,  4928. 

Cordileres,  s.  pi.  Franciscans,  (so  called 
from  wearing  a  girdle  of  rope),  C  7461. 

Cornewayle,  Cornouaille  in  Brittany, 
4250. 

Corumpable,  adj.  corruptible,  4856. 

Cos,  s.  kiss,  3663. 

Cost,  -f.  coast,   place,  3931 ;  quarter,  2477. 

Cotidien,  adj.  quotidian,  daily;  as  s. 
a  quotidian  ague,  2401. 

Couchen,  pr.pl.  impose,  C  6903. 

Countesses,  s.pl.  C  6860. 

Couutours,  s.pl.  accountants,  C  6812. 

Coupe-gorge,  s.  Cut-throat,  C  7422. 

Couth,//!,  known,  2000;  evident,  4213. 

Coveityse,  s.  coveting,  desire,  4129; 
covetousness,  5072. 

Covenable,  adj.  seemly,  fitting,  suitable, 
C  6020,  6752;  excellent,  C  7181. 

Co  vent,  s.  convent,  4904,  C  7380. 

Coverchief,  s.  kerchief,  head-covering, 
C  7369. 

Covert,  adj.  secret,  hidden  up,  C  6149. 

Coverture,  s.  concealment,  2172. 

Covyne,  s.  intrigue,  secret  plan,  3799. 

Coy,  adj.  quiet,  hidden,  4297. 

Crece,i^.  increase,  progeny. 4875.  {Fortened 
crece  seems  to  mean  destroyed  progeny, 
i.  e.  abortion.)  See  crease  (=  increase) 
in  the  New  E.  Diet. 

Croce,  s.  crozier,  C  6470. 

Crownet,  s.  coronet,  3203. 

Cunne,  v.  shew;  cunne  him  maugree, 
shew  him  ill-will,  4559;  i  pr.  pi.  can, 
C  5879;  pr.  pi.  know  (how),  C  6174; 
pr.  s.  subj.  be  able,  C  5992. 

Cure,  s.  charge,  1962,  C  6562;  care,  4222; 
cause  of  care,  2456 ;  heed,  C  7557 ;  aid, 
C6752;  jurisdiction,  3540. 

Curious,  adj.  diligent,  zealous,  C  6578, 
6590. 


ISvomaunt  of  tfje  l^lose:  Parts 


137 


Customere,  adj.  accustomed,  4936.    F. 

text,  coustumiere. 
Cut,  /;■.  s.  cuts,  C  6198. 

D. 

Dagges,  s.  pi.  loose  tags  or  shreds  of 
cloth,  C  7260.  (I  can  find  no  exact 
account  of  the  fastening  here  referred 
to  ;  I  suppose  that  the  dagges,  or  tape- 
like strips,  had  button-holes,  through 
which  the  knoppes  or  buttons  passed.) 

Daliaunce,  s.  talk,  2850. 

Dampning,  s.  damnation,  C  6643. 

Dar,  pr.  s.  dare,  6049. 

Daunce  ;  the  olde  d.,  the  old  game,  4300. 

Daungere,  s.  resistance,  1932 ;  reluctance, 
2318;  power,  control,  2051. 

Daungerous,  adj.  shy,  reluctant,  back- 
ward, 2312;  hard  to  please,  2824;  cruel, 
3594.  3727- 

Daunte,  v.  conquer,  subdue,  3300. 

Daunting,  j.  taming,  4032. 

Dawed.,//.  j.  subj.  would  dawn,  2633. 

Dawes,  s.  pi.  days,  2838,  C  6616. 

Debonairly,  adv.  graciously,  pleasantly, 
2382. 

Defaute,  s.  lack,  5789. 

Defenced,//.  defended,  4310. 

Defensable,  adj.  helping  to  defend,  4168. 

Defoule,  v.  trample  down,  C  6000. 

Defyle,  v.  bruise,  C  7317. 

Degree,  s.  rank,  C  7214 ;  manner,  C  7442. 

Deignous,  adj.  disdainful,  3593. 

Del,  J.  deal;  Dele,  bil,  least  thing,  5139; 
not  .  ,  a  del,  not  a  whit,  C  6897,  7433 ; 
never  a  del,  not  at  all,  C  6036 ;  every  del, 
every  whit,  C  6017. 

Delectacioun,  s.  delight,  4821. 

Deles  (Northern  form),  pr.  s.  distributes, 
5419- 

Deliciously,  adv.  daintily,  C  6729. 

Deliverly,  adv.  quickly,  1927,  2283,  3005. 

Delyces,  s.pl.  pleasures,  G  7281. 

Demeigne,  s.  possession,  ownership, 
5586;   Demeyne,  dominion,  rule,  3310. 

Demene,  v.  put  up  with,  5238. 

Depart,  v.  divide,  2367,  5279. 

Departing,  s.  division,  4613. 

Dere,  v.  injure,  destroy,  4336;  //.  2100. 

Desert,  j.  deserving,  4269. 

Desperaunce,  s.  desperation,  1872. 

Desporte,  .D-c"/-.  to  cheer,  to  divert,  2014. 

Despyt,  s.  aversion,  C  5996. 

Dever,  j-.  endeavour,  5299. 

Deviaunt,  adj.  divergent,  turned  away, 
4789. 

Devoid,  adj.  free,  4312. 

Devoided,//.  removed,  2929. 


Devyne,  v.  interpret,  3800. 

Devys,  s.  disposal,  1974;  will,  3621;   by 

devys,  to  judge  from  her  appearance  (?), 

3205.     (F.  text,  et  a  son  vis.) 
Deyned,    pt.    s.    subj.;    Mm    deyned,    it 

appeared  good  to  him,  C  6950. 
Deynous,  adj.  disdainful,  3728. 
Deyntee,  s.  value,  2677. 
Diffyne,  v.  define,  4807. 
Dight,  v.  prepare,  4240. 
Discomfit,  //.  disconcerted,  4067. 
Discordaunce,   j.   disagreement,    4715, 

5208  ;  discordant  melody,  4251. 
Discorde,  ger.  to  disagree,  4716. 
Discreven,  2  /;-.//.  describe,  4803. 
Disdeinous,  adj.  disdainful,  C  7412. 
Disese,  j.  uneasiness,  5244. 
Disese,  ger.  to  trouble,  3526. 
Disgysen,    v.    apparel,    2250;    Disgyse, 

I  /;•.  -f.  disguise,  C  6358. 
Dishonest,     adj.    unfair,    unreasonable, 

3442;   immodest,  4262. 
Disordinat,  adj.  inordinate,  4816. 
Dispendith, //•.//?.  spend,  5681. 
Dispitous,   adj.   unmerciful,   spiteful,    C 

6162 ;   malicious,  froward,  2212,  3457. 
Displesaunce,  s.  displeasure,  3436. 
Disport,  s.  delight,  3468  ;  happiness,  2894. 
Disre'wlily,  adv.  irregularly,  4900. 
Disseise,  v.  dispossess,  deprive,  (F.  des- 

saisir),  2076. 
Disserve,  v.  deserve,  3093. 
Dissey ved,  pp.  deceived,  C  6628. 
Dissolucioun,  s.  dissoluteness,  4898. 
Distincte,  v.  distinguish,  C  6199. 
Distoned,  adj.  out  of  tune,  4248. 
Ditee,  s.  discourse,  5286,  5652. 
Divyne,  s.  divinity,  C  6488. 
Do,  V.  cause ;  do  make,  cause  to  be  made, 

2080;  pr.  s.  subj.  accomplish,  C  5869; 

Doand    (Northern),   pres.   part,  doing, 

2708  ;   Don,  pp.  put,  placed,  C  6564. 
Dole,    s.    lamentation,    mourning,    2956, 

4317.     O.  F.  doe  I. 
Dolven,  //.  buried,  4070. 
Dom,  s.  dumb,  2220,  2409,  2492. 
Dool,  s.  grief  4480. 
Dool,  s.  portion  ;  halfen  dool,  half  portion, 

halving  (it),  2364. 
Doth,  pr.  s.  causes,  2772, 2786, 2790 ;  brings, 

5558 ;  gives,  1984. 
Double,  adj.  twofold,  1756. 
Doublenesse,    s.    double-dealing,    du- 
plicity, 2366. 
Doun,  come  down,  C  5868. 
Dout,  s.  fear,  2102. 
Doutable,  adj.  doubtful,  5413 ;  imperilled, 

unstable,  C  6274. 


138 


(glosisartal  JEnltex. 


Doute,  z'.  fear,  2023  ;  l/r.j.2108;  2//-.//. 
2079. 

Douting,  5.  doubt,  C  6074. 

Draught,  s.  draught,  bout,  act,  4869.  F. 
text,  Car  maitit  n'i  trairoieiit  ja  trait. 

Drede,  s.  doubt;  witlwuten  dr.,  witliout 
doubt,  2199,  2251,  C  6214;  Dread  (per- 
sonified), 3958,  5861. 

Drerihed,  s.  sorrow,  4728. 

Dresse,  v.  prepared,  1773;  pr.s.siibj.refi. 
set  himself,  C  6535. 

Dreye,  adj.  dry,  1743. 

Drough,  //.  j.'drew,  1725. 

Droune,  ger.  to  be  drowned,  4710,  5022. 

Druery,  s.  loyal  affection,  5064. 

Drye,  v.  suffer,  undergo,  4390;  endure, 
3105  ;  ger.  to  fulfil,  C  7484. 

Dlllle,  I  pr.  s.  become  stupefied,  4792. 

Dure,  V.  last,  endure,  C  6841. 

Duresse,  s.  severity,  3547,  3570. 

Dwelling',  s.  delay,  2440. 

Dyamaunt,  s.  adamant,  4385. 

Dyden, //.//.  died,  C  6245. 

Dyne,  v.  as  s.  dinner,  C  6500. 

E. 

Eche,  z:  add,  1994;  help,  aid,  4618. 

Effect,  s.  reality,  5486. 

Eft,  adv.  again,  1783. 

Eftsone,  adv.  soon  afterwards,  C  6094; 

Eftsones,  C  6649. 
Egre,  adj.  acid,  4179. 
Egre,  adv.  sharply,  5474. 
Elde,  s.  old  age,  4885. 
Elengenesse,    s.    solitariness  ;    hence, 

sadness,  disquietude,   C  7406.     F.  text, 

Elis,  s.pt.  eels,  C  7039. 

Ellas,  adv.  otherwise,  in  all  other  respects, 
3429- 

Empressid,  //.  pressed,  3691. 

Empryse,  s.  undertaking,  care,  2147; 
doings,  3508  ;  enterprise,  C  5825  ;  design, 
1972;  conduct,  action,  2186;  privilege, 
2008 ;  rule,  4905. 

Enchesoun,  s.  occasion,  2504,  3982,  4242. 

Enclyne,  v.  be  subject  (to),  re.spect,  bow 
down  (to),  C  6814. 

Encombre,  v.  disturb,  5434 ;  pr.  s.  impor- 
tunes, teases,  C  6675 ;  pr.  pi.  perplex, 
4482;  //.  annoyed,  C  7628. 

Enfaunce,  s.  infancy,  youth,  4288. 

Enforce,  v.  compel,  C  6407 ;  pr.  pi.  refl. 
endeavour,  C  6275;  //.  augmented, 
4499- 

Engendrure,  s.  procreation,  4849. 

Engreveth,//-.  s.  displeases,  3444. 


Enhaunce,  ger.  to  exalt,  advance,  C  7246. 

Enlangoured,  adj.  faded  with  langour, 
pale,  C  7399. 

Enlumined,  //.  illumined,  5344. 

Enpryse,  s.  quickness  of  movement,  2636. 
See  Empryse. 

Enquestes,  s.  pi.  legal  inquisitions,  C 
6977. 

Ensure,  ipr.  s.  assure,  4850;  pp.  C  7212. 

Entayle,  s.  figure,  shape,  3711. 

Entencioun,  s.  attention,  4701 ;  intent, 
C  6258 ;  diligence,  2027 ;  0/  e.,  inten- 
tionally, 2976;  //.  meaning,  drift,  C 
7170.  ' 

Entende,  v.  pay  attention,  2153. 

Entendement,  s.  intention,  2188. 

Entent,  j.  mind,  2187;  purpose,  2488; 
disposition,  5696;  endeavour,  3906;  in- 
tention, design,  C  5811,  5869. 

Ententif,  adj.  diligent,  careful,  2022;  adv. 
1720. 

Bntermete,  v.  rejl.  intermeddle,  interfere, 
2966;  Ipr.  s.  rejl.  busy  (myself  with),  C 
6971. 

Entremees,  J.//,  entremets,  damty  meats, 
C  6841. 

Entremete,  v.  interfere,  C  6635,  7233; 
ger.  C  6503 ;  ger.  rejl.  C  5946 ;  i  pr.  s. 
intermeddle,  interfere,  C  6498,  6840 ;  pr. 
s.  C  5921. 

Enviroun,  adv.  about,  3203, 4163 ;  round 
about,  4203. 

Enviroune,  i  //-.  //.  go  about,  C  7017. 

Equipolences,  ^.//.equivocations,  equi- 
vocal expressions,  C  7076. 

Erke,  adj.  weary,  wearied,  4867. 

,  s.  ardour  (of  love),  4838. 

earnest,  pledge,  3680. 

Ers,  s.  posteriors  (F.  cul),  C  7578. 

Espleyten,  v.  perform,  execute,  C  6174. 

Espye,  -f.  spy,  3871. 

Establisshing,  s.  decree,  C  6369. 

Estate,  s.  state  of  life,  position,  4901. 

Estres,  s.  pi.  recesses,  inner  pans,  3626. 

Existence,  s.  reality,  5549,  C  7470. 

Expowne,  ,^^r.  to  expound,  C  7172. 

Eyth,  adj.  easy,  3955.     A.  S.  ea15. 


Fable,  s.  deceitfulness,  C  6602. 

Fade,  adj.  pallid,  faded,  2399. 

Fadome,  J.//,  fathoms,  4159. 

Failed,  //.  as  adj.  wanting,  defective,  C 
7470. 

Fainte.  adj.  feigned,  C  7405. 
!  Fairhede,  s.  fairness,  beauty,  2484. 
I  Fallaces,  s.  pi.  deceits,  C  7077. 


laomaunt  of  tfje  ISose:  Parts  B,  c. 


t39 


Fallith,  pr.  s.  impers.  befits,  4025 ;  belongs 
C  6976.  ' 

Palsen,  pr.pl.  deceive,  4833. 
Fand,  pt.pl.  found,  2707. 
Fard,  imp.  s.  paint,  2285. 
Fardels,  s.  pi.  loads,  bundles,  5683. 
Fare,  s.  welfare,  condition,  C  6498. 
Fare,  v.  depart,   vanish   away,   C  6045; 
pr.  pi.  go,  5564  ;  journey,  5509 ;  //.  gone', 

Faute,  s.  fault,  defect,  3837. 
Fawe,  adj.  fain,  blithe,  C  6476 
Fay,  s.  faith,  2155,  5106. 
Fee,  s.  property,  fief,  C  6044. 
Peers,  adj.  fierce,  3372. 
Peeste,  s.  encouragement,  5061. 
Pel,  adj.  cruel,  savage,  221 1 ;  harsh,  4028  ■ 
stern,  C  7342 ;   Felle,//.  painful,  3780.      ' 
Felde-fare,  s.  field-fare,  5510. 
Fele,  adj.  many,  4446,  C  6038. 
Fele,  V.  perceive  (smell),  1844. 
Feller,  adj.  comp.  crueller,  4103. 
Felones,  adj.  pi.  evil,  wicked,  C  671 1. 
Hu  /.  iavgelinges.  his  evil  pratings,  his   1 
mjurious  talk.    Suggested  by  F.  Maugre 
Us  felonesses  jangles  :  ^n\\&x&  felonesses  is 
a  plural  adjective  ;  see  Godefroy. 
Feloun,  adj.  cruel,  C  5998. 
Fere,  s.  fire,  2471,  5086. 
Pered,  pp.  fired,  inflamed,  5278. 
Fetisly,  adv.  neatly,  perfectly,  2267 
Fetys,  adj.  well-made,  2088. 
Feynte,  adj.  feigned,  5563 
Feyntyse,    s.  deceit,  guile,  2947.  2998 
3492;  evasion,  1971.  ^  ' 

Piaunce,  s.  confidence,  trust,  5481. 
Fil,  pt.  s.  fell,  condescended,  3437  •  Pille 

//.//.  found  themselves,  C  5813. 
Fit,  s.  mood,  5197. 
Flawme,  s.  flame,  3707. 
Plawnes,  s  pi.  flawns;  a  dish  composed 
ot   new   cheese,  eggs,   powdered   sugar 
coloured    with    saffron    and    baked    in 
small  tins  called  '  coffins  ' ;  C  4042 
Playn,//.flayed,  C 7316.  Miswritten  slayn. 
Plemed,  //.  s.  exiled,  drove   into  exile 
^3052.06781.     A.'&.Jlyman. 
Ploytes,  s.pl.  flutes,  4251. 
Poles,  gen.  fool's,  5266. 
Foly,  adj.  foolish,  4299,  coSi; 
Pond,  adj.  foolish,  5367. 
Ponde,  V.  attempt,  c8c;8 
Poole,  <za>-.  foolish,  C7S39 

Poon,^/.  foes,  S552,C  6940. 
;t  cote,  V.  dance  formally,  2323. 
;t  oot-hoot,  adv.  instantly,  3827 
WOV  prep,  to   prevent,  4229;    for  fear  of 
2305  ;  on  account  of,  2190. 


Porboden,  pp.  forbidden,  C  6616 
Force,  s.j    1  yeve  no  force.  I    care  not 

4b02  ;   of /.,  necessarily,  1796. 
Fordone,  //.  undone,  4Q09 
Pordrlve.  pp.  scattered,  3782 
Porewardis,  forwards;  hennes f.,\,^n<,^. 
\        forward,  C  7304. 

Porfare,  v.  perish,  5388,  5778. 
j    Por-ofte,  adv.  very  often,  4876 

Por-peyned,  //.  distressed,  369a 
I   Forsake,  v.  refuse,  2822  ;  withstand,  1876. 
,   Porstere,  s.  forester,  C  6329 
Fortened,//.  destroyed,  4875.    (Or  per- 
haps   obstructed';   ci.  A.^.  fortyman^Xo 
\      shut  up.)     See  Crece 
I   Forthenke,  v.  rue,  repent,  3957,  4060. 
Porthy,  conj  because;  «.;?:%Von;hat 
account,  {perhaps)  nevertheless,  4.:oq 
I  Porwandred,//.  spent  with  wandering 
3336.  ^' 

Forwardis,  s.pl.  agreements,  C  7^105 

^^v^f^^^'i'.^^-  ""^--'y  defeated,  2564. 
Porwery,  adj.  tired  out,  3356 
Por-why,  wherefore,  1743 
^''r^^^'^^^^f^-  ^°'''^'y  wounded,  1830, 
V^Z     '  "■  '^°'"S''*'  3243 ;  pr.  s.  C  6538. 
Poryeve,  ger.  to  abandon,  give  up   Q408 
Praunchyse,  ..  liberty,  4I06 ;  ^o'btl^J,, 

2007;    generosity,   3003;    Bounty,  3TO1  • 

Freedom,  C  5865.  ^    ^^      ' 

Frere,   s.   friar,  C  7377;    Friar  Wolf,  C 

6424. 
Freres    Prechours,    s.   pi.    preaching 

friars,  he.  the  Prechours,  or  Dominican 

friars,  C  7458. 
Fret  //.fretted,  adorned, 3204;  set  470.; 
Fretted,  //.  furnished,  lit.  ornamented 

C  7259. 
Frouncen,/^.//.  shew  wrinkles,  C  7261  ■ 

P  rounced,  //.  wrinkled,  3137. 

X-t:53S6"'^'''^'^-^'^^'''-^"^' 
Gabbeth, 


^ ,  J,.,  s.  speaks   falsely,   lies,   C 

Gabbing,  s.  lying,  C  7602,  7612. 
Gadrmgr,  s.  accumulation,  C782 
Gansoun,  s  healing,  3248  ;  garrison,  4279 
Garnement,  s.  dress,  2256.  ^ 

Garnisoun,  s.  fortress,  4204. 

?North;rnT''    "'"'    '''''    ''''' 
Gentilnesse,    s.   kindness,  460c;' 

breeding,  2005  ;  nobilitv,  52^17 
Gerner,  ^.  garner,  C  5988. 
Gesse;  rvitkoutegesse,  doubtless,  2 
^eten,  //.  gotten,  5701. 


5230 
good 


140 


(glossatial  lEntiex. 


Geting,  s.  obtaining,  attainment,  3284. 

Gibbe,  Gib  (Gilbert),  a  cat,  C  6204. 

Ginne,  j.  warlike  engine,  4176. 

Ginneth,  /;-.  j.  begins,  2154. 

Gisarme,  s.  a  weapon  bearing  a  scythe- 
like blade  fixed  on  a  shaft  and  provided 
also  with  a  spear-point  like  a  bayonet, 
C  5978. 

Giterne,  ^■er.  to  play  on  the  guitar,  2321. 

Glose,  V.  flatter,  5097;  //.  explained,  C 
6890. 

Gloumbe,  v.  frown,  look  glum,  4356. 

Gnede,  s.  stingy  person,  C  6002.  (Mis- 
written  grede.) 

Go,  //.  gone,  2423 ;  empty,  C  6834. 

Gonfanoun,  s.  gonfalon,  banner,  2018. 

Gospel  Perdurable,  The  Everlasting 
Gospel,  C  7102. 

Graithe,  v.  dress,  array,  C  7368. 

Grauat  mercy,  best  thanks,  C  7504. 

Gree,  (i)  J.way  (lit.  grade)  ;  in  no  maner 
gree,  in  no  kind  of  way,  5743. 

Gree,  (2)  j.  favour;  a/^^  ^r^^,  with  favour, 
4574 ;  fake  at  gree,  accept  with  a  good 
will,  1969 ;  in  gree,  in  good  part,  2306. 

Grate,  ipr.  s.  weep,  lament,  4116  (North- 
ern). 

Greves,  s.pl.  thickets,  3019. 

Groffe,  adv.  face  downward,  2561. 

Groine,  pr.  s.  subj.  grumble,  murmur,  C 
7049. 

Grucchen,  pr.  pi.  subj.  grumble  at,  be- 
grudge, C  6465. 

Grucching,  s.  refusal,  C  6439. 

Grype,  v.  seize,  C  5983. 

Guerdoning,  s.  reward,  2380,  C  5908. 

Gyler,  j.  beguiler,  5759. 

Gype,  s.  frock;  perhaps  a  smock-frock 
(alluding  to  the  numerous  gathers  in 
the  front  of  it),  C  7262. 


Ha,  V.  have,  5569. 

Hade,  2//.  s.  haddest,  2400. 

Halp, //.  s.  helped,  1911. 

Halt,  pr.  s.  rejl.  considers  himself,  4901 ; 

keeps,  C  7032. 
Hardement,  s.  courage,  1827,2487,3392. 
Harlotes,  s.pl.  rascals,  ribalds,  C  6068. 
Harneis.  s.  armour,  gear,  C  7477. 
Harneys,   v.  refl.   dress,    equip    thyself, 

2647. 
Hat,  adj.  hot,  2398. 

Hatter,  adj.  comp.  hotter,  more  hotly,  2475. 
Haunt,  V.  practise,  4868;  ger.  to  haunt, 

frequent,  C  65oi ;  pr.  s.  subj.  practise,  C 

7029. 


Haunting,  s.  haunt,  abode,  C  6081. 

Hauteyn,  adj.  haughty,  C  6101 ;  fern. 
3739- 

Havoir,  s.  having,  4720. 

Haye,  s.  hedge,  2971,  2987. 

Hele,  V.  conceal,  2858;  ger.  2522;  pr.pl. 
C  6882. 

Hele,  ^.  health,  4721. 

Hem,  pron.  them,  2218. 

Hemmes,  s.pl.  phylacteries,  C  6912. 

Hend,  adj.  ready,  useful,  3345. 

Hente,  ger.  to  seize,  3364 ;  pt.  s.  1730, 
4092;  pt.  pi.  snatched,  C  7136;  pp. 
plucked,  C  7644. 

Herber,  imp.  pi.  take  up  your  abode,  C 
7586;  -zpt.  s.  didst  harbour,  5107. 

Herberg-ere,  s.  host,  entertainer,  C  7585 ; 
pi.  5000. 

Herberw^e,  s.  shelter,  lodging,  C  6201, 
7495- 

Herberwe,  v.  shelter,  lodge,  C  6145. 

Herde,  s.  shepherd,  C  6453 ;  //.  C  6561. 

Herie,  pr.  pi.  honour,  praise,  C  6241. 
A.  S.  herian. 

Hertly,  adj.  true-hearted,  5433. 

Het.  //.  heated,  3709. 

Heten,  v.  promise,  C  6299. 

Hight,  pr.  s.  is  named,  C  6341 ;  //.  pro- 
mised, 2803. 

Hoked,  adj.  hooked,  furnished  with 
hooks,  1712;  barbed,  1749. 

Hole,  adj.  whole,  complete,  5443. 

Holtes,  s.  pi.  plantations,  C  6996. 

Homager,  s.  vassal,  3288. 

HooUy,  adv.  wholly,  1970. 

Hoomly,  adj.  homely,  familiar,  C  6320. 

Hoor,  adj.  gray-haired,  C  6335 ;  Hore, 
adj.  hoary,  gray,  3196 ;  //.  hoary  (a  fre- 
quent epithet  of  trees,  perhaps  with 
reference  to  trees  of  great  age),  C  6996. 

Hornpypes,  j.  //.  musical  instruments, 
formed  of  pipes  made  of  horn,  4250. 

Hostilers,  s.  as  adj.pl.  keeping  an  inn,  C 

7033- 
Hoteth,  pr.  s.  promises,  5422 ;  pr.pl.  5444. 
Housel,  7<.  give  the  Host  (to),  C  6438. 
Hulstred,  pp.  concealed,  hidden,  C  6146. 
Humanitee.  s.  human  nature,  5655. 
Hy,  s.  haste ;  in  hy,  in  haste,  2393,  3591. 


I. 

Ich, pron.  I,  C  6787. 

If,  conj.  if  (i.  e.  if  the  matter  be  wisely  in- 
quired into) ,  4454. 
Imped,//,  engrafted,  5137. 
Impes,  s.  pi.  grafts,  C  6293. 
Importable ,  adj.  insufferable,  C  6902. 


Eamaunt  of  ti^e  Eose:  Parts  b,  c. 


141 


In-fere,  adv.  together,  4827. 
Isse,  V.  issue,  1992. 


Jangleth,  pr.  s.  prattles,  C  7540. 
Jang-ling,  s.  prating,  chattering,  C  5852; 

//.  idle  words,  C  6711. 
Jape,  .f.  jest,  C  7519;  fl.  tricks,  C  6835. 
Jape,  I  pr.  s.  mock,  scoff  at,  C  6471. 
Jolily,  adv.  after   a  jolly  sort,  C  7031; 

pleasantly,  2248;    nicely,  neatly,   2284; 

deservedly,  C  7664. 
Joly,  adj.  fine,  gay,  C  7248. 
Jolynesse,  s.  joll'iness,  joy,  2302. 
Joweles,  s.pl.  jewels,  2092,  5420. 
Joyne,  i  pr.  s.  enjoin,  2355. 
Jupartye,  s.  jeopardy,  2666. 


Kembe,  imp.  s.  comb,  2284. 

Kenne,  v.  show,  teach,  2476. 

Kepe,  ^.  heed,  3475. 

Kepe,  V.  keep;    kepe  forth,   perpetuate, 

4854;   I  pr.  s.  care,  C  6440;  keep,  3476; 

care,  wish,  C  6083  ;  fr.  pi.  care,  C  6093. 
Kernels,  s.  pi.  battlements,  4195.    F.  text, 

Kerving,  pres.pt.  as  adj.  cutting,  3813. 

Kesse,  V.  kiss,  2006. 

Kid,  //.  made  known,  2172 ;  evident,  3132. 

Kirked,  adj.  crooked(?),  3137. 

Knet,  pp.  knit,  fastened,  4700,  4811;  //. 

//.  fast  bound,  2092. 
Knewe,  i  //.  s.  subj.  disclosed,  C  6090. 
Knopped,  pp. fastened,  C  7260.    A  knoppe 

is  properly  a  button  ;  hence  knoppen,  to 

fasten  with  a  button. 


Laas,  s.  toils,  snare,  C  6029,  6648 ;   Lace, 
cord,  string,  C  7373 ;    net,  2792 ;    snare, 

5093- 
Laced,  //.  entangled,  caught,  3178. 
Lakke,  2  pr.  pi.  blame,  4804. 
Lambren,  s.pl.  lambs,  C  7013. 
Largesse,  s.  liberality,  2354 ;  C  5853. 
Las,  s.  net,  2790.    See  Laas,  Lace. 
Late,  ger.  to  let,   permit,  allow,  3145,  C 

6676 ;  V.  let,  5574 ;   Lat.  pr.  s.  lets  remain, 

5493- 
Lauhwith,  pr.  s.  laughs,  2294. 
Lay,  s.  law,  religious  belief,  C  6749. 
Leef,  adj.  w-illing,  2335. 
Lees,   s.  pi.    lies ;    withouten   lees,   truly, 

3904,  5728. 


Leful,  adj.  allowable,  permissible,   5195^ 

Lit.  '  leave-ful.' 
Leggen,  ger.  ease,  relieve,  5016.     (Short 

for  aleggen.) 
Lemes,  s.pl.  rays,  5346. 
Lemman,  s.  sweetheart,  C  6056,  6305. 
Lena,  v.  lend,  3053,  C  7026. 
Lening;  in  letting,  as  a  loan,  2373. 
Lepand,  pres.  part,  running  (with  short 

jumps),  1928. 
Lere,  ger.  to  teach,  2143,  2149;  v.  teach,. 

5152;  learn,  2451,  4808. 
Lered,  adj.  learned,  C  6217. 
Lese,  V.  lose,  C  5915,  5924;  pr.  s.  2149. 
Lesing,  s.  lie,  falsehood,  2174,  4835. 
Let,/r.  s.  leads  (his  life),  C  6111. 
Lete,  V.  cease,  2463 ;  leave,  C  6457 ;    let 

alone,  C  6556;  abandon,  C  6169;  allow, 

permit,   6458 ;     i  pr.  s.  leave,  C   6354 ; 

abandon,  C  6997 ;  //.  let,  1791. 
Lette,  s.  let,  hindrance,  3756. 
Letten,   v.    hinder,   3590;    delay,    3940; 

stop,  1832 ;  cease,  2807 ;  desist,  1832. 
Letting,  s.  hindrance,  C  5931. 
Lettrure,  s.  literature,  writing,  C  6751. 
Leve,  V.  believe,  3303. 
Leve,  V.  live,  2336. 
Lever,  adv.  rather,  C  6793  ;  me  were  lever, 

1  had  rather,  C  6168. 
Le-wd,  adj.   lay   (folk),   the   ignorant,   C 

6217. 
Lewedist,    adj.    superl.    most    ignorant, 

4802. 
Leye,  pt.pl.  lay,  lived,  C  6572. 
Liche,  adv.  alike,  equally,  4160. 
Ligging,  pr.pt.  lying  down,  4002. 
Likerous,  adj.  licentious,  4264. 
Likly,  adj.  similar,  4852. 
Lisse,  V.  abate,  4128 ;  ger.  to  be  eased,  to 

feel  relief,  3758. 
List,  J.  pleasure,  will,  1957. 
List,  pr.  s.  wishes,  C  6139. 
Loigne,  s.  tether,  3382,  C  7050. 
Loke,//.  locked  up,  2092. 
Long  ;  of  long  passed,  of  old,  3377. 
Longith,//-.  s.  befits,  2321. 
Loos,  s.  renown,  reputation,  2310,  C  6103  ; 

ill  tame,  C  7081. 
Lorn,  //.  lost,  4327,  4502,  4508,  C  5973. 
Losengeours,  s.pl.  deceivers,  2693. 
i   Loteby,  j.  paramour,  C  6339. 
\   Lough,  pt.  s.  laughed,  C  7295. 
j  Loure, /n  J.  j^^y.  scowl,  C  7049. 
I   Loute,  V.  bow,  4384  ;  bow  down,  C  7336 ; 
I      pr.pl.  subj.  bow  down,  C  6917. 

Lowe,  ger.  to  appraise,  i.  e.  to  be  valued 
I       at,  4532. 
1  Luce,  s.  pike  (fish),  C  7039. 


(glassarial  JEntJci. 


Lyflode,  s.  livelihood,  5602,  C  6663. 

Lyken,  i:  please,  1854,  C  6131. 

Lyte,  adj.  little,  small,  2279,  3557;  adv.  C 

7551- 
Lythe,  ad/,  delicate,  3762. 

M. 

Maat,   adj.  bewildered,  overcome,   1739. 

See  Mate. 
Maistryse,  s.  strength,  dominion,  4172. 
Make,  ^^er.  to  cause,  C  5931 ;  />r.  pi.  pro- 
pound, C  6186. 
Male,  s.  bag,  wallet,  3263;  money-bag,  C 

6376. 
Maltalent,  s.  ill-humour,  3438. 
Mangonel,  s.  a  military  engine  on  the 

principle   of  the  sling-staff  for  casting 

stones,  a  catapult,  C  6279. 
Mar,  adj.  greater,  2215 ;  adv.  more,  1854. 
Marchandise,  s.  barter,  C  5902. 
Mare,  adv.  more,  2709. 
Markes,//.  marks  (coins),  C  5986. 
Marreth,  pf.  3.  disfigures,  4679. 
Mate,   adj.   distracted,    5099;    downcast, 

4671;  dispirited,  3167, 3190.    See  Maat. 
Maugree,  J.  ill-will, 4399;  reproach,  3144; 

/»r/>.  in  spite  of,  C  671 1 ;  maugre  youres, 

in  spite  of  you,  C  7645. 
Mayme,  v.  maim,  C  6620;  pr.  s.  wounds, 

5317.    See  Meygned. 
Maysondewe,  s.  hospital,  5619. 
Media,  v.  interfere,  3788;   Medle,  v.  refl.. 

meddle;  m.  him  of.  deal  with,  C  6050; 

to  medic,  for  meddling,  4545. 
Meke,  v.  mollify,  3394 ;  have  mercy,  3541 ; 

Meked,  pt.  s.  reft,  humbled  himself,  3584. 
Mendience,  j.  beggary,  mendicancy,  C 

6657,  6707. 
Mene,  ,f.  mean,  middle  state,  C  6527. 
Mene,  adj.  middle,  mean,  4844. 
Mene,  i  /;-.  s.  bemoan,  2596. 
Menour,    Minorite,   Franciscan   friar,  C 

6338- 

Mes,  s.  at  good  mes,  at  a  favourable  op- 
portunity, 3462.     O.  F.  mes. 

Mete,  adj.  meet,  fitted,  1799. 

Mete,  V.  meet,  succeed,  4571. 

Mevable,  adj.  moveable,  4736. 

Meve,  v.  move,  incite,  2327. 

Mewe,  s.  coop,  cage  (a  falconry  term), 
4778. 

Meygned,  //.  hurt,  maimed,  3356.  See 
Mayme. 

Meynee,  s.  household,  C  6870,  7156. 

Meynt,  pp.  mingled,  1920;  Meynd,  2296. 

Mich,  adj.  many,  2258,  5555. 

Micher,  s.  thief,  C  6541. 


Miches,  s.  pi.  small  loaves  of  finest 
whcaten  flour,  5585. 

Mis,  adj.  amiss,  wrong,  3243. 

Mischeef,  s.  misfortune,  C  6731. 

Misericorde,  j.  mercy,  3577. 

Misseying,  s.  evil-speaking,  2207. 

Mister,  s.  occupation,  trade,  C  6976; 
whatever  mister,  of  every  kind  of  occu- 
pation, C  6332. 

Misters,  j.  need,  C  7409. 

Mis'wey,  adv.  astray,  4764. 

Mixens,  s.  pi.  dunghills,  C  6496. 

Mo,  adj.  pi.  others  besides,  3023 ;  more 
(in  number),  C  5990. 

Mochel,  adj.  great,  3117  ;  to  m.,  too  much, 
3442. 

Moeble,  s.  moveable  property,  C  6045. 

Moeve,  v.  move,  i.  e.  prefer,  make,  C  6039. 

Moneste,  i/z-.j.  admonish,  charge,  3579. 

Monyours,  s.  pi.  coiners,  C  6811. 

Mot,  pr.  s.  must,  3784 ;  so  mote  I  go,  as  I 
hope  to  walk  about,  C  6591. 

Mo  we,  V.  be  able,  2644. 

Musard,  s.  muser,  dreamer,  C  7562 ;  slug- 
I       gard,  3256,  4034 ;  dolt,  C  7562. 
I   Muwis,  s.pl.  bushels,  5590. 

N. 

Nathelesse,  nevertheless,  C  6195. 
Ne,  conj.  unless,  4858. 
Nede,  adv.  necessarily,  C  7633. 
Nedely,  adv.  needs  must,  C  61 17. 
Neden,  v.  be  necessary,  C  5990. 
Nedes,  s.  pi.  necessities,  C  6174. 
Nedes,  adv.  of  necessity,  1792. 
Near,  adv.  nearer,  1708.     See  Narre. 
Neigh    it    nare,  v.  approach  it    more 

nearly,  2003. 
Nampned,//.  named,  mentioned,  C  6224. 
Nare,    were   not,  were   it   not   for,   2778; 

were  there  not,  2778 ;   had  it  not  been 

for,  C  7328. 
Nerre,  adj.  cotnp.  nearer,  5101. 
Neven,  v.  name,  C  5962 ;  recount,  C  7071. 
Nil,  pr.  s.  will  not,  C  5821,  6045. 
Nomen,  pt.  pi.  took,  C  7423 ;  pp.  taken, 

5404- 

Noncerteyne,  adj.  uncertain,  5426. 

Nones,  for  the,  for  the  nonce,  occasion- 
ally, C  7387. 

Non'ne,  s.  nun,  C  6350. 

Noot,  I  pr.  s.  know  not,  C  6367. 

Noriture,  s.  bringing  up,  C  6728. 

Norys,  s.  nurse,  5418. 

Not,  I  pr.  s.  know  not,  5 191. 

Nota-kernal,  s.  nut-kernel,  C  71 17. 

Noye,  s.  hurt,  3772. 


Eamaunt  of  tl^e  i^oge:  Parts  b,  c. 


143 


Noyen,  ger.  to  vex,  4416. 

Noyous,  adj.  harmful,  3230,  4449. 

Noyse,  .?.  evil  report,  3971. 

Nyce,  adj.  foolish,  silly,  4262,4877,  C  6944. 

Nycetee,  s.  foolishness,  5525. 

Nyghe,  v.  approach,  1775. 

O. 

Obeysshing,  s.  submission,  3380. 

Of,  prep,  out  of,  owing  to,  3981;  con- 
cerning (Lat.  de),  4884;  off,  5470; 
(some)  of,  (part)  of,  1993.  Or  it  may 
mean  '  by,'  '  on  account  of.' 

Offense,  s.  discomfort,  5677. 

Of-newe,  adv.  newly,  afresh,  5169. 

Onlofte,  prep,  aloft,  on  high,  5503. 

Oon,  adj.  one,  4812;  in  oon,  without 
change,  3779. 

Ostages,  s.p/.  hostages,  2064,  C  7311. 

Other-gate,  adv.  otherwise,  2158. 

Ought,  adv.  in  any  way,  C  6096. 

Outake,/;-c/.  except,  4474. 

Outerly,  adv.  wholly,  utterly,  3489,  3742. 

Outrage,  s.  wrong,  2082,  2086;  scanda- 
lous life,  4927;  outrageous  deeds,  C 
6024  (mistranslated). 

Outrageous,  adj.  exceeding  great,  2602 ; 
ill-behaved,  2192. 

Outslinge,  v.  fjing  out,  C  5987. 

0-at-tBik.e,prep.  except,  C  5819. 

Over-al,  adv.  ever3rwhere,  3050,  3914. 

Overgo,  V.  pass  away,  3784;  //-.//.  tram- 
ple on,  C  6821. 

Overwhelme,  v.  roll  over,  3775. 

Ow,  I  pr.  s.  ought,  4413. 


Palasyns,    adj.    pi.    belonging    to    the 

palace;    ladyes  palasyns,  cowcX  ladies,  C 

6862. 
Papelard,  s.  hypocrite,  deceiver,  C  7283. 
Papelardye,  s.  hypocrisy,  C  6796. 
Parage,  s.  parentage,  descent,  4759. 
Par-amour,  with  devotion,  2830. 
Paramour,  j.  paramour,  lover,  5060. 
Paramours,  adv.  with  a  lover's  affection, 

4657- 
Parceners,  s.  pi.  partners,  C  6952. 
Parcuere,  adv.  by  heart,  4796. 
Pardee,  V.pardieu,  4433,  C  5913. 
Parfay,  by  my  faith,  C  6058. 
Part,  s.  duty,  5032. 
Parte,  v.  divide,  5283. 
Party,  ^.  part;  in  party,  partially,  5338. 
Parvys,   s.   room   over  a  churcli-porch, 

C  7108. 


Pas  ;  a  pas,  apace,  quickly,  3724. 
Passaunt,  adj.  surpassing,  3110. 
Passe,  V.  penetrate,  1751. 
Patre,  v.  recite  the  paternoster,  C  6794. 
Pay,  s.  satisfaction,  C  5938;   liking,  taste, 

1721 ;    me  to  pay,  to  my  satisfaction,   C 

6985. 
Paye,  ger.  to  appease,  3599. 
Pelre,  v.  damage,  C  6103. 
Peire  of  bedis,  s.  rosary,  C  7372. 
Pens,  s.pl.  pence,  C  5987. 
Pensel,  s.  a  standard,  ensign,  or  banner, 

(particularly     of    bachelors-in-arms),   a 

pennoncel,  C  6280. 
Pepir,  s.   pepper,   (metaphorically)    mis- 
chief, C  6028. 
Perauntre,  adv.  peradventure,  5192. 
Percas,  adv.  perchance,  C  6647. 
Persaunt,    adj.    piercing,    2809;    sharp, 

4179. 
Pese,  ger.  to  appease,  3397. 
Pesible,  adj.  peaceable,  gentle,  C  7413. 
Peyne,  s.  penalty,  C  6626;    pain,  hard- 
ness, 2120;  up  peyne,  on  pain  (of  death), 

C  6617. 
Peyne,  v.  rejl.  endeavour,  C  7512;  pr.  s. 

rejl.  takes  pains,  C  6014. 
Piment,  s.  spiced  wine  or  ale,  C  6027. 
Pitous,   adj.   excusable,    deserving    pity, 

4734  ;   merciful,  C  6161. 
Plat,  adv.  fiat,  flatly,  1734,  C  7526. 
Pleyne,  v.  lament,  complain,  2299,  C  6405. 
Pleynt,  s.  complaint,  C  6012. 
Plight,//,  s.  plucked,  1745. 
Plongeth,  pr.  s.  plunges,  5472. 
Plyte,  s.  affair,  C  5827. 
Poeste,  s.  power,  virtue,  2095. 
Pole,  s.  pool,  C  5966. 
Port,  s.  demeanour,  manner,  2038,  2192; 

Porte,  4622. 
Porte-colys,  s.  portcullis,  4168. 
Possed,    pp.  pushed,  tossed,  4479 ;   //. 

driven,  4625. 
Potente,  s.  crutch,  C  7417. 
Poustee.    s.   power,    influence,    C    6533, 

6957,  7679 ;  dominion,  C  6484. 
Povert,  s.  poverty,  C  618 1. 
Prece,  ger.  to  press,  4198. 
Predicacioun,  s.  preaching,  5763. 
Preise,  \  pr.  s.  value,  appraise,  4830. 


3,  V.  press;  pr.s.  intrudes,  C  7627; 
pr.  pi.  intrude,  C  7629;  imp.  s.  endea- 
vour, 2899. 

Pressure,  s.  wine-press,  3692. 

Preve,  v.  prove,  4170. 

Preving,  s.  proof,  C  7543. 

Preyse,  i  //-.  s.  value,  esteem,  1983.  F. 
pris. 


144 


(ilossavtal  Cntici. 


Prike,  imp.  s.  gallop,  2314. 

Pris,  s.  esteem,  2310. 

Privetee,  s.  secret,  5526,  C  6878,  6882. 

Procuratour,  s.  a  collector  of  alms  for 

hospitals  or  sick  persons,  C  6974. 
Propre,  adj.  own,  C  6565,  6592. 
Provable,  adj.  capable  of  proof,  5414. 
Provende,  s.  allowance,  stipend,  C  6931. 
Prow,  s.  profit,  gain,  5806,  1940. 
Pryme  temps,  first  beginning,  4534 ;  the 

spring,  4747. 
Prys,  jr.  praise,  1972 ;  price,  C  5927. 
Pugnaunt,  adj.  poignant,  keen,  1879. 
Pullaille,  s.  poultry,  C  7043. 
PuUe,    V.   pluck,   strip,   C   5984;    pr.  pi. 

flay,  strip,  C  6820. 
Puple,  s.  people,  rabblement,  C  7159. 
Purchas,  s.  acquisition,  C  6838. 
Purchasen,  ger.  to  procure,  C  6607. 
Purpryse,  s.  park,  enclosure,  3987,  4171. 
Purveaunce,  s.  provision,  C  7326. 
Purveye,  gcr.  to  procure,  3339. 
Put  pr.  s.  puts,  3556,  4444,  C  5949. 
Pyne,    s,    endeavour,    1798 ;     misery,    C 

6499. 
Pynen,  v.  torment,  punish,  3511. 


Quarels,  s.  pi.  square-headed  crossbow-  I 
bolts,  1823.  1 

Quarteyne,  adj.  as  s.  quartan  fever  or  1 
ague,  2401.  I 

Qtaeme.gt;/:  to  please,  C  7270.  ! 

Quenche,  v.  be  quenched,  5324.  I 

Quene,  s.  quean,  concubine,  C  7032.  I 

Querrour,  s.  quarry-man,  hewer  of  stone,   j 
4149- 

Quethe ;  /  quethe  him  qiiyte,  I  cry  him 
quit,  C  6999.  ! 

Queynt,    adj.    elegant,     2251 ;     curious,   j 
fanciful,  C  6342;  strange,  5199 ;   pleased, 
3079;  shewing  satisfaction,  2038. 

Queyntly.  adv.  neatly,  easily,  4322. 

Queyntyse.  s.  elegance,  2250. 

Quik,  adj.  alive,  3523.  4070,  5056.  } 

Quitly,  adv.  quite,  entirely,  C  5843. 

Quitte,  //.  s.  reflex.;  quitte  him,  ac- 
quitted himself,  3069;  //.  requited, 
3146,  6088;  made  amends  for,  2599; 
ri<l,  1852. 

Quook,  I  pt.  s.  quaked,  3163;  //.  //. 
3966. 

Quyte,  pp.  as  adj.  quit,  C  5904;  free,  C   ! 
5910;  entire,  2375. 

Quyte,  V.  acquit,  release,  C  6032;  fulfil, 
5032;  I  pr.  s.  C  6412;  zw/.  J.  2222,  4392.   , 


Racyne,  s.  root,  4881. 

Rage,  s.  rage,  spite,  3809;  malignity, 
venom,  1916;  madness,  3292;  in  r., 
mad,  4523. 

Ramage,  adj.  wild,  5384.     O.  F.  ramage. 

Rape,  s.  haste,  1929. 

Rape,  adv.  quickly,  C  6516. 

Rathe,  adj.  early,  C  6650. 

Ravisable,  izir)'.' greedy  for  prey,  C  7016. 

Ravyne,  s.  plunder,  C'6813. 

Rebel,  adj.  rebellious,  C  6400. 

Recche  ;  luhat  recchith  ««,  what  care  I, 
3447- 

Recreaundyse,  s.  cowardice,  2107, 4038. 

Recreaunte,  s.  coward,  4090. 

Recured,  //.  recovered,  4920,  5124. 

Rede,  j.  good  advice,  3859  ;   Reed,  C  7328. 

Rede,  \pr.  s.  advise,  1932;  read,  1S19. 

Reed,  s.  advice,  C  7328  ;  Rede,  3859. 

Refreyne,  ger.  to  bridle,  C  7511. 

Reft,  s.  rift,  2661. 

Refte,  ipt.pl.  deprived,  3562. 

Refuyt,  s.  refuge,  escape,  3840. 

Rehete,  v.  cheer,  console,  C  6509. 

Reisins,  s.pl.  fresh  grapes,  3659. 

Relees,  s.  relief,  2612;  release,  4440. 

Relesse,  \  pr.  s.  give  up,  C  6999. 

Religioun,  s.  religious  order,  3715 ;  mo- 
nastic life,  C  6155. 

Religious,  adj.  pious,  C  6236;  as  s.  a 
nun,  C  6347 ;  R.  folk,  monastics,  C 
6149. 

Remued,  pt.  s.  moved,  C  7432. 

Rendre,  v.  recite,  4800. 

Reneyed,  i  //.  s.  subj.  should  renounce, 
C  6787. 

Repeire,  v.  return,  3573,  4 131. 

Repreef,  ^.  reproach,  4974,  C  7240. 

Repreve,  s.  reproach,  5261 ;  Reprove, 
upbraiding,  5525. 

Requere.  pr.  s.  subj.  request,  ask,  5233; 
pp.  asked,  5277. 

Rescous.  s.  service,  endeavour  to  sup- 
port, C  6749. 

Resonables,  adj.pl.  reasonable,  C  6760. 

Resoun,  J-.  correct  manner,  2151. 

Revetb.  pr.  s.  takes  away,  C  6254;  //.  s. 
bereaved,  4351. 

Reverte,  v.  bring  back,  C  7188. 

Revolucioun,  s.  revolution,  turn  (of  for- 
tune's wheel),  4366. 

Re-ward,  s.  regard,  consideration,  3832. 

Rewe,  V.  rue,  be  sorry,  4060;  it  wol  me 
rewe,  I  shall  be  sorry,  5170. 

Reyne,  v.  rain  down,  fall  as  rain,  1822. 

Reynes,  Rennes  (in  Brittany),  3826. 


Eomaunt  of  tfje  ^m :  Parts  b,  c. 


[45 


Bibaned,  //.adorned  with  lace  (of  gold), 
Ribiud,  s.  labourer,  5673;  pL  ribalds,  C 

Ribaudye,  s.  ribaldry,  2224;  riotous 
living,  4926.  „ 

Right,  adv.  just,  exactly,  5347;  Quite,  C 
6398.  6411 ;  ri^/ii  nought,  not  at  all,  2071. 

Rilhpied,  adj.  wrinkled,  4495-      ^      ^ 

Biveling,  pies.  part,  puckering,  C  7262. 

Rochet,  s.  linen  garment,  4754. 

Rode,  s.  dat.  rood,  cross,  C  6564. 

Rody,  adj.  ruddy,  3629. 

Roignous,  adj.  scurvy,  rotten,  C  6190. 

Roking,  pres.  part,  rocking,  quivering, 
trembling,  1906.     Cf.  Shak.  Lucr.  262. 

Ronne,  //.  advanced,  4495. 

Boser,  s.  rose-bush,  1789,  1826. 1833,  2967. 

Bought,  I  //.  -f.  recked,  heeded,  1873; 
I  pt.  s.  siibj.  should  not  care,  C  7061. 

Rowe,  <Ji/y.//.  rough,  1838. 

Rude    adj.  as  pi.  s.  common  people,  2268. 

Ryve,  V.  pierce,  C  7161 ;  be  torn,  5393; 
Ryveth,//-.  s.  is  torn,  5718. 


Sad,  adj.  serious,  staid,  composed,  4627; 

fit.  grievous,  C  6907. 
Sadnesse,  s.  sobriety,  discretion,  4940. 
Sailen,  v.  assail,  C  7338. 

Sakked  Preres,  Fratres  de  Sacco,  triars 
of  the  Sack,  C  7462. 

Salowe,  adj.  sallow  ;  but  read  falowe,  1.  e. 
f  illow,  C  7392- 

Salue,  i^er.  to  salute,  2218 ;  pr.  s.  subj.  2220. 

Samons,  s.pl.  salmon,  C  7039- 

Sat,  pt.  s.  impcrs.  suited,  3810. 

Sautere,  s.  psalter,  C  7371.  . 

Say,  \pt.  s.  saw,  1722;  Sawe,  pt.  s.  subj. 
saw,  17 19. 

Say    Kfor  Assay),  v.  essay,    attempt,   en- 
deavour, 5162. 

Saynt,  adj.  girded,  girdled  (?),  C  7408. 

Scantilone,  s.  pattern,  C  7064. 

Scole,  -f.  scholarship,  learning,  3274. 

Score,  s.  crack  (or  hole)  in  a  wall,  2660. 

Scrippe,  s.  scrip,  wallet,  C  7405. 

Secree,  adj.  secret,  5257. 

Secree,  s.  secret,  5260. 

Secte,   s.  class,   category,   5745;  gen 
(our)  race,  4859. 

Seden,  v.  bear  seed,  fructity,  4344. 

See,  pr.  s.  subj.  see ;   so  god  me  see 
(I  hope)  God  may  protect  me,  5693. 

Seer,  adj.  sere,  dry,  4749- 

Seignorye,  s.  dominion,  3213. 

Sake,  adj.  sick,  5729,  5733;  /''•  4829- 


Semblable,  adj.  similar,  C  5911. 
Semblable,  adj.  as  s.   resemblance,  one 
like   himself,  485S ;  P^-  ''^e  (cases),   C 

Semblant,  s.  appearance,  disguise,  C 
6202  ;  (his)  hypocrisy,  C  7449 ;  seeming, 
3205,  3957- 

Sen,  coiij.  since,  1984. 

Sentence,  s.  meaning,  C  7474;  P^-  opi- 
nions, C  5813. 

Sermoneth,  pr.  s.  sermonizes,  preaches, 
C  6219. 

Servage,  s.  servitude,  4382,  5807. 

Serviable,  adj.  serviceable,  C  6004. 

Sette,  7^. fasten  (an  accusation), 3328  ;  Set, 
/;-.  s.  places,  4925,  4957  ;  pt-  pi.  besieged,    . 
C  7344  ;  //.  established,  2077. 

Seure,  adj.  sure,  4304. 

Seurere,  adj.  comp.  surer,  more  secure,  O 

Seynt  Amour,  William   St.  Amour,  C 

6781.     (He  wrote  against  the  friars  who 

advocated  the  Eternal  Gospel.) 

Shende,  v.  shame,  put  to  shame,  3116; 

gcr.  to  injure,  2953;  /'".  s.  rums,  4776, 

5310;  pp.  disgraced,  ruined,  3479,  3933- 

Shene,  adj.  fair,  3713. 

Shere,  //•.  s.  subj.  can  cut,  shear,  4335; 

mav  shave,  C  6196. 
Shet'e,  ger.  to   shoot,  1798 ;    Shet,  ft.  s. 

shot,  1727,  1777. 
Shette,  ger.  to  shut,  4224;    v.   shut  up, 
2091;  pr.  pi.   shut   up,  5771;    Shet,  //. 
shut.  4368. 
Shewing,  s.  demeanour,  4041. 
Shitteth,  //•.  .f.  shuts,  4100;  Shit,//,  shut 
up,  2767. 
1   Shoon,  s.  pi.  shoes,  2265. 
!   Shrewis,  s.  pi.  knaves,  C  6876. 
'   Shrift-fader,  s.  confessor,  C  6423. 

Shryve,  v.  hear  confessions,  C  6364. 
I   Sigh,  I  pt.  s.  saw,  1822. 
Sight,  I  //.  s.  sighed,  1746. 
Sikerer,  adj.  comp.  safer,  C  7310. 
Sikerest,  adj.  superl.  securest,  C  6147. 
Sikernesse,  s.  certainty,  1935,  2365. 
Sikirly,  adv.  certainly,  C  6906. 
Similacioun,  s.  dissimulation,  C  7230. 
Simplesse,  s.  Simplicity  (the  name  of  an 
arrow),  1774;  simplicity,  C   6381. 
of      Sire,    s.    father;    sire    ne    dame,    neither 
father  nor  mother,  C  5887. 
I    Sith,  coiij.  since,  1964,  4367,  C  6266. 
s   I   Sithen,  adv.  afterwards,  1999,  C  7130. 
1   Sitte,  //•.  pi.  subj.  sit,  fit,  2267;   Sittand, 
1       pres.pt.  (Northern)  fitting,  2263;  Sitting, 
;       pres.  pt.  fitting,  suitable,  3654 ;  befitting, 
'        2309,  4675. 

F3 


146 


(glossartat  Inba. 


Skaffaut,  s.  scaffold,  a  shed  on  wheels 

with    a    ridged    roof,    under     cover   of 

which     the    battering    ram    was    used, 

4176. 
Skile.  s.  reason,  3120,  4543;  avail,  1951. 
Slake,  v.  abate,  3108. 
Sleen.  ger.  to  slay,  C  7195  ;  pr.  s.  2590. 
Sleigrhe.  ndj.  sly,  cunning,  C  7257. 
Sleightes,  s.pl.  missiles,  C  7071;  tricks, 

C  6371. 
Slo,  V.  slay,  3150,  4592 ;  £-e/:  5521 ;  Sloo,  v. 

1953.  3523 ;  Slo,/r.  s.  subj.  4992,  5643. 
Slomrest,  2  pr.  s.  slumberest,  2567. 
Slcwe,  s.  moth,  4751.     F.  taigne. 
Smete,  pp.  smitten,  3755. 
Snibbe,  v.  snub,  reproach,  4533. 
Sojour,  .r.  sojourn,  4282;  dwelling,  5150. 
Solempnely,    adv.    publicly,    with    due 

publicity,  C  6766. 
Soleyn,  'adj.  sullen,  3896. 
Sophyme,  s.  sophism,  C  7471. 
Sore,  adv.  closely,  strictly,  2055  ;  ardently, 

2075. 
Sote.  adj.  sweet,  4880. 
Soth-sawe,  s.  truth-telling,  C  6125,  6130, 

7SQO. 
Sotilly,  adv.  subtly ,'4395. 
Soudiours,  s.p/.  soldiers,  4234. 
Spanishingr,    s.    expanding,    expansion, 

3633.     O.  F.  espanir,  to  expand. 
Sparred,  pt.  s.  locked,  fastened,  3320. 
Sparth,  s.  a  battle-ax,  C  5978. 
Spered,//.  {for  sperred) ,  fastened,  locked 

( F.  senti  la  clef) ,  2099. 
Sperhauke,  s.  sparrowhawk,  4033. 
Spille.  v.  kill,  1953;  destroy,  2162 ;  ger.Xo 

surrender    to    destruction,   5441 ;    //.   s. 

spoiled,  5136  ;  //.  exhausted,  4786. 
Spitel,  s.  hospital,  C  6505. 
Springe,  pr.  pi.  grow,  increase,  C  5988 ; 

//.  advanced,  C  6954. 
Springoldes,  s.  pi.  catapults,  4191. 
Squared,//,  cut  square,  4155. 
Squierly,  adj.  like  a  squire,  C  7415. 
Squyre,  s.  square  (carpenter's  square),  C 

7064. 
Stant,  pr.  s.  stands,  waits,  5004. 
Stark,  adj.  downright,  C  7292. 
Stede,  s.  place,  C  5898. 
Stille  or  loude,  silently  or  aloud,  under 

all  circumstances,  C  7532. 
Stinten,  v.  cease,  C  6849;  //.  stopped,  C 

6473- 
Stonde  forth,  _^^r.  to  stand  out,  persist, 

3547;   Stont,/r.  s.  stands,  consists,  5581  ; 

Stant,  pr.  s.  waits,  5004. 
Stounde,  s.  hour,  time,  1733;  //.  hours, 

2639. 


Stounde,     s.    (probably     an    error     for 

wounde,  wound),  4472. 
Stoundemele,  adj.  momentary,  3784. 
Stoundemele,   adv.    hourly,    from   one 

hour  to  another,  2304. 
Stoutnesse.  s.  pride,  obstinacy,  1936. 
Streite,  adj.  close-fitting,  2271. 
Strene,   s.   strain,    breed,    4859.      A.   S. 

strcoiia. 
Strepe,  v.  strip,  fleece,  C  6818. 
Streyne,  v.  constrain,  compel,  C  6406; 

pt  s.  urged,  C  7631. 
Streyned- Abstinence, Constrained  Ab- 

siinence,  C  7325. 
Stuifen,  pr.  pi.  provide  with  defenders, 

C  6290.     F.  text,  coreni  les  murs  garnir. 
Suen,  V.  pursue,  seek,  4953. 
Suffraunce,  s.  patience,  submission,  3463. 
Suspecious,  adj.  suspect,  open  to  sus- 
picion, C  6110. 
Sustening,  s.  sustenance,  C  6697. 
S'welte,  Q.pr.  s.  subj.  die,  2480. 
Swete,   2  pr.  s.  subj.    sweat,   feel    heat, 

2480. 
Swink,  J.  toil,  labour,  C  6596. 
Swinke,  v.  labour,  C  6619 ;  ger.  to  toil, 

215 1,  5685  ;  pr.  s.  toils,  5675. 
Swinker,  s.  toiler,  C  6857. 
Swinking,  s.  toiling,  C  6703. 
Swoning,  s.  swooning,  swoon,  1737. 
Sy,  i.  e.  if  (F.  st),  i.  e.  haphazard,  5741. 
Sythes,  //.  times,  2048, 4868  ;  Many  sythe, 

often,  2257. 

T. 
Take,  v.  lay  hold,  5351 ;  take  arms,  3529; 

hand  over,    C   7265;   v.  refl..  surrender, 

1947 ;  /.  on  hem,  apply  to  themselves,  C 

6107  (¥ .XexX,  sur  eus  riens n' en prendront)  ; 

pr.s.  betakes,  commits  himself,  C  6442; 

pp.   taken ;    him   take,   betaken    himself, 

C  7280;  Tan,//.  C  5894. 
Takel,  s.  weapon,  arrow,  1729,  1863. 
Tale,    I.   reckoning ;    yeve   I  litel  tale,   I 

pay  little  heed,  C  6375. 
Talent,  s.  good  will,  inclination,  C  6134; 

fancy,    C   7110;     longing,  3472;    desire, 

intent,  1716;  spirit,  disposition,  C  7674. 
Tan,  //.  taken,  C  5894.    See  Take. 
Tapinagre,  s.  hiding;  in  tapinage,  sneak- 

ingly,  C  7363. 
Tatarwagges,  s.  pi.  fluttering  tatters,  C 

7259. 
Taylagiers,  s.pl.  tax-gatherers,  C  6811. 
Tecche,  s.  fault,  bad  habit,  5166;  //.  C 

6517- 
Teched,  pt.  s.  taught,  C  6680. 
Telle,  v.  account,  5053. 


'^omaunt  of  t\jt  ^a&t :  Parts  B,  c. 


147 


Templers,   s.  pi.  Knights-Templars,   C 

6693.  .  . 

Temprure,  .f.  tempering,  mixmg,  4177- 
Temps,  s.  time;    al  prune  temps,  at  the 

first  time,  at  first,  3373. 
Tene,  -(.  ruin,  blight,  4750. 
Tespye,  v.  to  espy,  3156. 
Than,  conj.  than  if,  4328. 
Thank,  .v.  thanks,  4584:    (F.  text,  son  gre 
deservtr)  ;  good  will,  2698, 2700 ;  vi  thank, 
with  thanks,  with  good  will,  2115,  4577; 
Thankes, //.  thanks,  2036;    thy  thankis, 
with  thy  good  will,  2463. 
Thar,  adv.  there,  1853,  1857. 
Thar,  pr.  s.  impers.  needs ;  you  thar,  you 

need,  3604. 
Thee,  v.  thrive;  so  mote  I  thee,  as  I  hope 

to  thrive,  3086,  4841,  C  5899. 
Thempryse  (for  The  empryse),the  cus- 
tom, 2286. 
Ther-geyn,  prep,  against  this.  C  0555. 
Thilke,/i/-o«.  that,  2106,  C  5980. 
Thiag.  s.  pi.  things,  property,  C  6670. 
Thinges,  s.  pi.  business,  doings,  C  6037. 
This,  for  this  is,  C  6057,  6452. 
Thought,  s.  the  object  of  thought  per- 
sonified (?) ,  2473.     (But  a  corrupt  read- 
ing;    read     That    swete,    answering    to 
S'a'mie  in  the  F.  text.) 
Threste,  1  pr.  s.  thrust,  C  6825. 
Thrmge,^^r.  to  thrust,  C  7419. 
Thritty,  adj.  thirty,  421 1. 
Throwe,  s.  moment,  1771,  3867. 
Thrust,  s.  thirst,  4722. 
Thurgh-sought,    //.    examined    thor- 
oughly, 4948. 
Til,  prep,  to ;  hi»t  til,  to  him,  4594. 
Tilier,  s.  tiller,  husbandman,  4339. 
To-beten,  pp.  belaboured,  C  6126. 
Toheye,  to  obey,  3534-  ^  ^     ^ 

To-drawe,  pp.  torn  in  pieces,  C  6126. 
Toforn,  prep,  before,  2969;    God  toforn, 

in  the  sight  of  God,  C  7198-       ^,^  . 
Token,  pt.  pi.  took  (i.  e.  took  Christ  to 
witness,   appealed    to    Christ),   C   7122. 
(The     translation     is     entirely    wrong; 
hence  the  lack  of  sense.) 
Tolde,  pp.  {error  for  Told),  told,  C  6598. 
To-me-ward,  towards  me,  3354,  3803. 
To-moche-Yeving,  Giving  too  much,  C 

5837. 
Ton,  the,  the  one,  5217  ;  the  toon,  5559- 
To-quake,  v.  quake  greatly;  alto-quake, 

tremble  very  much,  2527.  _ 

To-shake,  v.  shake  to  the  foundations, 

ruin,  C  5981. 
To-shar,  pt.  s.  lacerated,  cut   in   twain, 


To-shent, /■/.  undone;  al  to-shent,M\X&i\y 

undone,  1903. 
Touret,  j.  turret,  4164. 
Tourn,  J.  turn,  5470. 
Trace,  v.  walk,  go  about,  C  6745;  pr.pl. 

walk,  live,  5753. 
Transme'we,  v.  transmute,  be  changed, 

2526. 
Trasshed,//.  betrayed,  3231. 
Trechour,  s.  traitour,  C  7216 ;  cheat,  C 

6602.  ^      ^ 

Tree,  .f.  wood,  1747,  1808,  2408,  C  7061. 
Treget,  i.  trap,  snare,  C  6312;   trickery, 

guile,  C  6267,  6825. 
Tregetours,  s.pl.  tricksters,  C  7587. 
Tregetr ye,  J.  trickery,  C  6382;  trick,  C 

Trepeget,  s.  a  military  engine  made  of 
wood,  used  for  hurling  large  stones  and 
other  missiles,  a  trebuchet,  C  6279. 

Trichour,  adj.  treacherous,  6308. 

Trist,  V.  trust,  4364 ;  //.  3929- 

Trouble,  adj.  troubled,  1755. 

Troubler,  adj.  comp.  dimmer,  less  bright, 
C  7116. 

Trowandyse,  s.  knavery,  villany,  3954. 

Trowe,  -v.  believe,  C  6873. 

Truaunding,  s.  idling,  shirking,  C  6721. 

Truaundyse,  s.  idleness,  shirking,  C  6664. 

Truaunt,  s.  idler,  loafer,  C  6645. 

Tumble,  v.  cause  to  tumble,  cause  to 
perform  athletic  feats,  C  6836;  ger.  to 
tumble,  5469. 

Turves,  s.  pi.  sods  of  turf,  C  7062. 

Twinne,  v.  separate,  go  apart,  4813 ;  part, 
5077;  depart,  4367. 

U. 

Unavysed,     adj.    heedless,    indiscreet, 

foolish,  4739- 

Unbond,  pt.  s.  released,  C  6416 ;  //.  un- 
fastened, 4700 ;  opened,  2226. 

Unclosed,//,  untied,  unfastened,  4698. 

Unclosid,  pp.  unenclosed,  3921,  3925. 

Undirfongith,  //-.  s.  undertakes,  5709. 

Unese,  s.  uneasiness,  trouble,  3102;  dis- 
comfort, 2S96. 

Unhappe,^.  mishap,  ill  fortune,  5492. 

Unhyde,  v.  unfold,  reveal,  2168. 

Unlefulle,  adj.  illicit,  4880. 

Unnethe,  adv.  scarcely,  i.  e.  it  will 
scarcely  be,  C  6541 ;  Unnethis,  hardly, 
5461. 

Unrelesed,  adj.  unrelieved,  2729. 

Unsperd,  ;*/.  unbolted,  unbarred,  2656. 

Unthrift,  s.  wastefulness,  4926. 

Unwelde,  adj.  impotent,  feeble,  4886. 


148 


(^loggatial  JEntj£i. 


Up-caste,  pt.  s.  lifted  up,  C  7129. 
Updresse,  v.  set  up,  prepare,  C  7067. 
Up-right,  adv.  on  thy  back,  2561. 
Urchouns,  s.  pi.  hedgehogs,  3135. 
Utter,  adj.  outer,  4208. 


V. 

Vailith,  pr.  s.  avails,  5765. 

Valour,  s.  worth,  5236,  5556;  value,  5538. 

Vassalage,  j.  prowess,  courage,  C  5871. 

Vekke,  s.  old  woman,  hag,  4286,  4495. 

VendaMe,  adj.  venal,  vendible,  saleable, 
5804. 

Verger,  s.  orchard,  3234, 3618, 3831, 3851. 

Vermayle,  adj.  vermilion,  scarlet-red, 
3645- 

Vilaynsly,  adv.  disgracefully,  3994. 

Vileyn,  s.  peasant,  yokel,  churl,  1990; 
\'il;ivns,_ff«.  churl's,  1992. 

Vitaille,  s.  victuals,  delicacies,  C  7044. 

Voide,  V.  drive  away,  5164 ;  pr.  s.  removes, 
2833,  2845  •  ""P-  ^-  remove,  clear,  2283 ; 
imp.  pi.  put  away,  3571. 

Voluntee,  ^.  will,  desire,  5276. 

Vouche,  pr.  s.  I  per.  vouchsafe  ;  For  sauf 
of  cherlis  I  ne  vouche,  for  I  do  not 
vouchsafe,  among  churls,  2002.  (Or 
read  to  for  of^ 

Vounde,//.  (?)  well  found,  hence,  excel- 
lent, C  7063. 

w. 

Wacche,  s.  watching,  lying  awake,  4132. 
Wade.  V.  wade,  go  about,  5022. 
Walkyng,  i.  walking  (?),  2682.    (Perhaps 

read  talking :  F.  text,  parlers.) 
Walowe,  V.  toss  {or  roll)  about,  2562. 
Wanhope,  s.  despair,  4432,  4433,  4708. 
Wante,  v.  be  lacking,  2530. 
Ware.  s.  commodity,  C  5926. 
Warne,  v.  inform,  C  7657;  //.  s.  refused, 

C  5840 ;  //.  refused,  denied,  2604,  3426, 

5245,  C  7502. 
Wawe,  J.  wave,  4712. 
Wayte,  ger.  to  beset  (me)  with,  to  plot, 

393S. 
Weder,  s.  storm,  4336. 
Weed,  s.  religious  habit,  C  6359. 
Welfaring,   adj.  well-favoured,  C  6866. 

F.  text,  beles. 
Wel-Helinge,  s.  Good-concealment,  C 

5857. 
Wene,    s.    expectation,    2046 ;    withouten 

weiif,  doubtless,  2415,  2668,  2683,  4596. 
Wene,   v.  suppose,  2761;    {read  mak'th 

[him]  wene ;  F.  text,  Qu'il  se  cuide)  ;  pr. 


s.  subj.  imagine,  5672;  Wende,  i  pt.  s. 
imagined,  4322. 

Wening,  s.  imagination,  2766. 

Went,//,  departed,  turned  away,  C  6185. 

[Went,  pr.  s.  turns  aside,  C  6205.]  Sup- 
plied by  guess. 

Were,  s.  distraction  (F.  guerre),  5699; 
■withouten  were,  without  doubt  (a  char- 
acteristic expletive  phrase,  common  in 
Fragment  B),  1776,  2568,  2740,  3351, 
3452,  4468,  5485,  5657,  5692. 

Were,  v.  wear  away,  devour,  4752 ;  ger. 
to  wear,  i.  e.  to  wear  away  (the  shore), 
4712  ;  pr.  pi.  C  6215  ;  pt.  pi.  C  6244. 

Werne,  v.  deny,  refuse,  3443,  C  6673; 
ger.  3730.    See  Warne. 

Werrey,  v.  war  against,  oppose,  C  6926 ; 
ger.  to  make  war  upon,  3251 ;  pr.  s.  wars 
against,  3699;  i  pr.  pi.  make  war,  C 
7018;  Werreyed,  //.  warred  against, 
3917- 

Wery,  v.  worry,  strangle,  C  6264. 

Wethers,  .r.  gen.  wether's,  sheep's,  C 
6259. 

Weyked,  //.  as  adj.  too  weak,  4737. 

Wher,  conj.  whether,  2617,  5191. 

Whetted,  pp.  sharpened,  C  6197. 

Whitsonday,  s.  Whitsunday,  2278.    Cf. 

.  '  Garlands,  Whitsunday,  \\\d: ;  Brand's 
Pop.  Antiq.  s.  v.  Whitsun-ale. 

Whylom,  adv.  sometimes,  4355,  5350; 
formerly,  4123,  C  7090. 

Whyte  monkes,  s.  pi.  Cistercians,  i.  e. 
Reformed  Benedictines,  C  6695. 

Wicked-Tonge  {^.Malebouche),  C  7424. 

Wight,  s.  man,  creature,  C  5961. 

Wight,  adj.  active,  4761. 

Wilfully,  adv.  willingly,  4808,  C  5941. 

Willen,  V.  desire,  2482. 

William,  W.  Seint  Amour,  C  6763,  6778. 

Wimple,  J.  wimple,  3864.  A  band  usually 
of  linen  which  covered  the  neck,  and 
was  drawn  up  over  the  chin,  strained 
up  each  side  of  the  face,  and  generally 
fastened  across  the  forehead ;  called 
also  barbe,  gorget,  or  chin-cloth. 

Winde,  v.  turn  about,  1810;  escape, 
2056. 

Winke,  v.  sleep,  4568;  ipr.  s.  subj.  2348. 

Wis,  adv.  verily,  C  6433. 

Wite,  V.  know,  C  6105,  6208,  6939;  Wit,  v. 
3145,  5574;  Wist,  pt.  pi.  knew,  C  5864; 
Wisten, //.//.  subj.  knew,  C  6087. 

Wone,  I  pr.  s.  dwell,  C  6143. 

Woning,  s.  dwelling-place,  C  6082. 

Woning-places,  s.  pi.  dwelling-places. 
C  6119. 

Wonnen,/A//.  won,  C  6252. 


laamaunt  of  tf)e  l^osc:  parts  b,  c. 


[49 


Wood,  adj.  mad,  3138,  3776,  C  6263 ;  rag- 
ing, 1921. 
"Wook,  I  //.  s.  kept  awake,  watched,  1877. 
"W"oot,/r.  s.  knows,  5257. 
Worche,  v.  work,  cause,  C  6052. 
Worche,  v.  deal  (with  what  they  have  to 

do ) ,  C  6037.     MS.  G.  has  worthe  ;  Lat. 

ladies   worthe  =  let   ladies    alone.      The 

passage  is  obscure. 
Worchinges,  s.pl.  doings,  C  6585. 
"Worth,  adj.  worthy,  C  7104. 
Wost,    2  pr.  s.    knowest    (thou),    4977; 

Wostow,  knowest  thou,  C  6075,  6373. 
"Woxen,  pp.  grown,  C  7140. 
Wrapped,//.  .>-.  s///)j.shou\d  wrap,  C  6260. 
Wratthed,  i  pi.  s.  made  angry,  4108  ;  //. 

enraged,  3097. 
Wreke,//.  revenged,  3362. 
W^renche,  s.  turn,  trick,  4292. 
Wreying,  s.  betraying,  disclosure,  5220. 
Writ,  /;-.  s.  writes,  C  6585. 
Wryen,  ^er.  to  cover,  C  6684 ;  v.  disguise, 

C  6795  ;  cover  up,  clothe,  C  6819  (F.  te.xt, 

s'afublent) . 
Wry  the,  v.  twist,  4359. 
Wurching,  s.  machination,  C  6123. 
Wyte,    s.   blame;    to  wyte.   a   matter  of 

reproach,  3558. 


X  ai,  pt.  s.  gave,  2339,  4500. 
Yalt,  pr.   s.   refi.   betakes    himself,   4904. 
See  Yelde. 


Yate,  s.  gate,  4230. 

Yates,  s.pl.  gates  {but  miswritten  for  gdXits, 

i.  e.  ways) ,  5722. 
Y-bake,//.  baked,  C  7048. 
Y-do,  pp.  done ;  have  y-do,    have   done ! 

1941. 
Ye,  s.  eye,  4264. 
Yedest,  2//.  s.  wentest,  3227;  Yede,pt.  s. 

went,  5151 ;  has  gone,  2585. 
Yeft,  J.  gift,  granting,  3664. 
Yelde,  v.  yield,  1933;  submit  (thyself),  C 

6283  ;   imp.  s.  yield,  1930. 
Yerne,  adv.  readily,  eagerly,  C  6719. 
Yerning,  s.  affection,  C  5951. 
Yeten,  p_p.  poured  out,  5702.    Pp.  from 

A.  S.  geotan. 
Yeve,  \pr.  s.  care,  regard,  C  6464. 
Yeving,  s.  giving,  C  5907. 
Y-fere,  adv.  together,  in  company,  3806. 
Y-holpe,//.  helped,  holpen,  5505. 
Ying,    adj.    young,    2208.     A    Northern 

form. 
Y-let,  //.  hidden,  5335. 
Yliche,  adv.  equally,  alike,  3630. 
Yolden,  pp.  requited,  4556.    See  Yelde. 
Yore.  adv.  long  ago,  C  7599. 
Youth-hede,  s.  youthhood,  4931. 
Ypocryte,  s.  hypocrite,  C  6482. 
Yre,  s.  anger,  3174.     F.  text,  ire. 
Y-sene,  adj.  visible,  C  6806. 
Yvel,  adv.  ill,  5238. 
Y--wis,  adv.  certainly,  2788,  5554,  5790 ;  C 

5825,  5896,  5915,  6879,  6932,  7400,  7564. 


